The Dare - b.b

Chapter Two

[Skylar’s POV]

I was dancing around my kitchen as I made myself an after-school snack, singing loudly to the song A-Punk by Vampire Weekend on my iPod. I just loved Vampire Weekend.

I was singing at the top of my lungs when I spun around and saw Sam and all his friends standing there staring at me. Oh my gosh. I felt my cheeks turn bright red as I stood there, frozen, studying all their expressions.

Sam looked amused by me but his friends all had a mean, mischievous look in their eyes, like they couldn’t wait to make fun of me. After what felt like an eternity, I managed to break eye contact and sprint up the stairs to my room.

I burst into my room, shutting the door behind me, before running over to my bean bag and burying myself under a giant blanket.

I couldn’t believe all of my brother’s friends just saw me singing, off-key, and pulling some super lame dance moves. I didn’t want to go to school tomorrow.

I was sitting under the blanket, straining to hear if someone was going to come up that stairs.

When we were younger, Sam would always come comfort me if I was upset.

I didn’t hear any footsteps.

~the next day~

I got up and put on my school uniform. I really hate Tuesdays. Personally, I think they’re worse than Mondays because at least on Monday you’re kind of excited to go back and see everyone, but Tuesdays…no one wants to be there.

I sighed as I pulled part of my hair back with a bow and headed downstairs for breakfast. “Morning, mom,” I said to my mother who was making pancakes this morning. She smiled and gave me a hug, “How are you doing?” She asked me as she turned to flip some of the pancakes.

“I’m doing well,” I said, giving her the response I always do. “That’s good, dear,” she replied, handing me a plate of pancakes. I thanked her before sitting down and stabbing some of the pancakes.

Just then, I heard Sam come shuffling down the stairs. “Sam, what’s wrong?” I heard my mother ask before I looked at him. He looked awful.

His nose was bright red and encrusted with snot. He gave one giant sneeze before saying in a very hoarse voice, “Mom, I think I’m sick”. “No shit,” I heard my mom reply before helping my brother back up the stairs to his room.

Guess Sam won’t need a ride to school today. I finished off my pancakes and grabbed my bag. “Bye mom!” I said when she came back down the stairs.

She gave me a hug, “Good bye Skylar. Make some friends today, ok?” I rolled my eyes, “Ok mom”. She says that to me every day. When I was getting out of my car in the school parking lot, I was ambushed by Sam’s friends. “Hey…you!” I heard one kid say.

“Yeah?” I asked quietly, not making eye contact with anyone. “Where’s Sam?” He asked. “Sick,” I managed to say, my face turning bright red. I could feel everyone’s stares on me.

Sky, why are you so embarrassed? I scolded myself. They’re just random people asking about your brother; calm down.

The guy left to spread the news and I walked into the school, heading towards my first class.

[Beau’s POV]

“Guys, I can do this. I’m telling you, I can get any girl to sleep with me,” I said to my friends who were staring at me skeptically. “But it’s Skylar Harrison. It’s almost impossible. First of all, she’s your archrival’s sister and he’s very protective of her.

Secondly, she’s super introverted. She barely talks to anyone, let alone sleep with them. Third of all, her dad is the town’s sheriff, top cop.

Basically, you touch her and you’re dead”. I swallowed down my nerves and let out an easy smile, trying to convince them I wasn’t scared, “Thanks for the input James, but I’ve got this. Now which one is she?” I asked, scanning the outdoor lunch tables, not quite sure what I was looking for.

Skylar’s name sounded familiar but I couldn’t remember from what. James pointed to a girl sitting alone under a tree with her nose stuck in a book.

She wasn’t horrible looking, but I could barely see her from this far away. “Alright guys, wish me luck,” I said, taking a deep breath and walking over to her.

[Skylar’s POV]

I was sitting under my normal tree, hoping that no one would bother me today. Usually if Sam were here, they would ignore me, but if he wasn’t around to protect me, they might target me.

I pulled out Catcher in the Rye again, opening to the page I had dog eared. I was really getting into the book, shutting everything out, when I felt a presence standing above me.

Without breaking eye contact with my book I said, “Sam’s sick today,” hoping the person would leave. When they didn’t, set my book down and looked up, “Wha-“ but froze mid-sentence. “Hello, beautiful,” the person said.

Freaking Beau Brooks was standing over me.