8. DareDare
EIGHT
DARE OR DARE
M arcus
The bus hums beneath us as we roll down the highway toward the next venue. The tour is... going as expected, if you could call tension, fights, and a general air of frustration normal. After last night’s chaos and this morning’s brewing storm, everyone’s been keeping to themselves. The atmosphere is thick, like we’re all waiting for the next spark to set everything off.
Touring didn’t used to feel this heavy. Before Jax started to spiral, we were a unit—a band of brothers, even if the label put us together like puzzle pieces. We bonded fast. The music flowed easily, and we had each other’s backs, sharing the dream of stardom. Now? It feels like we’re running on fumes. Same songs. Same routines. The spark is gone.
I strum my guitar absently, the vibrations grounding me, humming under my breath. I miss when the music was everything—not just a way to keep the machine moving, but something that set us free.
Across the bus, Dylan’s been eyeing the room, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. I know that look too well. "What if we play a game?" he finally says, breaking the silence.
I glance up at him, amused but wary. "A game, huh? Let me guess… Truth or Dare?"
Dylan’s grin widens. "More like Dare or Dare. Only losers pick truth."
I chuckle. “Of course. You’re on.” I lean back, stretching my legs out in front of me. The rest of the guys perk up a little, the tension cracking just a bit. Even Enzo strolls in from the back, settling onto the couch, intrigued but trying not to show it.
"Alright," Dylan rubs his hands together, already plotting something wicked. His eyes land on Enzo. "Enzo, dare or dare?"
Enzo rolls his eyes but grins. "Dare, obviously."
"I dare you to call the nearest pizza place and order the grossest toppings you can think of," Dylan says, barely containing his laughter.
Enzo raises an eyebrow. "We’re on a bus, genius. Where’s this pizza going?"
"Figure it out," Dylan shrugs. "It’s all about the dare, not the logistics."
Enzo smirks, pulling out his phone. He dials the nearest pizza joint, putting it on speaker. "Hi, I’d like to order a pizza with anchovies, pineapple, jalapenos, and marshmallows. Make sure those marshmallows are toasted, yeah?"
The girl on the other end pauses. "Uh… are you sure about that, sir?"
"Absolutely, and make sure those marshmallows are extra toasty," Enzo deadpans, making all of us stifle our laughter. He wraps up the call, hangs up, and gives a satisfied grin. "Next?"
Dylan’s still giggling as he turns to me. "Marcus, dare or dare?"
I tilt my head and look him square in the eye. “Dare, obviously.” My voice is calm, steady. I can feel the others watching, waiting to see what comes next.
Dylan grins, eyes twinkling. "I dare you to stand on one leg, play your guitar, and sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ in death metal style."
I don’t hesitate. "You got it."
Balancing on one leg, I start shredding the melody on my guitar, growling the lyrics like a demon from the underworld. I throw in some exaggerated head banging, just for show. The bus erupts in laughter. Even Lily—who’s been a bit stiff—clutches her sides, tears rolling down her cheeks.
When I’m done, I hand off the guitar to Enzo and settle back down in my seat. "Who's next?"
Dylan, still wiping tears from his eyes, turns to Lily. "Alright, Lily, dare or dare?"
Her eyes sparkle with a mix of nerves and excitement. "Dare."
Before Dylan can open his mouth, I step in, my voice firm but teasing. "I dare you to wear Jax’s hat for the rest of the game and imitate him."
Lily’s eyes dart to me, a playful smile tugging at her lips. She grabs Jax’s hat and plops it on her head, immediately slouching back, crossing her arms, and adopting his brooding expression. "Alright, guys, let’s get our shit together," she says in a deep, gravelly voice that’s spot on.
We all lose it. Even Jax cracks a smile, which is rare these days.
She gives us a stern glare, still in full Jax mode. “No more distractions. We need to stay focused. Don’t screw this up, boys.”
The whole bus is roaring now, and even Jax has his face in his hands, shaking with laughter. Lily’s nailed it.
"Lily, your turn," I say, curious who she’ll target next.
Her gaze sweeps the room, landing on Dylan. "Dylan, dare or dare?"
"Dare," he replies, leaning in, his usual mischievous look plastered across his face.
Lily grins mischievously. "I dare you to text your mom and tell her you’re quitting the band to become a professional yodeler."
Dylan groans but pulls out his phone, typing out the message. "Hey, Mom. I’ve decided to quit the band and become a professional yodeler. Love, Dylan."
The moment he hits send, his phone starts blowing up with confused replies, and we’re all doubled over with laughter. Dylan just shakes his head, setting his phone to silent. "She’s never letting this go."
I smile, glancing at Lily. She’s still wearing Jax’s hat, her face flushed with laughter. It’s a good look on her, carefree and light, the tension melting away. For now, at least.
Dylan shifts his attention to Jax. "Alright, Jax. Dare or dare?"
Jax raises an eyebrow. "Dare."
