Tame

by India Marshall

  "What?" I hiccuped. "Why aren't you dancing? Hey is that Cookie?"

  "You're drunk." He stated, grinning. "And no, that's a rug."

  "Am not!" I protested. "Is Jason dancing? Haha, put it on Facebook!"

  Cameron obediently pulled out his phone from his pocket and started filming Jason's version of gangnam style. He was singing a parody from Youtube though- hotdog condom style.

  "Farrah, you're drunk, go ask out Tanner! A girly voice that could only belong to Hayley interrupted. "Then if he says no, just say you were...were...um..."

  She trailed off and I caught her looking at Cameron. He had one eyebrow raised and she stammered like Professor Quirrell.

  "No way!" I choked on my drink, sobering up. I was good at not getting too drunk and almost immedietly snapping out of my drunken phase.

  "Yeah, go on, Farrah." Cameron encouraged me. I peered at him, but his green eyes were looking elsewhere. His voice was sharp. What was going on?

  "Nooo way." I decided firmly.

  "Then how about we play dares instead?" Hayley suggested.

  "DARES WOO!" Jason howled. He was hilarious when fully drunk. I got a nod from everyone so we sat down in the middle of the floor, in a circle. There were about eleven of us, and it was a very odd shaped circle.

  I was squashed in between Hayley and Riley. Cameron and Tanner sat opposite me, my brother scowled at me from next to Riles, and everyone else was scattered about, Jason flopped on the floor to my left. He'd really had too much to drink.

  "Who goes first?" I wondered aloud.

  "We need a bottle." Cameron declared. He whipped one out from behind him, like it was a cartoon or something. He placed it in the middle and spun it- it landed on Tanner.

  "Truth or dare?" Troy asked.

  "Truth." Tanner decided.

  "What girl in any year at school would you like to screw the most?" One of Troy's wasted friends slurred. I didn't think he realised he didn't even go to our school anymore.

  "Uh..." Tanner itched his arm, looking at the floor. He looked really cute when uncomfortable. Cameron looked irritated and rolled his eyes at Tanner's actions. Rude boy.

  "Okay, how about instead, out of any girl in our year, would you want to date?" Riley suggested instead. I smiled at him, glad he came to Tanner's rescue. But it confused me as to why he asked that question of all questions.

  "Um...well," Tanner looked up from underneath his blonde-brown hair, smiling at me. "Farrah."

  I thought I did die that time.

  Everybody's reaction was astounded. I had to hold onto Hayley to steady myself. Riley's fists clenched, as did Troy's. His jaw clenched too, and he looked about ready to murder Tanner. Cameron seemed fairly pissed off too, leering at me. Why he was angry I had no idea. Maybe because Tanner was a player?

  I turned to Hayley, who beamed at me. Jason was giving me a thumbs up- though his thumb was facing sideways.

  "Really?" I gulped.

  "Yeah. Sorry, this has kind of put you on the spot." Tanner apologised.

  HE LIKED ME! HE LIKED ME! HE LIKED ME! HE LIKED ME! HE LIKED ME! HE LIKED ME!

  I screamed inside of my head, positive no one heard it. But my face probably gave it all away- my mouth hurt from smiling.

  "I...aww!" I cooed.

  "Move on already!" Another of Troy's friends complained, his words slurring more than Jason's- and that was a lot.

  "Fine by me." Cameron cut into the silence, spinning the bottle. It landed on Jason.

  "Truth or dare?" Cameron asked his best friend.

  "Darrre."

  "Kiss Cammie!" I teased, making both boys eyes' pop out of their sockets.

  "What now?" Jason frowned.

  "No." Cameron uttered a small growl.

  "Boring." I moaned.

  "So was yours." Cameron retorted quickly.

  "It wasn't mine, it was Tanner's." I reminded him. He glared at me before demanding a 'proper' dare for Jason from someone else. In the end, Jason had to walk around my neighbourhood, singing Jingle Bells.

  The dares got worse and worse, but no one dared trying a truth. Dared- see what I did there?

  Cameron flicked the bottle again, and it slowly, ever so slowly, landed on me.

  "Truth or dare?" He asked, his eyes gleaming. I gulped.

  "Dare."

  "Kiss Cameron." Jason slurred. "Go on!"

  He must have been way past it, he knew I liked Tanner!

