"So, how was your swim?" I asked, tugging a piece of her dark locks that were still wet from the pool.

"It was fine," Natalie shrugged, readjusting her gym bag that hung on her shoulder. "How's your music going?"

I'm failing miserably.

"Not gonna lie, it could be better," I said glumly.

"Could be better?" she questioned, looking up at me with a raised brow. "In what way? Didn't you make it to the next level of that 'Writing the Stars' competition thingy?"

"It's 'Written In The Stars'," I laughed, draping an arm around her shoulder. "And yeah, I did...but, that was because the judges loved 'Locked Away'. For this round, they want us to write a brand new song and document our process. So far, I have nothing but a few chords."

Her eyes widened and she stopped walking, turning out of my hold with a smile hidden behind the hand she covered it with.

"What?" I questioned, amused by her.

"You submitted 'Locked Away' as your entry song!? Riley! That's so cool!" she cheered.

"It's my best work," I smiled, even though it was written during a time of heartbreak. "Too bad I can't seem to top it."

From the sad smile she gave me, I knew she was thinking about the same thing. Almost two years ago, a week after Drew and Natalie started dating, I sang 'Locked Away' for the first time in front of an audience--in front of her. I wrote it for her.

It was my way of expressing my feelings--that I had fallen for her in more ways than one, but that I knew I was too late. I had waited too long to make it clear that I liked her as more than just a friend, and in the end, I missed my chance. That song voiced that she was a crush I was locking away, because I didn't want to lose her. I wouldn't let my feelings wreck us, and I'm so glad they didn't.

She was one of my favorite people, and closest friends. I'd rather have her in my life, than not at all.

"You're an amazing songwriter, Riley Baker," she stated, holding up a stern finger in my direction as she squinted her eyes. "Keep talking trash about you, and I'll be forced to shove that guitar so far up your-"

"Woah! Woah! Hey!" I said, raising my arms in surrender. "That won't be necessary, Nat. I'll be good."

She tried to fight the smile forming on her lips, but it broke through, causing her to shake her head.

"What am I gonna do with you?" she chuckled under her breath.

"Well," I began, knowing I had to get to the point of my visit. "You could talk to me."

I felt her gaze on the side of my face as I looked forward, getting us to start walking again.

"Talk about what?" she asked, fidgeting with her fingers.

"You know what, Nat. You broke up with Drew," I stated, voicing the fact.

I watched as her face fell, her eyes watching the light pavement beneath us.

"He called you," she pieced together.

"He called you, too, but you didn't answer," I pointed out.

She took in a sharp breath before exhaling, suddenly looking drained.

"Just go talk to him, Nat. He's falling apart and it's barely been a full day."

"I can't," she said, covering her face with her hands, not even worried about walking into someone.

"You guys have been together for so long. The least you could do is break up with him in person," I said a little harsher than intended.

"I can't, Riley," she pressed, her hazel eyes filled with tears that she held in.

"Why not?"

"Because," she huffed, sounding like she was ripping at the seams. "If I see him, I won't be able to walk away again."

Nat, no.

"I love that idiot," she cried, the tears starting to fall. I could tell she was pissed that she couldn't control this side of her--the emotional one that exposed everything she was feeling. "I'm mad as hell at him for what he did, but...I still love him."

"Then go to him. Talk things out. Let him fix this. He really wants to fix this, Nat," I shared, pleading in my tone as I hoped she'd give him that chance, but the shaking of her head made my heart plummet.

"I don't think that's the best choice," she muttered, biting her lip like that would distract her from the pain. "Drew was there for me when no one else was. With Kyle, and the murder...he was there. But, what he did to me, the way he pushed me...I almost did it, Riley. I almost gave in.

"Do you know how broken I was when I realized how much power he has over me. I'd do just about anything for him, gladly, but not that. Keeping myself is just something I have to do. I don't know why, but it is, and the fact that he'd abuse the hold he has on me is...devastating.

"I can't give him another chance to taint the image I have of him. The one where he's the guy that saved me from drowning in guilt and fear--that loved me despite my baggage and pain. I want to remember him in that light...not like this," she concluded, pulling at her hair like she felt she failed at explaining what was going through her mind. It was complicated, but I understood.

"I get it," I sighed, wishing this conversation had gone a different way.

An appreciative smile formed on her lips. It was small, and weak, but there.

"How long are you in town for?" she asked, checking her phone for the time.

"That's...undecided at the moment."

With reconcilation seeming distant for Nat and Drew, I knew I wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon.

"Okay, well, we have to hang out again before you leave. I'll text you later," she said, pulling me into another hug before turning to leave. "I've got to get to class."

When she was a few feet ahead of me, I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted, "He loves you, Natalie! He's not giving up on you guys! And neither am I!"

I could see her shaking her head as she kept going, but I liked to imagine she was smiling on the other side.

That she still had hope.

A shorter chapter, I know 😅 but I felt like this was the perfect place to end it.

Was anyone else squealing at this little #Niley scene?! I know they're just friends, but gahhhhhh I love them so much! 😍

Don't forget to vote!

*I hope you enjoyed the first three chapters of "I Dare You"! I have no schedule for updates, but I promised I'd publish when IGY got to 100k reads, so published I did. I have a good idea as to where this story is going, and am very excited about it. If you all have any theories already (*cough* I'm looking at you, Stud. *cough*) then feel free to leave them for me to see.*