Hold Your Breath

Chapter 6

There are 3 major rules that I have learned about playing Truth or Dare:

1. It's ok to lie. If fact, sometimes it's not ok to actually tell the truth.

2. Never ask a question if you don't really want to know the answer.

3. You can never back out of a dare. Ever.

In the past, I have played some pretty interesting games of Truth or Dare with Demi, but only ever at all girl sleepovers. So, when she suggested playing it with John and Bruce, I almost had a heart attack. Even as I shook me head yes after Bruce expressed how good of an idea it was, I had a bad feeling about it.

"Ok," Demi said excitedly as she glanced around at the parents to make sure they were out of ear shot,"I'll go first. John, truth or dare?"

"Um... Truth," He sounded as uncertain as I felt.

"How many girlfriends have you had before?" Demi asked as she shot a glance at me.

"I don't know, like, five? Six?" He said, nonchalantly.

"Is that it?" I mumbled sarcastically, but thankfully no one heard me.

"Ok," He continued,"Chloe, Truth or Dare?"

"Truth," I answered immediatly.

"Hmm..."He sounded disappointed," Whats your biggest regret?"

Agreeing to drive my sister to the movies that day, I thought to myself immediatly. But I would never say that out loud. I followed rule number one instead.

"Well," I replied thoughtfully,"Probably letting Demi talk me into going to that party the day before finals, and then failing 3 out of 5 of them."

Demi knew I was lying, but she laughed out loud at the memory anyway.

"I still hate you for that," I said laughing,"Ok Bruce, Truth of Dare?"

"Dare," He replyed bravely,"Ya'll are babies."

"Well then Mr.Macho," I mocked him playfully," I dare you to take off your pants."

I smirked as Demi and John burst out laughing.

"No way!" He cried.

"Not so tough now are you?" I teased him.

"Its not that," He said devensivly,"but I can't take my pants off in front of the parents."

"How about we relocate our little game?" John suggested,"I vote we go to the dock. It's out of site, and the moon will provide enough light."

We all nodded in agreement, and dismissed ourselves from the fire. After we made our way around the house and to the dock, Bruce let his pants drop, revealing Hello Kitty boxers. We all burst out laughing, and he turned bright red.

"Ok, Ok," he said," I get it. Can we please move on?"

He was answered by our laughter, but he continued anyway.

"Ok John, Truth or Dare?" He sat down, completeing the circle we had made on the dock.

"Dare," He replied, after he had caught his breath.

"I dare you to jump in the lake," We could all tell he had that dare ready.

John, stood up, hestiated, then stripped his shirt off and threw it down on top of Bruce's pants. He dove off the end of the dock, and disappeared under the dark water. A few seconds later he resurfaced and climbed back up on to the dock. I couldn't help but notice as the water dripped off the hard planes of his stomache. He has a nice six-pack, not that I was looking. It was just and observation.

"That was a little cold," He commented as he sat down. We all laughed, but he didn't bother to put him shirt back on. It took all my self control not to look over and sneak another peek at his abs.

"Demi,"John said, shaking water out of his hair,"Truth or Dare?"

"Definitly Dare," She said with a smile,"Go big or go home right?"

"Ok," John continued,"I dare you to take your shirt off."

She smiled and slowly removed her shirt, exposing her pink lacey bra. Bruce watched the whole time, not even attempting to hide his amusment. Demi threw her shirt on the growing pile of clothes, and turned to me confidently.

"Ok Chloe," She said mischeviously,"Truth or Dare."

I sighed. I didn't want to choose dare, but the look in Demi's eyes told me it was a test.

"Dare," I said reluctantly.

"I dare you to kiss John."