Read Online Nerve by Jeanne Ryan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jeanne Ryan
Tags: General Fiction
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something totally unexpected.”
“You already have. Twice. And look how upset you got when things went wrong the first time.”
“But last night wasn’t so bad. I won stuff.”
“Those dares were preliminary. In the live rounds, thousands of folks pay to watch from all over the world. You think they’ll be satisfied with you getting your shirt wet?”
“Well, let me see what they’re offering, at least.” I check my phone. Sure enough, NERVE has dangled the first prize. Whoa, it’s a full-day makeover at Salon Dev, including a massage, waxing, makeup consult, the works. Best of all, I’d get a haircut from the owner, who’s impossible to see if you aren’t a local celeb. As if that weren’t enough to have me drooling, NERVE sends an image of me in that cute sundress I checked out on the Custom Clothz site the other night. My image has the correct body proportions this time, and it’s not bad, even in an almost-B cup.
Goose bumps rise on my arms and legs, partly because of the amazing prizes, partly because of Tommy’s words. This much loot will come with hefty expectations.
I move to the creaky handrail to consider my options. In the alley below, two crows hop onto a nearby Dumpster. Why does Seattle have so many crows? Don’t birds like warm weather? The wind picks up, sending the birds on their way and leaving the air around us hushed.
Tonight is my first night of not being grounded since I pulled into my garage last November and fell asleep listening to my favorite song list. Since then, Mom and Dad have seen me as a frail being who tried to do something unthinkable, no matter how many times I’ve tried to tell them otherwise.
At least Syd believed me. Or so I thought. The story everyone else got was that I’d had a serious case of the flu that sent me to the hospital. For a while, there were rumors going around, but by the time I got back to school, everyone had moved on to the love triangle taking place on the football team.
All anyone cares about is the latest drama. Tonight I have the opportunity to replace my old drama with something new. If only I knew whether that meant something better or worse.
I stare at my phone. “You’re a smart guy, Tommy. Probably the smartest one I know. I appreciate your advice.”
“So you’re turning them down?”
“No way. Game on.”
five
Two minutes after I send my acceptance, NERVE responds with a description of the first live dare. As I read the message, my breathing quickens. Instinctively, I shift the phone away from Tommy.
W ELCOME TO THE LIVE ROUNDS , V EE ! Y OU’LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN LOADS OF GREAT PRIZES . A ND WE’RE PARTNERING YOU WITH SOMEONE YOU’VE MET BEFORE —I AN !
That cute guy from the coffee shop will be my partner? Not bad.
S O, HERE ARE THE COMPONENTS OF YOUR FIRST DARE :
D ITCH YOUR BOYFRIEND .
The screen flashes with Tommy’s picture. Hmmm, maybe their research isn’t as thorough as I feared. But boyfriend or not, the idea of heading off without my unofficial partner makes me queasy.
D OWNLOAD AND RUN THE ATTACHED APP. I T WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A SPEEDY LINK TO THE GAME .
M EET I AN AT P ACIFICA B OWLING L ANES IN TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES .
G O INSIDE AND ASK TEN GUYS THERE FOR A CONDOM .
L EAVE WITH I AN, SINGING THE FIRST VERSE OF THE SONG BELOW .
On the slim chance I’m Amish or live off the grid, they include the lyrics of a song about getting laid, which plays twenty times a day on the radio. Okay, most songs on the radio are about getting laid, but this one is the most explicit.
Tommy leans against the wall. “So, what is it?”
“Um, I’ll be doing a dare with Ian.”
“He’s your partner?” His voice cracks on the last word.
“I’m sorry. They really should’ve teamed me up with you. Too bad you didn’t apply.”
His eyes shift away and he swallows. “What’s your dare?”
“I don’t know if I’m allowed to say.”
“Technically, I’m
“You already have. Twice. And look how upset you got when things went wrong the first time.”
“But last night wasn’t so bad. I won stuff.”
“Those dares were preliminary. In the live rounds, thousands of folks pay to watch from all over the world. You think they’ll be satisfied with you getting your shirt wet?”
“Well, let me see what they’re offering, at least.” I check my phone. Sure enough, NERVE has dangled the first prize. Whoa, it’s a full-day makeover at Salon Dev, including a massage, waxing, makeup consult, the works. Best of all, I’d get a haircut from the owner, who’s impossible to see if you aren’t a local celeb. As if that weren’t enough to have me drooling, NERVE sends an image of me in that cute sundress I checked out on the Custom Clothz site the other night. My image has the correct body proportions this time, and it’s not bad, even in an almost-B cup.
Goose bumps rise on my arms and legs, partly because of the amazing prizes, partly because of Tommy’s words. This much loot will come with hefty expectations.
I move to the creaky handrail to consider my options. In the alley below, two crows hop onto a nearby Dumpster. Why does Seattle have so many crows? Don’t birds like warm weather? The wind picks up, sending the birds on their way and leaving the air around us hushed.
Tonight is my first night of not being grounded since I pulled into my garage last November and fell asleep listening to my favorite song list. Since then, Mom and Dad have seen me as a frail being who tried to do something unthinkable, no matter how many times I’ve tried to tell them otherwise.
At least Syd believed me. Or so I thought. The story everyone else got was that I’d had a serious case of the flu that sent me to the hospital. For a while, there were rumors going around, but by the time I got back to school, everyone had moved on to the love triangle taking place on the football team.
All anyone cares about is the latest drama. Tonight I have the opportunity to replace my old drama with something new. If only I knew whether that meant something better or worse.
I stare at my phone. “You’re a smart guy, Tommy. Probably the smartest one I know. I appreciate your advice.”
“So you’re turning them down?”
“No way. Game on.”
five
Two minutes after I send my acceptance, NERVE responds with a description of the first live dare. As I read the message, my breathing quickens. Instinctively, I shift the phone away from Tommy.
W ELCOME TO THE LIVE ROUNDS , V EE ! Y OU’LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN LOADS OF GREAT PRIZES . A ND WE’RE PARTNERING YOU WITH SOMEONE YOU’VE MET BEFORE —I AN !
That cute guy from the coffee shop will be my partner? Not bad.
S O, HERE ARE THE COMPONENTS OF YOUR FIRST DARE :
D ITCH YOUR BOYFRIEND .
The screen flashes with Tommy’s picture. Hmmm, maybe their research isn’t as thorough as I feared. But boyfriend or not, the idea of heading off without my unofficial partner makes me queasy.
D OWNLOAD AND RUN THE ATTACHED APP. I T WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A SPEEDY LINK TO THE GAME .
M EET I AN AT P ACIFICA B OWLING L ANES IN TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES .
G O INSIDE AND ASK TEN GUYS THERE FOR A CONDOM .
L EAVE WITH I AN, SINGING THE FIRST VERSE OF THE SONG BELOW .
On the slim chance I’m Amish or live off the grid, they include the lyrics of a song about getting laid, which plays twenty times a day on the radio. Okay, most songs on the radio are about getting laid, but this one is the most explicit.
Tommy leans against the wall. “So, what is it?”
“Um, I’ll be doing a dare with Ian.”
“He’s your partner?” His voice cracks on the last word.
“I’m sorry. They really should’ve teamed me up with you. Too bad you didn’t apply.”
His eyes shift away and he swallows. “What’s your dare?”
“I don’t know if I’m allowed to say.”
“Technically, I’m
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