The beach had turned into a mess of scattered blankets, bottles, and laughter as the afternoon faded into night. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was barely audible over the chatter of my classmates who, like me, had decided to spend the evening together. What was supposed to be a relaxing hangout quickly turned into something... far more complicated.
Mia was magnetic tonight, her laughter rising above the rest of us, her movements calculated but so natural it was almost hypnotic. I could see it in the way she leaned closer to Kiel when she spoke, the way her hand brushed his arm as if by accident. The way her gaze lingered on his face when he talked, as though she was the only one in the world who mattered in that moment.
I hated it.
Not because it was her, but because it worked. Kiel laughed at her jokes, his easy charm unwavering. And yet, every now and then, he'd glance my way, his expression softening into something that made my chest tighten. What was he doing? What was I doing? Every time the conversation shifted, her eyes flicked to him like he was the sun and she was the only planet in orbit. I could practically hear her thoughts: Kiel, Kiel, Kiel.
Lincoln's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "You're quiet tonight, Kei," he said, his tone light but curious.
I shrugged, forcing a small smile. "Just tired, I guess."
His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, as though he could see right through the flimsy excuse, but he didn't press further.
Dinner was a blur of shallow conversation and forced smiles, but the mood shifted entirely when someone pulled out an empty beer bottle and plopped it in the middle of the circle on the sand.
"Spin the bottle?" one of the guys asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Mia exclaimed, already grabbing the bottle. "Let's spice this night up a bit!"
I hesitated, watching as the group cheered their agreement. I wasn't sure if it was the night breeze or the idea of what was coming, but my stomach did a little flip.
"Come on, Kei," Lincoln said, dropping onto the sand beside me with his trademark grin. "You're not scared of a little game, are you?"
"Of course not," I said, even though I absolutely was.
Lincoln chuckled, giving me a nudge. Kiel was on the opposite side of the circle, his gaze briefly meeting mine before shifting to Mia, who was busy making sure her hair looked perfect under the soft glow of the lanterns.
"Alright, here are the rules," Mia declared, flipping her hair dramatically. "If the bottle lands on you, the person spinning gets to pick: truth or dare. No chickening out. Got it?"
The group nodded enthusiastically, and the first spin began.
It landed on one of the quieter classmates, who chose truth. The question was harmless—something about their most embarrassing childhood memory—and everyone laughed as they confessed to accidentally walking into the wrong classroom in first grade. Everyone was laughing, joking, and for a moment, it almost felt like we were all just friends.
That was before the bottle landed on me for the first time.
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it wouldn't go away.
"Oh, Keiyi," a classmate said, practically grinning from ear to ear, "truth or dare?"
I looked around the circle. Kiel and Lincoln were giving me equal, smoldering glares—though they were obviously trying to play it cool, both of them fidgeting in their spots.
"Alright, alright," I sighed. "Dare."
The group went wild, but this time it was clear that they were trying to outdo each other. They were clearly having too much fun with this.
"Alright," a classmate said, rubbing their hands together in delight. "I dare you to… sing your order at the snack bar when we go later."
The entire group burst out laughing, and I could feel my face heat up. Great. Not only was I chosen, but now I was going to be the one serenading the snack stand staff.
I glanced at Kiel, who raised an eyebrow. He didn't look half as embarrassed as I felt, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. Then my eyes flicked to Mia, whose fingers were twitching. It was like she was practically burning holes into my back with her stare.
I stood up, already dreading the humiliation I'd soon be facing, and took the dare like a trooper, though every fiber of my being was screaming at me to bail.
As I started singing my ridiculously enthusiastic snack order, I noticed Lincoln shifting uncomfortably next to me. His face was scrunched up, clearly trying to hide his frustration.
"Two soft pretzels, pleaseeee… with extra mustard! And a lemon juice! Thank youuu!" I belted out, with way more energy than anyone should have when ordering food.
By the end, everyone was howling with laughter. But I didn't dare look at Mia. I could feel her seething behind me.
"Alright, alright, enough with the concert," one of the classmates managed to choke out between laughs. "Let's spin that bottle again!"
The bottle spun again, and I held my breath, praying it wouldn't land on me this time.
It didn't. Thank god.
The bottle chose Lincoln.
The group erupted into chatter, eager for the next round of dares. Lincoln just stared at the bottle like it was a personal betrayal.
"Lincoln, truth or dare?" one of our classmates asked, her eyes glinting mischievously.
He sighed, rubbing his face. "Dare, obviously. I'm not gonna chicken out."
"Alright, then!" the classmate announced. "I dare you to—oh, this is gonna be good—pretend to be a waiter and serve everyone their drinks using only your feet. For five minutes."
