#TheBoyfriendDare

by Yesenia Vargas

  Harper leaned in toward her and whispered loudly. “Me neither. I pretend. Just nod along.”

  We laughed and got up to go get refills on our drinks.

  I poured out orange soda for myself and passed the two-liter bottle around. Then Ian walked in, his hands in his jacket pockets.

  “Ian,” I said. “You came.”

  He looked off, his eyes downcast and his mouth in a frown. “Hey,” he said. “I was wondering where you were.”

  My friends glanced back and forth between us, and I remembered to introduce them.

  They gave Ian small waves or a smile, and Ian gave a half-hearted wave back.

  Harper looked to the other girls and me. “Lena, we’ll meet you back in the living room?” she asked.

  I nodded. “Sure.”

  The girls left, leaving Ian and me alone in the kitchen. The music was still pretty loud in here, but we could talk normally. He joined me next to the counter.

  I studied his face. His usual easy-going grin was missing. “You okay?”

  He exhaled, and I’d never seen his eyes like that. Sad and kind of empty. It made my chest feel empty too. “Bethany broke up with me,” he said quietly.

  I gasped. “What? Why?” I demanded.

  Ian shrugged, and my heart broke a little for him, just seeing how crushed he was. “She said I haven’t been spending enough time with her with soccer going on, and maybe she wants to date this college guy anyway. Says she’s over ‘dumb high school relationships.’”

  I scoffed, not believing she’d actually said all that stuff to Ian. “What a jerk,” I cried. “She’s already got her eyes on some other guy?” Of course Bethany would. I couldn’t even say I was surprised. I put my hand on top of his. “Ian, you are way too good for her. You know that, right?”

  He shrugged again, refusing to look anywhere but the white granite counter in front of him. “I really liked her, you know?” He sighed. “Still do.” He finally met my eyes. “Am I a fool for saying that?”

  I paused for a second, taking in the hurt on his face. Then I shook my head. “Not at all.”

  We didn’t say anything, and I could tell that was about as much as he wanted to say about the whole thing, so I gave him a hug. He hardly hugged me back, but I knew not to take it personally.

  This was the reason I preferred to kiss for funsies and not for realsies. The risk of heartbreak wasn’t worth it. At least for me.

  Bethany had been Ian’s first real girlfriend, and she’d gone and stomped on it before kicking it into the trash can.

  Part of me wished I could give her a piece of my mind, but I knew that would only make things worse, as good as it would feel to put her in her place.

  Then my mind went to my earlier Instagram post. Had that picture of us caused all of this? My stomach roiled with guilt, but I tried not to think about it. I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. We were just friends. It’s not like I’d been all over him or something.

  No, if that picture had come up between them, then Bethany was using it as an excuse to dump Ian.

  “Come on,” I told Ian. “Forget about her. Let’s have fun tonight and get your mind off of all that. At least for a little while.” An idea came to mind, and I smiled. “And I know just the trick.”

  Three

  We walked into the living room, and I raised my voice. “Who’s up for a game of truth or dare?” I yelled over the music with a huge smile on my face.

  Ian leaned in toward me. “This is your idea of cheering me up?” he asked.

  I clapped. “Of course!”

  He plopped down on one of the couches with a look of blank resignation. “I guess it’ll be entertaining watching you make a fool of yourself.”

  I laughed, not offended in the slightest. Ian making a joke was a really good sign, and I was only too happy to take one for the team.

  Tori and Ella looked like they felt the opposite of excitement while Harper and Rey held back smiles.

  But I knew something just a little crazy was what the doctor ordered for Ian. I might have gone for something like Spin the Bottle, but with flu season already starting, that was the last thing the boys and girls varsity teams needed right now.

  Just about everyone gathered around the couches in the living room, and on my way to my seat, I whispered in Chris’s ear about all of us cheering Ian up tonight and why. He gave me a quick nod.

  My friends made room for me on the sofa, but when Noah walked in, Tori mumbled something about needing to talk to him somewhere else.

