Playing The Devil's Game

CHAPTER 1: Truth, Dare, or Molly?

The house party was already in full swing when I arrived at Zane’s apartment.

Loud music blared from his speakers. There were barely twelve people who came for the party, but they made enough noise for fifty. Everyone was laughing, drinking, and dancing. Every single one of them was one of Zane’s new friends... people that I barely knew.

None of our old friends from freshman year were invited. Zane had cut them off ever since he started making serious money from online trading. Now he only surrounded himself with people who fit his new status... the same people who wouldn’t have spared him a glance a year ago.

Zane was my boyfriend. We have been together since freshman year. But it still felt strange to see how much he had changed... A year ago, he was just another awkward freshman wearing old clothes. He used to share a room with a messy roommate and could barely afford instant noodles.

Now, he had an expensive car parked downstairs, a luxury apartment, designer clothes, and that new kind of confidence that only money can give.

And me? I was still… me.

I wasn’t ugly, but I wasn’t the kind of girl that turned heads either. I was tall, with a bit of belly fat, medium sized breasts, and an ass that barely escaped being called flat. My hair was plain brown, and I wore nerdy glasses that always slid down my nose.

I searched for Zane as soon as I arrived. Only to find him on the balcony... with a girl.

The girl is someone I knew. Her name is Nikka. She is a sophomore beauty queen who had joined a popular fraternity. She had turned Zane down a year ago at a freshman party... humiliated him publicly, actually.

I was there that night. I had found him outside afterward, drinking alone. I cheered him up... and that was how we met. Two months later, he asked me out and I accepted.

Now, that same Nikka was standing close to him... too close. She laughed at something he said and playfully hit his chest. He caught her hand... but didn’t let go. And she didn’t seem to mind.

From where I was standing... I tried to convince myself it didn’t mean anything, that I was overthinking. I stepped into their view.

"Hey, babe," I said, forcing a smile.

"Dashmel," Zane said, letting go of Nikka’s hand. "You came."

I nodded. "I was looking for you inside. Didn’t expect to find you here."

Nikka threw me a dirty look... clearly displeased that I had interrupted her and Zane.

The music suddenly cut off. And someone yelled from the living room, "Yo, everyone gather around. I have got an announcement!"

Nikka walked out of the balcony, leaving Zane and I alone.

"Let's head inside". Zane said, heading for the balcony's door.

"No," I said quietly. "Let’s just stay here."

He paused. "Come on, Dash. let's see what the announcement is all about".

"Alright". I said. Then rushing forward I wrapped my hands around his arm. He didn’t even react... just kept on walking.

We entered the living room, where everyone were already gathered.

"Thanks for gathering, everyone," said a tall black guy... the same one who had made the announcement. "We are done with the dancing, so we are moving to the next part of the night. We will be playing a game."

"What game?" Nikka asked, folding her arms.

"Truth or Dare!" he shouted.

The room erupted with cheers. People grabbed cushions and dropped to the floor, forming a loose circle around a low glass coffee table.

I hesitated. I didn’t want to play. Especially, not with these people. But Zane turned to me, smiling.

"Come on, Dash," he said. "It’s just a game. Don’t be boring."

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

We joined the circle of people on the floor. We sat side by side... right across from Nikka.

Zane picked up an empty bottle and set it in the center of the circle.

"Alright, let's set some ground rules" he announced. "The rules are simple. You can’t skip a round. There should be no weak truths, and no soft dares. You do what you are told. If you chicken out..." he raised a small container filled with pills. "...you take one of this."

He smiled, that confident, cocky smile I hadn’t seen before he made money. "And trust me," he added, "you don’t want to take too much of this."

Everyone laughed.

"What’s that?" I asked, frowning.

"It’s just molly," he replied.

"Just?" I was alarmed. "Zane, you know I don’t do drugs."

"Then, don’t chicken out," Nikka said with a smirk.

"Come on, Dash," Zane said. "Don't be such a spoil sport. It’s just a game." He spun the bottle, and it landed on Nikka.

"Nikka," he said. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," she said immediately.

"I dare you to kiss a guy here."

Nikka smiled. "Alright."

She stood, crossed the circle, and stopped in front of Zane. She knelt down... her eyes locked on his. She then leaned in.

I knew what was about to happen. But I still stared, hoping that Zane will put a stop to it.

She pressed her lips to his slowly... her hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. The kiss was too intimate, and lasted longer than was necessary.

The crowd cheered.

"Damn!" Someone said.

"Get a room already!" Another shouted.

I just sat there... frozen.

When she finally pulled away, she looked right at me and winked before returning to her seat.

Zane looked at me, half smiling. "Relax, Dash. It’s just a game."

I turned away without a word.

Nikka spun the bottle next. And by some twist of fate, it landed on me.

"I choose truth," I said quickly.

She smiled. "Alright then… Have you realized that Zane doesn’t need someone like you anymore?"

The room went quiet.

"Damn," someone muttered.

I stared at her coldly. "No. I don’t think so."

"You are lying," one of the girls said.

"Yeah," another chipped in. "Judging by how long his kiss with Nikka lasted, it’s pretty obvious that he’s done with you."

Laughter broke out. One by one, people dropped their opinions, and most of them insisted that I was lying.

"Come on, Dash. Admit it."

"She failed to answer truthfully everyone". Nikka voiced. "Zane, you know what to do".

Zane's smile had long faded, but he still stayed calm. "You didn’t tell the truth, Dash". He held up the pill container. "So you take one".

"No," I said quietly. "I will change my answer instead. That's not against the rules, is it?"

Zane sighed. "There’s no rule about that. But from now on, if you lie again... you take one".

I looked at Nikka. "Fine. Yes, I have realized that Zane doesn’t need someone like me anymore".

Nikka smiled. "See? That wasn’t so hard".

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

It was my turn. I spun the bottle and it landed on the tall black guy.

"Truth or dare?" I asked.

"Dare."

"I dare you to kiss someone you actually like."

He grinned, stood up, and walked over to Nikka. Without hesitation, he pulled her up and kissed her.

The crowd erupted.

"Damn". A guy said, and patted him on his back.

The game continued. A guy was dared to make out with a girl in a bedroom. A girl named Trish finally took the molly.

It was now her turn to spin the bottle. She spun it, and it landed on me.

Trish smirked. "Nikka, I am giving my turn to you." She turned to Zane. "That’s allowed, right?"

Zane nodded. "Yeah. It’s not against the rules."

Nikka gave me a mocking smile. "So Dashmel... what is it going to be?"

"I pick dare."

"Really? What if I ask you to kiss someone?" She asked.

"Then I will do it," I said flatly. "After all, it’s just a game".

"Alright then." She leaned forward. "I dare you to get up… and leave."

The room fell silent.

"Damn".