truth or dare - game on series #1

chapter 40

I exhaled a dry, humorless laugh and took another sip. "Not working."

Liam slid into the stool next to me, already sipping on his beer. "Dude, you just need to put yourself out there. Plenty of girls here tonight." He waved a hand in the direction of the crowded bar, where a group of girls were laughing and stealing glances our way.

I barely even looked. "Not interested."

Drew groaned, his voice laced with frustration. "This is pathetic. You're Cameron Clark. Star player. Ladies' man. Where the hell did that guy go?"

I downed the rest of my drink in one go, slamming the glass down on the counter. "He met Stella."

For a moment, the room went silent. Luke sighed and rubbed his face. "Look, man, I get it. She meant something to you. But you're acting like your life's over."

I turned to him, my eyes burning with a mix of exhaustion and anger. "You don't get it. You weren't there. You didn't see her face. She hates me." My voice cracked on the last part, and I cursed myself for it.

Liam waved the bartender over. "Another round."

I didn't even know how many drinks I'd had. The alcohol was buzzing in my veins, numbing everything, but not nearly enough. I wanted to shut my brain off, to stop replaying every moment between me and Stella, to stop wondering if there was anything I could've done to fix it.

I barely noticed the girl who slid onto the stool next to me, way too close, leaning in with a flirtatious smile. "Haven't seen you here before."

I turned my head slightly, barely glancing at her. "Not interested."

She pouted, clearly not used to rejection. "Oh, come on, I was just being friendly."

Drew shot me a look, silently telling me to take the bait. I clenched my jaw. "Not tonight."

She rolled her eyes and walked off, and Drew groaned. "Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?"

I stood up abruptly, the room spinning a little as I pushed away from the counter. "I'm going outside."

I needed air. I needed quiet. I needed Stella, but I knew that wasn't happening.

The cold hit me the second I stepped outside, and I sucked in a sharp breath, trying to clear my head. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, unlocking the screen without even thinking. Still no messages.

Still nothing from her.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You really fucked this up, Clark."

The alcohol didn't help. My friends didn't help. Nothing did.

And I had no idea what to do.

"Hey, man, you good?"

I turned to see Drew, Liam, and Luke walking out of the bar, their faces concerned but also a little tipsy. They must've noticed I wasn't coming back inside.

"Yeah," I muttered, pulling myself off the wall. "Just needed some air."

Liam nudged me. "You sure?"

I looked at them, knowing they were right. I'd been a damn mess, but what the hell else was I supposed to do? "What's gonna help me, huh? You think some more drinks are gonna make me feel better? I need to see her. I need to explain everything to her. That's the only thing that's gonna fix this."

Drew raised an eyebrow, his voice soft. "You wanna talk to Stella? Right now?"

I nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. I need to make her understand. I need to... fix it."

Luke crossed his arms, clearly skeptical. "It's like two in the morning, man. She's probably asleep. You think it's a good idea to show up at her dorm? Clearly drunk?"

I could feel the anger rising, frustration building up again. "I don't care. I need to do this."

Liam looked at Luke, then back at me. "You're miserable right now, Cameron. And honestly, it's hard to watch. If it'll help, we'll go with you. We'll talk to her."

Drew gave a slight nod. "I'm in. Let's go."

Luke groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not saying it's a good idea, but if you're really gonna do this, I'm not gonna let you go alone. Let's just get this over with."

I looked at them, still feeling the mix of anger and desperation, but also a weird sense of gratitude. They were sticking by me, even if they thought I was out of my damn mind.

"You're all insane," Luke muttered, but he turned toward the parking lot anyway.

I didn't care. I didn't care if it was late. I didn't care if she was asleep. All I knew was that I couldn't keep going like this. Not without trying. And if I had to drag my friends along with me, then so be it.

"We're doing this," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Drew slapped me on the back. "That's the spirit. Let's go fix this."

I was drunk. Stupidly, recklessly, out-of-my-mind drunk. And yet, even through the haze clouding my thoughts, one thing remained painfully clear—I needed to see Stella.

It didn't matter that it was late, or that I was swaying on my feet as my friends practically dragged me. None of it mattered. The only thing I cared about was getting to her, looking her in the eyes, and telling her... what? I didn't even know. Maybe that I was sorry. Maybe that I still loved her, even if she hated me now.

Liam had an arm around my shoulders to keep me steady while Drew walked beside us, trying not to laugh at my inability to walk in a straight line. Luke, on the other hand, wasn't amused.

"This is a terrible idea," Luke muttered as we reached the dorm building. "She's not going to want to see you."

"I don't care," I slurred, yanking myself free from Liam's grip so I could walk on my own. "I need to talk to her."

Luke smirked. "And you think showing up at nearly three in the morning, wasted out of your mind, is the way to do that?"

I ignored him and knocked on the door. Nothing. I knocked again, louder this time.

"Dude, come on," Luke groaned. "She's asleep. This isn't going to end well."

I didn't care. I knocked again.

The door swung open, and Bree stood there, arms crossed, looking equal parts pissed and exhausted. "Are you serious?" she snapped. "Do you guys even know what time it is?"

Liam, ever the flirt, stepped forward with a charming smile. "Bree, come on. Just let him talk to her for a second."

Her glare didn't waver. "I don't care what any of you lying assholes have to say."

That hit harder than I expected. My stomach twisted as I swayed slightly on my feet, gripping the doorframe to keep myself upright. "Bree, please," I muttered. "Just let me see her."

She shook her head, unmoved. "Go home, Cameron."

And with that, she slammed the door in my face.

For a second, I just stood there, staring at the closed door like if I waited long enough, maybe she'd open it again. But she didn't. And she wouldn't. Because as far as she was concerned, I wasn't worth listening to.

Luke sighed. "Told you."

Liam patted my shoulder. "Come on, man. Let's get you home."

I let them lead me away, but my heart stayed behind, locked behind that damn door with the girl I'd lost.