Truth or Dare

At night, we played the one and only, ‘Truth or Dare.’ They weren’t as many people…well actually it was only the four of us.

I know. Sounds boring right?

The day was quiet tedious and Anna needed ‘distraction’ because according to her if she did not get a ‘distraction’ she would go mad and kill all of us. Math really does drive people crazy so I don’t blame Anna. She was never really the study or getting good grades type. All that satisfied her was that if she could pass above average, unlike me. I’m not a nerd (Thank God) but I do want good grades for a better future.

We sat in a circle with Andy in front of me and Ed in front of Anna. Before starting, I was warned by both Anna and Ed about Andy giving weird and embarrassing dares. But what they did not know was that I was always looking up for a challenge. So for me it was game on.

The first bottle spin went on Anna and she chose truth, obviously. Ed asked her casually, “Who’s your latest crush?”

Anna who had a huge grin all over her face was now giving Ed a deadpan look while Andy was looking at Anna curiously. “Andy of course,” she managed a fake smile.

“He’s your boyfriend, darling. I’m asking who your crush is?” he said, emphasizing on the word crush. Anna kept glaring him for a moment.

That’s intimidating.

She sighed and mumbled, “Paul…Paul Hardy,”

Ed burst out in laughter. “Oh shut up Ed,” replies Anna irately.

“He’s just a crush Andy. I love you, you know that,” she explained. Andy nodded. He was not affected by what Anna said. He trusts her. “I know Anne but…” he hesitated before speaking, “Paul Hardy?”

“What? He’s hot. Do you not see him play?” Anna defended. Andy shrugged.

Paul Hardy is our senior and College’s Basketball captain. No doubt he is freaking hot. He’s tall and boy you should see him play. Girls drool around him (and that is not a good sight). Lucky for me since I love sports and I’m an extrovert who loves socializing, I opened up to him and we became friends. *hair flip*   

I told Anna I could introduce both of them if she wants to, to which Ed replied rather mockingly, “Like you know him?”

“We are friends, thank you very much. I’ve been learning some basketball moves from him, by the way” I gave him the ‘impressed yet’ look.

We continued the game and the next turn came on me, “Andy or Ed? Who is better?” asked Anna, enthusiastically. I didn’t even choose but I answered anyways.

“Definitely Andy,” Ed fake coughed after hearing me.

Anna stuck her tongue out to Ed and then gave Andy a quick kiss. “Everyone’s favorite huh?” she said proudly.

“I love both of them and they are the greatest…I can’t choose.” I said seriously this time.

Everyone looked at me. Andy and Anna smiled while Ed just…looked at me.

The next turn went to Anna again and she chose truth, again. Ed asked her slyly, again, “when was the last time you practiced kissing in a mirror?”

Andy and I exchanged looks and then looked at Anna who was cursing Ed under her breath.

“You are so…You are a complete asshole Ed” she said.

“Answer the question, Anna darling,”

“Two days ago,” she said sighing in defeat but she quickly defended herself when she heard all of us laughing, “I put on too much lipstick and there was no tissue so I…”

“So you kissed yourself in the mirror. How cute,” Ed finished for her between his laughs. Anna threw her shoe at him.

The next turn was Ed’s and he chose dare. I expected him to. Anna said, “Sit there in nothing but shorts,” the way she said seemed almost challenging to me but seeing Ed, already stripping his shirt off, made me think otherwise. He was now sitting in his black shorts only.

“If you want to see me naked Anne, all you had to do was ask. Why bother wasting the dare?” he winked. “You wish,” Anna scoffed.

I watched Ed’s physique. It was muscular. Not too heavy and not too skinny, it was perfectly toned. “Like what you seeing Lodge?” Ed asked doing his signature smirk.

“Yeah, very much” I winked.

Now I could see that none of them were expecting me to say that and wink, especially Ed.  He was trying to hide the amusement but it was clearly visible to me.

Next was my turn and I chose dare. Andy was smiling mischievously. Something was definitely going through his devil mind.

“Dance,” 

Dance? I can’t dance.

“I can’t dance,” I said pathetically.

“Nonsense, everybody can dance.” He said his grin still on his face.

I got up, thinking what to do. Come on Lilly. These are your best friends. Don’t get embarrassed in doing some weird moves. I mentally scolded myself.

I smile appeared on my face as I started moving my face, followed by my hands and legs and soon my whole body was moving in a weird flow. And I finish off by a doing the moonwalk step and the Michael Jackson “Ow!’ scream. We all were laughing and I gave Andy ‘you’ll pay for this’ look.

The next turn came on me but we skipped as I already did two turns and luckily the next one came on Ed. Andy, so far was going good.

