Page 6 of Falling for You

He throws back his head and laughs. “You’re hangin’ with the wrong crowd if you expect some good in these people. They sold their souls to hell a long time ago. Their parents probably signed them over to the devil at birth.”

“People here are a little stuck up, but I wouldn’t say evil.” I suddenly feel sad for him. What would it feel like to constantly feel like everyone is out to get you? To feel that everyone is that hateful and spiteful? I suck in my top lip with my teeth and try to reign in my emotions. I pull my shoulders up and meet his eyes again.

“For a moment there, when you were helping me with Dax, I thought maybe I had finally found one friendly face in this crowd. But obviously not. Go on about your business and I’ll keep my head up in the clouds.” Part of me wants to call him names and tell him to go to hell, but I hold it in. My mother’s soft voice is still in my head telling me how sweet southern girls are supposed to act. Sometimes I choose to forget to listen to that voice and say what I think anyway. Today, I hold in my emotions and turn my back on the guy who looks like a hero, but acts like the villain.

Chapter Six

Stick a hot Cheeto in your nose and leave it there for five minutes. Rub your armpits and then smell your fingers. Actual dares in Truth or Dare. What fresh hell is this? -Ronnie

Ronnie

I find a quiet corner to sit in and gaze out the broad cabin windows. The view of the Smoky Mountains in the distance is stunning. It feels wrong how much beauty is out there, while there’s so much ugliness in this house.

My eyes sting. I will not cry around any of these people. For a moment there, I really did think I had a true connection with someone here. It was nice to feel camaraderie with someone, and for once to not feel completely out of my element. I glance around me. People have mostly coupled off, but a few of the girls are talking and giggling in a corner. It’s then that I have the bad luck to catch Marissa’s eye. She looks smugly back at me as one of the other cheerleaders says something that makes them all laugh.

I stare down at my lap. I wonder if there’s a chance of getting an Uber this far out.

“Okay, nerd girl, even you can’t sit alone at a party like this. The other girls are up for playing a game of Truth or Dare and my first dare is to get you to play with us, so come on.” I look up in surprise to see Marissa’s glacial blue eyes boring down on me. She hooks her thumb back to point at the other giggling girls in the corner and I shoot her a look of confusion. Now, these girls want my company? Not sure what to make of that. It’s not the kindest invitation I’ve ever had in my life, but at this point I’ll take it. Frankly, I don’t feel like I have much choice. It’s either go along, or argue, and any arguing with Marissa is bound to be pointless.

I follow Marissa to the den where she and the other girls settle into a circle. I feel like I’m a ten-year old at my first sleepover. There’s only four of us and everyone stares at me like I’m an oddity. I suppose I am.

“Do you want a drink before we start, nerd girl? Things might get a little crazy.” Marissa's gaze narrows as she looks at me across the circle. I cough nervously into my hand.

“No, I’m good.” I’m not sure how crazy a game of Truth or Dare can get, but I have a feeling getting drunk would not serve me well. I need to keep my wits about me to deal with any of these people.

“Of course, you don’t want to drink. Wouldn’t want you to ruin your shiny reputation or embarrass your daddy.” She takes a swig out of a bottle of vodka. I shudder. I’ve only had a sip of vodka before, but it was enough to make me gag.

“Alright girls, time to get to the real stuff. Becky, your turn. Truth or dare, shortie?” Marissa sneers at the girl sitting to her right, and I look over at the small brunette sitting across from me. Her head pops up at her name, and her cheeks flush. She takes a long swig of her beer and gulps nervously.

“I’ll take dare. Lay it on me.” Her voice is slurred a bit. I wince because I know false bravado when I see it.

Marissa rubs her hands together and all I can think of is every wicked witch from every fairy tale I’ve ever read. I almost expect to hear her cackle.

“I dare you to make out with someone here. I get to pick.”

Becky brightens and giggles a bit. I can tell the dare doesn’t bother her at all. It sounds a bit horrifying to me, but it’s not the worst dare in the world. Embarrassing, but to be honest I was expecting something more devious from the queen of Riverton Prep.

“Sure, no big deal.” Becky glances around at the various partygoers. She doesn’t look unhappy about her options.

“Okay, I dare you to make out with Ryan.” Marissa pauses, and I see Becky swallow thickly.

“But what about Josie? You know they’ve been together for like, ever.” Josie is also Becky’s best friend and the two are usually inseparable. Ryan and Josie are a pretty solid couple, as high school couples go. I narrow my eyes. I wonder what Marissa is up to.

“That’s my dare. Take it or leave it. But I promise if you leave it, you really won’t like what I make you do.” Marissa smiles evilly and I gulp nervously.

Ryan and Josie are already making out in the corner. They don’t notice that they suddenly have all of our attention. My eyes dart back over to Becky. Her face has gone pale.

“Shit, it’s no big deal, Becky. We all know you’ve screwed half the football team already, anyway. What’s wrong with kissing one guy? I’m really letting you off easy if you think about it.” Marissa folds her arms and glares at Becky. Becky finally stands up, but I can tell that her legs are shaking.

I hold my breath as she walks over to Ryan and Josie. She stands there uncertainly until they break apart and look at her. Ryan starts smiling as she speaks and I hear Josie start yelling. Obviously, Ryan is too drunk or high to care or maybe just that callous, because the next thing he does is lean down to kiss Becky.

I wince as Josie starts crying and screams at Ryan. She pushes the two apart. Josie and Becky start pulling hair and suddenly the words ‘girl fight’ are all I hear in the room. There’s hooting and hollering. Others come in from all over the house to watch. I sit there shocked and frozen. Please don’t let me have to do anything that crazy. Maybe turning down alcohol was a bad decision.

After that, more people join us in the game and that’s when things get even more coo coo for cocoa puffs. Bobby Freeman is dared to run around the house naked so of course he does. Lewis Allen is dared to take some unidentified pills and go skinny dipping, which he also does. No one chooses truth. Everyone has started trying to one up each other with the dares, so truth doesn’t seem like an option anymore. The nudity and alcohol dares are getting out of hand and I try my best to fold in on myself so I can stay out of the limelight.

Marissa is at the top of her game. She watches with satisfaction as people get more ridiculous with each other. Finally, it’s her turn again. Of course, she settles her gaze on me.

“Ronnie, otherwise known as nerd girl,” she slurs, “Truth or dare?”

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