The Dare by Leanne Yerdon (best novels to read for beginners txt) 📖

way out of the cafeteria. I walked down the hall way and looked around for Josh. I then walked to the gym and heard pounding. My eyebrows furrowed. I walked into the gym. My converse patting against the wooden gym flooring. I looked around the gym. The pounding louder. I then walked around towards the work out gym. I looked around the equipment. The pounding as loud as it could be. I heard a voice from the punching bag in the far far corner. I tilted my head and saw Josh punching the punching bag. His grumbles got louder. His punches hitting harder and harder against the punching bag.

“Your such a fucking pansy. You are hurting her.” He grumbled angrily. I watched as his fists started to bleed. I couldn’t move. His face was red, the sweat trickling down his forehead, the wet spots under his neck growing larger. His breathing more fiercer now. The punching bag starting to swing back and fourth from his heavy blows to its red leathery material. I gulped. My body starting to shake.

“J-Josh.” I stuttered. My voice cracking as well. Josh looked over at me. His breathing slowed and he stopped quickly, pulling his hands up and stopping the bag. He gulped and wiped his forehead. Not knowing the blood flowing from the cuts of his knuckles, the blood across his forehead. I walked over to him slowly. He looked at me confused. I took the sleeve of my shirt and wiped it across his forehead. His eyebrows furrowed as he saw the red stain across my sleeve. I breathed out shakily.

“Is that from me or you?” He asked eyeing my arm. I chuckled lightly.

“From you. Do you not feel this?” I asked raising his wrist up, so he could see his knuckles. He shook his head, attempting to put a smile across his lips.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. He shook his head.

“Nothing..” He said, his voice drowning off. I laughed lightly. The sweat trickling down his temple.

“Obviously something is wrong or you wouldn’t be doing this to your self.” I said persistantly. He sighed, pulling his arm away and walking over to the shelf that was against the wall. The shelf was white and had 5 shelves that were stocked with blue and black towel’s (our school colors). He grabbed one of the towels and wiped it across his face. He then studied his knuckles and sighed and put them against the towel.

“Josh.. Talk to me..” I asked. He groaned.

“Alex I am fine. Stop nagging me. I said nothing was wrong this conversation is over.” He said angrily and started walking towards the exit and pushed through the door. I grabbed his arm.

“Josh you know you’ll get in trouble for leaving early. Just calm down. The bell’s going to ring soon...We need to get to class..Just..Please?” I begged. He rolled his eyes, shrugging me off.

“I don’t care if I get in trouble. I just need to get away from this hell hole for right now. Is that okay? Because I don’t think it matters if I have your permission or not.” He spat. I glared.

“You do care if you get in trouble stop being stubborn and come on.” I said angrily. He chuckled and shook his head and started walking towards the parking lot. I groaned and watched him, then ran out towards him.

“Just tell me what’s wrong and I’ll leave you alone.” I said. The cool wind hitting against my face. My hair pushed forward against my face and cheeks. Josh chuckled turning around.

“You wanna know my problem Alex? Huh?” He asked. I nodded.
“You. You are my problem. Your acting as if this thing is going to work and it won’t. I don’t care about you and I honestly just want to be left alone. Maybe Jayce may change his ways for you and be with you. Because he’s probably the only person that would ever even think about being with you.” He said. I felt the heat go to my cheeks.

“Oh really? Because I think your just doing what you always do. Once Cassy does this and you think its hurting me you try pushing me away all over again. You and me both know that doesn’t ever work well. I know you. I have known you since I was 2. Stop being a woose and own up to your problems. Running away from them and being afraid of what people may think makes you pathetic.” I said. He looked at me sadly. I heard the click clacking of Cassy’s high heels behind me. I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms and leaning on my leg.

“Joshy what are you doing out here? We have class silly. And you need to go.” She said sweetly. I felt like I was going to vomit.

“Come on Joshy we have class.” I mocked her in a high voice. I heard her scoff and Josh chuckle. I grinned.

“Why are you even here? No one likes you anyway. You don’t need to go so you can go home...Go die for what anyone else cares.” She said. I rolled my eyes.

“People do care if I’m there. I think everyone would throw a party if you missed a day of school.” I said. Josh looked back and fourth between us. He dropped the towel in his hand and walked slowly up to me.

