Page 16 of I Dare You
We’ve been inseparable ever since.
He’s my safe place, just as he once referred to his tree house, our sanctuary for years.I feel more at home in that tree house than I do at my uncle and aunt’s.
If it wasn’t for Dandy, I would hate to think where I would be.
He has saved me in more ways than one, which is why we’re never far from each other.It made sense when my uncle forced me to get a job that Dandy also worked with me.I don’t have a car, so Dandy drives me home after my shifts, even if he’s not working.
I take any shift I can because I need the money to get the hell out of this town.
This is only a stopover.
I refuse to accept that this small-minded town will be my future.
Dreams come here to die.
And I won’t let that happen to me.
My parents’ deaths still affect me.But each day, their memories fade, and new ones are made, ones without them in them.I wonder if one day…I’ll just forget.
“Earth to Hallie,” Dandy playfully mocks, snapping his fingers in front of my face.
Instantly, I snap to the present, aware that I daydream often.I am not unfeeling.I am just numb to everything.Losing my parents at such a young age and going to live with an abusive uncle does that.
I learned early on that it was better that way.It’s easier to switch off your emotions instead of feeling pain, and pain I’ve felt from the loss of my parents to living with my aunt and uncle.
Thoughts of my uncle have me flicking the elastic band around my wrist, a trick Dandy told me about.It replaces the crescent moons I’ve left scarred into my palms over the years.
Dandy knows bits and pieces.He’s the only one who does.But does he know that my uncle still punishes me when he thinks I’ve sinned?
No, he doesn’t.
No one does.
Aunt Justina simply turns a blind eye and carries on with her knitting, believing that making blankets for the homeless will make everything okay.
This is why I work double shifts.I need to get out of here.
The longer I stay, the more I feel myself slipping away.
“Hello, does anyone work here?”yells Robin, one of Rebecca’s best friends.Their groupie, Rachel, is nowhere to be seen.She’s the quieter one of the three.Although still cruel, she seems to be the “nicer” one of the group.
I say that because when alone in the bathroom with her one time, she asked if I had a spare tampon.I gave it to her without thought.I could have been a bitch just like she has been to me for years.But I wasn’t like those girls.
She thanked me and told me it was Rebecca who posted “naked” photos of me around school.I suspected as much.The football team had a gangbang with a girl and took a photo to commemorate the joyous occasion.Rebecca got a hold of it and cut off the girl’s head, only to replace it with mine.
The caption said, “For a good time, call me,” with my number listed.
I didn’t even blink when I saw it because I was so used to this shit.It was just another reason to hate Rebecca.
Dandy and I look at one another.We know what must be done.
“Rock, paper, scissors,” we both say, and when Dandy makes scissors and I play paper, I groan.
“Good luck.”He playfully chuckles, sipping his shake in victory.
I grab the notepad and pen from the counter and walk to the booth.Four of them sit there, and the moment I arrive, it’s apparent five is a crowd.
“What can I get you?”I ask, pen poised, ready to take their orders.
