Pulled Back (Twin Flames Series)

by Bannister, Danielle

  Space. You just need some space to think and chill out. Then I'll be fine.

  Looking back one last time at the restaurant, I duck into the woods, trying to ignore the mounting pressure that's building inside me with each step I take away from her. Annoyed, I will my feet to push harder against the earth and deeper into the woods.

  The extra exertion I'm forcing on my body is, of course, affecting my lungs. I curse, stopping to dig out my inhaler. I hate being so damn weak! I can't even get upset like a normal person!

  Screw it. I'm not using my inhaler yet. I can go further than a few yards without that damn crutch! Ignoring the burning feeling inside my lungs, I push further up a steep incline. I'll take a puff when I get to the top. I can make it to the top of one stupid hill.

  When I'm a few feet away from the top, I realize how wrong I am. Dumbo has returned. And he's brought a few friends. Shit.

  Crushing pressure starts to squeeze my lungs shut, almost dropping me to my knees. My fingers fumble to get a better hold on my inhaler. They shake as I try to get the cap off. I try to steady them, but my palms have now gotten all sweaty. Before I can stop it from happening, the inhaler slides out of my grasp and tumbles down the hill. I stare, dumfounded as it buries itself somewhere in the fallen leaves below. Wheezing, I sink to my knees.

  I am now officially screwed. I didn't think to grab my e-port before I left the restaurant. No one knows I'm out here and there's no way in Hell I'm making it back down that hill before I run out of oxygen.

  Collapsing onto the ground, I do the only thing I can do. I try to calm down, to slow my breathing, because if I don't, I may need to start saying my goodbyes to the world.

  Jada

  Now that Tobias has left, Hawk won’t stop looking at me. It's freaking me out. He doesn't even seem to care that his friend just bolted out the door.

  “I can't believe you're really here,” Hawk whispers. There is such wonder in his voice that it makes me swallow hard. “I've been looking for you since I was twelve. Honest to God. Did you know we were dubbed the ‘Circle of Life Babies’?” His eyes are bright, eager to please me.

  “Um, no.” My lips pinch together, confused. Hawk shifts closer to me.

  “Yeah, because the night we were born three teenagers died in the ER on the floor just below us. Tobias' mom worked in the nursery back then. That's how I know all about you. They say that we're proof that life goes on.” He gives me a kind smile. The sort of smile that should make a girl turn to putty, except it doesn't work on me. It's not his fault. I'm simply flawed when it comes to all things lovey-dovey.

  “Weird,” I blurt out, unsure what he wants me to say. I realize at once that's not what he wanted to hear, but I'm getting antsy. I want to leave. I have an overwhelming need to make sure Tobias is all right.

  “Hey, are you sure your friend is okay?” I can't help myself. It slipped out.

  Hawk's smile fades. “Tobs? Yeah, he's fine. Why wouldn't he be?”

  My stomach rolls, suddenly. Worry prickles my brow. Something is wrong. I can feel it.

  “He just looked a little pale when he left, that's all.”

  “Oh, that.” He looks over his shoulder as though making sure no one will overhear what he's about to say. “He'd probably kill me for telling you this. He hates it when people think he’s weak.” I know the feeling. “The dude's got asthma.”

  I cover my mouth in shock. Asthma now-a-days is practically a death sentence. Pollution levels got too high for medicine to keep up. Most people with asthma die before they hit thirty.

  As though sensing my concern, Hawk continues. “He’s had it since he was a kid, but his mom is a nurse, so she got him in to see the best docs and stuff. He's got a bad lung too, which makes it even harder. That's actually, why he was adopted. His folks couldn't handle having a sick kid.”

  My eyes bulge, suddenly anxious.

  Hawk grabs my hand and cradles it in his. Like a fool, I don't refuse it. I'm surprised by how cold it feels around mine. “He's fine, Jada. He just... has to be careful.”

  “Careful? How?” I probably shouldn't be asking these questions since it's really none of my business, but I can't stop myself.

