The Truth About Faking

you.”
    “Yeah.” I think about it a second. “Me too.”
    “And at the game… it seemed like you were upset. About your mom and—”
    “I don’t want to talk about that.” The image of what happened at the game ruins the calm I’m feeling, and right now I just want peace.
    “Okay.” Jason nods, and we’re quiet for a little while. I take another little sip and wonder what my big deal was with wine coolers anyway. They’re not so bad. I’m starting to feel sleepy again when he suddenly jumps up.
    “I know!” he says.
    “What?” I jump, too, at his sudden movement.
    “Truth or dare.” The distant streetlight makes his eyes twinkle. Or maybe I imagined it.
    I frown. “The game?”
    “Yeah, let’s play.”
    “Just you and me? Now? Uh uh. No way.”
    “What?” He drops onto the grass beside me again. “Why not?”
    “I am not playing Truth or Dare with you… out here. Tonight. Drinking wine.”
    “That’s the best way!” He smiles, poking my arm. “What’s the matter? Chicken?”
    You bet I am. “No,” I lie. “It’s just… that’s just something stupid waiting to happen.”
    “Stupider than fake dating?”
    “Yes,” I nod. “Much.”
    “I’ll go first.” He positions himself right in front of me and stares at me for a few seconds. I stare back.
    “What?” I finally ask.
    “I’m first.”
    “I didn’t agree—”
    “Come on. Just one round.”
    I shake my head and sigh. “Truth or dare?”
    “Dare.”
    “Really?” Heck. I look around. “You know, I wasn’t expecting to play this game.”
    “Wuss.”
    “No, I’m just… thinking.” I keep looking around. I don’t usually play Truth or Dare. Partly because I can never come up with good dares, but mostly because I’m petrified of what the truth questions might be. Always something embarrassing or dirty. Or both.
    “Time’s a’wastin, H.D.”
    “OK. Um… I dare you… I dare you to…”
    “The suspense is killing me.”
    “I dare you to go bang on the window of that house as hard as you can and then run back.”
    “What?” Jason frowns.
    “Yeah.” I push his arm. “That big one over there. I’m sure those guys have a house alarm. See if you can set it off.”
    “That is so lame.”
    “Well, I didn’t want to play your stupid game anyway.” I take another sip and turn away.
    “Hang on,” he breathes getting up.
    Jason takes off running into the night. Sure enough, a few seconds later the entire oversized house across the street lights up like a parade with buzzers and sirens. I start giggling as I see Jason streaking back to where I’m hiding on the creek bank. He jumps down beside me.
    “OK,” he’s breathing hard. “That wasn’t so bad.”
    “Thank you!” I say triumphantly, rolling onto my back. There are a million stars out tonight, and for some reason, I keep wanting to giggle. We wait a few minutes for the house to return to normal. The owner walks out in a robe and looks around, then he says something about cats or kids and stomps back inside. I snort and Jason rolls onto his back beside me, looking up at the sky.
    “Now it’s your turn,” he says.
    I feel my throat go dry and sit up. “I didn’t really want to play—”
    “Too late!” He cuts me off, sitting up too. “I already did your dare. Pick one, H.D.”
    My stomach is tight, and I can feel my pulse picking up. Should I say truth or dare? No telling what Jason’ll ask me. No telling what he’ll try to make me do. And now I’m clear on the other side of the neighborhood. That’s a long walk home in the dark.
    “Come on,” Jason demands. “Truth or dare?”
    “You know, this really is the stupidest game.”
    “Pick one.”
    I grab the bottle and finish the entire thing in one gulp.
    “This should be good,” he laughs.
    “Truth.” I say. “No, dare!” Then I hesitate again. “No, truth.”
    “Listen,” Jason leans over. “I know you’re a little sheltered, but you can only pick one.”
    “I know.” Ugh!   “Truth.”
    “OK.” Jason waits, looking at me. “You sure?”
    “Just ask already.”
    “You have to tell the truth.”
    “I know.” My heart’s racing.
    “Hmm…” he looks around.
    “Get on with it.”
    “Patience, grasshopper. I gave you time to think.”
    “Well, you wanted to play this silly game. I figured you had it all planned out.”
    “Okay, I’ll give you an easy one. Since you’re inexperienced and all.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Truth. Were you at least a little