Free My Night Breeze (The Breeze Series) by M.L. Newman Page B

anyone tried to come near her.
    “Tobias, will you walk me to class?” Val erie asked.
    Tobias agreed, turning in the direction of the stairwell. Valerie walked by, firmly stomping upon her foot. Audra gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. Valerie flipped her hair over her shoulder with a fake sympathetic look.
    “ Oh, so sorry! Your feet are just so big,” Valerie said.
    Audra gave the girl her back and walked towards the gym. She wouldn’t slow down to speak with anyone; anger was rolling around inside her stomach. No one deserved to get the full brunt of it except Valerie. Audra changed into her clothes and sat down on the bleachers. She closed her eyes taking slow, deep breaths, the emotions starting to take over out of nowhere. This wasn’t the time or place to have a breakdown.
    A sudden nudge from her side sent a narrow glare straight at Stephen.
    “What crawled up your butt?” he asked.
    “I don’t want to get into it. I just need time to shake it.”
    Stephen sighed aloud but kindly placed his arm around her shoulders, allowing her to lay her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes again. Could this be what she needed all along? A simple gesture of friendship to prove that she wasn’t as alone as she felt? She wrapped her arms around him in a strange sideways hug, but he reciprocated by holding her closer.
    “You’re turning into a clingy chick ,” Stephen joked.
    “I don’t care.”
    He rubbed her back a few times until she pulled back. She looked over her best friend, the only person she would fight for and runaway with if asked. Stephen quirked an eyebrow with a smirk.
    “What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked.
    “I love you is all ,” Audra admitted with a smile.
    “Have my parents managed to brainwash you into thinking I’d turn straight for you?”
    “Totally. I’m head over heels.” Audra’s smile widened with a slight chuckle. “No, you just know how to make me feel better.”
    “That’s my job ,” Stephen said.
    Audra and Stephen d id the quick lap around the gym and some stretching. Mr. Adams advised for the class to divide up once again for basketball. Luckily, this time Stephen was on her team, and they dominated the court without even breaking a sweat. It was just the right activity to focus upon, and it lightened her mood.
    Mr. Adams blew the whistle, ending the game and sending everyone to the locker rooms to get changed. Audra came out at the same time Mateo did. She didn’t bother trying to talk to him or attempt to walk in his general direction. If he wanted to talk to her, he would. She glanced down at the floor and walked toward the door, waiting for the bell to ring. She only needed to worry about fixing one issue at a time, and right now, it only concerned her.
    *****

           Audra buckled up the seatbelt as Jim started the car. She leaned her head against the window. The anxiousness in her stomach had started to cause a slight nauseous effect. She was actually going to a party with her brother, no lies or cover-ups. All she could hope for was that she would get to have some fun when some girl distracted Jim. In the silent drive towards Tobias’s house, she could practically hear Jim screaming at himself for not finding a way to get her not to come.
    The houses pass ed by in shadows and lit up curtains. She glanced up towards the dark sky, but not a single star could be seen. Jim pulled up to the curb and put the car in park. She undid her seatbelt just as Jim faced her. She knew he would try to give rules about the party. It wasn’t like she was an idiot; she was more than aware of the scrutiny they were going to be under when they got back late tonight.
    “There are going to be a lot of people here tonight so stick with Stephen, okay?” Jim st ated.
    Audra nod ded in response.
    “Don’t drink anything anyone hands you. And don’t drink anything that isn’t sealed.”
    “Jim, I get it. Relax.”
    “This is your first