Truth or Dare - Danielle Allen Page 0,55
the sirens blaring, Fraternity Row was lit up with so many flashing lights that it couldn’t be any less than five police cruisers surrounding the Pi Rho Omicron house.
Even though it was far away, I could still make out at least three silhouettes in the backyard. I didn’t know if it was the cops or members of the fraternity, but either way, had I been caught, I would’ve gotten suspended from school, or worse, arrested. My record would’ve been blemished. My future would’ve been up in flames. My life would’ve been over. All because the shitty plan I had nothing to do with went sideways and instead of warning me, they left me to take the fall.
A branch snapped somewhere behind me and that was all it took for me to take off running again. My legs felt like lead, so I was slower than before. But I darted through the woods like I was the female Usain Bolt. My dance background involved endurance training but nothing like what I was pushing myself to do as I hurdled over underbrush, roots, and the unknown.
After what felt like hours, I could finally see Main Street. Gasping for air, I slowed to a stop. Still hidden in the trees, I scanned my surroundings. I ducked down immediately as two cars approached. When I thought the coast was clear, I inched forward, but the rumble of an old muffler caused me to hide again.
Main Street served as the primary road through University Falls Institute of Technology. When I couldn’t see or hear anything in the immediate area, I said a little prayer before darting toward the perfectly manicured campus grounds. The school was relatively small, but it was stretched out over a large piece of land. I felt exposed running through the grass and once I passed the huge UFIT welcome sign, my body shut down.
I don’t have another mile or two in me.
Unable to run anymore, I dragged my tired bones behind the library, where the on-campus apartment complex was located. I wasn’t going to make it much further and I didn’t want to go to the team house all the way across campus on Athletics Circle anyway. Jogging up Building A’s stairwell, I only paused for a second to check the time as I stood in front of my best friend’s apartment.
I knocked hard.
No answer.
I knocked again—harder.
I raised my fist just as I heard the door unlocking. The door hadn’t opened an inch before I pushed my way inside.
“What the hell, Brooklyn?” James Williams looked confused, disoriented and irritated as he closed the door behind me.
I collapsed into the beige carpet. The moment I hit the ground James seemed to startle awake.
“Brook, what’s wrong? What’s going on?” He was at my side in an instant. His hands on my shoulders. His eyes darted across my body.
I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off.
“You’re bleeding! What happened?”
“I’ll tell you everything, Jay. I promise,” I whispered. “I just—I need water. And can you help me take my shoes off please?”
He stared into my eyes for a second longer before releasing his hands from my shoulders and pulling off my boots. As soon as he saw my feet, he balked. “What the hell? What happened to you?”
“I’m okay.” I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Water,” I reminded him gently, my voice barely a whisper. My eyes filled with tears seeing how swollen my feet were and the amount of bruising on my legs.
Jay handed me a bottle of water and then left the room again. I twisted off the cap and gulped it down. He came back with alcohol, bandages, and a towel. With a shake of his head, he went back down the hall to the bathroom. I heard water running and by the time he returned, I was finishing the last huge mouthful.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he mumbled as he squatted, wrapping his arms around my torso to help me to my feet.
“Jay,” I whined, wincing as I stood.
He pushed off my jacket and it dropped to the floor softly. “I was going to try to put alcohol on your wounds.” He secured his arms around me and lifted with relative ease. Walking down the hall, he continued, “But some of your bruises are just dirt so I’m putting your dirty ass in the tub.”
“Shut up,” I groaned with amusement, squeezing his neck as he maneuvered us into the narrow doorway of the bathroom. I wanted