Truth or Dare

Chapter One

Chapter One

Skye's P.O.V.

"Truth, dare, double-dare, kiss, love or torture?" April chants, turning towards Leo, my older brother. We are sitting on a rug on the beach, about a hundred metres from the sea. The waves lap slowly and rhythmically onto the sand, and our small fire has died down to glowing red embers. I pull my blanket tighter around my shoulders and rest my head on Leo's shoulder.

"Let's play the simple version. Just Truth or Dare," I sigh, closing my eyes. It's past midnight, but Leo, April and I are too relaxed to walk back up to the house. Besides, I find that I can come up with better dares when I'm near the ocean.

"Um...truth," Leo decides, and April groans.

"But I don't have a good question! Please choose dare!" she begs, but when Leo shakes his head she quickly gives up, "Fine. Um...who is the cutest girl in Year 10?"

Leo wrinkles his nose. "Seriously? That's the best you've got? I guess...maybe... Colleen Jordan," he says finally, and this time both April and I groan.

"Come on, Leo! She's so stereotypical!" I moan, punching him lightly on the shoulder. He punches me back, slightly harder than necessary.

"You're stereotypical, Skye. Besides, she's hot," he complains, ignoring my loud gasp.

"What do you mean, I'm stereotypical?" I ask indignantly, pushing him sideways. He leans back over and tugs on my long, messy fishtail braid.

"You know, you have blonde hair, blue eyes, you're tall, and rich, and athletic, and popular, and you have an extremely cool older brother who is so totally-"

"Okay, I get it, moron. You can shut up now," I grumble, scowling at Leo. It's true that my appearance and status make me seem like a stereotypical "cool girl", but honestly, I don't really fit that mould. I'd rather talk about roller-blading and drawing than boys and make-up, as April knows all too well. My best friend also puts up with all of my crazy hobbies; like the time I was convinced that my future career was becoming a boxing champion. She knows I'm crazy, but she still loves me. Opposites attract, I guess.

April is an extreme Disney geek, a Taylor Swift fan and plans to run an animal shelter when she's older. Last year her dream job was a zoologist, and the year before that, a vet. What can I say? She loves animals.

I yawn and lie down on the rug with my sandy feet in April's lap. She immediately pushes my feet out of her lap and dumps them in the cold sand. I shiver and pull them back under my blanket. She grins and I mutter "jerk-hole", which makes April and Leo laugh.

"Is that even a word?" April muses, and Leo chuckles.

"It is now," I say huffily, crossing my arms, "stop laughing at me, you guys!"

"Okay, okay...my turn?" Leo asks, and I nod sleepily.

"Truth or Dare, um, April," Leo says, and I shake my head in annoyance.

"You guys are excluding me!" I complain, but they ignore my whining. April twirls her tangled red hair around her finger nervously, rocking back and forth on her heels.

"Tru-uth?" she asks, drawing the word out uncertainly, her bright blue eyes filled with doubt.

"Who's the hottest guy in my year?" Leo asks, and April goes pink.

"You can't ask me that! You're a guy!" she says desperately, and Leo frowns.

"Yeah, well, you asked me who I thought was the cutest girl in your year, and you're a girl!" he protests, but I interrupt.

"That's different. Ask a another question," I say, but Leo shakes his head.

"You can't change the question once you ask it!" he persists, and April sighs.

"Fine. Jamie Baker," she blurts, blushing when Leo raises his eyebrows

"What?" April demands, blushing even darker, "why do you care anyway, Leo?"

I sit up straight, suddenly interested, "Yeah, Leo. Why do you care so much? Do you like April?"

"No, I'm just curious," he says casually, shrugging. Almost too casually...or maybe I'm just reading into it too much.

"Whatever. April, it's your turn," I say, turning to her. She frowns thoughtfully.

"Okay, Truth or Dare, Skye."

"Finally!" I say dramatically, and Leo rolls his eyes. "Well...dare. No ones been brave enough to choose dare. How's that for stereotypical, Leo?"

"Whatever..." he says, tugging on my braid again. I whack his hand away and turn back to April.

"I dare you...to go skinny-dipping in Jamie Baker's backyard pool. Tonight," she says maliciously. My heart plummets all the way down to my feet.

"Please not Jamie Baker! Just pick someone else!" I beg, but April is shaking her head already.

"You can't change the dare once you've said it," April grins, and I collapse on the rug in despair. Leo, however, is sitting bolt upright. He has a furious scowl on his face.

"I am not going to let my little sister go skinny-dipping in some older guy's pool at two in the morning! What kind of brother do you think I am?" he cries, glaring at April and I. Suddenly, I want to do the dare. I want to prove to Leo that I'm not just some identical, blonde clone.

"Leo, it's my life!" I say, glaring back at him, "You can't stop me from doing the dare. Oh, and don't even think about telling Mum and Dad. I know what you've been doing over at Chelsea's house, and I'll tell them if you don't keep quiet."

Leo's face turns bright red and he glances over at April nervously.

"Shut up, Skye!" he hisses angrily, "I'll let you do the dare, okay? Just shut up."

"Jeez, calm down! I won't tell them," I mutter standing up and stretching. My black singlet top and Nike shorts are freezing in the cold night air, but it's nothing compared to what I'm about to be wearing. My Birthday Suit. This is probably the worst dare that anyone could have given me. April knows I have a major crush on Jamie Baker, and this is probably pay back from the time I accidentally pantsed her right in front of him and his gang of friends. It's a long story that I won't go into right now. I have more important matters on my mind right now: skinny-dipping in Jamie's pool. Perfect.