Riley knew in her heart that Liam was dead serious, she could see it all in her eyes, the longing, the desire he felt.
A flash of the explosion rang in her head, her fist tightening.
She is the reason Jenna's death still haunted her.
"Liam there's something you need to-".
"The two love birds in one space," Iris said walking in, they turned to her.
"I'm glad you are okay Riley, I am sure you know Liam risked everything to save you, don't forget that" Iris said.
"Thank you, I am quite aware of that and I don't plan on forgetting," Riley said sternly.
"Good" Iris nodded facing Liam.
"What is it, Iris?" Liam asked, hoping she wasn't here to scold him again about breaking into Steel.
"Nothing, just wanna set up a small meeting where we can have some fun," Iris said.
Liam scoffs, raising an eyebrow.
"What kind of meeting are you talking about exactly?" he asked amused.
"A bit of old school" she smirks.
***
"Cheers to Liam who single-handedly broke into Steel," Rory said, raising a drink.
They were seated in a round form, a table of drinks in the center.
"Cheers," they said in unison as they joined their beer bottles together.
"Fuck we are encouraging him the more," Evan said.
"Shut up Evan," Liam said playfully as he leaned on his chair drinking his beer.
"I have an idea," Rory said.
"Oh please, your ideas are the worst" Iris rolls her eyes.
"Come on, it's dope, let's play truth or dare," Rory said.
"Seriously truth or dare? " Evan said, making a face.
"Yeah come on guys, Liam, Riley, Sean? Are you guys in?" he adds.
"Play ahead I have some work to finish in the lab" Sean said standing, everyone fell silent as he left the living room.
Riley watches him with sad eyes as he leaves.
"Okay, I guess we should give him some time, he will come around," Rory said.
They nodded in agreement.
"So" Rory began dropping an empty bottle on the table.
"Let's do it this way, two truths and two dares each" Rory smirks darkly as he spins the bottle.
"This will be fun," Iris smiled.
The bottle stopped at Evan.
"Oh come on why do I have to go first" Evan pouted, they laughed.
"Truth or dare Evan" Rory smirks.
"The hell! Truth" Evan said.
"Tell me Evan do you cheat?" Rory asked.
"Um," he was lost in words as all eyes landed on him.
"Come on Rory I'm not a cheater only in games don't misjudge me" Evan fired.
"Ah-ha! I knew it and now you have to spill the beans" Rory said laughing, they all laughed at him.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever," Evan said, turning the bottle.
It stopped at Iris, their eyes landing on her.
"So Iris, truth or dare?" Evan asked.
"Truth" she answered while drinking her beer.
Evan smirked.
"Dear Iris, tell us what you think of Liam O'Brien, no one can pass for his good looks, I am tempted to know your view," Evan said tipsily.
Iris scoff looking away.
"Oh please Evan should I be the center of attention," Liam said amusedly.
Riley was silent as she took her beer, finishing it in one gulp and then taking another.
"Well, Liam is the kind of guy you can lean on" Iris began as her eyes landed on him.
"And he's overly attractive," she adds.
"Ooh" Rory and Evan made a sound covering their mouths.
"What? You wanted the truth right" she said, rolling her eyes.
"Go on," Evan urged.
"And if there's anyone who would lead the ghouls to peace it would be Liam," she said.
Liam smiled.
"Thank you, Iris, that means a lot," Liam said amusedly.
Riley just looks away taking another drink.
"Well as long as you're not distracted that is," Iris said as her eyes landed on Riley.
Liam turned to her, their eyes meeting. Riley was the first to look away, but Liam's eyes were still on her.
Iris forced a smile while taking her drink.
She spun the bottle, it stopped at Rory.
"Dear brother, truth or dare?" Iris asked, smirking.
"You know I love challenges sis. Dare" Rory said.
"Well this will be interesting," Iris said.
"I dare you to walk around the whole compound with just your boxers".
Rory froze.
"Well that's something," Liam said laughing.
"Are you guys related?" Riley said, holding a laugh.
"Times ticking bro, you have 10 minutes to do that" Iris said checking her watch.
"I will get you back for this" Rory said, rising to his feet, drinking his beer.
He began stripping.
"Cheers man," Evan said laughing.
Rory shot him a death glare, taking off his shirt and trousers, standing in front of him with just his boxers.
"You got 10 minutes bro," Iris said amusedly.
Rory just rolled his eyes walking away.
"He did it," Riley said, stunned.
"Almost everyone is awake by this time," Liam said, facing Iris.
She shrugged.
10 Minutes later Rory was back with flushed cheeks.
"Dude how was it?" Evan asked, cracking with laughter.
"Don't ask," Rory said sternly, putting back on his clothes.
"It was your call for a truth or dare," Iris said, raising her hands in defense.
"Fuck it" Rory cursed spinning the bottle. It landed on Riley.
"And you're up Riley" Evan cheered.
"Go on, hit me," Riley said, smirking.
"Truth or dare?".
"Truth"
"Tell me Riley Leah, who was your first kiss," Rory asked.
"Well that's awkward," Iris said while drinking.
Riley's heart slammed a deep breath as her mind traveled to her and Liam kissing. Unfortunately, Liam wasn't her first.
"A guy named Edward," Riley said, nodding. "And he was a human," she adds.
Liam instantly spills his drink from his mouth.
They faced him.
"What?" Riley asked darkly.
"Nothing, just never pictured you kissing a human," Liam said as their eyes met.
"Well you were once a human," she said.
Liam looked away.
"So was he your boyfriend or something?" Liam said, the word boyfriend holding a hint of anger.
Riley scoffs.
"I never questioned you about Nicole," Riley said.
"Okay Riley just spins the bottle okay, let's not get all heated up," Rory said, feeling the heat between the two.
Riley spins the bottle. It stopped at Iris, their eyes met.
"Truth or dare Iris?".
"Truth"
"Do you think our goal to achieve peace with humans will be possible? I don't wanna hear it based on you being part of the Black Lotus, I wanna hear it from you," Riley said sincerely.
All eyes land on Iris for her answer.
"It's not gonna be easy Riley, it's not. We are gonna need a trump card to play to get the human's attention to hear us out. Whenever they see us, it's always the word ghouls screaming in their heads, they forget we have a human side too" Iris answered.
A minute silence filled the room.
"Well I hope we get our trump card," Liam said.
Iris smiled, spinning the bottle, it stopped at Rory.
"Seriously" Rory made a face.
"When is it gonna stop at Liam" he pointed out, they all laughed at him.
"Truth or dare?".
"It's fucking truth".
"Tell me dear brother, were you the one who poured lemonade on my bed and made it look like I wet the bed when we were 5," Iris asked sternly.
Rory swallowed.
Everyone except Iris held in a burst of laughter.
"Look sis am sorry okay, that was like ages ago" she pouted, the room rang with a series of laughs.
Iris poked Rory on the forehead.
"Well, I'm glad I got my revenge back," she said.
Embarrassed Rory spins the bottle it stops at Liam.
"Finally it's the black ghoul's turn," Rory said, praising him.
Liam just rolls his eyes.
"Truth or dare?".
"Dare" Liam answered fearlessly.
Rory smirks.
"Liam O'Brien, I dare you to do a 3 minutes make-out session with Riley".