MORE THAN A DARE

MORE THAN A DARE CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

Taylor and I walked side by side, our footsteps echoing through the hallway as we headed to our next class. Neither of us said much at first — it was a comfortable silence, the kind that didn’t need to be filled. Occasionally, I’d glance at him from the corner of my eye, wondering what was going through his mind.

“You're quieter than I expected,"he finally said, glancing down at me.

I chuckled. “Should I be louder?"

He smiled. *"No. It's... refreshing."*

Just as we approached the class door, Mira stormed past us, brushing her shoulder hard against mine. Taylor stopped, watching her disappear down the hallway.

*"She won’t let this go easily,"* he muttered under his breath.

*"Let her try,"* I replied, trying to sound braver than I felt.

He laughed and said “see you I have to get to class”.

I nodded and entered my classroom while he walked past.

Class was uneventful, except for the few stares I got — probably from people trying to figure out what was going on between me and Taylor. I didn’t pay attention to them. I focused on my notes, my pen, and the sudden warmth that came from having someone — maybe even two people now — stand up for me.

*After school, I decided to walk home instead of taking the bus. I needed time to think. The wind brushed my face softly as I passed the familiar streets. Just as I turned the corner to my house, I saw a car parked a few houses away. It was sleek, black, and definitely expensive. A figure leaned casually against it.

Taylor.

"You walk home?"he asked, pushing off the car as I approached.

I blinked in surprise. "Sometimes. I like the fresh air."

He nodded, walking alongside me. "I thought I’d walk with you. You know, in case Mira’s planning a dramatic revenge or something."

I laughed. "Well, thanks for the protection, but I’m not scared of her."

He looked at me and smiled. "I can see that."

We reached my front porch, and for a second, we just stood there. I didn’t want the moment to end, but I wasn’t sure what to say.

"You’re different from the others," he said suddenly.

"Different how?" I asked, tilting my head.

"You’re not chasing after popularity. Or me. And you don’t try to be someone you’re not." He looked down at his shoes, then back at me. "I like that."

My cheeks flushed, and I tried to hide it with a smile. "Thanks… I guess."

There was a brief silence, then he took a step back. "I’ll see you tomorrow?"

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”Sometimes. I like the fresh air.”

He nodded, walking alongside me. “I thought I’d walk with you. You know, in case Mira’s planning a dramatic revenge or something.”

I laughed. “Well, thanks for the protection, but I’m not scared of her.”

He looked at me and smiled. “I can see that.”

We reached my front porch, and for a second, we just stood there. I didn’t want the moment to end, but I wasn’t sure what to say.

“You’re different from the others,” he said suddenly.

“Different how?”I asked, tilting my head.

*”You’re not chasing after popularity. Or me. And you don’t try to be someone you’re not.”* He looked down at his shoes, then back at me. “I like that.”

My cheeks flushed, and I tried to hide it with a smile. “Thanks… I guess.”

There was a brief silence, then he took a step back. *”I’ll see you tomorrow?”*

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”

He gave me a short nod before turning and walking away, hands in his pockets, head slightly bowed.

I watched him go, heart racing. Something was definitely changing — and I had no idea what was coming next.

But for the first time since I got here…

…I was kind of excited to find out.

I entered the house and met my big brothers sitting casually on the couch, both of them laughing at something on Gerald’s phone. The moment they saw me, they stood up, arms wide open.

“Gigi!” George called out.

I ran into their arms and hugged them tightly. I had missed them so much — their teasing, their protective stares, even their weird sibling fights. Gerald ruffled my hair while George lifted me slightly off the ground.

“Do you have a boyfriend now?” Gerald asked with a mischievous grin.

Before I could even laugh or reply, Mom practically flew out of the kitchen, holding a wooden spoon like she was about to go into battle.

“Boyfriend?!” she exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. “Gianna, is that true?”

I burst into laughter. “Wowww, you guys should chill,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t have any boyfriend. Just… a guy I met in school.”

They all stared at me with suspicious eyes. Mom narrowed hers, and my brothers exchanged a knowing glance.

“A guy you *met* or a guy you *like*?” George pressed.

“Enough,” I laughed, grabbing a bottle of water from the table. “Let me breathe, please.”

We all moved to the dining area as Mom began serving dinner. The aroma of her jollof rice filled the house, and it felt so good to be surrounded by my family again.

Later after eating, I lay on my bed scrolling through my phone. My thoughts wandered to Taylor again. The way he stood up for me in class, how his voice had silenced everyone… and how he looked at Mira like she was nothing special. That smirk. That calm attitude.

I turned off my phone and stared at the ceiling. Was I seriously crushing on him? I barely knew the guy. But there was something about him — a mystery I couldn’t help but want to figure out.

Meanwhile, across town, Taylor sat in his dimly lit room, his guitar resting on his lap. He strummed a few random chords before tossing it aside and grabbing his phone. He scrolled to Gianna’s profile, paused, and smiled to himself.

“She’s different,” he murmured, then shook his head like he was trying to chase the thought away.

Just then, a message popped up on his screen — from Mira.

*Mira:* *You disappeared on me today. We need to talk.*

Taylor rolled his eyes and tossed the phone on the bed.

“Not now,” he muttered.

Later that evening, after dinner, I found myself curled up in my room, flipping through the pages of an old novel. But my mind wasn’t on the book — it kept wandering back to Taylor. The way he stepped in today, calm and collected, made something flutter in my chest. Why was I even thinking about him this much?

A soft knock on my door pulled me back.

“Come in,” I said.

George popped his head in. “So… about this mystery school guy—”

“Out!” I tossed a pillow at him, and he dodged it with a laugh. “Goodnight, nosy!”

He winked and closed the door. I shook my head and smiled.

The next morning at school felt… lighter. Debbie and I were walking toward the cafeteria for lunch when I noticed a familiar figure leaning against the wall near the entrance — Taylor. Headphones in, as usual, but this time, he wasn’t alone. Mira was right next to him, talking rapidly with a fake smile plastered on her face.

He didn’t seem interested.

As we passed by, his eyes met mine briefly. I looked away, my heart skipping a beat. What is wrong with me?