The band of boys parted for Finn like the Red Sea for Moses. Looking almost bored, he extended a hand to help Amy up from the hard concrete.
“Need a lift?” he asked with a smirk. Furious, she ignored his offer, rising unsteadily.
“Not from you I don’t.” she snarled, wiping shakily at the blood. His jaw tightened, the grin twitching almost imperceptibly. It was hard to discern his expression behind the sunglasses.
“Nah, I forgot, sorry. Prissy Missy’s too good for the likes of us. Isn’t she boys?”
She reddened at the use of her elementary school nickname. The gang was already well formed by then. True, she wasn’t the only one they’d named, but it still hurt.
“You can be a real jerk, sometimes, Finn. You know that? Thanks for ruining my day.” She sniffed, holding back tears of humiliation and pain. The boys laughed heartily, jeering at her as she walked away quickly. Amy didn’t turn at the sound of footsteps running after her, instead quickening her pace.
“Hey! Wait!” a hand dropped on her shoulder, pulling her back. She spun to face him.
“What?” she snapped, grateful that at least they were out of sight of the others now. It was easier to deal with him when the mob wasn’t around.
Finn shrugged, backing off as anger radiated from her every pore. He dug his hands into his pockets, clearly uncomfortable.
“I was just trying to help, ya know? It’s just … the guys get bored, ya know? With them, they like you if you can entertain. I happen to be good at that.”
“Then go back and ‘entertain’ them. I want to go home now, thanks. Or are you going to kidnap me, too?”
He’d made her feel guilty about her hatred, and she didn’t like the way her fury was ebbing.
“Hey, I’m not the one who pushed you! I saved you, remember? What’s your problem anyway?”
“You’re my problem! You haven’t stopped picking on me since pre-school!”
Instead of the indignation she’d expected, a crafty look stole over his face.
“Fine. Let’s settle this once and for all, then.”
“How?” she asked, suspicious. Finn grinned.
“Simple. A dare. There’s a party at my house tonight. All you gotta do is show up.”
Amy gave a snort of disbelief, shaking her head vehemently.
“No way. No. I’m not that stupid. I don’t trust you. I’ve heard about what goes on at your parties. No way am I setting foot near the place.”
He shrugged again.
“Those are just rumors. We have music and stuff to eat, that’s pretty much it, I swear. I’ll be adding a little something to the dare, but you gotta come to find out what.”
Amy bit her lip, thinking.
“If I did come… which I’m not … what time would it start?”
“About 10:00, maybe earlier, maybe later. Depends on what time the boys show up.”
“And your parents don’t care about it being that late?”
“Mom’s in London on a shopping spree, and dad’s got a ‘business conference’ in the Caribbean until Monday. Even if they were here they wouldn’t care.”
“Mine care. They’re never gonna let me out of the house after 9:00.”
“So? Sneak out.”
She stared at him incredulously. He didn’t look like he was joking.
“Unless, of course, you’re too scared? I mean, I know it’s not a girl thing, dares. Too messy.”
Before her fury could explode in full, he turned and walked casually away, so certain of his victory it made her sick.
9:30 that evening found her opening her window as discreetly as possible and hopping the fence out of her yard onto her bike. She would show him ‘messy,’ she fumed; she could take more ‘messy’ than he’d have the guts to dish out. She was no coward, and with her honor at stake, it was time to prove that. That was the reason she was going; not because his enigmatic dare had made her curious, certainly not because she wanted to talk to him again. He was a horrible boy, and if things went according to plan, this would be the last she saw of him.
Pedaling fast made her feel better. As her legs pumped the pedals, her nerves soothed, her anger receded. Her confidence returned.
His house wasn’t very far from hers, but it was in a gated community, and she’d never been there. She wanted to be sure she would have enough time to take a look around before being spotted.
To her surprise, by the time she reached the entrance, Finn was waiting for her, leaning calmly against the wall, ruining her plans of a discreet entrance.
Before the guard could protest, he’d pushed open the gate to let her in.
“It’s ok, Matt. She’s a friend.” He called back, not granting the man so much as a glance, then, to her, “Didn’t think you’d actually show.”
Amy scoffed, not believing him for a moment. He’d known exactly how to manipulate her. She should have felt embarrassed at the ease with which he’d used her pride, but for the moment her mind was focused on the coming dare. Whatever he’d planned, it wasn’t going to be pleasant.
The house was enormous. Bigger than any in the state, or so the internet boasted. A quick Google search had told her several things about the place. Fifteen bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and Jacuzzi, five guest rooms, all of which had miniature kitchens in them, the hot tubs (three), an indoor pool and an outdoor, complete with full barbeque set and bar, and that was only the first floor and a tiny part of the backyard. There was also a tennis court, a private golf
course, a full sized movie theatre with all the latest technologies included, a professional fitness gym which she doubted was ever used, and a bowling alley. Amy hadn’t had the courage to read the rest of the article. Compared to this giant, her own home felt suddenly small and insignificant. It was no wonder Finn and his gang acted like spoiled brats. They lived on a completely different planet. One where maids tended your every need and you got a Ferrari for your birthday.
