Chapter 53: Dare Accepted

[LUCAS – POV]

I knew challenging Jasmine was risky.

But watching her try to resist the spotlight was like daring fire not to burn.

"So," I teased, leaning over her desk in biology, "you're scared?"

She snorted. "Of what? Glitter and bad choreography?"

I grinned. "Of standing next to me on stage and trying not to fall in love again."

Her pen froze mid-sentence.

Oh yeah. Got her.

She narrowed her eyes. "You're cocky."

"Confident," I corrected, tapping her notebook. "Big difference."

Ms. Akande barked at us to focus, but Jasmine leaned closer, whispering just loud enough for only me to hear:

"Fine. I'll join Cultural Night—but only if you can beat me in a dare."

Now this was getting interesting.

"What kind of dare?" I asked.

She smirked. "Winner picks the act. Loser has to perform it… solo."

The whole class could've exploded and I wouldn't have noticed. I was too locked into her challenge.

"I'm in," I said. "What's the dare?"

She slid a folded note across the desk with just three words:

Make me blush.

Game. On.