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It was around seven in the morning when an alarm went off, disturbing Rhapsody's sleep. She jolted up hearing Simple Mind's song, Don't You Forget About Me continuing to play on full blast before she reached under her pillow to shut her new phone off. She yawned before snuggling back in her bed, just now remembering that her boyfriend, Darren was sleeping next to her. She sighed and let out a smile before kissing his jaw. "Good morning." She said softly before

As she waited for him to finally wake up, she could hear that outside her door was silent which is just what she wanted. Her parents were suppose to be away until later that night. They have been away for almost a week for their anniversary and for that week, Darren had been staying with her for a couple of those nights. Her sister had found out the second night after seeing the teenage boy's car not far from their house, but she promised not to tell her brothers or their parents. Knowing that if any of the men in their family found out that both Rhapsody and Darren would be in trouble by both of their families. Knowing Peter Graham though, Rhapsody knew that her father would cause the most trouble. Blaming, Darren for the whole thing like he always did whenever Rap did something he didn't approve of.

She looked at the time, 7:04 a.m. The bohemian girl sat up in her bed and let out a loud yawn, that she hoped her boyfriend didn't hear, and got out of her bed. Walking to her bathroom, she grabbed out her outfit for the day and tossed it one the sink watching her shorts slip to the floor. She turned on the water and hopped in, hoping to get done before Darren woke up. Did it matter that he saw her in nothing but a towel? No, but she still wanted to get dressed and be able to have her make up on as soon as she could.

After not even ten minutes, Rhapsody was done and looking in the mirror to check her reflection. She pulled down on her shorts a bit in order to make them look longer just in case one of her brothers were still home. She spun around once more before smiling at her outfit choice for the first day back. She looked at her boyfriend and walked over to him. She sat on his hard chest and leaned down to give him a long but, gentle kiss. It wasn't until she heard her door open that she pulled away. When she pulled away and she saw her brother, Xavier there she had no idea what to say. "What the Hell?! Jackson! Get over here."

"No! Jackson, don't come here." Rhapsody shouted to the room next to her. She pushed her brother out of her room when he tried to get closer to Darren. "Get out. Get out of my room." She closed the door behind her and looked at her brother with an annoyed look on her face. "What the hell is he doing here, Rhapsody? Did he spend the night?... Oh dear God don't tell me you..--"

"No, of course not! Look, we just watched a couple of movies and we fell asleep. That's all." Her brother looked at her, trying to see if she was lying. He looked her up and down before sighing. "Do you know what dad would if he found out?"

"If I found out what?"

Rhapsody heard her father's deep voice along with the front door shutting behind their mother and father. "Nothing." Rhapsody said down the stairs as she looked at her brother who just shrugged. "Oh really?" Then next thing the teenagers heard was their father's loud and steady footsteps coming up the stairs. Luckily he was first going to his room to drop off his and his wife's bags on to their large king size bed. Giving the siblings enough time to think of a plan. "Help me." The small girl whispered to her older brother who looked at her like she was crazy. "What am I suppose to do?" He whispered towards her. She shrugged. "Anything. Just don't let him see Darren right now."

"Fine, get him looking decent and I'll distract dad." Xavier walked towards their father's and mother's room to see the two of them unpacking their bags and putting their clothing back in their specific places in their large walk in closet. What Xavier was saying, Rhapsody had no idea. The parents' room was too far away from her room. Rhapsody went back in her room and looked at her boyfriend. "Aw, you look so cute." She told him before remembering the plan. "Okay, so my parents are back a day early and they're here right now. Xavier is distracting them so that you can sneak downstairs, knock on the door, and make it seem like you just got here." She said with an embarrassed smile. She hated doing this but, she didn't want to get in trouble and her father was already skeptical of Darren and his intentions with his daughter, why give him even more reason to not trust the young man?

She wrapped her arms around her boyfriend and kissing his cheek softly. When she pulled away, she sighed. "I am really sorry, baby. I just... I just don't want my dad to hate you and if he finds you, he will make me leave you. And, I can't do that to you." She let go of him and just looked at him, hoping that he wasn't angry at her.