  "No fair, Cameron's getting it all tonight!" Jason called out, answering to himself. Yep, way, way, past it.

  "Um, no. Forfeit?" I shook my head. Cameron rolled his eyes.

  "No forfeit!" Jason yelled drunkenly.

  "Forfeit." Troy, Riley and Tanner growled. Woah, I was loved.

  Ew, had I really just thought that?

  "You cannot expect a girl to give away her first kiss!" Hayley cried, prodding Jason. She was brave- probably only because he was drunk. "Especially in a dares game! It has to be with someone she likes, and wants to kiss!"

  "Spare us the details, Farrah Poppy Chambers has already told us." Cameron used his new name for me, making me wince. I glared at him and he winked. Cheeky bastard.

  "Just spin it again, she doesn't have to do a dare." Troy said quickly, spinning the bottle himself. I found it sweet he was taking the job of an over-protective brother, it was unlike him. These past few weeks he'd been different. But maybe I had been too? I looked around my living room, at each person in it. If it weren't for Milly, none of this would've happened. I privately thanked her.

  The bottle landed on Hayley.

  "Kiss Riley." Cameron said to her. His eyes watched her with interest.

  "She didn't say truth or dare yet." I pointed out.

  "Dare." Hayley nodded. Idiot.

  "Kiss Riley." Cameron repeated.

  "You can't just-" I started. Cameron raised a hand at me to shush me, and I slapped it away. I crawled through the middle of our oval shaped ring, right in front of him.

  "Stop being a jerk!" I cried, waving my hands around.

  "Calm down, Farrah Poppy-"

  "Man-whore." I cut him off, smirking. He grabbed my wrists and I squealed. "Troy!"

  But my brother didn't seem to hear me. He was looking at something else.

  Cameron wrestled me into the spot in between him and Tanner, holding my head so it faced what everyone was looking at.

  Hayley was kissing Riley.

  My mouth dropped open, my eyes bulging. She hadn't had her first kiss either! How could she just-

  "Farrah?" A voice whispered, breaking my thought track.

  "Hm?" I replied, looking into Tanner's wonderful brown eyes. I felt strange as I realised I'd probably do anything for this guy. He was just perfect. Something I had never endured before.

  "I wanted to ask you earlier, but you were over there." He smiled. "Will you go out on a date with me?"

  I tried to nod my head, but instead my head dropped onto his lap. I realised it was because Cameron had been holding it. He had let go, making me look a fool in front of Tanner- he was such a jerk.

  "Yes!" I cried. "Um, yes. Sure. Fine. Yes. Okay. Yes!"

  "Awesome." He smirked, turning to look at my two best friends- who were still kissing. I was utterly confused. First, why had Tanner smirked? Secondly, why was Cameron trying to make me look an idiot in front of my crush? Thirdly, why did Troy seem so upset about Tanner liking me? He knew I liked Tanner! Besides, he was my brother. He could be over-protective, but I thought he liked Tanner? And finally, why was Hayley kissing Riley?! She had never had her first kiss either- this I knew. Yet she was kissing Riley quite passionately.

  She had some explaining to do. They all did.

  Chapter 16

  I got up and stumbled over to Hayley, who still wasn't quite done with Riley. I saw Riley's eyes were open wide, filled with confusion.

  "Okay Hayley, uh, you can stop your dare now." I announced, prodding her back.

  Nothing.

  "Uh, Hayley? Hay
ley!" I poked her hard in the side and she released Riley's lips.

  "Was that long enough for the dare?" She asked, breathless. Her cheeks glowed a faint pink and I just stared down at her, shocked. Did Hayley like Riley?

  "That was fine." Cameron smirked to himself. He turned his head to me, still smirking. I narrowed my eyes at him- what was he playing at? Why did he get Hayley to kiss Riley?

  "Okay, I just know that sometimes a simple peck isn't eno-" Hayley began.

  "I need to talk to you!" I hissed, grabbing her by both her arms and yanking her upwards. I jerked my head at the door. "Outside."

  "Outside?" Hayley simpered. "But it must be freezing out there, Farrah!"

  "Not outside outside you idiot, just outside." I sighed. I earned a few laughs from Tanner at my amazing way of explaining things.

  "You know I think I'll just stay here." Hayley lowered herself to sit down again.

  "Oh no you don't!" I wrapped my arms around her waist and physically dragged her out of the room. Well, up to the door anyway. "Can someone open the door for me?"

