{"id":139,"date":"2013-02-19T04:31:22","date_gmt":"2013-02-19T04:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/?page_id=139"},"modified":"2013-07-31T07:37:34","modified_gmt":"2013-07-31T07:37:34","slug":"139-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/?page_id=139","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"
\"dare<\/a><\/h6>\n
Cover art by Madison Parker<\/a><\/h6>\n

Originally published on GayAuthors.org<\/a> as part of their Summer 2011 Anthology, Walk on the Wild Side<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, Mark.\u00a0 I dare ya.\u00a0 I triple dog dare ya.\u201d<\/p>\n

The triple dog <\/em>Derrick threw in was totally unnecessary.\u00a0 I\u2019d already agreed to be the test subject, and it\u2019s not like I wanted to be humiliated for chickening out in front of all my friends.<\/p>\n

I searched the expressions of the gathered crowd, growing more confident by the second.\u00a0 The excitement, the enthusiasm . . . hell, even the fear in Sean\u2019s eyes gave me an adrenaline rush.\u00a0 I offered him one of my trademark smirks, then reached out and took hold of the rope.<\/p>\n

It seemed secure enough.\u00a0\u00a0 We\u2019d just tied it up ourselves, to the best of our twelve-year-old abilities.\u00a0 The real worry was whether we\u2019d chosen a sturdy enough branch.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t the thickest, but it was the only one we could use without a ladder and a longer rope.<\/p>\n

I really hoped I wouldn\u2019t break a bone or something, because the vacation had only just started.\u00a0 It would have been a shame to waste it.<\/p>\n

I backed up before launching into a run.\u00a0 When my toes touched the rocky edge, I sprang forward, clutching onto the rope for all I was worth.\u00a0 It arced beautifully over the lake and I let go just in time to plummet straight into the middle of the murky waters.<\/p>\n

For a moment, I couldn\u2019t tell up from down.\u00a0 I flailed around, shaking my arms and legs violently in the instinctual urge to break free of the darkness, and fast<\/em>.\u00a0 But the bubbles settled after a few seconds, and once I calmed I could make out the lighter brown water that indicated the sunlight above me.<\/p>\n

I broke the surface to triumphant cries.\u00a0 \u201cYeah Mark!\u201d\u00a0 \u201cWhoo!\u201d\u00a0 \u201cYeah, all right!\u201d<\/p>\n

Pumping my hands up and down a few times, I settled into an easy tread, then began goading the rest of them to follow.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go, ya bunch of cowards!\u201d<\/p>\n

A couple other boys followed in my now-famed footsteps, but none quite as gracefully.\u00a0 They held on to the rope too long, waiting until it swung back before dropping.\u00a0 The rest scurried down the hill and entered from the shore.<\/p>\n

Sean was one of the chickens, as I\u2019d known he would be.\u00a0 He was lucky he happened to be bigger and older-looking than the rest of us, or he\u2019d have been out of our group for being such a wuss for sure.<\/p>\n

But as soon as we were all in the water, it didn\u2019t matter how we\u2019d gotten there.\u00a0 Sean swam up to me and pushed me under.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you see that?\u201d I asked after breaking free, still grinning from my success.\u00a0 \u201cPretty awesome, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean laughed and dunked me again.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I saw it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of the other guys seemed more impressed, and Phil wanted to know if I\u2019d been scared, or if I\u2019d thought I might drown.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah,\u201d I told him.\u00a0 \u201cI wasn\u2019t scared at all.\u00a0 Next time you guys think up a dare, let me know.\u00a0 I can handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n

We play-wrestled in the lake until the frogs started croaking, enjoying the long, carefree days of summer.<\/p>\n

*********************************************************************************************<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m telling you, the house is empty,\u201d Derrick reassured us.\u00a0 \u201cThat old cat lady died last month, and no one\u2019s been here since.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean scratched his head. \u201cWhat if she left the house to her family or something?\u00a0 They could be in there now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Derrick rolled his eyes and Phil coughed out chicken <\/em>under his breath.<\/p>\n

