Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Once

The sun was almost setting by the time we were cooking meatloaf on the little portable oven that Dodge had brought.The setting sun hung above the sea level, and the first beautiful sunset glow appeared in the cloudless blue sky.I leaned back in my chair, my belly full, and let the last bit of heat of the day brush my face. "It's time to start a fire, what do you think?" Martin asked softly. At the word fire, both Dodge and Darren jumped to their feet, eager and enthusiastic.Darren's face no longer had the usual indifferent and condescending expression, and suddenly became much younger and cuter.Seeing him rubbing his hands happily made me want to smile at him.

"Of course," he said. Neither Emma nor I moved.This is clearly what boys are supposed to do.First they dug a hole, and then put away the hastily gathered firewood.Watching them go about their business makes me wonder if they ever did Boy Scouts.Possibly Martin.His actions, which seem most purposeful, are charged with arranging the branches into a cone, placing a ball of paper in the center, and lighting the paper with a match. "I'll add some toppings," Darren said, holding up a bottle.I suddenly realized that there was vodka in it. "Don't!" Martin yelled, jumping up, throwing an arm up, to stop Darren, who was pouring wine into a small smoking fire.

In the blink of an eye, the friendly atmosphere disappeared.Darren bristles, eyes squinted, fists clenched, broad shoulders and biceps stretched tight beneath his comically tight T-shirt.Martin knew something was wrong at a glance, and his expression changed from wary and annoyed to pleading. "I just don't want to waste it." He forced a smile, "The fire will definitely be lit, just wait for a while." "But since you've got the vodka out..." Dodge appeared behind Darren, holding a stack of plastic cups. The atmosphere was a little awkward, Darren still staring at Martin, barely concealing his aggression.After a while, he turned and filled the glass that Dodge had raised.I watched as Darren poured half a glass of vodka into a clear plastic cup, then Dodger poured a Coke and filled the glass to the brim.This time, I didn't hesitate when he handed me the cup.That way it won't look like I've never had a drink.

I took a sip.I knew that at least Dodge was looking at me, so I tried not to look disgusted.Coke can't cover the spicy taste of vodka at all.It smelled really sick, like drinking hairspray.But no one complained, so I took another sip.Still so bad.I went back to my seat, thinking I'd have to get another Coke whenever I got the chance. "So what are we doing now?" Darren asked from the other side of the fire.As Martin had assured, the fire was burning brightly, and Darren's face glowed against the orange light.It was getting dark quickly, and behind him, darker and darker shadows enveloped the earth.

"How about playing truth or dare?" Emma suggested with a smile. "Truth or Dare?" Martin repeated.His tone was harsh, but I could tell from his eyes that he was actually scared. I am like him.Dodge seemed enthusiastic and had a big smile on his face, while my heart was pounding at the thought of what I was going to say or do in front of Dodge. "Sounds good," Dodge said.He turned around and raised an eyebrow at me questioningly, "Heather, what do you think?" What can i say? "Okay then." I muttered. Martin sighed less enthusiastically. "Let's play then."

"Very good, truth or dare." Darren drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, poured another glass quickly, filled Emma's as well, put the remaining half bottle of wine between his feet, protected Bottle, "Who's First?" "Just you," Martin suggested.Darren, like me, would definitely say no to the truth. "Okay then," Darren said, rising to accept the challenge. "Truth or Dare?" Emma asked impatiently. "big Adventure." She is not happy now, I know she must want to ask him some important questions that have been planned, such as whether he loves her or not.I think Darren is too drunk to answer this kind of question.me too.I took another swig, knowing it would be my turn soon.

"I figured it out." Dodge leaned forward, rubbing his hands. "I bet you don't dare go into the ocean. Go chest deep first, then stick your head in the water." Darren stared at him dumbfounded. "The Irish Sea, it's scary. It's super cold!" "coward!" As soon as these words came out, Darren seemed to be stimulated.Suddenly he jumped up from his chair. "Look." He began to undress carelessly, almost throwing his jeans into the fire, causing Emma to pull them away from the fire. "With the ladies around, I'd better not take off my panties."

He winked at Martin, smiled wickedly, and walked across the sand. We were fifty meters away from the sea, but we could still hear him gasp the moment his feet hit the water.Still he walked forward against the waves, his silhouette silhouetted against the last rays of sunlight.He went so far that the water was up to his shoulders, and at this moment, he dived under the water, and the horizon became a straight line again.A moment later he reappeared, half swimming, half running, toward the shore.As soon as he was out of the water, he rushed desperately to the fire to keep warm. "God, this is the Baltic Sea!" He was shivering with cold, jumping up and down on the spot, stretching out his hand to warm the fire.Goosebumps covered his body, impressive muscles twitching beneath the skin.

His boxers were soaked and clung to him indecently.I try not to look where I shouldn't, especially since he has taken off his panties to put on his jeans. "Aren't you going to put on a T-shirt?" Darren asked unhappily as he sat back in his chair shirtless. "Let's wait until I dry myself first." Darren grinned at him.He looked Martin straight in the eye, and gave his pecs a couple of twitches, as if he were performing a nasty dance move. "Show off," Martin muttered.His voice was so low that only I could hear it because our chairs were so close together, only an arm's length away.But Darren smiled brighter, and I don't know if he guessed what Martin was thinking.

