Breaking Promises (B-Boy #1) Read online

  “Since we’re on the topic of names, what is your real name? I feel weird calling you Bamboo all the time.”

  “But that is my name,” she said flatly.

  “Your b-girl name,” I reminded her.

  “Still my name.”

  I frowned, but decided not to press her on it. It was hard to do, considering I was curious as hell. Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait too long for her to fess up.

  “Parents call me Evie.”

  “That’s pretty,” I commented, not knowing why she was so secretive about it.

  “Pretty yeah, but Evie’s a scared girl. She was someone who was bullied and didn’t stand up for herself.” She frowned as her eyes glazed over. “Bamboo is strong and hard to break. B-girling did that for me and there’s no way I want to go back to beingEvieagain.”

  That’s when it finally hit me. Just like gymnastics did for me, breakdancing shaped Bamboo into a better person. The only difference was that I no longer had gymnastics.

  But now I had breaking.

  “Belladonnas,” she murmured sounding as if she were deep in thought.

  “Belladonnas,” I said with a nod.

  An evil smile formed on her face. “I cannot wait to poison those motherfuckers.”

  Mitch

  “Aurora, you can’t be serious about making your own crew.”

  Okay, maybe it wasn’t the best thing to say to her. I mean, we did have a bad falling out followed by an even worse one, and yes, I did sort of bombard her at her favorite spot in the cafeteria—not that I wasn’t thrilled to see her again. Still, I couldn’t help myself. What was she thinking? She and her friends would humiliate the hell out of themselves.

  Aurora’s answering glare further alerted me of my fuck up. “Hello, to you too.”

  “I’m not going to say hello to somebody who doesn’t want to talk to me.” Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say to her, either.

  “But you’ll walk up to her throwing out insults,” she snapped back, slamming her book shut. Without waiting for me to respond, she began shoving her things back into her backpack, which interestingly looked too small to carry all her belongings. Seriously, she must have been Mary Poppins’ long lost sister or something.

  “Aurora, you don’t know what you’re doing. We take these battles very seriously—”

  “And we don’t?”

  I shut my eyes and groaned. “How did you even find anybody who wanted to join your crew of—?”

  “What? Delinquents?” she scoffed, shaking her head with a fury.

  “Novices,” I corrected her, trying my best to keep my voice calm. “This isn’t going to end well for you. You’ll just embarrass yourself and—”

  She jumped to her feet and pushed her seat in with so much force that it slammed into the table loudly. All at once everyone in the cafeteria looked over. We were pretty used to an audience at this point and neither of us paid no mind to the increasing number of eyes peering at us.

  “What makes you think we’ll embarrass ourselves? Maybe we’ll embarrass you!”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, maybe you have a slight chance of beating us—”

  “A slight chance?” she repeated in a huff. “What happened to all that shit you used to tell me? About you believing in me and saying I was great enough to be in your crew? Or was all that really just a way to get into my pants?”

  Okay, that was a low blow.

  “Of course not!” I growled. “You are great, but your friends—”

  “Are people you don’t know!”

  I took a few deep breaths to calm myself. “I’m just watching out for you.”

  “Well, don’t. You shouldn’t even be talking to me!” she growled. She reached over and grabbed the strap of her backpack, throwing it over her shoulder, almost hitting me square in my stomach. As expected, the knapsack looked like a gigantic boulder on her back.

  That would have hurt.

  “I didn’t do anything, Aurora. Why can’t you see that?”

  “You didn’t do anything but mess around with another girl, allow your friends to post that video—”

  “No, I didn’t! It embarrassed me too!”

  “And now you’re basically saying that you don’t believe in me—that you never did.”

  That pained me more than a backpack to the gut. “Aurora, please,” I pleaded. “I really am looking out for you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “You already hurt me, you asshole,” she growled, stomping out of the cafeteria.

  I followed behind her, ignoring the pointed fingers and muffled laughs. I had a feeling a new viral video would pop up at any time, but I was too far gone to care.

