Breaking Promises (B-Boy #1)

  BREAKING PROMISES

  B-boy Series, Book #1

  By S. Briones Lim

  BREAKING PROMISES

  Copyright © 2016 by S. Briones Lim.

  All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: May 2016

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1-68058-640-4

  ISBN-10: 1-68058-640-8

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To my B-boy Limbo. I love you <3

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  PROLOGUE

  EPILOGUE

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  PROLOGUE

  I’d done this routine so many times before. In fact, during practice it was almost perfect. I was going to kill it. First place would be mine!

  I took my place at the edge of the runway, ignoring the screaming crowd. It was something I’d grown accustomed to doing after competing for so many years. Soon the yells of encouragement and camera flashes turned into nothing but white noise.

  My heart was pounding, pumping adrenaline through my veins. This was it. I lived for this.

  Taking a moment to salute the judges, I bounced on my toes a few times before taking off into a sprint. The Tsukahara had a starting value of a 9.6 and I knew I’d earn every point of it.

  WHOOSH. WHOOSH. WHOOSH.

  The sound of the air-conditioning whizzing past my ear was the last thing I heard once my feet touched the vaulting board and my body twisted in the air.

  Suddenly…silence.

  Everything was black and heavy. It felt as if I were floating in the middle of the ocean, suffocating—drowning.

  “Aurora! Aurora!”

  I tried to move and possibly even twitched my pinky finger before once again surrendering to darkness.

  Aurora

  “Yes, I’m fine, Mother. Yes, I have the pepper spray and whistle packed inside my purse.” I rolled my eyes and dropped the cardboard box full of wrinkled clothing by my feet, scrambling for the keys inside my pocket. “Yes, I’ll call you every night. Really, Mom, you’re acting as if I haven’t been to college before…yes, I know I’m across the country now but it won’t be any different. Mom—”

  My dorm room door suddenly opened, scaring the crap out of me. I stumbled back, clasping my chest and gasping for breath. A curly-haired redhead peered back at me curiously, dropping her gaze to examine the gigantic box, then once again lifting her head.

  I gulped, staring at her round emerald eyes. “Um, Mom, I think my roommate’s here. I’ll call you back later…I’ll call you back!” I muttered a few curse words under my breath and quickly hung up my phone, shoving it into the shallow pockets of my torn jeans. Really, who thought these types of pockets was useful, anyway?

  The strange girl continued to stare at me quietly, watching as I struggled to pick up my box. I coughed a bit, feeling self-conscious and decided to introduce myself. “Um, my name’s Aurora Crane. I’m guessing you’re my roommate?”

  The redhead pursed her lips and nodded, stepping away from the doorway to give me just enough space to walk inside. I waited for her to say something—anything—but she wouldn’t even give me so much as her name. As I shuffled my way into the dorm I couldn’t help but miss Heidi, my roommate back in Ohio. We may not have been best friends, but she was a hell of a lot easier to deal with than what I fathomed this chick would be like.

  “Clemence,” the girl finally said with a voice that sounded similar to a cartoon mouse.

  “Excuse me?” I squeaked, glancing around the tiny room. As one would expect she’d already claimed the bed by the window, but truthfully I didn’t mind. Cold drafts had a way of making my tired muscles ache.

  “Clemence is my name,” she clarified. “I’m a bit surprised, actually. My friend, Katy, was supposed to room with me again. I guess there was a mix-up somewhere along the line.”

  My eyes widened with embarrassment. I quickly yanked open my purse and reached inside for my crumpled piece of paper. “D221…” I ran back toward the open door and read: “D221.”

  Frowning, I turned back toward the elfish looking girl. “I’m in the right place…are you?”

  Please say no, please say no.

  “Yeah.” She nodded.

  Damn it.

  Clemence scrunched up her face. “Guess she decided to drop out after all. I mean she mentioned it once or twice, but I’m a little pissed off she couldn’t warn me beforehand.”

  “Yeah, that blows…”

  Cue awkward silence.

  I licked my lips and gazed around her side of the room, trying to get a feel for who I’d be spending the next twelve weeks of my life with. Unfortunately, aside from a few printed Internet memes and a photo of a cat tacked to the wall by her bed, I really couldn’t get a read on her.

  “So…” There really wasn’t anything to say to her, so thinking better of it, I turned around to unpack my stuff. Of course, I couldn’t have guessed that she’d stand so close to me that I’d feel each of her breaths on my arm. I evenfelt her eyes watching my every move.

  “This isn’t awkward or anything,” I mumbled.

  When I felt I couldn’t take her lack of personal space anymore, I slammed my hands down on the cardboard flaps and spun around, startled to find her nose inches from mine. I yelped and fell back onto my pile of clothes.

  Scowling, I snapped, “Look, I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot, but you have to know something about me—I don’t like to be touched and I don’t like to be stifled.” I raised my hands, pantomiming someone being choked. “Respect the bubble, okay? Geez!”

