Started with a Dare

            In the center of the driveway, just beneath the walnut tree lay a dragon theme jumping balloon containing nine little kids playing a game that caused heartbreak, love and disaster. I was one of these kids. It was Saturday, the day of my little brother’s birthday and baptism party. We’re playing the “mummy’ like me normally do, when Marie, my older cousin of a year or two, suggested that we played a game of truth of dare. This group consisted of me, my sister Destiny, my cousins; Marie, Debbie, Amy, and my mom’s friends sons; Anthony and Armando, and their friends; Ricky and Michael.

            In the beginning of the game it was constant questions being asked because everyone seemed hesitant to say “dare”. It wasn’t until Amy chose “dare” that all hesitation vanished. The dares started innocent with dares such as; doing the chicken dance in front of the adults, singing at the top of our lungs to any song they chose, or going up to adults and having random conversation in a gibberish language. It wasn’t till they got to me, that the dare wasn’t so innocent.

            Michael had been the one to dare me to kiss Anthony. I was hesitant to have my best friend be the one to receive my first kiss, and worried that our relationship would never be the same. About to reject and ask for another dare, Anthony spoke up and said “alright let’s get this over with then,” and took me by the waist to pull me closer to his side. It was as if time had slowed as he began to lean in. With my heart beating as fast as the hooves of a horse on a racetrack, my face flushed a bright red the second his lips were on mine. His lips tasted of the strawberry flavored frosting from the cake we had ate earlier. After what felt like an hour of tasting strawberry against my lips, our lips parted and the howls from the guys flowed around us. As I opened my eyes, a smile formed on my face when I saw the similar expression form on Anthony’s as well.

            It was a shock to see Destiny, with tear filled eyes, sprint out of the balloon and into the house to be comforted by my older cousins. With the confession that she had developed a crush on Anthony, my cousins seemed to put the blame on me with the accusation that I had known beforehand. After a name calling, hair pulling fight between us, Destiny finally came and set everything straight. But even after everything was settled, it seemed Amy wanted to continue. She now confesses to have had a crush on Anthony and was envious to the fact that we kissed.

            Since that dare, my cousins and I tell each other everything. My relationship with Destiny has become stronger because we now confine in each other. Anthony and I have kept close through the years, and since the kiss, it seems as though our parents have tried to get us together. Unfortunately for them, Anthony now currently has a girlfriend, but our relationship with one another has remained intact.