truth or dare - game on series #1

Stella

I sat cross-legged on my bed, absently flipping through a book I wasn't actually reading. My mind was too cluttered, too overwhelmed with everything that had happened. The last thing I wanted to do was go out, but Bree had other plans.

"Stella, you have to come with me," Bree insisted as she rummaged through her closet, tossing clothes onto her bed. "You can't just sit here and mope forever."

"I'm not moping," I muttered, keeping my eyes trained on the page in front of me, even though I hadn't processed a single word.

Bree scoffed. "Please. You haven't gone out in days. You barely leave this room. And you're letting them win."

That made me look up. "What do you mean?"

She turned to face me, hands on her hips. "Cameron, his idiot friends, all the people who probably think this whole thing is hilarious. If you stay in here and hide, you're letting them get to you. And I know you, Stell. You're stronger than that."

I swallowed, looking away. "I just... I don't want to see him. Or them. Or anyone, really. They'll just make fun of me."

Bree rolled her eyes. "Who cares what they think? You're going to let some jerks dictate your life? Screw them. Come out, have fun, and remind yourself that this whole thing doesn't define you."

I wanted to argue, to tell her that I didn't care about proving anything to anyone. But the truth was, I did care. The thought of facing Cameron, of facing everyone, made my stomach twist. But Bree's words clung to me.

She sighed, softening a little as she sat on the edge of my bed. "I know it hurts. But sitting in this room won't change what happened. And you deserve to live your life, Stella. Don't let them take that from you."

I chewed on my lip, considering. I didn't want to go, but Bree had a point. I couldn't hide forever. And maybe if I went, it would prove—to them and to myself—that I was fine. Even if I wasn't.

...

The party was in full swing, but I wasn't exactly feeling it. Music pulsed through the house, a deep bass that vibrated through my chest, and the air smelled of sweat, beer, and cheap cologne. I stood near the drink table, sipping on a soda, watching Bree dance with some guy I didn't recognize. She caught my eye once and winked before twirling back into the music, lost in the moment. At least one of us was having fun.

I hadn't seen Cameron yet, which I counted as a blessing. The last thing I wanted was another confrontation, another reminder of how much he had hurt me. I was already regretting letting Bree drag me here in the first place.

Just as I considered making my escape, a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Well, if it isn't the elusive Stella."

I closed my eyes briefly, already knowing who it was before I turned. Drew stood there, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, his usual cocky smirk in place.

I rolled my eyes and turned away, fully intending to walk in the opposite direction, but he followed.

"Come on, you're really gonna ignore me?" he asked, keeping pace with me as I weaved through the crowd. "That's kinda rude, don't you think?"

"Not as rude as making fun of someone," I shot back, still walking.

Drew sighed, and to my surprise, the teasing tone in his voice disappeared. "Look, I get it. You don't want to talk to me, and you definitely don't want to hear about Cameron."

I stopped walking and turned to face him. "Then don't bring him up."

"I can't do that."

I rolled my eyes.

"Stella, what he did was stupid. I won't argue that. But I've known Cameron since we were kids, and I swear, I have never seen him as happy as he was with you."

My stomach twisted at his words, but I forced myself to stay composed. "Yeah? Well, I guess he's a great actor then."

Drew shook his head. "It wasn't an act. Not after a while. Maybe it started that way, but you should've seen him, Stella. The way he looked at you. The way he talked about you. That was real."

I folded my arms, not wanting to let his words sink in. "If it was real, he wouldn't have lied to me."

Drew sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "Just... think about talking to him. That's all I'm saying."

Before I could respond, a girl from across the room called his name. Drew's smirk was back in an instant. "Duty calls."

I watched as he sauntered off, slipping effortlessly back into his usual cocky persona. Meanwhile, I was left standing there, his words swirling in my head, confusing me even more than I already was.

I couldn't get Drew's words out of my head.

No matter how hard I tried to push them away, they lingered, looping in my mind like a song I couldn't turn off.

I have never seen him as happy as he was with you.

I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to let myself fall into the trap of second-guessing my anger, my heartbreak. Because if I did—if I started wondering if maybe Cameron really had cared about me—it would make everything hurt ten times worse.

I sighed, staring down at my nearly empty cup, swirling the last few drops of soda around. The party buzzed around me, music vibrating the floors, voices overlapping in conversations I wasn't paying attention to. Bree was still dancing, completely lost in the moment, and for once, I envied her ability to just let go. To not overthink everything.

"Hey, stranger."

I glanced up at the sound of the familiar voice, my stomach twisting slightly when I recognized him. Nick. One of Cameron's teammates.

He was standing in front of me with an easy smile, his posture relaxed as if he hadn't just unknowingly walked into a mess of a situation.

"Hey," I said, forcing a small smile, even though my emotions were all over the place.

Nick tilted his head, studying me for a moment before asking, "How are you?"

I hesitated before replying, "Good."

It was a lie. An obvious one, at that.

Nick raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Yeah?"

I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah."

He didn't call me out on it, but something in his expression softened. "You here with Cameron?"

The question hit me harder than it should have, but I shook my head quickly. "No. I'm here alone."

At that, Nick's lips quirked up into a small smirk. "Alone, huh?" He glanced at my cup, still mostly empty. "Can I get you another drink? And maybe we can talk a little?"

I didn't know why I agreed.

Maybe it was revenge. Maybe it was just me wanting to do something, anything, that would prove to myself that Cameron didn't matter anymore.

Maybe I was lying to myself.

But either way, I gave Nick a small shrug and said, "Sure."

And just like that, I let him lead me toward the kitchen, ignoring the tiny voice in my head that whispered, What if Cameron saw you right now?

Because the truth was, I didn't care. Not really.

...But maybe, deep down, a part of me would've loved to see his face.