truth or dare - game on series #1

Cameron

We returned home, arms full of grocery bags, the cold air clinging to our jackets. Luke and Liam were laughing about something ridiculous that happened at the store, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept thinking about Stella, about how things had been between us lately.

As we stepped inside, the warmth of the house enveloped us, and Drew was sprawled on the couch, engrossed in a video game. He barely glanced up but smirked when he saw us.

"Hey, you've got a visitor," Drew said, his eyes flicking towards me.

I frowned, puzzled. "Visitor? Who?"

Drew shrugged, not taking his eyes off the screen. "Stella. She's waiting in your room."

My heart skipped a beat. "Stella's here?"

"Yeah," Drew replied. "She said she needed to talk to you."

I exchanged a glance with Luke and Liam before heading towards my room. My mind raced with possibilities. Was she okay? Did something happen? As I reached my door, I took a deep breath and pushed it open.

Stella was sitting on my bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She looked up as I entered, her expression a mixture of nervousness and determination.

"Hey," I greeted softly, closing the door behind me. "Everything okay?"

She nodded, but her eyes betrayed her anxiety. "Yeah, I just... needed to talk to you."

I sat down next to her on the bed. "What's going on? You seem tense."

She took a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. "Cameron, I need to know what we are."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. I reached out, gently taking her hand in mine. "What do you mean?"

She looked down, avoiding my gaze. "We've been spending a lot of time together, and then there was the kiss... but we're not really... anything official. I'm just confused."

I squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her. "Stella, I care about you—a lot."

She finally met my eyes, her gaze searching mine. "But what does that mean, Cameron? Are we just friends who kissed, or is there something more? I need to know because I don't want to keep wondering."

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. "Stella, I've been thinking about us a lot. I didn't want to rush you or make you feel pressured, but the truth is... I want to be with you. I've wanted that for a while now."

Her eyes softened, but she still seemed uncertain. "Really? Because sometimes it feels like we're just... floating in between. And I'm scared of getting hurt."

I nodded, understanding her fears. "I get it. I'm scared too. But I'm willing to take that chance if you are. I want us to be together—for real."

She bit her lip, considering my words. "But what if it doesn't work out? What if—"

I interrupted her gently. "What if it does? We won't know unless we try, Stella. And I want to try. With you."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "You really mean that?"

"I do," I said firmly. "I want to be with you, Stella. As your boyfriend, if you'll have me."

She exhaled slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Okay. Let's try."

A wave of relief washed over me, and I couldn't help but smile. "You won't regret it, I promise."

She smiled back, a genuine, beautiful smile that made my heart soar. "I hope not."

We sat there for a moment, the weight of the conversation lifting, replaced by a sense of clarity and hope. I leaned in, brushing a soft kiss on her forehead. "We'll figure this out together."

She nodded, leaning into me. "Together."

As we sat in the comfortable silence, I finally broke it. "So, what now?"

She chuckled softly. "Now, we see where this takes us."

I grinned. "Sounds like a plan." We sat there, hands still entwined, both of us finally at ease with where we were headed.

...

I walked Stella to the front door, the crisp evening air seeping in through the cracks. The house was quiet, save for the faint murmurs of the guys in the living room. Stella stood before me, her eyes reflecting a mixture of contentment and nervousness.

"Thanks for coming over," I said softly, my hands resting lightly on her arms.

"Thanks for having me," she replied, a small smile playing on her lips.

There was a moment of silence, the kind that felt heavy with unspoken words. I leaned in slowly, pressing a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. It was gentle, a promise of everything to come. When we pulled apart, her cheeks were flushed, and she gave me a shy smile.

"Goodnight, Cameron," she whispered.

"Goodnight, Stella," I replied, watching as she turned and walked down the steps, disappearing into the night. I stood there for a moment, the warmth of the kiss still lingering.

As I closed the door, the sound of muffled laughter reached my ears. I turned around to find Luke, Liam, and Drew sprawled on the couch, their faces alight with curiosity.

"Well, well, well," Drew drawled, smirking. "Looks like our boy finally has a girlfriend."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah, I do."

"Wait, really?" Liam asked, his eyebrows raised. "Since when?"

"Since now," I said, plopping down on the armrest of the couch. "We just talked about it."

"Wow, man," Luke said, genuinely surprised. "Didn't think you'd actually settle down."

I shrugged, feeling a mix of pride and relief. "Stella's different. She's worth it."

Drew let out a low whistle. "Who would've thought? Cameron is finally off the market."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Yeah, well, it feels right."

"You sure about this?" Liam asked, his tone serious. "You know how we are. We don't really do the whole relationship thing."

I looked at them, my friends who I'd always tried to impress, always tried to fit in with. But for the first time, I wasn't afraid to be different. "I'm sure. Stella means a lot to me, and I'm not going to hide that."

There was a pause before Luke nodded. "Alright, man. If she makes you happy, we're happy for you."

"Thanks," I said, genuinely appreciative. "I know it's not what we usually do, but this feels right."

Drew grinned, clapping me on the back. "Just don't go soft on us, Cam. We still need you on the court."

I laughed, the tension easing. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, I felt a sense of contentment settle over me. I'd always been afraid of standing out, of being different from the guys. But with Stella, I didn't care about that anymore. She was worth it.