Chapter 8 TruthDare Gone Wrong
-Drew-
It’s been a good first few weeks of school.
This may have been the best place to end up.
I am enjoying getting to know the guys on the baseball team.
I even have a few classes with Annie, which have given me a few opportunities to ask her about assignments as an excuse to get to know her better.
My new buddy Craig saw us talking after class on the first day.
He let it be known that Annie is a baseball super fan and also his best friend who just happens to be a girl.
I took it as “don’t fuck with Annie” or “find out what happens” statement.
Last week, between classes, I randomly threw out a bad stat about a key player with her favorite team, the Griffons, and it landed hook, line, and sinker.
She looked at me with a side eye before she’d launched into how I was wrong.
During one of these sessions, we’d headed in the direction of the cafeteria, and that is how I ended up part of the lunch group.
I stay talking with her as the conversation evolves and expands, around all thing's baseball. It’s fun getting to talk about the sport that I love with her.
It’s impressive that she knows so much, and I get why she is the Visual News sports reporter.
Earlier in the day, the first news ran during first period, and she gave the highlights of the football game and did a short interview with her brother and mine.
I can’t help but feel annoyed that Daniel had his arm over her shoulder.
Her reporting also captures her interviewing a few of the volleyball players and cheerleaders.
I’ve ended up having lunch with her and her friend's group, which includes Luke, Craig, and her friend Meg. Meg is the opposite of Annie, but it still makes sense that they are friends. Meg has black hair, tan skin, and curves for days. She knows how to draw attention with what she wears, and she says whatever she wants. I can appreciate the effort that she takes, even if she isn’t normally my type.
Meg has started to step up her flirting the last few weeks since I said I was single.
She even invited me to the bonfire after the game tonight.
***
The football team has an epic win against one of the school's biggest rivals, the Trojans. Daniel has a great game, scoring the game-winning touchdown in the last minute. The crowd is going wild, the band is playing the fight song; it’s a fun experience.
I’ve been watching the game with what is becoming my new friend's group, minus Annie. Luke and Craig are going wild like they are football superfans. It makes me laugh, because they do take their football seriously in Oklahoma. Meg is standing next to me, and she leans over. “The party is going to be epic now—you really should come.” “I’ll have to check with Daniel. We only have one car to share,” I tell her, because a party does sound fun.
“I am Annie’s best friend: I know where the Campbells live, so if you need a ride, just let me know,” Meg says.
It’s only after I text Daniel that I realize that I don’t have her number.
I’ll just have to hope that I can get Daniel to agree to this party.
It should be an easy task. Daniel hasn’t turned down a party that I know of since he turned fifteen.
I pull out my phone and text him to figure out what the plan is for the evening.
Drew
I just heard about the party tonight.
You in?
Daniel
Just heard
Campbell is offering us a ride with him and Steph
That work for you?
Drew
Yeah meet you back at the house
Going to ride home with Dad
I meet Dad at the car and ride back to the house.
At the house, Mom comes out of her studio in a daze.
She must have gotten lost in another art piece.
Dad offers to take her out of the house for a break.
They tell me to have a good time, leaving before Daniel gets home with the second car about thirty minutes later.
Daniel tells me that Miles texted that they will be ready in five minutes.
We locked up the house and headed towards the Campbells’ driveway.
We chat about the game, about what we think a party in Oklahoma is going to be like.
I say that I just hope it doesn’t include a cow pasture, which makes my brother laugh so hard he is holding his side when Miles makes his way out the front door.
It’s not just Miles but Annie who comes down the driveway.
Either Daniel didn’t know Annie was coming, or he left that very important detail out of his texts.
She looks a little surprised to see us, but she calls shotgun, climbing into the front seat.
We take the back seat. Before Miles reverses the car, he looks at his sister and informs her she is going to be moving to the back seat when we get Steph.
She looks back at the small space between us, shaking her head.
Miles drives the few blocks to get his girlfriend.
Steph makes a move like she’ll just join us in the back.
Annie opens the door, telling her she is going to be moving.
I go to open the door, but Daniel is on the same side of the car and beats me to it.
He jumps out of the car, waving Annie towards the seat between us.
She looks in with scrunched brows, and I give her my best reassuring smile.
She smiles across the seat. She is going to have to straddle the console with one leg next to mine and one next to Daniel.
Daniel moves back into the car. It's a tight fit, and he pushes her against my side. I feel bad for Annie; we are both over six feet tall, full of muscle from our athletic activities, and we are not small guys, so we take up the backseat of this Subaru even without her thrown between us. I do like that Annie is wedged against me… which means that she is also wedged against Daniel, I reluctantly realize. I need to break this silence to stop thinking about her next to me. Her skin is soft against my leg, and I need a real distraction. So, I start asking about the sideline reporting. She looks over at me, giving me the highlight reel; if I had not already been at the game, this would be the recap I’d need to be prepared to talk about the game the next day.
She is animated. I can tell she absolutely loves reporting.
I wonder if she is going to be doing this for baseball, so I ask her.
