Posted: December 17tg, 2019
✤ Rihaan: 1.39 - my dare ✤
Mihir, a classmate, yells over to call me, "Rihaan! Truth or dare?"
I chuckle walking up to them and greeting them all before commenting, "Don't y'all have any other game to play?"
Sunny replies while I sit on the arm of the couch as other spaces are full, "We do but they'd be more fun with girls who seem to be more interested in dancing today than games."
Mihir adds, "Yup, so we've been giving each other dares to kill time."
Guru asks, "Did we really see you walking in with Sanya?"
I answer, "Yeah, what about it?"
Guru points out, "You just always come to parties with Kriana."
Sunny slaps the back of Guru's head since he is seated next to him, "Dude, get with the program. You're so slow. He's been dating Sanya for a few months now."
Guru seems shocked. I want to laugh at the pure emotion that crosses his face. Really, what alternate universe does he live in to have not noticed?
Mihir informs further framing it in a question, "Yeah, didn't you two also go to New York over the summer?"
I inform briefly, "2 weeks, yeah."
Sunny comments, "Damn. Your parents must be hella cool to allow that."
I simply shrug for we didn't see it as a big deal given we'd traveled to many places together - granted our families would be with us - but still.
Faisal interjects playing the role of the old, grumpy stooge, "Are we going to keep playing or should I leave?"
Mihir reaches forward and spins the bottle while replying, "Chill. Don't get your panties in a twist."
Faisal mutters, "Excuse me if I have no interest in his so-called love life."
I squint at him even as the bottle slowly comes to a stop, "What do you mean 'so-called'?" It's as if he doesn't believe Sanya and I are together.
He pushes my buttons, "So, what? You come in here and say you two are together and I am just supposed to believe that? Tell me, have you even kissed her?"
Not this again.
I focus on my breathing to not get mad while Girish interjects, "Faisal," in a warning.
He plays innocently, manipulating others, "What? Guys, come on. It's just locker-room talk, isn't it? Don't we all tell each other if we've kissed a girl?"
Okay, I have heard these talks before but I have never partaken in them. I don't think it is anyone's business, but... boys will be boys. As much as I hate falling back on that excuse, it's true. It's like a game for them - to tell other guy friends how far they go with a girl.
With a steely glare, I retort tired of staying silent while he pricks and prods, "What's it going to take for you to finally back off?" I am dead tired of him making an issue out of my relationship with Sanya. I do very well remember Sanya's threat the day she ordered me to apologize to him for punching him. I couldn't hit him again to get him in line. But, that doesn't mean I won't use my words.
His lips turn upward smugly as he crosses his arms over his chest leaning back as if this is exactly where he wanted me. "I dare you to kiss her in front of the entire school."
Fuck. I curse in my head. Sanya's policy about PDA. Even if she didn't have anything against it, I couldn't do that to her. Kiss her just to prove a point and shut Faisal's mouth once and for all.
He waits for me to reply and I hold his eye lock, refusing to look away and give him the satisfaction of getting to me - even though he has. I know how to hide it.
Thankfully, I am saved from having to say anything as Trisha walks over, "Guys, we're out of drinks. Help me get more from the storage?"
Girish takes the chance to pull me away from there, "Sure. Rihaan, come help?"
Clearing my throat, I stand up. "Yeah," I say and finally look away from Faisal.
As we walk around the crowd to get to the back of the house, Trisha asks, "So what did I walk in on? Things seemed heated."
"Nothing," I say while Girish says, "Faisal was being a dick again."
Trisha scoffs, "What's new? Seriously, I don't understand him these days."
I see Sanya on the dance floor with Kriana and ask, "Can you two handle the drinks?"
Girish follows my gaze and nods in understanding. "Yeah, I got it."
"Thanks," I say and change my path towards the girls.
They don't see me walking up to them as their backs face me. I put my hand on Sanya's waist and she turns at once to check who it is. She smiles seeing me and relaxes in my hold. I lean in to speak in her ear so she can hear me, "I need to talk to you."
"Now?" She questions and I nod in response but I don't get around to asking if we can go somewhere quieter since Kriana takes my free hand and pulls me towards her.
"No, no. You two aren't allowed to be gooey-goo tonight. Ri, dance with me."
I raise my brow at Sanya to silently question and she mouths 'Girish'. Exhaling, I decide to reprioritize and focus on my friend first. I can fill in Sanya about Faisal later on in the night when we leave the party.
Sanya nods for me to keep Kriana company while indicating she is going to get herself something to drink.
As much as Girish is my friend, I think I am done with him playing with Kriana's feelings. He needs to make up his damn mind.
Roughly two songs later, Trisha joins us. It's about the same time when Kriana grumbles, "I need to pee."
"Come on," Trisha takes her hand and pulls her away from the living room turned into dance floor. I decide to go find Girish and give him a piece of my mind.
