Dare
1472 Words
*Oceania Burns*
“Come,” she leads me back inside as my eyes still search for him. “I want to introduce you to some of my friends.”
“Really? Can’t we just go sit in a quiet corner,” I complain. My head was still spinning, only seeing dark brown eyes.
“Don’t be silly,” she laughs... clearly thinking I was joking... I wasn’t.
“Ceana!” Anton waves me over. I just hope he had packed away his tray. Ugh! I hate the smell of cooked meat... or raw meat. I know it is unusual for a werewolf to be vegan... but hey... I wasn’t raised by the usual parents, in one of your usual packs. We were different, given a special task to conserve the wildlife and environment. Without them, we would have nothing, only meaningless lifeless things.
“Hey,” I greet him when we reach his table. He’s nice, but he’s not Avery.
“Stephanie,” he greets her and she smiles life a goof, flattered by the attention no doubt. Act cool Steph, I nudge her in her side with my elbow.
“Tom, Kurt... this is Ceana,” he introduces me, but of course, I had already met them.
“Hi,” I reply; my heart beating heavily as I recall our first encounter in the courtyard at orientation.
“Hey guys... I see you have met my new roomy,” I hear Marge’s melodious voice behind me. I turn my head to see Jessica and another girl who I haven’t been introduced to yet. “Isn’t she sweet?” she says placing her hand on my shoulder, claiming me to an extent. Her kindness makes me feel uncomfortable for some reason, but I need friends... I need my roommate as my friend.
“Hi Marge,” I greet her back, I consider asking her why she never woke me and instead left me to sleep in and run late on my very first day... but I left it... I will ask her when we are alone... in privacy... maybe there was a good reason.
“We are all heading to the woods after class, you should join us,” she smiles, “only you,” she says before looking at Stephanie.
Catching on to her excluding Stephanie, I push my chin out and say, “if Steph can’t come... I’m not interested.”
“It’s fine Ceana,” Steph whispers, “I have something I need to do anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she smiles faintly, looking uncomfortable and I understood why, “I can meet up with you later.”
The rest of the classes passed quickly. With every class I noticed more and more faces as they started introducing themselves. I saw many people, all but the face I wanted to see the most. Where are you Avery? I thought to myself as I sat beside his empty chair in economics class. What would make him abandon class for the rest of the day? Is it me? Is he really this repulsed by me? The final bell rang and I stood up from my desk.
“Thank you teacher,” I smile as I take my sighed attendance sheet from her.
“See you tomorrow miss Burns,” she smiles back before returning to her paperwork.
I walk down the passage and round the corner, the one where I collided with him just a few hours ago. Flexing my hand I remember his touch, soft but cooler than mine. Students push past me as I remain grounded to the spot. I don’t want to go with Marge and Anton anymore. As much as I want to find common ground for myself and Marge to grow a type of friendship, I much rather want to plonk down on my bed and read a book. My legs feel heavy and so do my shoulders as I drag my feet along the passage. I am new to attending classes and I find it absolutely exhausting. No wonder Gran sent me here. If the effort of being a Luna was anything like being in your senior year at the Academy, I still had a lot of work to do before I am anywhere near ready to lead my pack.
“Hey girl, where are you going?” Marge says sneaking up from behind, linking her arm into mine, “the forest is that way.” The second terrible two joined my other side. Crab stix... just what I need...
“I am feeling a little tired,” I started to say, “I was just going to...”
“Are you chicken?” she laughs.
“No I’m not,” I insist, “I’m just...”
“Chicken!”
“I’m not!” I tell her, feeling very aware of the attention she is drawing to us.
“Prove it!” UGH!
“Fine!” I give in, following her into the dark woods, where the boys were waiting patiently.
“Hey... you made it,” Anton says as he walks over to me, taking my hand and leading me deeper into the woods. This is... weird... My curiosity gets the better of me when we approached a cave, its entrance hidden behind lush vegetation. We go inside and I immediately sense that this was not their first time coming here. It is dark and the floor is wet from recent rains. In the furthest corner I see a door, an old wooden one that is decorated in carefully shaped iron. It is beautiful. Wow... creepy but... wow!
“Let’s play a game,” Jessica insists with a smile. A smile that sets me on edge.
“Yeah,” Kurt agrees enthusiastically.
“Truth or dare... since we have a new girl among us and we know nothing about her,” she continues, narrowing her eyes at me ever so slightly.
“That could be fun,” Anton agrees. No it won’t.
“But new members go first... those are the rules,” Marge says with no hint of humor in her voice.
“Which do you want Oceania? Truth or Dare?” Jessica laughs softly, leaning on Kurt’s should as they sit next to each other, looking at me.
“Neither,” I tell them.
“You have to choose,” Anton says in a breathy voice, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Just this once,” I agree, “and that’s it.” Let’s just get this over with.
“Dare it is then,” Jessica smirks. No...
“But I want...”
“Choose... option one is to kiss Anton, the gorgeous hunk holding you, for five whole seconds; or... option two is to go open that door.” Everyone laughs whereas Anton flexes his fingers against my waist. This is so not happening.
“I will take the door,” I tell them. Anton is already too close for comfort, and I’m not going to give my first kiss away just like that. My first kiss should mean something, shouldn’t it?
“Are you sure? It’s dark and scary down there, but Anton is a really good kisser... I promise,” she winks. I push away from him and walk over to the door, my heart drumming loudly and my legs trembling beneath me as I climb over the jagged rocks. I look over my shoulder to see them all speechless. Didn’t think I had it in me, did you?
“Alright, you can come back,” Marge calls out, but I refuse to be the coward they make fun of, I will do this one thing and go back to my room. “Oceania,” she calls out as my hand reaches the antique handmade handle, “DON”T!!” she shouts out, but it’s too late. Crap!! The door swings open and a gush of wind follows it. Howling screams fill the cave and I feel someone, or something, push past me forcefully, knocking me to the ground and everything goes black.
“Open your eyes,” a familiar deep voice pleads, “Please... open your eyes... for me.” I fight against the heaviness keeping my eyes shut. When I finally manage to open them I find myself looking up at the gorgeous dark brown eyes I searched for all afternoon. He is bent over me as I lay outside on the soft cool forest floor.
“Avery?” I ask in a shaky voice.
“Oh thank goddess,” he presses me to his broad and muscular chest. “You’re safe now, I’ve got you.” I’m safe now? How was I at risk in the first place? Am I missing something? How hard did I hit my head?
- Writer
