Author's Note: Truth or Dare is always fun… Have fun reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 25
Bella's Point of View
"So," Alice said after dinner. "Should we play board games?"
Edward, Emmett, Alice, and I had all come up to the library where there was a huge amount of space. I could see many board games stacked up neatly in the corner of a bookshelf.
I smiled sheepishly. "I'm bad at board games. I'm good at strategy games. Like sudoku or something."
Alice rolled her eyes. "Who plays sudoku these days? Well, maybe except for the brainiac in this family." She looked pointedly at Edward.
Edward frowned. "They're good for your brain, Alice."
"I know!" Emmett piped up. "Let's play Truth or Dare." He smirked. "Oh, are you guys going to get it!"
Alice caught onto whatever Emmett was planning. She smirked too. "Great idea, Em! Truth or Dare it is!"
"Okay," Edward shrugged. I narrowed my eyes.
"I'll go first," Emmett said eagerly. "I choose Edward. Truth or Dare?"
Edward looked wary. "Dare."
Emmett looked disappointed. "Fine. I want you to-"
"Wait," I interjected. "I have a proposal."
"Proposal?" Emmett and Alice echoed flatly.
"Yes," I said. "Nothing inappropriate. Nothing serious or something that is dangerous. Those are off-limits. Or I'm not playing."
"Aw, come on, Bella," Emmett complained. "Who's going to ask someone else to do something dangerous or inappropriate?"
"You," Edward, Alice, and I said simultaneously. Emmett looked furious.
"Fine," he snapped. "Ugh, this is going to be so boring."
"No, it's not," Alice snapped back. "Hurry up, Em. Edward's waiting for his dare."
Emmett's expression immediately turned smug. "Fine. Edward, I want you to kiss Bella. On the lips."
My eyes widened. "Emmett! That's inappropriate."
"No, it's not," Alice said, laughing. "It's perfectly appropriate. That's the fun, Bella!"
Edward looked thoughtful. "Okay." And he leaned over and kissed me gently on the lips. I felt myself blush bright red when he withdrew.
Alice started giggling. "I can't believe you actually did that, Edward! Look at her face!"
Emmett was howling with laughter. He was literally rolling on the floor with tears in his eyes.
"What's so funny?" Edward wondered. "Is Bella's face really that amusing?"
"Her face is totally red!" Emmett howled. "HILARIOUS!"
I sighed and felt my temperature lowering as my face turned back to its pale color. Emmett finally regained control of himself.
"You're turn, Edward," Alice chirped. "Pick whomever you want."
Edward smirked. "Emmett, are you gonna get it." He knew for sure what Emmett was going to pick. "Truth or dare?"
"Dare, of course," Emmett scoffed.
"Good," Edward said slyly. "I want you to go up to Tanya and say that you love her on Monday."
"WHAT?"
I started giggling along with Alice. Emmett looked horrified while Edward smirked.
"That's the most horriblest dare EVER!" Emmett said loudly.
"I don't think 'horriblest' is a word, Em," I said, biting my lip to keep from laughing hysterically.
"Whatever."
"You asked for a dare, and I gave you one," Edward said. "I don't even think it's inappropriate, is it?" He turned to Alice and me.
"No," Alice and I said immediately. I shot Emmett a sweet smile when he glared at me.
"Fine," Emmett grumbled. "But I get to tell her it was a dare afterwards."
"Okay," Edward said, shrugging. "At least that'd get her out of my way for at least ten minutes in the morning."
"You need to tell her how you feel about her, bro," Emmett said wisely.
"I did," Edward said, snorting. "But does she listen? No. I told her a million times. You were there on some of those times, Emmett."
"True," Emmett admitted. "She's very persistent. She's like crazy glue." He laughed at his own joke while we just stared at him like he was crazy.
"All right, back to me," Emmett said. "Alice, truth or dare?"
"Truth," Alice replied promptly.
"You have someone you like, don't you?" Emmett asked immediately. "The guy you were talking about it in college."
Alice glared at him. "I'm not answering that."
"You have to," Edward protested. He leaned forward. "I'm dying to know as well."
"You have someone you like, Alice?" I asked, interested. "Who is he?"
Alice huffed indignantly. "Look what you did, Em. You even turned Bella on me."
Emmett frowned. "Just answer the question, Alice."
"Fine," Alice said. "Yes, I have a boyfriend. His name is Jasper Whitlock. He's in pre-psychology right now. He's going to Columbia University next year. I met him in UW last year. Happy?"
"That's great, Alice," Edward said sincerely. "Good for you. Is he good to you?"
Alice smiled gently. "Yes, he's very good to me. He loves me very much. I do, too. He's from Texas, so he has this slight Southern accent. It's really cute, actually."
"When do we get to meet him?" Emmett wondered.
Alice shrugged. "I don't know. I've already met his parents and they love me."
"Wow, moving a bit fast, aren't you, Alice?" I teased. She grinned.
"Well, I'm old enough," she defended. "I'm twenty. He's twenty-one."
"Does Carlisle and Esme know?"
"Yeah, I told them the week I got home," Alice said proudly.
