Breathe

Chapter Five

The party is still raging two hours later, if anything, there's more people now. Seth hasn't left my side and with him I've had a couple of drinks and am beginning to feel slightly tipsy. Luce and Charlie are together, their bodies moving in sync on the makeshift dance floor. Luce's arms are around Charlie's neck and even when they do separate, they are never more than a ruler's length apart. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

I turn to Seth to find he's also staring at the two of them and I step back with my hand stretched out in offering. I bow my head, but tilt it upward so I'm looking straight upward and say, "Care to dance?"

He laughs but nods his head, taking my hand and leading me out to the dance floor. For what feels like hours we dance together, he sneaks in kisses here and there, but ultimately, we just have fun teasing each other in the way we move. I have my hands locked around his waist and my head on his chest as we rock to a slow song when I feel the drinks catching up with me. The urge to pee consumes me.

"I'm going to the bathroom," I tell Seth, raising my voice slightly to be heard over the music. With a nod of his head he begins to lead me to the bathroom, but I pull him to a stop. "I can find it myself, you don't need to come with," I laugh.

Reluctantly, he lets go of my hand and I move off into the direction Luce had told me to go earlier if I need the toilet. I find it vacant and lock the door behind me and a few minutes later I'm washing my hands preparing to leave when the door opens.

"Hey, sorry, I'm just leaving—wait I locked that." I look up, turn the faucet off, and meet the eyes of a dark haired, Hispanic looking guy. He just grins and holds up a key. I scowl, "You shouldn't just walk in on people, I'd rather you not get an eyeful."

"I disagree, that's exactly what I would rather." Without a second to prepare he launches himself on me, forcing his lips on mine and grabbing my hips and forcing me still. My hands push on his chest in attempt to get out of his hold and my entire body writhes under his.

He pulls his mouth from mine angrily and comments, "Stop struggling, Naomi told me you're into me. Don't back out now that you've caught my attention with that dress." He runs his hands down it before tightly gripping my arms and forcing his tongue into my mouth just as I voice, "Nao—"

An idea springs in my mind and without wasting a minute to second guess I bite his tongue. Thanking god he didn't relock the door behind him I sprint out of the bathroom my hair whipping with the movement of my head as I search for Seth. When I spot his hair in the crowd I rush to him and tap on his back but when he turns its not Seth, just someone with the same hair. Just as the tears in my eyes begin to spill someone spins me and I come face to face with the real Seth and launch myself into his arms, the tears finally falling.

He brushes my hair repeatedly for several seconds before he pushes me back to look into my eyes, frantic. "What the fuck happened to you? Why are you crying? Your hair is a mess." He uses his fingers to brush the tears from my cheeks and I'm sure the artwork that was once Luce's makeup is a mess.

"I don't know who but a guy came into the bathroom with a key and—" but he cuts me off.

"Fuck! Which guy? Tell me who it is and I swear I'll kill him with my bare hands," He yells several curse words in anger. With the commotion he makes Luce and Charlie have made their way up to us, even Mason walks over asking what happened.

"Who was he, Doe?"

"He didn't tell me his name, but he was Hispanic looking and told me Naomi said I wanted to get with him," I look at my arms and notice the redness from where he'd held them in his grip.

"Rodriguez," the guys mutter in unison and I watch as Seth balls his fists. He brushes his hands over the finger marks on my arms and I watch as his eyes turn into liquid fire. He begins to push through people in determination but I chase after him and pull him to a stop.