We Can Only Pretend for so Long

“Kyle, are you ready yet?”
“Yeah, hold on.”
I gave myself a once over in the full length mirror.
Layered black skirt flowing to the mid of my calves, bright green tank top, wavy brown hair cascading slightly past my shoulders, my fringe covering my right eye as always, and my cross laying loosely on my neck.
“Kyle come on.”
“I’m coming.”
Did I forget to mention I’m a girl?
Yeah, that’s pretty important.
So if I’m a girl, why is my best friend calling me Kyle? That would be my mother’s fault. She gave me that name before she left, mumbling something about wanting another boy, not a useless girl.
I don’t know, she’s gone now. Probably in Hawaii with her new perfect family.
“Kyle, if you don’t get out here in two seconds I’m leaving you.”
Flinging my door open I stepped into the hallway.
“Chill, I’m here.”
“Yeah yeah.”
I scanned her wardrobe quickly. Her blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail, t-shirt with a mighty low cut, showing off her twins, and a short skirt.
“Look at you hooch, who are you trying to snag?” I pretended to think then gasped. “Would you be trying to seduce my innocent older brother?”
“Shut up Kyle.” She giggled.
“Bri, I swear, you don’t need to dress like that to get my brother. Ry!” I yelled, pounding on his door.
“What Ky?” He snapped opening his door, shirtless of course.
“One, put on a shirt, you’re making my friend swoon,” I stated covering her eyes. “Two, are you going to the party with us or not?”
“Yeah, hold on.” Did I just see my brother blush, because of Bri? Yes!
Older brother, Ryan, description, tall (6’-2”), brown shaggy hair, green eyes, my look alike, built from years of football, and one year older (18). Both of us seniors.
He was supposed to graduate last year, but he got held back. Not because he’s stupid, far from it. He’s an effin’ genius, but he got in a fight last year, and our school being strict as hell, kicked him out and made him retake the year.
“Let’s go.”
“No, wait, I can’t take this anymore, Bri, come with me.”
“What? Why?”
“Brianna, come on.” I snapped.
She quickly followed me to my room.
“Put this on.”
Bri caught the clothes before they whacked her in the face. “Why?”
“Trust me, that outfit is way more sexy then what you’re wearing, actually what you’re wearing is just trashy.”
“Fine.” She huffed.
I turned so she could change. “Okay, we can go.” I said as we stepped into the hallway.
Ryan gawked at Bri as she followed.
Letting out a sigh I pulled both of them along to his car.
“Drive lover boy.”
He shot me a glare before driving us to Shaughn’s.
“I told you you’d be way hotter in that.” I whispered as we walked through the front door without knocking.
We descended the stairs to the basement.
“Kyle!” I squealed as a pair of strong arms enveloped me in a hug, twirling me. “I’ve missed you so much.”
That voice is so familiar.
Finally I was set down. “Nick!?” I yelled before throwing myself at him, attacking him with another hug.
The muscular red head chuckled. “It’s been a long time.”
“Too long.” I smiled. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been good. You still in a war with Jacob?”
I didn’t get a chance to answer.
Why? Because the devil himself showed, lifting my skirt over my head.
Quickly I pulled it back down, thankful that I wore shorts underneath. “Jacob! I am going to kill you!” I screeched, walking towards the monstrosity.
“Pelter, leave my sister alone.”
“Aw, but it’s just so fun.”
“You know what else will be fun? Me kicking your ass.”
Did I mention that Jacob is the one Ry fought last year?
Well, he was.
He didn’t get held back though, supposedly he wasn’t the cause of the fight. Psh, whatever.
I plopped down on one of the bean bag chairs and everybody followed.
“Why are we sitting in a circle? And why is there a bottle?”
“Oo, are we playing spin the bottle?”
“You would be excited about that Monny.”
“Shut up Josh.”
“Okay, no we’re not playing spin the bottle, we’re playing truth or dare, just a little different than normal.” Shaughn called, glancing at all of us.
Our group wasn’t that big, so it didn’t take him that long.
Without further explanation Shaughn spun the bottle.
We waited patiently as it spun, finally landing on Bri.
