Chapter 17 Olivia #2
“Any day now,” someone says, anxiety crumbling within me when I realize I have to hurry up and change my plan.
“Broden,” I say anyway, hoping that maybe he’s just out of sight on the other side of the pit, or maybe I can’t see him.
But everyone looks around as voices rise in a tumult of gossip break out. He’s not here.
I look over, noticing Trace as he bores his eyes into me. Almost as if he’s trying to figure me out, like I just said something that causes him to shoot a warning my way. But I ignore him, not knowing what the fuck it’s for.
I realize I’m just standing here as everyone waits for me to make a move.
I turn to look at Alli and she silently nods her head toward Banks.
I’m not sure it’s a great idea but I don’t have many options right now.
I don’t know a lot of the people here and even if I did, I wouldn’t care much to interact with any of them, so I take the risk.
“Banks,” I say. Everyone’s head turns toward the quiet man sitting next to Alli, who is smirking with her head dipped to her chest.
He doesn’t say a word as he catches the coin and flips it.
Tails. That’s a dare.
“Umm…” I start, trying to come up with something that isn’t too crazy but also isn’t vanilla enough to where people would call me boring again. But also something that possibly benefits Alli.
“Pick the girl you find most attractive and leave a hickey on her neck,” I say, feeling really fucking juvenile for the request but I know these idiots will eat that shit up.
Alli looks up at me with wide eyes but I can see the lust in them.
Banks doesn’t even say anything, he just watches me as I sit back down.
We wait for a few beats. Girls start to whisper, probably hoping he’ll choose one of them, as the boys sit in silence.
Again, he’s the quiet brooding type so no one knows what he’s going to do.
But what I don’t expect is for him to choose anyone but Alli, which is exactly what he does.
He walks right up to some random chick, motions her to stand and then wastes no time kissing her neck.
Her head falls back as she reaches for him.
He’s not taking it easy either, sucking on her skin hard.
Everyone zones in on the action but I can’t even watch.
I look at Alli who is now eyeing the ground.
I can feel the disappointment radiating from her.
I did this. What the fuck is he doing? I know her and Banks are not anything serious, but it does take a lot for Alli to give any one her time, let alone one single boy.
Once Banks is done, he leans back and holds the girl by the neck for all to witness the very deep purple bruise painting her brown skin.
After everyone seems satisfied, he lets her go and walks right back to his seat, sitting next to Alli who is now shifting in discomfort.
The girl with the hickey on her neck is smiling from ear to fucking ear, having enjoyed the product of my stupid dare far too much.
Alli barely looks at me and I mouth an apology to her but she just nods her head and displays a very weak smile. I know she’s not mad at me, but that doesn’t mean it sucks any less.
“Alright,” Natasha starts. “Who’s got fourteen?”
I don’t even look, zoning out the next few moments of the conversation.
I feel terrible that I set my friend up like that and I’m also not really getting anything out of this stupid game right now.
I decide that it’s best for me to leave, not caring about the consequences of quitting, but right as I attempt to stand, I hear my name.
I look up, everyone with their eyes on me.
I don’t even know who said it as I glance around the circle. And before I know it, Banks is tossing me the coin.
No.
I catch it, barely, and stare at it. I don’t want to do this, any of this.
“It won’t flip itself, sweetie.” I hear someone say and a few people break out into giggles.
But my heart freezes. That sounded eerily like Seren. I try to find her face amongst the people around me, but I know she’s not here and I’m just hearing things. But then…
“One of the greatest things you can do for your future self is to say yes to things you think you want to say no to. People love a bitch who can do something they expect her not to do. It makes them envious. And they also learn how to shut their fucking mouth,” Seren says, dripping with absolute confidence.
She’s like a movie that way, always seeming like she’s speaking from a script. Like she’s warning you of what to do because she already knows the ending. I watch her as she turns to the person next to her and smiles, not even waiting for me to respond.
Everyone is chatting, the fire burning bright between us and the next moment, a boy stands up and calls Seren’s name. Silence falls around the circle and Seren’s face drains, the life being sucked out of her and as I turn to look at the boy who called her name…
The vision fades, flitting in static waves.
