Breathe Me (Billionaire Bullies 1)

Chapter 6

Shana

My heart is still pounding from my run-in with Vincent, hands shaking when I open my locker. The corridor is almost dead, but the sound of footsteps catches my attention. I lean back as Mei comes into view.

“Hey,” she says, smiling faintly. “What are you up to?”

I look her over. She is holding a bag from Ica Maxi in her hand, and there is a car key in the other. I guess every person studying at this elite gymnasium has a car beside me. Every student comes from money, but mine is unwilling to spoil me even though she has money.

It sucks.

“I’m heading home,” I tell her and try not to let it show on my face that going home is my only option. It’s not like I have any friends to hang out with.

“I see,” her lips thin to form a forceful smile. “Then do you want to do something?”

“Do something?” What does that even mean?

Mei sighs. “Shana, I’m trying to make friends with you. I’m not very good at it, so please just say, ‘okay’ and let me take you somewhere. We can watch my brother when he practices ice hockey or something. Just don’t make this more awkward than it already is.”

I laugh at that, both surprised and happy that Mei is willing to hang out with me. I really want to get to know her. Making friends is almost impossible because of Vincent, but Mei doesn’t seem to be scared of him, and she is also really fascinating. She comes across as determined and intelligent, and she knows how to voice her opinion without hesitation.

“Sure, let’s do something,” I say, returning Mei’s smile. “I’d love to watch your brother practice ice hockey.”

Mei’s eyes light up. “Great! I know he will be thrilled to have someone cheering him on besides me,” she looks me up and down. “And you’re pretty...maybe we can find you a date among his friends?”

My cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Umm... I don’t think so. They’re all really athletic, and I’m not exactly small.”

She scoffs in response. “You have your own kind of beauty, Mei. Not every girl needs to be stick-thin. There are a lot of guys who appreciate curves, so don’t sell yourself short.”

A smile slowly creeps across my lips as I am taken aback by her kind words. “Thank you.”

We walk out of the school building and head to her car, which is parked in the student lot. As we drive to the ice rink, Mei talks about her family, her hobbies, and her future aspirations to become a marine biologist. I can’t help but admire her confidence and burning determination.

When we arrive at the rink, Mei’s brother is already on the ice, gliding back and forth with ease. He looks up and waves when he spots us in the stands. Mei and I settle in to watch him practice, cheering him on every time he scores a goal.

As we watch, Mei and I chat about love and guys while snacking on a bag of Polly Original.

“So you’re not seeing anyone?” Mei asks.

My cheeks burn. “No...I have never even had a boyfriend.”

Mei looks surprised. “Really? Why not? I mean, you’re beautiful and intelligent. You could have any guy you want.”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just really shy, and I never really put myself out there.”

Mei nods in understanding. “Well, maybe it’s time to change that. You never know what could happen if you take a chance.”

“Thanks, but there is also the Vincent thing. He made it forbidden for any student to make friends with me, so I can only assume dating me is out of the question if you don’t want to end up on his bad side.”

Mei grins. “True, but there are guys who aren’t scared of Vincent. Other top elite students,” she nods at her brother and two other guys and winks at me. “Oliver and William are both handsome and not the least bit afraid of Vincent. They are both rich...William is a bit of a player, though. But he is nice. Anyway, why don’t you ask one of them out?”

I can see the appeal in Oliver and William. They are both tall and muscular with chiseled features, but the thought of asking them out makes my stomach flip with nerves. “I don’t know if I could do that,” I murmur.

Mei leans in closer. “Come on, Shana. You can do anything you set your mind to. Don’t let Vincent’s stupid rules hold you back. Live a little. Be a force of nature. Take what you want.”

I take a deep breath, feeling emboldened by Mei’s encouragement. “Okay, I will do it. I will ask one of them out on a date.”

Mei claps her hands excitedly. “Yes! I know you can do it!”

As we watch the guys finish their practice and head to the locker room, my heart races with anticipation. I take a deep breath and steel myself for what I’m about to do.

I walk up to William, my heart pounding in my chest. “Hey,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

William regards me with an amused expression. He seems to recognize who I am. “Shana, right? You’re the one Vincent hates. The girl no one is allowed to make friends with.”

I gulp nervously. “Y-yes... that’s me.”

William’s eyes rake over my body, and I can feel my cheeks flush with heat. “What can I do for you, Shana?” he asks, his voice low and smooth.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime. You know, on a date?”

William’s lips curl into a leer. “I thought Vincent made it clear that no one is supposed to associate with you.”

I feel my confidence falter, and I can feel the weight of Vincent’s disapproval bearing down on me. “I know, but I thought maybe you—”

William cuts me off, his expression hardening. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Shana. Vincent may not have any power over me, but I have no desire to get on his bad side. Sorry.”