She said nothing as she parked in the bike rack in front of the house. Her stomach hurt from nerves, and she didn’t trust herself not to tell him exactly what she thought of the way he lived.
“Relax.” Finn whispered in her ear, wrapping an arm reassuringly about her shoulders. “Most of the boys aren’t here yet, so you’ve got time to have some fun before we move on to business. Enjoy the place. Dad let me borrow the chef for tonight, so the food’s good too. Wanna go check out the horses? Girls like horses, right?”
He’d misunderstood the sudden tightening in her back muscles. Wordlessly, she let him lead her around, even going so far as to dip her feet in the pool. When he offered her fresh caviar, she exploded, whirling on him.
“What am I even doing here, Finn? It’s not like I belong!”
He looked surprised. He’d been expecting some sort of reproach from the way her lips had been pinched together all evening, just not that one.
“Sure you do. You’re having fun, aren’t you? I mean, yeah, the house is a little big, but it’s not like it matters.”
“It matters to me!” she cried, feeling completely overwhelmed. “Look at me! Your girlfriend’s wearing a Prada bathing suit for Pete’s sake and I’m in shorts and a t-shirt I bought at Goodwill three years ago! You … you’re used to all this, you’ve lived in it your whole life, so of course it doesn’t make any difference to you. You and your little gang go to the public pool because you’re bored rich kids, and you like harassing people for fun. I go because my family can’t afford a private pool, or a jet, or horses, or whatever else you have. Have you ever even been to my house? I bet you it would fit inside your bedroom at least twice.”
Finn flinched at the mention of his girlfriend, who’d spent the whole evening staring daggers at Amy. Her words hurt him more than either of them expected.
“If you don’t like it, why did you come? It’s not like anyone forced you. It’s just a stupid dare. Ignore it if you want, walk away.” He snapped, crossing his arms defiantly.
“Fine. I’ll do that. Guess I’ll see you later.”
Amy turned on her heel and strode off toward her bike. Coming here had been a bad idea. Her parents were going to kill her if they ever found out.
She hadn’t gone two steps before any escape was made impossible. The gang had arrived.
“Need a lift?” he asked with a smirk. Furious, she ignored his offer, rising unsteadily.
“Not from you I don’t.” she snarled, wiping shakily at the blood. His jaw tightened, the grin twitching almost imperceptibly. It was hard to discern his expression behind the sunglasses.
“Nah, I forgot, sorry. Prissy Missy’s too good for the likes of us. Isn’t she boys?”
She reddened at the use of her elementary school nickname. The gang was already well formed by then. True, she wasn’t the only one they’d named, but it still hurt.
“You can be a real jerk, sometimes, Finn. You know that? Thanks for ruining my day.” She sniffed, holding back tears of humiliation and pain. The boys laughed heartily, jeering at her as she walked away quickly. Amy didn’t turn at the sound of footsteps running after her, instead quickening her pace.
“Hey! Wait!” a hand dropped on her shoulder, pulling her back. She spun to face him.
“What?” she snapped, grateful that at least they were out of sight of the others now. It was easier to deal with him when the mob wasn’t around.
Finn shrugged, backing off as anger radiated from her every pore. He dug his hands into his pockets, clearly uncomfortable.
“I was just trying to help, ya know? It’s just … the guys get bored, ya know? With them, they like you if you can entertain. I happen to be good at that.”
“Then go back and ‘entertain’ them. I want to go home now, thanks. Or are you going to kidnap me, too?”
He’d made her feel guilty about her hatred, and she didn’t like the way her fury was ebbing.
“Hey, I’m not the one who pushed you! I saved you, remember? What’s your problem anyway?”
“You’re my problem! You haven’t stopped picking on me since pre-school!”
Instead of the indignation she’d expected, a crafty look stole over his face.
“Fine. Let’s settle this once and for all, then.”
“How?” she asked, suspicious. Finn grinned.
“Simple. A dare. There’s a party at my house tonight. All you gotta do is show up.”
Amy gave a snort of disbelief, shaking her head vehemently.
“No way. No. I’m not that stupid. I don’t trust you. I’ve heard about what goes on at your parties. No way am I setting foot near the place.”
He shrugged again.
“Those are just rumors. We have music and stuff to eat, that’s pretty much it, I swear. I’ll be adding a little something to the dare, but you gotta come to find out what.”
Amy bit her lip, thinking.
“If I did come… which I’m not … what time would it start?”