Raising his light golden eyebrows, Sean sneered right back at them.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t see either of you two breaking in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was right to call them out\u2014they\u2019d spent our entire eight-grade year daring me to do one thing or another while cleverly keeping the pressure off themselves.\u00a0 Sometimes I wondered why I still hung out with those losers . . . but then I remembered I loved to be the guy with all the glory.<\/p>\n

Phil shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI bet there\u2019s just a lot of dead cats in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was my cue. I pulled off my jacket and tossed it at Sean.\u00a0 \u201cAll right, ladies.\u00a0 Let the professional handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three cowards waited behind a tree while\u00a0I approached the rickety porch.\u00a0 One of the windows was already cracked open, and I squirmed my fingers under it and gave it a good shake.\u00a0 It rattled a little, then slid right up.<\/p>\n

With a wave towards my adoring fans, I climbed into the living room.<\/p>\n

Plastic sheets covered some pieces of furniture, and there was a lot of trash on the floor, but other than that the place was empty.\u00a0 I turned back around to give the guys a thumbs up, and within a few seconds they followed.<\/p>\n

\u201cShit, this place smells,\u201d Derrick announced.<\/p>\n

It really did.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t have been surprised if there was<\/em> a decaying cat body somewhere in there.<\/p>\n

We checked all the cabinets, hoping for some liquor or something, but didn\u2019t find a thing.\u00a0 The place was pretty well picked-through, and we were just about to leave for more exciting evening fare when Phil called out to us from the second floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cShit, I think we can climb onto the roof from here!\u201d<\/p>\n

We all scrambled up and found him leaning out the bathroom window.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe roof? \u00a0Awesome.\u201d\u00a0 Derrick gave Phil a high-five for his discovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think it\u2019ll hold us?\u201d Sean asked.\u00a0 \u201cIt didn\u2019t look so great from the outside . . . and I think I saw a crack in the ceiling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeriously?\u201d Phil elbowed him.\u00a0 \u201cYou are like the biggest wuss.\u00a0 Maybe it won\u2019t hold your big butt, but the rest of us should be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean did not have a big butt.\u00a0 He was just taller than us, and probably more muscular.\u00a0 I\u2019m pretty sure Phil was jealous.<\/p>\n

\u201cMark, go test it out,\u201d Derrick said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you always make Mark to do everything for you?\u201d Sean exclaimed, throwing up his hands.<\/p>\n

I, of course, was already two steps ahead, planning to make myself master of the roof.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dare ya to do it,\u201d Phil went on, ignoring Sean.<\/p>\n

With a smile and a nod I accepted, pulling my upper body out the window and grabbing onto the gutter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait, Mark,\u201d Sean pleaded.\u00a0 I caught his worried hazel eyes with mine.\u00a0 \u201cBe careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful,\u201d Derrick and Phil repeated, only they used squeaky-high voices and broke into snickers.\u00a0 \u201cGranny says be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

I personally thought they were lucky Sean never turned on them, \u2018cause he could have whooped their asses in a second.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rain gutter held my weight and I managed to get a leg up and crawl onto the roof.\u00a0 I stood gingerly, keeping my arms spread for balance.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far, so good,\u201d I shouted back at them.<\/p>\n

Shouting probably wasn\u2019t the best thing to have done when climbing on a roof late at night.\u00a0 Even though the house next door wasn\u2019t all that close, the neighbor must\u2019ve heard me, \u2018cause the next thing I knew someone was yelling.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet down from there before I call the cops!\u201d<\/p>\n

I instantly crouched to hide myself from view, and my foot slipped on the uneven ground.\u00a0 I grabbed onto anything and everything as I fell\u2014loose shingles, the rain gutter, and an awning, then crashed into one of the cat lady\u2019s overgrown bushes.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t move, kid, I\u2019m gonna call 911!\u201d the neighbor screamed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly shit!\u201d I heard Derrick\u2019s frantic voice, and a few seconds later all three of my friends were running out the front door.\u00a0 \u201cShit, Mark, can you move?\u201d<\/p>\n

