The Dare - b.b

Chapter Ten

[Skylar's POV]

I woke up Monday morning with a smile on my face. Why I was still smiling about Saturday, I don’t know. Maybe it was because for the first time in forever, I felt like I actually had friends.

I hummed to myself as I put on some clothes and pulled my hair back with a bow. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror after I applied my makeup.

I was humming “What I Like About You” by the Romantics as I cut a diagonal along the stem of the rose Beau gave me so it would stay fresh.

I walked downstairs and saw my mom slumped over the counter with a mug of coffee in her hands, staring out the window with a glazed look on her face.

Obviously someone had just woken up. I sat down at the table, “Morning Mom,” I said cheerfully as I stabbed eggs with my fork.

My mom did a double take at the clock before replying with a mumbled good morning.

“Why are you up so early?” She asked, taking a sip of her coffee. I waited until I was done chewing before replying, “I just couldn’t sleep any longer. It’s such a beautiful day today, don’t you think?” I stood up to look out the window. It really was a beautiful day.

I watched the early morning sun sparkle across the dewy grass before turning back to face my mom. She was staring at me with a dead serious expression.

When I smiled cheerfully at her, her expression turned concerned.

She shuffled over to me and felt my forehead. “Mom, what are you doing? I’m not sick!” I exclaimed, pushing her hand away. “Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?” She said, stepping away from me and returning to her spot at the table.

I laughed while shoving more eggs into my mouth. When I had cleaned the plate, I walked over to the counter and put my plate in the sink. I hopped up onto the kitchen counter and took a ginormous bite out of a banana.

“What are you doing today?” I asked her while swinging my legs back and forth. “I’m going into the office. The usual,” She responded dully.

I really shouldn’t wake up so early, I thought to myself. Usually, my mom woke up way before I did and it gave her time to wake up.

And here I thought she was such a morning person. I heard shuffling from upstairs and looked up to see my dad walking down the stairs.

I sprang down from my post on the countertop, “DADDY!” I squealed, sprinting towards him and attacking him with a hug. He smiled at me, “Hi boo bear,” he said squeezing me back.

I let go of him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, “I can’t believe I get to see you before I leave,” he said as he got himself a mug of coffee.

I grinned, “I decided to get up early this morning”. “I’m glad,” he said while grabbing his briefcase. He kissed my mom goodbye before leaving the house.

I saw him pull out of the driveway in his ‘Sheriff’ car. My mom muttered something about a shower and lazily walked out of the kitchen.

I hummed to myself as I finished off my banana and threw the peel away into the trash. I trooped up the stairs to grab my phone and school bag when I ran into a sleepy-eyed Sam.

“Hi, Sam!” I chirped cheerfully, giving him a small hug. Sam just kind of stared at me with my arms wrapped around him.

“Hey, umm, what’s up Sky?” Sam asked hesitantly, patting me on the back twice before backing out of my grasp.

“It’s just a great day, don’t you think?” I exclaimed with a giant grin.

Sam stared at me in silence for six seconds before leaning forward and sniffing me, “Are you drunk?” He asked me, bending over and holding my head with both hands and studying my face.

I laughed and pushed him away, “No!” I tried to go around Sam to go to my room but he blocked my path, “Excuse you!” I said, trying to forcefully press my way past him, but he still wasn’t budging.

“Sky, I’m worried about you. I mean, I’m happy that you’re happy, but why are you…happy?” He questioned lamely.

I shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t know,” I said out loud, while on the inside, I was thinking, I HAVE FRIENDS!!! Sam studied my face for a few more seconds before asking me how Saturday went with Beau.

I smiled happily just thinking about Saturday. Sam groaned when he saw my expression. He looked up and down the hallway before dragging me into our father’s study.

He shut the door before saying, “Skylar, what I’m about to say to you I want you to take seriously, ok?” I nodded, waiting impatiently to find out what he was going to say next, “I don’t like you being friends with Beau.

Not just because he’s my biggest competitor for soccer captain, but he has a reputation with the ladies.

He’s a player and I…I don’t want you getting hurt,” he finished, looking at me with concern written all over his face. I stood there in silence for a moment, trying to take in what he was saying. At first, I felt understanding.

My twin brother was just trying to protect me. Then, the anger hit me. Who was he, with his billions of friends, to tell me who I could and could not be friends with?

He didn’t understand what it felt like to be alone for so long and he was telling me that I shouldn’t be friends with someone because they were a known player? I knew that I still had a crush on Beau, but I knew he didn’t feel the same way about me.

There was no way that he would ever feel the same. We would always just be friends. “You can’t tell me what to do Sam!” I yelled at him angrily, “I’m not some puppet you can just control! I have a life too and I’m lonely and then these five guys come along and they’re nice to me. You just don’t know how it feels to be alone and unwanted. Am I not allowed to have friends too?” I was breathing heavily when I finished my rant and I could feel my face flushed from raising my voice.

Sam looked stunned.

I rarely talked, let alone raised my voice. “I’m sorry Sky,” Sam stuttered out, “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I was just trying to take care of you, I guess”. I smiled at him gently, “I know Sam, I just needed you to understand that.” I gave his hand a squeeze before leaving the room.

I popped my head back into the doorway, “If you’re not ready in 15 minutes, I’m leaving without you,” I told him, causing him to push past me as he sprinted out of the room. I giggled and flounced down the hall to my room.