  Clemence shrugged. “Just getting to know you. Didn’t think I’d need to get to know someone new again. Katy and I were finally getting used to each other after last semester.”

  “Are you sure she didn’t drop out of college because of you?” I muttered.

  “What was that?” She lifted a pierced eyebrow and eyed me up and down.

  “Nothing!” I shook my head sheepishly. I shut my eyes and sighed. There was really no way I’d feel comfortable unpacking under Clemence’s watchful eye. The girl seriously gave me the creeps. “Listen, I think I need some air. I’m just going to go out for a bit.”

  “I can come with you,” she offered, jumping to her feet.

  My hand shot out to grab my purse as I waved my other frantically. “No! I mean, I just had a long day. I need some alone time. You understand…I…um…I’m an introvert.”

  Clemence looked taken aback but luckily nodded and remained still. I took the opportunity to run out of the room, wondering how the hell I was going to pull off switching roommates.

  ***

  Aside from the cramped dorm room, Cal State’s campus was beautiful!

  I walked down the blinding white walkways in awe, taking in the row of palm trees that lined a path toward a gigantic stadium. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t help but feel the
excited flip of my stomach seeing the familiar dome of the arena. It looked similar to the one I used to compete in back when I went to my old college in Ohio. Of course those days were now gone. I’d never compete again and I sure as hell would never step back inside Ohio University. My eyes darkened as I felt the familiar pinch of anger and sadness crawl up my skin.

  “No, this is your first day in a new college. No sad thoughts. You already have enough to deal with given that whack job you’ve been assigned as a roommate.” I sighed and continued to wander around, looking like a tourist. No matter how much I tried to deny it, I was completely out of my element. Being in a new place without friends or family was bad enough, but starting a new life without the one thing that makes you feel likeyou was even more difficult.

  I’d been doing gymnastics since the age of three and competing for as long as I could remember. After earning a gymnastics scholarship to my dream university, I thought I had it made, but unfortunately a bad accident forced me to rethink my whole life.

  Sure, I had my share of falls, complete with broken ribs, legs, and even my collarbone. However, after one fateful vault, I nearly snapped my neck. I lucked out and it wasn’t anything more than a mild fracture of my C6 and C7 that wouldn’t do any permanent damage. I’m fine…for the most part, but the thought of stepping back out on those mats scares me shitless. I know it could have been worse—a lot worse—but that knowledge doesn’t help me any time I’ve tried to get back on the mat and push myself past my comfort levels. I just can’t do it. Maybe it’s PTSD or just a huge phobia, but there was no way I’d be doing gymnastics competitively ever again. Unfortunately, there was a starved part of me—the adrenaline junkie—that craved that rush of competition that I was subconsciously denying myself.

  Ain’t that a bitch?

  The heat of the sun beat down against my bare arms, further reminding me how far away from home I was. I continued to wander aimlessly until I found myself walking toward a row of different booths and tables. It seemed that every club on campus was brazenly plugging their cause. As I perused my way along the row of free popcorn, hotdogs, and some ostentatious colored posters, I caught a glimpse of someone doing a backflip behind the furthest table. Curious, I sprinted past the shameless club members who thrust neon colored fliers in my face, intent on looking for my kindred spirit.

  SCREEEEEEECH

  I winced at the high pitched frequency of a nearby speaker. It was a wonder I couldn’t hear it before, then again I was victim to all the chants being yelled out at club row.

  I slowed down my pace and fell in line with a crowd who had gathered around a group of acrobatic boys dancing on the pavement. Each of the dancers was dressed in similar outfits—tees and sneakers, but what I found odd was that they were also wearing sweats and beanies. Coming from the Midwest, there was no way this weather was cold enough for even a light sweater. In fact, I was still dressed in cut off shorts and a loose tank complete with flip-flops. These boys were insane!

  I watched in curiosity as each of the boys took to the center of a semi-circle and began to dance around…um…messily on the floor. Seriously, besides a few rhythmic dance steps thrown here and there, it just seemed as if they were rolling around in weird spasms. I probably would have lost interest a long time ago had it not been for the air flares, hand springs, and back tucks they did every so often.

  “It’s like a weird variation of ‘home,’” I murmured, smiling as a cute boy spun around on his heels.

  Mitch

  The semester was already lame and it hadn’t even officially started yet. Luckily, I didn’t have to stay in the dorms this semester because that communal shower shit sucked ass. I’m serious when I say that if I had to carry around one more shower caddy or slip on a pair of shower shoes, I was going to hurt somebody—like seriously maim them. What made this semester even better was that my rent was dirt cheap thanks to Anthony’s cheating father, whose raging guilt caused him to dote on his kids rather excessively. I mean tough luck for my boy and all, but two hundred dollars a month in California? I can dig it.

  It was just day one back on campus, but I was already growing bored. Figuring I could kill time practicing some of my moves, I headed over to Cal State’s arena, but was quickly kicked out by the grumpy security guard. Not one to give up easily, I grabbed a few of my friends and headed toward the main campus, searching for a good spot to sprout some cyphers. Once we spotted Club Row, it seemed like the most obvious solution. For one, if we were approached by security again we’d just lie our asses off and tell them we were recruiting members. Hell, I’d even run off and buy a pack of hot dogs to make it more believable.