With the rush of adrenaline, I managed to stand, but my ankle was killing me.\u00a0 \u201cDamn, I think I broke something!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gotta get outta here, the cops are gonna show up!\u201d\u00a0 Panic stricken, he and Phil scrambled off into the darkness.<\/p>\n

Sean put his arm around me, letting me rest my weight on his broad shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cLean on me, Mark.\u00a0 We gotta book it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He practically carried me home, saving me from the brand of juvenile delinquent.\u00a0 Too bad he couldn\u2019t save me from my dad\u2019s lectures when we found out I really had <\/em>broken my ankle.<\/p>\n

But it all worked out for the best.\u00a0\u00a0 Once word spread that I\u2019d braved the cat lady\u2019s haunted house and <\/em>survived a fall from the roof, there wasn\u2019t enough space on my cast for all the signatures.<\/p>\n

*********************************************************************************************<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s play truth or dare,\u201d Sally said.\u00a0 She\u2019d tied two pink bows in her auburn hair, which, in my opinion, looked totally ridiculous.<\/p>\n

The new kid Billy tossed another log on our campfire.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s for girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

I kind of agreed.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t so sure about letting girls join in on our weekend hangouts, but we were high school freshman now, and it was just something we had to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot with Mark here,\u201d Phil informed him.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019ll take any dare.\u00a0 He\u2019ll make it way more fun that that stupid truth crap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019re you, his boyfriend?\u201d Billy taunted.<\/p>\n

I really did not like that kid.\u00a0 Where did he get off, upsetting our balance?\u00a0 I was the celebrity of our group, and I didn\u2019t mind the praise.<\/p>\n

Sean rolled his eyes, then stared down his straight nose at Billy like he could see right through him.\u00a0 \u201cI dare you to not say anything stupid for a whole ten minutes.\u00a0 Think ya can manage that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Billy pursed his lips and glared.<\/p>\n

Mel, the chunky brunette, giggled.\u00a0 \u201cI dare Mark to play spin the bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d need a bottle, first,\u201d Derrick reminded us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then I dare Mark to go steal us some alcohol,\u201d Billy said.\u00a0 \u201cThis town is pretty lame.\u00a0 We need something to make it more fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re so cool, why don\u2019t you bring your own?\u201d Sean countered.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u201dCause my dad keeps it locked up . . . but one of you has to have something we can get to, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

I thought for a moment.\u00a0 My parents didn\u2019t really drink much, but I was pretty sure there was a bottle of wine in a kitchen cabinet.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d\u00a0 I shrugged.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All the guys followed me to my house while the girls stayed to watch the fire.\u00a0 I made them hang back on the street, though, as I headed into my living room.<\/p>\n

My parents were downstairs watching T.V.\u00a0 I knew they’d be surprised to see me.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack so soon, Mark?\u00a0 You didn\u2019t break anything, did you?\u201d my dad asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa ha,\u201d I replied, slipping into the kitchen.<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t really a dare.\u00a0 I found the bottle, shoved it under my jacket, and was about to leave again when a thought struck me.\u00a0 Hadn\u2019t my parents made martinis for that dumb block party a week or so ago?<\/p>\n

Sure enough, I discovered two bottles\u2014gin and vodka\u2014under the kitchen sink, and they were nearly half full.\u00a0 Jackpot.\u00a0 With any luck they\u2019d be forgotten about, or I\u2019d get Derrick\u2019s sister to replace them later.<\/p>\n

But how to get them past my parents?\u00a0 One thin bottle of wine I could mask beneath my jacket, but two bottles of hard liquor was another story.<\/p>\n

Thinking quickly, I grabbed the gallon of milk from the fridge.\u00a0 It was almost empty, so I didn\u2019t feel all that guilty pouring the rest down the sink.\u00a0 Then I replaced it with the alcohol\u2014hoping it didn\u2019t matter that I was mixing two different types\u2014and wrapped the jug in one of the grocery bags my mom kept for recycling.<\/p>\n

I headed back out, waving to my parents as I went.\u00a0 \u201cSee ya later.\u201d<\/p>\n

