Digital Dare

CHAPTER TWO : Digital Dare

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, waking Avery from a deep sleep. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, before remembering where she was. The familiar scent of pine and lake water filled her senses, and she smiled to herself. The first night back with her friends had been perfect—a mix of nostalgia and new beginnings.

After a quick shower and a change into her favorite summer dress, Avery headed downstairs, where she found Liam in the kitchen, already busy frying up eggs and bacon.“Morning, sunshine!” Liam greeted her with a grin, flipping a piece of bacon with the skill of someone who had clearly done this a hundred times. "Hungry?”

“Starving,” Avery admitted, grabbing a mug and pouring herself some coffee. "Where’s everyone else?”

“Ethan and Chloe are still out cold, and Sophie went for a run,” Liam replied, sliding a plate of food toward her. “Thought I’d get breakfast started since we have a big day ahead.”

Avery raised a brow as she took a seat at the kitchen island. "Oh? That's strange. Didn't know college could change some people from worse to better." She said, sipping coffee.

"What's that supposed to mean, Missy?" Liam asked, turning his gaze to Avery who just shrugged.

Morning,” Chloe mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she shuffled into the kitchen. “What’s for breakfast?”

"Liam's cooking bacon and eggs!" Avery said, flashing her brows.

Chloe's jaws dropped, bringing her back to reality totally. "Wha—?"

"Sup, guys!" Ethan said, making his way to the kitchen. After hugging Avery and Chloe, he turned to Liam and they did their 'secret bro handshake', which was no secret.

"Ahem!" Chloe cleared her throat. "Oh, Ethan?"

"Mm?" Ethan responded, taking a box of juice from the fridge.

"Ethan, Liam is cooking! Coo—king!" Avery said, trying to bring Ethan's mind to it.

Upon hearing that, Ethan spilled some of his juice. "I'm sorry. Forgive me. Liam? Woah!"

"I'm back, you guys." Sophie said, as she made her way to the couch, plopping down in it.

"Hey," Avery waved politely.

"Where were you, Sophie?" Chloe asked.

"Uh... I just went for a little jog around here." She said, smiling.

"Okay," Chloe nodded.

As the day unfolded, they spent it doing typical summer activities—swimming, hiking, lounging by the lake. The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the water as the group splashed around, laughing and competing to see who could make the biggest waves.

Ethan and Liam were locked in a fierce water volleyball match, their shouts of mock rivalry echoing across the lake, while Chloe floated on her back, letting the gentle waves carry her. Avery joined her, closing her eyes and feeling the sun warm her face.

This is exactly what I needed,” Chloe murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “It feels like everything is falling into place.”Avery smiled, her eyes still closed. “Yeah, it really does. I wish we could just stay like this forever.”

They stayed in the water until their skin began to prune and hunger drew them back to the shore. Liam, always the self-proclaimed grill master, took charge of the barbecue, flipping burgers and hot dogs with a proud grin on his face. The smell of sizzling meat filled the air, mixing with the fresh scent of pine and lake water.

As they sat around the picnic table, enjoying the simple meal, the conversation flowed easily. They talked about their favorite memories from high school, shared funny stories from their first year of college, and made plans for the rest of the summer.

"We should definitely do a road trip,” Ethan suggested between bites of his burger. “Maybe up to the mountains? Or even down to the beach?”

I’m in,” Chloe said immediately, her eyes lighting up at the thought. “I’ve been dying to go to the beach.”

“Count me in too,” Liam added. “But let’s make sure we stop at some cool spots along the way. I’m talking weird roadside attractions, diners with the best milkshakes, all that good stuff.”

After lunch, they decided to go for a hike. The trail that wound through the woods near the lake was one they had all walked a hundred times before, but it still held a sense of adventure. The air was cool under the canopy of trees, and the ground was soft with fallen leaves and pine needles. They walked in pairs, chatting and joking, while Sophie, who had been quiet most of the day, took the lead.

Avery noticed Sophie’s silence again but didn’t want to pry, especially since Sophie seemed to enjoy the solitude of leading the way. Instead, she focused on the conversation with Chloe.

They continued up the trail, the sound of their footsteps blending with the rustling leaves and distant bird calls. The hike wasn’t long, but by the time they reached the top, they were all slightly out of breath. The view, however, was worth it. The lake spread out below them, glittering in the afternoon sun, surrounded by thick woods and distant mountains.

They sat on a large rock, taking in the view and catching their breath. Liam pulled out his phone to snap a few pictures, while Ethan lay back, staring up at the sky.

“This is the life,” Ethan sighed contentedly. “No stress, no deadlines, just us and nature."

“Agreed,” Avery said, feeling a deep sense of contentment wash over her. “This is what summer should be.”

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, they made their way back down the trail, laughing and joking all the way. By the time they reached the lake house again, the air had cooled, and the first hints of evening were creeping in.

They roasted marshmallows, telling ghost stories as the fire crackled, their faces illuminated by the orange glow. The atmosphere was cozy and familiar.

“Guys,” Sophie said, drawing everyone's attention to her. “I was thinking, since we’re all here together again, how about we play a game?”

Chloe, always eager for anything fun, perked up immediately. “Ooh, what kind of game? I’m in!”

Avery smiled, feeling the warmth of the fire on her face. “Yeah, a game sounds good. What did you have in mind?”

Sophie glanced around the circle, a small, almost secretive smile playing on her lips. “I found this app a while ago. It’s called Digital Dare. It’s kind of like a truth-or-dare game, but with a twist.”

“Digital Dare?” Liam repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Sounds interesting. What’s the twist?”

“Well,” Sophie began, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret, “the app gives you dares that are personalized based on your interests, fears, and past decisions. It’s supposed to be a little more… challenging than the typical dares you’re used to.”

Ethan looked curious, his usual laid-back demeanor shifting slightly. “How does it know all that? It’s not gonna ask for all our info, is it?”

Sophie shook her head. “No, nothing like that. It’s more like it picks up on certain things from your phone usage—nothing too personal. But the dares are really creative, and it could be fun to try something different.”

Liam nodded, clearly on board. “Let’s do it. We’ve played every other game a million times; this could be something new.”