Page 67 of Muse (Fighting Fate)

Turning my attention back to Jace, I spent the rest of the lunch break more or less watching him laughing with Aiden. It was refreshing to see the both of them so relaxed for a change.

The bell rang not long after that and, other than a quick hi-goodbye, I didn’t really get a chance to see Jace again before Kaeli and I had to rush off to gym class.

Kaeli was telling me about her latest design assignment as we rounded the corner towards the gym, when something slammed into my shoulder. I gasped, more from surprise than pain, and spun to see what had hit me. My eyes connected with Melissa’s cold ones as she walked away from me.

“You better watch yourself, bitch,” Kaeli said quietly.

Melissa simply smirked before turning and continuing on her way.

“That girl is seriously pissing me off,” Kaeli mumbled. “Are you alright?”

I nodded. I was a little taken aback actually. I hadn’t really anticipated Melissa going at me quite so blatantly. I guess I needed to be a little more aware.

We made it to the gym and I managed to get through the class without too much of an incident seeing as my head was all over the place. After that I had biology, and considering we had an assessment to complete in class, I forced my head to focus enough so I didn’t completely stuff it up.

As the final bell rang for the day, I packed up, ready to run out the door, but Mr. Carrington decided to recruit me to sort out the test tube samples for him. I knew he only did it because he knew it’d get done properly, but still.

By the time I got out, most of the halls were relatively empty. There were still a few students wandering around, but the mass of the student body seemed to be missing. I frowned with confusion. I hadn’t been that freaking long. Where the hell was everybody?

I got my answer when the gym doors suddenly crashed open behind me and the halls instantly became filled with hundreds of yelling and cheering football fans.

I’d forgotten about the pep rally.

Fuck.

The sudden noise and crowds of people hit me like the full force of a steam train and there was no way of stopping the anxiety that sprang up into a full blown panic attack. It was too much like that day.

I pressed myself back against the lockers, my breath rushing in and out. Too fast. The crowd hollered and cheered, banging on the lockers as they filed past. I couldn’t seem to get enough air into my lungs. I gasped for it, but it wouldn’t come. The pressure of it on my chest was brutal and relentless.

Oh, god. Air. I needed air. Please. Someone. Help me!

The thunderous noise continued. I squeezed my eyes shut, just wanting it to be over. This was it. I was going to die. Right here. And they wouldn’t care. Wouldn’t notice. They’d just walk right over the top of me like they did with my dad.

The banging got louder, making me flinch with each jarring sound. I whimpered, tears stinging my eyes. My vision blurred. Everything in my peripheral sight started fading, quickly turning black, my field of vision growing smaller and small until there were only pinpoints of light before me. My face started tingling with pins and needles, spreading down my neck and arms until it reached my fingers.

Air. I needed more air…

Somewhere in the fogginess of my brain I thought I heard my name, as though being called by a ghost. Please, god, no.

Then, out of nowhere, I felt myself being wrapped in familiar arms, enveloped by a familiar smell, my face pressing into a familiar warmth. Jace. I wanted to cry because he found me, because he was trying to protect me.

I clung to him, breathed in his calming scent, concentrating with everything I had on the slow rise and fall of his chest. I tried to match my breaths with his, focusing on only those things. His breathing, his smell, and the feel of his arms around me.

Sweet, reviving air streamed into me, and I gulped it down greedily, taking in as much as I could. My head swam with it, making the world around me tilt, but I wasn’t afraid of falling. I knew Jace would never let me.

With my face still pressed into his chest, the sounds of the crowd continued to terrorize me, ripping me violently between past and present. I tried to concentrate on things that would help me distinguish between the two, to help me feel safe. It was the murmurs of my name and Jace’s that finally brought me back to reality. I still couldn’t move, couldn’t face the volumes of people I knew were still flocking around me, but I knew I’d be okay as long as I stayed in Jace’s arms.

My heart lurched when someone suddenly started pulling on my arm, trying to drag me away from him, and a half whimper, half scream escaped me. I clung tighter to Jace, panicked, silently begging him to not let them take me. Jace growled.

“Mia, it’s only me,” I heard Aiden say. I relaxed a little at hearing his voice, but I couldn’t let go of my lifeline.

I shook my head in a rush and gripped Jace even tighter again, silently pleading with Aiden to leave me in my safe haven. Thankfully, Jace tightened his arms in response, sending relief through me in waves.

“I’m here, Mia. It’s okay,” Aiden said. “Jace and I are both here. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”

I could feel Aiden’s hand pressed against my back, and the waves of relief came stronger. I nodded a little in response, but kept my face pressed into Jace’s chest.

My body shook uncontrollably, and my knees went weak. I let myself sag even more against Jace, no longer able to fully support my own weight.

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