“Truth or dare?” Shaughn asked with his smooth deep voice.
“Truth.”
“Do you like Ry?” I asked.
See, in our version, anyone can ask the questions or give the dare.
“Yes.” She whispered, blushing deeply.
I leaned forward and spun the bottle, excited to see it land on Ryan. “Truth or dare big bro?”
“Truth.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Would you ever go out with Bri?” A familiar voice asked from my right.
“Nice.” I whispered to Nick.
My heart did a little dance as he smiled.
“Um-uh-u-”
“Answer the question.” I said impatiently.
“Yeah.”
Bri’s face shined once she heard this.
The game went on forever, and I couldn’t find a comfortable position, that is, until something sturdy met my back.
“Oh come on, this is like the fourth time it’s landed on me.” I was quite startled to hear the voice so close.
Twisting my head slightly I finally realized what the sturdy structure behind me was, Nick.
“Just truth or dare?”
“Fine, dare.”
“I dare you to kiss,” please say me, please say me. “Monny.”
Jerk!
“No, I’m not kissing anybody.”
“Then suffer the consequences.”
Oh the consequences. Whenever you chicken out of a dare, there’s always a consequence.
“And what will that be?”
“To strip down buck naked and run down the street.”
“Fine, I’ll do it.”
He’s getting naked!? Cover your virgin eyes!
“Monny, close your eyes.” Oh.
Jealousy rippled through my stomach as he moved closer.
I mean, I’ve liked this guy since second grade, and she’s known him what, five minutes?
He leaned in closer until he finally kissed her, on the cheek.
Suddenly my back rest returned.
“Hey, that doesn’t count.” Josh whined.
“You said give her a kiss, you never specified where.”
I smirked to myself, until the bottle spun and landed on me.
“Truth or dare Kyle?” Shaughn asked, his eyes momentarily flashed to Nick.
“Dare.”
“I dare you to,” Yes! “go in the closet,” Yes! “with Jacob.” Ye-what!?
“What!?”
“For seven minutes.” Josh added.
“No.” Jacob stated.
“And you have to kiss at least once.”
“No.” Me this time.
“When we open the door, we have to be able to see it.”
“No.”
“What are the consequences?”
“Hm.” Shaughn tapped his chin. “If you don’t kiss Jacob or vice versa, you two have to live together, for a month.”
“No bickering, no taunts, no threats, and no tricks.” Josh again.
“You’ll have to sleep in the same bed.”
“Bri!” I yelled at my ‘best friend’.
“You’re not doing that to my sister.”
Thank you Ry, I love you!
“Okay, let’s vote then, all against the dare raise your hand.”
Instantly Jacob and I raised our hands, along with Ry, and Nick.
“You two don’t get to vote.” Josh stated towards Jacob and I.
“Why the hell not?” We yelled in unison.
“Okay, votes in, looks like you two are going in the closet, unless you would rather, suffer the consequences.” Chase commented before Shaughn.
“Son of a bitch!” I stood from the bean bag chair and stormed to the closet, Jacob close behind.
“Have fun.” Monny cooed before shutting the door.
Stupid dare, what kind of shit is this?
I’m not kissing him.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s not ugly, far from it actually. If we weren’t enemies, I’d probably really like him, as much as I hate to say it.
Shaggy blonde hair that always falls into his bright blues eyes, usually having to flip it out with a sexy jerk of his head, the muscle of a football player, the ones toned, but not too toned, and that smile, that he never directs my way, could make any girl swoon.
But that doesn’t matter, what matters is he’s my enemy, and I am so never gong to kiss him.
This game is stupid, why force someone to kiss?
See, it’s not that this is my first kiss, no, I’ve had boyfriends, believe me, this isn’t my first kiss, but I don’t want to kiss him.
“Do they know they’re forcing their precious angel to give her first kiss to her enemy?”
Son of a bitch, how’d he know that!?
“How do you know that?”
“I have my ways.”
“Well it doesn’t matter anyways, cuz I’m not kissing you. Gah! This is all your fault.”
“How is this my fault?”
“If you weren’t here this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Oh right, if I wasn’t (weren’t?) here you’d be in here with your little boyfriend sucking face right?”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Whatever.”
