Months went by and I never heard from Chandler nor Arson again. I thought that maybe Chandler was right and it was just some infatuation at the time. One of those 'you saved me I think I love you' things. I passed my test and it was time for winter break. I was happy about that because my brain was getting a little fried with all the cases that we had to study. I even tried out a little of Kristen's painting to clear my head so I would be able to pass my tests.
The bell rang for departure and I felt like I was in high school again and it was the last day of school. I wanted to throw my papers in the air and watch them fall like sheets of snow but I daintily got up and slung my bag over my shoulder, going to meet Kristen under the oak tree that was in the middle of the grounds.
As I headed there I saw two people standing next to Kristen, talking to her and I narrowed my eyes at them. I couldn't figure it out until I was about three feet from them and realized that it was Arson and another guy about his age. The three of them turned to me and Arson gave me a stone melting grin that I had to fight with all my might not to blush at.
"Hello, Jane. It's nice to see you again." He said in all politeness.
"Hey, Arson..."
"I met them on the way over to the tree," Kristen explained, making googly eyes at Arson's friend. "Arson recognized me and decided to wait with me."
"That's nice."
"This is my friend, Liam Becker; he's studying to be a doctor." He said like he was proud father.
"Arson, why do you have to say it like that?" Liam said, rolling his brown eyes.
"But I'm proud of you..." Arson said like it was insulting. "I can't share my enthusiasm?"
"You act like a doting father or something..." Liam turned from Arson and held out his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, Jane."
I shook his hand. "How do you know my name?"
"Arson never shut up about you."
"That's not true!" he said, his face horrified.
"Really?" I said, eyeing Arson. "Dare I ask what he never shut up about?"
Arson tried to get him to be quiet but he fought him off and smiled.
"Nothing bad. He was just saying that you were studying to be a lawyer and that you studied very hard. He also said you were in money since you gave him a good amount due to his stupidity in joining that gang and all."
"Ah, I see..." I said with a nod.
I just noticed that his arm was in a cheap sling and turned my head at that.
"Your arm isn't healed yet?"
"The shoulder is fixed but I'm still going through therapy to get motion and nerves working again in my shoulder. They said that I would be needing the sling for the first month or so because it would hurt like a mo-fo."
"I see... So what are you doing here?"
"They said they came to look for Chandler and was heading out for a drink. They asked if we wanted to come with them." Kristen said, making a pleading face.
"Uh... sure."
"Great! See, I told you they would come." Arson said to Liam.
Liam nodded and gestured to the gate. "My car is just outside."
"Oh, we have cars too. We don't live in the dorms." I said.
"I don't mind taking one car." Kristen said. "We can't all fit in your car, Jane."
"Well yeah but-"
"I don't mind. It's a four door so it will hold everyone."
"Uh... okay..."
Kristen clapped and we headed to Liam's car.

Drinking was fun but Liam had to keep a watch on Arson since he liked to do it a lot. We decided to go see a movie and we walked toward the movie theatre that was only a couple blocks over. Arson walked up beside me.
"Hey."
"Hey..."
"Let's ditch them for a while."
"Why?"
He shrugged. "Be bold? Isn't that what you lawyers have to do?"
"In the court room, not out and about."
"And who says that?" he said with that grin again.
It was dark so I allowed my blush to warm me in the settling cold of the night.
"Besides, I don't want to watch a movie. I wanted to talk with you."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to. Isn't that what women usually want to do?"
"I guess but I mean about what?"
"Anything and everything... A game of truth or dare?"
"That's a kid's game!" I said with a laugh.
"But it's a good 'get to know you' game. Come on, Jane, be adventurous with me." He said with a look.
"Last time I walked with you alone we got chased by a gang member and you ended up in the hospital." I said with a frown.
"I promise that there will be no excitement like that tonight. Scout's honor." He said, placing a hand on his heart.
I just looked at him and then laughed. "You are all kinds of crazy, you know that?"
He grinned again and I sighed. "Alright... where were you wanting to walk?"
"On the beach of course. It's right there." He said, pointing.
I nodded and he nodded as well.
"Yo, Liam, I'm kidnapping Janesobyeandbegood!" he yelled, pushing me toward the beach.

*************************

"So, truth or dare, Jane?" Arson asked as we walked along the beach.
"Uh... truth."
"Alright, how stupid do you think I am?"
"What?!"
"You said truth, so how truthfully stupid did you think I was when you first met me?"
"If you want honesty, then I didn't think you were stupid at all. Just because someone isn't smart doesn't mean they are stupid. I thought you were... more on the dumb side."
Arson laughed. "Really?"
"Yes. Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Is that story about you being premature true? It seems kind of farfetched."
"Unfortunately, it's all true. I was picked on pretty badly in elementary school and so I decided that I was going to fight back. I would defeat my illness and rise to the top. Well, at least one part of it was true... Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Why did you decide to become a lawyer?"
"I like to help people that deserve to be shown justice. People get away with so much stuff nowadays, I want to help those who deserve to be free be free and those who deserve to go to jail or pay, pay."
"So it's all about justice for you?"
"No, more like satisfaction. I like to know that I helped someone accomplish something and feel good about it."
"So it's for glory?"
"No, it's... it's more like happiness."
"Okay... weird..." he said, rolling his eyes in the night.
I made a face. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"What were you really thrown on my front lawn for? You mentioned something the last time we met about it."
Arson smiled. "I thought this would come up... It was for wanting to quit, like I said and because I miscalculated something and they thought that I was trying to steal from them."
"Miscalculated?"
"Would you believe me if I told you that I was actually a math whiz?"
"No..." I said with a chuckle.
Arson chuckled too. "I thought not. But it's true. Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Why don't you believe that I'm a math whiz?"
"You don't look like the type to love math."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Math takes a lot of concentration and problem solving. Being in the a gang and drinking doesn't mix to me."
"You're right, it doesn't but I really am. I won many a math tournaments before my parents died... I'm still good at math when I want to be and when I do the finances and taxes."
"What?"
"I have bills to pay, missy, and I'm very good at calculating things."
"You'll have to show me your whiz kid skills... Are you a prodigy?"
"Something like that. Chandler is too but it's just with science and the like."
"I see... Truth or dare?"
"Hmm... how about dare?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"I dare you to sing me a song."
"Really?"
"A really obnoxious one."
He shrugged and got on one knee, singing the song from Robin Hood: Men In Tights as loud as he could and I started laughing as hard as I could. It was so funny but his voice wasn't that bad.
"How's that?"
"That was hilarious!"
"Truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"I dare you to kiss me."
I looked at him, all humor gone and he looked at me, sticking his hand in his pocket.
"N-now?"
"Preferably... but if you'd like to have a crowd..."
"Um..."
"Or am I too low for you?"
"Don't get defensive, Arson... I never said I wouldn't."
Arson smiled and took his hand out his pocket, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer to him. He put his forehead to mine and I gulped.
"If you're scared we can wait until later."
"Truth or dare?" I whispered.
"Truth."
"You planned right down to this moment, didn't you?"
Arson only smiled and I kissed him then and there.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

nothing like a little truth or dare to set the mood light...