My mom sat up and looked over at me with parental curiosity. \u00a0\u201cWhat do you have there, Mark?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMilk.\u201d\u00a0 I held up the bag so she could see the shape of the gallon container.\u00a0 \u201cFor the s\u2019mores.\u201d<\/p>\n

She settled into her recliner again.\u00a0 \u201cOh, okay.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be too late tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d I replied, even though I pretty much knew I would be.<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cUgh.\u201d Sally grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s awful!\u201d<\/p>\n

She passed the container on, wiping her mouth with her arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s supposed to taste awful,\u201d Billy said with his air of superiority.\u00a0 \u201cBut after you have enough it feels nice.\u201d\u00a0 He downed his swallow with considerably more composure.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve <\/em>had enough,\u201d she declared.\u00a0 \u201cWeren\u2019t we gonna play spin the bottle?\u00a0 Can\u2019t we just use a coke bottle?\u201d<\/p>\n

We all ignored her.<\/p>\n

Billy passed the container to Sean, who took only the smallest taste, I noticed, and then Sean handed it to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the last person.\u00a0 You gotta finish it,\u201d Billy said.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d never heard of that rule, but then again I\u2019d only ever had few sips of wine before.\u00a0 \u201cAll right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean nudged me.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t, Mark.\u00a0 That\u2019s like a quarter of a bottle.\u00a0 You\u2019ll get sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you guys said Mark takes any dare.” Billy stared at his fingernails, looking unimpressed.<\/p>\n

Well, that sealed it. I really couldn\u2019t back down from a dare.\u00a0 I gave Sean an apologetic shrug of my shoulders and did what I had to do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019m pretty sure I kissed all the girls that night, if only because I was too drunk to resist.\u00a0 Most people left at midnight, but Sean stayed behind to help me home.\u00a0 I threw up twice on the way, with Sean holding my head so I didn\u2019t collapse into my own pool of vomit.\u00a0 I can\u2019t really remember, but I think he carried me up to my bedroom, too, \u2018cause that\u2019s where I woke up the next day with the worst headache of my life.<\/p>\n

Thank god Sean left some water and aspirin right next to the bed.<\/p>\n

*********************************************************************************************<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, this one\u2019s for the big screen!\u201d Phil yelled out.\u00a0 He had his brand new camcorder\u2014a present for his fifteenth birthday\u2014perched on his shoulder and a goofy grin on his face.\u00a0 \u201cShow us whatcha got, Mark!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure your helmet is strapped on right this time,\u201d Sean added.<\/p>\n

Derrick snickered.\u00a0 \u201cRight, \u2018cause if you get another concussion, we\u2019ll never be able to record this stunt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you even know how to work that thing?\u201d Billy asked, rolling up on his own skateboard and trying to snatch the camera from Phil\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t!\u201d Phil yelled.\u00a0 \u201cMy dad\u2019ll fuckin\u2019 kill me if I break this!\u00a0 It’s like the ones the professionals use.\u201d<\/p>\n

I yawned.\u00a0 \u201cGettin\u2019 bored up here, guys.\u00a0 Are you gonna say \u2018action\u2019 or what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight, right.\u201d Phil straightened up, fiddling with a few buttons.\u00a0 \u201cAction!\u201d<\/p>\n

I licked my lips and peered at the banister, trying to gauge exactly how high I\u2019d have to jump to land on it safely and maintain some sort of balance.\u00a0 In the end, though, there was no substitute for experience, so I just slammed down my skateboard and went for it.<\/p>\n

I hit the rail just fine; it was landing part that got me.\u00a0 I veered a little too far to the right and ended up falling on my side, twisting my arm in the worst possible way.<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck!\u201d I screamed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly fuck!\u00a0 Holy fuckin\u2019 shit!\u201d Derrick yelled.\u00a0 \u201cYour fuckin\u2019 arm, Mark.\u00a0 It\u2019s backwards!\u201d<\/p>\n