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Typing on his seat he was bringing to become annoyed. "What is it?" Flashing a glare towards his brother he just rolled his eyes. Answering the question was pointless, it wouldn't change his discomfort or boredom. "Earth to, Dare." With an index finger Dare was poked in the rib age by his older brother over and over again until Cooper got the reaction, Dare began to laugh. "Please stop!" Exclaiming he began to worm and wiggle to get away and luckily it soon stopped. "Now, what's wrong?" Softly laying his hand on his brothers leg he sighed. "It's about 5 in the morning and I still haven't slept. I've been awake ever since we left Florida... boringly awake. I also have to go to school as soon as we get back...... and you also haven't given me my cell back." Pouting his bottom lip out he began to quietly whimper with his head on Cooper's shoulder. "Acting like a baby isn't going to do you any good, you know I'll give it back to you when we land. Do you have any undone homework? " Slowly shaking his head he felt his brothers arm go around his shoulders and pull his closer. "I'll do your work for you while you're at school today and you can turn it in tomorrow, but for now just sleep." Letting his pucker change into curved success he took one last look at the pinkish sky that spread for miles before falling asleep on Cooper.

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Boom! "We're going to die!" Yelling at the random noise drew much more attention than he wanted. The sound had waken him up from his hour long nap, turning everything slightly awkward as people walked by staring him down like he had just killed someone. "That murderous sound was just me dropping your luggage to the floor, now pick it up so we may leave." Dare raised a brow to his brother and steadily got up, confused by his new surroundings he tried not to question anything and just got his things like instructed. "I carried you off the plane you big baby." There was the answer to his bewilderment, but he couldn't completely comprehend why Cooper hadn't just woken him up. He didn't really care though, so instead he just followed behind his brother as he walked passed other people through the crowded airport.

At random Cooper just stopped walking, so random to the point that Dare tipped into him, but luckily he was strong enough to support his younger brother and not let them both crash to the floor, which would just cause another unneeded scene. "What's your problem?" Cooper was concentrating hard on something in front of him that it caused him to stop, What is he looking at? Following the gaze his jaw dropped at what had caused the stop. "Was looking at yourself in the mirror that important and may I have my phone now?" The mirror was a little aways next to a some gift shop in the port. "In fact it was very important, after I drop you off at school I have a meeting and no, you can have it later." As his brother messed with his own hair Dare was about to speak back, but received a dirty look, leading him to shut his mouth. He finally decided maybe he could admire himself as well. He didn't look to bad himself today though, wearing a blue beanie, a green plaid shirt, brown vest, black church shoes, and just a pair of old khaki skinny jeans. He made it work, Dare made everything work. "You look gay." Giving a facial expression of over dramatic pain Dare just stood there ruffled by his brothers calm remark. "Not in a bad way of course." Turning towards Dare, Cooper took the hem of the soft vest. "I mean only gays dress so nice... and wear beanies and skinny jeans." "So do surfers and scene boys." Quickly interjecting he crossed his arms over his chest, [color=#]"But thank you, I know I'm stylish."[/color] They both shared a laugh before starting to move again to leave. "I don't mind if you dress the part, but you start acting and sounding the part I'll beat you." Dare made a chocking noise in his throat before hitting his brother in the back of his head. "You may be older and straighter than me, but I'm simply more man." Cooper slung the suitcase he had in his hands at Dare's legs, making him fall to the ground as the other man laugh, "Just keep telling yourself that." Taking in a deep breath Dare rolled over onto his back before getting up, Sometimes I hate that bastard.

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The car ride had to be not to bad. Both of the idiots in the car had the radio blaring Nicki Minaji's song, Beez In The Trap. Someway they both knew all the words to ever song on the CD, and momentarily they were singing, more like horribly screaming, the song. Dare could actually sing, but right now he just wanted to be a hot mess with his brother.

As the song began to fade to nothing Cooper turned down the radio and looked over at his brother. "Is there anything from the house you need?" As he thought it over he tapped his finger to his chin while he made his face from a kissy face. "What the heck are you doing?" "Thinking!" Cooper lowed down into his seat at the yell of Dare and quietly said ok. After a few minutes passed Dare finally knew what he needed, "All my school supplies is at home." "It took you that much time to tell me that?" "Yes, yes it did in fact.... and may I-" Before he could finish he was finally once again reunited with his phone. Every time they would take a trip his brother would always take it away from him, maybe because he had broken five last year from past adventures they had went on; when his brother had his phone it meant he could never break it himself.

