Exponent of Breath-4

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the plot, ideas, facts or characters in the book Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klaus. I don't even own the poem that inspired me to write this story. The poem "The Look" belongs to Sara Teasdale, and I got a lot of the idea for this story from it. I don't own the other poem in here either, it is without a name, but was written by Emily Dickinson.

Poem that inspired this story:

"The Look"

Strephon kissed me in the spring

Robin in the fall

But Colin only looked at me

And never kissed at all

Strephon's kiss was lost in jest

Robin's lost in play

But the kiss in Colin's eyes

Haunts me night and day

It was now almost dusk, and I could barely believe we had spent the whole day swimming, but the water felt wonderful against my taut skin, and it was just great to imagine I was normal, without a care in the world and just having fun…but now I was tired, dead tired, and I had convinced Chaos to sun bathe with me and watch the sun set.

"Charlotte Evelyn, no doubt about it." I replied coolly as I lay propped up on my elbow facing Chaos slim figure glistening with water droplets. The fading sun rays bouncing off his thoughtful silhouette.

"Charlotte?" He furrowed his eyebrows questioningly.

"Yes, I think it's a beautiful baby girl's name, is it not?"

"But, what if it's a boy?"

"Trust me Chaos…it'll be girl." At this he started chuckling softly and propped himself up on his elbow and grinned wildly.

"So what's its last name then?"

I grinned wickedly and leaned in closer…planning to tease him for all eternity, but then a soothingly deep and handsome voice sounded from a mere few feet behind us.

"Why Torrealis of course…"

I whipped my blonde-red dreadlocks across my face and jumped to the air, face to face with Trey Torrealis's dreadfully gorgeous sneer, his mischievous molten liquid green eyes glinting in the sun.

My breath caught in my throat and his full, lovely lips parted into a breath-taking grin, and in all reality, if Chaos had not took hold of my hand from behind at that second, I just might have kissed Trey. I shudder at the thought.

"You have no business here." Chaos stated calmly and softly, but his voice was weak and small compared to Trey's, he stood looking Trey full in the eye. But, Trey only brought himself to full height and a gigantic threatening smile absorbed all the former happiness in the atmosphere.

"I apologize for interrupting you conversation, but I was sent by our leader Gabriel to fetch his daughter and bring her home before night fall alone, she will be available tomorrow morning, where you can finish your conversation… tomorrow." Trey sounded so entirely defiant and true, no one dared to question him. Even his stance held authority.

"Trey…" I pleaded, my voice wavering at the end.

"No…you gotta go…I understand…goodbye Echo…" Said Chaos, his eyes never leaving mine.

Trey placed a firm hand on my arm to guide me away, but I still found myself looking over my shoulder at the hunched over figure of Chaos, his fingers hitched in his jean pockets, his crystal clear blue eyes following me, his shirt withering in the light wind, I lifted my hand delicately and waved at him, my eyes locked in the cold, bleak, mournful look in his.

"He's just a friend Trey…just a friend…" I assured him, my voice hard, as I shifted to try to get out from under his arm that was draped casually over my shoulder.

"All right, all right I get it, bad topic…but I'm not too sure he knows that is all he is to you." His voice faded off and we walked in silence, I prayed to myself that that was all he was, my friend, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was pressuring him more than usual, questioning his every move and ploy, wondering…oh sweet moon was I wondering, more than ever, what his kiss would taste like, wondering far more than I should have been.

As we walked in an awkward silence, I felt my breath begin to shorten, a nervous and frail tendency I have when I get frustrated or scared. I closed my eyes trying hard not to think of Chaos, but every time I closed my eyes he was there, that same helpless child-like smoldering of his tender adoring stare as I retreated away. He needed me, and I left him, I need him now, but he's not here! Why can't I let this go! I don't love him! I CAN'T love him….I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest and my temples throbbed, I fell down before I even knew I had stopped breathing.

"Echo! Echo are-are you all right, I…Echo answer me…"

He had line me down on a soft, moss covered rock and I limply brought my hand to my head and began take enormous gasps of breath, I nodded slowly and then I started to shiver uncontrollably. He quickly shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. He then took his hands over mine and caressed them lightly with the back of his thumbs.

My breathing became regular and the shaking stopped.

He took his hands quickly from mine and held my jaw, I bit my lip and tried to smile for him, to assure him I was alright.

"You're okay now, you're going to be fine…"

"I know." My voice was distant and weak, and I fluttered open my eyes, staring directly into his beautiful, shimmering gold-speckled eyes, and before I knew it, my lips were pressed hard against his, he slid his fingers through my hair and I gnawed on his lower lip, his fingers trailing down to the small of my back. What I would give to run with him right now, run and be free like all wolf kind, I thought. My own hands placed lifelessly and limply in my lap. The kiss was one of the most wonderful things in the world, full of fire and passion, and for that moment the patronizing thoughts of Chaos were gone.

I leaned in farther, my arms winding around him.

He pulled apart and I stared back at him reluctantly, white-hot tears rolling down my cheeks.

"You're alright…"

Trey then pulled me close again in a tight embracing hug, and patted my back softly. I felt the sobs wrack my body but I only squeezed to him tighter.

"Come on, let's go home."

He wrapped his arms tighter and adjusted me so that he was cradling me in his arms. I have no idea what came over me, but I felt immediately tired, hungry and helpless, a feeling I hated more than all that sentimental lovey-dovey emotion. This childish needing feeling was tearing me apart! And as I drifted into a uneasy sleep, I couldn't help but wonder about Trey...now that he was faced with what he always wanted a damsel in distress, he couldn't be more of gentlemen…

A/N: Thank you for reading, suggestions are welcome!