9

When we arrived at the party the house was too crowded, there were people even outside, chatting and drinking from a red glass. Darren took me inside the house, I didn't miss his hand on my waist, I didn't like him doing that. I felt uncomfortable. The music was blaring too loud. People were pushing and shoving and everything.

-Darren! -someone exclaimed from behind us. We both turned to look. There came a slim, dark-haired girl. She approached Darren with a big smile on her face.

-Brenda, when did you get here? -asked my companion, too surprised.

-Today in the afternoon, I heard there was a party today and we decided to come," she answered.

-We decided? -Darren asked.

-Yes, Kendra came anyway," she replied.

I noticed Darren tensed up so I gave him a quick glance, until he set his sights on me.

-Monique, I'm sorry," he said and then looked at Brenda. This is Monique, a friend," he introduced me.

Brenda looked at me, smiling.

-Hi, I'm Brenda," she shook her hand. I took it hesitantly.

I didn't say anything, I just smiled at her.

-Brenda! Now another voice behind her made us look at the blue-haired girl who came with a red glass in her hands. -There you are," she said to Brenda, but then noticed Darren. Hi, Darren," she greeted him dryly and then turned to her friend or whatever, "are we leaving?

-The other guys are in the room," Brenda said, now looking at us. Are they coming?

-Who's there?

-All of them. Don't worry, he's with someone.

Darren gave me a quick look.

-They always make me do this, if you don't want to we won't go. We can stay here and...

-It's okay," I hurried to tell him.

We followed Brenda and Kendra to the stairs leading to the second floor, we walked down a long hallway until we stopped at a door, where we could hear laughter. Brenda opened the door, Kendra came in behind her, then me and lastly Darren. I stood still in the same spot as I looked at those who were there. They were all sitting in a circle. But there was my sister... With Colton, something in my stomach stirred at the sight of them together. But I also noticed that there was Loren and her boyfriend. As well as the two girls I used to hang out with, there were more guys there.

-We're here," Brenda told them. Sit down," she said.

Angelique gave me a look, puzzled to see me here, I was sitting on Colton's lap, who immediately tensed up when he saw me. Darren directed me to a corner whose seats were empty.

But to my bad luck I would be across from Colton...and my sister. Darren sat down next to me, followed by Brenda and then Kendra.

-Wow... I thought I was seeing double," laughed one guy. I thought two shots of beer wasn't going to make me dizzy... they're twins, dammit!

The other guys laughed, but not me, not my sister. Nor Colton.

-And they're both beautiful," said his friend, looking me over from head to toe. I unconsciously pulled my dress down further, a little uncomfortable.

-Well, okay, let's start the game. -Brenda spoke. As you all know it is truth or dare, do you know the rules? -she asked. We nodded. I had never played but I had an idea. I glanced sideways at Colton, who was staring blankly as I think my sister said something very close to his ear.

I looked down immediately, taking a deep breath.

-Okay," the girl concluded, pulling out a bottle and setting it down in the center, lying down. Ready?

The others nodded.

-Whoever points the tip does the challenge and whoever lands on the other end does the challenge. -Brenda spun the bottle, it spun for a few seconds and then stopped. The tip stopped on Loren and the other end on Kendra.

Loren thought about it, forming that evil grin on his lips.

-Truth or dare? -he asked her.

-Truth," Kendra answered instantly.

-Is it true that you had your first time with your math teacher?

Silence.

I couldn't help but be surprised by what Loren had said, she has always been so cruel and we all knew it. Kendra had gone into a state of shock or anger. She was looking at Loren with hatred.

-It's true," she replied seriously, then took another drink from her glass.

The others said nothing, I imagine they were only criticizing in their minds. Feeling eyes on me, I turned to Darren, who when he saw that I looked at him smiled at me, I couldn't help but smile back. As I turned my gaze back to the others my gaze met Colton's, who was looking at me intently.

I ignored him.

-Now you turn it," he said to Loren. Loren spun her around, now it had fallen to Angelique to do the challenge, and she another tip to me. Fulfill it.

Great.

Loren laughed, going to Angelique and whispering something in her ear. Angelique didn't laugh, just hesitated, then looked at me.

-Come on, it's not okay to say the challenges, let her think about it," Brenda interjected.

Angelique thought about it.

-Truth or dare, Monique? -she questioned.

Truth or dare, Monique? I repeated the question in my head. The others waiting for an answer from me.

-Truth.

-Do you like any boys in this room?

Low blow, I knew she was saying it to see if I liked Colton, she suspected something about that, but did I like Colton? I had absolutely no idea. I looked at Colton, who now had a mischievous smile on his lips.

-No," I lied.

-Are you sure? -he insisted.

-Yes, Angelique," I mumbled through my teeth. I was starting to get mad at her for asking that.

-Perfect, now turn her around, Angelique.

Angelique turned it, now falling on the boy who had just said he was looking double and Brenda. The boy had to ask truth or dare.

-Truth or dare, Brenda? -he asked with a wicked smile on his lips.

-Dare," he answered, taking us by surprise.

-I dare you to give me a kiss.

Brenda laughed but didn't refuse, she got up from her place and walked towards the boy, when they arrived they joined their lips in a romantic and passionate kiss. I looked away immediately, I noticed how Angelique removed herself from Colton's legs to sit next to him. Did he tell her to do it?

-Now, finish up," Kendra said. Come on, Zack, it's your turn to turn her.

Brenda pulled away from him, only to return to her place smiling.

The guy named Zack spun the bottle, falling now on his companion and me. Again? It was the boy's turn to ask. I tensed at that moment.

-Truth or dare, cutie?

-Truth," I said without thinking, since this boy didn't know anything about me so it would be easy.

-I'm sorry but you already told the truth once, now it's your turn to do the dare," he said. I looked at him confused.

-It's true," Brenda supported him.

I shrugged my shoulders.

-Challenge then.

The boy smiled.

-I dare you to come with me to the closet and have our seven minutes in paradise.

My mouth threatened to unhinge at that moment, what did this guy think he was doing? He was crazy if he thought I would do that.

-What? No," I denied immediately. I'll pass.

-You can't, it's the challenge," said the friend.

-It's the rules, if you play you have to follow them," Kendra now spoke.

-Come on, Monique, it won't be that bad what he will do to you," I was surprised that Loren addressed me by my name.

I looked at Colton, who I could notice how his eyes told me not to do it, but nevertheless that gave me the courage to do it.

-Okay," I agreed.

-Monique, are you sure? -Darren asked me.

No.

-Yes.

The guy stood up so I did too, he left the space free for me to lead us to a door at the back, assuming it was the closet. The guy opened the door, I stood there hesitantly, telling myself it was my fault and that I shouldn't have accepted, however I wanted to prove to myself what I was capable of.

I walked into it, feeling the guy come behind me, closing the door and then leaving us in complete darkness.