Once the blue touchscreen phone was in between he immediately went to his messages to see if he had any new ones, and of course he did. From lots of people, a majority of them he barely knew, but still they texted him.
Clicking on the New Message link it took him to a screen where he began to type a text to no other than his bestfriend.

To: Darren
Hey, I just got back in town, what's up?

After he sent it he just stared at the blank screen for a couple of seconds for turning off the phone and looming up at Cooper, "Sometimes I don't think I should even give it back." "Why?" "Because you just make yourself look stupid." "How so?" His brother was acting so strange this day, to strange for Dare's taste. He didn't understand what that comment was suppose to mean at all, it seemed so stopped. "Why?" Dare asked over and over, but still he got no answer. Getting fed up with Cooper he just stopped trying and gave up on asking, he finally just turned the CD back up and began to sing along quietly by himself.

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Not once had Darren really noticed his girlfriend's alarm go off nor did he know that his girlfriend had sneaked out of bed and went to get ready while here he was being lazy and sleeping in. It wasn't until he heard his girlfriend open the door to the bathroom and come back into the room that he actually woke up, yawning softly so that her brother's wouldn't hear. That was the last thing they needed was for Rhapsody to get in trouble for having him over when she wasn't supposed to. Of course before he really knew it and just as he had planned to get up after kissing his girlfriend inconveniently one of her brother's walked in then of course her dad was home early as well. While Darren wasn't as worried about Rhapsody's brother finding out he was worried about her dad finding Darren there. As soon as Rhapsody was on her feet so was Darren. He looked around a little confused about what he should do. Grabbing his jeans for the day he fled to the bathroom where he changed from his pj pants into his jeans for the day. Quickly leaving the bathroom he went to get his shirt where he finished up changing out of his pj's -which had consisted of mainly sweat pants and a light t-shirt- into his school clothes. Noticing his girlfriend walking in he rubbed his eyes tiredly then smiled at her when she began to approach him. Slipping his arms gently around her waist he nodded, remembering what the plan was detail by detail. While this didn't happen often he still made sure he knew what he was doing so that he didn't give Rhapsody's dad any more of a reason to not like him. "I kind of figured we would get caught some time. Don't worry about it babe." He said to her softly before kissing her gently on the lips and went back to making sure he looked fairly decent. He slipped on his leather jacket, combing his hair and then running a hand through his hair to make it look only a little messy. Quickly he stuffed anything he had brought (which wasn't much) into his bag, zipping it closed he grabbed his phone and looked at her carefully. A small smile crept onto his face as he pulled one of the straps of his book bag onto his shoulder.

"Ninja time," He joked then shook his head as he brushed by her, kissing her cheek as he carefully snuck from the room, praying that her dad or her mom didn't see him as he snuck through the house. He tried to sneak down the stairs as fast as he could though not fast enough that he would accidentally hit a squeaky spot. Or at least that is what he had hoped. Sqquuueeaaakkk, Tipping his head back he almost let out an angered groan as he did what he was trying his very best to avoid. He really hoped that her dad hadn't heard that mess up. Quickly he made his way down the stairs and out the door of Rhapsody's house, closing it quietly behind him. About half way down the walk way he turned around and started walking once again back towards the door of Rhapsody's home. For one he felt like an idiot doing this but also he felt a little jumpy because of what just happened. He jumped at the sound of his notification on his phone going off. Letting out a soft needed sigh he took out his phone, looking down at it and reading the text message from his best friend while he knocked on the door. After
knocking on the door he texted back his best friend:



After typing up the text he clicked his phone off and slid it into his pocket. Adjusting the bag on his shoulder he looked up, tapping his foot and leaning from one foot to the other while he waited for someone to answer the door. Until then all he could really do was wait so that is what he did.