"Who's next?" Darren asked. "You choose," Emma told him, touching his outstretched thigh with her toe. "Then I choose you. Truth or Dare, beauty?" Emma giggled twice, overjoyed to have his attention.I turned my head away, rolled my eyes, and caught Martin's gaze.He unobtrusively imitated a shot of shooting himself in the head, and I couldn't help but silently laugh. "Ah, I don't know." She giggled again. "Choose one, Emma," I said, perhaps a little too emphatically.She stuck her tongue out at me. "Great adventure," she said finally.

"Fine..." Dodge said, but Darren held up a hand. "I have a great idea." "What?" Emma looked at Darren worriedly.me too.I don't want him to propose some embarrassing adventure, because I know what questions Emma will ask if I choose the truth. "Take off your shirt." "what?" "Come on baby. I'm half naked here myself, feeling naked." "Then you can put on a T-shirt," Martin said, and Darren ignored him, just staring at Emma and raising his eyebrows suggestively. Biting her lip, she seemed hesitant, and after a while, she took off the sleeveless T-shirt over her head.She was wearing a tie bikini bra underneath.Seeing this scene, I felt that I might as well just die.Emma, ​​my Emma, ​​who is supposed to be embarrassed, enjoys the attention.I saw her look around and make sure all three boys were looking at her.Of course it did, only Martin looked away for a moment.Dodge had been staring at her, eyebrows raised in admiration, a smile on his lips. I feel very bad taste.First of all because he was looking at her like that.Second... there is no way I can take my clothes off.Is this how to spend tonight?I drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, trying to quench the fear that had been squirming in my stomach.When Darren saw that I was done drinking, he raised the bottle at me.After hesitating for a moment, I held out my glass and let him pour the wine.Dodge handed me the Coke, and I poured it into the glass, which was full in no time. "Okay," Emma said maliciously, she was very satisfied with being the focus of attention just now, "I choose Dodge." "The truth." He said without thinking. Emma glanced at me with ulterior motives, and I felt a chill down my spine.No, Emma.Please don't, I thought. "Do you have a crush?" she asked. I wanted to take another sip of vodka, but I couldn't swallow it.The world in front of me receded a little, as if I was looking at it through a tunnel.I don't know if it's the alcohol or if it's just embarrassment. Dodge didn't seem to think the question mattered. "Have." "who is it?" I waited for his answer, my heart stopped, but he leaned back in the chair, still smiling. "That's two." "What?" Emma blinked, confused. "You asked two questions. You are only entitled to one." I can breathe again, and Emma's face turns pale with rage. "But it's not fair!" she screamed. "No, that's fair." Dodge disagreed. "Darren!" Emma turned to look at him, trying to win his support, but he just kept laughing. "I'm sorry, Angel, but you don't know how to ask questions." "Nonsense," Emma complained. Dodge shrugged, spread his hands, and looked innocent.I didn't say a word, just hoping that no one else could hear my adrenaline rushing heart pounding.So, he has someone he likes.I wondered who that person was, and the disappointment weighed on me.I hope it's not Emma, ​​I thought.Anyone but her. "Dodge, do you take Heather or Martin?" Darren asked. I waited for Dodge's answer without even daring to look at him.I want him to choose me, and I don't want him to choose me.The silence continued, and finally, I took a look at him.He gazed at me thoughtfully.I looked at him too, and after a while, he looked away. "Martin," he said. A wicked smile spread across Darren's face. "Truth or dare, Martin?" Martin adjusted his position in his seat, looking uncomfortable.No doubt he was wondering what Darren was going to do to him. "Honestly," he said slowly. The smile on Darren's face deepened. "who do you like?" For a while, no one spoke.Everyone looked at Martin, who shook his head and folded his arms. "I'm not going to answer that question," he said flatly. "Come on." Emma scolded, "everyone has played this game." "I don't care. I just don't answer." "Then you're going to take a big risk," Darren told him.I could hear the malevolent pleasure in his voice, but there was no way he could do anything to Martin. "No problem, just tell me." Darren immediately gave an answer, so it can be seen that he had premeditated. "I bet you wouldn't dare kiss Heather. A real kiss isn't a light kiss on the cheek." As soon as I hear my name, I feel like all my internal organs are twisted together.I looked first at Darren, then at Martin.I knew I was surprised and embarrassed, my eyes widened like brass bells; Martin, on the other hand, was completely bewildered.He stared at me for a moment, then looked away slightly to the left and behind me.Dodge just sat there.I couldn't even turn around to see his expression; in that case, I might as well pour the rest of the wine on myself and jump into the fire first. After a few horrifying seconds—which felt like a long year—Martin turned to look at Darren. "No." He said firmly, "I can't." "Why?" Darren asked. "Because it's stupid. I don't want to embarrass myself, and I don't want to embarrass Heather either. Besides—" He glanced in Dodge's direction again, "You know, you Bad idea. Forget it." "You have to pick one, that's the rule of the game. Pick quickly." Darren's voice was unfriendly, aggressive.I have long expected that they will fight, and it is estimated that my prediction will soon come true. "I don't choose." Martin disagreed, leaning forward in his seat, as if about to stand up.As the testosterone continued to rise, Darren moved too. "Martin, that's how truth or dare is played," Emma chimed in, taking Darren's side. "Then I won't play." "Are you a coward?" Darren asked softly.I could see Darren annoyed Martin.Martin stood up and stood before us. "No." He said slowly, emphasizing these two words, "I'm not a coward, you know it very well." "You are. A coward!" Darren also stood up, but Dodge was faster than him. He stood up suddenly and put an arm around Darren's shoulder. "Okay, enough truth or dare, I'm hungry. Who wants toasted marshmallows?"