Free Dare to Be Different by Nicole O'Dell Page A

think there was anything that she wouldn’t do for her friends. She lovedher friends and couldn’t imagine not having them in her life. But she also couldn’t understand how they could sacrifice their friendship over a game. She was so torn over what to do—she felt that she couldn’t win either way. But thinking of all their future plans together, she thought that she might lose a whole lot more if she didn’t do it. She wished she had more time to decide. They were all staring at her, trying to figure out what she was going to do.

IT’S decision time
    The time has come to make a decision. Think long and hard about what you would really do if you encountered the circumstances Lindsay is facing. It’s easy to say that you’d make the right choice. But are you sure that you could stand up to your friends and face their rejection? Once you make your decision, turn to the corresponding page to see how it turns out for Lindsay—and for you.
    Turn to page 112 if you think that Lindsay is able to stand up to her friends by refusing to do the dare
.
    Turn to page 151 if Lindsay is unable to stand up to her friends and chooses to go ahead with the dare
.

    The next three chapters tell the story of what happened to Lindsay when she decided to do what she knew was right .

Chapter 9
DARING TO
BE DIFFERENT
    Lindsay’s eyes welled up with tears. “I can’t do this. I just can’t. There’s just no way that I would do something this risky that would get me into so much trouble with so many people. Plus, it’s not how I operate. I just don’t do things like that. I hope you all can just love me for who I am and not for whoever you’re trying to make me.”
    The four girls sat quietly for a few minutes, while Lindsay wiped the tears from her eyes. They were at a sort of crossroads in their relationship. No one was happy that Lindsay decided not to perform the dare, but no one was surprised either. Lindsay picked at the rust-colored fibers of the old couch while she waited for someone tospeak. Sam and Macy looked to Kelly and waited for her to take charge, as she usually did at such times.
    “Well, first we have to see if someone else is willing to take on the dare. Who is next in the game?”
    “It should probably start over with Sam,” Macy answered, hoping to avoid the pressure of the dare falling to her.
    “Okay, Sam, are you tough enough to take on the challenge of the dare that Lindsay isn’t willing to perform?”
    “Sure, Kelly, I’ll do it for Lindsay,” Sam offered, thinking that she was helping.
    “Well, you won’t actually be doing it
for
Lindsay—you’ll be doing it
in place
of Lindsay, who, since she has decided that she is too good for us and our game, has given up her spot.” Kelly spoke for the group, making up rules as she went along.
    “My spot in the game or my spot in the group?” Lindsay asked hesitantly.
    “They are one and the same,” Kelly answered coldly, her judgment obviously impaired.
    Sam and Macy gasped. This had gotten way too serious. No one wanted to lose Lindsay’sfriendship, but they
had
made a deal, and Lindsay wasn’t playing as an equal.
    Lindsay wept openly and tried to make another appeal for herself. “I don’t understand why our friendship hinges on me doing something so completely wrong that puts me in danger of getting into lots of trouble. Why don’t you all, as my friends, care about what I’m comfortable with and what I’m afraid of? Do I mean so little to you that a stupid challenge is enough to erase all of these years of loyalty and friendship?”
    “You’re proving your loyalty. Your loyalty is to your stupid rules and your dumb church. I always wondered if they were more important to you than we are, but now I know for sure. “
    “No, you’re missing the point. I’m not choosing my church and my rules—as you call them, which, by the way, aren’t nearly as stupid as the rules you’ve made up for this game—over you guys. I’m choosing