It Started with a Dare

25

It's funny how meeting someone could change your life. Jared ruined my life. I spent most of my days crying after the night of the party. Worrying about Mom didn't help either, and seeing Jared and Wren around school, happy, shattered me over and over again.

Then, Ridge came along. I was happy. Finally happy.

Those are the thoughts that went through my head as I sat under the oak tree with Ridge. He threw a fry at me, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Babe, are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, just thinking."

"About what?" Ridge asked me, eating a fry.

Shrugging, I said, "My life."

"Oh, deep. What about your life?"
I shook my head. "Different things. Nothing serious," I lied, eating one of my fries.

He raised an eyebrow. "How come I don't believe you?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

"When you lie, your ears get a little red."

I gasped, grabbing my ears. "They do not!" I exclaimed.

"They do to," Ridge laughed, eating another fry.

Glaring, I dropped my hands. "They do not," I said again.

He shook his head. "Okay, Braelyn. Whatever you say." We fell into a comfortable silence. Then, Ridge smiled. "What do you say about Spring Formal?"

I looked at him, shocked. "What?" I asked.

His smile grew. "Well, Spring Formal is in like two weeks, and I just thought that we could go."

"Are you asking me or suggesting?"

Ridge stood up. "Braelyn Sawyer, would you like to go to Spring Formal with me?" he asked.

I stood up, too. "Ridgemond McCain, I would love to go to Spring Formal with you," I replied.

He playfully glared when I said his name, but then, smiled. He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine gently. When Ridge pulled away, he whispered, "I meant what I said that day."

I knew exactly what day he was talking about. The day he told me he loved me. I decided to play dumb. "What day?"

"You know what day," was all he said. Then, the bell rang. "Come on, let's get you to class."
××××××
Emilee came over to my house later that day. She sprawled out on my bed, staring up at my pictures. "Have you talked to your mom lately?" she asked.

"Yeah, she Skyped us a few days ago. She'll be home next month," I said, sitting on my bean bag.

Emilee sat up, a surprised look on her face. "Really? How long?" she asked.

"Uh, for good," I said casually.

"Oh my God, really?!" she exclaimed.

I smiled, nodding. "Yeah, that's what she said."

"How are you not freaking out, Brae!"

"I've had my freak out," I said.

Emilee smiled. "I'm glad she's coming back, Braelyn."

"Me, too. So, are you going to Spring Formal?" I asked, changing the subject.

She rolled her eyes. "Of course. Are you?"

I nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, Ridge asked me today actually."

Emilee stood. "Yay! We're going dress shopping this weekend!"

"It's not for two weeks, though," I said.

She gave me a weird look. "You always go dress shopping a week or two before a dance," she replied.

I rolled my eyes. "You do not."

"You do to," Emilee replied, sitting down beside me. "And if you try to skip on me this weekend, I will have Marcus and Kyle stuff you into my small trunk."

"That's kidnapping."

"So? My dad is a cop," Emilee retorted.

I sighed, leaning back. "You're cruel."

"I'm your best friend, so I have to be. Dealing with you is a hard job."

I looked at her. "Thanks, Em. It means a lot."

She waved my comment off. "You're going dress shopping with me this weekend, and that's final," she said, throwing a pillow at me.

I caught it then threw it back. "Fine. You win. Arguing with you is like arguing with my mother. I never win," I replied.

She smiled. "Who do you think I learned it from?" We both burst into laughter.