“Josh what are you doing?” She squeeked. He laid his hand on my cheek and pressed his lips against mine. I heard her gasp. I smiled against his lips and pulled away lightly.

“Go home Alex..” He whispered. I looked at him confused.

“I don’t feel anything and that lets me know theres nothing there.” He whispered. I heard Cassy chuckle.

“Se-” Josh cut her off and looked over my head.

“Shut up Cassy.” He spat. I looked at him confused. I heard Cassy stomp off. His eyes then landed on mine.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I said angrily. He shook his head, pulling his hand down and away from my cheek.

“Alex I don’t think we should hang out anymore.. It’ll make everything easier.. I’ll pick you up in the morning and to take you home but I think it’s best if we don’t really see eachother that much.” He said shakily. I looked at and scoffed.

“Your exactly what I said before...Pathetic.” I said and pushed him away and started to run across the sidewalk. I wanted to be as far away from here as I could. I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t face everyone inside. Cassy would’ve told them all that had happened and they’d all look down at me as they do already. I’m done being a little charity case..
Just a C student

Chapter 6


My converse patted against the cement. The tears lightly sliding down my cheeks. I ran faster towards my house. I was done here. I hated it here. Nothing was here for me and nothing ever would be. I ran up the steps of the porch and unto the wooden patio, pushing through the door and into the house. I started to cry harder. Anger and sadness and hate all together in my thoughts and emotions. I slammed the door shut and ran up the stairs to my room. I grabbed the suitcase under my bed and threw it on top of my bed, running to my dresser and pulling the drewer’s out, the drewers falling to the wooden flooring. I pulled my clothes out of each drewer, throwing them into my suitcase, pushing down on them so they would fit. I pulled the suit case shut and grabbed my bag and ran over to my dresser and pulled all of my belongings on it into my bag and zipped it shut. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and skimmed through my contacts. I stared at the contact, then clicked on it. It rang a couple times.

“Hello this is Karen.” I heard my aunt’s voice say through the speaker of the phone. I gulped.

“Aunt Kare?” I asked. I heard a gasp in the background and then a few muffles.

“Hey baby how are you? Are you okay? How’s your mom?Have you heard from your father?” I heard her ask. I sighed, twirling my hair between my fingers.

“I was wondering if I could go live with you for a lil bit...” I said drowning off. I heard light breathing on the other end.

“Well..How bout you just come over for the weekend honey then we can figure this all out. Don’t tell your mom what your thinking because I don’t want her worrying bout something you may change your mind about.” I smiled lightly at her voice. I hadn’t talked to aunt Karen since dad left which was of 3 years ago. I was surprised she still remembered my voice. I twirled a strand of my hair between my fingers.

“I’m already packed. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” I mumbled. I heard the door slam down stairs. I gulped. Mom wasn’t fond of my friendship with my aunt. After all she was the sister of the guy that cheated and broke her heart. I sighed. She most likely would not be a fan of me going..

“Alex? Are you there?” Karen asked through the phone. I sighed.

“Yeah but mom’s home-” I was cut off by my mom opening the door.

“Who is that you are talking to?” She asked curiosly. I gulped.

“Alex?” I ignored her and hung up the phone quickly, laying my phone on my dresser.

“Just Jayce.” I said uneasily. She cocked an eyebrow and eyed me. I gulped. I could never lie to her. It was basically impossible for me. She crossed her arms.

“Or not..” I mumbled under my breath. She nodded.

“Now you going to tell me who really was on the phone or just keep lying?” She asked. I sighed.

“Karen...thats who I was talking with.” I said silently. She cocked an eyebrow.

“I don’t remember you being friends with a Karen is she new at your school.” She asked. I sighed and shook my head.

“No...Aunt Karen.” I said nervously. She looked at me and gulped and fidgeted uncomfterably.

“Oh.” She said simply. I nodded. I didn’t know what her reaction would be of what I wanted to do. My mother never judged me. She took me as I was and I admired her for that. But my decision as of now..I wouldn’t know what to expect. My mom had never yelled at me..never disciplined me. Because I never thought of hurting her like that. I sighed and looked up at her.

“I wanna move in with Karen.” I