Chapter 1
Jay.P.O.V.
Me:"I agreed to what?!"
I was screaming in disbelief.
Memories from the previous night were like a puzzle with missing pieces, scattered throughout my mind. When had I gone too far? When had I lost consciousness? How could I have gotten that drunk? There were so many questions, and I was terrified of the answers. Shame washed over me.
Eric:"I would like to say I'm joking, but you really did it."
My best friend Eric was telling me all the stupid things I did yesterday.
Me:"There is no way in the hell I would ever
say I'm gonna kiss Carter!"
Carter was the scariest person in the whole university. Everybody was avoiding him because of his background.
He isn't a particularly bad student, but he's almost never in class. You can only catch him there when he absolutely has to show up. Black is the only color you ever see him wearing, and he has a bunch of tattoos covering his body. Carter is exceptionally good-looking, and the natural aura he carries never seems to waver. When it comes to his appearance, nobody could possibly have anything bad to say. A guy with a face like his, standing around six and a half feet tall, could hardly go unnoticed. He's pretty muscular, and it's obvious that he keeps himself active. Every single detail about him seems intimidating. Just hearing him speak sends chills down my spine. His deep, raspy voice sounds almost soulless—cold and brutal.
When it comes to his personality, I can't say much. Nobody is truly close to him. There’s only one story that has been passed around, whispered from one person to another, and he has never once denied it.
His father used to hold a very high position in one of the most notorious mafias in our country. They had connections within the police and the support of powerful politicians. They had so much money that they didn't even know what to do with it. All kinds of shady businesses were run by them. The availability of drugs had never been greater. Crimes were committed on a daily basis. Money laundering, human trafficking, contract killings...you name it.
After decades of running the business, someone decided to put an end to it. Footage, signed documents, and everything else connected to the people involved in the shady business and their clients ended up on the internet. There was simply no way to deny any of it. Some received harsher sentences, others got away with lighter ones, while some weren't punished at all. If you had enough money and a Plan B for a situation like this, you could sleep peacefully at night.
That's exactly what happened to Carter's father. Well, except for the Plan B. He had kids and loyal people here, but there was never a life outside that world. It was always him and his people—never a second option. So when he fell and ended up in prison for the next ten years, it felt like an entire story had come to an end.
People were divided. Most of them felt a twisted sense of satisfaction now that the big criminal had finally fallen, while others were terrified they might be next.
The only thing I knew for certain was that Carter wasn't someone you messed with, and yet I had agreed to kiss him. How drunk and reckless did I have to be to agree to something like that? Who in their right mind would even consider it? It was like I wanted to get myself killed.
Eric:"You said that, not me. I just need to record you doing that."
Me:"He's going to kill me. Carter is homophobic definitely."
Eric:"Well...probably."
Me:"Fuck you."
Eric:"The worst thing that can happen is him beating the shit out of you."
Me:"That's the only way this will end."
Eric:"Anyways,where are you going to do it?"
Me:"Not in college that's for sure. He will be even angrier if I just jump him in front of everyone."
Eric:"You don't have to kiss him passionately. The dare is just to let your lips touch his. That's it. No French kissing or anything like that.”
Me:"Who even give me this dare? I don't remember anything."
Eric:"Mia. She hates Carter. I remember she was telling everyone that she is going to date him and nobody will be able to reach her. In the end,he didn't give a shit for her and she is still holding the grudge against him."
Me:"That's why she wants him to get kissed by men. Carter is going to hate this idea."
Eric:"Well, you're going to die for sure. What's the plan anyway?"
Me:"I was thinking to just wait in front of Wb for him to go out."
Wb is nightclub where the old mafia crew would meet. Police closed the club for some time,but ofcourse it re-opened. Carter is something like menager there since his father had big shares for that local. For sure 50% was in his hands. I guess that is now Carter's.
Eric:"That's even riskier. There is no people to help you."
Me:"Exectly. I don't want anyone to record me while he beats the shit out of me."
Eric:"Why you don't want to just give up and do the punishment instead?"
The punishment was to kiss Emilie. She was the older girl who had repeated so many years that she was somehow thirty and still here. That would have been completely normal option to avoid kissing Carter, if she weren't built like a truck and sporting a mustache and a beard. Whenever she walked into a room, you could smell her before you saw her. She also had a bit of an anger problem, so either way, kissing her would have been a death wish.
Me:"They are both going to kill me. At least, Carter is hot. If I'm gonna die,let it be while I kiss some handsome man."
Eric:"But Emilie cannot hurt you as much as a Carter. She will just scream and maybe slap you couple of times and leave you alone. Carter can fuck up your life."
Me:"I'm not gonna kiss Emilie. There is no way "
Eric:"You actually want to kiss Carter."
Me:"It's not that I want. If it wasn't for a dare I would never do it myself. But its a fact that he is literally the most handsome man I ever saw."
Eric:"Or just don't do anything. That's also a possibility."
Me:"Yeah and then I'm forbidden to go on a college partys and excursions forever. Everybody is going to look at me and say "this guy is pussy". It's just a kiss. It's not that deep. I'm not afraid of him...that much. "
Eric:"Oh my God,you're so retarded. I think you're still drunk."
Me:"We are going to wait for him tonight and get over it."
Eric:"Okay. I will hide and record while you do your job."
And that's how we make the deal."
I don't know why I wasn't that afraid of all this. Maybe because I'm still not completely aware of who he is.
I'd only seen him a couple of times, and I hadn't gotten the slightest impression that he would kill me—or anyone else. He seemed cold and distant, with no desire to socialize with anyone. Maybe I really was still drunk, but when I looked into his eyes, I didn't see any hatred or aggression. Only some strange, hidden sadness and loneliness.
