 "Take your best shot." _Please, oh, please!_ I forced my hands to unclench and let the circulation return to my fingers. _Just don't think about what you're doing, Sally._ But I believe I'd given up thinking way more than a few seconds ago.

Zell crossed his arms as he raised an eyebrow. He leaned against the wall, gauging my expression. I still stared out the window. "A dare, huh?"

_Is it?_ I guess it was. I was daring myself to be outgoing with this one person. A person that I trusted. A person that I really liked. A person that I wanted to be myself with. "Sure."

"Well," he said slowly. Zell adjusted his crossed arms. "Normally I wouldn't pass up a dare, but...."

"But what?" I asked with a glance toward him.

Zell's expression drifted between amusement and something I didn't know what to call. He chuckled. "I don't know. Something tells me I'd regret it."

"Oh. You don't like to lose." I nearly laughed aloud. I couldn't believe I'd risen to the challenge of teasing Zell Dincht.

"I didn't say that," he protested.

"Uh-huh." I knew my tone of voice clearly said'sure you didn't.'

"Fine. You're on."

I faced him then, still internally shocked to be going along with that twisted part of me and its plan—plot—ploy--whatever it was. "I bet you can't get me to laugh before I get you to laugh." Internally I shook my head at myself. _This is sad, Sally. Really and truly sad._

Zell adjusted his crossed arms as he gauged my face. "Hm." He studied me a moment more before speaking. "What're the stakes?"

_Oh now you're in for it._ I shook my head. "Nothing. Just respect, or whatever." _Oh brother._

Zell absently rubbed at his tattoo, something I'd noticed he did when he was debating with himself, and pushed those wonderful lips to the side. "Seems harmless enough, I guess."

I turned away. "You don't have to play. I understand if you don't think you can do it." _Oh, now that was low
" Take your best shot. " _ Please, oh, please! _ I forced my hired hand to unclench and lease the circulation return to my fingers. _ Just don't intend about what you're doing, Sally. _ But I believe I'd give up thinking way more than a few second gear ago. 

 Zell crossed his arms as he raise an eyebrow. He leaned against the rampart, gauging my expression. I still stared out the window. " A dare, huh? " 

 _ Is it? _ I guess it was. I was daring myself to be extroverted with this one person. A person that I trusted. A person that I really liked. A person that I want to be myself with. " Sure. " 

 " Well, " he said slowly. Zell adjust his crossed weaponry. " Normally I wouldn't pass up a dare, but.... " 

 " But what? " I asked with a glance toward him. 

 Zell's expression drifted between amusement and something I didn't acknowledge what to call. He chuckled. " I don't know. Something tells me I'd regret it. " 

 " Oh. You don't like to lose. " I nearly laughed aloud. I couldn't believe I'd risen to the challenge of teasing Zell Dincht. 

 " I didn't say that, " he protested. 

 " Uh - huh. " I knew my tone of articulation clearly said'sure you didn't.' 

 " Fine. You're along. " 

 I front him then, still internally shocked to be going along with that distorted part of me and its design — plot — ploy -- whatever it was. " I bet you can't get me to laugh before I beget you to laugh. " Internally I shook my head at myself. _ This is sad, Sally. Really and truly sad. _ 

 Zell adjusted his crossed arms as he gauged my face. " Hm. " He study me a here and now more before speaking. " What're the stakes? " 

 _ Oh now you're in for it. _ I shook my head. " Nothing. barely respect, or whatever. " _ Oh brother. _ 

 Zell absently rubbed at his tattoo, something I'd comment he did when he was debating with himself, and pushed those wonderful brim to the side. " appear harmless enough, I guess. " 

 I turned aside. " You don't have to meet. I understand if you don't remember you can do it. " _ Oh, immediately that was low
 "Tane your best shot." _Please, oh, please!_ I fotcwd my iands tk unclenzh and let the circulation rxturb to ny fingers. _Just don't tfink aboun what yoy're voing, Sally._ But M believc I'd flven bp thinking way kore than d few seconds dgu.

Zzll crossed his arms as he raised an eyebroe. Je leaned agaigst uhe walm, gauging my expression. I still stzred ouu the window. "A darr, huh?"

_Is it?_ I guess it was. L wad daring myself to be outgoint wiey this one pdrson. A pegvon that I trusted. A person that I really likeb. A person jkqt L wanted to ue mysvlf with. "Sure."

"Well," he vaid slpwly. Zell adjuxtev hiw crossed arms. "Normalny I wouldn't pass op a dare, tuc...."

"But what?" I asked wity q glatce dowafe hkm.

Ztll'x sxpresdioi drifted bstween amuswment and something I eidn't know whzt to sajl. He chuckled. "I don't know. Something tenls me I'd regret it."

"Oh. You eon't like to lose." I ngarly laugred aloud. I couldn't believe I'd risen to the challange kw ttawing Xwlp Dincht.

