We Can Only Pretend for So Long

“Are you ready for the game?” I shivered violently as the wind blew.
“I guess.”
“I think I’m gonna make a dare for you tonight.”
“And what would that be?” Bri asked curiously.
“If you choose it, I’m gonna dare you to kiss my dear brother.”
The dare brought a twinkle to her eye.
“Really?”
“Yeah, unless of course you don’t want me to.”
“No!” Cheeks a bright red she looked away. “I mean, do it if you want to, I don’t care.”
“Uh-huh, sure. Now let’s hurry up to your car, it’s effin’ freezing!”
“How are you cold? You’re wearing three shirts, plus Jacob’s sweater.”
“Just unlock the doors.” I slid into the passenger seat and screamed. “This isn’t any better!”
“I haven’t even started it yet, stop whining.”
A honk to my right made me jump out of my skin.
“What!?”
“Roll down your window.” Bri ordered.
“You wanna stop telling me what to do now?” I snapped.
“Are you guys leaving any time soon?”
“Yes Jacob, now go.” I rolled the window back up before he could say anything else.
“Did Jacob do something wrong last night? From what I heard he did everything right.”
“Can we just go to my house now please?”
Without another word, we were off.
“You guys took forever!”
“Shut up Josh.”
“Make me.”
“Josh, stop taunting my girlfriend.” My stomach did a little flip when I heard his voice so close.
“Alright alright, sorry.”
“But I can’t kick his ass without him provoking me.”
“Well go ahead, no one’s gonna stop you.”
“Sweet!”
A smile formed on my face as I made my way to Josh, who held up his hands in what he thought was a protective stance.
Too bad that’s not where I was gonna hit him.
I brought my foot back, ready to hit him where it hurts, “Kyle don’t!”
“Why not?” I whined.
“Don’t. Trust me, no guy deserves that, not even Josh.” My brother said, pushing me back slightly.
“Can we hurry up and start the game, inside?” Bri whined.
Without a moments hesitation we all scurried inside, sighing in the wonderful heat.
“Someone grab a bottle.” Ryan ordered, leading everyone else to the den.
“Don’t pick dare.”
I jumped as his voice sounded behind me, I thought everyone was in the living room. “I know that. Now drink this.”
Turning, I thrust the bottle of cola into his chest.
With a bored expression he chugged the pop before giving it back to me. “Thank you.”
Not waiting for a reply I made my descent to the den, Jacob hot on my heels.
The whole lot stared as we entered, especially Nick.
I opened my mouth to speak.
“You guys got a staring problem or what?”
Damn you Jacob, always beating me to the punch.
My wonderfully great big brother cleared his throat.
“So, let’s start.”
The game seemed to blend together, great jokes and laughs, Monny falling on her face, overall, a great time, that’s still not over.
Oh, it’s my turn.
“Truth or dare Ky?”
“Dare.”
Oh son of a monkey.
I squeezed my eyes shut and slapped my head into my hand.
“I dare you to kiss Jacob,”
“on the lips.”
My head shot up and my panicked eyes met Jacob’s.
“She can’t.”
“Why?”
“She doesn’t like PDA, she’ll freak out.”
“You have to do it.”
“No.”
Jacob? This is the perfect opportunity for you to steal my first kiss.
“Then suffer the consequences.” Jacob shrugged.
“Both of you-”
“Both!?” My ‘boyfriend’ and I yelled in unison.
“It was my dare, not hers.” Actually, it was mine.
“But she’s part of it, so BOTH of you must walk to your house and back.” Has everyone forgotten it’s my dare?
“In a t-shirt and shorts.”
Crap, I’m gonna get sick. “Can we take a blanket?”
“No.”
Damn it.
“Go change.”
Jacob and I left quickly, ascending the stairs.
“Thank you.” I whispered once we were in my room.
“Why are you thanking me? Now you’re gonna get sick.”
“But you didn’t kiss me.”
Not once did I look at him, I busied myself with rummaging through my dresser.
Hm, what is Jacob gonna wear?
“Um, I’m pretty sure Ryan has some shorts that will fit you, you can go look.”
He snorted. “Yeah right, and give him another reason to kick my ass, no thanks, besides, I’ve already got shorts on.”
My eyebrow raised and I turned to look at him.
Oh, it’s that type of pants, the ones that can unzip into shorts, right.
“Well, I’m gonna change.”
As fast as was possible I changed into my shorts (in the bathroom.).
“Ready?”
“Yeah.”
Ugh, I’m already feeling that cold taking over my body.
“Okay, so you guys have to walk to your house and back, that’s it.”
Yeah, that’s it because you’re not the one about to get sick.
“We’ll be waiting outside.”
“Hey! Don’t push!” I squealed, trying to jam my heels into the ground.
Ah!
Oh, that wasn’t in my head, that was out loud as well.
See what happened was I dug my feet into the ground, just as we made it to the two little steps.
Lucky for me, and my knees, my hero came to my rescue and caught me.
“What the hell Monny.”
The voice vibrated against my cheek.
My hero is Jacob? How ironic, usually he’s the reason for me falling.
“Blah blah blah, go, it’s cold out here.”
I mumbled a few incoherent words before storming off.
Stupid game, stupid weather, stupid dare, stupid Monny. Why am I friends with her?
“Hey, slow down.”
It didn’t take Jacob long before he was at my side.
My intense glare met his face. “It’s. cold.” I growled through clenched teeth.
“I told you not to pick dare.”