  I knew she just wanted to get out of playing the game. “Fraidy cat!” I called after her.

  It wasn’t long before Ella and Jesse made the same type of excuse and huddled together in a corner of the room.

  Harper’s boyfriend, Emerson, put his arm around her, but at least they stayed.

  Several minutes in, we were all laughing more than ever, even Ella and Jesse.

  Chris had gotten a makeover, complete with lipstick and eyeshadow. I had to give it to him. He was always a good sport, on and off the field. Katie handed him several make-up wipes, still taking pictures.

  Then Perry, the same girl who’d dared Chris to let her give him a makeover, had confessed that she’d pick Captain America out of all the Avengers to give her CPR if it came down to it.

  I shook my head. “Thor, all the way. Or even better, Loki. There’s something about a bad boy, don’t you think?”

  That made everyone laugh, and I winked at Harper, who blushed profusely but giggled. Meanwhile, ever serious Emerson glanced away.

  Next, it was my turn, and I was sure my smile reached my ears from the excitement.

  Chris, finally make-up free, turned to me, and asked out loud, “Okay, Lena. Truth or dare?” he said with a quirk of his brow and a reckless grin.

  I pretended to think about it, but I knew my answer wouldn’t be a surprise. “Dare,” I said, like it was a challenge.

  Because it was.

  Completing a good dare felt just like being on the soccer field and making an impossible shot. Or kissing for funsies.

  I lived for the thrill of it.

  Chris consulted with some of the other varsity boys, and Rey shook her head at me. “Girl, you are crazy,” she whispered.

  I smiled. “Just wait until it’s your turn.”

  She gasped and covered her face with her journal so I could only see her eyes. “No way!” she said. “You know I can’t handle this game. And especially not in public.”

  I winked at her and turned to Chris. “So? You got anything or what?” I said.

  He finished whispering and met my gaze. “Oh, I’ve got something alright.” His eyes practically twinkled with evil. “Lena, I dare you to kiss…” The room went completely silent waiting for him to finish that sentence. My heart beat like a drum in my chest. “Ian.”

  Uh, WHAT?

  My mouth actually fell open. “What?” I asked out loud.

  I glanced at Ian, and he looked just as horrified as I felt.

  I’d asked Chris to help me cheer up Ian, but this was not what I had in mind.

  Chris high-fived his buddies, and I scoffed. “Chris! I can’t kiss Ian. You know he’s practically like a brother or something.”

  I looked to my friends for support, but they had been stunned silent because no one said anything. Neither did anyone else.

  Probably because they knew Ian was the one guy I’d never kiss for funsies. We were friends, like real friends. And that was important to me.

  But Chris only shrugged. “Sorry, Lena. Rules of the game. Either do the dare or lose.”

  He knew the magic word.

  Lose.

  Everyone on both teams knew I hated losing. Losing was the worst, and losing in front of everyone? I’d rather do anything else.

  I sighed, knowing what I had to do.

  Turning to Ian, I resigned myself to getting this dare done and over with.

  Ian looked like he wasn’t sure what to do. In fact, he resemb
led a deer in headlights.

  He hugged a cushion to his chest like it was a bulletproof vest. “Uh…I don’t know about this,” he said.

  Chris came over and said, “It’s okay, man. This is just what you need. It’s just for fun. It won’t mean anything. Right, Lena?”

  Everyone’s head turned to me in one swift motion, and I took a deep breath. I looked at Ian. “It’s just a dare,” I said pasting on my best fake smile. “A quick peck on the lips, that’s all.”

  He blinked back at me.

  Then everyone began cheering and chanting, louder and louder until it was impossible to ignore. “KISS! KISS! KISS!”

  Someone tapped my shoulder. It was Harper. “You know you guys don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” she said quietly.

  “It’s okay,” I assured her. “It’s just a game. Nothing more.”

  Besides, as of an hour ago, Ian no longer had a girlfriend so I had nothing to feel guilty about. No reason to say no.

  I stood up, and so did Ian.

  We walked over to the other side of the living room.

