by Cameo Renae
Tiff shuffles the cards and places the two piles side by side on the ground. She flips a dare card and reads it to David. “Depict a human life through interpretive dance.”
His eyes narrow. “What the hell is interpretive dance?”
“It’s slow, kind of ballet-like, with lots of movement. But you have to tell the story with your body, using only dance and no words,” she explains.
“Oh, shit,” David curses.
He walks away from us and curls up into a fetal position on the ground. After a few seconds, his body trembles then convulses. He begins to uncurl, his face is crumpled in pain. Then, he stretches his limbs and is doing the worm across the floor, his arms pressing at his sides. After three worm rolls, he tilts his head back and takes in a deep breath.
“What the hell are you doing?” Tiff laughs.
He turns and gives her a serious look. “Don’t interrupt my birth, babe. That’s freaking rude.”
We all laugh as he continues his awkward and confusing movements…his rendition of the stages of life. At the end, he drops to the ground, flat on his back, folds his hands across his chest, and closes his eyes. We all pause and look at each other with baffled looks. Then he jumps up and takes a bow.
Tiff claps. “I’m impressed, babe. That death scene was very realistic.”
He smiles and sits back down. “Maybe I should consider interpretive dance class.”
“Umm, I wasn’t that impressed,” she adds.
“What?” He tickles her until she can’t breathe.
Dammit. I’m next.
“Dare,” I say, and I’m already stressing out about it.
Tiff pulls the card, her eyes narrowing on it. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I think she needs a different one.”
“No way!” David says, snatching the card from her hand. “Fate has decided.” He clears his throat and reads the card. “Lyssa…kiss the person to your left.”
My eyes go wide as I look to my left, and Travis is staring at me through his gorgeous wide eyes. He tilts his head to the side and grins. My heart races, and my hands sweat.
“Hey, I’m the best kisser in the room,” he admits.
“Ewww,” Tiff whines. “I beg to differ. Lyssa doesn’t want her clean lips on your dirty ones. You’re contaminated.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Travis bites back.
“Girls, Travis. Other girls,” she points out.
“Bullshit. I can count on my fingers how many girls I’ve kissed.”
“Yeah, right. Now, that’s bullshit,” she counters.
“Can we please continue this damn game?” David growls.
“Kiss him, Lyssa,” Tiff says, rolling her eyes. “I’m going to get a drink.” She jumps up and heads to the kitchen.
With Tiff’s back to me, I turn to Travis. I want to kiss him so badly, but feel embarrassed with everyone’s heavy stares.
“Take two?” Travis says holding up two fingers and I blush.
He remembers.
“Lyssa, don’t be a dork. Like, kiss him already,” Stacey huffs.
I lean forward and close my eyes, thinking this is going to be a quick kiss, like the one in the kissing closet. But no. Travis grabs the back of my neck and pulls me close. His mouth crashes against mine, and I feel his tongue swipe over my lips. It’s soft, wet, and sweet. Then he nips my bottom lip and pulls away. The world around me is spinning.
“Dude, you should’ve given her more tongue,” David teases and Matt laughs.
“Lyssa could totally use some experience,” Stacey giggles.
“Oh, and you have experience?” Matt says, pulling her mouth toward his. Their tongues slop against each other.
“Excuse me, while I while I vomit in my mouth,” David says exactly what I was thinking.
While the others are occupied, Travis leans over and whispers in my ear. “I’m game for round three.” My heart hammers against my chest, and I know I’ve turned a few shades of red just thinking about it. My lips are still tingling, and the feeling is incredible.
I totally want that round three.
Tiff returns with a six pack of beer and hands one to each of us. Travis is next, and he chooses dare.
“Speak in an accent for three rounds,” Tiff huffs, rolling her eyes.
“Wow, that’s like, totally not fair,” Stacey says.
“This is a bloody easy dare for me to perform,” Travis says in a perfect British accent. “It’s the fate of the cards.”
Holy crap. Can he be any sexier?
He then turns and winks at me, and my insides melt.