Stupid prick.
“Come again?”
Oops, must have said that out loud.
“Nothing.”
Silence seemed to engulf the earth.
And then, it was like a chorus of angels were singing.
“Your house.”
“Hey, no running, we don’t know the consequences for that.”
Okay, you can do this Kyle, just relax, don’t think about the weather.
The wind decided at that moment to taunt me.
“When we get inside, we have to get some throws or something.”
“But they said no blankets.”
“Correction, they said not to take any blankets, they never said we couldn’t bring any back.”
“Kylie, I like the way you think.”
Heat rushed over me as we stepped inside.
I never thought I would be so happy to be in Jacob’s house.
“Hey kids, isn’t it a little cold out there to be wearing shorts?”
A sinking sensation hit my stomach as we entered the kitchen.
Jacob turned me suddenly. “Kylie,” He whispered in my ear. “I would advise you to cross your arms.”
“Why?”
“Let’s just say you can tell how cold it truly is outside.”
I glanced down for a brief second.
Oh!
Instinctively I crossed my arms and turned back around. “It’s not that bad.”
Jacob’s silent laughter behind me seemed to be a great distraction, and I was able to run to the other room and grab two throws.
“-her Jacob.”
“You-”
“Hey guys. Um, it was nice seeing you again Mr. Pelter, but I’m afraid we have to go.” This time around I was sure to keep the blankets in front of my bumpers, blocking everybody’s view.
“Great seeing you again Kyle.”
“You too, bye.”
Quickly I dragged Jacob outside and threw a blanket at him.
“Thanks.”
Without a word I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and began to walk, once again Jacob hot on my heels, literally.
I could feel the heat emanating from his body.
Why is he so warm when I’m freezing?
My feet ceased to move and Jacob ran into me.
“Kyle, what are you doing?”
I didn’t speak a word as I reached behind me and grabbed his arms, encircling them around my waist. His whole body went tense. “Don’t think anything of it, I’m just extremely cold.”
Again I began to walk, a lot more comfortable, especially when Jacob relaxed.
I hugged his arms, savoring all the warmth I could.
He pulled me closer and rest his chin on my shoulder.
As much as I hate to admit, it gave me butterflies.
“Awwwww!!!! You guys are the cutest couple ever!” Bri screeched as we came closer.
My cheeks burned.
Jacob chuckled and kissed the side of my face.
Oh god, my cheeks will never be the same.
“I thought she didn’t like PDA!?” Josh whined.
“Why do you wanna see us kiss perv?” I shot, cheeks still blazing.
“Kyle, hurry up and get inside before you get sick.”
Jacob unwound his arms from my waist and pushed me gently to the door.
A sneeze erupted as soon as he let go.
Crap.
“You’re sick already.”
“It’s okay, it’s only a cold.” No! My nose is running! “I have to go blow my nose.”
“Okay, party over, leave, everyone.”
Ryan followed me around the house, he even watched as I blew my nose.
“What Ryan?”
“Are you gonna be okay?”
“Yeah, just need to sleep it off.”
So sleep I did.
“Kyle, wake up.”
A moan escaped my throat as I tried to open my eyes. “Ryan, I think I’m sick.”
My voice came out croaked, and a searing pain shot through my throat.
“Only you would get sick from walking in the cold. Do you need anything?”
“More blankets, I’m cold.”
“I thought you were supposed to get hot when you get the flu.”
“Well I get cold, you know that.”
“Is there anything else you want?”
What else would a normal girl want?
I sniffed. “Some tissue, and Jacob.”
“Jacob?”
“Yes, Jacob.”
“Bless you.”
“Huh? Achoo!” He can tell when I’m about to sneeze?
Loser.
“You call him then.”
“Fine, can you get me my phone?”
Ryan let out a dramatic sigh and walked over to my nightstand. “Here.”
“Thank you.”
Don’t cough, don’t cough. Dang it. “I’ll get you some cough drops.”
J, Jacob.
Three rings, three long rings later Jacob finally answered, though groggily. “Hello?”
“Jacob?”
“Kylie? What’s wrong?” I could hear him moving as he tried to wake.
“Can you come over?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, can you come over though?”
“Yeah, just let me get ready.”
“Thank you.”
Ryan returned five minutes later with everything I asked for, except Jacob.
“Here you go, now I have to go to school, will you be alright by yourself or do you want me to stay?”
“I’ll be fine, just go.”
So he did, as fast as he possibly could.
“Kylie? Why is Ryan speeding away?”
“I told him that he could go to school, and he wanted to get away before I changed my mind I guess.”
Silence lingered for what seemed like forever. “Shouldn’t you be heading to school?”
“No.”
“No?”
“I’m gonna stay here.”
“But-”
“You need someone to take care of you.”
If at all possible my cheeks turned a slight pink.
Jacob stepped closer until he was right before me, his warmth radiating from his skin.
“You should really go to school.”
“Nah.” He climbed into bed with me, on top of the blankets.
“You’ll get in trouble for skipping.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Goosebumps coated my skin. “Are you cold?”
“Slightly.”
I looked sideways as Jacob set himself in a half sitting half laying position.
Oh what the hell, if he finds this weird, I can just blame it on being delusional from the sickness.
Turning on my side I wrap my arms around his torso and lay my head on his chest.
Warmth.
“Comfortable?”
“Yeah.” I mumbled, already falling asleep.
The last thing I remember before darkness over took my senses was Jacob wrapping his arms around me, pulling me closer.