I Dare You (Dare 1)

She frowns at me. Her white Gucci glasses cover her blue eyes. “I asked if you’re okay.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I nod with a lie.

“I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say you’re lying. Why?” She adjusts her backpack on her shoulder.

Mine sits on the ground by my feet while I lean against Cole’s car. “I’m just … tired.”

“Austin. I don’t pry into Cole’s and your relationship …”

“We’re not together,” I correct her.

She snorts. “But you know you can talk to me, right? I know I’m your only friend and all.”

I shove her. “That’s not true.”

She arches her perfect brown brow. “Name another person.”

I bite my bottom lip and let out a sigh. “Fine,” I growl.

She throws me a winning smile. “See. Only friend.”

“I’m about to replace you,” I say jokingly.

She throws her head back and laughs. “Well, good luck with that. Most of the girls hate you because you’re dating Cole and none of the boys would go near you because of him.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s ruining my life.”

She stands tall, and the air around us changes. “That’s what I’m talking about. I see how he keeps you secluded and the way he was with you at the party that night. Then yesterday at lunch you mentioned stitches, and he got pissed. It was like he was the reason you have them.”

I run a hand through my hair. What would she do if she knew Deke wanted to shoot me just two weeks ago? “It’s fine, Becky. Really. Thanks for worrying about me, but I’ll be fine.”

She nods once as if she doesn’t believe me. “What’s up with you and Deke?” I change the subject.

“Oh, it’s just sex,” she says, waving me off.

I wish that’s all it was between Cole and me.

I look over at the school and see Deke and Cole walk out of the gym, and my thighs instantly tighten. He wears a pair of black basketball shorts, and a white Under Armor shirt that clings to his lean body. And a pair of tennis shoes. He has a black duffle bag thrown over his right shoulder, and he’s looking down at his phone, texting away as they walk toward us.

I hate how gorgeous he is. How my body wants him even though I know I shouldn’t.

Deke reaches us first, and he picks Becky off her feet and kisses her. She giggles like a schoolgirl, and then he slaps her ass. Cole finally comes up to us and pops his trunk. He throws his bag in the back, picks mine up, and tosses it in there as well and then lifts his chin to Deke. “I’ll call you later,” he tells him and then gets in his car.

I fall into the passenger seat and buckle my seat belt. My hands fist in my lap as I think of what Becky said a minute ago. He’s making me the laughing stock of school. If she sees how he treats me, then so does everyone else. It’s just some game to him. “I’m driving myself tomorrow.”

“No, you’re not,” he says, still staring down at his phone. I yank it out of his hand and throw it behind him. “Hey—”

“Why are we doing this, Cole?” I demand. “Huh? Why am I here?”

His defined jaw sharpens, showing me his annoyance.

Too bad.

“Why don’t you just stop? Let me walk away? I haven’t gone to the police about anything. And I’m not going to.” I’m too far in. I know too much. They would hang my ass with them. And I refuse to let that happen.

“No,” he growls. “You’re not going anywhere.”

I unbuckle my seat belt, shove open the door, and jump out. Deke and Becky have already left, so I start walking, not even caring about my bag being in his trunk.

“Austin!” I hear him yell my name and then his car door slam shut.

“I’m walking home, Cole.” I shout, not bothering to look back at him.

“Why do you do this?” He yanks on my shoulder, spinning me around. “Why do you piss me off?”

“Me piss you off?” I hold up my right arm. “Look what you’ve done to me. You sliced my arm, and I had to get fifteen stitches. And let’s not forget you almost got me arrested.”

“Please.” He rolls his eyes. “I knew what I was doing when I stole that car. You weren’t going to get arrested.”

“You may have, but I didn’t! I’m not a criminal, Cole.”

“That’s not what I heard.”

“What does that mean?” I snap.

“I heard you were doing drugs. Got in trouble with the police. That you were too much for your mother and her boyfriend, so they sent you to live with Bruce.”

I wanna demand who told him that, but I already know. Celeste. No one else here knows anything about me.

“You’re right,” I say, and he frowns as if he wanted a fight. “I got in trouble. And was shipped here.” I spread my arms out wide. “To my dad’s because she wants me to send her his money.” Not a total lie. “But I don’t have to put up with you, Cole. You and your bullshit games.”