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"Will you please stop singing? At first it was ok, but now you're overly singing. You're annoying and you're stressing me out!" "Please calm down with your childishness, sometimes it seems like I'm older than you." Dare refused to be upset, so he kept his voice calm; it was going to take a whole lot more than Cooper's stupidness to make him upset. "Whatever, you know I'm the more mature one, I mean you come to me for advice, not the other way around, do I need to give you proof?" "Please don't start your lawyer crap." Whenever Cooper almost last an argument he felt like he needed to use his lawyer skills and state facts how he's right. Like if Dare said he was smarter Cooper would always remind him that unlike him he never made straight A's, it was extremely annoying. He wasn't the smartest, Dare knew he wasn't the smartest person, but he didn't like lawyer mumbo jumbo entering into his conversations. He decided to just stare out the misty window and the tall trees around him, they were in some woods, he went by these trees every weekend, but still he never took his time to remember the name of whatever street it was, all he knew was it was extremely ominous and beautiful in the morning.

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"Do you understand?" "Huh?" Dare snapped his head around to Cooper, "Have you not been listening this whole time?" With a few twitches of his head his brother knew that the answer was no. Slamming on the breaks slung both of there bodies forward. Dare stopped his motion by placing his hands on the dashboard. "What the-" He was cut odd by the swears of his brother. "I could sue their asses so fast..." As the rants continued Dare looked in front of them to see the car that was still parked, a lime green bug that had its emergency lights on. "At least we're at our stop though." "Stop?" Cooper exited the car, at first Dare thought he was going to say something to the owners of the bug, instead his brother walked around the car and up the walkway of a house of one of his friends. I hate his friends so much. Dropping his head he knew, Kindle, Cooper's bestie, was about to get in the car and be as annoying as possible. I need entertainment. Pick his phone back up he looked at his screen full of unread messages, Gosh, I'm to popular. Smirking to himself he scrolled through all of them, replying to most of them with only one word, until he got to Darren's reply. Reading the text at the speed of light it didn't take long for him to type up the reply with his super fast thumbs.

To: Darren

Sorry for slow reply, almost had a wreck and Cooper's picking up one of his dumb friends. What long story, I have all the time in the world? And I shall be at school, I gotta come see my bestie after the long break. It feels like I haven't seen you for years.

Right after the message was sent his brother entered back into the drivers side and Kindle in the back. "Hey, Kindle..." The fading words was Dare's reaction to Cooper's tension and strained look. "What's your problem?" His voice lacked attitude, he was use to Cooper being mad at him for talking to his friends, but he was tired of caring, just so tired of caring, and of course he couldn't completely rant about how it made him feel, because they'd ask him why his brother acted that way and he couldn't tell them that it was because he was gay, but he at least got some of it off his chest to his best friend, he never went into full detail though. "Excuse me? If you want to go to school I recommend you behave." What? Dare could handle his rudeness when it was the both of them, it was different when he was being mean to him just because his friend was in the car. Looking back at Kindle he smirked, "Has another man ever told you how sexy you are?" The sentence ended badly: the car swerving between both lanes (luckily not hit by the passing cars) and Cooper hitting him in the face. Wincing Dare brought his hand to his left cheek, when his hand pulled away it had red stains. "I'm sorry-" "Don't say anything, Cooper." Opening the glove department he pulled out tissues and dabbed the blood that ran his cheek. Cooper's eyes were filled with regret when Dare glanced at him. "I-" For some reason the sentence came to an end before it ever began, but Dare didn't care, he was mad. Cooper reached over his baby brother to pull down the visor for him. "Thank you." If someone else had hit him he would have probably punched, he couldn't do that to his brother though, he knew he had crossed the line some and left Kindle very confused and bewildered, but Dare did what Dare wanted to do.

In the visor mirror he watched as he cleaned the blood from himself and saw the bruise that had already formed across his cheek. "How am I suppose to explain this to mom and dad?" "Tell them you got into a fight." [color]"With?"[/color] "Me." The car was heated by the brothers anger, the very awkward anger that left Kindle in the back looking out the window as the boys talked in monotoned voice to keep another spat from starting. "Mom's going to beat you then, but whatever." "I know."

Sighing Dare checked his phone for a text as his brother finally pulled him in front of the school.

To: Darren

I'm at school, let me know when you get here because I need someone to rant to.