  Ian stared back at me.

  “Are you okay?” I said. “You know I’m just doing this on a dare, right? But we don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” I felt fine, but something told me he should hear Harper’s words too.

  He looked down, then at me again. I was sure the continued chants of KISS, KISS, KISS weren’t helping. “You’re right. It’s just a game. And I guess it could be worse.”

  I giggled, remembering the time someone had dared Chris to kiss his grandma on the lips at one of our soccer games last year.

  Things could definitely be worse.

  Ian still looked a little uneasy, but he stepped closer, leaning down toward me.

  I pushed up on my toes so I could reach him, then I spotted a red Atlanta Hawks hat on one of the end tables nearby.

  Just before Ian’s lips reached mine, I snatched it and covered our faces.

  Everyone groaned in disappointment, but I stifled a smile.

  Ian’s mouth pressed against mine, and his hand grazed my back and then pushed me closer to him.

  The groans turned to loud cheers, but they were more like muffled noises in the background. I was too busy being surprised at how soft Ian’s lips were and the feeling of my stomach doing several flips.

  I stepped back, and so did Ian. It was over. Just like that.

  The hat came down, and I turned to everyone and gave a bow, completely dazed. All I could focus on was the fact that kissing Ian had been really interesting.

  And not quite like all those for funsies kisses I’d experienced before.

  But I told myself it was just the high of both the dare and the kiss. That was all…and why it had felt incredible.

  Right?

  Not because of his perfect smile, amazing hair, or strong hands.

  NO.

  Four

  That stupid kiss wouldn’t leave my thoughts alone the rest of the weekend, no matter how hard I tried.

  But it was my fault for starting that game of truth or dare.

  And also Chris’s fault. Not one of his best ideas, daring me to kiss Ian.

  Ugh.

  Hopefully things would just go back to the way they were before. Well, not completely. I had my fingers crossed in hopes that Ian and Bethany wouldn’t kiss and make up.

  I just wanted to put that truth or dare kiss behind us, but at lunch on Monday, it was the only thing the #BFFs wanted to talk about.

  Of course.

  Tori eyed me like I was a puzzle she needed to figure out. “I don’t know. That kiss seemed like more than just any old kiss. I could have sworn I saw literal sparks fly out from behind that hat.”

  Rey and Harper giggled.

  Ella smiled. “What are you thinking?” she asked me.

  I scoffed. “It was just a stupid dare. Otherwise, it never would have happened. I told you guys. We’re just friends.”

  “Hmmm,” said Tori in response. “You never know. A kiss could change everything, Lena.”

  “Oh yeah?” I asked. “Ian’s not the first guy I’ve kissed for funsies.”

  Harper quirked a brow. “Every other guy wasn’t Ian, though.”

  They stared at me, and I didn’t say anything, thinking about Harper’s comment.

  Is that why I’d felt that funny feeling in my stomach? Because Ian was someone I knew and trusted? Because I’d felt a little something more?

  Still… “He just got out of a relationship, though,” I said. “I’m betting there’s like an eighty percent chance he’ll get back together with Bethany in no time. He’s head over heels for her.” Always had been, as far as I could tell. Ever since they’d started going out.

  “Really?” Ella asked. “It’s been the whole weekend. You’d think they would have made up by now if they were gonna get back together.”

  Rey nodded. “That’s a good point.”

  “Besides,” Tori said. “I heard she’s already talking to some other guy. Which frankly, isn’t surprising. She doesn’t usually stay single for long.”

  What? “Where’d you hear that?” I asked, pushing my full tray aside.

  Tori picked at her salad. “This morning, on my way to math. One of Bethany’s friends said she had gone out on a date with some college guy.”

  My stomach sank for Ian. This was going to crush him. “Are you sure?” I asked. But after what Ian had told me at the party, I couldn’t say I was that surprised.

  But I knew she wouldn’t mention the rumor if she hadn’t heard it herself.

  She nodded. “Maybe it’s for the best. Besides, you never know. You guys could end up becoming more than just friends.”

