Read Out of Breath for Free Online

apartment doors were open to grant access and a sound system wasset up in the open space, blaring the most recent hip hop music.
    ‘We need drinks!’ Peyton announced, raising her hands in the air and moving her hips to the beat.
    We followed her form-fitting green sweater through the crowd. She turned heads as she wiggled by, but she was too focused on her mission to take notice.
    We continued up the stairs and into the closest open door.
    ‘Wait here,’ she instructed. ‘I’ll get us something.’
    I didn’t think we could squeeze in any further if we tried; the room was packed. Peyton reappeared, her fingers dipped into small plastic cups of Jell-O. She handed one to each of us. I looked down at the cup, trying to figure out how to eat it without a spoon. Squeezing the edges, I tried to slurp it.
    ‘Don’t chew. Just swallow.’ Meg laughed as I licked at pieces of Jell-O still clinging to my lips.
    ‘Always excellent advice,’ Peyton giggled.
    Meg grimaced. ‘Eew. We’re only talking about
Jell-O
, Peyton!’
    It took me a moment to figure out what the hell they were talking about, and I scowled in revulsion when I figured it out. Peyton took note of my delayed reaction. ‘Oh, Emma. Are you sure you had sex with that guy from the band? ’Cause I swear you’re a virgin.’
    ‘Let me get another round so you can try again,’ Meg offered, dragging Peyton with her.
    When they returned, I took two little cups and awaited instructions.
    ‘Swipe your finger around the edge to loosen it andthen pop it in your mouth.’ Peyton demonstrated with ease. I made another attempt and got
most
of it in my mouth. My Jell-O shot ineptitude made Meg laugh. But I did better with the next one.
    ‘Now you let it settle and wait for the Tickle before you drink anything else,’ Serena explained.
    ‘A tickle?’ Peyton questioned Serena with her brows raised. ‘Serena, you are so weird.’
    ‘Whatever,’ Serena said, turning away.
    ‘Tom!’ Peyton suddenly hollered across the courtyard to the opposite balcony. To my surprise, he heard her and waved. She grabbed my wrist, causing me to stumble after her, though she didn’t seem to notice, or care, as she forced our way through the crowd.
    ‘We’ll wait right here,’ Meg called out behind us.
    ‘I was hoping you were going to be here,’ Peyton exclaimed when she reached Tom, giving him a hug.
    ‘You’d know if you’d actually
call
each other,’ I mumbled under my breath. Tom and Peyton had a strange relationship. I kept hearing about him and how they’d meet up at parties. She was obviously interested in him. But we didn’t think they’d even exchanged phone numbers yet. We were all confused by it.
    ‘Hey.’
    I looked up to find Cole standing in front of me. Gritting my teeth, I forced a smile, suddenly realizing why Peyton had been so adamant about bringing me along.
    ‘Wow, two parties. I’m impressed,’ Cole taunted.
    ‘Parties aren’t my thing,’ I countered in annoyance.
    ‘Obviously,’ he stated. ‘Otherwise I would have seen you before.’
    ‘True,’ I admitted with a slight nod. ‘Well, it’s a new year, so I’m trying new things.’
    ‘What’s next on your list?’ Cole enquired, his clear blue eyes focused on me. I avoided his gaze and studied the crowd around us.
    ‘Umm … stage diving,’ I answered without thinking. I really didn’t have a ‘new things’ list. I was making it up as I went. But now that I’d said it, I actually wanted to try it.
    ‘Nice. You’ll have to let me know when so I can witness that.’
    ‘We’ll see,’ I answered, not wanting to commit to seeing him again, no matter what he looked like. When he turned his head in the other direction, I slipped away. I heard Peyton call my name, but I ignored her.
    When I squeezed my way to where we’d left Serena and Meg, they were nowhere to be found. I scanned the crowd and spotted them by the pool, then ducked into an apartment and grabbed something