Everyone Can Be Bought

(22) You Dare Me To Do What?!?

So maybe Axel was expecting something else when he picked dare. Considering how close we were cuddled together, he probably was expecting more skin to skin contact. Well he didn't get any of that. I dared him to go skinny dipping in the pool. Yes, I feel sorry for all the other people who like to swim in the pool. What they don't know won't kill them. Want to know the surprising part?  He actually completed the dare. No, I refused to stare at his bare body. He didn't seem to have a problem stripping down to nothing and risking complete embarrassment. He must have been a stripper in his past life. The thought makes me laugh and I don't notice  that he got out of the pool, put on his shorts and walked towards me until it was too late.

"Your turn darling." He whispers in my ear and cold droplets of water land on my face.

"You're kidding right? You picked dare I didn't so, I don't have to do squat." I wiggle. I wiggle when I'm feeling sassy. I know, I'm weird, but I wiggle.

"You're so cruel you know that?" He says with a straight face. He can't fool me I see the smile begging to be revealed.

"Whatever player." I shrug. He shakes his head probably a little upset I didn't take his flirting further.

"Truth or dare?" His hazel green eyes look through me.

"Truth." I give Axel a sassy smile. 

"Do I make you excited Trinity Winters?"

"Axel, I don't really think-" I back away. He just had to go and ruin everything.

"Answer yes or no." His smile reveals itself. There you are Mr. smile.

"Dare! I pick dare!" I burst.

"Ugh that's against the rules but for you I'll make an exception. I dare you to tell me something that you've never told anyone before."

"I'm dying." I say immediately. I didn't even think before I spoke. The words just rolled off my tongue. It is true that I drop hints to the gang when I'm upset and about my true feelings. Depression is weird like that. You want people to know and to help you but at the same time you just want to be alone. 

"You're what!?!" Axel exclaims clearly not understanding my words.

"Inside; I'm dying. I act like I'm strong and steadfast but honestly I just feel so lost. It feels as if I'm a leaf drifting in the wind just waiting to fall towards the ground." I try to make the last part sound poetic but I think I've failed miserably.

"Hey you." His eyes lock with mine and he smiles. his smile is soft and shows concern. "As long as the wind keeps blowing you'll never fall right? Therefore I'll be your wind Trinity Winters. I'll be the force that keeps you going."

To be completely honest Axel's words made my heart flutter. Sometimes he can be a sweetheart but other times he's just an ass. The way he said those words sounded more poetic than mine were. Damn.

"This heart to heart is making me sick to my stomach. It's about time we hit the sack."

"Couldn't agree more my little dove "

I roll my eyes and walk towards the stairs. Axel sticks close to me probably waiting for me to ask him for help. I still don't feel one hundred percent yet. I falter and he's quick to grab hold of me before I hit one of the many steps.

"Be careful you klutz." Axel chuckles.

"I was never good at being careful." I whisper.

............

So I skipped school Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday. I went Friday though because Nickel was getting lonely; bless her little heart. I missed a lot of work but the teachers didn't bother to give it to me, they knew I wouldn't do it. Mr. C called me to his office to ask me if I was okay. He's worried and it's sweet but he knows that I wouldn't tell him honestly if something was wrong. 

"Trinity, what if you can't take over your dad's company? What if you fail? You won't have a proper education because you were obsessed with your father." His voice holds concern.

"Mr. C even if I can't take over his company, which I will, I have nothing to lose. I will be taken care of either way. That's one of the many perks of being connected with rich people." My voice is cold and professional.

"Trinity-"

"Don't try to talk me out of what I plan on doing. I wasn't even supposed to live this long! I can do whatever I want with my life because life is too short to go to school forever. College is a joke! Half the time people go to school for years and get a degree in which they can't do anything with. I don't want to be one of those people, wasting their lives just to get nothing in return. I have a chance and I'm sure as hell gonna take it. High school doesn't prepare us for the real world, experience does! I'm never going to use anything I learn here ever again. So what's the point?" My voice turns from professional to angry in a matter of minutes. Mr. C usually understands my reasons for doing things. Why is he acting so different now? No way, No he couldn't.

"He got a hold of you didn't he?" By Mr. C's expression I can tell I guessed right, "Oh my gosh! You sold me out!" My voice quivers.

"No I didn't, he contacted me yes, but-" He stutters over his words.

"You're on his side now?" I question holding back the tears. This always happens to me I don't know why I thought Mr. C was any different. I violently stand up from my seat and grab a hold of the door handle.

"Trinity, wait!" Mr. C stands up to stop me.

"I'm so tired of being lied to!" I whimper and I hear him sigh.

"He just talked to me and brought up some good points. He wants the best future possible for you." 

"It's just like a grownup to believe anything that comes out of that man's mouth!" I run out of the office and out the lobby doors to the student parking lot. Sorry Nickel I'm leaving. I'll make it up to you later.

Monster has turned Mr. C against me. Well he just lied to him and I bet Mr. C told him things about me he thought any normal parent would want to know. I can't blame him too much but I still feel betrayed. I start my car up and drive away. I'm not going to the base or to my house, I'm going to the only place that matches my mood right now. I'm going to Suicide Bridge where it all ended and my new life began. 

Author's Note: This was a shorter chapter than usual and I apologize. I thought this chapter was good to describe how manipulative Monster can be. I want everyone to understand Trinity's struggles and how she's scared that everyone is leaving her. I hope everyone understand her struggles as an individual and as a leader.