Dylan’s grin turns wicked. "I dare you to serenade Lily with the cheesiest love song you can think of."
Jax groans but picks up his guitar. He starts strumming and sings “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis, dripping with exaggerated romance. His eyes stay locked on Lily, and he throws in some dramatic gestures, even dropping to one knee. Lily blushes furiously, trying to hide her smile, but it’s no use.
"Wise men say, only fools rush in," he sings, his voice smooth and sultry. "But I can’t help falling in love with you."
We all join in, swaying and harmonizing horribly, crowding around her like a bunch of overgrown kids. It’s fun, it’s silly, and for the first time in a long while, it feels like we’re on the same page. But then, as the last note fades, I can feel the energy shift, the laughter dying down as something heavier settles between us. We’re all a little too close to Lily, lingering a little too long. The unspoken competition simmers just beneath the surface, crackling like static in the air.
I’m the first to step back, breaking the moment. "Alright, that’s enough," I say, my voice low, commanding.
The others reluctantly follow my lead, backing off. Except Dylan. He grins and scoops Lily into his lap, ignoring her half-hearted protests. I clench my jaw, resisting the urge to tell him to back off. I know she can handle herself, but there’s something possessive in me that stirs when I see her like this.
"Alright, Marcus," Jax says, trying to get back into the game. "Dare or dare?"
I give him a slow, steady look. "Dare."
Jax smirks. "I dare you to wear one of Lily’s dresses for the rest of the game."
I raise an eyebrow but shrug. "Why not?"
Lily laughs and disappears into her bunk, returning with a floral sundress. I slip it on over my clothes, the fabric clinging awkwardly to my chest and barely reaching past my knees. I strike a pose, making the dress flare out. The bus erupts in cheers and wolf whistles.
I catch Lily’s eye, and she’s blushing, her gaze lingering on me just a little too long. I give her a slow, approving nod. "Like what you see, sweetheart?"
She blushes, looking away quickly, but I see the smile tugging at her lips.
“Nice fit,” Enzo says, smirking and interrupting our moment.
“Jealous?” I reply with a wink.
“Never,” he replies dryly.
"Alright," I respond, raising a brow in challenge. "Dare or dare?"
Enzo crosses his arms, his gaze fierce. "Dare."
I grin, feeling the shift in the room as everyone watches. "I dare you to do a striptease while pretending to be a cat."
Enzo raises an eyebrow but stands up, rolling his shoulders like he’s about to hit the stage. "You asked for it."
Dropping to all fours, he starts moving sensually, peeling off his clothes piece by piece. He licks his hand dramatically, "grooming" himself between undressing. Each move is slow, deliberate, as he crawls around the bus, his hips swaying and throwing in some exaggerated meows. We’re all howling with laughter. By the time he’s down to his boxers, he’s gyrating his hips like a cat in heat, crawling on all fours as whistles and catcalls echo through the bus.
Lily’s trying to stifle her laughter, but I notice her gaze roaming over Enzo’s half nude form more than once. Enzo catches her eye, smirking.
I ignore it and push the game forward. "Your turn, Dylan. Dare or dare?"
"Dare," Dylan replies, shaking his head with a grin.
"I dare you to do a handstand for four minutes with a glass of water balanced on one foot," Enzo says, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Dylan raises an eyebrow but doesn’t back down. We all count down as he flips himself upside down, managing to balance the water for about two minutes before it spills down his leg, soaking him and the floor.
"Keep going!" Lily cheers, laughing and clapping as Dylan keeps his balance for the full four minutes. By the time he comes down, his face is red from exertion, but he’s grinning triumphantly. We’re all cheering as Dylan strips off his wet pants and collapses next to Lily, the game continuing with a lighter mood.
The bus is filled with laughter and camaraderie, the fight from earlier completely forgotten. For the first time in a while, it feels like the old days—just us, having fun, letting loose.
As the final round of dares dies down, we start to part ways, preparing for a nap before the show. But I notice Lily slipping past Jax, avoiding his gaze as she heads to her bunk. Jax watches her, confusion and frustration clear on his face.
I catch up to her just before she disappears, lightly gripping her arm to slow her down. "Hey, you alright?"
She nods, but her smile is tight. "Yeah, just tired. I need to rest before the show."
I tilt my head, searching her eyes. "You sure? You don’t have to handle everything on your own, you know. I’m here if you need me."
She hesitates, then nods. "Thanks, Marcus."
I release her arm slowly, letting my fingers trail down her skin for just a moment longer than necessary. "Get some rest. We’ll talk later."
As she slips into her bunk, I head back to mine, my mind racing. There’s more going on with Lily than she’s letting on, and I’m not about to let it slide. Something about her pulls at me, makes me want to protect her, to take care of her.
Jax, Dylan, Enzo—they’re all drawn to her. She needs someone to keep her grounded. And that someone’s going to be me.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, knowing I’ll be keeping an eye on her. Because no matter what’s going on in this band, I’m not letting anything—or anyone—hurt her.