Page 15 of I Dare You
“I need to use the bathroom.”
Dandy nods.“My house is yours.Can you bring in some snacks?Mom has left some on the counter for us.”
It’s a surreal yet wonderful feeling to be so welcomed.To feel like I belong.
I carefully climb the stairs and make my way across the yard toward the house.The lawns are tidy and well-maintained.Dandy has mentioned his father only once.Apparently, it’s a sore spot for him, and like he did with me today, I won’t press unless he wants to share more.
He sensed something was wrong at my aunt and uncle’s, so he invited me over to offer a safe space without asking questions.It’s the first time I’ve had somewhere to go where I feel wanted and not judged.
If experiencing what I did with Rebecca was to find Dandy, then I would happily do it again and again because I can’t see my life without Dandy in it.
I use the bathroom, and once I wash my hands, I make my way into the kitchen.I see the snacks on the counter like Dandy said.Grabbing what I can carry, with hands full, I turn around and yelp, dropping everything to the floor because Kit Rivers stands in front of the open fridge, his silver rings rapping against the door.
I was so comfortable that I didn’t hear him.
“Sorry, Cupcake,” he says casually, reaching for a can of Coke.
And again, with the nickname.But I don’t mind.I’ve never had a nickname before.
“It’s fine, this is your house.”I kneel to pick up what I dropped, and Kit unexpectedly does the same.
I want to ask him why he took the blame for me yesterday, but I also don’t want to hear the reason.If he feels sorry for me, then I would never be able to face him again.
So I remain silent.
He hands me a bag of chips.“Glad Dandy has a friend.”
The way he speaks, it’s apparent Dandy doesn’t have many of them.But that’s okay with me.
“Thanks for dropping me off yesterday.”I wish I had the guts to say more.
He nods, not making a big deal about it.
The conversation ends, and I stand to leave, but he adds, “If you ever need help or want something, just ask.You’re good for Dandy, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him happy.”
There’s a double meaning to his words, and I wonder if maybe it has something to do with their father.
But I simply smile and walk back to the tree house, aware that meeting the Rivers brothers will change my life forever.
SIX YEARS LATER
“Ifucking hate that bitch,” Dandy says, peering over the top of his glasses at Rebecca Bloom, who cuddles up to her quarterback boyfriend, Bobby Harris, in a red leather booth.“Rumor has it she’s seeing some older guy behind Bobby’s back.”
“Is that true?”I ask, surprised that the power couple is anything but perfect.
“Probably not,” Dandy says with a shrug.“But who can resist a juicy small-town scandal?”
I top the chocolate sundae I made with whipped cream and sprinkles, then hand it to the young girl, who excitedly smiles.Her mom nods in gratitude at me.Must be nice to be that easily pleased.
It’s a slow night at The Hurricane, the ice creamery where both Dandy and I work.Like everything in this town, this clichéd shop is in desperate need of a revamp.The building is shaped like a pink soft-serve cone with sprinkles, which serve as lights on top.The locals think it’s iconic and has that small-town appeal, but I hate this place.
And people like Rebecca make living and working here even worse.
Dandy sips the vanilla milkshake he made for himself while glaring at the group of kids in the booth.We’re all in eleventh grade together, but Dandy and I are outsiders, and they wouldn’t be caught dead talking to us.
Which is fine because Dandy and I have no interest in talking to them.
The day Rebecca Bloom made a fool of me in front of the entire school was, ironically, the best day of my life because it was the day I met Dandy.
