I Dare You

"Tonight was so much fun," Jayy sighed as his grip around my waist tightened. We finally made it to my house and just jumped in bed, not even brothering to change into something comfortable.

"It was, I didn't expect to see so many people there"

"Did you when Scout came in?". I raised my eyebrow as I started looking back at tonight.

"No, not that I remember"

"She walked in while Andy was singing to Aph and she looked so pissed," Jayy laughed," She lost the only good thing she had".

"Yeah, but you know what's bothering me?". Jayy shook his head. "Janice never made it to the party. She promised me she was gonna come, then Aph said she was grounded. When I called her mom she said she was gonna check up on her".

"She never mentioned she was grounded?"

"No and even if she were her mom knows how much Aph means to her, especially it being her eighteenth birthday". We sat in silence for a couple of second, before Jayy spoke up.

"Either she did end up getting grounded or Aph lied"

"I don't think Aph would, I mean, we're talking about her best friend here"

"Then Janice probably is grounded"

"Yeah. Her mom never called me back. Should I call?"

"It's late, she's probably sleeping". Jayy yawned as he lazily got up, making his way towards the closet.

"You're probably right. I just have a bad feeling about it". He threw a pair of pajamas next to me.

"I'm sure she's fine. I'll be right back, gotta pee," he rushed out the room. I removed my jacket and shirt, thinking out it some more.

Aph didn't seem aware about Janice not being there, but seemed sad when I asked her about it. Janice said she was coming, but never showed up. She did sound weird on phone. Aph would've lost her shit if Janice wasn't allowed to come to her birthday. They haven't missed any since they became friend. Something just doesn't seem right.

I changed quickly and grabbed my phone. First I decided to call Aph, but she didn't answer. I quickly dialed Janice's number. It sent me straight to voicemail.

"Okay, that is weird," I pushed my hair back in frustration.

"What is?," Jayy asked as he reentered the room.

"I called Aph, she didn't answer. I called Janice and she didn't answer. She always answers"

"You're thinking about this too much. You're tired, it's been a long night, let's just try to get some sleep"

"Yeah, yeah you're right". I laid back as Jayy wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled the blanket onto us. Something doesn't feel right. I took my glasses off and placed them on the night stand. I'll try again in the morning.



"Has the doctor come out yet?," asked Kevin as he handed me a cup of coffee.

"No, I'm really worried Kevin. What if....what if she..." Kevin placed the cup on the ground and pulled me into a hug.

"Heyheyhey, don't think like that. Everything's gonna be fine, she's gonna make it though this. She's a strong young lady just like her mother. Okay?"

I nodded as a few tears fell down my face. I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I just can't believe this happened. I can't believe she would do something like this. She was perfectly fine this morning"

"Whatever it is, we can't worry about that right now. We have to be strong for her"

"Janice Gibson?," asked the Doctor as he walked out, passed the double doors.

"Yes, I'm her mother," I quickly got up.

"Your daughter is in stable, but critical condition. She did have internal bleed, which we managed to stop, but she did lose a lot of blood. She also suffered head trauma, which has lead her into a coma. Few broken bones. The nurses and I will keep a close eye on her to make sure her condition better or worsens. Overall, she's lucky to be alive"

"Will she come out of her coma?"

"There is a fifty percent chance"

"How long do think it will take?"

"If it goes as we hope it does, two maybe three weeks tops"

"Can I see her?"

"Of course, just give us a couple of minutes to get her settled into a room, then we'll come
get you"

"Okay, thank you doctor". He gave a small smile and disappeared behind the double doors again. I sighed as I sat down again, resting my head on my hands"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just...as long as she's still alive. She will be okay, right?"

"Of course she will. She strong. Everything will be okay, you'll see"

"Thank you, for being here"

"Don't, I said I'll be here for you no matter what"



"Good morning, beautiful," I heard Andy's voice sing as he played with my hair. I slowly opened my eyes and smiled widely.

"Morning handsome," I wrapped my arm around his waist.

"How do you feel?"

"Amazing. Last night was amazing"

"Thank you for allowing me to experience this with you"

"I couldn't think of anyone better". He pulled me into a slow, sweet kiss. I smiled as I
remembered last night. Every touch. Every kiss. Everything.

"So, what do you want for breakfast?," he asked as he got up, putting on his pants.

"Pancakes!"

"Pancakes it shall be". He kissed me again before he walked out of the room. I laid there for a while, thinking again about last night.

I did it. I can't believe I actually did it! With Andy, the man of my dreams. I have to tell.....
I got up and put on some clothes, before walking out of my room. Oh Janice, why did it come to this?



"Mikey. Mikey. Mikey!," I jumped up as Jayy shook me awake.

"What?! What happened?!"