With that, William turns on his heel and walks away, leaving me standing there, feeling small and rejected. I can feel the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back, refusing to let them fall.

I take a deep breath and square my shoulders, determined not to let Vincent or anyone else make me feel like I’m less than I am. I’m not afraid to be me, and that’s enough.

I am enough.

...if only I felt like that all the time.

As I turn to leave, Mei walks up to me. “Ouch, that might not have gone so well, but I’m proud of you,” she pats my shoulder as we walk. “Not many people are brave enough to ask someone out like that.”

I try to smile, grateful for Mei’s support. “Thanks, Mei. I just wish it didn’t hurt so much.”

“I know, but don’t worry. There are plenty of other guys out there who would be lucky to go out with you.” Mei grins. “And who knows, maybe William will change his mind eventually.”

I try to fight back the flicker of optimism that starts in my heart. But I can’t. What if Mei is right? What if there are other boys willing to risk it all for me?

“Do you want to grab a burger before heading home?” Mei asks and strokes her flat stomach. “I’m starving.”

Since making friends with Mei is more important than my diet, I hand her a big smile. “Sure.”

We head over to the nearest Max hamburger restaurant and accidentally run into Mei’s hot ex-boyfriend. The two of them start talking, and soon the guy asks if he can speak to Mei one-on-one outside Max. She glances up at me with a look of desperation, and I give her an encouraging smile. I support her decision to make amends and don’t mind waiting until she is done while finishing my milkshake.

A dark, sleek BMW parks outside Max as I’m trying to slurp up the last bits of vanilla. My heart skips a beat when I see that the driver is Vincent. He combs his fingers through his dark blonde hair, stopping when he notices me gazing at him from the other side of the window.

A sinister light awakens in his eyes, and I have the sudden urge to flee. Should I stay or should I go? It’s a dilemma; if he has already seen me, staying wouldn’t make much of a difference anyway. There is nowhere to hide from him.

Vincent enters through the doors. He is alone. It seems his goons entered the other store nearby, but that doesn’t make me any less nervous. Soon his huge frame is filling my view, and I shrink back in my seat when he sits down in front of me. I have some fries left on my plate, and he picks one up, eyeing it before popping it inside his mouth.

“I thought you were on a diet,” he says while chewing. He sounds cruel yet also incredibly seductive. I want to hate him for being a terrible person and a bully, but there is no denying the heat bubbling under my skin when he looks at me. “So, what changed?”

I swallow thickly.

Vincent is staring at me with his intense eyes, and I know he won’t go away even if I ignore him. It irritates me. What does he want from me? In my heart and soul, I know he isn’t my friend. I know he won’t be anything else other than my bully, yet a sick part of my brain wants to hope our recent meetings mean something. Jesus Christ, I need help.

What sort of f****d up syndrome must I have to find this guy attractive? I mean, sure, he has abs and pecs and a beautiful face, but my god, his personality is the worst!

“I asked you a question, Shana,” Vincent steals another french fry, and after devouring it, he licks the salt from his fingertips. It would be awkward if anyone else did it, but Vincent manages to make it look sexy.

I clear my throat, trying to push away any inappropriate thoughts that might be lingering in my head. “I just needed a cheat day,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s not like it’s any of your business.”

Vincent leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Oh, but it is my business, Shana,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. “Everything about you is my business. Don’t forget that.”

I feel a shiver run down my spine at his words, and I can’t help but feel a twinge of fear. Vincent has always been a little too possessive of me, always acting like he has some sort of claim over me. It’s suffocating.

“What do you want?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why are you here?”

His lips part, exposing his white teeth. “Can’t a guy visit his favorite girl?” he asks, his tone mocking.

Despite my fear, I roll my eyes. Vincent might intimidate me, but we are around people, so I feel a little bit brave. “Cut the crap, Vincent. You didn’t come here just to say hi.”

Surprise flashes over his face. “You’re speaking back to me today.”

My face flushes red. “Y-yes…” I clear my throat. “Yes, I am.”

“Brave girl, but also stupid,” Vincent looks amused and leans even closer, his possessive green eyes digging into mine. “I came here to remind you that you belong to me,” he whispers in a sultry tone, his voice sending shivers down my spine. “Which reminds me...rumor has it you asked out William on a date. Is that true?”

Panic settles in my chest. I don’t know what to tell him. Even if who I date has nothing to do with Vincent, I can tell he won’t like that answer. He is looking at me like he owns me. Like I’m his belonging, and fear quickly got me in a chokehold. How do I get out of this without Vincent beating the s**t out of me?