Chapter 97: Chapter 97

“Okay, Nate. Truth or dare?” Steph asks.

“Dare,” he answers.

“Hmm . . .” Steph points to a tall girl wearing bright red lipstick. “I dare you to go kiss that blonde in the blue shirt.”

Looking over, he whines, “Can’t I kiss her friend instead?”

We all look at the girl next to the blonde, who has long, curly hair and deep brown skin. She’s much prettier than the blonde, so for Nate’s sake I hope Steph allows the change. But instead she laughs and says with authority, “Nope, Blondie it is.”

“You are evil.” He groans, and everyone laughs as he walks toward the girl.

As Nate walks back with red lipstick stains around his lips, I now get why Tessa usually despises these games. Daring one another to do stupid things like this is just pointless. I never minded before, but then again I’ve never wanted to kiss one person only. I never want to kiss anyone except Tessa ever again.

When Nate dares Tristan to drink a cup of beer that people have been using for an ashtray, I zone out. I take a lock of Tessa’s soft hair between my fingers, slowly twisting it around. She covers her face with her hands as Tristan gags and Steph shrieks.

After a few more mindless dares, it’s finally Tessa’s turn. “Dare,” she bravely says to Ed.

I glare at him, warning him that if he dares her to do anything inappropriate, I will not hesitate to jump across the table and choke him. He’s a pretty cool and chill guy, so I didn’t really think he would go too far, but I wanted to warn him anyway. “I dare you to take a shot,” he says.

“Lame,” Molly chimes in.

Tessa ignores her and downs the shot. She’s already wasted—if she has much more, she’ll be getting sick.

“Molly, truth or dare?” Tessa says, her voice much too smug. Everyone tenses. Steph looks at me questioningly.

Molly’s eyes meet Tessa’s, clearly surprised at Tessa’s bold move. “Truth or dare?” Tess repeats.

“Truth,” Molly answers.

“Is it true . . .” Tessa begins and leans forward, “that you’re a whore?”

Gasps and chuckles fill the area. I bury my face in Tessa’s back to muffle my laughs. Jesus, this girl is nuts when she’s drunk.

“Excuse me?” Molly retorts, mouth agape.

“You heard me . . . is it true that you’re a whore?”

“No,” Molly says, her eyes now small slits.

Nate is still laughing, Steph looks amused yet worried, and Tessa looks like she’s ready to pounce on Molly.

“It’s called truth for a reason,” Tess eggs her on. I gently squeeze her thigh and whisper to her to let it go. I don’t want Molly to hurt her, because then I’ll have to hurt Molly.

“My turn,” Molly says.

“Tessa, truth or dare?” she asks. Here we go.

“Dare.” Tessa smiles sadistically.

Molly fakes surprise, then sneers, “I dare you to kiss Zed.”

I look up quickly at Molly’s terrible face. “Fuck no,” I say loudly. Everyone but her seems to shrink back a little.

“Why not?” Molly smirks. “It’s familiar territory—she’s done it before.”

I sit up more, pulling Tessa against me as I move both of us. “Not fucking happening,” I growl at the little whore. I don’t give a shit about this stupid-ass game, she isn’t kissing anyone.

Zed’s eyes are focused on the wall, and when Molly looks over at him, she sees she has no support there. “Fine, let’s do truth, then,” she says. “Is it true that you’re a dumb-ass for getting back with Hardin after he admitted he fucked you for a bet?” she asks in a cheery voice.

Tessa’s body goes rigid on my lap. “No, that’s not true,” she says, her voice small.

Molly stands up. “No, no, this is Truth or Dare, not little-girl make-believe. It is the truth— and you are a dumb-ass for it. You believe anything that comes out of his mouth. Not that I blame you, because I know all of the amazing things that mouth can do. Man, that tongue—”

Before I can stop her, Tessa is off of my lap and lunging toward Molly. Their bodies collide, Tessa pushing her back by her shoulders and grabbing on to them as they both fall back over Ed. Luckily for Molly, some other random kid breaks her fall. Unluckily for her, Tessa moves her hands from Molly’s shoulders and grabs her hair.

“You fucking bitch!” Tessa screams, holding Molly’s bright hair in her fists. She lifts Molly’s head off of the carpet before slamming it back down. Molly yells and kicks her feet under Tessa’s body, but Tessa has the advantage and Molly can’t seem to gain any control over the situation. Molly’s nails claw at Tessa’s arms, but Tessa grabs her wrists and slams them down to her sides before raising a hand and slapping her across her face.

Holy shit. I jump off of the couch and hook my arm around Tessa’s waist, yanking her off. I never in a million years thought I would be breaking up a fight between Tess and anyone, let alone Molly, who’s all talk.

Tessa’s body thrashes in my arms for a few seconds before she calms slightly and I’m able to drag her out of the living room. I tug at the ends of her dress to make sure it isn’t hitched up; the last thing we need is for me to have to get into a fight, too. There are only a few people in the kitchen, and already they’re talking about the fight in the living room.

“I will fucking kill her, Hardin! I swear!” she yells, moving out of my grip.

“I know . . . I know you will,” I say, but I can’t take her seriously, despite witnessing her savagery firsthand.