Page 259 of Small Town Firsts

My chest heaves as I gasp and sputter. I tug at the high neckline of my shirt, desperate for air. But it’s no use. I stumble against the wall and collapse down onto the floor.

Someone in the distance calls my name, but I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I can’t do anything other than lie here and beg the universe to help me. Because once again, I’m that eight-year-old girl in the closet, unable to help herself.

“Emmy!” Cool hands wrap around my shoulders, gently shaking me. “Oh my God! Emmy, are you okay?”

My head lolls to the side and I stare blankly, not really seeing.

“Did you take something? What’s wrong? We need to get you out of here.”

“Is your friend okay?” an unfamiliar masculine voice asks.

“I don’t know!” She shakes me again. “Will you... will you keep an eye on her while I call someone?”

“Yeah.”

The party continues around me, but I’m not here anymore. Not really. I’m back in space, only this time, instead of floating, I’m hurtling toward a black hole.

“Just hang tight, babe. Help’s on the way.”

CHAPTER 15

EMMY

The soundof dull but furious voices rouses me from my stupor.

“The hell were you doing at a party anyway, Luna?”

Where am I? And who in the hell is Luna?

“Why do you even care?” my roommate asks with more fire in her voice than I’ve ever heard. “You gonna tattle on me?”

“You’re acting like a brat.”

“What can I say? You bring out the worst in me.”

A rough, all-male laugh sounds, filling the space around me.

“Now, are you going to help me get her inside or not?”

“As long as you keep up your end of the bargain, I’ll help.”

Stella huffs. “You might not think much of me, Samson Carter, but I’m not a liar.”

“You don’t have the first clue of what I think of you.”

Two loud slams finally unseal my eyelids, allowing me to take stock of my surroundings. We’re at the dorm building.How the...

I don’t get to finish the thought when a strange man flings open the back door and reaches for me. Panic swarms and I scream at the top of my lungs.

“Stop! Get away from me!” I kick and thrash, all coherent thought lost in my struggle to get away.

“Holy Shit, Luna! Get your damn friend before she kicks out my teeth!” the deep voice booms, making me shiver in fear.

“Emmy!” Stella’s worried voice cuts through my terror. “Emmy, stop!”

“Stella?” Her name comes out scratchy and thin. “What... where?”

“Shh, we’ll talk inside.”

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