Dare

Eighteen

EDITED: December 2020

School had officially started a little under a month ago, and so this first month has been filled with work, work and more work. I mean, seniors start writing finals in less than two months. It's also mine and Theo's three month anniversary next week which I'm kinda excited about.

"Hey, Ella. You know how prom is in May, right?" Aimee said to me in drama while we were working on theory.

"Yeah," I mumbled, answering the questions on the Greek theatre history that we had to do.

"And obviously you know what that means," She said.

"No, what?" I asked, getting slightly frustrated because I really wanted to work on these questions quietly.

"You have to break-up with Theo."

That caught my attention.

"Y-yeah, I know," I mumbled, feeling a wave of an unexplained emotion rush through me.

"Just reminding you," She said with a small smirk before going back to her work.

She can't make me break-up with him. I mean, I feel feelings for Theo that I've never felt for anyone before. I mean, just even a simple text from him can make my day and I swear a whole volcano erupts in my stomach every time he kisses me and oh god, he gives the best hugs. There's so much more than that. Stuff I just can't explain. I spoke to Kendall about it and she's convinced its...well, you know. The L word.

"Ella, the bell's gone," Aimee's voice said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, okay," I mumbled, quickly packing my books away and then walked out of the class to my Literature class.

"Hey, baby," Theo's voice said as he fell into step with me.

"Hey," I said, smiling up at him.

"Before I forget, are you free tonight?" He asked me.

"Yeah, why?"

"Come over?"

"Sure," I said with a small smile.

"See you at lunch," He said, kissing my cheek before walking into his physics class while I continued on down the hall to literature.

"Hey, stranger," Joey said with a smile as I sat down in my seat next to him.

"Hey," I said, returning the smile.

"What's up? You seem down," He observed.

See, besides Aimee, Joey's know me the longest. We've been friends since we were three years old because our moms are friends.

"Just stuff," I mumbled.

"The dare?" He asked knowingly.

"You have no idea," I sighed.

"You really like Theo, don't you?" He asked.

"More than anything," I admitted.

"Then don't break-up with him," He said as if it were the most simple thing in the whole world.

"Joey, it's not that simple," I sighed again.

"But it can be. Don't let Aimee ruin something great," He said just as the lesson started. "And besides, the dare is stupid. It's supposed to be fun and games but Aimee took it a little too far. You don't have to do what she says, you know."

I couldn't help but think about my friend's words. He's right. I won't let Aimee ruin what Theo and I have.

***

At seven thirty that evening I was over at Theo's house. Ringing the doorbell, it was answered by his mother.

"Ella, hi," She grinned at me, opening the door and letting me in.

"Hi," I smiled at her.

"Theo and Athena are out in their garden. I'll take you through," She said, leading me out the patio doors and across the green acre and into a small section that I hadn't ever seen before.

It was tranquil and peaceful with a few benches around and a pond. On one of the benches sat Theo, strumming a guitar and singing the song Never Be Alone by Shawn Mendes. My heart almost melted.

"So take a piece of my heart
And make it all your own
So when we are apart
You'll never be alone."

Okay, almost three months in and I had no idea that he could sing or play the guitar? Some girlfriend I am.

"Ella!" Athena squealed with a grin, running over to me.

"Hey, cutie," I grinned at her, bending down to hug her.

I listened as Theo spoke to his mom in Spanish before Athena said goodbye to us and the two of them headed inside.

"Who knew you were quite the music prodigy," I teased as we took a seat on the bench he and Athena were sitting on previously.

"Oh, speak for yourself," He chuckled. "Apparently you aced your role as Dorothy back in seventh grade and have the voice of an Angel."

"Okay, how is it that you know all of this?" I asked with a laugh.

"Lucy Snippet told me," He said. Ah, I see. Lucy and I have known each other since third grade so obviously she knows about my theatre run back in elementary school.

Then it was silent for a moment with Theo plucking the strings of his guitar. I recognised the song as Two Is Better Than One by Boys Like Girls and Taylor Swift.

"I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I though hey, you know this could be something
Cause everything you do and words you say
You know that it all takes my breath away
And now I'm left with nothing."

I couldn't help but smile as he sang. He knows it's one of my favourite songs.

"And maybe it's true that I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
There's so much time to figure out the rest of our lives
And you've already got me coming undone
And two is better than one."

As he sang, I sat there wondering what I had done to deserve someone so perfect in my life. Joining him in the last chorus, our voices blended in perfect harmony.

"You're so perfect," He whispered as he finished singing and then kissed my temple. "I'm so lucky."

"If anything, I'm the lucky one," I said, resting my head on his shoulder.

I felt him take a deep breath before he spoke. He said something I never would have expected him to say.

"I love you, Ella."

My jaw dropped and my heart started racing. Oh my god. Kendall was right.

"Oh, shit. Wait, I'm sorry," He rambled, realising that I hadn't said anything. "I shouldn't have said anything. It's too soon and I -"

"Theo, shut up," I giggled, stopping him in the middle of his rambling. "I love you too, you dork."

"Wait, you do?" He asked, sounding surprised.

"Yeah, I do," I nodded.

"Oh, great," He breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're so weird," I giggled, wrapping my arms around his neck. "But the kinda weird I like."

"You're so special," He said, his beautiful eyes looking like deep pools of blue under the lights.

Pressing my lips against his, the kiss was amazing. I mean, we've had amazing kisses before but this one...it was a whole new kind of amazing. It was amazing because I know that I'm in love with Theo Parker.

Truly, madly and deeply in love.