Midnight

11. Thin Air

Ethans began a fast paced run down the busy sidewalk of downtown Charlotte. He was intentionally running to a pace that I could barely keep up with. I absolutely do not exercise. Dance, yes. That's different. I was about to die, and we were maybe 100 ft from where we started. It was so easy for Ethan though. I gave him my best poker face when he looked over his shoulder to me. He turned around on a backwards run, simply mocking me. Showing off his agility and endurance. I rolled my eyes. Show off.

"You good?" he asked, both his brows raised acknowledging my suffering state. I could feel my nares flaring for the need of oxygen. I nodded my head to him. "Are you sure?" he narrowed his stunning grey stones on me. He was hoping I'd give up--I could see it. I picked up my speed a little to confirm that I was good. He smiled a full beautiful white smile, presenting those dimples at me. "Ok, we're turning left at the stop sign to get to Mercy Trail," he signaled two fingers to the left. My eyes widen at him before he turned back around to continue his stroll. The fuck he means, MERCY trail! I'll be damned. No way I'm going on a trail called mercy. I stopped--slumped over on my last breath. Panting for some air. I held tight to my chest, clinging for dear life with one hand. My chafing lungs burned for oxygen.

Suited legs stopped in front of me. A black pair of casual men boots in my line of sight. Not too bad. I looked up from my huffing position to a very concerned face. He was handsome. Medium height--ginger head guy. He put me in the mind of Prince Henry. Same facial hair and all. He wore a long brown trench with business attire beneath. I tried shooing him off with a smile. For the lack of talking, he continued to see about me anyways. I was still very slumped over, huffing and puffing with my hands bracing against my knees.

"Are you ok, miss? Is there anything I can do to help you?" He searched my wind watered eyes. I'm sure there were no signs of relief there. I could feel that my face was hot and red--showing prevalent signs of distress and possible heart attack. But I'm fine. I'm only trying to keep up with the beautiful man ahead of me. I tried to point towards Ethan so that he could see that I'm with someone. The man couldn't quit follow what it was I wanted to tell him. He placed his hand on my back and lowered to my eyes. Ethan made it to the stop sign, that was a pretty stretch from where I stood. I could see his height over all the people. He looked to both sides of him and spun around like he had lost his child. He was completely frantic. When he clocked me slumped over on some man, he sprinted back. Oh dear God. I still couldn't get my mouth to speak. My throat was dry as a brick. "Here let's stop in this parlor. I can get you a drink or something," the nice gentleman offered. I merely shook my head with a smile, still trying to catch my breath. I lowered myself down to sit on the concrete sidewalk, with no care for the people around. The man took my elbow and beneath my arm to try to lift me back up. I guess he thought I was on the verge of passing out. Ethan approached fast and immediately dropped on his knees to get below me in a desperate search for my eyes. He swatted the man's hand off me.

"Fuck Cala! Why the hell didn't you say something!?" He scorned.

"You mind not speaking to the lady like that?" The concerned man held out a hand to Ethan with his fingers spread apart. An attempt to cue Ethan Nance to back off. Ethan looked up at the man from his kneeling position. His face instantly shifted from concerned to killer. He stood slowly towering his dominance over the poor fellow. I stood, finding my voice by the grace of God.

"Ok, ok I'm fine," I said resting my hands on Ethan's chest. My voice a bit more rasp than the normal. He didn't look to me at all. His glare was fixed on the nice fellow that tried to help my out-of-shape ass. Ethan respiration became clearly audible and noticeable. I took my hand and rubbed his cheek drawing his eyes back to me. "Calm down," I mouthed. I turned my head to the concerned Prince Harry double. "Thank you for stopping, I'm alright now."