The Love Dare

Val's P.O.V

After crying all evening, I decided it was time for a change. I wasn't going to hide behind clothes I didn't even like anymore, just because I was scared and insecure. I deserved to wear what made me feel good, and I wasn't going to let anyone take that away from me.

So, at 3 p.m., I went shopping. I didn't want anything too revealing—this was school, not a party—so I settled on a blue plaid skirt, a white tank top, and a cropped blue cardigan. Over the weekend, I'd also treated myself to a makeover: my eyebrows and lashes done, nails polished, and my hair freshly dyed a dark black with side bangs. It was a big step for me.

I'd never dyed my hair before, unless you counted that chalk dye phase in sixth grade.

The next morning, I headed downstairs earlier than usual, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. The smell of waffles hit me as soon as I walked into the kitchen.

Perfect.

I'd barely slept, too wired about my new look, but the scent of vanilla and maple syrup grounded me. Mom was already at the stove, humming as she flipped another golden-brown waffle onto the growing stack. She did a double-take when she saw me, her spatula hovering mid-air.

"Valentina?" she gasped, her eyes widening. "Is that really you under all that... glamour?"

I twirled, making my skirt flare. "Like it?"

"Honey, you look stunning," she said, pulling me into a quick hug before rushing back to the stove. "But go easy on the boys today—they might not survive the shock."

I was happily nibbling on my waffles, topped with whipped cream, when Reynolds came tumbling down the stairs like a tornado in basketball shorts. He missed the last step entirely, catching himself on the banister with a grunt. I burst out laughing, but my laughter died when I saw the look on his face.

His bedhead was epic, one side of his face still creased from his pillow, but his expression was pure horror. He blinked at me like I'd morphed into an alien. "Uh, who are you, and what are you doing in my house?" he asked, his eyes wide. "You look like my ugly-ass sister. Oh God, are you, like, a better-looking clone of her or something?"

I dabbed whipped cream off my lips with exaggerated grace. "Nope, just your genetically superior sibling."

He staggered to the fridge, still staring. "This is some 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' shit. Where's the real Val? The one who wears my old hoodies and calls sweatpants 'fashion'?"

I grinned. "Aw, Reynolds, just say I look gorgeous and leave."

"I'll say you look like trouble," he muttered, chugging orange juice straight from the carton. Mom smacked his arm with the spatula, but he dodged, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Seriously, though. You're gonna break necks today. And not in the cool, action-movie way—in the 'teen boys are idiots' way."

"Are you sure you want to go to school not looking like an old hag?" he shot back, his tone dripping with sass.

"That's rude, and I'm very much offended," I said, rolling my eyes as I grabbed my stuff from the table near the door.

But then I froze. Jax was standing there, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Val?" he said, his voice hesitant.

"Very funny, Jax," I said, rolling my eyes again and walking out the door in my white Air Force Ones.

School Arrival

I pulled into the school parking lot and stepped out of the car, immediately drawing stares. I smirked internally but kept my expression neutral as I strutted into the building, the attention from both guys and girls following me like a wave.

I found my friends by my locker and walked over to greet them.

Jack whistled, his eyes scanning me up and down. "Damn, Val. Looking good."

I grinned at him, and he smirked back.

"Look whose best friend looks stunning today? That's right—mine," Brielle said, high-fiving me.

Just then, Reynolds and the guys made their usual dramatic entrance, walking into the school like they owned the place. I rolled my eyes, grabbing the books I needed for first-period (Literature)—which, of course, I had with Jax.

The guys walked over, and Jax's eyes never left me.

"Hey, baby sis," Reynolds started, gesturing to my outfit. "About your…uh…clothes—"

"Nope," I cut him off.

"But I—"

"Nuh-uh."

"I just—"

"Shhh."

He groaned. "Fine. But if anyone messes with you, I'm making sure they regret it."

Jax, meanwhile, was still staring at me. It was starting to get a little creepy.

"Val, let's go. We have Literature remember?" Jax said, snapping out of his trance.

"Oh, right," I said, grabbing my stuff. "Let's go."

As we walked down the hallway, Jax kept glancing at me, making me uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" I finally asked.

"Nothing," he said, his tone casual. "You look good."

I felt my cheeks heat up and looked away. "Thanks."

Hallway Drama

As we continued down the hall, some guy whistled and called out, "Whoo, I'd go for that. Hot as hell."

I rolled my eyes, but Jax tensed up, glaring at the guy until he backed off, hands raised in surrender.

"What's his problem?" I muttered. "It's not like he's my boyfriend."

Not that I'd mind if he were.

Confrontation with Vienna

Later, as I walked down the hallway alone, I was confronted by **Vienna**, the school's resident mean girl. She shoved my books out of my hands with her perfectly manicured nails, smirking as they scattered across the floor.

"Oh, no. You should really watch where you're going, Val," she sneered. "You might need those ugly glasses of yours again. You're practically blind without them."

I glared at her, crouching to pick up my books. "Ever heard of contact lenses, Vienna?"

"Whatever," she said, rolling her eyes. "Aren't you scared some guy's going to try something again? I mean, with you dressing like that, you're practically asking for it."

I clenched my jaw, standing up to face her. "Unlike you, Vienna, I don't dress for the approval of horny boys who treat women like objects."

Her face turned red as I walked away, her voice shrilled behind me. "Stay away from my boyfriend, or you'll regret it!"

I rolled my eyes. I didn't even know who her boyfriend was, and if she felt so threatened by me, that was her problem.

Lunchtime

I walked into the cafeteria and slammed my books down on the table, making my friends jump.

"You okay?" Brielle asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," I said, sighing. "Just Vienna being Vienna."

Juliette "Jules", Talia and Brielle grimaced. "She never knows when to stop," Jules said, shaking her head as she took a bite of her salad.

I frowned. Jules loved food, and seeing her eat a salad was…weird. "Since when do you eat salads?" I asked.

"I figured I could use a diet," she said, shrugging.

"Are you sure?" I pressed, but she just nodded, shoving another forkful of salad into her mouth.

"Where's Talia and the others?" I asked, looking around.

"They went out to eat," Brielle said, and I nodded, finally digging into my lunch.