"Truth or dare?" Morgan asks me, her red curls shining in the sunlight. However, the sun does nothing to mask the devilish glint in her icy green eyes. She smirks, certain I will choose truth. I always do; I would rather tell someone who I like(perhaps the most asked truth question in the history of truth or dare) then preform some strange, oftentimes dangerous act. Well, not this time. I smirk back, holding her gaze. "Dare," I say, leaning back in triumph. She pouts, looking disapointed. I know that she desperatley wants to uncover my crush's identity, but I shall keep that locked safe within. She leans back in her chair, thinking. All around us, sounds of the play bang and scratch. I watch the self satisfied smirk grow on her face, and a matching lump of trepidation is planted in my gut. "I dare you to..." She draws out each syllable on her tounge, delighting in my angst, "...ask Max Congdon to the Winter Formal." My eyes grow wide and I am shaking my head no before she even finishes. " No way, Morgan. Not in a million years." She gives me a wide eyed, innocent look, cocking her head to one side. "Why not? You chose dare, after all." I look around in a panic, trying to find evidence that I cannot, in fact, ask Max to the winter formal. "Because... Because Rachael has a crush on him!" I exclaim, pointing at the slim asian girl who is standing behind Morgan, arms crossed. She draws back, looking scandalized. "I most certainly don't!" She says, her voice rising to match her disgust. Morgan snickers, knowing that she has me in her trap. I look to Emma desperately, hoping to find solace in my steady blond friend. She shakes her head sympathetically, but I will recieve no help from her. Grayson giggles and pats my shoulder, looking amused. " I'll even help you with it, Brookie Cookie," she says, using her nickname for me. I finally find my voice, and exclaim, "But what if he says no?" Morgan shrugs unsympathetically. "Worse, what if he says yes?" I ask, looking around helplessly. "That was the risk you took when you said Dare," Morgan says, her voice dripping with false sympathy. I glare at her, suddenly not finding her very cordial. "FINE," I say, throwing my hands up in the air. "But whatever he says, I fully expect you all to have my back, 100%." They all nod emphatically, looking falsely innocent. I roll my eyes at them, just as Mrs. Tanner, the drama teacher, peeks behind the curtain at us. She frowns, displeased, gesturing for us to rise. "Girls! Come on! This is Drama, not recess." We all roll our eyes at each other as she whips back onto the stage. "Yes, Ms. Tanner," Emma says in a monotone, following her through the curtain. We file behind Emma, arriving just in time to see Max writhe on the floor of the stage, covered in blue paper and army men. Morgan and Rachael giggle, and I gaze in distaste at the boy who will soon be(or not) my winter formal date.
-Hour later-
"Go on, Brookie Cookie," Grayson encourages me, gesturing to the boy who stands next to the swings, grinning idiotically at his equally bizarre friends. I look back at Grayson pleadingly, the words, "But I don't wanna," escape from my lips in a whine. Grayson rolls her eyes and pushes me hard in the back. I stumble in front of Max, who looks slightly suprised at my arrival. "So..." I say, swinging my arms around. He nods, responding back with, "So..." I hear a loud cough behind me and I know that it is Grayson, waiting for my failure. Or succes. In this situation, succes is relative. "Youwanttogotothedancewithme," I say quickly, muttering under my breath. He leans forward slightly, asking, "I'm sorry, What?" I look at the asphalt underneath my pink flats and sullenly mumble, "Do you want to go to the dance with me?" I wait for him to say something, still looking at the ground, but when he fails to respond I look up at him. His face holds a suspicious look, like he doesn't quite believe me. "Did someone put you up to this? DId Nick?" Now it's my turn to be confused; why would Nick put me up with this? As a matter of fact, who is Nick? "DId someone dare you to ask me?" He says, and I grimace, twisting my hands. "Well..." I say, about to admit to the crime, when I feel hands over my mouth. "No, no, Brookie Cookie wanted to ask you, Grayson says sweetly. I try to protest, but all sounds coming out of my mouth are unintelligible. He looks uncertainly from me to Grayson, then shrugs his shoulders. "Okay, sure." Grayson releases me, and I glare at her, before turning back to Max and straining my mouth into something resembling a smile. "Well, okay then," I say. I nod, then he nods, then I nod again. Before it can get too awkward, Grayson drags me a safe distance away. Once we are out of hearing range, I turn to her furiously and whisper, "What was that, Grayson? Brookie Cookie wanted to ask you," I imitate her, raising my voice and batting my eyelashes. "Um, no, Brookie Cookie definitely did not want to ask you! Brookie Cookie has never wanted anything less, as a matter of fact." Grayson smirks, crossing her arms triumphantly. "You really asked him?" Emma says, crunching gravel beneath her feet as she joins our little group. Grayson nods, smiling. "Yeah, and get this; he said yes!" I roll my eyes at her and blush, shifting my feet uncomfortably. "I knew he would say yes!" Morgan cries out, bounding over to meet us, long red hair blowing in the breeze. I scowl at her, though I can feel a smile threatening to creep through. "Yeah, I guess," I say, refusing to smile. "I heard the news!" Rachael says, running over to our circle. "Poor Brooke. Now she has to go to the dance with Max." I nod emphatically, widening my eyes. "Feel bad for me," I whine, to which they all laugh at. "Now that I've got a date, we can focus on getting dates for you all," I say, this new thought adding a wicked edge to my voice. Morgan holds her hands up and backs away, saying, " Oh no, I'm already going with Ruis. He asked me this morning." I turn to Rachael and Emma, who are quick to shake their heads in refusal. "No, thank you," Grayson says sweetly. I roll my eyes and turn back to Morgan, who has regained her signature malevolent expression. I eye her warily; what does she have now? "Now that your date is set, all we need to do is find you a dress and makeup."
