Chapter 2 2

AVA

I could swear I had a hand in what was happening to me right now, but was I going to admit it? Not likely. No, not ever.

I raised my eyes slightly, just so I could catch sight of my immediate surroundings again. Prior to this moment, I'd blinked a couple of times, while I muttered a prayer that somehow, perhaps by a miracle, I would magically get myself out of the hole I'd dug up for myself. But as I stared at the beady eyes of the teenagers boring holes into my skin, it was every indication I didn't know I needed.

I was screwed. Officially.

Dread coiled in my stomach, and I couldn't help but think back to the moment that had brought me here. Liam had asked me a simple question, one I'd definitely seen coming. What I didn't expect from myself, was the answer I gave instead.

"Truth or dare, Ava?" Liam's voice from before echoed in my ear. "Choose wisely."

I could swear the urge to whisper Truth had been strong in my mind, but at the last moment, I had to mess it all up by choosing dare.

"Dare." my voice wobbled, but I'd cleared my throat before speaking again. "I choose dare."

"Ouuuu." Catcalls filled the room, but nothing could calm my heart thumping wildly in my chest.

"Alright then," Liam had picked up again. "I dare you, to kiss a random stranger.

"You heard me." He repeated. "Anyone of your choice. All you have to do is kiss him."

And it was at that moment, I realized how badly I'd messed up. I'd done something stupid, so incredibly stupid that the fact that I'd showed up at this party suddenly felt like something to be praised for, and not the other way around.

I chose dare.

Why? Why had that word slipped out of my mouth like a daredevil version of me had taken over? I could've picked truth. I could've said something like my favorite genre was romance or that I liked to count sheep when I was bored. But no, my big mouth just had to betray me. And now, here I was, expected to kiss someone random at the party. Like that wasn't traumatizing enough, it got worse.

I turned towards Liam. A tiny part of me had wished he was joking, but the moment I caught sight of the sly smirk on his lips, everything faded away in an instant.

My stomach twisted, and a million and one knots formed in my stomach all at once. That traitor smirk told me everything I needed to know about this whole setup. He knew I was about to lose our bet.

We'd made it years ago, half joking and half seriously. The bet entailed that whoever had their first kiss last would win. There wasn't any prize attached to it, just pure gloating and bragging rights till any of them finally decided to let it die down.

I'd planned to go easy on him. I really planned to. After all, it wasn't like anything bad or heinous had happened yet. In fact, a small part of me was actually beginning to see parties as not too much of a big deal. There had been no major fall, and I hadn't been embarrassed yet. All I was doing was pretending to vibe with what the hell they were doing.

But now? He had definitely crossed a line.

Liam's smug expression wasn't helping matters at all. It sat pretty on his face, and the more I saw it, the more furious I became. He'd thought I wasn't going to go through with it. He thought I would chuckle out because my first kiss was far too precious to waste on a stupid dare.

I parted my lips to speak, but no words came out. Heat prickled at the back of my eyes, and if I didn't act now, then it wouldn't take long for the dam behind my eyes to break free, that was for sure. Liam must have caught sight of my internal debate, because he raised his brow on response, his eyes silently daring me to back down.

Nope.

"Fine." I let out after what seemed like forever, much to everyone's surprise. "I'll do it."

"It's just a kiss." I muttered to myself. Heaven knows I would much rather lock lips with someone I had no chance of meeting up with again, than let Liam win the bet. "No big deal."

"What?" The smug smile on Liam's lips was nowhere to be found. Instead, the expression on his face had fallen into what could be easily classified as a small frown. "You're joking."

"I'm not." I got up so fast the cushions scattered. Even the others made way for me, their eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm going to do it."

I didn't wait for any more words from Liam. I didn't even look at him anymore. Instead, my eyes trailed the circle, and I was able to spot Asher in one corner. I had no idea what he was doing, but I just knew he had tapped out of the game a while ago.

The circle broke into excited whispers and rustling as everyone jumped to follow. A dare was a show obviously, and apparently, they all wanted front row seats.

I pushed through the crowd, and with how loudly my heart was thumping, I could swear it was in sync with the loud bass from the speakers. My eyes scanned the room, and fortunately for me, I didn't have to search for too long to find my target.

Or not.

Dangerous was the first word that came to mind the moment I saw him. Tattoos peeled from the leather jacket that swung over his shoulder, and by how broad he was, I could tell he was all muscles. His brown hair caught the light, and I would be lying if I said I'd ever felt the urge to run my hands through someone else's hair before now. It was even more dangerous that the said urge, was tied to a man.

A dangerously, sexy man that is.

