Page 9 of Truth or Dare

Evan and Bobby burst into laughter as I stormed off, my face flushed with anger. Their laughter followed me, fueling my resolve. I needed to make a decision about him—and fast. Ever since football practice started and Coach dangled the possibility of a Division I scholarship, Evan had turned into someone I barely recognized. His arrogance was suffocating, and so was his relentless push to get me into bed.

I spotted Reagan packing up some bagels, her dark hair spilling over her shoulder. “What was that all about?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Evan.

“He wants me to go to Randy’s party tonight.”

She raised an eyebrow. “It’s gonna be a blowout. His parents are in Europe for weeks. We could even crash there.”

“I’m not feeling it,” I muttered, stacking donuts into a box.

Reagan frowned, pausing mid-motion. “This is the first big party of the year. Why wouldn’t you want to go?”

I sighed, not bothering to hide my frustration. “I’m thinking about breaking up with Evan.”

She dropped the utensils she was holding. “Are you out of your fucking mind? There are girls who’d give their left tit to date Evan.”

“They can have him,” I said, tossing another donut into the box. “He’s turning into a real prick, and I don’t like the way he treats Neil like his personal errand boy.”

“It’s the start of the season! You really want to deal with all that awkward shit?” Reagan asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“What awkward shit? You mean going to parties separately? Please. I was popular before Evan asked me out. I don’t need him.” I crossed my arms, my mind made up.

Reagan snorted, tossing away some plastic utensils. “Fine, throw him my way.”

I almost laughed. Evan wouldn’t look twice at Reagan. She wasn’t a challenge; she gave it up too easily, and he craved the chase. He thought I was a virgin, and that’s why he wanted me. He had no idea about the game he was playing—or that I’d already won.

He didn’t know I’d found that disgusting little notebook he and his friends kept. Freshman year, they started keeping track of every girl they’d hooked up with—writing down their most personal, explicit thoughts. I stumbled on it one day over the summer while he was in the shower, thinking I’d just snoop around for fun.

I found the notebook buried in his desk drawer, hidden between a pile of pens, cinnamon candies, and some dirty playing cards. The handwriting varied with each entry, filled with disgusting details from him and his idiot friends. I only had time to skim through a few pages before I heard the shower turn off. I shoved the notebook back and stepped away just as he walked out, towel slung low on his hips.

Evan grinned and dropped the towel, revealing his large, cocky smirk in human form.

I turned away, pretending to be shy, though I’d already seen more than enough of him—and done more with Deke two weeks ago than Evan could ever imagine.

“You should get used to looking at my cock, you know,” Evan said, his voice oozing arrogance. “I plan to use it on you quite a bit.”

I stared at the floor, refusing to meet his eyes. “I’m not ready.”

He smirked, pulling on his shirt. “But you will be. Eventually.”

The confidence in his tone sent a chill down my spine. I couldn’t bring myself to respond, so I pulled out my phone, pretending to be engrossed in Facebook, scrolling mindlessly to distract myself from the uncomfortable weight of the conversation.

“Pres?” Reagan’s voice snapped me back to reality. I hadn’t even noticed her standing there, her eyebrows raised in concern.

“Hmm?” I looked up, blinking away my thoughts.

“You should try to work it out with him,” Reagan said, folding her arms. “He could really make your year.”

I almost laughed. Make my year? I didn’t need Evan or anyone else to make my year. I had bigger plans—finishing high school and shedding every toxic part of these last four years like dead skin. High school had been nothing but a game to most of the guys, and I was sick of playing by their rules. I’d hit my stride when I sprouted breasts and gained a few inches in height at thirteen. That was when they started noticing me, and ever since then, it was like I became a trophy to be won.

“I’ll think about it,” I muttered, though my mind was already made up.

Evan and the rest of the players disappeared toward the locker room, their laughter fading down the hallway. The weight on my chest lifted a little, but the knot in my stomach tightened. Reagan and I finished cleaning up the cafeteria, and I forced myself to go through the motions as we spent the next hour practicing our cheers.

“You’re such a bitch,”Evan growled, his eyes narrowing as he slammed down his empty beer bottle.

The sharp clink echoed over the table, and without missing a beat, he grabbed another one from the ice tub, twisting off the cap with a scowl.

“Fuck off. I said no,” I snapped, crossing my arms as anger bubbled up inside me.

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