All Chapters of Built with a Dare, broken by the Truth: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The laughter from the courtyard still echoed faintly as we drifted toward the dorms. The campus lights flickered to life, painting long shadows across the lawn.Carlson lingered close, his hand brushing mine every few steps deliberate enough to set my nerves on fire but subtle enough no one else would notice. Or maybe they did. Sandy’s sharp glance made my skin prickle.She called out playfully, “Seniors, aren’t you going back to your condo? Or do you want to stay here with us?”Neither of us answered. We just laughed it off.Inside the dorm lobby, chaos broke loose as everyone scattered to claim rooms. Barry, as usual, hung back. Brian tried to slip away quickly, but Barry matched his pace easily, that infuriating smirk carved into his face.“Running away again?” Barry drawled, low and teasing.Brian stiffened. “I’m not running. I just… want to sleep.”Barry grinned. “Soon enough, you’ll be sleeping in my arms.”Brian gasped. “Definitely someone else. Not you.”Barry chuckled. “Don’t

The next day Randy has an early morning class, so he woke up really early prepares and rushed to class Classes buzzed with the usual Monday chaos, but all Randy could hear was the laughter spilling from the courtyard. He tried to keep his head down, books hugged tight to his chest, but his eyes betrayed him drifting toward the center of attention.Carlson.He leaned against the fountain, sunlight catching on his hair like some cruel spotlight, his laughter ringing above everyone else’s. A group of juniors clustered around him, giggling, pushing each other just for the chance to brush his arm. Even Sandy was there, her sharp eyes sparkling every time he teased her with that wicked smile.Sometimes Sandy is a little bit ridiculous. She ships us but still looks at him like that. Well it's not her fault.Everyone wanted him.And why wouldn’t they? Carlson was tall, golden, magnetic and untouchable. Randy bit the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to look away, to walk faster, but his

Randy slumped onto his bed, tossing his bag aside. The weight of the past week pressed down on him like a storm he couldn’t outrun. Carlson’s texts, the jealousy, the kiss,the world felt too loud and too confusing, and Randy needed someone to talk to.He pulled out his phone and tapped a message to Brian, his best friend since childhood.Randy: Can we meet? I need to talk.Brian: You sound serious. Be at the usual spot at twenty.When Randy arrived, Brian was already leaning against the old oak tree behind the campus library, arms crossed, eyes flicking up from his phone. Seeing Randy, he immediately straightened, concern etched across his face.“Everything okay?” Brian asked, jogging over.Randy took a deep breath and sank onto the bench beside him. He hesitated, the words caught in his throat. “I… I don’t know where to start.”“Start at the beginning,” Brian said softly. “You look like you’re carrying the world.”Randy let out a shaky laugh. “It’s… it’s Carlson. I don’t even know if

The next day, Randy goes to see Carlson at his place, then drinks alcohol, but wasn't drunk though a little tipsy. Carlson then insisted he spend the night there.Randy woke slowly, the sunlight spilling across the unfamiliar room. For a moment he didn’t remember where he was,the high ceiling, the neat shelves, the faint scent of cologne and laundry soap. Then the steady warmth at his side shifted, an arm draping tighter across his waist, and it all came rushing back.Carlson.He blinked and turned his head slightly. Carlson was still asleep, his face softened, lashes dark against his skin, lips parted the slightest bit. The boy who always seemed so confident, so in control, looked vulnerable now, like he’d finally set his armor down. Something tugged in Randy’s chest.Careful not to wake him, Randy lay still, memorizing every detail,the weight of Carlson’s arm, the rise and fall of his chest, the way his hair fell messily across his forehead. He couldn’t stop the small smile tugging

The bass vibrated through the floor, heavy enough to make the walls hum. The club pulsed with heat, sweat, and laughter , bodies moving, lights flashing, every color bleeding into the next. Barry was in his element.He stood at the bar, leaning casually against the counter, drink in hand. The bartender slid him another glass, and Barry smiled, that practiced, easy grin that had gotten him out of trouble more times than he could count.But tonight, the charm wasn’t for anyone else.His eyes were fixed on one person ,Brian.Brian looked out of place under the neon lights, sitting in a corner booth with a glass of soda, watching the dance floor like it was an entirely different planet. His dark shirt clung to him in all the right ways, sleeves rolled to his elbows, a quiet kind of beauty that didn’t need attention to demand it.Barry couldn’t resist. He set down his drink and crossed the room.“Didn’t think I’d find you here,” he said, sliding into the seat across from him.Brian looked