I glanced over at it and confirmed Derrick\u2019s assessment\u2014my forearm was not meant to bend in that direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my god, are you getting this?\u201d Billy crowed.\u00a0 \u201cShit, that\u2019s gross!\u00a0 Get it on camera!\u201d\u00a0 He flipped out his cell phone, to take his own images for posterity, I guessed.<\/p>\n

Sean ran up to me.\u00a0 \u201cDo I need to call an ambulance?\u00a0 Are you hurt anywhere else?\u201d<\/p>\n

I tried to clear the spots of pain from my vision.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t . . . I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think you hit your head or your back, maybe you shouldn\u2019t move.\u201d<\/p>\n

I shook my head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, pretty sure it\u2019s just my arm.\u00a0 Damn.\u00a0 Fuck, it really fucking hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was crazy, Mark,\u201d Phil said, halfway lowering the camcorder.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, that looks really broken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cQuit fucking around with the camera.\u201d\u00a0 Sean helped me to my feet. \u201cDerrick, your house is closest.\u00a0 Run home and get your sister to give us a ride to the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a fuckin\u2019 maniac.\u201d Billy laughed, coming up to me and giving me a pat on the back.\u00a0 It jarred my arm and I winced.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, thanks man.\u201d<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Derrick\u2019s sister Rose took us to the hospital, with Derrick in the front seat and Sean and me in the back.\u00a0 Phil and Billy went home to look at the footage and to put in a soundtrack, they claimed.<\/p>\n

Sean kept chewing on his lip the whole way.\u00a0 I figured he was pissed to have to accompany me to the hospital for yet another broken bone, but he was cool enough to keep quiet about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess I\u2019ll be bringing you your homework next week,\u201d he remarked as we pulled up to the emergency room.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably, for a few days at least.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI wish you’d be more careful.\u00a0 Maybe next time you\u2019ll think before you leap?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe.\u201d I laughed.\u00a0 \u201cBut that\u2019s not exactly my style.\u201d<\/p>\n

*********************************************************************************************<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoly shit, this is so cool!\u201d Derrick shone his flashlight along the rows of empty desks in our eleventh grade English class, then up at the blackboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, right,\u201d Sean responded.\u00a0 \u201cThe coolest thing we could think of doing is to come back <\/em>to school after we\u2019ve been let out.\u201d<\/p>\n

I was the one who\u2019d snatched the spare keys from the principal\u2019s office while she was out at lunch.\u00a0 Usually Sean had some good points, but right now I was siding with Derrick.\u00a0 There was a ton of mischief we could do all alone in the building.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go through the desk and see if we can find any tests.\u201d\u00a0 Billy didn\u2019t waste any time, as he\u2019d already started rifling through drawers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could put syrup on Mrs. Butner\u2019s chair or something,\u201d Phil suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, if we had syrup, and if we were eight-year-olds.\u201d Derrick laughed, slapping him on his back.<\/p>\n

We ended up tagging some lockers and rearranging the furniture in a few rooms. I didn\u2019t really want to do anything too big, though, \u2018cause then the administrators would know we\u2019d been in there at night and change all the locks.<\/p>\n

But Billy had other plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now, for the crowning glory.\u201d\u00a0 He pulled off his backpack and held out something wrapped up in what looked like several layers of trash bags.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d Phil asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cA homemade stink bomb.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus . . . I think I can smell it a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gotta put it in the principal\u2019s office,\u201d Billy announced, and began leading the way.<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDamn!\u201d Derrick groaned.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s locked . . . must be a different key.\u00a0 Should we just stick it somewhere else?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo way!\u201d Billy shook his head violently.\u00a0 \u201cThat bitch gave me a whole day suspension for saying the word \u2018ass\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou called the teacher an ass,\u201d Sean clarified.<\/p>\n

