all for a dare

9

-george pov-

without saying anything else, clay had already grabbed my arm and began walking back towards the window.

he started climbing out of it, then motioning for me to follow. i climbed out of the window as well, now looking at him with a confused expression on my face.

"we're going to have climb down the roof" clay spoke.

i sighed before replying. "you know, clay, the front doors open, right?"

"carter" is all he replies.

we proceeded to climb down from the roof. which wasn't too difficult. 'i guess i have a new way of sneaking out'  i silently laughed.

we both got down from the roof and got into clays car. he began driving, i decided to ask where we were going. even though he probably wouldn't tell me.

"where are we going this time?" i said looking to my left, over at clay.

he looked over at me before focusing his eyes back onto the road. "do you really want to know that bad?"

"i mean, kind of...?" i slightly hesitated, not knowing how i should answer that.

"fine," he replied. "i'm taking you to the top of a mountain"

"what? to push me off or something?!" i joked.

"obviously," clay laughed. "jokes aside, it's really pretty up there"

"oh okay, how far away is it?"

clay looked down and picked up his phone. he tapped the screen turning it on. his eyes flashing back and fourth from the road and the phone.

(don't text and drive, seriously)

"another ten minutes" he spoke.

"okay"

I stared out the window for the remaining of the car ride. there wasn't much to look at, seeing it was pitch black outside. i mainly stared at the lights on people's front porches. which wasn't all that interesting.

clay eventually began to drive up a steep road, making our way to the top of the mountain.

it wasn't necessary a large mountain. it was definitely on the smaller end. but it was high enough to where you knew the view would look good.

the mountain was pretty popular. it had a hiking trail at the top, which is what attracted most of the visitors.

we finally arrived at the top and clay parked his car. i got out and began walking towards clay, confused on what to do next.

he motioned me to follow him over to the edge. i laughed at the thought in my head but ignored it.

he sat down, leaning himself onto a tree. i sat down and joined him looking around at our surroundings.

we were about twenty feet from the edge of the mountain. trees and benches surrounded us, as well as the small parking lot directly behind us.

"it's nice up here, isn't it?" clay spoke first.

"it is"

clay turned his head over towards me before replying. "even though you can't see much it still looks nice. the moon, the stars, the view of the street lights from up here"

i nodded my head in agreement. "yeah, it's beautiful up here"

"not as beautiful as-"

"don't even say it," i interrupted and laughed.

"wow, okay then. i was just saying," clay paused. he pretended to look up, acting as if he was thinking. "oh- and george. don't you owe me something?"

i knew exactly what he was talking about. there was no need to ask about. he knew that i knew aswell.

"that's a thing now? i thought that was a joke" i defended.

"well, it doesn't necessarily have to be a joke" he smiled jokingly.

"i mean," i paused, trying not to laugh. "i'm fine with it being a joke"

"friends are nice to each other, right?" he fake pouted.

friends.

all that came to my mind is when i called clay an 'acquaintance'. i guess he was right. we were friends. or are friends.

acquaintances are someone you talk to, but don't consider them a friend.

clay and i, well, hang out pretty often. technically we've hung out everyday for the past three days. something like that. and we kissed...which i don't even know how to explain.

i snap out of my thoughts as i see clay leaning in closer to me. and no, it wasn't for a kiss. he leaned off the of the tree, making his way next to me.

he put his arm on the ground for support, as he set his chin down on my shoulder. he set his other arm down on my thigh, just how he did at the party.

i turned my head to look over at him, which left us only inches apart. he started the lean in closer, eventually taking his hand off my thigh. he brought his hand up to my face and started to drag his finger along the bottom of my chin, slowly leaning in closer to me.

he went in for a kiss but stopped himself. he gave a me a look asking for consent, waiting for an answer back.

without responding to clay, i leaned into the kiss and connected our lips. he kissed back, returning his hand to my thigh.

clay pulled out of the kiss, which lasted longer than expected, and looked directly at me.

"i thought you wanted to keep the kiss a joke, huh?" he smirked.

"shut up" i laughed back.

clay raised an eyebrow. "so it doesn't have to be a joke?"

"lets just say...when we're alone it doesn't have to be a joke"