Yes. Yes, he can.
Matt is next, and his dare is easy. “Curse like a sailor for twenty seconds straight,” Tiff orders.
He curses a lot anyway, but after the first ten seconds, he is getting into it. His movements turn aggressive, his face crinkles, and he begins to repeat curse words over and over. His sailor rage is directed, with a pointed finger, to David.
In the end, David shrugs and shakes his head. “Dude, I’m sorry if I did anything to offend you.”
He has us all in stitches.
Stacey is next, and she chooses truth because she never chooses dare. Ever. Well, ever since the last dare, which asked her to lick the floor. It scarred her for life.
Tiff reads her her question. “What is something you have never told anyone?”
Stacey’s face drops, and I can sense something is wrong.
“Well?” Tiff asks, pushing her. “Give it up.”
Stacey looks down at her twisting hands, then looks up at Matt.
“Oh, this is going to be good,” David says, rubbing his hands together.
Tiff slaps him on the arm.
“What is it, Stace?” Matt places his hand over hers.
“I—” tears pool in her wide blue eyes. “I was pregnant, but lost the baby a week ago.”
Matt’s face twists, trying to process her words. The rest of us sit in silence, stunned.
“You were pregnant?” he breathes.
“Yes,” her voice trembles, and she begins to sob.
“Was it mine?” he asks.
Stacey looks at him with a look of horror. “Of course it was yours, you stupid, inconsiderate asshole!”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you’re leaving for college. I didn’t want you to feel like you were trapped.”
Matt leans back and rubs his hands against his face, cursing. He then takes in a deep breath and turns to her. “You should have told me. I could have helped you.” He pulls her into his arms and hugs her while she cries. “It wasn’t your burden to bear alone, Stace. It was mine too.”
Tiff turns her wide eyes toward me and shakes her head. I shrug and shake mine back. We both had no idea.
“I’m sorry,” Stacey wails into Matt’s chest.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry you felt like you couldn’t tell me.”
When Stacey gets up to go to the bathroom, I get up and follow her, and Tiff does the same. We hold her, comfort her, and cry over her loss. It’s something no one should have to go through alone.
When we return to the guys, they are quiet, sitting in the living room.
Travis is on the large couch, David is on a beanbag, and Matt is on the loveseat with his head buried in his hands. When Stacey slides back into Matt’s arms, Tiff stands in the middle of the room.
“All right, no more Truth or Dare. How about Twister?”
“No!” we all shout in unison.
“I say we watch a movie,” David says, getting up and heading back toward the bedroom. “Aliens came out on VHS, so I picked it up.” He comes back waving the tape in his hand.
Tiff unwillingly agrees, and I help her gather blankets and make popcorn. After she pushes the tape in the VCR, she nestles next to David on the ground.
Stacey and Matt are cuddled together on the loveseat, and the only space is on the large couch next to Travis.
“I don’t bite,” he w
hispers, patting the space next to him. I smile and sit down as the movie starts.
Over the next half hour, Stacey and Matt disappear, and Tiff drinks herself to sleep. David tries to wake her up, but she’s out cold.
“I think I’ll have to carry her to bed,” he says.
“No Twister?” I ask.
“Hell no. The only thing twisting is a blanket right over me.” He yawns, then lifts Tiff into his arms.
“G’night,” he says, carrying her back.
“Night,” we reply.
“I’m going to head back to the shed before I get myself into trouble,” Travis says, looking at me. He leans over and kisses my cheek sweetly. “Sleep well, Lyssa.”
“Thanks, you too,” I breathe, and follow him to the door.
He walks away, then before he disappears into the shed, he turns back with his sexy smile and waves. Then he slips inside and closes the door.
“Tonight, we’re going to the carnival, since the rain is clearing up,” Tiff orders, not giving any of us an option. “It’s here for a couple more days, and since today is a Thursday, there shouldn’t be too many people.”
“Corn dogs and cotton candy. How can I resist?” David replies.