Honestly Dare was hurt that he had been hit, but those words would never come out of his mouth, he was way to prideful. "Bye love you, Dare." "You didn't even go the house to get my stuff." A twenty second silence filled the whole car, not even their breathing could be heard. "I'll bring it to you as soon as I can, just tell your teachers if they ask why you don't have it." "Fine," reaching into his bag that laid in the floor he pulled out his black rimmed glasses and put them on, "bye love you too." Getting out of the car he slammed the door behind him and walked up the stairs that lead to the school, when reaching the top stair he sat down waiting for his friend, coat less in the not-to-cold weather.

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"I kind of figured we would get caught some time. Don't worry about it babe."

Rhapsody sighed softly. "I know, I know." She had a small pout on her face before he kissed her. She sighed and leaned against one of her blue walls as she watched him get ready. "Ninja time," Rap rolled her eyes as he kissed her cheek and snuck out of her room which was luckily right by the stairs. She peeked her head out of her door to see him sneaking out down the stairs. She walked towards her parents' room, hearing a loud squeak as she did. She softly facepalmed herself before sighly a bit too loud. "Rhapsody, Xavier told me what you did."

"Oh, I'm going to kill him." She cleared her throat before walking into the large master bedroom to see her brother smiling and his father doing the same. Only difference was that her brother was smiling nervously like he was begging her to help him out of the hole he must have dug himself into. "Xavier tells me that you're thinking of quitting your band. Is this true?" Rhapsody sent a glare towards her brother before looking back at her father. "Well sir, I mean I'm kind of considering it. Seeing that's it my senior year. I would like to focus on my studies more than anything. In order to get into your alma mater, you need to have good grades, right?" Peter Graham just nodded as his oldest daughter spoke to her. He knew that she didn't mean it but, it was good knowing that she was thinking about it. "You need great grades, not good grades to get into Princeton. And, I know you won't really leave your band but you do need to get your focus off of that boyfriend of yours and put it on your education."

Rhapsody didn't know what to say. Was he right? Yes, but she couldn't just leave the boy she was in love with. He was always there for her. Through everything and she never wanted to leave him. She messed around with her cochlear implant, the voices fading in and out as she did so. "Rhapsody, stop messing with that. I'm talking to you." Her hand quickly dropped to her side before nodding. "I know dad, I know. But, I can't just leave him. I love him and unlike everyone else in this house he doesn't treat me like a poor and wounded victim." Her brother was about to intervene knowing that her hearing was always a touchy subject for the family. While Rhapsody didn't see anything wrong with it her parents always were keeping a close eye on her. They gave her a curfew most nights, no loud music, and no more loud concerts. And on top of that, she was ordered to learn sign language even if she could read lips just fine. But, before the older brother could say anything, they heard the doorbell ring and her mother answer it. "Rhapsody, Darren's here. Come in, darling. She'll be down soon."

The blonde girl looked back at her father before speaking. "I don't mean to be rude, but I have to get going." She turned around before hearing her father. [b]"Have a nice day, sweetie. Make sure not to lose the implant again." Rhapsody rolled her eyes. "That was one time." She muttered under her breath before jogging down the wooden steps. She smiled towards her boyfriend before seeing her mother rush to the kitchen. "Have a nice day at school you two. And don't forget the hearing appointment was moved to tomorrow. " Her mother kissed her daughter's cheek before rushing towards the kitchen to grab Rap's medicine. She rarely used it but, she always kept it with her just in case and to make her parents happy. Rhapsody wrapped her arms around Darren's waist before whispering in his ear. "You are the worst 'ninja' I have ever seen." She pulled away from him just to see her father and brother glare towards her boyfriend before heading the the kitchen. She saw her father kiss her mother on the forehead before sitting in his regular seat near the kitchen counter. "I'll see you guys after school."

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"We'll get something either on the way or at school." She grabbed her backpack before opening the front door, letting the warm and dry air hit her bare legs. As she walked out she turned towards her boyfriend. "Babe, your car or mine?"

