~If You Dare~

Me and Riley took our clothes off, exposing our bathing suits. I am, in no way, relaxed or at ease with having this much of my skin showing. Riley walks down the sand dunes like a friggin victoria secret model. I hobbled behind her, putting my faith in the water to hide me once I got in.

"Whooooo. Its a bit chilly," I remarked. In reality, I wanted to scream and run for my life when the water washed over my ankles. But  I had to act tough for my audience behind me.

Austen ran ahead of me, dunking his head into a baby wave. I gawked after him, wishing I had that kind of immunity to the cold. This water is seriously the temperature of Arctic waters, that or I'm just being a wuss. Probably the second option.

I wrapped my arms around myself to preserve some heat, and took another step forward. The sun came out from behind a cloud, encouraging me to go on. Riley was right by my side, us being mutual wusses in this department.

"Come on Bayley. What are you afraid of?" Austen taunted with a big smile. He shook his hair out and whipped it to the side, which I found ridiculously attractive. Hair has got to be the second best facial feature you look for on a guy, apart from their eyes. Austen is covered in both areas, for that matter.

"I wouldn't say it's the fear that's keeping me from-" His splash sent water droplets all up my arms. I yelped, turning in place. Riley caught some of the splash too and shrieked along with me. How dareth he!

"OH!" I said first thing when my teeth were mildy chattering enough to speak, "That's how you wanna play it!" I took no time to tear through the water toward him. I did a couple FIFA kicks of water on him, not that it really affected him since he was already used to it. He returned the favor, and we began the water battle of the century. I laughed when I sent a nice chunk of sand into his chest with a low thud. The fact that it stuck made me double over.

I don't know how it happened, but when the other political party of popular dictatorship saw us messing around, they stripped down to their bathing suits and joined us in the water.  I felt sand slapping me at all angles, and figured I probably looked like a living sandcastle by now. Austen graciously draped seaweed onto my hair.

"AAAAHHH! GET IT OFF!!" I fought the mass of slime off my head and tossed one in Austens direction. He laughed, tearing it off his chest. Riley threw a nicely aimed sandball at Austen. I gathered sand in both hands, letting some of it slip through the cracks of my fingers. While he was distracted getting payback, I came up and got on my tiptoes, drizzling it all over his hair and down his face.

He smiled, meeting me with his piercing blue eyes. The gray stained sand ran down the sides of his face in symmetrical speeds. Instead of reaching up to wipe his face, he bent over. Before I could process what was happening, he had slung me over his shoulder and paraded me around like the American flag.

"You put me down right now! I'm going to fall! I feel myself slipping!" He put an arm around my legs, which was a little uncomfortable.

"I have you, Bayley. I won't let you fall." We ran around the space of people, as he tried to shield me from any unexpected blows. After a bit, he put me down and helped me onto his shoulders. I am normally not subject to this kind of intimacy, but.... Eh, I'll just make an exception this one time.

I got on his shoulders, and he lifted me to skyscraper heighths. Some other couples followed our lead and we went deeper into the water, which was scary every time a wave hit. A blonde girl sitting atop someone challenged us to see who could knock over the other. Although the other boy was muscular, he was no match to Austens tall sculpted build. We took them down easily, laughing hysterically. While we were immerged in our victory, the next wave sent us down into the water.

I came up coughing, and wiped the water from my eyes. Austen took my hand and led me back to the shallows of the beach. Instead of thinking of Austens hand in mine like I should have, something else popped into my head. Squinting at the abandoned tent on the beach, I could make out a guy leaning on the punch table. Alone. Looks like someone was too cool to participate. His loss.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><

Some hours passed off fooling around, and as the sun started to set, we all settled down next to the fire, sittting in a thick circle of bodies and beach chairs. Since their weren't enough chairs for everyone, many girls chose to sit in the laps of their men. Of course, I fought for my own chair. Yeah I've had enough fun for one day.

Riley and that one guy had really hit it off. He whispered something in her ear and she laughed from across the fire. I smiled, glad that everything had worked out. Sometimes I wonder if she misses these kind of kooky parties all them "popular" kids throw. Since we became friends, she stopped attending them, and chose to hang out with me on Friday nights instead. I never asked her to sacrifice that for a loser such as I, but she insisted they weren't that fun anyway. I know now she lied.. but for what? To make me feel better? Or is it that need to always protect me acting up again? Oh Riley.

Austen scooted his chair closer to mine and leaned forward, meeting me in my hunched thinking position.

"What's on your mind?" Austen asked. I shrugged, meeting his eyes with a smile.

"Nothing really. Just thinking."

"Same here. I can't stop thinking about how much fun today was," Austen replied with an alluring smile. I imagined Jaxon reply to that going something like "Good. For a moment there, I was afraid your brain shut down and turned you into a living potato." Hold it, exactly why am I thinking of Jaxon right now when this scale ten blonde could possibly be flirting with me? What's gotten into me?

"Are you cold at all?" Austen asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. The towel slung over my shoulders was damp, and I guess being in this getup was making me a little cold.

