Dare Me More

Chapter 8

“On the count of three!” I shouted over the wind as I started to go faster, higher in the air. 

    “One!” Cole laughed. 

    “Two!” I joined. 

    “Three!” 

    Releasing my grip on the cold, metallic swings, a scream escaped me as I flew up in the air before meeting the soft but firm ground, making me groan. Breathing in the air I lost, I rolled around gingerly and saw the figure of Cole’s back, vibrating with laughter.  

    “I win again!” I sat up and crossed my legs as best I could in the tight jeans. I winced as slight pain shot my thigh. I’m going to have a nasty bruise, but watching Cole sigh blissfully was worth it. 

    Cole moved over until he laid on his back. The streetlights only showed me the coat of sweat shimmering on his forehead and a joyful smile taking over. His rasp breathing sounded rough, but my eyes couldn’t stop transfixing off of him.  

    “Cheater.” He coughed, c*****g his head to the side. “You jumped off before you said three.” 

    I swallowed back something hinged in my throat as I gazed at the thick trees by the fence near the road. Some of its leaves parted from its branches.  I breathed in the scent of the autumn night and forced a smile. “I don’t think I remember cheating.” 

    “No memory, huh?” Cole sat up as I shook my head. “Well, that’s a pity.” 

    “Why do you say that?” 

    “We’re going to have to play again to find out who’s the winner,” he said. 

    “I’m going to become a human bruise if we keep doing this.” I ran my hand along the soft bark. “I’m not as young as I used to be.” 

    “Right. And I am.” He rolled his eyes. “I suppose that means I win.” 

    “That makes you a sore loser if you’re asking for a rematch.” 

    “I prefer the term, ‘rightful winner’, thank you very much.” 

    “Whatever.” I was tempted to stuck my tongue at him, but the gesture felt too childish. “I won and you’re just a sore loser who can’t admit defeat. Your ego is as problematic as your car.” 

    “Definitely a sore loser’s response.” 

    We didn’t speak for a while, content with looking up at the sky where bright, little stars started appearing. I wondered what made them come out so soon.  

    “My birthday is coming up.” 

    He voiced an agreement. “Have much planned for it? You don’t turn twenty-three every day.” 

    “We’re having it at a bar, but I’m not entirely sure where. Christy sounded like she wanted to take care of the event for me.” I nudged his shoulder with mine. “You’re invited, obviously.” 

    He scrunched up his face. “Aren’t I a little too old for a kids party?” 

    I gaped at him. The nerve. “I guess you’re right. You’re like, what, forty? Fifty? Too old to be hanging around with a bunch of twenty-year-olds. People might think you’re there to babysit.” 

    “As if! I look way more into my twenties than you do. People might think you’re there to babysit me.” 

    “Is that so?” My cheeks warmed. “Maybe people will think you’re there to pick up the birthday girl.” I could taste the flirting out in the open. “What do you say about that?” 

    “Your breath smells funny.” 

    I blinked. “What?” 

    “I said it smells funny.” He leaned in closer and my lungs almost stopped working. He frowned. “Jacky, have you been drinking?”  

    A burst of short laughter spilled from my throat. “No! I hadn’t touched alcohol since the weekend.” 

    He shook his head. “I smell it on you. It’s like bourbon and coke.” 

    “Cole, I promise I haven’t touched anything since the weekend. I don’t know where you’re getting this idea...” My brows creased. We did a class exercise the other week on this. He had us partner up and describe our senses to the other person. Was he trying to do the same? 

    I felt his hair tickle my forehead. I wet my lips. “What are you doing?”  

     “I’m checking your breath.” 

    “But you told me nothing could happen.” He noticed the change of tone in my voice by the way he froze. “At the front of my door, after the dare I you gave me. You said we couldn’t –” 

    “– even if we wanted to,” he whispered back, leaning away. “Yeah, I know what I said.” 

    “You also said that you loved me.” My voice almost cut off at the mention of love. “And that you weren’t going anywhere.” I glared at him. “But you’ve forgotten about that from the looks of things.” I came off as bitter, but it sounded exactly what my heart was feeling. My hands fist in my lap, but it wasn’t from nerves. 

    Cole backed up, providing space in between us. “I wanted to give you space.” 

    “I didn’t ask for space.” 

    “You barely look at me anymore in class!” He locked his jaw. “I try to get your attention without getting attention and you choose to ignore me. You were distant before I decided to do anything.” 