We stood in silence for a moment.
“I wish my brother would kick your ass again.”
“Again? He didn’t the first time.”
“Oh please, I could kick your ass.”
He laughed at this. “I’d like to see you try.”
“I can! And I will!”
“Then do it Kyle.” He sneered.
I hated it when he called me Kyle, it meant he was serious, it meant he was being overly confident.
My right hand soared toward his face, but he caught it.
Damn it all! I forgot how fast he was!
Not taking anymore time I sent my left hand to attack his jaw, only to have him catch that one as well.
“I thought you were going to kick my ass Kyle.”
I squirmed in his grip. He leaned a little closer to whisper something, but the door flew open, stopping both of us.
“Times up!” We stared at Shaughn as he stood in the doorway.
“Let go of me jackass.” I growled, stomping on his foot.
Immediately he let go, grumbling about the pain as he followed me out.
“Okay Ky, Jacob, I hope you’re ready to suffer the consequences.” Josh said as we stood before them.
“Can’t you shorten the sentence? Like just for the weekend or something? Please?” I begged.
“Nope, sorry.”
“Shaughn, a weekend is long enough.” Ry said sternly.
“Okay, okay. For this weekend only, you two will live together.”
“Share a bed.”
“And you cannot, for any reason, leave until we come to get you.” Chase added before Shaughn could end our game.
“And thus, ends our thrilling game of truth or dare. You may now leave.”
Jacob and I silently tried to escape.
“Ah ah ah, you two get back here.”
“Fuck.” Jacob grumbled.
“I’ve got the perfect place for you two to stay. Just a summer house my family owns. Though you will have to entertain yourselves, there’s no computer, phone, or TV. Just a house.” He explained as he shoved us in the car.
“This is dumb.” I mumbled.
The ride to my house seemed way too short.
“I’m going to give you each five minutes to pack some clothes, we wanna get you there before eight, now hurry Ky.”
I stormed from the car and ran into the house and up to my room.
Everything I thought I would need went into the bag.
Bras, boy cuts, shorts, tanks, t-shirts, pants, jamas, shampoo, brush, and most importantly, kinda, my cell phone/mp3.
Now I could live without my cell, but my mp3, that’s my life, and since they’re 2 in 1, I need my cell.
A honk came from outside and I panicked, cowering in the corner.
“Come on Kyle, you gotta go.” Ryan said as he entered my room.
“I don’t want to.”
“Can I see your bag?”
I handed it to him cautiously, not knowing what to expect.
And let me tell you, I was not expecting him to drag me to the car.
“Traitor!” I yelled as he closed the door.
“Love you too.” He said with a wave.
And then we drove off, leaving my house behind, and the city for that matter.
“Don’t we have to get Jacob’s stuff?”
“I already got it, ran home.”
Oh yeah, Jacob lives on the same block as me.
The ride to the middle of nowhere took about an hour, an excruciatingly long hour.
When we finally made it, I was in awe.
The place is beyond beautiful, trees galore, lake out back, but, no neighbors.
“Alright kids, this is the last stop, have a great weekend and remember, try not to get any blood on the carpet.”
We opened our doors, ready to step out. “Oh! And one more thing, I’m gonna need your cell phones.”
“Why?”
“No contact to the outside world.”
I sighed and handed him my cell phone, watching as Jacob dug in his pocket.
“Here.” He grunted before slamming it into his hand.
“Be good.” Shaughn sang before racing away.
“Bastard.”
I turned my back towards his disappearing car and looked at the empty house.
“Well don’t just stand there, let’s go.”
“Asshole.” I grumble before following him to the house.
“Who the hell leaves their house open when they’re not home?”
“Apparently someone who doesn’t care about getting robbed.” I suggested as I turned on a light.
Yeah, this is a house alright, with nothing but furniture and cook ware.
Wandering through the house I noticed something. Every door was locked, except the master bedroom and the adjoining bathroom. It’s like they had planned this ahead of time. “This is crap!”
“What?” Jacob asked, appearing behind me.
“This is the only room not locked.”
“So?”
“So this is the only bed in the house right now.”