Six Nights At The Asylum

(2) The Next Day (2)

Jess' POV:
I groaned as my alarm clock went off. I sat up and shut it off. The house was dead quiet. My parents must be at work already. I got dressed, ate breakfast, and waited for the bus to arrive.

As the bus came into sight, I couldn't help but think of the dare. Why do they even bother asking? I stepped onto the bus and took my seat next to Livy, everyone else road different buses. Sadly, Case road this one.

"Hey kitty," he mocked, sitting in a seat across from Livy and I. "Why won't you do the dare?"

"Just ignore him," Livy murmured. Cade knows I'm the one that could get talked into the dare, I thought. That's why he keeps bothering me.

"It's only six nights. Think of it like a camping trip." He smiled sideways.

We pulled into the school driveway. When the bus driver opened the door, Livy and I hurriedly got out.

Livy's POV:
"See you at third period," I said to Jess. Third period is the only class we have together.

"Bye," he said, though he seemed to be dazed. Case is getting to him. He is really getting on my nerves.

I opened my locker, stuffed my backpack inside, grabbed my binders, and walked to first period. Kay caught up to me.

"What happened yesterday?" I asked, remembering her walking out of the lunchroom with the principal.

"He had some survey about how we could make the school better next year," she answered. "He just grabbed some random people," she added as we took our seats.

"Alright class, let's get this exam over with," said Mrs. Smith, handing out the papers.

* * *

Kay and I walked back to our lockers, only to separate again. We have different second periods. I closed my locker and turned around to see Jess, looking worried. I walked up to him.

"What happened?" I asked, nervously.

"I told him we would do it," he said. "The dare." I bit my lip.

"Well, we can just tell him that we don't want to do it."

"You don't understand." He shook his head. "Case is offering us money. Big money."

"So? I don't need money," I implied. His expression darkened.

"Some people do," he said softly, barely a whisper. A wave of guilt hit me. How could I say that in front of him?

"If you want to go to the Asylum, I will go with you. We're friends," I said, smiling. He looked into my eyes, as if trying to find a lie.

"Really?" I could tell there was hope.

"Of course." The tardy bell rang. Jess muttered something unintelligible.

"Bye, Livy!" We departed and practically ran to our second period.

The teacher, Mrs. Loister, wasn't very happy to see me.

"Miss Wayland, tardy on the last day of school," she shook her head disapprovingly. "That will show up on your record for next year."

"Yes, Mrs. Loister," I said, taking my seat. I felt my cheeks flush as the eyes of my classmates fell on me.

* * *

I sat in the lunchroom and pulled out my lunch. Kay and Layla took their seats on either side of me.

"Are we seriously going to the Asylum?" Layla asked, watching me take a bite of my sandwich. The boys walked in and took their seats at our table.

"Wait, what?" Kay asked. I never told her about the dare, I remembered.

"Yesterday, Case dared us to spend six nights at the Scarlet Lake Asylum," I explained, gesturing to Matt, Mike, Jess, Leo, Layla, and I.

"Oh." She kept looking at me, as if she wanted me to explain more. I lowered my voice a little.

"Case is willing to offer big money if we do. Jess needs it, so I told him I would go is he wanted." Suddenly, my sandwich didn't seem so appetizing. I set it on my bag.

"Your too nice," said Layla, giving me a playful push. "I will come if you go."

"So..." Kay trailed off, but I knew what she was going to ask. Was I dared?

"Don't worry, you weren't dared, Kay," I said.

"What did you do?" Leo's voice was rising. Jess didn't tell Leo until now? I turned to his direction. This isn't good, I thought to myself as Leo stood up. "You didn't even ask for our permission! What are we going to tell our parents?" Jess' face turned red. Case walked over.

"What's wrong? Little Leo is too scared?" He mocked. This time, it was Leo's face that turned red. He lowered his voice.

"No, we're going." That was the final decision.