    I didn’t want to cry, but it was beginning to feel that way. “You don’t tell someone you love them and then ignore them. I didn’t know what to do with all that information. I pushed you away for so long because I was afraid things were never going to be the same, and the minute you change your mind on how you think you feel about me you blow it up in my face.” 

    “I didn’t change my mind, Jacky.” His words paused the process going on inside my mind. “I wanted to be with you, but I was afraid there would be backlash against us if your peers found out. Imagine their thoughts when they find out you’ve been too friendly with the teacher.” 

    He paused long enough for me to question him. “When did you decide that?” 

    “It doesn’t matter,” he said, but I pushed him for an answer. He sighed in defeat. “Two years ago, on your twenty-first. But after becoming your substitute for the year, I told myself it couldn’t happen.” He clicked his tongue at himself and scratched his beard. “And then I just chose not to fight it anymore.” 

    I nibbled on my bottom lip. “There would’ve been so much backlash at uni.” I hated how right he was. “They don’t even know about us being childhood friends.” 

    “Because imagine how that would’ve turned out.” 

    “When did you decide not to fight it?” 

    “Joanne’s dinner.” He said it so confidently like he knew what I was going to ask. He sighed and sat down on his blazer. “We were talking about the good times and how Joanne met Zachary. She mentioned your suspension in high school because you called up your bully’s mum and threatened to take him down if she didn’t discipline him, and I remembered thinking, ‘She’s f*****g crazy’.” He looked at me. “The rest was a blur.” 

    I stared at my hands, a cold laugh dripping out of my mouth. “That wasn’t that long ago.” 

    “I know.” 

    “I don’t believe you,” I said, fiercely. “You’re an actor. Everything you say is poured out from a script. 

    He nodded, like everything I said was the truth. “Exactly. You’re right. Why should you believe me after I showed you no signs of interest until recently?” 

    The warm night was leaving streaks of sweat down my neck. My mouth was parched and my lungs felt dried out. There was no humour, no laughter coming from us anymore as we both sat on the park mulch, watching each other.  

    “But then again, why should I believe you?” 

    This was messy just like I knew it was going to be. My thoughts screamed at me to laugh the tension away, or tell him what had been on my mind since our visit to his parents. But all I could think about was that light, rainy day, where I had fallen over and scraped my knees and ruined my clothes with mud. I had cried from embarrassment, and Cole had run towards the muddy area, a few inches deep, that splattered over his legs. He’d slumped in the mud with me called himself the Mudboy King and I his Mudgirl Queen. He’d brightened the rest of my day despite Joanne telling me off and to go change immediately.  

    He didn’t tell me his shoes were brand new or that they were over two hundred dollars until he had turned seventeen.   

    “I think I remembered you saying something about a dare,” Cole said, pulling me away from my thoughts. 

    “What? Oh.” I shrugged. “Yeah, just before you left my place.” 

    “I’m calling it in.” 

    I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s how it works.” 

    Cole nodded. “Then let’s play Truth or Dare.” 

    My heart raced hard against my chest, but it wasn’t pumping adrenaline. I felt tired when I said, “No, Cole, we don’t have to play anything.”  

    He pressed his lips together. “Right. Of course. I just thought...well, it doesn’t matter now, does it? Your mind is already made up.” He stared at the space between us, and whispered so quietly I almost missed it, “I should’ve asked you out when I had the chance.”  

    Something in the way he said it made me snap. “Come here.” 

    Cole shook his head. “I think I should take you home now, it’s get –”  

    I reached up and pressed my lips to his warm cheek, not moving an inch until I felt his body relax and his eyes turned my way. 

    Cole’s eyes widened. “Jacky.” 

    “I didn’t say we couldn’t do anything.” My voice couldn’t go any louder if I tried. “I just said we don’t have to play anything.” 

    Cole was breathing harder. “Then come here.” 

    I knelt on my knees and kissed him properly. 

    I kissed him with my arms looped around his neck and our bodies flushed against each other. My eyes were closed for this one while patterns fluttered behind my eyelids. It was much sweeter than our first: tender and warmer.  

    Our eyes met as we pulled away, watching each other as if we were waiting for the other to make the next move.  

    Cole seemed impatient enough to peck me again. I responded a little too late. 

    “How’s my breath?” I asked. 

    Cole swallowed and held my waist. “I don’t know.” He scrunched his face up as if he was annoyed. “I don’t care.” 

    His mouth enveloped my own, making it feel as clumsy as I expected. But when he started to move them, they began to fit within each other. A sigh escaped me as my eyes shut close, relishing the taste of Cole. He tasted like apples; sweet and succulent and most definitely delicious. I craved for more: to touch him more, to be with him. My arms clenched around his neck, pulling him closer towards me.  