Before Billy could get out his retort, Phil interrupted.\u00a0 \u201cI got it!\u00a0 We can get in through the vent, and leave it right on top of her office.\u201d\u00a0 He pointed to the grate above us.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah!\u201d Billy cried, excitement replacing his bad mood.\u00a0 \u201cSean, let Mark climb up on your back so he can reach it . . . I got a Swiss army knife to get the screws off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this is a stupid idea,\u201d Sean said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, what\u2019s new, pussy.\u201d Billy scoffed.\u00a0 \u201cFine.\u00a0 You know what, Mark, you can climb on my back.\u00a0 I\u2019m not that much shorter than Sean.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked a lot shorter to me, but maybe that was just because he didn\u2019t have Sean\u2019s lean frame.<\/p>\n

Billy moved against the wall and gave me a foothold with his hands, so I went ahead and climbed up to complete the task.\u00a0 The unscrewing part took quite a while, and at some point Sean wandered off.<\/p>\n

He reappeared just as I was dragging my body inside the duct and tossed something up to me.<\/p>\n

A clothespin.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor your nose,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cFor when you unwrap that thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

I stared at him for a moment, watching the way his mouth quirked up in a little Mark will be Mark <\/em>smile.\u00a0 Even when he disagreed, he was always thoughtful like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, why don\u2019t you two girlfriends make out later.\u201d Billy crossed his arms.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get this over with . . . I\u2019m fucking hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All in all, we considered it a well-executed prank, until the next day.<\/p>\n

We\u2019d forgotten about the air-conditioning.<\/p>\n

The whole school was shoved into the football stadium while the principal gave a lecture on the bullhorn and people in hazmat suits tore through the building.\u00a0 She assured us that if they discovered the stench to be the result of some kind of prank, they\u2019d find out exactly who had done it and expel them\u00a0 . . . not to mention possibly turn them over to the police.<\/p>\n

And then because they needed time to air out all the classrooms, school was cancelled for the remainder of the day.<\/p>\n

Billy could not stop laughing.\u00a0 \u201cFucking awesome!\u201d<\/p>\n

I was much less thrilled.\u00a0 \u201cShit . . . my fingerprints are probably all over that air duct.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever, man!\u201d Billy slung his backpack over his shoulder and started trotting away.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m gonna go back to sleep.\u00a0 See ya later, criminal!\u201d<\/p>\n

Phil gave me a more encouraging pat on the back.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry.\u00a0 Let things cool off a bit, and then once they do you can tell people you\u2019re the one that got them a free day . . . you\u2019ll be a living legend.\u201d<\/p>\n

He had a point, but I didn\u2019t like to wait to be appreciated . . . and I certainly didn\u2019t like the threat of law enforcement.<\/p>\n

Sean wove his way over to me through the departing crowds.\u00a0 \u201cYou okay?\u00a0 You look really pale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m too young to go to jail,\u201d I muttered.<\/p>\n

He put an arm over my shoulder, hazel eyes bouncing with laugher.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, Mark.\u201d<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sean\u2019s older brother Scott had given him a little pot, and the two of us lay on the floor of his bedroom to smoke it, staring up at the ceiling.<\/p>\n

A tiny spider was weaving a very intricate web in the corner of the room.\u00a0 It held my interest for a while, but eventually I started to panic about being caught again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you visit me in jail?\u201d I asked, turning over to look at Sean.<\/p>\n

The green and brown flecks in his eyes seemed to shimmer with new dimension as I stared at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t have your fingerprints on record, Mark, so even if they did find them, there\u2019s nothing to compare it to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck, that\u2019s really logical,\u201d I responded.\u00a0 \u201cBut if I did get arrested, would you visit me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean laughed\u2014a gentle, rolling laugh that for some reason made me feel ticklish.\u00a0 He chewed on his lip and leaned forward until I could feel his breath.\u00a0 Any closer and we\u2019d have been kissing.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m always lookin\u2019 out for you, Mark.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah you are,\u201d I said.\u00a0 His lips were really red, and I wondered if mine were the same.\u00a0 Maybe it was from the pot.\u00a0 \u201cShit, you may be my best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck yeah . . . but you might have to grow up some day,\u201d he added.\u00a0 Then he reached over and stuck his fingers into my hair, messing it about.\u00a0 \u201cGrow up, little Marky Marky.\u201d<\/p>\n

