Breathe Me

Chapter-7

I am still alive but I'm barely breathing

Just praying to a God that I don't believe in

Cuz I got time while she got freedom

Cuz when our heart breaks no it don't break even!

Chapter Seven

Samuel

SHE WAS STUNNING, and the way her hazel-brown eyes glinted with a sheen of tears building and the slight pink blossoming across her face as she stared at her family's portrait made me want to run to her, pull her into my arms and kiss her gently, even though I knew she would pull away almost immediately. She was utterly alone, but she didn't have to be.

"Really, where are you taking me? You know how much I hate surprises." Her voice echoed from the passenger side of my sedan. I saw her eyes flash as I opened the door for her and she slipped into the clean, new leather interior. She made it obvious that she hadn't ridden in too many fancy cars before. I was happy to see that I'd impressed her somewhat, even if she had pushed away the surprised look in the hope I hadn't yet seen it. But I had seen it. That was all that mattered.

"You'll love this one." I smirked, knowing it was going to make her a little flustered. I knew she didn't like surprises, I'd known her well at one point in our lives. How quickly she'd forgotten the good between us. I always surprised her back then, knowing full well it would piss her off. The memory made my lips twitch into a small grin. Those days had been the best of my life, yet I had thrown them away like a fool. Here I was, years later, making up for it big time.

"Nice set of wheels."

"Thanks."

"Guess your business is doing really well from the looks of it."

"It's doing pretty good."

"Why'd you pick me up in a taxi yesterday?"

"My car was being repaired. The AC wasn't working right. In this heat, have to get it done ASAP. Plus...." I grinned as I waited for her to buckle in. "Sometimes it's nice when someone else is driving."

"That's for sure."

I turned the radio on, and Smash Mouth blasted through the speakers. It reminded me of my high school, and I left it on. Catherine didn't seem bothered and even started bobbing her head to the beat.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Tell you what?"

"What the surprise is."

"Nope."

She sighed and leaned on the window, staring gloomily through it. She may have hated surprises, but I knew she would love this one, she just didn't know it yet.

"Okay, when I hit that signal up there, close your eyes."

She whipped her head around to face me, her eyes wide like I had a horn growing out my forehead. "No! Why?"

"Close your eyes, almost there."

"I'm not closing my eyes."

"Cathy....," I eyed her in my periphery. She had always liked to try my patience. "Please? Just once. I promise I won't do any more surprises this week."

"This week?"

"Please?"

My pleading wore her out, and she complied, crossing her arms to make it obvious she wasn't at all happy about it. "Fine. This better be worth it."