“About 10:00, maybe earlier, maybe later. Depends on what time the boys show up.”
“And your parents don’t care about it being that late?”
“Mom’s in London on a shopping spree, and dad’s got a ‘business conference’ in the Caribbean until Monday. Even if they were here they wouldn’t care.”
“Mine care. They’re never gonna let me out of the house after 9:00.”
“So? Sneak out.”
She stared at him incredulously. He didn’t look like he was joking.
“Unless, of course, you’re too scared? I mean, I know it’s not a girl thing, dares. Too messy.”
Before her fury could explode in full, he turned and walked casually away, so certain of his victory it made her sick.
9:30 that evening found her opening her window as discreetly as possible and hopping the fence out of her yard onto her bike. She would show him ‘messy,’ she fumed; she could take more ‘messy’ than he’d have the guts to dish out. She was no coward, and with her honor at stake, it was time to prove that. That was the reason she was going; not because his enigmatic dare had made her curious, certainly not because she wanted to talk to him again. He was a horrible boy, and if things went according to plan, this would be the last she saw of him.
Pedaling fast made her feel better. As her legs pumped the pedals, her nerves soothed, her anger receded. Her confidence returned.
His house wasn’t very far from hers, but it was in a gated community, and she’d never been there. She wanted to be sure she would have enough time to take a look around before being spotted.
To her surprise, by the time she reached the entrance, Finn was waiting for her, leaning calmly against the wall, ruining her plans of a discreet entrance.
Before the guard could protest, he’d pushed open the gate to let her in.
“It’s ok, Matt. She’s a friend.” He called back, not granting the man so much as a glance, then, to her, “Didn’t think you’d actually show.”
Amy scoffed, not believing him for a moment. He’d known exactly how to manipulate her. She should have felt embarrassed at the ease with which he’d used her pride, but for the moment her mind was focused on the coming dare. Whatever he’d planned, it wasn’t going to be pleasant.
The house was enormous. Bigger than any in the state, or so the internet boasted. A quick Google search had told her several things about the place. Fifteen bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and Jacuzzi, five guest rooms, all of which had miniature kitchens in them, the hot tubs (three), an indoor pool and an outdoor, complete with full barbeque set and bar, and that was only the first floor and a tiny part of the backyard. There was also a tennis court, a private golf
course, a full sized movie theatre with all the latest technologies included, a professional fitness gym which she doubted was ever used, and a bowling alley. Amy hadn’t had the courage to read the rest of the article. Compared to this giant, her own home felt suddenly small and insignificant. It was no wonder Finn and his gang acted like spoiled brats. They lived on a completely different planet. One where maids tended your every need and you got a Ferrari for your birthday.
She said nothing as she parked in the bike rack in front of the house. Her stomach hurt from nerves, and she didn’t trust herself not to tell him exactly what she thought of the way he lived.
“Relax.” Finn whispered in her ear, wrapping an arm reassuringly about her shoulders. “Most of the boys aren’t here yet, so you’ve got time to have some fun before we move on to business. Enjoy the place. Dad let me borrow the chef for tonight, so the food’s good too. Wanna go check out the horses? Girls like horses, right?”
He’d misunderstood the sudden tightening in her back muscles. Wordlessly, she let him lead her around, even going so far as to dip her feet in the pool. When he offered her fresh caviar, she exploded, whirling on him.
“What am I even doing here, Finn? It’s not like I belong!”
He looked surprised. He’d been expecting some sort of reproach from the way her lips had been pinched together all evening, just not that one.
“Sure you do. You’re having fun, aren’t you? I mean, yeah, the house is a little big, but it’s not like it matters.”
“It matters to me!” she cried, feeling completely overwhelmed. “Look at me! Your girlfriend’s wearing a Prada bathing suit for Pete’s sake and I’m in shorts and a t-shirt I bought at Goodwill three years ago! You … you’re used to all this, you’ve lived in it your whole life, so of course it doesn’t make any difference to you. You and your little gang go to the public pool because you’re bored rich kids, and you like harassing people for fun. I go because my family can’t afford a private pool, or a jet, or horses, or whatever else you have. Have you ever even been to my house? I bet you it would fit inside your bedroom at least twice.”
Finn flinched at the mention of his girlfriend, who’d spent the whole evening staring daggers at Amy. Her words hurt him more than either of them expected.
“If you don’t like it, why did you come? It’s not like anyone forced you. It’s just a stupid dare. Ignore it if you want, walk away.” He snapped, crossing his arms defiantly.
“Fine. I’ll do that. Guess I’ll see you later.”
Amy turned on her heel and strode off toward her bike. Coming here had been a bad idea. Her parents were going to kill her if they ever found out.
She hadn’t gone two steps before any escape was made impossible. The gang had arrived.