  Sweat pooled from my hairline, dripping down toward my eyebrows. I wiped away some drops before they could blind me, but I was too late and felt the subsequent sting of salt in my eyes. It was hot as balls outside and the beanie I wore to protect my head from the pavement didn’t help out my cause. I was pretty sure my wife beater was pasted onto my sweaty body, but at least it would give the ladies something to look at. Speaking of which…

  “Hey, Monica.” I nodded and threw a wink at a girl from my old biology class. We’d messed around at a party last semester and I hadn’t seen her since. I wasn’t planning on double dipping, but it was still fun keeping these girls at close range, just in case.

  “Don’t ‘Hey Monica’ me. You never called me back,” she whined, casting evil glares my way.

  And that was the exact reason I never messed around with the same girl twice. You sleep with them once and they suddenly expect you to meet their parents and shit. Not going to happen.

  The music suddenly changed; my favorite song blasted from the speakers. Ignoring my increasing body temperature—not to mention Monica—I jumped out into the middle of the circle and began to do my signature house steps. Right foot over left and vice versa, spinning on my heel and jumping in the air; my arms waved on either side of me while my feet slid across the pavement like I was floating on water.

  As expected, the crowd cheered and whistled, egging me on. That was all fine and dandy of course, but what I loved most was seeing all the scantily-clad girls who had stopped by to watch us dance. Blonde, brunette, redhead—they all blended together, a gaggle of pretty faces and some pretty impressive cleavage. I didn’t even have to look to see where their eyes were planted. Breaking was so physically demanding, I was sure they were appreciating my bulging biceps and, ahem, other fit parts of me. It was definitely a burden I loved to bear.

  After I completed my run, I stepped back into the outskirts of the cypher when my eyes landed on her.

  Petite with almost waist-length hair, big brown eyes, and cutoff shorts that made her legs look as if they went on for miles. Her good looks weren’t what made me notice her, though I admit she was pretty hot. This girl had a look of utter disdain on her face. Yup, it looked as if she had smelled something rotten and was about to throw up.

  For a while I couldn’t stop staring at her, completely ignoring what was going on inside the cypher. It wasn’t until she turned and walked away that I was snapped back to reality.

  Aurora

  Fuck. He was still staring at me.

  As discreetly as I could, I reached for my nose, wiping at the edges of my nostrils. Okay, I didn’t seem to have any boogers or snot hanging from my nose. So why wouldn’t he look away?

  Feeling as if my weirdness quota had already been filled by Clemence, I decided that whatever “dance” those boys were doing wasn’t worth wasting anymore of my time. I quickly left, deciding that seeking solace in my dorm room would be better than having some strange dude look at me. I didn’t need any more stalkers on day one.

  I made the long trek back toward my dorm, which seemed a lot farther this time around. By the time I made it back to Serra Hall, I was soaking in sweat but I still opted against taking the elevators. Given that I never practiced gymnastics anymore, I did my best to work out whenever I could and climbing stairs seemed like one of the easiest o
ptions.

  When I finally reached my room, I hesitated for a bit before jamming my key into the hole. I was hoping Clemence had somehow left, but to my disappointment she was sprawled on the floor between our beds, doing a very odd-looking yoga move.

  “Um, sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” I apologized, but didn’t really know why. Heck, it was my room too.

  Clemence didn’t respond and kept her eyes squeezed shut.

  “Okay…” I shook my head at her weirdness and walked back over to my cardboard box…which was now empty. Furious, I whipped around and stomped over to her, hovering above her body. “Did you touch my things?”

  Clemence slowly came to a seated position and stretched her arms into the air in what looked like a salute.

  “Hello! I’m talking to you!” I was quickly losing my patience and was about this close to reporting her to the Resident Advisor.

  She took a few slow breaths and opened her eyes, curling her lips into a soft smile. “Namaste.”

  “Nama-what?” I shook my head. “I don’t have time for your bullshit! Where’s my stuff?”

  She calmly extended a pale finger and pointed toward the dresser on my side of the room. I lifted my eyebrow and walked over, quickly opening up each drawer. To my surprise all my clothes were folded neatly, categorized in separate compartments.

  I gulped. “You did this?”

  “I don’t like messes. It screws with the energy of the room. Figured I’d help you out since your whole aura is messed up to begin with.”

  Oh, God! Why did I have to get stuck with some looney tune?

  I shut my eyes so tightly that I began to induce a headache. I took a few deep breaths before speaking, worried that I’d somehow lash out at her. When I felt my heart calm down a bit, my voice came out in almost a whisper. “Listen, I’m really appreciative that you tried to help me out but please don’t touch my stuff!” I yanked open a drawer and pointed inside furiously. “You even folded my thongs! That’s just weird!”