Only, I find him in the kitchen with Sanya and it seems my lovely girlfriend is doing a good enough job of it. Pinching his ear, I hear her scolding, "...the hell is the matter with you? One minute you look like you want to kiss her and the next you are friend-zoning her? Now, you are my friend and all, but let me be the first and most definitely not the last to tell you that you are being cruel to her. And an ass. A complete, stupid ass. If I knew some damn good Hindi curse words, I'd be using them on you right now."
He keeps tapping her wrist to get her to release him, "Ow, ow, ow. Damn it. Sanya. Let me go! You were not violent at all. Why are you doing this to me?"
Rolling her eyes, she lets his ear go but adds a swat to his shoulder. "I am hurting you? No, you are doing a good enough job of it yourself. Seriously, Girish, what is going on? From all our texts this summer, I really thought you were going to ask her out when she got back."
Stealing glance away from her, he admits in a quiet mumble, "I wanted to."
"Then?" She questions, failing to understand him - and honestly, I am right next to her on the matter. His actions are weird off late. Something is going on that he isn't letting on.
When he doesn't answer, I walk up to them and take Girish in a neck-hold. "Bro, you better speak up. We can't help you if you don't tell us what the problem is."
"It's not just one thing," he replies vaguely. "Anyway, let's not spoil the party mood." He picks up a cup, "Drinks?"
"Is it spiked?" I ask.
"What do you think?"
Letting out a scoff, I accept the glass. Before it reaches my mouth, however, Sanya takes it from my hand. "Hey!" I scold. "Rude."
"You're driving, remember?" she casually says tipping the glass to take a sip. I figure she must not be on her medications, which is a mildly surprising discovery since I had thought she might have taken one today with it being the first day of school.
But the fact that she hasn't must mean incredible progress.
*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*
Given it is a school night, the party wraps up before midnight else it would have carried on in wee hours of the night. Trisha suggests Kriana should just stay the night at her place and we approved. As much as her parents may be cool with occasional drinking, we decide it is best not to test them this early in the school year.
As I park the bike in the driveway and she mounts off, she asks, "Are you sure it's okay for me to stay over?"
Taking out the keys from ignition, I point out, "How many times have I stayed over at yours?"
She counters with a cute frown, "Yeah, but that's different."
I take her hand and nudge her to walk towards the front doors, "Just come, San." Obviously, my parents aren't going to say no to her staying over or insist that I drive half hour to drop her home and then another half to come back. They would much rather we spend that hour sleeping so we aren't yawning through classes tomorrow.
Unlocking the door and walking into the mud room, she pauses to take off her heels. My hand leave hers as she unstraps the buckles around her ankle and giving her a moment, I walk on inside to find where my parents were. Even if it is a little past 10, it's too early for them to turn in for the night.
Following the sounds of the TV, I find them in the living room cuddled up on the couch munching on snacks and watching a movie. Before I can greet, mom announces, "You're ten minutes late." They must have heard the front door opening.
I walk around the couch and drop myself next to her. "I don't have a curfew, mom."
She lifts her head off dad's chest to berate, "So? Just because I don't give you an official one doesn't mean you shouldn't be responsible and apply one to yourself."
"Sanya's here," I mention dismissing her mindless comments which are attempting to imply that I am a careless person when we all know I am not.
She sits up at once worrying over her overly simple pajama's, "What? Where? Why didn't you warn me? I'm..."
Dad and I both chuckle as we take each of her hand and pull her back to sit instead of being frantic, "Chill, basket." He says to her, "It's not the first time he's bringing over his girlfriend, you know?"
She slouches back with a frown realizing it is true. By now, Sanya walks into the living room. I jump up to sit on the arm of the couch and take her hand to bring her around and have her sit in my previously occupied space.
Dad greets her flashing his bright smile, "Hey San, how was your night?"
She smiles back, "Pretty good, yours?"
He pulls mom to his chest draping an arm around the front of her shoulders holding her in a lock, "Can't complain."
Mom screeches at the restraint and slaps his wrist to get him to release her while we smile at their antics. Dad laughs kissing her temple before letting her go. She hits him once more for effect before pushing away and standing up and holding out her hand for Sanya to take. "Come, I'll get you something to change into."
See. I didn't even have to ask or tell them.
I let myself fall back on the couch and the two of us continue watching the movie. It is short-lived, however, since mom yells out from top of the stairs, "Armaan, pause the movie! You are not continuing without me. And Ri, go change. I want you in bed in five."
She knows exactly how long it'll take for me to change - which is barely a minute. She just offers grace time knowing I'll be lazy in getting up from the couch until the last minute.
Dad yells back, "Yes, boss!" and reaches for the remote to pause the movie.
I roll my eyes at him, "You don't have to listen to everything she says, ya know?"
He raises a brow in a mocking manner. "Do you know how to say no to Sanya?" Point made. He still continues, "Exactly. What makes you think a lifetime with your mom has taught me to say no to her?"
I guess, like father like son.