  It came out like a question, but one that she and everyone else wanted to know the answer to.

  I already knew the answer, though. I shook my head. “No, I don’t think so. I’m not even sure I see him like that, you know? We’ve been friends forever. Since middle school. I’m not sure I’d want to ruin what we have.”

  What we had was pretty good. I could count on Ian to be the shoulder I needed to lean on while we listened to music on the way to our next away soccer game or on the bleachers on the day of a home game. The person who gave me pointers during half time and gave me a pat on the shoulder whether we won or lost.

  Rey’s question brought me back to reality. “What do you guys have?” she asked, pen poised above paper.

  I shrugged. “We have…a real friendship.”

  Harper smiled. “Sometimes those turn into the best relationships.”

  “Maybe,” I said, fidgeting with my napkin and shrugging my shoulders. “Maybe not. Anyway, he’s totally heartbroken right now.”

  That door was closed. And always would be.

  Ian and I shared a couple of classes, but we didn’t really get to talk until after practice on Monday.

  I let loose my long dark hair, pulled on an oversized hoodie, and caught up to him on his way to his car. Everybody else peeled out of the parking lot, eager to get home.

  “Hey,” I called. We hadn’t really talked since our kiss on Friday night, and I wanted to clear the air and find out if he was okay.

  And if the rumors about Bethany were true.

  Ian tossed his gym bag into his car and turned around. “Hey,” he said, hardly looking at me.

  I walked up to him, my hair blowing in the breeze. “I just wanted to ask how you’re doing, you know, since…” I bit my lip, hoping he got the gist.

  Ian leaned against his car, staring down at his feet. “Haven’t you heard?” he asked quietly.

  I leaned back against his car with him. “So it’s true, huh?”

  Clenching my jaw, I hated that Bethany had moved on just like that. What kind of person did that? It wasn’t right.

  Ian remained silent, and part of me wanted to take his hand. Then I reminded myself that we’d already crossed one line on Friday. No need to tiptoe toward it again so soon.

  Or e
ver.

  Ian exhaled. “I just—wish she’d give us another chance. I know she’d remember how good we are together.”

  But were you? I wanted to ask.

  I grimaced, holding back my thoughts.

  “After everything…” he said. “Almost two months.”

  I spoke carefully, not wanting to add to his pain. “Ian, maybe she’s not worth all this heartbreak. You’re such a good guy, and she’s…”

  “The girl I can’t stop thinking about,” he finished, staring off into the sky.

  I shook my head. “I’m sorry, but she’s a terrible person.”

  He shrugged and looked away. “There’s more to her than you think.”

  I doubted that, but I decided not to voice my opinion on the matter. It’d probably just make him mad at me, and that was the last thing I wanted, for him to push me away. “Well, you’re a total catch, Ian,” I said, trying to put a smile on his face. “Don’t forget that.”

  He only offered a small tight-lipped smile, a shadow of his usual grin.

  “Hey, I don’t say this to just anyone,” I said, my heart beating a little quicker. “But you’re a great kisser. And I think you know I’m quite experienced in this area.”

  Now he laughed, and I couldn’t help but grin wide.

  He looked at me. “It was hardly more than a peck, Lena. I’m not sure you could tell anything from that.”

  I continued teasing him. “Oh, I can tell,” I said. “Believe me. If word gets out, which it very well could, that you’re an amazing kisser, well, let’s just say you’ll have a line of girls ready to show you a good time like that.” I snapped my fingers. “Maybe remind Bethany of what exactly she’s missing out on.”

  His head snapped up. “You think so?”

  I nodded. “Of course. Bethany’s crazy to have given you up.”

  His eyes met mine, and I wondered if his stomach was doing somersaults too. “Lena,” he breathed. “That’s it.”

  Huh?

  Ian stood up and faced me. “I want you to be my girlfriend,” he said.

  I faced him too. “Wh-what?” I asked, not sure I’d heard him correctly. Was I hearing right? For someone who usually thrived on going fast, all of a sudden I felt like I had whiplash.