Interphase

Chapter 7

"Truth or dare was fuuuuuuuuuuuuun," I tell myself. I'm laying on Jason's bed, holding my knees to my chest, and ignoring the knocking on the door. Various people have tried to enter. Morgan. Heather. Hazel. Daniel. Tim. Even Tommy. But I won't budge. When I want to be left alone, I want to be left alone. And when I told myself that truth or dare was fun, I told myself a big, fat lie.

~~~~~

Truth or Dare started out okay. Tommy was first, and he asked Toby, his bestie, if Toby had any romantic interests as a question for truth. Toby jokingly told Tommy that he was his romantic interest. Then, Toby seriously told Tommy that he was interested in a girl, Jessica, but that she'd never be into him, so he hasn't tried. He said she's too good for him, that she looks like Megan Fox and he looks like a mashed potato.

On Toby's turn, he dared Jason to kiss Rachel. Stupid dare, Jason obviously did. Rachel seemed to enjoy herself as much as Jason did.

Jason asked me if Tim took my virginity, which was an odd question for anyone BUT Jason to ask. He's the only person I'd expect to ask that. I answered truthfully, causing everyone to kind of be shocked.

I asked Rachel if she enjoyed the kiss and if she had feelings for Jason. She answered me with a simple one word answer: "yes."

Rachel then made the turn of events, by daring Tim to kiss anyone EXCEPT me. He wasn't even hesitant. He just turned and pressed his lips against Sarah's. The kiss was pretty heated. I must've gotten pretty red in the face, because Morgan leaned over and asked if I was okay. "I'm fine," I told her quickly.

When Tim and Sarah's mouths finally pried apart, Tim dared Heather to watch "Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared" on YouTube. She had never seen it before, and was in for a treat.

After being traumatized, Heather asked Danny if he planned on moving to Alaska with Hazel. He said he still isn't sure, but most likely will be.

On his turn, Danny dared Jason to do something crazy he's always wanted to do but never did. He punched Tommy in the face and groped Rachel.

Jason dared Sarah to make out with a person of her choosing. Thanks Jason. Horrible thing to do. Sarah takes advantage and leans up and molests Tim's mouth with her own, and Tim doesn't do anything to fight it!!! Seeing his mouth collide with hers, not wanting to part, it makes me sick. I wonder if he's pulling the same tricks on her that he pulled on me. He's already got a hand in her hair, a hand on her waist, just under her chest. He's probably working magic with his lips and tongue too, even if it's just on her mouth. She looks weak in the knees, probably charmed by all he does in one simple movement. I know I was.

Slowly, I get up and look around. Everyone's cheering on Sarah and Tim, except Morgan, Hazel, Daniel, and Heather. They look at Tim disapprovingly, shaking their heads. Tim and Sarah still haven't stopped, shifting closer to each other with every second.

Feeling worthless, I go up Jason's stairs, go down the hall until I reach the farthest bedroom, then walk into it. I shut the door behind me, then lock the door. After dealing with the door, I go crack the window for some air. My head is spinning, thinking about my first night with Tim. He treated me like a princess... He seemed so nice... So different...

This feeling of uselessness is all too familiar, it's how I felt with Tommy. Useless and abused. I can't believe I let myself fall again.

I can still hear cheering downstairs. Tim and Sarah haven't stopped yet. I'm nearly trembling, trying to keep myself from crying. But then, I realize, who's stopping me. I'm allowed to cry when I'm upset.

It makes you feel weak. My brain tells me.

No, I tell myself. It makes me feel better afterwards, somewhat.

No. It makes you feel weak, and you know it. You don't want to give Tim your tears.

Even though he hurt me enough to deserve them, I know my brain is right. I don't want to give him my tears. I don't want to waste my tears. But the more I think about Tim, the more I want to cry. I thought I had some good in my life. Clearly I didn't. It seemed too good to be true.

A few tears fall uncontrollably from my eyes as I curl up on the bed, holding my knees to my chest, burrowing my face in a pillow. I hear myself crying, but I can't seem to be able to tell myself to stop. My brain won't listen. I can't stop crying. I can hear knocking and faint talking from the door, but I can't make myself respond. All I can do is cry.

~~~~~~~~

I wake up shivering. It's cold in the room now. When I sit up, I see a black sky with white twinkling stars, through a wide open window. My eyes go wide when I realize the window is wide open! I left it cracked!

Okay, I mentally tell myself. Nothing to be afraid of. Someone probably came to check on me. Was probably Hazel, or Morgan, or someone.

I eased myself, somewhat. Enough to yawn and stretch.

"Oh good," an unknown voice speaks through the darkness. "You're awake."

I look around, reaching for something to defend myself with.

"Relax," the voice tells me.

The lights turn on, and I see someone standing by the switch. He's short, got messy light brown hair, and brown eyes.

"Who are you?!" I ask.

"Darcy, calm down." He says. "My name is Jake. I'm here to help. I work with-"

"I know who you are." I interrupt. "You work with the enemy! The ones that my boyfriend works against. You work with the terrorists! You're their American Public Representative."

"That I am." He tells me. "Listen, I was sent specifically by the 'Big Boss.' We want you to help represent us. We need someone to influence the young faces, and who has as much power over the youth as you. You're the most popular author amongst teens and young adults and you don't even write books! You write in a magazine. If we did advertising with you, oh boy."

"No thanks," I tell him simply. "Tim has told me about all that you do. You guys are horrible!"

Jake shakes his head. "Oh my, you believe Tim. He's lied to you. We're not that bad. We just want-"

"I'm not interested in working with you." I tell him.

"Okay, but think about it. Tim's lied to you before. He told you he wanted to be with you. He made a commitment to you, and look what happened tonight." He slides a photograph of Tim and Sarah, nearly bare and still frenching it up, into my hands.

"I don't want this. This is fake." I tell him, tossing the photo across the room.

"Is it?" He asks. He picks up the picture and slides it into my purse. "Think about it. I'll find you in a week and talk to you about your decision. See you then." He goes back out the window and closes it behind him.

That was really odd, I tell myself. But thank goodness he's gone. I grab my purse and all of my stuff. I try to check my phone, but it's dead. Just great. I go and unlock the door then walk out and go home. I'll deal with everything tomorrow.