THE DARE
1761 Words
🪝ADRIANA'S POV🪝
The ride home was wrapped in silence, with Molly chattering about something I wasn't even paying attention to. My mind kept circling the same thought—she’d agreed we’d go to Madison’s party.
The same Madison I'd seen with Klaus in the storage room earlier.
And worst of all—Klaus would be there.
I’d heard stories about parties like this—drinking, drugs, and things teens did when no adults were watching.
I regretted being so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t spoken up when Ryan asked us to come.
Now my only hope was that Mom and Dad wouldn't give permission when Molly asked them. But I didn't know if Dad would be home or away on a business trip.
I swallowed hard as our house came into view.
The car pulled into our driveway. We all got out, and Molly rushed over to my mom, who was standing outside with a smile on her face. My little sister Lily stood close beside her, looking small and frail.
I slowed my pace, guilt settling in my chest when I realized I hadn’t checked in on them at all while I was at Molly’s. I’d been too consumed by the new, unsettling feelings Klaus had awakened in me.
I should have checked on Lily while I was at Molly’s.
"Hi, Mrs. Coleman!" Molly said, hugging my mom before crouching down to talk to Lily.
Klaus greeted my mom as well, and she turned to me with that same beautiful smile I’d inherited from her.
"Hey, baby," she said, pulling me into her arms.
"I'm sorry, Mom," I whispered against her hair. "I should have called."
"It's okay, sweetheart. I understand. And Molly's mom called me, so I wasn't worried." She pulled back and smiled at me.
I nodded and turned to my sister. "Hi, Lily."
"Hi, Ana. Welcome back. I missed you," she said, her voice soft and weak.
My chest tightened. Lily had been diagnosed with a brain tumor last year. She'd had surgery once and seemed okay for a while, but the symptoms had come back. The doctors told us there was nothing more they could do. Now we were just holding on to whatever time we had left with her.
"I missed you too, Lily," I said, pressing a kiss to her forehead and holding her close.
We all went inside together.
****
"So, Mrs Coleman," Molly announced as we sat around the dinner table, "Ana and I are going to a friend's birthday party tonight."
I choked on my food. My head snapped up to look at her, eyes wide at how easy the words fell from her mouth.
Klaus had his phone out and wasn't eating with us, but he was waiting for Molly to finish so they could leave. His attention solely on it.
My mom looked between us. "What party, girls?"
I turned, looking at Molly, who seemed so relaxed compared to me.
"It's just a girl from school," Molly said with a shrug. "She invited us to her birthday party. It’s small. Nothing crazy. Right, Klaus?"
She turned to her brother, and I stared at her with wide eyes, amazed at how smooth her lie was. I wondered what Klaus would say.
"Yeah, Mrs. Coleman," Klaus said with a smile I knew wasn't real. "Just a small thing."
Molly grinned and turned back to my mom, who was watching her with curious eyes.
"She'll be fine, Mrs. Coleman. I promise," Molly said, giving her best puppy-dog pout.
My mom looked at me. "Do you want to go to this party, baby?"
Of course not, I wanted to say. But then I felt a sharp kick under the table from Molly's foot.
I knew if I said no, she'd never forgive me.
"Yes, Mom," I whispered.
She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. You can go. But no alcohol, and no doing adult things, Ana. And you too, Molly. And Klaus."
We all nodded, though if she only knew how deep Klaus already was into "adult things."
Molly beamed as we finished dinner. After we were done, Klaus and Molly left, promising to pick me up when it was time for the party.
****
I stood in front of my mirror, staring at myself with wide, uncertain eyes.
Molly had insisted I wear this dress. And when I'd tried to change into something else, she'd stopped me and told me I looked perfect.
But I didn't feel perfect. I felt exposed.
The dress was short—way shorter than anything I usually wore. It was a soft lavender color that clung to my body before flaring out to my hips. The neckline dipped lower than I was comfortable with, showing more skin than I'd ever shown in public. Thin straps rested on my shoulders, delicate and barely there.
Molly had done my makeup too before leaving—soft and natural but enough to make my eyes stand out. My hair was curled and falling over one shoulder.
I looked… different. Older. Pretty, maybe—but still not like myself.
A honk outside made my heart jump. They were here.
I grabbed my small purse and headed downstairs, my stomach twisting with nerves.
Mom was in the living room with Lily. When she saw me, her eyes went wide.
"Oh, Ana," she called out with a smile. "You look beautiful, sweetheart."