A memory.
Who was the boy? Why did Seren’s face look like that when he called her name for the dare?
And why didn’t I remember this before? I thought I only lost part of my memory from the actual night their deaths took place but now that I think about it, I could be missing more than I know.
I haven’t really thought about the other nights much, because I never really thought they were important.
But as I search my mind, I realize that prior to the night of the murders, I can remember everything except for any memories of Seren.
It’s like she’s been erased from that weekend entirely.
My head starts to spin. How is that possible? And how have I not noticed that in all these years? I close my eyes. I can’t even remember getting to the cabin with her. And I know we bunked together.
“Olivia.” Sage calls my name and drags me from my thoughts.
I look back down at the coin, now remembering the time Seren took it and flipped it with confidence.
I don’t even remember playing this with her, but now I know that we did.
We played truth or dare that year for Thriller Nights and I saw it, the look in her eyes.
She was afraid of whoever called on her.
I swipe at the tear slipping down my face, not caring who the fuck sees or what they insinuate the reason to be. But as more and more people start to gossip around me, I flip the coin. It circles itself around and around in the air before landing on the ground. I lean down to look at it.
“Tails,” I say, feeling the dread sink into my gut.
All I want to do is recall every detail of that memory with Seren but now I am forced to submit to some ridiculous dare.
“What’s the dare, then?” Alli asks and I turn my head toward some kid I hardly recognize. Likely a freshman in college, a few years younger than me.
I don’t know what I expect but as he opens his mouth, my heart stops.
“Get down on your knees and show us what you look like when you have dick down your throat.” He chuckles with his friends around him.
“What?” I ask, pure disgust on my face while a proud smile paints his.
Everyone’s eyes are on me.
Sage, Alli and Evin are motionless beside me as Jensen and Trace both look at me with anticipation, maybe. But only one of them seems somewhat eager for me to fulfill the dare. The other one seems like he’ll kill someone if I do.
“Liv, you do not have to do that.” I turn my head to see worry in Alli’s eyes.
“Don’t be a fucking prude,” someone says and everyone laughs.
People love a bitch who can do something they expect her not to do.
“Liv, she’s right. You can just walk away.” I turn my head to Jensen now, who seems to be giving me an out; breaking the rules to his game.
Funny, seeing as I thought he would want me to do the dare.
His eyes seemed hungry for it even. Or maybe they were but then it took him a moment of common sense and he realized how humiliating it would be for me, remembering that I am someone he cares for.
Or used to care for. Not that I need his approval or concern.
“Then why the fuck am I here, Jen?” I shoot his own words from earlier back at him and the look on his face is priceless. Shocked. Everyone reacts with a theatrical oh shit and he just shrugs his shoulders in defeat before sitting back down right as I stand up.
A few cheers break out as I step up to the fire pit, a little unsure of where to position myself. Am I going to actually do this?
My heart starts to race and something hot swarms my skin.
I look over at Trace who’s jaw is set so tight as he stares at me, locking me into his intense glare. He moves his lips, mouthing very slowly, “Don’t you fucking dare,” as he squeezes his fists between his knees.
He scares me. Just a little. And seeing the threat in his eyes and knowing the danger that would likely be in his tone causes my need to defy him. To want to do what he’s warning me not to do.
I keep my eyes on him as I drop down to my knees.
“Fuck you,” I mouth back with pride swelling in my chest knowing that he’s got to be fucking reeling right now. I am reeling. It’s dangerous. It’s humiliating. It’s an adrenaline rush that I can’t deny I crave.
He doesn’t move, keeping us locked into eye contact. I notice a few people stand up to get a better look, cheering and whispering as I tilt my head up, now looking up at the stars but I know Trace still has eyes on me.
My body is on fire. My heart is pounding so hard I can feel my ribs vibrate.
I open my mouth.
Water dribbles from the sky, wetting my hair and gliding down my face. For effect, before the final step, I pull my hands behind my back and clasp them together. And then I stick out my tongue.
