Page 55 of Dare To Break

The sensation of being watched washes over me. When I look up, Miles is watching me from the mouth of the aisle. I tap stop on the song and tug my earbuds out. “How did you find me?”

He joins me on the floor between the bookcases. “This isn’t the first time I’ve seen you hanging out in the stacks at the library.”

“Being surrounded by books is my safe place.” I close my sketchbook, gather up the pencils I’ve left on the floor beside me and push them into their case. “What are you doing here?”

Miles unzips his bag and hands me a drink. “I’m making sure you eat. This is the third day you skipped lunch this week. I raided a vending machine.”

I take it from him. He produces a chocolate bar, a bag of chips, and a banana.

“Thanks.” Pushing back the tab on my can, I take a sip before placing it on the floor and reaching for the fruit.

“Want to tell me why you’re hiding?”

“I’m just not feeling very sociable at the moment.”

“Is this over what happened at the football practice?”

I’d told him about what had happened that evening after dinner. The need to vent had been too strong, and Miles was happy to listen while I complained about my roommate.

Unpeeling the banana, I wave it in the air between us. “I don’t want Lacy’s misguided pity.”

I’m tempted to tell him about the dares, but something stops me.

He watches the banana sway from side to side in front of his face. “I hate to say this, but I think Lacy is right. You should join the cheer squad.”

My mouth drops open, and my eyebrows shoot up. “Nooo, why would you say that?”

“One, I think you’d be good at it. Two, they’ll start to see you as you. Three, it gives you something to do other than studying all the time. I swear it’s not healthy.”

“You’re only saying that because you hate it.”

His gaze meets mine, searching and thoughtful. “Even brainiacs need to do something fun. Plus, you’ll look cute in the uniform.”

“You really want me to end up as one of the clones on the squad?” I take a bite out of my banana, and glower at him as I chew.

Miles grins. “You can be a rebel on the inside.”

I eat the rest of the food, listening to him fill me in on gossip and what’s been happening on the swim team. By the time the bell rings, my stomach is full, and I’m thankful to have Miles looking out for me. We run into Lacy on the way into class.

“Arabella has decided to join your cheer team,” he informs her, tucking his hands into the pocket of his jeans.

“Try out for it,” I amend.

Lacy squeals, clapping her hands as she bounces up on her toes. “Fabulous.”

Curling my fingers into the front of my hoodie, I pray I’ve done the right thing.

***

An hour before dinner, I wander back from my room to the main part of the school. Mainly it’s to escape Lacy’s nonstop chatter about cheerleading, but I also can’t fight the habit of checking my locker.

How pathetic am I? I should just accept the fact that whoever is issuing the dares is done with me.

I barely have the door of my locker unlocked when a flash of white greets my gaze. The air in my lungs locks tight for a second. All I can do is stare in shock at the paper that’s been left on top of my books. My hands shake as I slowly reach the note. Darting a nervous look around the empty hallway, I unfold it.

Go to the bench in the cemetery an hour after curfew. Set the timer on your cell for five minutes, put on the blindfold, and don’t move until the timer goes off.

Questions swirl in my head as a bubble of elation swells in my chest. I keep the note gripped tightly in my hand. After I lock the door, I walk along the hall.

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