"What?" Emmett looked furious. "You mean Edward and I were the only ones who didn't know? How come?"
"Because you were much too immature. I was going to tell you soon."
Emmett scowled at her. "Whatever, Alice. I hope he's good for you. If he makes you cry, you just tell me and I'll beat him up."
Alice trilled a long laugh. "Thanks, Em. But I think you'll like him. He's very serious, but he can be playful. He'll enjoy arm-wrestling with you." She winked.
"Oh, boy," Emmett said excitedly.
"Okay, my turn," Alice said. "Bella, truth or dare?"
I hesitated. "Truth?"
"Oh, goody!" Alice said gleefully. "Okay. Do you have anyone you like? Anyone you're interested in?"
Though I instantly thought of Edward who was sitting next to me, looking curious, I knew that I had to act. And I'd gotten much better at acting.
"No?" I said, looking confused. Alice looked more confused. Emmett looked confused.
"No?" Alice repeated, looking slightly disappointed. "Really? Truthfully? Hundred percent?"
I smiled slightly, amused. "Alice, you really think I wouldn't know my own feelings? I don't have anyone I like in that way." I cocked my head, waiting for the information to be absorbed into their heads.
From the corner of my eyes, Edward looked tense as he glared at Alice for asking the question.
"Are you sure?" Alice stressed, desperate.
"Of course," I laughed. "Now are you done?"
"Well…" Alice glanced briefly at Edward's rigid posture before answering. "Yeah, I guess I am." She and Emmett looked extremely disappointed. I felt bad for deceiving them. But I wasn't going to just admit that I liked Edward.
"My turn, then," I said. "Emmett, truth or dare?"
"Dare. Duh."
"I dare you to kiss Edward."
"WHAT?"
Edward looked revolted. "No way!"
Alice started giggling hysterically. "Oh, my, god! I can just imagine!"
"I'm just saying," I said hastily while Edward and Emmett glared at me. "Just peck him on the cheek. I'm not a pervert."
"No," Edward said flatly. "I'm not going to be kissed by my brother."
Emmett turned to him, looking sly. He made a big show of licking his lips and smacking them before advancing crawling towards him, trying to seduce him.
"EW!" Alice howled with laughter as she scooted towards me quickly. I giggled while Edward hastily got to his feet to avoid Emmett. Emmett got to his feet too. He leaned forward and stalked Edward like he was prey while Edward looked horrified.
He shot me a frantic look. "Thanks a lot, Bella!" My only answer was a hysterical giggle.
The boys played Cat and Mouse around the huge library while Alice and I howled with laughter like we were watching a comedy.
There was a knock on the door and Carlisle and Esme came in, looking curious. The boys stopped dead and Alice and I turned around with tears in our eyes.
"What is going on here?" Esme asked, looking bewildered as she came to join us. Carlisle moved towards us too but made no move to sit down.
"Just playing Truth or Dare," Alice said, giggling. "Bella just dared Emmett to kiss Edward."
Esme laughed. "Oh, I'd like to see that. Go ahead, Em."
Emmett turned back to Edward, pleased with his new audience. Edward huffed indignantly.
"Esme, how could you?"
Esme giggled. "Why don't you join them, Carlisle? Emmett, I'm sure you wouldn't mind giving him a kiss too?"
Emmett grinned widely. "Not at all. Two targets!" He began advancing on Carlisle, whose expression immediately turned horrified. He backed away towards where Edward was standing warily.
"No, Carlisle, don't come here!" Edward said quickly. "He's going to come-" Too late. Emmett had lunged at them and Carlisle and Edward scattered, yelping.
Esme, Alice, and I shrieked with laughter while Emmett grinned like a fool as he hunted down his prey.
Edward was faster than the other men, but he became the first target. He made the mistake of feinting to the left and dodging towards the right. Emmett, who was better at these moves due to football, intercepted easily and wrapped his arms around Edward.
"Aw, shoot!" Edward cursed as he turned away from Emmett's pouting lips.
"Come on, bro," Emmett said. "Let big brother give you a big kiss!" He made loud kissing sounds, making us laugh harder. Carlisle paused to catch his breath and chuckled at his sons' immaturity.
"Get away, Emmett!" Edward said, trying to push his brother away. He tried using one of his football tricks by ducking under Emmett's arms, but Emmett was waiting for it. His grip tightened and Edward failed to escape.
Edward yelped as Emmett placed a big, wet kiss on his cheek and let him go. Edward looked revolted as he wiped the wet mark away with the back of his hand.
"That's disgusting, bro," Edward complained. "Ugh, I think I need to take another shower."
"Aw, come on, bro," Emmett said sweetly, throwing an arm around him and leading him back to where Carlisle had joined us girls. "That was fun, wasn't it? I love you, Edward."
"Stop," Edward grumbled as they joined us on the carpeted floor. "You disgusting beast. And thank you, Bella, for requesting that kiss."
I grinned. "No problem."
"You never got to Carlisle," Edward reminded him.
Emmett shrugged. "I know. Kissing you was enough for a whole week. Next time, Carlisle." He winked at his father.
Carlisle chuckled. "I look forward to it."
