CHAPTER 8: I Dare You

I walked into my school building and I was greeted with Cole scaring the life out of me with his friends. I fell on my butt hard and I groaned in pain. 

I swear, I'm starting to get annoyed by his action. 

"Good morning, girlfriend." He put his arm around my shoulder as I got up.

"I'm not your girlfriend." I hissed as I pushed my glasses. 

"You should consider yourself lucky because everygirl wants to be my girlfriend. You're such a liar." He whispered and I pushed him away. I ignored him calling me and walked to the toilet. 

I stopped when I saw Gina and her minions. Not only her but there's Zee who happened to be another bully. 

"You need to stop getting all close to Cole." She smirked. Yes, I just got into the devil's lair. 

"I'm not-" She slapped me hard. Cassie calm down, you'll be okay. Calm down. 

"Don't even think getting near him again, you hear me?" She hissed coldly as she grabbed me by my throat. I nodded and she smiled. 

"Stay away or you'll live in hell." She said and she turned to Gina. 

"She's yours." Zee walked out and I turned to Gina. She chuckled and clapped her hands.

"Break up with him and stay away from him."

"You're the one who-" I stopped when she raised her hand to slap me but she stopped when I flinched. 

"Don't make me remind you, Cassie." With that she walked out. I walked to the mirror and found my cheek turned red. I sighed and washed my hand. 

"Stay away from Cole." I said to myself. 

I walked out from the toilet and found Cole standing there waiting for me. 

"What took you so long?" He asked.

"Bye." I walked past him and tried to run but he stopped me by my wrist. 

"Where do you think you're going? You need to do my home-"

"I can't!" 

"Help me, you promised." He hissed and I turned to him annoyed.

"Okay." I said and he pulled away. I sighed and I'm still so tired. I walked to class and started my day awfully. I can't concentrate, let alone trying to stay awake. I'm so tired and when the school bell rang, I planned to get away from Cole. 

When I thought I slipped away, he caught me. He dragged me to his car right in front of everyone. 

"Come on." He said pulling me to his car and everyone's eyes was on ys. 

"Let's just go.. separately. I don't like the attention." I said hissing at him. He turned to me and stopped. He gestured me to go on my own and I got into his car. 

He drove towards his house in silence and when we got there, his mom greeted me. 

"Have you guys eat?" She asked.

"No." Cole answered before I can.

"Great, I'll make you guys something to eat." She said and she disappeared to the kitchen. We both sat in the living room silently and I took out my phone. 

It was an awkward 30 minutes of silence before his mom came out from the kitchen. 

"Cassie and Cole, go eat in the dining room. I have somewhere to be."

"Thank you, Mrs. Harrison." I smiled and she gave me a thumbs up. Cole gestured me to go to the dining room. She cooked some steak and some pasta. 

I turned to Cole and he gestured me to sit down. I sat down and he sat across me. 

"I'll leave now kids." She announced and I waved her goodbye. I turned to Cole and he was busy putting the onion to the side.

"You don't like onions?"

"Don't like the smell." He said.

"Okay."

"Why aren't you eating?" He asked and I nodded. He eyed me suspiciously like he's waiting for me to dig in. I cut the steak and took a bite. 

"The pasta." He pointed and I shook my head.

"Cassie."

"I don't like pasta." I lied.

"Take a bite." He said and I sighed. I took a bite and it was good. I turned to him and he gestured me to continue. I continued to ate all the steak and only took a few bites of the pasta.

"Thank you." I said as I wiped my lips. 

"You're done?" He asked and I nodded.

"Go wait in my room, I'll be there in a second." He said and I got up from my seat. I walked to his room and sat on the sofa. I closed my eyes because I'm a tired. 

Before I knew it, I fell asleep.  

"You sleep like a cow." I heard Cole said when I opened my eyes slowly. 

"What?! Oh shoot! Sorry!" I got up completely panicked. "I'm sorry." 

"Number 137." He sighed and then pointed at the question. I got up and walked towards him. I helped him in finding the answers and he continued his homework.  

"Wanna play?" He asked after he's done with the number 156. 

"No, I'm tired." 

"Sleep then." He said and I turned to the clock. It's already 5.30 and I texted my sister that I'll be home at 6. 

My stomach growled and I turned to Cole awkwardly.

"You're hungry?" He asked.

"Yes, you have some milk?" 

"No." He shook his head.

"Oh okay."

"I'll buy some food if you want."

"No, thank you. I'll eat later." I said and Cole looked at me suspiciously.

"What?"

"I'm curious about something. After you fainted, the school staffs were being so suspicious. They looked like they're keeping a big secret. I asked the principal about you but she said that you're okay. She didn't even tell me where the hospital you're in. What exactly is your secret?" 

"I have no secret." I said trying to convince him by looking straight into his eyes.

"I don't believe you." He kept looking at me suspiciously.

"Why not?" I raised my eyebrows.

"You seemed like someone who has a lot of secrets." 

"I'm not."

"I'll ask my maid to make you a salmon steak, you'll eat it."

"No, I'm good." I said and he dragged me downstairs to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and I peeked into it from behind him. He suddenly turned around and trapped me between him and the island behind me. 

"I listened to you about my homework and I want you to listen to me this time." He said as he leaned closer to me. I leaned my body back and he smirked. 

"Fine!" I said and he stopped. He took a step back and gestured me to sit down. He asked his private chef to prepare me some salmon steak and his favorite handpulled noddle. 

I sat on the one of the chair and Cole sat beside me. We're sitting beside each other awkwardly while waiting for the chef to cook.

"I'm not letting you out until you finish your dish." He said and I turned to him disbelief.

"I hate you."

"I know." He said proudly and he walked back to his chef. He brought two plates and put it in front of me. The salmon steak smelled so good and I ate it.

It's really good and I found myself eating it all. I turned to the clock and it's almost 6.

"Let me drop you home."

"No!" 

"Okay.." He looked at me weirdly and I texted my driver to pick me up. I went back home and thhere's a text from Cole after that. 

 Cole Harrison: Thanks for today.