She lets me know she will, but be limited reporting due to her soccer schedule.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Daniel run his hand along his leg, but he isn’t just rubbing his leg, he is also running his fingers along her leg.
I want to grab her and pull her into my lap, but I fight the urge.
His move makes Annie turn towards him, and I know I have lost another round to my brother.
***
We arrive at the farm, where there are already lots of upperclassmen camped out around the large bonfire.
Miles gives Annie a lecture, and I can see her roll her eyes.
Steph, being the only other girl in the car, backs Annie up, and maybe it’s just me but it feels like Annie doesn’t come to many of these victory parties by the way her brother is lecturing her.
Miles and Steph get out of the car, and I realize the three of us are still wedged in the backseat.
Annie breaks the silence, and before I can move Daniel grabs her hand and they leave the car.
I open my door, following like a third wheel, and I lose another round.
I am trying not to stare at Annie and Daniel’s hands still entwined.
This is a nightmare, being interested in a girl and watching her fall for my brother right in front of me.
I need to cut my losses. The problem is that I haven’t been paying much attention to other girls; Annie had gotten my attention both with her body but also with all our conversations over the last few weeks.
Cut your ties, man, I mentally think. We made our way to the bonfire, where Meg appears.
Her gaze runs over Annie and Daniel’s hands before her eyes run over me.
She steps to my side, wrapping her hand around my elbow, and tells us to follow her to the back of the fire.
She stops in front of two chairs. I guess no one in our car got the memo about bringing our chairs, I think.
“Sorry, I only brought the two,” Meg says to the three of us.
“I messaged the guys, but they didn’t answer, and neither did you, Annie Marie,” Meg says, giving her friend some sass.
A few of the guys are making the rounds and handing us four beers.
The guy handing one to Annie looks hesitant but finally hands it over.
Daniel releases Annie and takes one of the two seats, then pulls Annie down on his lap.
I am glaring, I can feel it; my eyes connect with Annie and she looks puzzled by my expression, so I take a long drink of my beer to reset my face.
I turn away from them and take the other chair.
I look up at Meg and pat my leg. She does a whole act, making a show of walking over and sitting in my lap.
She does feel nice against my side. I wrap my arm around her back and settle it on the curve of her hip.
Before long, others surround us, from my teammates to other guys from the football team.
I can see Miles and Steph at the edge of the group making out.
At some point, we all are handed another round of beer.
Craig and Luke show up and are like Frick and Frack when they arrive.
They are both sarcastic and love to be the life of the party, and it's entertaining watching them try to one-up each other.
Craig notices Annie on my brother's lap and gives a little scowl. I still don’t fully believe his whole ‘friend’ protectiveness of her.
Is it a friend thing or a don't want to admit I have feelings for her thing?
I wonder for the hundredth time. I need a change of subject, so in my brain, I make a rash decision to change up the dynamics of the night.
I ask, “Does anyone want to play Truth or Dare?” Meg giggles on my lap before saying that she’s in.
Meg quickly challenges Annie. Annie straightens her back before replying, “Yeah, I’m game.
” Before I can ask anyone else if they want to join, I hear Daniel ask, “Truth or Dare, Annie?” She hesitates for a moment before replying, “Dare.” I watch as my brother picks Annie up, moving her to straddle him, and then he says, “I dare you to kiss me.” I should look away, but I am curious if she’ll do it, and she does.
I close my eyes and try not to react. I still have Meg on my lap, or I’d remove myself from this moment.
Then all hell breaks out, and her brother is shouting and causing a scene.
Annie leaves with her brother, and Daniel just sits in his chair, giving the impression he doesn’t have a care in the world.
Knowing my brother, he probably doesn’t care that he just pissed off the QB.
My brother does what is good for Daniel: end of the story.
Meg wiggles in my lap and says to the group, “So, anyone else want to join in on a game of Truth or Dare?” It seems to break the ice, and we get a game going.
We have a mixed group of girls and guys, and the game has the normal amount of truth and dare activities, from more kissing to a few shirts being removed.
One girl asks for a truth, and she is required to tell the group whom she would kiss, marry, or fuck.
This gets the group laughing again. I lose track of time as we work our way through the group.
My dare is to remove my shirt, and it's warm enough by the fire that I don’t have any problem with it.
Meg gives me a look of approval before returning her gaze to the other players.
At some point, Annie returns and takes her seat on Daniel’s lap, but I am doing my best not to look over and to just enjoy the game.
Before I know it, Miles is getting Annie’s attention and pointing to his watch.
Annie stands and starts to tell everyone goodbye.
Daniel stands with her. I look at my phone, and it’s only 11:45.
Is he really headed back with them? We are never home before midnight.
When I don’t make a move, he asks me if I have a way home.
I tap on Meg's hip, “Can you give me a ride home?” She gives me a grin, “Sure.” I look over at Daniel and Annie, “All good here.” They walk off towards the car.
I take another beer and try to drown all thoughts of Annie Campbell out of my brain.