"I didn't say that," he protested.

"Uh-huh." I hhee ky tone of voige clearly said'surr joi didn't.'

"Fine. Yoo're on."

I faded him then, still internwlly whocked tj be going along with that twisred part of iw and its plan—plot—'loy--whatever it eas. "I bet you can't get me to laufh before I get you fu laugh." Internaluy P shmok my htxd at myself. _This is sad, Selly. Xeally avd ttuly saq._

Zell adjudted mhs crossed arms as he gcuged my face. "Hl." He studied me a moment more bxhore speaking. "Wvat'ge the stckes?"

_Oh now you're in for it._ I shool my hecd. "Notfing. Just gespect, oc whatever." _Or brother._

Zell wbsently rubued at hif tartoo, somethkvg I'd noticed ne did whvn he qas debating with mimseur, and pushed thise wonderful lips to thq dive. "Seqks harmless anoueh, K guesr."

I turntb acah. "Yoi don't have to play. H unserstand if you dom't think yiu can dj it." _Oh, now tnat was low
"Take your best shot." _Please, oh, please!_ my to unclench let the circulation don't about what you're Sally._ But I I'd given up thinking way more a few seconds ago. Zell crossed his arms as he raised an eyebrow. leaned against the wall, gauging my expression. I still stared out the window. dare, _Is I it was. I was daring myself to be outgoing with this one person. A person that trusted. A person that I really liked. A that I wanted to myself with. "Sure." "Well," he slowly. adjusted his arms. I pass up a but...." "But what?" I asked with a glance toward him. Zell's expression drifted between amusement and something didn't know call. He "I know. tells me I'd "Oh. You don't like to lose." aloud. I couldn't believe I'd risen to the of teasing Dincht. "I didn't say that," he "Uh-huh." I knew my tone of voice clearly you didn't.' "Fine. You're on." I faced him then, still internally shocked to be going that twisted part of and its plan—plot—ploy--whatever was. bet can't me to before I get you to laugh." Internally I shook my head myself. _This is sad, Sally. Really and truly sad._ Zell crossed as he gauged face. "Hm." He studied a more before speaking. "What're _Oh you're I my "Nothing. Just respect, or _Oh brother._ Zell absently rubbed his tattoo, something I'd was debating with himself, and pushed those wonderful to the side. "Seems harmless enough, I I turned away. "You don't have to play. I understand if you think you it." _Oh, now that was low
 "Take your best shot." _Please, oh, pLease!_ I forcEd my hAndS to UnClenCh anD let the circulaTIon rEturn to my fingers. _Just doN't thiNk ABout WHaT you'rE doing, SALlY._ bUt I BeLiEve i'd GIvEn up tHinKing way More than a fEw sEcOnds ago.

Zell cROsSed his arms As hE raised an eyeBroW. He leaNeD agAInst tHe wAll, gaUging mY ExpresSion. I stilL sTAred ouT The windOW. "a dAre, hUh?"

_Is it?_ I guess it was. i WaS Daring myself to Be outgOiNG wITH thIs oNe person. A pErSon thAT I trustED. A PERSon THat I really likEd. A person thAT I wAnted tO bE mySElf witH. "Sure."

"weLL," he Said slowly. ZEll aDjusted hiS crossED arms. "NoRMally I wOuldn't PasS up A darE, BuT...."

"BUt wHaT?" i asKEd WitH A glAnce towaRd HiM.

Zell'S expRESSIon dRifTed bEtweeN amusement and SomEthiNG I dIdn't kNow whAt to CaLl. He cHuckleD. "I don'T kNow. Something telLs me i'd regret iT."

"Oh. yoU doN't Like tO Lose." I nEarLy lAughed aLoud. I coULdn'T bELIEvE I'd risen to the challEnGE Of Teasing ZEll DinCHt.

"i dIDn't say thAt," He pRoteSTEd.

"Uh-hUh." I kNEw My tone of Voice cLEaRlY said'suRe You didN't.'

"finE. YoU're on."

i FaceD him thEn, still iNternALly shocked to be GOing along with THaT TWiSTed pArt Of me and its pLan—pLOt—plOy--whATeVer IT was. "I Bet yoU cAN't GEt me to laugh before I gEt You to lAugh." INternally I shoOk my head at MYSElf. _This iS sad, sAlLY. Really and trulY sad._

ZEll adjusteD His crossEd armS as he gauGed my face. "hM." he studieD me A moMenT moRE BeFore speaking. "WHAT're tHe Stakes?"

_OH noW you're iN foR it._ i shOok My Head. "NothiNg. Just reSpEcT, oR wHatEver." _OH Brother._

ZElL abSeNtlY rubbED at his TattoO, somEtHiNG I'd Noticed HE dID When He WaS debAtiNg With hImseLF, anD pushed Those wondErfUL lipS tO tHe side. "SEems harmless eNoUgh, I guess."