  “I don’t know... little things. Like being aware of his surroundings. He says he has a hard time in big crowds, not enough air, or something. The smog kills him too, of course. He’s got this inhaler he has to use, like all the time.” Hawk rubs his thumb against my hand and still I don't pull away. I'm too stunned to move. “Bit of advice. If you wanna be friends with Tobias, you should probably learn CPR,” he laughs softly. “I’ve had to breathe life back into that boy more times then I care to admit.”

  “It’s that bad?” My voice comes out in a whisper.

  “Yeah, but don't worry,” he says, leaning in so close that I can taste the coffee on his breath, “He’s got soft lips.” He gives me a quick wink and instantly I'm blushing at the arrant thought of Tobias' lips.

  Hawk nudges my shoulder bringing me out of my daydream. “He’s a tough kid. He'll be okay.”

  No. He won't. Something is wrong. I just know it. I need to find Tobias. I need to find him – now. But first, I have to get past Hawk.

  “Um, I need to use the rest room,” I lie. I'm not exactly sure why I didn't just tell him I wanted to leave. Something about the look he's giving me tells me he wouldn't let me leave without a fight. I don't have time for that.

  He looks at me suspiciously, but then slides out of the booth to let me out.

  “Be right back,” I assure him. I walk to the front of the restaurant and can feel his eyes on me. I push my way into the ladies room and wait for a minute before risking a peek through the door. Hawk is talking to the waiter, so I take the opportunity to bolt out of the restaurant. Just like Tobias had.

  Once I'm outside my eyes search the streets, but I know in my gut that's not where he is. Where did you go?

  A crow shrieks in the woods beside me and I blink. The woods. He's there. I know it. I can feel him pulling me towards him. I don't have to tell my feet where to go. They drag me along, urging me to go faster.

  As soon as the woods envelop me, I know I'm right. My skin is prickling in anticipation. I stop every few feet looking and listening for some clue but all that surrounds me is death: rotting trees and decaying leaves. Even the birds have stopped singing. Panic fills me. Am I too late?

  As I start to climb a steep incline, I hear something so soft, I swear I imagined it. I stop and listen again. It's a small, faint whistling sound. No, not whistling — wheezing.

  “Tobias!” I shout. I only hear my voice bounce back.

  I shout again, knowing I heard something. I hold my breath and listen with every fiber of my body. Where are you?

  “Help.” A voice whispers so faint that it could have easily been mistaken for the breeze.

  But it's not the wind. It's Tobias. And he's hurt.

  As fast as I can, I climb the steep hill. I stop short when I reach the top. There he is; on his back, white as a ghost, clutching his sides and gasping for breath. He is going to die. I can see it in the pale blue coloring creeping into his face.

  “You’re going to be okay,” I say automatically, kneeling down beside him. He gives me a weak nod.

  His lips part as he tries to speak, so I lower my head to hear him.

  “Need…inhaler…fell down... hill,” he gasps.

  “Right. On it.” Turning, I start back down the same cursed hill I’d just worked my way up!

  In my hurry to get down the hill I don't watch where I step, slip on some leaves and end up falling flat on my ass. Blood trickles down my arm from where a rock braced my landing. Ignoring the pain, I start frantically searching the ground for the inhaler. Only problem is I have no idea what it looks like and I am running out of time.

  I'm about to scream in frustration when I spot something bright yellow a few yards away, half buried under a fallen leaf. His inhaler. Thank you, I whisper to the heavens.

 
Bending over to pick it up, blood runs down my arm at a good clip. Damn! I've cut myself pretty good. Seeing my blood drop to the ground actually makes me start to feel light headed, especially after what I lost this morning. I have to stop this bleeding if I'm going to be of any use to Tobias. Cursing at myself for not wearing anything even remotely usable as a tourniquet, I rip my tank off (leaving me in just my bra) and tie it as tight as I can around my arm. It's not pretty but it'll have to do. Tobias is waiting.

  Heading back up the hill I yell, “I’ve got it!” Don't die.

  I stumble a few times on my way back but I manage to keep a death grip on the inhaler. When I reach the top Tobias is on his side and barely breathing. I sink down to my knees beside him.

  “Here!” I shove the plastic opening against his lips, but he turns his head away from me slightly.

  “Cover,” he whispers.