He gets up with the snack bowls to return them into the kitchen assuming they wouldn't finish the rest of the movie tonight. I pull my feet up on the couch now that I have it to myself and lie down - getting comfortable. I really shouldn't have, but like I said. Lazy. I take my time and when it feels like it might have been five minutes, I drag out a sigh and get up.
While walking up the stairs, I shrug off my jacket and then pull the shirt over my head just as I reach my room.
*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*
The next morning, I jog down the stairs with my socks in one hand and tie in another, my backpack hanging off my shoulders. Just before I had gone to bed last night, mom had come in to inform that she had called Lavanya and that Sam would drop off Sanya's clothes and backpack in the morning so we didn't have to wake up early to stop by her house which is in the opposite direction to school.
Entering the kitchen, Sanya is seated at the kitchen bar having her breakfast while dad is turning French toasts on the stove and mom is pouring a cup of coffee for herself dressed for her shift at the hospital. I drop my socks and backpack on the floor and when I pass mom, I put my tie over her shoulder. "Mom, tie." Moving past her, I pull out the milk gallon from the fridge followed by a cup from the drawers. "I hate milk," I grumble as I do every morning.
I complain about it but I still drink it. No one comments, having given up on it. They tell me to switch to something else, but I don't. Why? Don't ask. I don't really have an answer. It's too early in the morning to be thinking of anything anyway.
Dad turns off the stove, puts the French toasts on the plate which was already half full of scrambled eggs and hands it to me. Taking it, I pull the chair next to Sanya and sit. He informs, "Ten minutes," and walks out to go back to his room where he'll quickly shower before coming back to take us to school.
By now, mom's fixed my tie and she hands that over too, "Here." Putting down my fork, I take it and hang it over my neck, deciding to tighten it later.
"Rihaan." I look to my right at Sanya when she calls me. She looks at me amused as if she's been following my moves around the kitchen since I entered. "A good morning would be nice, you know?"
"Right," I reply. "Still half asleep." Turning to mom, I cheekily say, "Good morning, mom." Sanya gapes, and I know why. Chuckling, I turn to her with a wink, "To you too."
Mom walks around to stand beside Sanya, "Ignore him. You'll come over after school, right? We'll all be here getting things ready for tomorrow."
She nods, "Yes, mom told me."
Wait. What is today's date? Shit, tomorrow is my parent's 20th anniversary. I thought I had more time to prepare.
*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*
As we walk down the hallway on school ground, I decide to bring up yesterday's incident with Faisal. "So, someone might have bet on us again."
She turns her head to meet my eyes, "Who?"
"Don't be mad?" I plead not knowing how to tell her that I was instigated.
Remaining calm, she asks, "What's the bet?" and it's tough to tell how she will react.
"That I kiss you in front of the entire school." I analyze the change in her eyes to decide whether or not she is mad. They pull together in a questioning manner and I offer the answer in one word, "Faisal."
"Ah," realization crosses her brain. "Why do you let him touch your ego?" She questions as we pause outside the classroom to finish the conversation given we have five minutes before class starts.
I pout as I counter, standing in front of her while she leans back against the wall. "I don't have an ego."
She gently points out, "Yes, baby. When it comes to me, you do."
I exhale, making a face. Maybe I didn't want to admit it before. "Okay, yes. But I am allowed to be protective of you. I just don't like it when he keeps pushing me about you. Now I didn't really say anything when he dared me and Girish pulled me out of the situation, but I just wanted you to know." After a pause, I ask, "Are you mad at me?"
I am so sure that she will say she is upset, but she eases my concern with a quick reply. "Oh, no. A silly dare isn't going to warrant me getting mad at you."
I challenge the word, "Silly?" knowing her thoughts about the topic.
Her hand reaches forward to touch my tie, "Isn't it?" she looks up with a certain spark in her eye.
I cautiously remind, "You did hear the part about 'in front of the entire school', right?"
She waves it off dropping her hand to her side, "Yeah, I heard. Now, tell me. Was the dare that you kiss me?"
"Uh, I think so but does it matter?" I reply with uncertainty about what the exact words Faisal had used though I figure it doesn't make a difference.
She nods, pushing off the wall to stand on her own feet, "Cool, but you owe me big time."
When she starts to walk towards the class, I grab her hand to stop her, "Wait, what? Are you serious? We don't need to when you aren't comfortable with that. Faisal can stuff it for all I care."
She turns her wrist in a way where she is now holding my hand instead. Calm as ever, she smiles up at me with her other hand coming to my shoulder. "Maybe you won't care, but what kind of a girlfriend will I be if you lose a dare because of me?"
"Sanya..." I say her name defeated because I really don't want her to push her comfort - least of all for a dare.
She squeezes my hand to assure me just as the two-minute warning bell rings. With a defeated sigh, I follow her inside the classroom.
*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*
| Author Note |
QOTC: should we do something about Faisal? ;)
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