Tiff traces her finger down his chest while batting her eyes. “Can you resist me?”
He folds his arms around her. “Babe, you know I can’t. You’re much sweeter than cotton candy.” Tiff’s smile widens. “But cornier than a corn dog.” Her jaw drops and David growls. “I just wanna bite you.”
“Are you kidding me?” Tiff snaps, obviously offended.
“What did I say?” David asks, shrugging his wide shoulders. When she doesn’t answer, he unravels his arms from around her. “I guess this is my cue to get ready.”
As soon as the door to the bathroom shuts, Tiff relaxes and exhales. “I swear, he never knows when to stop. The cotton candy remark won him some points, and the corn dog one erased them all.”
“You are kind of corny, Tiff,” I say.
“Like, totally,” Stacey agrees.
Her narrowed eyes dart between us and we start laughing.
“Bitches,” she huffs. “You’re both bitches.”
“Yeah, but you totally love us bitches,” Stacey says.
“Totally,” Tiff replies, wrapping her arms around our necks and bringing us in for a group hug. “And you’re lucky, ‘cause you bitches are as corny as I am.”
“Well, Stacey is,” I say, giggling.
I love carnivals, so I was totally in. After some persuading from his sister, Travis says he’ll come and drive us. I’m glad he’s coming and not staying back.
Not that I’d admit it to anyone, but there is something he makes me feel that no other boy has. I feel butterflies in my stomach whenever he looks at me. When he’s close, I can barely breathe. His touch is like magic, sending shocks and tingles throughout my body. And the odd thing? I crave more of him, even if it’s just being with him in the same room.
Remembering being on his bare shoulders, his large hands gripped tightly around my thighs, is driving me crazy. I swear, I have to get a grip on myself, or I’ll look like a love drunk fool for the next week.
While the boys hog the two full bathrooms to get ready, Tiff and Stace squeeze themselves into my half-bath. Stacey clicks on the radio, and we start dancing and singing along to Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer.
I choose to keep my hair down, feathering it back on the sides, then Stacey sprays on a thick coat of Aqua Net. Coughing, I leave the hairspray haze to catch my breath, while Tiff disappears into her bedroom, coming back with some gold hoop earrings and gold bangles for my wrists. They match my black capris, and gold leopard print, off the shoulder top.
Both Tiff and Stacey are wearing brightly colored fitted skirts and tops with matching accessories. It looks like they go shopping at the same store together. I don’t know how the hell they think going to a carnival in skirts will be comfortable. But that’s not my problem.
“All right, let’s move, people! Travis is taking us, and he’s waiting outside.”
Before we head out, all three of us squish in front of the bathroom mirror for one last glance. We put our arms around each other and smile. I’m the boring black stem in the middle of the bright neon flowers at my sides.
“We are like totally freaking hot,” Stacey says with a smile.
Tiffany pulls a large camera from her purse and begins installing the roll of film. After a few winds, she snaps the back shut and yells, “David, get your sexy butt over here.”
David comes sliding in with blue jeans, an orange T-shirt, and a jeans jacket. His body is hunched over, and his face is twisted. “You raaang?”
“Oh God,” she exhales. “Quasimodo, I need you to take our picture.”
He holds out his hand, and when she hands it to him, he leans forward trying to lick her face.
“Ewww,” Tiff squeals, pushing him away.
Stacey rolls her eyes and walks out of the bathroom. “It’s like, totally nicer outside for photos,” she says.
“I think you’re like, totally right,” Matt says coming up from behind her, and hugging her waist.
“Matt, stop! You’re seriously ruining my hair.”
“Tragedy,” he says, backing off and throwing up his arms.
He’s wearing jeans and an Izod alligator shirt the same color as Stacey’s skirt.
They all match each other with those awesome bright colors. And here I am…boring Lyssa, in colorless black and gold. But I like being neutral.
We all follow David outside where Travis is leaning against the hood of a black Jeep Wrangler. His hair is unkempt, yet sexy, and he’s wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt that hugs him in all the right places. His eyes sweep the group, but when he looks at me, a smile rises on his lips.
