Breathe Me

Chapter 1

You make me glow But I cover up wont let it show

So I'm putting my defenses up Cuz I dont wanna fall in love

If i ever did that I think i'd have a heart attack -Demi Lavato(Heart Attack)

Chapter One

Catherine

Present Day

"SINGLE RIDER!"

The most humiliating words spoken by man.

I cringed at the Ferris wheel operator's words. A slight sheen of sweat built on my forehead as I stepped forward.

"Do you have to announce it like that?" I muttered, throwing him a searing glare. He was oblivious to my mortification as he waved toward the growing line of people crowding behind me. I wouldn't have even been there if my cousin Joss hadn't dragged me out of my safe cocoon at home to celebrate her daughter's eighth birthday at the county fair. I could've done without the hordes, the craziness, the toddlers screaming on the kiddie rides and the nauseating smell of deep-fried Twinkies, bottomless popcorn and waves of wood-burned pizza swirling about me. Not that I didn't indulge in such fattening but savory treats, I just wasn't in the mood for any festivities that night. Especially not since I felt like a third wheel.

"Hi, Auntie! I can see the Excalibur from here!" My niece Leah waved from high above, rocking their chair enough to make me that much more concerned as I waited for a volunteer partner to ride with. I waved back, hoping she'd turn around and settle into her chair. My bravery was not strong tonight, and peering up at the array of steel seats made me dizzy.

"Just like sitting in a chair," I mumbled. Just breathe, breathe, breathe....

"Did you say something?" The operator threw me a confused look, and I pasted the fakest, widest smile across my face.

"Nope, not a word."

"You can't ride without a partner, the seats need to be balanced. Maybe you can take turns with your friend." He pulled off his dingy hat and shoved back matted, sweaty hair, crinkling his nose at me.

"I can ride with her!" someone shouted from across the pavement. Everyone turned to watch as a spikey-haired blonde guy sprint across the asphalt toward me.

Oh no, no, no. Not him. Anyone but him, please. Why, of all people... Samuel?

"Hey." His wide-toothed grin made me press my lips together as I threw him a firm, tiny smile. I cringed as I entered the awaiting swinging chair, wondering what I might've done to deserve such punishment.

Might as well get this over with, I thought.

I'd known this man once, intimately. Sam was the epitome of the "don't look because you'll be caught like a deer in headlights" type of guy. His striking blue eyes were nothing to take lightly. They could literally stop traffic and a send a bus full of school girls fainting.

Yeah. That was me once. Not anymore. Never again.

He swung his legs in after me, still wearing the dark maroon uniform shirt with the "County Fair" logo embroidered on the front right pocket. I didn't know he'd been working the fair. God knew it was every teeny bopper's haven. Why he was working this joint when he should've had a stable career or at least be finishing graduate school by now? Whatever the reason, why did he have to be there, at that moment?

I gripped the metal bar as it came creaking down onto my lap, turning my knuckles white as paper. The operator tugged at it one last time before heading back to flip the switch, sending the carriage floating forward to carry us up before it came to a jerking halt. It swung with a creaking scream from the overused joints, sending my heart bursting in my chest from fear. He resumed loading up more customers on the swing below, as though my life wasn't in jeopardy at all. Okay, so maybe it wasn't, but this sort of thing was not my cup of tea on a good day.