I giggled and then he giggled and I\u2019m pretty sure that\u2019s all we managed to do for the rest of the afternoon.<\/p>\n

*********************************************************************************************<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I glanced at my watch.\u00a0 It was getting late, and I actually did want to make my next class.<\/p>\n

I was fine with cutting English, though, especially since Billy had told Derrick to tell me he had some brilliant dare planned.\u00a0 I agreed to do it, so long as it didn\u2019t involve getting arrested.\u00a0 Derrick pointed out that I\u2019d never gotten caught for any other prank, so there was no reason to suspect I would be now.\u00a0 And it was my senior year, after all.\u00a0 I had to make sure I went out with a bang.<\/p>\n

Billy came dashing over to our meet-up spot behind the school, with Phil and Derrick close on his heels.\u00a0 He had a bundle of clothing in one hand and a spray paint can in the other.\u00a0 \u201cOkay man, come on, we gotta move fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell what the fuck do you want me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are Roy Herrick\u2019s . . . he\u2019s inside the gym right now.\u00a0 We\u2019re gonna paint \u2018em and string \u2018em up the old flagpole by the softball field.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeriously?\u201d I frowned.\u00a0 \u201cI thought it\u2019d be something more adventurous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a perfectly good prank,\u201d Billy shot back.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s a fucking fag and everyone knows it!\u00a0 He fucking looks at me when we change clothes!\u201d<\/p>\n

Phil shifted his eyes.\u00a0 He looked a little uneasy.\u00a0 \u201cSo that\u2019s why the pink paint, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, you think a rainbow would be better?\u201d Derrick asked, trying to keep a straight face but then bursting into laughter.\u00a0 \u201cThe guy is queer.\u00a0 He\u2019s even told people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyways,\u201d Billy interrupted, trying to get us back on track, \u201cI dare you, Mark.\u00a0 You gotta do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean joined us then, jogging in from around the corner.\u00a0 \u201cSo what\u2019s going on, guys?\u00a0 Sorry I\u2019m late . . . I almost got caught by Mr. Campbell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, great, who invited the fucking boy scout?\u201d Billy moaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did.\u201d\u00a0 Phil shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cSean always comes along for a dare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Derrick took it upon himself to fill Sean in.\u00a0 \u201cMark\u2019s gonna string up Roy Herrick\u2019s clothes while he\u2019s in gym class.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean blinked a few times, then scanned Billy\u2019s hands, his eyes landing on the spray paint.\u00a0 \u201cYou fucking asshole.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere we go.\u201d Billy threw up his arms.\u00a0 \u201cC\u2019mon, boy scout, tell us why we shouldn\u2019t do it.\u00a0 You\u2019re such a fucking queer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean ignored him.\u00a0 He turned to me, and his hazel eyes burned.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t do it, Mark.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a fag, aren\u2019t you,\u201d Billy went on.\u00a0 \u201cI bet you fucking love Roy Herrick.\u00a0 I bet you\u2019d love to stick your dick in his ass, you fucking queer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what if I was gay?\u201d Sean spat at him.\u00a0 \u201cWould you take my clothes and ruin them because you\u2019re too fucking stupid to come up with anything better to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Billy crossed his arms.\u00a0 \u201cI knew it.\u00a0 I fucking knew it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Derrick tried to be the peacemaker.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be funny, Sean.\u00a0 It\u2019s not that bad.\u00a0 Everyone already knows he\u2019s gay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean looked back at me.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t do it,\u201d he said again.<\/p>\n

I was torn.\u00a0 \u201cHe does have his gym clothes to wear,\u201d I ventured quietly, only to see Sean\u2019s eyes blaze even fiercer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what, Sean?\u00a0 You\u2019re too late.\u201d\u00a0 Billy wore an evil grin.\u00a0 \u201cI already dared him, and Mark never backs down from a dare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean\u2019s chest was starting to heave.\u00a0 I don\u2019t remember him ever appearing more flustered . . . or more unwilling to give in.\u00a0 \u201cThen I dare you not to, Mark.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFag.\u201d Billy sneered.<\/p>\n