He was perched against the kitchen archway, a drink in hand. With how casually he was leaving against the wall, he looked nothing short of those bad boys from the romance novels I'd snuck underneath my bed just so I could read it later.

He had dimples and a sharp jawline that could cut through steel. His gray eyes shone, and for a minute, I imagined what it would be like to get lost in them. He was exactly the kind of boy my parents warned me about, and the kind that I usually crossed the street to avoid.

Perfect.

Without thinking, I walked straight to him, my pulse roaring in my ears.

"Excuse me." My voice was steadier than I felt, and I exhaled in relief. He turned to me the moment the words slid past my lips, and I watched a hint of amusement dance in his eyes. Before I could second guess myself though, I pressed my lips against his.

It was supposed to be light, you know, like a quick brush. Not deep enough for a real kiss, but just enough to satisfy the dare and leave before the ground swallowed me while.

Apparently, he had other plans.

He didn't let me leave. Instead, he snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him with effortless strength. My back hit the wall, and he kissed me again. Harder this time. My skin buzzed as it came alive, like someone had plugged me into a socket and I was reacting to it.

A low moan bubbled at the base of my throat, but whether or not he'd heard it, I didn't care. On instinct, I grabbed a fistful of hair, just to ground myself from my knees giving way beneath me.

"Damn!" Cheers erupted behind me, and I just knew it was the group. Someone whistled, but they all collectively yelled. "Go Ava."

When we finally broke apart, I was breathless with my face red, but there was something else that buzzed underneath my skin. Triumph. He must have thought the same thing because he sent me a lazy smirk, before releasing me. He didn't say a word, and neither did I as I made my way back to the room.

I turned just to find Liam and Asher staring at me. Asher looked impressed, while Liam on the other hand, looked like he'd swallowed lime.

With a slight spring in my step, I made my way back to the cushion. Liam's eyes trailed my every move, but I ignored him, like I hadn't just kissed a random stranger like they did in the romance books I read. The game continued, but I barely noticed. Again and again, the bottle spun but I refrained from choosing dare again. Instead, I opted to picking truth and drinking when the options became more raunchier and nasty.

It didn't take too long for the effects of the alcohol to give in. My vision blurred at the side and dizzy spells gripped me by both sides. It was late, I could tell, but I also really needed to pee, and badly too. If I didn't do something about it, I could burst, and I knew that the lightheadedness I was feeling clearly didn't mean anything as opposed to being pressed.

My eyes scanned the crowd, and I scrunched up my nose at the state of the two people I'd come with. Asher has slumped on one of the bean bags, completely knocked out cold and Liam was right next to him.

Great.

I forced myself up in that moment, and as I weaved through the bodies that laughed and partied, all i wanted to do was find thr bathroom. My steps were uneven and my vision fuzzy. I was this close to come crashing down, when someone's hands wrapped around my arm from behind.

"Where are you headed, princess?" A voice slurred in my ears, and I recoiled immediately. He reeked of stale alcohol and something else. Something dangerous.

"Let me go." I tried to yank my hand away from him, but he was too fast. Too strong too.

He laughed, but it didn't last long. One minute he was grinning and sporting his cracked teeth, and the neck, someone's fist dug straight into his nose.

I blinked in surprise and the moment my hero came into the picture, I froze. It was him, that same guy I'd kissed a while back.

"Is he bothering you?" He turned to me immediately, like he hadn't just broken someone's nose.

" I don't know." My brain was jumbled. "I just..I need to pee."

"I'll help you." He tilted his head to the side, and I didn't miss the concern in his eyes. "Come.."

"No " even in my hazy state, my instincts screamed at how much of a bad idea it was. "I got it. Thank you."

He didn't push. All he did was watch me with those dark eyes as I stumbled away. I wasn't sure how I was able to do it, but somehow I found the bathroom.

I stripped myself of my jeans as quickly as possible. I'd barely managed to lock the door, but nothing mattered as much as the relief I got once I was done. It was a miracle how I didn't stain my pants, and just as I rinsed my face, the door behind mr swung open.

I caught sight of the guy I'd kissed from the mirror, and before I could turn to face him, and tell him off, he was already cutting the distance between us.

"I..." the words had barely slid past my lips before he cupped my face. His palm was warm against my cheeks as he kissed me, and I couldn't help but melt into his touch.

The kiss was slower this time, and much less of a dare. The kiss lasted for a few more seconds before he pulled back, just to gaze in my eyes.

With a rough voice, he let out slowly.

"We're going to finish what you started."

And just like that, the world tilted again, not from alcohol, but him.

Shit..