31

Chapter Song: You Are Losing Me- Chelsea Cutler

After our secret runaway to the Ferris wheel, we met back up with everyone to play some fair games. We found our way back to the ring toss, then the one where you shoot darts at a balloon and I won Cal a bear. He pretended to be mad that he didn't win me anything, but I just laughed. Riley won a fish at the ring toss.

"Why Leopold?" Liam's nose scrunched in distaste.

"Because just look at him doesn't he look like a Leopold?" Riley shoved the fish into his face.

"I mean I guess," he laughed trying to swat it away.

"He's definitely a Leopold," I nodded a look of approval at her. She mouthed thank you back to me.

We all walked towards ski ball and I decided I wanted something to eat. I heard my stomach grumbling and knew I wasn't going to last much longer before the hanger set in. I asked everyone if they wanted anything and instructed them that I'd be back.

I decided on a pretzel and got in the line of the food truck. I kept thinking about how I was going to tell everyone I quit swim, but I just didn't want to ruin their night. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe I wouldn't even tell them.

I wish I had that option but I didn't anymore thanks to Kylie. I shook my head at the thought, but I know I'll get over it. She didn't do it intentionally. She was a really nice girl. Actually my favorite person on my team, and the closest girlfriend I had besides Riley. Now I wasn't sure if that was because she had a crush on Liam or she actually wanted to be friends.

I guess that was the thing about having siblings. You never knew if someone wanted to be close to you for you or if they actually had other intentions. Probably why Liam told the guys I was off-limits to them.

Suddenly a hand grabbed my wrist. I jerked away jumping back. I saw who it was and I wished it was Cal. It was worse, Tyler.

"Just when I thought you could be a decent human." I muttered turning back towards the line crossing my arms. I wanted to be alone and enjoy my pretzel in peace.

"Oh, c'mon you don't like that I know you're a little freak." Tyler played with me wiggling his eyebrows.

"Back off," I snapped. I wasn't in the mood for Tyler's playful banter today. Honestly, I was a little offended that he was acting this way after everything that happened earlier.

"Oh she has bite now good for you," he laughed and just looked at me. "You know Noelle is over there talking to Cal right?"

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes. I forced myself not to look for Cal. Just in case Tyler really wasn't lying. I trusted him.

"She's been talking about him for weeks and how she knows he wants her," he laughed. I wasn't sure if he was laughing at her or me.

"Well if Cal wanted to be with her he would," I said before ordering my pretzel. I kind of started to lose my appetite but paid for it anyways.

"Or he can have both," he joked. "But I know you don't like to share."

"You are disgusting Ty," I scoffed. "What's the point of all this? Why are you being like this?"

I tried to think of the ways I could get rid of him, but I didn't think it would happen so I planted my feet further into the ground waiting for my pretzel.

"KP," he smirked.

"What do you want, Ty?" I groaned.

I really did not feel like talking to this version of Tyler. I had been having a good night so far for this otherwise exhausting day. I was used to Tyler being playful or being a jerk or whatever he felt like for the day. Right now I just wished he would leave me alone. It was enough that he had to be the nice guy earlier, now this. I didn't want to deal with it.

"I know you like to play games so let's play a little something," he bit his lip his eyes brightening with mischief.

"Unless its Monopoly I'd rather lick the floor," I said taking a bite out of my pretzel.

"How about clue?" He grinned wildly, "or maybe dare?"

"What the hell are you talking about Tyler?" I raised my voice now very irritated.

"You really don't know?" Even he seemed surprised.

I stared at him blankly. What didn't I know? I wanted to take another bite of pretzel but I had a sour taste in my mouth. I could feel the part of the pretzel I had eaten rise up in my throat.

"He really hasn't told you?" He gaped and began to laugh clapping his hands together. "Oh, this is good. I thought he really would, but wow. Even I'm surprised." He was grinning like a mad man and I really had no idea why.

"Okay seriously what is going on?" Suddenly I felt very uncomfortable. Just like this morning, my chest started to restrict, and I tried to take a few deep breaths.

What don't I know that Tyler does? What did he have over me?

"Damn, Cal really is good. He led you on this long," he sighed. "Although I really didn't think he'd have it in him, I'll give him that." He pointed in his direction. "It's a shame though."

"What?" I stuttered.

This was all so confusing. Why would Cal lead me on? For what? What was he talking about? Hasn't told me why? Leading me on. What? The world seemed fuzzy around me when I could only focus on my thoughts over anything. I started to think back and the memories flooded my mind.

The back to school party when we were playing Kings Cup while they sat in the corner staring at me. Even during New Years when I found them arguing outside over something. Cal seemed upset but Tyler seemed perfectly normal. Liam always being upset before Cal and I got together. What did he know? What the hell was going on?

"It was all a dare," he whispered the playfulness in his eyes were on fire.

"No you guys are done playing that game." I waved it off but it came across more as a harsh statement. It couldn't be true. They gave up that stupid game freshman year.

Breathe Ken.

"You really think we'd give up?" He chuckled. "We only became more quiet about it. We didn't play last year you're right." He nodded but continued, "but we had to let the fire die down a little and keep it quieter this time around".

Since we started middle school all of our friends played a game of Dare. Every school year would be a new game. We all thought of dares for each other. Every year each dare got more and more intense. Me and Riley decided to opt-out freshman year because we were tired of it. It seemed like a silly boy game. Besides we were getting more into the idea of dating guys rather than playing mindless games with them.

That year Liam and Tyler almost got expelled because of their dare. Mason and Cal had dared them to fill the swimming pool with Jello. It didn't really work too well, considering all the actual science behind it. They spent hundreds of dollars on instant jello. They even premade some and threw it in the pool and also food coloring.

The premade jello had clogged the pumps and put us out of practice for two weeks. The cameras had caught them, and our principal had almost decided to expel them until Tyler's dad made a charitable donation to the school. Tyler's dad paid a pretty penny for that one.

After that, the game wasn't finished for the year. They weren't allowed to play Dare anymore, and Tyler almost had to transfer schools. Almost.

"No you guys called it quits after the jello incident," I said again trying to sound fine although my voice had wavered. I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince him at this point.

"You really think that was going to let it stop us?" He questioned.

I rolled my eyes trying to pretend I was fine. It couldn't be true. Cal would never use me as a dare. It wasn't possible. I knew him, I knew Callum McCormick.

He lived next door to me for years. He fell out of the tree in our front yard and sprained his wrist when we were in the fifth grade. I knew how he loved strawberry jelly on toast but hated it with peanut butter sandwiches. How he always put his left shoe on first.

His stupidly handsome crooked smile. He loved to help his mom cook even though he was terrible at it. He wanted to be an architect and to create something that would last. I knew him. He wouldn't, he couldn't do something like that.

The thought of it was too terrible. Too cruel. Why would anyone do this? Or even think about doing something like this?

If Tyler was right. If there was even the slightest possible chance, it could be a dare it meant I didn't know Callum like I thought I did. I never knew him at all.

"Anyways I'm just surprised he kept it up this long." Ty grabbed a piece of my hair twisting it into his hands, "but I mean he is the king of this game. He always wins."

That was all it took. I let the pretzel fall from my hands and I swung at him with everything I had. Pain radiated my hand as it connected with his jaw. I walked away before he even realized what was happening. I had to find him. I walked away as fast as I could.

All I wanted was a goddamn pretzel.