I can hear the girls judging, some even laughing and saying how pathetic I look. But the guys are all high fiving each other and I hear one say, “damn I bet she gives good head.”
I try my best to zone it all out, keeping my eyes shut as I finish out the dare but it’s the flash of a camera, which wouldn’t have been noticed if the sun hadn’t just gone behind the clouds, that flusters me.
But before I can act on my own accord, someone is yanking me up off my feet by my elbow.
I turn to see Banks behind me, but I don’t have time to question it before a commotion pulls my attention away just in time to witness Trace pulling someone up by their shirt.
“The fucking phone you piece of rotting shit,” he demands.
Everyone is silent as they watch on.
“Fine, fuck. Sorry.” Landon; a kid from the MCU football team. Of course it would be.
Alli approaches me from behind, pulling Banks’ hand off of me and giving him a very stern look. And while he lets go, he doesn’t back off. Alli and I watch as Trace snatches the phone from the asshole’s hand and doesn’t even think before tossing it into the fire.
No one moves.
“Dude what the fuck! You owe me a new phone!” Landon pushes his finger into Trace’s chest and I think the moment he does it, he realizes it’s a huge mistake.
Trace reaches out for Landon’s shirt once more, crumbling it up in his fist before rearing back his other and swinging.
The sound of cracking bones rings in the dead of day, not even a single breath can be heard. Blood immediately fills Landon’s face as he starts whimpering, holding his nose.
I gasp, bringing my hands to cover my mouth. So does just about everyone else.
“Dude, what the fuck?” he cries out, but not a single person moves to help him.
“Get the fuck out of here.” Trace’s tone is sharp and sinister, causing Landon to scamper away, leaving a blood trail behind him.
Now, everyone starts to chat amongst one another, likely in observation of what just happened.
Banks finally sits down and so does Trace, not even looking at me this time. But I can’t move. I don’t know what the fuck just happened or what to say. But no one else seems to act on what just happened, almost as if it isn’t a big deal, even though everyone reacted in shock.
“Let’s sit,” Alli murmurs to me, but I don’t want to.
My bones feel heavy and my blood feels like ice. I let her pull me back down anyway, Trace still not looking up at me. And the moment I take my seat, the game continues.
“Okay then, who has number fifteen?”
Everyone starts looking around, checking their numbers and waiting for the next person to announce themselves. I just put my head in my lap, pulling my knees up to my head. I played my part, so there’s no reason for me to-
“I do.” My head snaps back up.
It’s Trace. Now, he’s looking at me. Now, he’s watching me again.
I straighten my legs back out in front of me and watch him as he stands to toss his paper in the fire.
My heart beat thunders once more. Something I’ve pretty much accepted as normalcy whenever Trace is concerned.
He walks back to his seat and I’m ashamed to admit that I hope he calls on me.
I don’t know why and I don’t even care what he would ask me or make me do.
I hate him and he angers me. He’s a prick for treating me the way he is but I want him to want me still.
But as he opens his mouth, his eyes still locked in on mine, he speaks very sternly and bluntly. “Allira.”
Shock covers my expression as my head snaps over to my friend who looks just as confused. She puts her hands out in front of her and says, “Whoa, government name.”
She looks over at me, and though I know this is not her doing, it feels like a knife is twisting in my back. Snagging all of my veins and pulling them up like spaghetti on a fork. What the fuck could he possible get out of challenging her?
I look back over to Trace and then realize the coin is in my hand. I reluctantly toss it over to Alli who catches it and flips it without a second thought.
Please be heads. Please be heads. The chant repeats in my head over and over again until-
“Tails.”
Fuck. I look back to Trace again. Everyone waits on bated breath, anticipating what he’ll dare her while I feel like I could puke any moment. My insides literally on fire with fury and confusion. I know he’s doing this to fucking play with me. He has to be. God, I fucking hate him.
Trace locks eyes with me yet again, making sure that I can feel the heat he is pressing into me before he opens his mouth.
“I dare you to come.”