"Yeah, a little bit..." I said, checking my arm, "I have goosebumps, so I must be." He laughed. I was  surprised when he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and gently pushed me onto his lap. How am I to refuse it? I mean, I don't want to refuse it. This is Austen. He's perfect. Why would I want to say no to those piercing blue eyes, that funny charming personality? Isn't he every girls dream?

"I just needed an excuse to do this." He whispered into my ear seducingly. I loosened up, sinking into his lap. Like it would diminish the doubt I'm feeling. His warm arms went around me, and I forced myself to accept it. Though it felt off, I hoped the feeling would pass. I definitely like Austen. What's holding me back? Maybe I'm just overthinking this entire thing.

From across the circle, through the gaps of the flame, I could see Jaxon, surrounded by several other beauties. They were all over him, I must say. It was not something I wished to see. But even worse than that, he didn't pay any attention to them. His eyes were glued on me. Sitting in Austens lap.

"Anyone want to play truth or dare?" A girl slurred, obviously drunk. Her proposition pulled the circle out of their own little worlds. Everyone naturally glanced at Jaxon, who was the chosen host of this party. He nodded.

"Great idea," He said, making her grin. The words stabbed me in the gut. It was the way he said it, like they were directed to me. I could feel a scheme playing before me. Am I being paranoid?

We started going around the circle, and most chose truth, which brought about mostly perverted questions I was thankful I didn't have to answer. One boy dared another to take off his shorts and dance around the fire. Man to man, he couldn't say no. I covered my eyes as soon as he began untying his trunks. Everyone erupted with laugher, while the scene stayed obscure under my fingers. Grody.

"My turn!" An overly excited husky voice exclaimed. I peeked through my hand, feeling the electricity hovering in the air before the strike. Jaxon flexed his muscles a little bit, then pointed directly at me. Um, truth, I'm going to choose truth. He can't humiliate me too bad with an extremely personal question, right? Ugh, I can already feel my face heating up!

"Austen, truth or dare?" Uh oh. Before I could turn around and sway his answer, the word "Dare" already left his lips. I tensed up, knowing what was coming. Please don't do it, Jaxon, you win, you win, just please don't make me do anything horrible.

"Go to the middle of the circle and french Bayley for ten seconds" Jaxon commanded without a trace of regret. Austen laughed softly, his breath blowing on my neck. I wanted him to turn the dare down out of respect for me or something. But that's not what he had in mind.

"Gladly," He replied. I sat up, my heart pounding in my ears. We both stood, and he held out his hand for me. I tried to smile as I gave it to him, allowing him to take the lead. Adrenalin kicked in when we got in the middle, and the cheering started. Everybody was looking at us, waiting for us to impress them. I hated it.

"I don't want to do this," I said quietly, my face hotter than the flames rising next to us. He moved his hands up and down my arms, trying to comfort me. The chanting transformed into "Kiss Kiss Kiss!"

"We have to. Don't be nervous, I'm here." Yeah, like that helps at all. My breaths were fast and shallow. My first kiss was going to be in front of everyone. It was a dare, it didn't mean anything. But I wanted it to mean something. Kisses shouldn't be thrown around like this. I couldn't believe I was being forced into this.

Before I could object, he got serious. Those blue eyes got closer and closer, his lips so close they brushed mine. I could hardly comprehend what was happening. Then they were on mine, soft and slow at first. My mind was alert, trying to process what to do. Something wet came in contact with my lip, and I could feel his mouth opening, deepening the kiss. I gasped into his lips, which just issued him to do more. Austens hand dug into my hair, somehow pushing me closer to him. Everything about it was all wrong, wrong wrong.

With my arms up in a defensive position, I shoved his body away. The kiss broke, and the cheering died. I couldn't help it. Tears started filling up my eyes. I shook my head, slowly backing away from Austen. He ran his hands through his blonde hair. Confused, he started to approach me.

"Don't," I said sternly, putting as much distance between us. All eyes were on me for the second time today, but this time around was much, much worse. Jaxon was expressionless, and I looked his way, feeling extremely vulnerable and stupid.

"Did you get what you wanted?" I spat to Jaxon. His facade fell, and for a moment he actually looked sorry. You win. Riley said my name behind me, as a tear escaped down my face. I wasn't going to stick around any longer. I turned on my heel and hurtled the beach chair, sprinting down the beach in the direction of the cliff.

My sobs were muted by me trying to catch my breath. The game continued on like nothing had happened, and I ran the rest of the way to the car. Riley chased after me, calling my name repetitively with a voice full of worry. I leaned against the car for support, finally allowing myself to cry. This night had been ruined, and just like that, Jaxon was on top.

And it was up to me to decide if I want to continue this game.

So sorry for the late update! Don't hate me! Please read and tell me what you think of this chapter, your take on the characters, etcetra. Thanks for sticking around and being supportive, you guys are the greatest! As always, voting and commentation would be greatly appreciated  =D