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Darren stood at the front door, smiling at Rhapsody's mother when she answered the door. Rhapsody's mom was always the nicest one in the family in his opinion of course other than Rhapsody. Stepping into the house he looked around, thinking of how he had just been standing in this same house only like two minutes ago. He took out his phone while he waited for his girlfriend to come down. Adjusting his bag on his shoulder he looked over the few texts, two from his best friend while others from a couple guys on the wrestling team. Most of them texting mostly nonsense while others texting who knows what. He read the text from his best friend, smiling when he got the text about how he was coming to school. Right before he was about to text his friend back he received another text from his best friend. Quickly reading it over he listened for his girlfriend just in case she was coming down the stairs. When he knew she wasn't he texted Percy back.



Darren hit send then looked up when he heard his girlfriend coming down the stairs, shifting from foot to foot he smiled at her. "You are the worst 'ninja' I have ever seen." A soft chuckle escaped Darren when he heard his girlfriend whisper that in his ear. He only responded with a single nod. As soon as she pulled away he kept himself from pulling her back towards him, especially after seeing the glare that he got from Rhapsody's father and brother. Seriously what had he done to deserve those glares? He looked away, frowning a bit he opened the door for his girlfriend. There was one last very brief conversation between his girlfriend and her mother before they were out the door. Once they were out the door he closed it behind them. "Babe, your car or mine?" He thought for a moment. "Mine," He answered then grinned at her a little. Quickly he scooped her into his arms and spun around with her in his arms. He carried her away from her home and towards his car that was parked a little ways away from her house.

"Where do you want to stop at for food? Do you even want to stop or do you want to just eat at school?" He questioned his girlfriend. Soon they began to near his car. With each step they got closer and closer to his car. Once they got to his car he put her down next to the passenger door of the car. Unlocking it he got into the driver's seat and started up his car. Once again he checked his phone for any messages from Percy. Once he was sure there were no texts he put his phone away and glanced over at his girlfriend with a small smile.

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Sitting on the top of the steps he began to grow bored; there was no way he could sit still in one place for to long. It had been nothing but a solid five minutes of him sitting and watching people walk into school. How long will this take? Feeling a vibration he pulled his phone from his pocket and read the message on his screen. "Of course." Rolling his eyes to the inanimate object he stood up a tad bit annoyed. I'll just go inside.

Inside the building was just as noise as the airport he had been at. The noise was in its own right comforting, maybe because it was something to kept him distracted from growing to bored; the only boring thing about school was sitting still during classes. Since none of his main friend hasn't arrived already he just made his way down the cluttered hall to the lunch room. "Hey, Dare!" Turning his heard towards the voice he noted it was a short brunette girl. "Uh, hey, Diana." She made her way over to him in a blue lacy dress to her knees and took his arm, "You should come with me and my friends." The words giggled from her mouth as she led him to her table.

"Hey, ladies." With a charming smile and a friendly wave he took a seat as the other two girls watched him with wide eyes. "I'm Addie." The words were so soft spoken from a girl with large brown eyes, fair skin, and red locks. "And I'm Kara." "It's nice to meet you as well." Kara was simply the sexiest out of the three girls, with her straight blonde hair, blue eyes lined in black, and her right outfit it made her a bombshell, but she wasn't Dare's type, no girl was Dare's type, not they any of them knew it.

"So, how was your break?" Kara asked as her head rested on her left hand as her arm stood on the table. "It was good. Fun. Yours?" Another giggle left from her. Why does she keep giggling, it's so annoying; another reason why I don't like girls. Instead of answering his question in return the three girls began to chatter and laugh among themselves, each laugh was like a stab to his ears, they were just to high pitched. Laughs are so much better for him when they are low pitched and soothing.

"Are you listening to me?" "Huh." Blinking a few times he realized he had completely zoned out from the conversation. "Did you even hear me, Dare?" They all knew he hadn't and he didn't feel like lying, so all he did was smile, which in return made her do the same. "I was wondering-"

"Watch out!"

His head immediately flew towards the direction of the sound; there was a football flying towards his face. Quickly leaning back the ball barely missed him, "Be careful!" Dare wasn't really mad about almost being hit, but gosh he couldn't stand the jokes doing whatever they wanted. "It's not like you could do anything about it." Dare didn't know the jocks name, but he wore his varsity jacket as he puffed up his chest like he owned the place. "Please don't act all big and bad, it's quite pointless." Rolling his eyes to the boy, Dare turned back to the girls smiling. "So, what do you lovely ladies want to talk about?" Sighing away his flusters he began to text: