Just Remember to Breathe (Thompson Sisters)

to hear, Alex. I just… If you were just playing with him… I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m saying.”
    I put my hand on his arm, and said, “You’re saying that you’re a good friend, and you’re looking out for him.”
    “Yeah,” he said, shrugging.
    “I won’t ever do anything to hurt him if I can avoid it. Fair enough? I’d rather gouge my eyes out than cause him any more pain.”
    He looked relieved.
    “Okay. We’re good,” he said. “Back to chasing your hot sister.”
    I giggled, embarrassed and amused at the same time. He stepped out of the kitchen, and I stood there for a moment, just thinking.
    The last two weeks had changed so much. For the first time in my life, I saw a real chance to carve out my own life. A life I wanted, not the one my father had planned out for me. And that life would include Dylan, no matter what. Right then and there, I repeated the promise I’d just made to Ray Sherman, but I made it to myself. I’d never, ever do anything to hurt Dylan.
    I was so spaced out, my thoughts so far away, I didn’t even notice when Randy Brewer stepped into the kitchen. But when I heard his voice, my back nearly spasmed.
    “You look so thoughtful, beautiful. Have you changed your mind about me?”
    I spun around, my eyes widening, my heart rate suddenly increasing.
    “Get away from me,” I said.
    “What’s wrong, Alex? You used to like me.”
    “We went out exactly twice. And then you tried to rape me.”
    “Jesus, will you just get over it already? I was drunk. It was bad judgment, and I apologize. Besides, you would have liked it. You know that.”
    I started to back out of the kitchen through the other door, away from him. But also away from Dylan and my friends. I didn’t know what was down this hall, but I needed some distance from Randy right now.
    “You’re kidding yourself,” I said. “Just leave me alone.”
    “Give me what I want and I’ll be happy to.”
    A flash of fear ran through my mind. If he tried to grab me, would they even hear me out there? The music was so damned loud. As I backed away, into a darkened hallway, he stepped closer, matching my steps.
    “It won’t be so bad,” he said. “You could learn to love me as much as I love you.”
    What the hell was wrong with him? I’d known Randy for years. His family ran in the same circles as mine. He’d always been arrogant, but this was something different entirely. My heart was pounding as I tried to keep my distance from him.
    “Just leave me alone, Randy. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
    I took one more step backwards, and my foot tangled in something on the floor. As I lost my footing, I started to fall backwards. I let out a scream when he reached out and grabbed my arms.

    Where did she go anyway? (Dylan)

    “So, yeah,” Joel was saying. “I thought he was going to kill me, to be honest. His eyes were pretty damn cold. But it was all a misunderstanding, and I’m glad they sorted it out. Not just because they’re so happy… but my own safety.”
    Joel chuckled, but I didn’t think he was terribly funny. I felt Sherman’s eyes on me briefly, as he put Joel’s story together with what he knew. That I’d lost it in Afghanistan because I’d seen Joel on the Skype feed from Alex’s room. That my overreaction had ended up costing Roberts his life.
    Sherman knew it all now, and I didn’t want to look at him, because if I did I might fucking break down.
    I’d told him most of the story, anyway. We’d emailed back and forth several times while I was in the hospital, and he was still out there in Afghanistan. He’d said several times that none of the guys blamed me for what happened. But I knew that was bullshit. It was my fault. Of course they blamed me. I blamed myself.
    Carrie was sitting next to Sherman, close. She leaned forward and said to me, “You know, I don’t have to say this. But I want you to be careful with my sister. She’s… she’s fallen really hard for you.”
    “I wouldn’t hurt her for the world,” I said.
    Speaking of which, where was she? She’d left to go get water like five or ten minutes before, and hadn’t come back. “Where did she go, anyway?”
    “She was in the kitchen a few minutes ago,” Sherman said.
    Kelly suddenly went stiff, her eyes wide. “I thought I saw Randy Brewer headed that way.”
    “Who?” I asked.
    “That’s the guy who—” She cut herself off, I guess not knowing whether Carrie or I knew. But I knew.