"Do you want to play with us, Carlisle, Esme?" Alice asked, wiping away her tears of laughter.
"Oh, Alice, dear," Esme said. "We're too old to play that."
"Please, Esme?"
"I'm game," Carlisle shrugged. "What have you done so far?"
"Well, I dared Emmett to tell Tanya that he loved her on Monday when we saw her," Edward said slyly.
"Oh, that's a good one," Carlisle agreed. "I wonder how Tanya would take that?"
"They let me tell Tanya afterwards that it was a dare," Emmett said, shrugging. "She wouldn't want me either way. She's too intimidated by me."
I bit my lip. "I wish you wouldn't stand up for me when Tanya's around."
They all looked at me, surprised.
"Why, Bella?" Alice asked.
I shrugged. "It always causes a big scene. You know I don't like attention."
"Well, you never defend yourself which infuriates me," Emmett said, frowning. "I don't understand why you can't speak up for yourself, Bella."
"Yes, dear," Esme urged. "Speak up. You can't let Tanya trample all over you."
Edward was staring at me with an unfathomable expression on his face. His green eyes flashed once dangerously at the mention of Tanya.
"Here," Carlisle said, changing the subject. "It's ten o'clock. Let's all go to sleep, eh? I'm sure Bella's tired from getting dragged into this game." He winked at me, making me smile slightly.
Alice looked mockingly indignant. "Dragged? Really, Carlisle. I'm offended."
Carlisle chuckled and ruffled her hair. Just then, my cell phone started ringing. Excusing myself, I quickly exited the library and descended the stairs rapidly. I had a hunch on who was calling.
I slipped out the front door and stepped out onto the front porch. It wasn't raining for once, but the night was cold. I glanced at the LCD display. The number wasn't familiar, but the area code told me that it was a call from Jacksonville. I accepted the call and held the phone to my ear.
"Hello?" I asked breathlessly. "Mom?"
"Hi, honey," Renee said in a weary voice. "How are you?"
"Mom," I said, my heart sinking at her weak voice. She sounded worse than yesterday. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, honey, of course I am," Renee said, nearly whispering. "I'm totally fine, don't worry."
"How can I not worry?" I asked quietly. "You sound worse than yesterday."
"I do?" Renee asked, chuckling. "I'm just tired."
I bit my lip. I just wanted to start whining and complaining that they weren't being fair by not telling me, but I remembered my promise to Charlie. I had to keep my promise. That was the only way I was going to find out this whole situation with Renee.
"So, Bella," Renee said, forcibly cheerful. "Where are you? Charlie told me you weren't home."
"Yeah," I said, feeling helpless. Here I was, her only daughter, far away and unable to do anything for her. "I'm at Edward's house. Alice invited me for a sleepover."
"That's nice," Renee breathed. "I'm glad you finally found people you can trust and converse with, honey. They're good to you, right?"
"Yeah," I said, tears in my eyes now. "Yeah, they're really good to me, Mom. So good to the point where I don't deserve their kindness anymore."
"Don't say that, Bella," Renee sighed. "You are special. Not just to me, but to Charlie and Phil and your friends…"
"Mom," I said, my voice breaking. "You're okay, right? You're not going to lie to me anymore, right? Even if it's about something small?"
"No," Renee said. "I promise I won't. This will be the first and last."
Tears were flowing down relentlessly now. But I couldn't let her know that I was crying. She had to gain strength by knowing that I was working hard on my studies and the musical.
"So…" Renee said. "How's the musical coming along?"
"Good, I guess," I said. "But I won't be able to practice all weekend. Alice and Emmett won't let me, and apparently, Edward sided with them too."
"I see," Renee chuckled. "Well, a break is good too. I heard you've been practicing a lot."
"You and Charlie gossip like old women, Mom," I complained, making her laugh weakly.
"I guess we do," she sighed. "It's ten o'clock there, right? You'd better get to sleep, Bella. You have to, in order to have fun for the weekends. Okay, honey?"
"Yeah, Mom," I answered, biting my lip. "Feel better, okay?"
Renee laughed. "You're such a smart girl, Bella. I can't keep anything from you anymore. I love you, honey."
"Love you too, Mom. Bye." I hung up the phone and stared off into the distance. Suddenly, there was a noise from behind, startling me.
Edward was standing right behind me in the shadows, watching silently.
"Who was that?" he asked innocently, stepping towards me.
"Did…did you hear everything?" I asked nervously.
"No," Edward said. "Just the last bit. Is your mother okay?"
"I don't appreciate being followed, Edward," I said wearily, purposely avoiding the subject.
"Sorry," Edward said quietly. "I was just worried about you. You've been acting strange lately."
"I'm fine," I said. "Come on, let's go in. I'm cold." I left him standing there on the porch. I didn't wait for him and went straight to my bedroom. I was laying in my bed for an hour when I finally Edward come in. He took his time coming up the stairs. Five minutes later, I vaguely heard him open his door next door and close it.
I wondered what he had been thinking about to take an hour to get into bed.
AN: Did you like the Truth or Dare concept? I don't know, it just came to me. I hope you enjoyed!