The Collateral Damage Of War

Chapter 1- How It Starts

How It Starts

"Jane." Sarah starts. "Truth or dare?" She says as she flicks her long blonde hair behind her back.

"Truth." I say as all ways.

"Have you ever had sex?" She asks, her eyebrows wiggling.

"No." I state with a straight face.

There are whoops and cheers. And I know no one expects that one.

I smile politely. "James. Truth or dare?"

He smirks at me. "Dare."

I look around the circle of drunken teenagers, attempting to think of a dare with the fog still over my mind.

"I dare you..." I say while thinking.

Everyone smiles at me. Around the circle is seven of us around the circle, Sarah, James, Joel, Pheobe, Nate, Ethan and I.

All of us the 'cool' kids. Popular, what ever you want to say.

I smile wickedly. "James, you have to kiss...." I say letting him think he's going to get some action. "Nate."

He groans. But leans across the circle and pecks Nate on the lips.

James glares at me but then looks around the circle. "Joel." He says confidently. "Truth or dare?"

Joel smirks, his eyes landing in me briefly before looking back to James. "Dare."

James laughs lightly. He looks to Sarah wickedly. "You'll enjoy this one Sarah."

Sarah's blue eyes look at Joel, and he looks back at his girlfriend. "I dare you too make out with Sarah for a minute." James says.

He smirks and then grabs Sarah's wrist and pulls her into his lap. Then kisses her gently, then again, and again. Until they seem to totally zone out.

I smile watching one of my best friends kiss her boyfriend. I know she really likes him. 

After a minute James says. "Time to stop kids."

Joel pulls away and Sarah licks her lips, obviously wanting more.

"Jane." Joel says and it snaps me out of my dazed happiness for Sarah.

"Yeah?"

"Dare or dare?" He asks.

"That's not how this works." I say, wanting to do truth, as always.

"You always do truth. Just do a dare. Just this once." Pheobe says slyly.

I groan. "Fine."

Joel smirks at me. "Well let's at least have fun with this."

I roll my eyes at him. "Oh hurry up."

"I dare you to take your shirt of, and.." Joel says.

I groan internally. "And?" I ask wanting to get this over and done with.

"Give me a lap dance." Joel says.

I frown at him. Then I look to Sarah. The back to him. "No." I say. Not wanting to hurt her.

"No?" He asks. "Its a dare, you have to."

"Joel, you have a girlfriend." Pheobe says gesturing to Sarah.

"I know." He says in a duh tone.

"Well obviously not well enough." I say back and look to Pheobe for back up.

"Jane, get over it." Nate says. "Just take of your shirt already."

"Perve." I say while shooting daggers at Nate.

"Nate." Ethan growls looking at me. I smile back politely. Trying to show appreciation.

"Nate's right Jane." James says. Running his hand through his light brown hair.

"She doesn't have to if she doesn't want to." Ethan says, staring at Joel, James and Nate.

"Yes she does, it's a dare." Joel says, staring me down.

"No she doesn't." Pheobe says.

"Hey let's just meet at a happy medium. I'll take my shirt of, but no lap dance." I say.

"No!" James, Joel and Nate say together.

"Just do it Jane." Sarah says. And we all stop and look at her. "I don't give a shit."

Then she stands up and storms out of her own house.

"Good job asshole." Pheobe says looking at Joel furiously.

He shrugs his shoulders. I stand up and start towards the door. But before I make it two step I am grabbed from behind by my hips and pulled back down. I land onto Joel's lap, and he smirks at me.

I try to stand up but his hands don't let me go. I slap his hands and stand up.

"Don't you fucking dare touch me ever again." I spit.

He smirks than stands up, he gets in my face and I can smell the liquor on his breath.

"And how are you going to stop me?" He asks as his hands slip around my waist.

I don't look away from him, I burn wholes into his face with my stare. "Let me go."

"No." He says, his hands tightening around my waist.

"Joel!" Pheobe cries.

His head snaps to her. "What?" He asks.

"Stop."

"No."

"Joel." I say.

He looks back to me, then let's go of my waist. I expect to feel relieved. But the look on his face wipes any relief far from my reach.

He steps back from me and then points towards me, his voice slurs but I hear his warning loud and clear.

"This ain't over, and all because of a stupid dare. You've started a war."

I stare him down. "I swear to god I'll win." I yell at him.