Dare to Breathe by M. Homer Read Free Book Online

and continue dancing as I weave my body through the sweaty dancing bodies.
    Unfortunately, Ted is still there but this time he is sitting with two other men who look about thirty years old. They all look at me as I approach and I suddenly feel exhausted and a bit tipsy.
    “Bought you another drink,” Ted tells me, pushing the sealed beer in my direction.
    I nod thanks, open it up and take a deep drink. There is something sickeningly familiar about this drink that reminds me of my past, but I don’t even stop to take a breath, almost downing it in one go and trying to forget seeing Nathan’s arm around the pretty blonde.
    Ted shifts closer to me and rests him arm on the back of my seat. His fingers start rubbing my shoulder. I panic as I realize no one can really see me and that he is way too close to me.
    “I…umm, I have to go. Th-thanks for the drinks,” I say, trying to stand up.
    Ted pushes me down gently with his hand. “No, you owe me a kiss at least,” he says, smoothly moving even closer towards me.
    Stupid, I am so stupid. Why did I think he would buy me drinks and not expect something in return?
    I feel my hands go clammy and my heart rate pick up.
    “Ted, I am sorry b-but I think I am going to be sick.” Right now, I do feel sick. I try to stand up again but before Ted can drag me back to the seat, I look up to see Nathan standing in front of the table.
    “Hey Sam,” he says with a tight angry smile, “you ready to go home?”
    “Piss off man; she’s with me.” Ted glares at him, holding onto my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh.
    I look at Nathan, silently begging him to help me. A tear falls unbidden into my lap and I am so ashamed of my weakness I look down.
    “Dude, this is my sister and I’ve got to get her home now,” he lies smoothly with a strained smile. I can see how tense he is as his muscles in his arms tighten. “You know she is just a high school student?” he finishes lying.
    “Ah shit!” Ted yells quickly pulling away from me and dropping my arm. “Fucking hell, why didn’t you tell me? You bitch!”
    I just look down at my lap, feeling ridiculous and wishing I was anywhere but here.
    “Just walk away man,” Nathan says, a deadly tone to his voice.
    Ted eyes Nathan with malice in his eyes but something in Nathan’s face warns him to back off. Ted gets up, dragging his dumb buddies with him, and walks away quickly, probably pissed off that he has just blown an entire evening and his money on nothing.
    “Sam, come on, let’s go,” Nathan says with steel in his voice.
    I briefly look up and nod. Then I get up on shaky legs and follow him out. He finds Ben, whom I didn’t even know was here and tells him to let everyone else know we have gone home and then continues to pull me out of the bar.
    “What the fuck were you thinking?” he asks me as we head outside. I see the tension in his face as he stares down at me.
    The breeze blows my hair, slightly damp from all the dancing, and before I can answer him, he pulls the hair off my face surprising me with his gentleness.
    He suddenly becomes conscious of what he is doing and drops his hands just as I take a quick step away from him.
    “That asshole who bought you drinks is Ted Avery. He does this every weekend Sam. Every weekend! Do you know what I am saying?” His angry words gain some momentum in my slightly buzzing head and I feel myself start to get angry too.
    “What? Like you Nathan?” I shout back at him. This stops him and for a moment I see him flinch.
    “Damn it, I never force girls! They come to me,” he says back hotly.
    “I just wanted one normal night! One night I could let myself go.” I start to cry. I can’t help it. Seeing him with that girl, feeling Ted’s disgusting hands on me, smelling the beer on my own breath sends me over the edge and suddenly I am gagging. Nathan quickly pulls me to the side and pulls my hair back, once again, as I retch over and over again onto the sidewalk. I