    I wanted this for years, and now I got to have it. 

    “I love you, Jacky.” 

    Cole’s eyes were dark, but I could see the shimmer behind them. “I never thought this could happen.” 

    The cloudy, almost fading look began to harden in just seconds. “Because I’m your teacher.” 

    “Because you’re my best childhood friend, and soon-to-be-brother-in-law.” 

    “No one’s going to care about that.” 

    “Joanne will.” 

    He chuckled. “I assure you she won’t.” He ran his thumb around my waist. “You’re graduating in less than three months; we can wait till then.” 

    I never expected him to be the one to be so open about the possibility of an us. “You want to date me?” 

    Cole’s face relaxed and a lazy grin spread over his face. One of his hands came up to move a strand of hair before it caressed down my temple to my cheek. “Yeah. I want to date you.” He kissed me again. “What about you?” 

    “Since I was seventeen.” 

    He laughed. “Six years is a long time to want to be dating anyone.” 

    “I’ve dating in between then, Cole. Sometimes I’d have forgotten all about you.” 

    He shrugged. “That’s fair. I wouldn’t have expected you to be so hung up about me. You’re an amazing woman, Jacky. Anyone would be lucky to be with you.” 

    “I guess that makes you very lucky.” I smiled to the point where it began to hurt. “We have to be careful if we’re going to do this. We can’t allow anyone to know about us.” 

    He responded to my smile and pressed his forehead to mine. “What if I don’t care?” 

    “Cole.” 

    “What if...Jacky, there’s already a teacher dating her student out in the open. We’ll be fine.”  

    To not be able to touch him, or call him mine in public hurt more than having to pretend I wasn’t in love with him, but Cole wasn’t thinking clearly about this. I shook my head and began to pull away, but his instincts were fast, and he held on. 

    “Okay,” he said quickly. “Okay, we’ll wait. Just... I love you.” 

    “I love you, too.” It was the first time I’ve said those words out loud, but the pressure in my chest subsided dramatically. “I love you so much.” 

    We held each other until the waxing moon hung above us and teenagers began to roam the Friday night. 

Cole walked me to my apartment door with deep kisses on the way up. He promised he’d take me out for a proper date another night that made me sigh dreamily into my apartment.  

    I opened my window to let the spring air in and played music in the background and got lost in the memories I had with him an hour ago. He wouldn’t stop holding my hand, pressing deep kisses onto the knuckles and telling me that he loved me over and over again. It was a dream come true. 

    Monica was out for the night, so her presence wasn’t to be expected until tomorrow which didn’t bother me at all. In minutes I called Christy and told her what happened. 

    She screamed on the phone for a solid minute. “I am so blessed that my best friend didn’t turn out to be a dumb little s**t after all!” 

    “Gee, thanks.” 

    “No offence.” She didn’t sound guilty. She shouted again, and I could only laugh. “I can’t deal with the cuteness of it all. Was the first kiss magical? Did he hold you the way you always imagined it?” 

    I nibbled on my bottom lip. This felt almost difficult admitting. “We’ve kissed before.” 

    “Wait. What? Um, excuse me, since when? And you didn’t tell me as soon as it happened? That’s it, I’m coming over. Don’t do anything or say anything until I get there.” 

    “You’re an hour away,” I said, moving to the lounge-room. 

    “I’m at my step-dad's house right now, practically twenty minutes.” There was rustling in the background, followed by stomping. “Nothing is stopping me from finding this out!” 

    “All right, I’ll see you soon.” 

    She hanged up immediately. 

    When Christy arrived, she didn’t stop with her questions or her nagging at who-did-what first. She didn’t look at all surprised when I said she couldn’t tell anyone else about Cole and me, she just screamed some more. It was like she had a microphone in one hand, her sanity in the other, and slowly losing it. 

    “How about Mel? Can we tell Mel?” 

    Guilt would eat me up if I didn’t. “Yeah, we can tell her.” 

    Christy’s eyes went wide. “We’ll have a sleepover. We can call her up right now and get ice-cream and talk boys–no, don’t cover your ears, listen to me! This is a blessed night that we cannot not celebrate. And then tomorrow we’ll go shopping for your birthday dress.” 

    “I have plenty of cocktail dresses to wear to a bar, dude.” 

    “Yeah but how many of them has Cole seen? Don’t you want him to eye you down like a hungry man?” 

