Chapter 2 Truth or Dare

Elena's POV

"Truth or dare!" One of their voices rings out, despite the raging music all around us. The guy with the pure eyes has successfully ignored me, but he isn't exactly playing the game either. And no one bothers him.

"Elena!" Elizabeth nudges me again for the umpteenth time that night. I jump and look towards her, wondering what it is this time, until I see half the eyes in the circle watching me too.

"What?"

"It's your turn," she whispers. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," I blurt, not wanting to be caught doing something that gets plastered across billboards in a few hours. It is one of my fears, being known for something I am not proud of. My mantra has been the same since I was a kid.

To keep my head low and do what I have to do to make ends meet.

And this doesn't directly fall into the path.

"Have you ever had sex before, Elena?"

The question makes my eyes fall wide open. It is from the guy sitting beside me. The same one who hasn't asked one question since this game started.

He now has his eyes on me, regarding me intently. I squirm under the intensity of those grey eyes and try to look away. But for some reason, it is practically impossible.

My throat feels parched, and I desperately begin to crave water. Without thinking, I reach for the glass set in front of me a few minutes ago and gulp down its whole content.

Elizabeth's mouth opens as her hands dash out to stop me, but it is too late as every single drop is down my throat. Her mouth closes slowly just as she nods.

"That wasn't water, Elena," she murmurs, leaning in to me.

"Really?" I narrow my eyes. "Are you sure? Because it definitely tasted like water."

"You don't have to answer the question," the grey-eyed guy mutters. "I could tell that you were a virgin the minute you stepped into the room."

"Hey!" It tumbles from my tongue before I can stop myself. "You don't have proof of that."

He angles his head at me, as if accepting an unspoken challenge.

"Are you going to answer the question?" Someone in the circle asks. "If you aren't, we have the liberty to dare you."

I look at the guy and then back to the group. Someone slurs in my head, but it is gone in a second, replaced by such sharp awareness.

The last thing I want to do is tell these strangers about my zero sex life, especially not the one next to me. I don't know him, and I probably will not see him after today. Yet, every inch of him makes me wary.

The nonchalance in his voice, the way he regards me from underneath his lashes, the way my body reacts, the heat that spreads through me, the need to keep watching him as my pulse races.

"Dare, then," I mutter, feeling some level of confidence wash through me.

"Do you want to dare her?" Elizabeth asks him. What is everyone's obsession with his handling of my game?

He scans the room slowly, his eyes landing on a tall, lanky guy by the makeshift bar. "There. Talk to him and get him to kiss you. Bonus points if you get his number."

"What?" My breath hitches. "I thought..."

"It's either that, or you take off three clothing items. I really doubt you would want to do that."

I chew my bottom lip as I curse Elizabeth in my head. She is the reason I am here in the first place. My typical Friday night is spent in front of a television, watching some funny drama and laughing to my heart's content.

Because that is the only humour I get out of my life. The rest is hard and boring.

The shrill of Elizabeth's phone disrupts the circle for a second. She retrieves her phone, looks up at me, and winks. But in another second, she pulls herself off the couch and scurries in the opposite direction.

"I'll be back!" She calls over her shoulder.

Great. Just great.

Everyone in the little group still has their eyes on me. Sighing, I pull myself to my feet, then look at the grey-eyed man. "Fine. I'll do your stupid dare. But what do I get in return if I get him to kiss me?"

"That's not how it...." Another person in the circle starts to say, but she gets cut off.

"Nothing, because I know you won't kiss me."

"Ouuuuu!" It spreads through the circle, making red patches appear on my cheeks.

"Game on!"

I walk away from the group and wobble slightly on my feet. My head feels light, and I remember the drink Elizabeth warned me about. It was definitely not water.

The lanky guy by the bar looks up at me when he senses me approaching, but my feet decide to act all up then. I trip on my own feet and feel myself fall forward. The first thing I think about is how everyone in the room will burst out in laughter, seeing me on the floor.

But that never happens as his surprisingly strong arms catch me before my face hits the floor. He smells of cedar wood and honey, an unusual but nice combination.

"Easy," he murmurs, an easy amusement in his voice. "Are you good? Do you need water?"

I nod, groaning. "That was what got me here in the first place."

He chuckles. "Water?"

"I ended up gulping down a whole glass of vodka because I was thirsty, but in my defence, it didn't taste like vodka. It didn't burn."

He laughs heartily, reaching out to ruffle my hair. It feels warm.

"I'll get you real water this time. It helps calm down the liquor."

I nod, watching him move as he grabs a glass and walks to the sink, filling it with water. He returns a moment later and hands it to me.

"You'll feel better once you have it."

I remember the dare and decide that this should be easy after all. But from the corner of my eyes, I see a scowl plastered on the grey-eyed guy's face as he gets off and stalks away.