  I glance down at my chest. Is he really asking me to cover myself up now? I shake my head frustrated with him and push the medicine back at his face.

  “Cap…on,” he tries again.

  Huh? Oh, the cap! Idiot! The cover is still on the inhaler!

  Ripping it away, I lift his head up onto my knees and place the plastic once again to his lips. I squeeze down on the depressor as he inhales weakly. Nothing happens.

  “Again?”

  His eyes blink: Yes.

  I press it again and hold my breath. This time his chest rises but only a bit. Without waiting for consent, I press it again.

  That’s when he starts coughing. Coughing is good, right? If he can cough, he can breathe. At least that’s what I hope it means.

  Seemingly stronger I give him yet another pump of the medicine. He holds his hand up after he takes it in and then closes his eyes. For a moment, I panic thinking he's dead, but when he opens his eyes again I exhale in relief. His color is returning. I can see it even through the sheen of sweat that is covering his face.

  He's only still for a moment before the coughing gets worse. He tries to push himself up. I do my best to sit him upright until he's leaning up against my chest. After a few good coughs, he seems to be able to take steadier breaths although he is still clearly, very weak.

  “Lay back down,” I order. He does. I'm guessing he only complies because he's too exhausted to object.

  “Thank you,” Tobias croaks, once he's nestled safely back in my lap.

  “Shh. Don’t talk. Just breathe.”

  “Good plan.”

  He closes his eyes and takes some shallow breaths that slowly, very slowly, become deeper. A few brief coughing rounds follow. Each time a cough rolls through his body I can’t help but run my fingers through his dark, curly hair, trying to soothe him. His head is just sitting there resting in my lap. What else am I supposed to do?

  “That feels nice,” he says, when the coughing finally subsides. There is the faintest hint of a smile on his lips, so of course I stop. I'm majorly embarrassed.

  “Are you okay?” I ask, my voice desperate for the truth.

  “I’m right as rain.”

  “I’m being serious here. Do we need to get you to the hospital? Do you need CPR?” I know I am being annoying with the twenty questions, but I don't know what else to do.

  He holds up his inhaler and waves it in the air.

  “I'm okay. Thanks to this and you,” he says slowly. He starts to sit up again. I inch backwards, making room for him. “Man, I thought I was a goner there for a minute.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he catches sight of my arm. My hand instantly reaches to make sure my cuff hasn't slipped revealing me ugly truth. That's not the arm he's looking at, though. He's looking at my other arm. The bloody one. And... my bra. Whoops!

  I blush ten shades of ruby and quickly cover myself with my hands. His eyes widen when he looks at my tourniquet, not my chest. Something flashes across his eyes. He's angry. He pushes up to his feet, but wobbles a bit as he does. “What happened to your arm?”

  “It's nothing,” I say, standing up to meet him, grabbing his arm to steady him. “I scratched it trying to get your inhaler,” I wince at the memory. “I'm not the most graceful person in the world.”

  He frowns and then starts shrugging himself out of his t-shirt.

  “Um, what are you doing?” I ask, trying my best not to look at his naked chest. I'm not doing a very good job of it.

  “I'm giving you my shirt,” he says.

  “Oh. Yeah. Good idea.” Mortified at my own stupidity, I pull his shirt over my head and then hug my arms around my waist. His scent envelops me and I can't help but breathe him in. It's downright intoxicating. He smells like... home. Whatever that is.

  I accidentally slip another peek at his body as he sits down on a rock. Although he's not built like Hawk, he’s not as scrawny as you’d think. He's a lover, not a fighter. I bite my lip to hold back the burning in my cheeks.

  I shuffle my feet on the ground, not sure how long my legs will let me be this far away from him. When I look up at him, he's staring at me, his eyebrows wrinkling in concentration.

  “How did you know I was here?” he asks.

  It's a legitimate question but one I don't have a rational answer for.

  “I don't know.” The truth spills out. “I just sort of... knew.”

  His face is at first surprised, but then becomes contorted, almost as though he's in pain again.

  “What is it? What's wrong?” I ask taking a step towards him.

  He looks beyond me to the edge of the hill. “We have company,” he says, nostrils flaring.