    Her analysis was off but she did have a point. I was so clouded in by what happened that Christy’s suggestion made me want to shop for the sexiest outfit just to get a reaction out of him. “I really, really do.” 

    Christy called Mel minutes later with urgency in her voice to bring ice-cream. When she arrived, I dished the same details to her as I did to Christy, watching the shock transform into various of expression before she erupted with screaming. She then proceeded to spoon several scoops of ice-cream in a bowl as a celebration.  

    I messaged Sammy if she could message one of the other waitresses to cover my shift tomorrow. It took her ten minutes to reply. 

                    >10.02pm >Sammy: That I can do for you hun x< 

    I turned to the girls. “Guess we’re shopping tomorrow.” 

The stores in the city overflowed with shoppers and families as Christy, Mel and I went to shop to shop trying on various dresses, from mini chiffon dresses to matching two-pieces. Only a handful of stops away to the shopping distract from my place meant plenty of time to browse through without feeling rushed. 

    We were going through the racks from the special discount section when Mel pulled me aside holding a strapless pink dress with a bow on the side, a wide smile on her face. “You should try it on.” 

    I arched a brow at her. “Maybe you should try it on. I haven’t seen you look this excited about a dress in ages.” 

    “I haven’t shopped in a while.” She turned the dress over to herself. “I guess I could.” 

    “Imagine Kevin’s face when he sees you in it.”  

    She gave a nervous laugh. “He’s not the type to tell me. I didn’t know he liked me in the first place.” 

    “Oh, he went about it quietly,” I said, going through the rack of dresses. “But anyone knew from just looking how much he adored you. I’m happy you two decide to get together.” 

    A tight, fitted, backless black dress with thin gold chain straps stood out from my search, and I gasped in surprise. Mel’s eyes went wide as we pulled it up to inspect the price. 

    “This is in the discount isle?” But I noticed the loose threads against the side of the stitching, and the cheap chains were rusted. It still looked gorgeous. 

    “You should definitely try it on, Jacky.” 

    I checked the size and shook my head. “This is only in a ten. You’re a ten. Here, try it on if you want.” 

    Mel couldn’t try to hide the delight in her eyes when I handed the dress over for her to try on, and the same brightness warmed her brown eyes as she stepped out of the dressing room. The dress hugged her body, stopping just above the knees. The gold straps plumped to the waist, exposing her back and the slight arch of her butt. Her short hair framed her face perfectly. Oh yeah. A perfect fit. 

    Christy appeared beside me in a two-piece floral set, gasping in excitement at Mel. “Hubba, hubba, Melissa. You didn’t come to play today.” 

    “It sits so well on me,” Mel said, flattening her hands against the dress.  

    I asked, “You don’t care about the conditions?” 

    “Easily fixed.” She posed in front of the mirror, her smile never ceasing. “I’m sold.” 

    “Me too,” Christy said, coming next to Mel to model with her. “Really vibing with this one. A keeper.”  

    I was too happy for them to focus on getting my outfit sorted – although, there was a dress I wanted, but the price was above my budget and not in the discount section. Further in the store was a section of dresses with heavier, softer material. One was a gorgeous off the shoulder red dress with a full circle skirt that drew my attention; the bodice and sleeves stretchy enough for there not to be a zipper at the back. I ran my hands down, picturing it on me.  

    Christy and Mel came up next to me, examining the dress with me.  

    “You going to try to it on?” Mel asked. 

    “No point. I’ll fall in love with it if I do.” 

    Christy rolled her eyes. “That’s the whole point.” She took the dress off the hanger and pressed it to me. It felt good that I could picture wearing it. I’m wanting it so bad, but I knew my credit card would be the thing hurting the most.   

    “Let’s forget about it. I’m sure there are other dresses like this somewhere...cheaper.” 

    The early afternoon continued, and I found myself in a gloomy mood. None of the other clothes vibed with me. Or I didn’t vibe the clothes. I rummaged almost all stores that appeared my style, only coming up empty handed. 

    My mind couldn’t stop picturing the dress. 

    The girls must’ve known what I was thinking by the time we went to another store and I wandered around instead of fixating myself onto something different.  

    “How much is it?” Christy asked as we left the store. Mel waited for my reply. 

    “How much is what?” 

    “The red dress. How much?” 

    I sighed. “Three hundred.” 

    Christy and Mel nodded at each other. “All right then, let’s go.” 

    My eyes widen at them. “You’re not buying the dress for me!” 