We’re matching. But he makes black look so cool.
Tiff steers everyone to a pink flowering tree on the side of the cottage and starts placing us. I’m in the middle with her and Stacey on my sides.
“I’ll take the photo,” Travis offers.
“Thanks, Trav,” Tiff says, and David hands him the camera.
I feel bad, wishing he was next to me.
“Smile,” Travis says. He snaps about ten shots, and when Tiff is satisfied we all pile into the Jeep.
Before I reach my door, Travis runs ahead and opens it for me. My stomach flips, knowing I get to ride shotgun next to him.
“Buckle up, bitches,” he says, jumping into the driver’s seat. He cranks up the radio, and we all start singing our hearts out to Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance. David is belting it out.
“David, can you please stop?” Tiff scolds.
“Why? I thought you liked my singing.”
“No,” she says flatly. “Especially when you’re singing all the wrong damn words, and you’re not hitting any of the notes. It’s throwing me off.”
David shrugs and tries to talk Valley. “My words are like…way better.”
Tiff huffs and David leans over and kisses her cheek.
A newer song titled Alone comes on from two sisters who front the rock band Heart. I’ve only heard it a few times, but it’s cool. When the chorus comes on, Travis sings along, and I’m surprised at how beautiful his voice is.
He briefly turns to me while singing the words, “How do I get you alone?”
Everyone else laughs, but when he winks, I can barely breathe.
Seeing him happy again, makes me happy.
Travis finds a spot right near the entrance of the carnival, and we all agree to meet back at the car at midnight if we get separated. I take off with Tiff and Stacey, the guys in tow. We ride a few rides together, and it feels like old times. We’re laughing and screaming, and it brings back so many wonderful memories.
I’m going to miss them when I head off to college. They’ve been a huge part of my life for the past fourteen years.
Reality hits when their boyfriends swipe them away, and I’m left alo
ne. They tell me to come along, but I don’t like being the fifth wheel.
Travis is standing in a line to get a drink, digging out his wallet. I look around me and decide to head over to the game section. The carnival is bustling with people in bright colored clothes and teased hair, but the game section seems a little dead.
As I make my way around, I notice that at the back, the ring toss is empty, and the worker looks like he’s falling asleep. He has headphones on, slowly rocking back and forth.
Hanging from the ceiling are a bunch of stuffed animals. Mostly giraffes and hippos, and one blue elephant.
I give the guy my money, and he hands me my rings. Across the back of the booth, Coke bottles are lined up. I stand so that I'm perpendicular with the booth and throw my first ring like a Frisbee. It hits one of the bottles way too low and bounces off. The second I toss higher, but it bounces off the top and lands somewhere in the back. The third lands sideways in between some bottles. I keep tossing until my rings are gone, and I lose. This game sucks.
The guy puts up a sign—Be Right Back—and heads out of the tent. What if I wanted to try again? How rude.
When I turn around, three guys are standing behind me. They’re all wearing black leather jackets, light blue jeans, and their hair is slicked back with grease. Their eyes sweep up and down my body, giving me the creeps.
“Hey, beautiful,” the one in the middle says, taking a step closer, invading my space.
I put my head down and start walking away, but the asshole grabs my arm.
My heart is pounding as I turn and face the one who appears to be their leader. He is a few inches taller than me and heavier set than the others. His eyes seem glazed over and red, and he has a smirk on his face.
The three of them surround me. The only others nearby are a few tweens who have no idea what’s going on. I wouldn’t want them to get involved with these jerks.
“Why are you leaving? I’m just trying to be nice to you,” the guy says with a slight slur.
A strong whiff of alcohol permeates the air. Shit. They’re intoxicated.
“Don’t touch me,” I say, shifting away from him, balling my hands into tight fists.
His arms fly up into the air. “Hey, we’re here for a good time and noticed you’re all alone. A pretty girl like you should never be alone,” he says, his fingers feathering down my arm.