The moment Ed said ‘truth’ and I asked him excitedly, “Do you love Emily?”

“Not you too Lil. I told you guys…she’s an annoying friend who crushes on me.” He whined, “I think of her as my sister. She’s not even my type,”

“Then who’s your type?” I said between my laugh.

“You.” he responded quickly. My laugh turned to a smile. “I mean…you…you and Anna and you and…” he was definitely embarrassed, “it’s just that you girls are the only ones who I actually care about and love,” he explained.

I know what he means.

Finally, the turn I was waiting for…Andy. He chose dare. He was looking at me, challengingly. He had an evil grin. But that grin faded immediately when I said, “Lick your toe.”

“Gross!” exclaimed Anna.

“Nice one!” said Ed.

I took my phone out and made a video of him. Seeing him trying to bring his toe in front of his mouth was hilarious. But when he licked his toe, that was when all of us ugh-ed.

“Do NOT KISS me for the next whole day” ordered Anna.

The last turn came on Ed. He thought for a second and then chose dare. Anna got up and said she was going to the bathroom. We waited for her. I saw her coming behind Ed with two water bottles which looked kind of frozen.

I realized what she was trying to do so I started, “She’s taking too long. I’ll give you a dare,” I thought about it for a moment then, “Okay so just to be clear…you don’t get mad on Anna often, do you?” After he shook his head, I continued, “Good, so don’t move and you will say nothing to Anna if she does…” and that’s when Anna poured the icy water on Ed.

Ed gasped. I saw his muscles tighten. His abs got even more prominent. Water dripped from his hair to his face, down to his perfect body.

Dang!

“…that.” I completed.

He looked up. His eyes widened. We all started laughing. He got up and watched his wet body. He rubbed his hand through his hair causing the water droplets to come on me. Then I noticed his features changed. He looked at his body then at Anna. He smiled. Before I could warn Anna about what he was about to do, he had already gone in for a bear hug. Anna got all soaked up in water as well. Andy and I just looked at each other and laughed.

While preparing my bed Ed entered, “Hey!”

“Hey,” I looked at him as I sat down.

“I just…I just wanted to…tell you that what I said before in the game I didn’t mean it…in that way,” he said looking down at the floor.

I couldn’t help but to smile on that. I don’t know why but this seemed so cute.

“I know. Don’t sweat about it.”

He looked at me and opened his mouth to say something but got interrupted when my phone rang. It was Grandma. I hadn’t talked to her three weeks.

I went outside the room and in the kitchen. “Hey Grandma,” I said as lively as I could but a worried expression raised my face when I heard her coughing so badly.

We talked about the usual stuff but her cough was the only thing I was concentrating on. It wasn’t settling. “Grandma, are you sure you are alright? You have been coughing really badly.”

“I’m fine…it’s just some allergy I got a few weeks ago,” she said.

Weeks ago?

Now I was worried, “How long exactly? Did you go see a doctor?”

“It’s been a few weeks honey and the doctor said I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me”

I realized the last time I was on call with her she was coughing but I didn’t know it would get this serious. I had a bad feeling for this one.

“You know what Grandma. It’s Saturday tomorrow. I’m coming to visit you. I’ll be back here by Sunday night. I miss you and I really want to see you so…”

“But honey…”

“It’s two days Grandma. And you now I won’t be able sleep, not until I take you to the doctor myself.” I said sternly.

She hesitated before speaking, “Okay honey, I’ll see you tomorrow”

“Have a good night”

After she hung up I sighed deeply. I hope she’s okay.   

“Everything alright?”

I glanced back, “No, Grandma’s not fine. I’m worried for her Andy, she’s coughing really badly.” I explained. “Is it okay if I go tomorrow?”

“Do you really have to ask?” he smiled, warmly.

“Thank you!” I said, softly.

“Don’t worry. It’ll be alright. She’ll be fine.” He gripped my shoulder to comfort me. “I’m sure,”

I was shocked to see Anna barging in our room with a wide smile spread across her face. Ed looked annoyed by her charging in like this.

“Can we come long?” she asked, excitedly.

Ed and I exchanged glances,” Where?” we asked in unison.

“Montona! You’re going tomorrow, right?”

Oh!

I looked at Andy who was smiling at me. He told her. I noticed Ed looking at me, his brows furrowed. “Uh yeah sure, I’ll be glad.”  I was happy; I’ll introduce them to Grandma. She’ll love to see them.

“Great, we’ll take Andy’s car. Night!” and she left.

Ed was still looking at me for an explanation. “Grandma’s not well. Bad cough so I…” I sighed.

“Right,” he lied back down.