Page 16 of Truth or Dare

"Ladies," Hudson said smoothly, brushing past them without a second glance, leaving the bathroom door swinging in his wake.

I stood there, heart pounding, my hands trembling with the note still crumpled in my pocket.

I avoided Hudson all week.When we passed in the halls, I kept my eyes fixed on my friends, ignoring the way his presence tugged at my nerves. He seemed content to play the same game—until Friday. It was the last class of the day, and I had cheerleading practice. When I opened my locker, a note was wedged tightly in the slots, almost hidden under the mess of papers and old books.

I stared at it, folded many times over, clearly placed there with purpose. The hallways were clearing out, students rushing for the buses or the parking lot. I waited until it was almost empty before I unfolded it.

Truth or Dare.

My heart skipped.He remembered.

It was our game from years ago. We used to pass these notes back and forth in sixth grade, always circling "dare." Most of the dares back then involved stolen kisses behind the bleachers, but that was before everything changed. Before he left.

But now? We weren’t kids anymore, and the stakes felt higher. I had no idea where Hudson’s locker was now, but... I wanted to play. Despite the tension, despite the unspoken words between us, I hated the distance that had settled like a wall.

I circleddare, folded the note, and shoved it in my pocket. Whatever he had planned for me, I was ready.

As I headed for the gym, someone grabbed my arm, spinning me around. I gasped as I was yanked into the music room, the door clicking shut behind me.

Hudson stood there, his smirk already in place. "Do you have something for me?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.

He reached out, brushing his index finger down my cheek before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sent sparks shooting through me, igniting a warmth that pooled low in my stomach.

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "What do you think I have for you?"

His gaze held mine, dark and knowing. "You know. My locker’s number three twelve, if you haven’t made your decision yet."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You really expect me to play our game after all this time?"

His grin widened at the sound of his old nickname slipping from my lips. "I know you want to. Don’t pretend you don’t."

"Kisses might not be part of it this time, you know. I have a boyfriend."

I reached into my pocket and handed him the folded note, feeling his fingers brush mine as he took it. The tension between us was thick, like a magnetic pull neither of us could resist.

"When can I expect my dare?" I asked, keeping my voice casual, though my heart pounded in my chest.

"As soon as I think of something." His grin was infuriatingly smug, his eyes dancing with mischief.

I pointed a finger at him, narrowing my eyes. "You can't embarrass me, Hudson. And no one can know we're playing."

He stepped closer, his thumb grazing along my jaw. "Don’t worry, princess. I promise to behave."

"Jerk," I muttered with a smile as I slipped past him, heading for the door.

He called after me, his voice full of amusement. "This is gonna be fun."

I didn’t look back, but my pulse raced as I hurried to the gym. When I walked in, everyone was already seated on the mats, listening to Coach. I slipped down beside Reagan.

Coach glanced up at me, her eyebrow raised. "Running a little late, aren’t we, Presley?"

"Sorry, Coach. Had to use the bathroom." I forced a smile.

I wasn’t in the mood for practice. In fact, I hadn’t been in the mood for a while. All summer, I’d been thinking about quitting the team. It wasn’t me anymore. The makeup, the parties, hanging out with the popular crowd—I was tired of pretending. I wanted out. College couldn’t come soon enough.

As we stood to stretch, I felt a wave of nausea hit me. I doubled over, clutching my stomach.

"Pres, you okay?" Reagan asked, her voice laced with concern.

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