  “Aurora—”

  “I told you to leave me alone! Go be that dumb male slut you’ve always been! Go bang some other hopeless girl, because it sure as hell won’t be me anymore.”

  “Really?” My voice was so loud that it nearly overshadowed the routine bustle of the campus. “That’s what you think of me now?”

  I watched as she came to a halt, pausing mid-step. She slowly turned around. “You were never anything more than that player everyone warned me about.”

  “I guess my reputation precedes me,” I replied blandly.

  She nodded. “Leave me the fuck alone and forget you even met me. I don’t need anybody like you in my life.”

  Her tone made it sound like she was talking about some vermin she wanted to kill and you know what? A dog can only get kicked so much.

  “You’re right.” I lifted my chin and flicked my tongue.

  Her face folded into shock. Guess she wasn’t expecting that. “Huh?”

  “You’re right,” I repeated. “I do need to leave you the fuck alone, but you know what? I’m the one who doesn’t need anybody likeyou. I never needed anyone else, for that matter.”

  “Except Craig, obviously, you wimpy brownnoser!”

  If I weren’t so pissed off, I would have thought the insult was adorably cute. Too bad I was fuming. I took a step forward and subconsciously readjusted my beanie. “Fine. Go back to your crew of ragtag yoga masters and ballerinas. You really think you can beat us? Because I don’t.”

  “Why? Because we’re women?” she snapped.

  “Of course not! That sexist shit isn’t me. That was all Craig.”

  “Mmhmm.”

  I rolled my eyes. “But you guys are battling people like me who have been breaking since we were just growing our first pubes.”

  “Lovely,” she muttered, crossing her arms.

  “I think we know what a slaughter it’ll be at Battle of the Crews for you guys.”

  Aurora, in all her veteran competitiveness, smacked her lips in pleasure. Competition wasn’t an appetizer for her, it was an entrée, and she was going to order the steak. “The only butchers that’ll be at the battle are the Belladonnas.”

  “Belladonnas?” I threw my head back in laughter. Of course they’d choose the tamest name to try to strike fear in all the competitors. “Who thought up such a dumb name?”

  “Me,” she replied calmly.

  Dude, she was really serious about this thing.

  I hadn’t realized I was leaning toward her until I was only a few inches from her face. Though part of me still yearned to grab for her and kiss the fuck out of her, she was definitely annoying the shit out of me at that moment. I peered down and glared into her eyes. “You better think twice about this. It’s gonna suck when you go out the first round.”

  “It’ll suck when you lose to us,” she snapped.

  I snorted and took one step backward. Without replying, I spun around and walked away. As I expected, she called out to me.

  “So, you’re running away, huh? Because you’re scared?”

  “Because you asked me to leave you alone and you know what, baby? I will.”

  Mitch

  Women.

  They lead to nothing but broken hearts and lost minds!

  What was I d
oing thinking that Aurora would be any different? Well, she was different. She didn’t complain about the time I spent b-boying. Instead, she tried to commandeer my passion!

  Ugh!

  I was fuming the whole way home and practically tore my door off its hinges to get inside.

  “Talked to Aurora, I take it?” Craig’s throaty tone was even more annoying than usual.

  “God, do you always break into my house or something? Or do you have a key I don’t know about?” I stomped my way to the kitchen and threw open the fridge. I needed beer. Or maybe tequila. Probably a shot of 151 and whiskey.

  Yeah, that’s right. I’m mixing drinks, so sue me.

  Craig followed me into the kitchen with Anthony trailing behind him. They watched me curiously as I poured myself a shot of whiskey and glanced at the clock.

  “Guess it is always five o’clock somewhere, ain’t it?” Craig chuckled. “And to answer your question, you really shouldn’t leave a spare key under your doormat. It’s just calling for a break in.”

  I stared at him blankly.

  “He’s kidding!” Anthony grunted, coming up behind me and grabbing his own bottle of beer. “I let him in.”