"Your phone is ringing". I groaned as I reached for my phone, not bothering to check who's calling before I answered.

"Hello"

"Hi Mikey, sorry to wake you," I quickly sat up as I heard Kevin's voice.

"Jaince mom's boyfriend?". Jayy raised his eyebrow as he sat up.

"Yeah, um , Heather asked me to call you"

"Is this about Janice?"

"I'm sorry to have to tell you like this, but Janice got in an accident last night"

"W..what?"

"She drank half a tequila bottle and I'm guessing was making her way to your friends house when she lost control of the car and crashed. She's in pretty bad shape, in a coma as we speak, but she's alive"

"Is she...is she gonna...," I breathed out as I started crying. Jayy pulled me into a hug.

"The doctor said it's a fifty-fifty"

"What hospital?," I managed to say.

"St. Mary's"

"I'll be right there," I hung up and quickly started changing.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Jayy asked as he stood up.

"Janice got into a car crash and is in a coma"

"Oh my, God"

"Can you go let Frank and Gerard know?"

"Yeah, of course". He ran out the door. I sat on my bed as I quickly put on my shoes. I need to tell Aph. I grabbed my phone, and dialed her number. My hand shook as I waited for her to pick up, but she didn't.

"Dammit!". I knew something was wrong.

"They're getting dressed," Jayy said as he reentered the room and walked straight into the closet.

"We need to go to Aph's house first since she doesn't answer the phone"



"You still smell like cake," Andy said as he sniffed my hair. I sat on his lap as we watched T.V.

"Do you like it?"

"You can put dog shit on your head and I'd still like it". I laughed as I hit his shoulder.

"You're disgusting!"

"But you love it!"

"I know, it sucks"

"You suck". Just as I was about to kiss him, loud banging came from the door. "What the hell?"

"I'll get it," said Andy as he slide out from under me and walked towards the door.



"Coming!" I heard Andy's voice yell from the under side of the door. Come on! Once he finally opened the door, I pushed pass him and walked in.

"Where's Aphrodite?"

"Nice to see you too"

"Hey Mikey, Jayy, Frank, Gerard, what wrong?," she gave me a confused, but concerned look.

"Janice got in a car crash and she's really bad Aph," I said as tears streamed down my face.

"What?!," she looked at me horrified," when...when did this.."

"Last night after...after I called to ask if she was coming"

"Oh God. Oh God," she started crying as she sat down.

"We need to go to the hospital, come on," said Frank.

"Yeah, let me change". I thought about the conversation I had with Jayy last night as I looked at Andy, who was staring back at me with a concerned look.

"Aph, did you know she wasn't coming?"

"What?," she turned around.

"Did something happen between you two?"

"What..what makes you think that?"

"You didn't seem sad or even cared about the fact that Janice never arrived to your party and when I asked you, you didn't even say a word, you just looked...sad"

"I...she..."

"You said she was grounded, but when I called her mom she didn't mention anything about being grounded. We know for a fact, no matter what Janice did, she would've allowed her to come. So, I'll ask you again, did something happen between you and Janice?". Aph stared at me for a while. before she looked down and finally broke the silence.

"I...she said she didn't want to be my friend anymore". I breathed out, shocked, as so was everyone else.

"Why? What happened?"

"She told me something and I didn't believe her, so she told me she didn't want to be my friend". I crossed my eyebrows together and gave her a confused look.

"What did she tell you?"

"Something stupid which of course wasn't true"

"Aph, when has Janice ever lied to you? When has she lied to any of us? She is the most honest person any of us know"

"Well, I think she's lying"

"Then so where you! You knew she wasn't coming all along! Why didn't you tell me? I would've never...I would've never called her to tell her to come"

"I just didn't think this was a big deal"

"And look where it lead us? She's in the hospital, possibly dying, because you refused to believe your best friend of many years who has never lied to you about anything! What was so bad that you believe she was lying to you?"

"She said Andy made a bet with Ronnie that he could sleep with me and dump me right after," she said in a small voice. I looked at Andy and back at her.

"You son of a bitch," I said towards Andy. He stared at the ground, wide eyed. " You Aph are such an idiot for not believing her, specially when it's something this serious". She winced as she closed her eyes.

"That is enough, Mike," Andy put his hand on my chest as he stood in front of her. I pushed him back.

"Don't fucking touch me. You disgust me. Don't even think about coming to see her, because we...she doesn't want anything from you". Jayy grabbed my arm and pulled it lightly.

"We have to go". I gave them one last look before walking out the house.



"Mik...Mikey! I didn't!," I yelled after him as tears ran down my face. He stormed out the door followed by Frank and Gerard. Jayy paused at the door.

"Aph, Mikey's right. I've known you two long enough to know Janice would never lie to you. Andy, you can go fuck yourself," he said before he walked out.

Notes