truth or dare - game on series #1

Stella

Walking out of class with Cameron beside me, the chilly winter air bit at my cheeks against my skin. We had just received an A on our literature project. Cameron flashed his trademark grin, the kind that could light up an entire room.

"We did it, Star." he said, nudging my shoulder lightly. "All those late nights paid off."

I couldn't help but smile back. "Yeah, we did." The satisfaction of a job well done warmed me, but beneath that, there was a faint tinge of sadness. Now that the project was over, our time together was likely to dwindle. No more study sessions, no more shared glances over notebooks. It was for the best, I told myself. I couldn't afford to fall for someone like Cameron.

"So," Cameron began, breaking my train of thought, "what did you think of the class today?"

"It was okay," I replied, trying to keep my tone light. "I think our essay was really good"

"Absolutely," he agreed, his eyes sparkling. "Professor seemed genuinely impressed."

We walked in comfortable silence for a moment, the sounds of students milling around us filling the air. Then Cameron spoke again, his voice filled with a new kind of enthusiasm. ""So, what are your plans right now?"

I shrugged, "Not much, just heading back to my dorm."

"Hey, we should celebrate. How about grabbing a coffee?"

I hesitated, the offer tempting yet dangerous. Spending more time with him was exactly what I was trying to avoid. "I don't drink coffee," I said, hoping that would be enough to deter him.

Cameron chuckled, a soft, genuine sound that made my heart skip a beat. "Come on, Star. We worked hard, and we deserve a break. You can get hot chocolate."

I bit my lip, torn between caution and curiosity. His determination was endearing, and despite my better judgment, I found myself wanting to say yes. Maybe one coffee—or hot chocolate—wouldn't hurt.

"Alright," I finally relented, a small smile playing on my lips. "But just this once."

"Deal," Cameron said, his grin widening. "I promise, you won't regret it."

As we walked toward the campus café, I couldn't shake the feeling of impending danger—the kind that comes with getting too close to someone you know you shouldn't. Yet, with Cameron by my side, it was hard to remember why I had ever wanted to keep my distance in the first place.
    
   
  
   
Cameron

We stepped into the café, the warmth of the room a welcome contrast to the biting cold outside. Stella looked around, her eyes scanning the cozy interior. We found a small table near the window and sat down, glancing over the menu together.

"What are you thinking?" I asked, turning to her.

"Hot chocolate, definitely," she replied with a small smile.

Before we could continue our conversation, the waitress arrived to take our order. She was overly cheerful, her gaze lingering on me a bit too long. "What can I get for you?" she asked, her voice laced with a flirtatious undertone.

"I'll have a black coffee, and she'll have a hot chocolate," I said, nodding toward Stella.

The waitress smiled a little too brightly. "Of course handsome, coming right up," she chirped, giving me a lingering look before walking away.

Stella let out an awkward laugh. "Well, that was...weird."

I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Weird?"

She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Does that happen a lot?"

I chuckled. "More than I'd like to admit. Does it bother you?"

"No," she said quickly, though the slight blush on her cheeks told a different story.

I leaned in a bit, teasing. "You sure? You seem a little...offended."

"It's just strange," she admitted, her voice quieter. "I mean, it's kind of rude to flirt with someone when they're clearly sitting with another girl."

I reached out, gently touching her hand. "Hey, don't worry about it. Some people just don't have boundaries."

The waitress returned with our drinks, setting them down with an extra flourish. She also slid a small piece of paper toward me. "Here's my number," she said, giving me a wink.

Stella's eyes widened, her discomfort evident.

I picked up the paper, glancing at it briefly before looking back at the waitress. "You know," I said, my tone light but firm, "it's kind of weird to give me your number when I'm sitting here with another girl." I repeated Stella's words.

The waitress blinked, her confidence faltering. "Oh, I didn't think she was your type," she said, glancing at Stella. "I thought she might be your cousin or something."

Stella's face turned a deep shade of red, her embarrassment palpable.

Without missing a beat, I reached out and took Stella's hand, squeezing it gently. "Well, you're wrong," I said, my eyes locked on the waitress. "She's exactly my type."

The waitress's mouth opened slightly in surprise before she quickly recovered. "My mistake," she mumbled, retreating hastily.

Stella stared at me, her eyes wide with shock. I gave her hand another reassuring squeeze before letting go, offering her a soft smile. "You okay?"

She nodded slowly, still processing what had just happened. "Yeah...just surprised, I guess."

"Good," I said, leaning back in my chair. "Because she had it all wrong."

Wanting to lift her spirits, I asked, "So, what are your plans for later? It's Friday, after all."

She shrugged. "I don't really have any. Probably just go home and read or something."

I grinned. "Perfect. We should go celebrate our grade."

She gave me a curious look. "I thought this was the celebration."

"Come on, Star," I teased. "An A on our essay deserves more than just a quick coffee."

She hesitated. "I'm really not in the mood for a party."

"Who said anything about a party?" I countered. "I just want to hang out. No crowds, no loud music. Just us."

Her curiosity piqued. "Okay, so hypothetically-"

"Hypothetically?" I interrupted her with a small laugh.

"Hypothetically," she repeated. "if I said yes, where would we go?"

I leaned in, my smile widening. "You'll find out if you agree."

She studied me for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright. But no big surprises, okay?"

"Promise," I said, feeling a surge of excitement.