  “Not that that’s any better,” I muttered under my breath.

  “So are those girls really serious about the whole battling thing?” Anthony took a swig from the bottle, eyeing me pointedly.

  “Unfortunately. It’s embarrassing, really.” I threw the glass back, downing the sharp drink. I smacked my tongue as the bitter liquid warmed its way down my esophagus.

  Craig’s smile slowly spread across his face. “Glad you finally see my point.”

  “And what point is that?” I really didn’t need any more of Craig’s bullshit.

  “That at this point in our careers, relationships just get in the way. We’re heading to the top, boys! We need to keep focused. Bang ’em, fuck ’em, whatever you want, but relationships? No.”

  I hated to admit it, but Craig was right. Of course, I could do without all the banging and fucking. I’d gone celibate for the past few months to avoid the drama and what did I do? Walked right into it! Sure, relationships would slow us down, but what they didn’t know is that fucking could do the same exact thing. After meeting Aurora I realized it wasn’t the time that would get in my way, but the emotional crap.

  Craig threw his arm around my shoulder. “I think we should cancel today’s practice.”

  Okay, there was something definitely brewing in that sick, twisted mind of his. He never canceled practice.

  “I’d cut you off, but you haven’t even had one drink.” To make my point, I poured another shot and downed it. I’d never been a heavy drinker, but my tolerance level was uncanny.

  Craig flashed his gigantic teeth. “Thought we lost you for a minute there, Kickwit. I think we need to celebrate the fact that you’re here again.”

  “I didn’t go anywhere.”

  He slammed his hand on my shoulder nearly knocking me forward. “Yes, you did. Now let’s welcome you back.”

  ***

  Club Thirst was a stereotypical, raunchy, and cheap club that sold watered down drinks and played the type of music that would make you shut your radio off. Due to its close proximity, it was frequented by most of Cal State’s students, a population made up mostly of females. For that reason, the members of Annihilation made it their “hunting” ground, so to speak.

  Thirst was definitely a great name for it. All its patrons were thirsty in every carnal sense of the word.

  “Hey, Kevin! What’s up?” Craig greeted the club’s bouncer, giving him daps.

  “All the crew here tonight?” Kevin’s smile widened. It wasn’t a secret that wherever Annihilation rolled, a crowd quickly gathered. Whether it was from rival crews looking for beef or women looking for some other kind of meat, give or take an hour, the club was going to be packed.

  The whole crew waited restlessly to get in, piling in with anticipation. I could have done well staying home and sulking, but the vengeful part of me won out.

  I was going to have fun tonight, even if it killed me.

  The club’s rancid smell hit my nostrils as soon as I walked in. It’d been a few weeks since I last went to the club, but like an old friend, it was a bit comforting to see nothing had changed. There were still the same scuff marks on the floor from various brawls, dance battles, and cheap shoes. There was still the set of torn vinyl booths littering the inside of the club. There was also the same stench of vomit wafting from the two unisex single stall bathrooms in the back.

  My crew maneuvered through the crowd of already tipsy students, winding our way toward the back bar. In the few second walk we’d already garnered a bit of a following.

  “Hey, Kickwit…wanna kick it with me tonight?” a soft voice practically moaned in my ear. I could have rolled my eyes. It wasn’t the first time I heard that corny ass pickup line. Then again, mad kudos to the girl with the strangely dyed silver hair for having the guts to use it on me.

  I caught the bartender’s eyes and held up two fingers. Beside me, my boys were already snickering at the fact that I’d already landed a groupie.

  The girl held out a delicate, pale hand. “I’m Christina.”

  I shook it, not knowing what else to do. “Call me Mitch.”

  She wore a pair of contacts that made her eyes look violet. Coupled with her silver hair, she looked like an anime character. It was a bit distracting, actually. Do you wanna know what wasn’t distracting? Her huge boobs that were practically being forced against my arm. “Well, Mitch, I see you’re alone tonight. Can I keep you company?”

