If You Dare

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Three beers and a reassuring speech from Josh and I thought I was calm. Then Ash showed up.

He frowned at Josh and me sitting very quietly together. My head rested on his shoulder we were both grinning like crazy. Josh moved and I moved with him looking up into Ash’s curious and angry eyes.

“Did I miss something?” He wondered. “Are you two like, together?” He turned and faced me. “How’d you know he was going to be here and not me? I’m the one he tells everything to.”

I shrugged and grinned up at Josh. “It looks like he replaced you.”

Then I started giggled uncontrollably and Ash frowned at me then slumped down beside me and poked my face.

“Is she drunk?” He asked quietly.

I shook my head. “Nope, not yet.”

“What do you mean ‘not yet’ Zarah? Please don’t get drunk on me. Josh please don’t give her anymore.” He sounded serious which was funny. So I laughed some more.

He held his hands up in surrender. “No problem brother, I don’t want to deal with a drunken Zarah.” He nudged me. “A sober Zarah is hard enough.”

“Haha very funny Mr Webb, you’re a comedian.” He wiggled my head around. “You know how icky and bad I feel don’t be mean.”

Ashton looked really troubled for a moment. “What happened why does she feel ‘icky and bad’?”

Josh looked down at me as if to ask a question. “You going to tell him or should I?”

“It’s not his business who I kiss.” I said defiantly.

Ashton’s jaw twitched in agitation. “Who Josh, tell me please.”

He wouldn’t look Ash in the eyes.

I sighed and sat up taller, swinging my legs over the edge of the bench. “Jesse kissed me, but it’s all good. Everything’s cool, Jesse and I are cool.”

Ash looked furious. “What do you mean you and Jesse are cool?”

I shrugged. “I don’t want Jesse to kiss me; the only one I want to kiss is…”

Josh poked me in the side and I snapped awake realising what I’d nearly said. I smiled at him.

“What? I was only going to say Zac Efron.” I said innocently.

Ash shook his head and helped me up. “Come on, Liam wanted to say hello to you. You’ve finally won him over I think.”

I giggled and let Ash guide me over to the group of boys. When I got to my feet I instantly felt better and more alive. I could walk and talk properly, my vision wasn’t clouded and I could think straight.

I smiled and waved at them. “Hey guys, how are you going?”

Liam smiled and waved back. “I’m good, a little tired though. I didn’t get home until late tonight.”

Drew nodded in agreement. “I know right, we ended up playing more after you left too.”

Liam put his hands up. “I was totally against it.”

I smiled and then shrugged. “It’s cool; I know how Ash is sometimes.”

Aaron shook his head. “It was mine and Drew’s idea. Ash was a little reluctant actually.”

Liam chuckled and nudged my side. “What’s going on with the two of you anyway?”

Aaron looked a little uncomfortable. “Yeah, what’s going on?”