I looked at the ground for a moment, and when I glanced back at Sean the shine in his eyes almost seemed like it could become tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cI dare you to be your own person . . . make your own fucking decision,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cBut if you do it, don\u2019t fucking kid yourself . . . I will turn you in.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, he whirled around and ran off.<\/p>\n

\u201cShit, glad he\u2019s leaving.\u201d Billy’s glare followed Sean until he was out of sight. \u201cYou know he won\u2019t tell, he\u2019s a fucking coward.\u00a0 Anyways, we don\u2019t have much time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phil and Derrick both seemed a bit shell-shocked.\u00a0 Sean usually objected to our crazier stunts, but he\u2019d never done anything like this before.<\/p>\n

Billy put the clothing in my hands.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll spray it when we\u2019re out by the softball field.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked down at the bundle\u2014small pants, because Roy Herrick was a small kid, and a nice white polo.\u00a0 \u201cBilly, this is not the kind of dare I usually do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou take any <\/em>dare, Mark.\u00a0 The whole school knows that.\u00a0 Or do you wanna lose your reputation a few months before you graduate?\u00a0 You wanna be called a pussy?\u201d<\/p>\n

I cringed a little, because no one called me that.\u00a0 They called me maniac, or crazy fucker, or daredevil, but never coward or pussy.<\/p>\n

I was a legend in these parts\u2014the kid with no fear, the guy who\u2019d do anything.\u00a0 Sean <\/em>was the chicken\u2014always had been.<\/p>\n

That chicken had just stood up to me and my craziness, and he\u2019d sure picked a strange time to do it.<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I found him later, sitting on the curb with his head lowered.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you do it?\u201d he asked, not looking up.<\/p>\n

I took a seat beside him.\u00a0 \u201cNah, that was a stupid prank.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was more than a prank, for Billy,\u201d Sean muttered.\u00a0 Still, I could tell he was relieved, and he lifted his head a little to make eye contact.\u00a0 \u201cThanks for listening to me.\u00a0 You never listen to me . . . I\u2019m kinda surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t usually seem that determined.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides,\u201d I nudged him, \u201cyou\u2019re supposed to be my best friend.\u00a0 I know I\u2019m a fucker, but I really do appreciate all the times you\u2019ve tried to save my ass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean gave me half a smile.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad you remembered that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

We grew quiet for a while and I kicked at some dirt, somehow sensing that Sean wasn\u2019t done with all that he had to say.<\/p>\n

But when he remained silent, I said it for him.\u00a0 \u201cSo, are you really like him?\u00a0 Like Roy, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 Maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked into my eyes, waiting for a reaction.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I gave him any.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave . . . have you ever thought about being like that?\u201d he finally asked.<\/p>\n

I shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI dunno.\u00a0 I sometimes think about how you\u2019re the best looking guy I hang out with, what with that pack of mongrels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sean laughed. \u201cBest looking, huh?\u00a0 Well do I look good enough to fuck?\u201d<\/p>\n

I thought about it for a moment, then met his hazel eyes with a cocky grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cDare me?\u201d<\/p>\n

*********************************************************************************************<\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2011 Sara Alva; All Rights Reserved.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Other Short Stories:<\/h2>\n

No Strings (YA)
\n<\/a><\/h4>\n
Josh’s friend has made an important life decision. Given the opportunity, will Josh make the same one?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Choices<\/a><\/h4>\n
A story about how everyday choices affect our lives.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cover art by Madison Parker Originally published on GayAuthors.org as part of their Summer 2011 Anthology, Walk on the Wild Side \u00a0***   \u201cC\u2019mon, Mark.\u00a0 I dare ya.\u00a0 I triple dog dare ya.\u201d The triple dog Derrick threw in was totally unnecessary.\u00a0 I\u2019d already agreed to be the test subject, and it\u2019s not like I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/139"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=139"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":553,"href":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/139\/revisions\/553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/saraalva.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}