Dare to be Different

11- Tense Kisses

Above is a picture of Alec.

This chapter and the next might be a little short, or medium, idk. :)

Enjoy!

~Ashley POV~

It's been an entire week since Hunter has talked to me much less looked at me. It really did suck.

Every now and then I look out my window half expecting him to be staring me through his. He'd be wearing his obnoxious, but hot, smirk and shouting a new pick up line to amuse me.

But he hasn't been there. And for some reason, that makes me really depressed.

I have never felt this kind of emptiness before. Why is it bothering me this much? Shouldn't it be a relief that I've gotten him off my back? This makes completing the Dare so much easier!

So why do I feel so miserable? Is it possible that I...MISS HIM?!
No, I don't.
Nope.
No.
Yeah, I miss him. Fuck.

I guess I've grown so accustomed to having him always there that I've started to like him?

Not like-like of course, never.

Jeez, I sound like a kindergartener.

I frown in annoyance as I realize that I'm already losing the Dare. I'm starting to miss him, which means that I'm starting to like him.

What am I even thinking? I am a strong, confident woman. If I think I can win this Dare than I can. I will not fall for Hunter Novell because there's nothing to fall for. Besides, I have Alec, who is the sweetest most wonderful person in the world; who I really like. Aka--not Hunter.

Alec snaps me from my thoughts by physically snapping in front of my face. 

I jump up in a startled motion with my eyes wide and nostrils flared. "Uh, what?" I grunted, not to mention like the troll I am. I'm so classy.

"Hey, you good?" Alec asks me with his face full of concern. What am I doing worrying about Hunter when I have a real guy who cares about me right here?

"Yeah! Perfectly fine, 100% ready, positively shining," I answered. Why do I keep blabbering in like this? Someone please stop me before I hurt myself.

"Um, are you sure? You're gawking at Hunter and you're eyes are all glassy," he says with a worried look.

Great. Way to go, Ash. The only guy to ever really like you, you just lost because you're over-obsessed with some stupid Dare.

"Oh, Alec, I'm really sorry. It's just Hunter hasn't talked to me in an entire week and I'm worried something's wrong with him," I answered. I tried to play it off and act as if I was just a concerned friend, which I am, of course.

"Oh, okay," he said, unconvinced. I grimaced, I knew he thought that something was going on between us. I needed to assure him that there isn't and there never will be. 

"Ash?" he asked, I looked up to give him my attention. "Do you like Hunter?"

"Of course not!" I said quickly with a surprised expression on my face. I looked like a deer in headlights. 

He looked so sad and nervous when asking the question. He had every right to believe so; I felt so bad. I did like Alec, and a lot too.  

"Oh. It just kinda looks like you do. You guys are always hanging and I always catch you staring at him or the other way around." He said, the uncertainty clear in his voice. 

I frowned, "Other way around?" I asked. 

"Yeah," he started, "He's always looking at you, even when you aren't looking at him." 

I raised my eyebrows in confusion. Hunter is always staring at me? How come I've never caught him? 

I look over at him again to see him pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He returns my look, but only for a second before he scowls again. He walks out of the school building without a second look back. 

The bell rings and I groan out loud. "Bye, Alec." I say sadly as he kisses me on the cheek. 

"Bye, Ash," he whispers. He laughs at how much I hate going to class. I stick my tounge out at him in a childish manner, which only makes him laugh more. 

My hatred for school is not a laughing matter. 

I reluctantly walk into Mr. Watson's class; this time I was only a minute late. I'm improving. 

"Ah, Miss Robinson. Wonderful to see you almost on time this morning. I have read your paper, and I must say, it was very well done and had a very extensive vocabulary! Good job." Mr. Watson announced, I smiled. 

I could see I was getting a few different looks from the students around me. Some of them were dirty looks because those people are used to being the "star students" and don't like that I have "suddenly" started caring. Some students were glaring at me just because they don't like me. That's cool; I don't care honestly. And lastly, my favorite, the looks of admiration from the kids who never get good grades. They look up at me as their guardian angel because if I can suddenly become smart, well so can they, right? 

Wrong. I don't mean to brag, but I was already smart; I just didn't put in the effort until this dare came along. Even now, I don't have to put in a lot of effort. 

"Thank you, Mr. Watson," I say politely. Usually, I don't care what anyone thinks, but still, I looked over to where Hunter was sitting to see his reaction. 

His face is blank, and he's staring out the window. For the past week, he has chosen to sit in the seat farthest from me. He won't even look at me. 

I frown, this was really bugging me. 

I stand up and walk over to the seat next to his and doesn't so much as blink when I sit down. "Hey, Hunter," I murmur. 

He turns his head to look at me and his eyes find their way mine. This is the most interaction we've had in a week. 

He stares at me for a few seconds before he goes back to looking out the window. "Dare is off," he says calmly.

I sit there, shocked. Did he just say the dare was off? 

"What?" I ask, but he doesn't answer. 

What did I do wrong?

I sigh and slump in my seat. I look toward the board where Mr. Watson was teaching. I followed him with my eyes making it look like I was paying attention. In reality, I was thinking reasons why Hunter hates me and what I can do to show him I still care about this dare and our friendship. 

~~~~~~

I go through my classes for the rest of the day, but I barely pay attention. Sitting in my classes, I resembled someone who was catatonic.

Yeah, I know. New word. I'm trying to expand my vocabulary, have you noticed? No, you probably haven't. It's because I'm not actually trying, per usual. 

As I sit in my last class of the day, wallowing in self-pity, an idea comes to me. I know what I have to do to get Hunter's attention and show him I still care. No way in hell was this dare off, because yours truly, never backs down from a dare.