Dare
“For example . . .” Chloe held her hands behind her back and smiled, so small but so mischievously that I knew nothing good was coming. This was the smile that said “let’s break into the school pool” or “let’s detonate a pipe bomb”. I loved that smile, but my god was it trouble.
She blinked and looked down, letting her hands free behind her back. “I dare you to kiss me.”
There was a beat where I wondered if she realized what she said, and she seemed to be contemplating the same thing.
But she followed up, “I double dare you. Kiss me now.”
I wasn’t sure if she meant it, but I had been on edge ever since last night to hear her say it. It was like a spring had been set since she landed that look on me outside of Well’s office, and now it sprung, launching me forward the quick step up to her, onto my toes, her face in my hands and
Our lips only met for a brief peck before she stepped back, almost out of arm’s reach, and my hands fell slowly to my side.
“Damn, you’re hardcore, Max.”
There was an edge of panic in her voice that I hadn’t expected, and it immediately left my heart sinking into my stomach. She hadn’t expected me to kiss her, that was obvious. But I think she was surprised to discover that she didn’t want me to, either.
The note faded as she regained her regular demeanor, “Now I can text Warren and tell him he doesn’t stand a chance . . .” she turned to drop back onto her bed, “unless he’s into girl-on-girl action.”
While I didn’t doubt that Warren was into that, I stayed still, just letting her deflection bounce off of me.
No, no, this was wrong. I was too hasty.
I’ll set it right.
I lifted. my hand and rewound.
“Kiss me n . . . ow.” Chloe seemed a little surprised to find my hand next to her cheek, not quite finishing what she had to say until I rested my fingers along the back of her jaw.
I looked up into her eyes, and I wasn’t sure if I was happy or disappointed to see the nervousness in her eyes. This was so much more like the Chloe I knew, going too far and just pretending to not be scared. At the same time, though, I knew there was more to this. I knew she was trying to be cool, and that she probably meant it.
But she was scared.
“Max?” she asked as I hesitated, her eyes seeming to trail along the length of my arm. Her skin burned under my palm.
I nodded slowly. “I’ll kiss you, Chloe. But I feel like you’re . . .”
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steel myself. If she didn’t recognize it, maybe this would piss her off. Maybe I was reading everything wrong.
Or maybe she wanted me to notice.
“I feel like last night, in Well’s office, like it scared you. About Nathan, about Rachel. And you’re trying to be cool like it didn’t. But it’s okay to be scared for Rachel, and to miss her.”
Chloe blinked, silent, and I figured that was a good sign that she had no quick, snappy retort.
I bit the inside of my cheek, and the last few words came softly, “But I’m not her, Chloe. And I don’t want to kiss you when it isn’t for the right reasons.”
I could see the twists that caused inside as soon as I started talking, and she made the strained, ugly expression of trying to hold back tears. I know she hates making the face, I know she tries to be cool. But I just don’t think I’m her cool friend.
She was looking down somewhere in between us, a little beyond her socks on the hardwood floor. Her cheeks were red from my hand or shame, I don’t know which, but I was glad that, for once, she wasn’t joking, wasn’t flirting to twist me around, just listening and trying to know what to say.
And although she couldn’t quite look up all the way, she said, “Then, when it’s right.” Her eyes finally rose up to meet might. “When it’s perfect, kiss me. I dare you.”
And that was something I could smile for.
She took a step back, just outside of my arm’s reach. “Damn Max, I don’t have the heelies to slide away from these feelies. Just make sure Warren isn’t there when you do it, okay?” She plopped back down on her bed. “I mean, he’d probably be into it, but the dude clearly still thinks he has a chance.”
She grabbed at her phone, as if telling him about our not-kiss were her first priority, then lay back down.
After another moment, she stated, “I bet you milked that moment for a serious makeout sesh, then rewound to look classy, huh?”
I rolled my eyes harder than a fighter’s will save, perhaps more than necessary to call out her almost-accurate idea. She wasn’t the only one who could deflect, though, “And what if I did?”
And the way she grinned with her lip in her teeth sent a shiver down my spine.