  I could have laughed. My whole crew surrounded me. ‘Alone’ must have meant something different in her dictionary.

  The bartender returned with two beer bottles. I handed Miss Kawaii one and looked down at her ski-jump nose with freckles that littered the bridge. She was pretty, but she didn’t have the same effect Aurora did on me.

  As much as I wanted to take Christina up on her offer, I couldn’t get Aurora out of my mind. In fact, from the day I met her she infiltrated every thought—even my dreams.

  I couldn’t believe that in a little under a month I was in the midst of falling for the girl. I’d never fallen that fast before. Maybe it was good that I’d gotten out before I fell even deeper. Maybe it was great that she showed her true face to me before I was too blind to see it.

  Christina wound her arm around mine, trying to do that weird toasting drink thing that brides and grooms do during the reception. I shot her a weird look before feeling a pair of eyes on me. The familiar tug caused my head to snap up. I peered around the sweaty bodies on the dance floor and above the greasy heads until I spotted Aurora staring right at me.

  Aurora

  I narrowed my eyes and stared into my little vanity mirror, smacking my lips together. Clemence stood by her bed, struggling to pull an ultra-tight camisole over her head. I swore her mess of red curls came out of the neck hole with a pop.

  “I didn’t peg you for a clubbing person,” I admitted, wiping the excess eyeliner from underneath my eye. I leaned back and peered at my reflection, smiling. After years of learning how to gunk makeup on for competition, I had finally mastered the art of the neutral look and I was digging it.

  Clemence smoothed out her frizzy hair and shot me a smirk. “I’m twenty-one, not a grandma. I may like the minimalistic lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean I can’t cut loose and party.”

  “Point taken.” I glanced at Clemence’s Dali inspired clock. “We’re supposed to meet the girls at ten?”

  It seemed a little bit too late for me, having always gone to bed around nine. Still, the notion of actually going out with friends was too tempting to pass up.

  “Yup.” Clemence stepped in front of her floor-length mirror and spun around, admiring her tight faux leather pants. “And we’re going to have a great time.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded, giving myself the once over as well. I’d packed a few party ou
tfits for the school year and was finally happy to be able to break into that trunk. I opted for a more feminine look, quickly growing tired of walking around in sweats and track pants all day—a floral crop top and high-waisted shorts, paired with my tallest heels.

  Satisfied with my outfit, I turned back to my roommate, surprised at how quickly our relationship had changed since the beginning of the semester. In fact, I felt a bit guilty for my initial judgments of her.

  “You know, I think it’s cool Bamboo invited us all out,” I mused.

  “Well, we all do have to bond.” Clemence grinned. “So far we’ve been training hardcore, it’d be great to get all sister-y outside a sweaty studio, don’t you think?”

  I felt a lump rise in my throat. This is exactly what I was missing out on the moment I walked away from my gymnastics team. I was missing the team camaraderie—I missed having sisters.

  Swallowing past the lump, I nodded. “Yeah, it’d be great to bond. Speaking of which, we should really head out now.”

  “No worries, I already called an Uber.”

  Laughing, I linked my arm through hers and ushered her out the door. “You always think of everything.”

  ***

  I don’t know what I expected the club to be like. Whatever my idea was, it was not far off. The club was grimy in a cheap music video sort of way. By the time we arrived it was already packed from wall to wall, complete with grinding couples and a lot of tonsil hockey.

  “Ugh, this place is nasty!” Bianca and her long limbs stood a full foot taller than the rest of us. She gazed around with a disgusted expression on her face. “This place is like a cesspool for STDs.”

  “Come on, it’s not that bad.” Bamboo, who actually took the time to dress up that night, pulled her newly curled hair away from her face and tapped her toes. “I do admit, the music kind of sucks, but it’s doable.”

  Ashley’s long blonde hair was slicked straight and hung to the arch of her back. With her prim features and fairy-type makeup, she looked like an elven queen. “I don’t know. There’s a lot of hot guys around here. I can dig it.”