  I don’t have time to process his answer before I hear what he's talking about.

  “Tobs? Where are you man?”

  It's Hawk. His footsteps are swift along the dirt as he climbs the hill. Tobias gets up and takes a step in front of me, as though he's trying to protect me, and I don't stop him. I'm a little scared of Hawk's reaction at finding me here, too.

  As he crests the hill, Hawk's face goes from relieved at seeing his friend alive, to what I can only describe as instant fury. I'm surprised at how deeply his glare cuts me.

  “What's going on?” Hawk asks Tobias. “What's she doing here? And why don't you have a shirt on?” His voice is laced with accusation. I don't like that. Not one bit.

  I step away from Tobias and stand directly in between them before Tobias can stop me. “He had an asthma attack. I helped him.” My words are not eloquent but the way he glares at me... it makes me nervous.

  Hawk's eyes narrow as he crosses his thick arms over his chest. I do my best not to let my eyes linger on the way his shirt clings to his pecks, because I know that's what he wants. Still, it's hard to avoid. He looks right at me when he speaks again.

  “You were supposed to be in the bathroom.”

  Busted. I swallow. Here goes nothing. “Look, you freaked me out back there with your ‘Circle of Life’ stuff. I just needed some air. That's all. When I walked outside I heard Tobias yelling for help.”

  I glance to Tobias hoping he'll go along with my version of the truth.

  “It's true, man,” Tobias says. “If it hadn't been for her I'd be half way to heaven by now.”

  Hawk's eyes narrow again before he exhales. He seems to buy our story. “Okay, that explains you. But why were you out in the woods, Tobs?”

  I'm curious to know the answer to that myself.

  Tobias steps away from us, as though embarrassed. “The air was getting too thick in there.”

  “So, you walked to the middle of the woods – where no one could find you, for air?” he asks, clearly pissed.

  “You found me,” Tobias retorts.

  Hawk snorts. “That's only because you stink.”

  I look at Hawk, offended for Tobias.

  “What he means is that he can track my scent,” Tobias tells me. “I don't stink,” he spits at Hawk.

  I'm confused. “What does that mean, you can track him?”

  A small smile spreads across Hawk's face. “What can I say? I've got a good nose
.”

  “Okay, now that is creepy,” I say.

  He sniffs the air again. “Who is bleeding?”

  Tobias shoves a thumb at me. “She scratched her arm trying to get my inhaler. That's why I took off my shirt. She used her own shirt as a tourniquet to try and stop the bleeding."

  “You're hurt?” Hawk's eyes shift.

  I grab my arm. “I'm fine, really.”

  “Let me look,” he says.

  “No, it's fine.”

  His eyes shift to my other arm. To my leather cuff. My eyes follow what he sees: a small trail of blood has escaped its prison. I must have re-opened the ‘J’ when I fell. Panicked, my eyes find his. Pleading. He gives me a small nod before he starts to undo the bandage around my other arm.

  Blood has soaked through the tank I’d used to try and stop the bleeding and is now caked all over my arm.

  Hawk frowns, then lifts his shirt up and starts to undo his belt.

  I flinch back from him and I don't know why.

  “What are you doing?” Tobias asks, stepping forward. Hawk pulls off his belt with a loud crack and I jump at the sound.

  “The shirt isn't cutting it. Her blood isn't clotting.” He pushes Tobias aside and then pulls out a knife from his back pocked and carves a small hole a few inches away from the buckle. He orders me to sit, which I do, then wraps the leather around my arm and pulls the belt closed. The blood slows down almost immediately.

  “Better,” Hawk says, before he takes off his shirt, as well, to sop up the mess left behind.

  I gulp as I glance secretly back and forth between the two of them. I'm sitting in the middle of the woods with two half-naked men. Not a bad way to start the day.

  Chapter 5

  Tobias

  The walk back home is, by far, one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Not because I didn't feel well, but because I actually felt pretty damn good, considering. It sucks because he got to hold onto Jada's waist the whole way home. He claimed he needed to hang onto her in case she got light headed from the blood loss. She tried to protest, but nobody wins a fight with Hawk.