  "Why do you need to talk anyway?" Cameron asked nosily.

  "None of your business. Girl stuff." I panted, tired already from holding up the now squirming Hayley.

  "Is little Farrah Chambers jealous that she isn't getting any?" Cameron chuckled. I saw Troy smirk.

  "For your information, I am going on a date with Tanner soon- more than you've got, I can bet on." I poked my tongue out at him. His face fell, as did my brother's.

  "You what now?" Troy gaped at me, glaring between Tanner and I.

  "I'll get the door for you." Tanner smiled, gently stepping over Hayley's out-of-control legs.

  "Aww, thanks." I cooed. His hand brushed against mine as he reached for the door handle and I shivered.

  "Farrah this is not neccesary!" Hayley cried as I dragged her into the hallway. I dumped her on the bottom step of the stairs, my hands on my hips.

  "What the hell was that?" I demanded.

  "What? The kiss? It was a dare!" Hayley laughed.

  "Not funny!" I snapped. "You kissed Riley way longer than anyone wanted you to."

  "Are you jealous like Cameron Carter suggested?" Hayley blinked.

  "What? No! Why did you say his full name?" I cried, flapping my arms about.

  "I don't know." Hayley muttered sheepishly. "But why do you care so much who I kiss and who I don't?"

  "Hayley!" I punched her arm, not enough to hurt her, but enough to make a point. "That was your first kiss! Your first kiss! With Riley! In a game of dares! Dared by Cameron!"

  "So?"

  "So?!" I raged. "You gave me that whole long lecture about how not to give away your first kiss, especially in a game of dares, and when Jason dared me to kiss Cameron you gave that big speech! Why is it different for you? I am your best friend here, Hayley, and trying to make sure of two things. One, if you like Riley. Two, if you're not drunk." I gabbled the rest, barely pausing to breathe. When I had finished, I was breathing heavily- I was so unfit.

  "Yes, but the difference is," Hayley said softly. "You like Tanner. So your first kiss has to be with him. I don't like anyone. So it doesn't matter."

  "It doesn't?" I echoed, confused.

  She shook her head. Damn, I needed to research this kinda stuff. I was a total goody two-shoes, nerdy, stay-at-home girl that I didn't even know the basic girl code rules. I suddenly felt like an alien next to Hayley- who had not only now been kissed, but seemed to know all the rules. I swore she was less socially active than I was.

  "C'mon girls, what are you doing out here, making out?" Cameron poked his head round the door, chuckling.

  "Go away you evil thing." I swatted his arm.

  "Evil?"

  "Oh yes, very. Like an evil wizard made to trick me into doing stupid things." I scolded.

  "Um..."

  "Farrah!" My brother's voice called urgently. I pushed Cameron to get back into the living room.

  "What? What? What? Who's dead?" I looked at everyone frantically, nearly passing out when I saw Jason on the floor, his eyes shut.

  "No one! But Mom is coming home in five minutes!" Troy informed me.

  "What? So?" I groaned, thinking it was vital. It was eleven thirty, she said she'd be home at that time.

  "So, you said that she said we couldn't have any more people over. And no alcohol." Troy reminded me.

  "Oh sweet baby Jesus nooo!" I panicked. Riley got up, still in a daze by the looks of things, and came over to me.

  "Would you like some help getting these guys home, Farrah?" He asked me kindly, his hand on my arm. I thought back to the day he first asked me out, and saw I was panicking after Cameron showed up at SAVE-AN-ANIMAL. I remembered him stroking my arm, and how uncomfortable it was.

  "Y-yes." I stammered, moving so his hand was floating in mid-air.

  "I'll drive these guysss home." Troy told me, slurring just slightly.

  "No way. You've been drinking." I shook my head. "Even with a slight slur, if you get stopped by the police you could get arrested."

  "Don't worry about me, baby sister. Just for God's sake hide Jason!" Troy told me.

  "Why? Mom knows he's here." I shrugged.

  "Because he's passed out drunk!" Troy shook me violently. I mentally slapped myself for being so stupid. No alcohol+Jason drunk= Angry Momma.

  "Okay, okay, I got it." I nodded. "But you can't drive."

  "I could instead?" Riley offered.

  "No way is he touching my car." Troy spat.