"Thanks, Mom," I said, my cheeks heating.
"Have fun. But be safe, okay? Call me if you need anything."
"I will."
I kissed Lily on the forehead and headed outside.
Klaus's Jeep was parked in the driveway. Molly was already in the front seat, waving at me with a beautiful smile through the window.
I opened the back door and climbed in.
The moment I settled into my seat, I felt Klaus's gaze on me through the rearview mirror.
I looked up and met his gaze.
He was staring at me—staring too hard—his expression unreadable. His hands gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
"You look beautiful, doll," he finally said.
My heart skipped again, doing that same unfamiliar flutter whenever he looked at me.”
"Thank you," I whispered.
Molly turned around with a huge grin. "See? I told you that dress was perfect!"
I forced a smile, but all I could think about was the way Klaus was still watching me in the mirror.
The way his jaw was tight.
The way his eyes had gone dark.
MADISON'S HOUSE🪷
The party was already in full swing when we pulled up. Music blasted from inside the house, bass thumping so loud I could feel it in my chest. People were everywhere—on the lawn, on the porch, spilling out onto the driveway.
Unease settled in my chest as we got out of the car.
"This is small?" I asked Molly, struggling to hide the nervousness in my voice.
"Relax, Ana. It'll be fun!" Molly grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the house.
Klaus walked behind us, his presence somehow both comforting and nerve-wracking at the same time.
Inside, it was chaos. People were dancing, laughing, and drinking. Girls in tight dresses grinding against guys. The hockey team was gathered near the kitchen, holding red Solo cups and shouting over the music.
The moment they saw Klaus, they reacted instantly.
"KLAUS! My man!"
"Captain's here!"
"Brennan! Finally!"
Girls turned to look too, their eyes lighting up as they zeroed in on him.
I felt my stomach twist.
Klaus greeted his teammates with fist bumps and nods, but his eyes kept darting back to me.
Every time I looked up, he was watching.
It made me nervous, made my skin feel too hot. Made me hyper-aware of every move I made.
"Adriana! Molly!" Ryan appeared out of nowhere with a huge grin. "You guys made it! Come on, we're about to start a game."
"What kind of game?" Molly asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
What was wrong with Molly?
"You'll see," Ryan said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, leading us into the living room.
A large group had gathered in a circle on the floor. Madison sat in the center, holding an empty bottle, a wicked smile on her face.
My stomach dropped.
"Truth or dare?" I whispered to Molly.
"Looks like it," she whispered back, grinning.
We sat down in a circle. Klaus ended up straight across from me.
Madison stood up, clapping her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone! Welcome to my favorite game—Dare or Shave!"
Everyone cheered. I felt my blood run cold.
"What's Dare or Shave?" I whispered to Molly.
"Exactly what it sounds like," she whispered back, looking thrilled. "You do the dare, or you get your head shaved."
My eyes went wide. "What?"
"Don't worry, Ana. Just do whatever dare you get. You'll be fine."
Madison continued. "The rules are simple. I spin the bottle. Whoever it lands on gets a dare. If you refuse the dare, we shave your head. No exceptions."
She clicked her tongue and spun the bottle.
It landed on one of the hockey players—a guy named Tyler. Madison dared him to chug an entire bottle of beer in thirty seconds. He did it, and everyone cheered.
The game went on. People were dared to kiss each other, strip down to their underwear, do shots, and confess crushes.
I sat there, heart pounding, praying the bottle wouldn't land on me.
But of course, it did.
Madison spun, and the bottle came to a slow stop, pointing right at me.
My blood turned cold.
Everyone's eyes turned to me. Molly squeezed my hand.
Madison's smile was pure evil.
"Adriana Coleman," she purred. "Truth or Dare?"
"I—" My voice came out as a squeak. I cleared my throat. "Dare."
There was no way I was picking truth. Only God knew what she'd make me confess.
Madison's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"I dare you," she said, her words slightly slurred now as she looked between Klaus and me.
"To straddle Klaus. Sit on his lap and grind on him for six full minutes. And you have to maintain eye contact the entire time."
The room erupted in shouts and whistles.
My entire body went rigid.
Molly's hand tightened on mine, her eyes going wide.
I looked at Klaus.
He was staring at me, his expression unreadable again, his jaw tight.
"Well?" Madison said, her voice dripping with amusement. "What's it gonna be, Adriana? Dare or shave?"
- Writer
