JILIAN SHINSUKE

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"You're late!", Luke scolded me.

"Sorry man. I had something urgent to do.", I replied.

"Anyway, grab a seat.", Caren told me.

"I'll go grab the pizzas.", Luke said as he stood up from the couch and walked to the kitchen counters.

"So you're totally fine, right?", Caren asked.

"Yeah.", I replied. Caren grabbed a bottle of beer.

"Want some?", she asked and I shook my head whih made her surprised.

"You're totally not okay. If you were hurt, you'd come running to us to drink until you're dead. Now this is unusual.", Caren said. I leaned on the couch and I placed my feet on the table while putting my hands on the back of my head.

"Nah. I'm just not in the mood to drink today.", I replied.

"How about we play a game?", Luke announced as he placed three large boxes on the table with some drinks.

"Is that one of your gibberish games Luke?", Caren asked.

"No. This is a classic. It's called Truth or Dare.", Luke replied. Caren and I exchanged glances and then we laughed so hard that tears were coming out from my eyes.

"What the hell guys?", Luke said.

"Sorry dude.", I replied as I tried my best to stop myself from laughing.

"What are you, a five year old? Get a life Luke.", Caren said as she laughed.

"Come on. It's just this once. We haven't played this yet.", Luke begged.

"Fine.", I agreed and Caren nodded. Caren and I sat on the couch while Luke sat on the carpeted floor.

"Alright. Caren goes first.", Luke announced. Caren was surprised like she thought it was unfair.

"Why me?", asked and I was right.

"Because it's always a ladies first rule.", I replied. Caren crossed her arms and sighed.

"Whatever.", she said frustrated. Luke smiled.

"Truth or Dare?", Luke asked.

"Dare.", Caren answered. Luke and I had this "evil" smile on our faces and this made Caren worry.

"You're not gonna make me fuck Luke, are you?", she asked me. I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt.

"That's a nice one but not today. I have something in mind.", I replied.

"What is it?", Caren and Luke simultaneously asked. I knew that they liked each other and this was the right time for them.

"I dare you Caren, to kiss Luke. Any form of kiss will do.", I announced. I swear I saw both of them blush. How cute. 

"D-d-d-dude! Are you nuts?!", Luke asked in a flustered voice.

"I can't just kiss my own friend you idiot.", Caren added.

"I think both of you are individually hiding something from me and I feel betrayed for some reason.", I said in a way that they would feel guilty. Both of them were silent for a moment.

"Guys?", I said.

"Caren, actually...", Luke was about to confess! Holy cow it worked. My acting skills worked! Caren looked eagerly at Luke.

"Caren, I... I... I like you?", Luke said.

"Was that supposed to be a question?", Caren asked.

"He's just nervous.", I replied. Luke sighed and calmed himself down.

"There I said it. I like you Caren. I liked you for a long time.", Luke added. Caren was surprised at first but she smiled in the end. Wait was she going to reject him? But I thought she liked him back? That's the whole point of what I did. I sighed.

"Luke. Thanks for telling me how you feel.", Caren said. Luke had this expression of rejection and disappointment but Caren  took them all away when she bent down and kissed Luke on his right cheek. A huge smile was what I saw on Luke's face and they started kissing each other intensely.

"Hello? Get a room you idiots.", I said as I cleared my throat and it looked like they heard me.

"Oh, sorry. We got carried away there dude.", Luke apologized and both of them sat back to their places.

"Next, it's your turn Jilian.", Caren said.

"Well yeah. Go ahead, I choose dare too.", I replied. 

"I've noticed that you've been hangin' around with Maddie lately.", Luke said.

"So? We're firends. What of it?", I asked.

"I dare you be in a fake relationship with Maddie for two whole months!", Luke announced. Caren really liked the idea.

"Guys. Why?", I asked.

"Oh come on Jilian. It's just a dare anyway. Also. don't tell Maddie that it's a fake relationship. You can only tell her it's fake when two months is over.", Caren replied.

"What benefit can I get from this like you guys?", I asked.

"We'll prepare Kristine for you. Trust me.", Caren said. I still liked Kristine and I guess I always will so I gave this dare a shot.

"Fine.", I took the dare.

"Great! We'll give you a week to ask Maddie out.", Luke said. And just like that, we hanged out together with the dare wandering about in my mind. How was I supposed to ask her out?! I mentally sighed as I somehow regretted taking the dare.

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"Alright! Today is the day that marks your dare!", Luke announced. It was three days after since I took the dare. We thought of ways to ask Maddie out on a date first. We considered her likes and interests, places she wanted to go, the type of guy she likes, and so on. 

"What time does Maddie come to school?", Caren asked.

"The hell do I know?", I replied.

"Oh look! Speaking of Maddie, there she is!", Luke pointed to the school entrance. Caren and I looked at the school entrance and there I saw Maddie entering the school grounds. Her clothes were as simple as Caren's. Maddie wore a vintage designed converse shirt, black skinny jeans, and a black pair of Vans shoes. She wore her Jansport bag to the side and her hair was as golden brown as a freshly baked bread. It was wavy and shiny. I think it is smooth and soft. I wonder why I only noticed how nice her hair is. 

"Go and greet her!", Luke pushed me.

"Like I wasn't going to do that.", I replied. I always greet Maddie in the morning even before this stupid dare that I took because I still liked Kristine.

"Hey, mornin' Maddie.", I greeted. She smiled at me and greeted back,

"Good morning Jilian. We have first period together today.", she said.

"Yeah. I already got my things. Want me to go with you get your things?", I asked. Please say yes. Usually, she doesn't say yes. 

"Sure.", she replied. Level one cleared. 

"Cool.", Maddie and I headed to her locker. I looked back and I saw those two idiots flash me a thumbs up. I sighed and Maddie noticed me.

"Are you alright?", she asked. 

"Yeah, I'm good.", I replied. Maddie opened her locker and got her things. I took the books she was holding in her arms.

"Thanks.", she said. This is weird. Seriously. We were walking to our first class and most of the people were gossiping about us. I glanced at Maddie who, I guess, felt uncomfortable.

"Jilian, I think it's best if we go to our first class separately.", Maddie said. 

"It's okay. Let's keep going.", I replied and she obediently followed. We reached our classroom and both of us went to our seats. 

"Dude.", Luke approached me.

"Since when did you get here?", I asked since I saw his bag on his desk when I came in.

"Not too long ago. Anyway, how was it?", he asked.

"We haven't actually done anything.", I replied.

"It's still the first day anyway.", Luke said.

"But dude, the people are gossiping about us.", I said.

"Who cares? You don't.", Luke replied and I stayed silent. Our teacher came in and classes began. Can I really do this? Why did I take this stupid dare in the first place anyway?