  "Well he's the only one who hasn't been drinking except Hayley." I told my brother in a 'take-it-or-leave-it' tone. I added in a whisper, "And I think Hayley has been drinking a little."

  "Hey!" Hayley frowned.

  "I could drive instead." Tanner suggested.

  "No way. Dude, we know you've been drinking." Troy shook his head.

  "Hello people? Mom will be home soon! We have like two minutes! Let's just hope she gets delayed in traffic. Riley, take Troy's car and drive his friend's home. Troy, you sit in the passenger seat. Tanner, Cameron, I need you to carry Jason upstairs. We'll leave him in ther bathtub or something. Hayley, come with me." I took control of the situation like a pro, and everyone stared at me.

  "Now!"

  They scurried off to do what I told them, Troy grumbling about a 'nerd' touching his steering wheel and how he would have to get it cleaned, along with his entire car fumigated. Drama Queen.

  "Come on, you're nearly there!" I called encouragingly to Cameron and Tanner, who were struggling to get Jason up the last few stairs. Being made of muscle like he was, Jason must have been pretty heavy. And the fact he was drunk and kept turning around when they went up a step, made it even harder.

  "You try carrying him!" Cameron puffed, glaring at me.

  "Sorry!" I smothered a giggle at his pained face. It was a cross between effort, exhaustion and annoyance.

  "What did you need me for?" Hayley questioned me.

  "Oh right, I need you to help me set up some sleeping bags and stuff for people to sleep in." I remembered the reason I was at the top of the stairs- and it wasn't to gawk at how hot Tanner looked when he had swet beads running down his muscular arms. Boy, he did look hot.

  Hayley and I were just finishing opening up the last two sleeping bags when my phone went off in my pocket. I pulled it out, my fingers getting squished inside my pocket, and saw I had a new message. I opened it and found it was from mom- crap.

  From: Mom

  GOING 2 BE L8. SRY SWEETIE- C U IN TEN X

  I cringed at how she typed it- what kind of Mother did that? A strange one like mine, obviously. I replied with a quick text back.

  OK THATS COOL. DONT TEXT LIKE THAT.

  Satisfied we had more time, I stood up and picked out a bag of jellybeans from my closet.

  "Want some for our hard work?" I giggled to Hayley.

  "Oh yes please!" Hayley gasped, taking a handful.

  "You are such a piglet!" I pushed her arm
, making her drop a few of them. I picked them up and ate them quickly.

  "Farrah!"

  "Shorry." I said through a mouthful. I laughed, thinking back to when I was younger, sat in the exact same space I was then, eating jellybeans, I told Rolo to 'sit'. But Mom came in, and because of my full mouth, it sounded like I said, 'shit'. Good times.

  "I think you missed one." Hayley told me, kneeling up and feeling around under her but for any lost jellybeans.

  "Ah, I'm sure Rolo or one of the cats will get it." I shrugged.

  "That's not good for them though, surely?" Hayley asked.

  "Nah, but it'll be a treat." I told her.

  "Yeah, and it will be your treat from them to clean up their vomit." Hayley teased.

  "Yeuch! Why say that when I'm eating?"

  "Eating?" Cameron interrupted. "Hey jellybeans! Can I have some?"

  "Ew, no."

  "Why?" He whined like a little kid.

  "Ugh, fine." I threw one at him, and it bounced off of his nose, but somehow, he caught it in his mouth.

  "Cool, do that again!" Cameron cheered.

  "You are such a guy."

  "And you are such a girl." Cameron retorted. "Maybe."

  I grabbed a pillow from my bed and tossed it at him.

  "Oh wow, that hurt me so much." Cameron rolled his eyes at me.

  "I can hurt you." I narrowed my eyes at him.

  "Yeah, sure."

  "I can! Maybe not as much as Jason could, after all he is a street fighter." I told him. I looked for Jason and realised he wasn't there. "Hey, where's Jason? And Tanner for that matter?"

  "Jason's in the bathtub like you told us to put him there, and Tanner's being Mister.Gentleman for once in his life and picking up all the drink bottles downstairs so your Mom won't see them." Cameron replied in a bitter tone.

  "Aww, he is? How sweet!" I clapped my hands together.

  "It's not like him." Cameron muttered darkly.

  "You're just jealous because I have a date for sometime this week with a gentleman and you could never get a date with a lady." I mocked.