    “I have a hundred, Christy has a hundred, you have a hundred – easy,” Mel said, crooking her arm through mine. “Think of it as your birthday gift.” 

    “You can’t say no to a birthday gift,” Christy said. “Or else that’s just disrespectful.” 

    We went back to the store, and the girls forced me to try on the dress. I fell in love with it at once. 

“Happy Birthday, Jacky!” 

    The smile could’ve split my face in half as I raise my glass of whiskey and coke to my group of friends. “Thanks guys.” 

    We were at the bar Christy had planned for my birthday, set in a hidden alleyway around the corner of Colin’s Street. The place buzzed with warm vibes that filled almost completely with people. We seized a table with a sofa in the back, underneath stairs that led nowhere but a brick wall for aesthetic reasons I imagine.  

    I’ve been given a free drink by the bartender himself, and another guy hanging with a group of his mates. I had to decline his second offer when it began to get uncomfortable.  

    We discussed fond and awkward memories about our time together; Christy led the conversation most of the time since she’d known me much longer than anyone at the table. It didn’t stop Mike from interrupting, stating in his and Christy’s friends with benefits stage how often he’d be third-wheeling.  

    I was a couple of more drinks in when the door opened and in came Joanne and Zachary. 

    My mouth dropped open. “Oh my god.”  

    Everyone at the table turned to look as well, but it’s Chirsty who sported a soft grin to her face. “Oh. Look who’s here.” 

    “But how?” I asked. She didn’t give me an answer. 

    Joanne saw me as I stood up from the couch and weaved her way to me, Zachary at her heals, until we collided in a hug. Her glasses almost slid down from her nose as we gripped each other tightly. To think I would spend another birthday without her...she’s here! 

    “Why did you leave Adelaide? What time did you get back here? Yes, I’m shocked and thrilled.” 

    “We knew about this for months.” Zachary nodded behind her. “Christy informed us that you wanted us to stay for your birthday, so Zach and I booked our flights and made sure we came back home today.” 

    I frowned at them. “I didn’t know what I was going to do on my birthday.” I turned to Christy, sipping on her drink and taking selfies with Mike. She didn’t acknowledge me in anyway; she was doing it on purpose. I’d have to thank her when I get the chance.  

    Zachary produced a small gift bag. “This is from the both of us. Happy birthday.” 

    “Thank you.” I undid the bow and dug through the tissue paper until a black velvet box came into view. I part the lid opened and gasped. A pair of diamond earrings stared back at me. “Whoa. Very nice.” 

    “We saw them on our way home through customs. They’re one carat each, perfect for a night out and every day wear.” 

    “Oh, wow.”  

    “You like them?” 

    “I love them!”  

    I gave them both another hug before wearing them and was soon dazzled in compliments. 

    Not moments later, Cole walked through the door, wearing a buttoned up black shirt and blue jeans. He seemed to have spot me instantly. I made my way to him, my chest pounding with nerves as eyes behind me watched every move. No one but Christy and Mel knew of our newfound relationship, and I hoped to keep it that way, especially with Joanne in the same room. 

    His eyes danced from my face to my feet, stopping at the cleavage of my breasts. A fond grin spread across his face when his piercing stare locked on my face. The dress was doing it for him like I expected it to.

    “You’re here,” I said, swallowing. My throat suddenly went dry. 

    “I’m here.” 

    He handed me a small white bag with the Pandora name printed across from it. I opened it in the same painstaking way I did with the earrings. A large white square container stared back at me until I parted the lips. My eyes widened at the black velvet material. In the centre laid a silver circle bracelet with two of the acting mask charms. 

    “Happy birthday,” he said. 

    “Cole.” 

    I wrapped my arms around him first, needing to be in his space, and pressed a kiss at the corner of his jaw. I felt him clear his throat and take a step back. He helped me attach the bracelet around my wrist while telling me the proper measures to care for it. Feeling the silver’s weight on me felt like anything was possible: I could storm through an audition and take the leading female role; I could stand on a table and demand the crowd sing me a happy birthday; I could take Cole’s face in my hands and kiss him, right there. I could do anything. 

    “Let’s go back to the table,” I said, taking the white bag with me.  

    I showed off the bracelet to everyone’s curious eyes, drowning in the flattery of the beauty and symbolism adored on my wrist. Cole sat in the space next to me, starting up a conversation with his brother and answering questions Christy threw at him. Harmless ones, I realised, like if he planned on staying the whole night or drinking with us. He said he'd stay until we all decided to leave, and that was enough to get back in the motions of the night.