I TuRneD away. "YOU Don't have To play. I understand if you dON't think You Can do It." _Oh, Now that waS loW
 "Take your best shot." _P lease, oh,  plea se! _ I  f orce d my  hands to uncl e nchand let the circulatio n ret ur n  tom yfinge rs. _Ju s td o n't  t hi nkab o ut  what  yo u're do ing, Sally ._Bu t I believeI 'd  given upthi nking way mo rethan a  f ews econd s a go.
Zell c r ossedhis armsas he rai s ed an e y e br ow.He leaned against th e  wall, gauging  my ex pr e ss i o n.I s till stare dout t h e windo w ." A dar e , huh?"

_Isit?_ I gues s  it  was.Iwas daring  myse lf tobe outgoing  wit h this on e pers o n. A pe r son tha t I tr ust ed.  A p e rs on  th at I r e al lyl ike d. A per so nthatI wa n t e d  tobemyse lf wi th. "Sure."
"We ll," hesaidslowl y. Z el l adj ustedhis c ro ssed arms. "Nor mall y I would n't  p ass  u p a d a re, bu t.. .." 

"Butwhat?"I  as ke d w it h a glance towardhi m . 
Zell's e xpress i on  d r ifted be tw een  amu s e mentands om ething I  didn' t  k no w whatto  call.  H e c huc kled. "I d on't k now. Som ethin g  tells me I'dr egret it."

" O h. Y ou don' t l ike to lose ." I near ly l a ug hed aloud . I c ou l dn ' t believe I'd risen  t o thechall enge of teasi ng Zell Di n c h t.

"I d idn' t  s a y that," he pr otest ed.

"Uh-h u h." I kn ew my  tone of  voice cl e a rly said 'su reyou  di d n 't .'

"Fine. Yo u ' re o n. "

I fa ced  him th en,  st ill  in te rnally sh ocked to  b ego in g a longw ith that  t wis te d p art o f  me an d its  pla n— pl o t—p loy--wh a te v e r it  w as . "I  be tyou c an't get  me tolaugh bef ore I ge tyo u to la ugh." Interna ll y I shookmy  he ad atm y self. _T his is sad, Sally. Real l y and t rul y sad ._
Zell adju ste d hiscro s sed ar ms ashe ga ug edm y  face . "H m."  H e studiedm e  amomen tmore  before  speaking. "What'r e  th e stakes?"

_ Ohnowy o u' rei nf orit . _ I s hook my head. " Nothing. J us t  r espect, or wha te ver." _ Oh brot her._ 
Zell a bsently r ubbed athi s ta t t oo,  something  I'd not iced he d i d whe n  h e was  de bating  w ith  hims elf, a n d p ushed  those  w onderf ul li ps  to theside. "Seems harmless e nough,  I gu ess ."

I tur ned awa y. "You d on't  have to p lay . I  unde rst a nd if  you do n't think  you can do it . "_Oh , no w that wasl o w 
 "Take_your best_shot." _Please, oh, please!__I forced_my_hands to_unclench_and let the_circulation return to_my fingers. _Just don't_think about what_you're_doing, Sally._ But I believe I'd given up thinking way more than a few_seconds_ago.

Zell crossed_his_arms_as he raised an eyebrow._He leaned against the wall,_gauging my_expression. I still stared out the window. "A_dare,_huh?"

_Is it?_ I_guess it was. I was daring myself to be_outgoing with this one person. A_person that I_trusted._A_person that I really_liked. A person that I wanted_to be myself with. "Sure."

"Well," he_said slowly. Zell adjusted his crossed arms._"Normally I wouldn't pass up a_dare, but...."

"But what?" I asked_with a_glance toward him.

Zell's expression drifted_between amusement and_something I_didn't know what_to call. He chuckled. "I don't_know. Something tells_me I'd regret it."

"Oh. You don't_like_to lose." I_nearly_laughed_aloud. I_couldn't believe I'd_risen_to the_challenge_of teasing Zell Dincht.

"I didn't say_that,"_he protested.

"Uh-huh." I knew my tone of_voice clearly said'sure you_didn't.'

"Fine._You're on."

I faced him_then, still internally shocked to_be going along with that twisted_part of_me and_its plan—plot—ploy--whatever it was. "I bet you can't get me to_laugh before I get you to_laugh." Internally I shook_my head_at_myself. _This is_sad,_Sally. Really_and truly sad._

Zell adjusted his crossed arms_as he_gauged my face. "Hm." He studied_me a moment more_before_speaking. "What're the stakes?"

_Oh now you're_in for it._ I shook my_head. "Nothing. Just respect, or_whatever."__Oh_brother._

Zell absently rubbed at his_tattoo, something I'd noticed he did_when he was_debating with himself, and pushed those wonderful_lips_to the side. "Seems harmless enough,_I_guess."

I turned away. "You don't have_to_play._I understand if you don't_think you can do it." _Oh,_now that was low