The circle went wild with laughter as Lincoln's face twisted in horror. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.
Without missing a beat, he kicked off his shoes and got to work, awkwardly trying to grab cups with his toes. The rest of us were howling with laughter, and for a second, the game felt more like a ridiculous circus.
The bottle spun again, and I could feel every eye on me. I was already bracing myself, knowing I was probably going to be the next "lucky" victim.
And of course, the bottle came to a stop… on me.
"Keiyi," one of our classmates said, a mischievous smile tugging at their lips. "Truth or dare?"
I sighed dramatically. "Dare. Just get it over with."
A few of the others exchanged glances, and I could see Mia—her gaze sharp—waiting for the moment when they would make me do something ridiculous, something that would make her laugh, maybe even make Kiel notice her more.
One of the class clowns grinned, clearly enjoying this. "Alright, Keiyi, I dare you to… sing the chorus of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star—but while doing a dramatic interpretive dance. No holding back."
My heart sank. Not only was I about to sing, but I was going to make a complete fool of myself.
I shot Kiel a quick look, and—of course—his eyes were already on me. His gaze lingered just a little too long, like he was actually enjoying my misery.
"Do it, Keiyi!" Lincoln chimed in, his voice full of too much cheer. "You've got this!"
Lincoln was sitting across from me, but it felt like his eyes were glued to me.
With a deep, dramatic breath, I stood up and began to sing. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star..." My arms flailed around in what I imagined was artistic, but it was probably just a disaster. I felt ridiculous, and from the laughter that erupted around me, I knew they were all enjoying my pain.
"How I wonder what you are..."
I glanced over at Kiel and saw him biting his lip, clearly trying not to laugh. My stomach did a little flip. Why was he always looking at me like that? But then my gaze shifted to Mia, who looked like she was about to strangle someone with her bare hands.
It was me.
She was sitting across from me, her arms crossed, glaring at Kiel like he was hers. But Kiel wasn't paying attention to Mia. He was paying attention to me.
I quickly finished the song, practically running back to my seat, trying to act like nothing had happened. I could feel the heat in my face, and I just wanted to sink into the ground.
"That was a masterpiece," one of the classmates snorted, and the others echoed it with sarcastic applause.
Mia rolled her eyes. "I think it's my turn."
I sighed. Great, now it was her turn. I tried not to pay attention, but the next dare was somehow worse.
The bottle spun again, and this time, it landed on Kiel.
He raised an eyebrow, a half-smirk on his face. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
A few classmates exchanged sly glances before one of them leaned in, whispering the dare that immediately had the whole group in stitches.
"Kiel," the classmate said, "I dare you to serenade Mia for one whole minute, using 'I Will Survive,' and you have to make eye contact the entire time."
Mia's face lit up. I swear I saw her practically glow with excitement as Kiel stood up, dramatically stretching his arms.
"Alright, here goes." Kiel started singing with more enthusiasm than I'd ever heard from him. "At first I was afraid, I was petrified…"
Mia leaned back in her seat, clearly flattered, her eyes locked on Kiel's. Meanwhile, I could feel my stomach twisting into knots. How could I not be jealous? It was like Kiel was singing to her, and all of a sudden, I felt like the third wheel.
"I will survive, oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive!"
It was like everything else disappeared. Kiel was singing to Mia, but his eyes never once strayed from hers. And Mia? She was practically glowing, leaning forward, looking at him like he was the only person in the room.
I felt the jealousy burning in my chest, but it wasn't just about them. It was about Kiel and me. Was it possible that he actually liked Mia? My heart sank a little with my own thoughts. I couldn't even tell anymore.
When Kiel finished his performance with a bow, Mia looked like she was about to faint. She was too busy blushing to even form words.
"Okay, Kiel, that was… too much," someone said, trying to calm the laughter.
The bottle spun again, and I immediately dreaded who it would land on.
"Please not me," I whispered under my breath.
But, of course, the bottle stopped at me again. It seemed like fate was just messing with me at this point.
"Keiyi," the classmate said with an evil grin, "truth or dare?"
I sighed. "Dare."
"Perfect! I dare you to... let Lincoln give you a piggyback ride around the circle while singing 'Baby Shark.' You can't stop until you've made a full lap."
I groaned. Of course, it was Lincoln next. His face lit up like a Christmas tree.
Lincoln sprang up, all too eager, and bent down so I could jump on his back. "Get on, Keiyi!" he said, trying to contain his excitement.
I was about to start singing when I caught a glimpse of Kiel out of the corner of my eye. He wasn't even looking at me. Instead, he was leaning back in his chair, watching Mia, who was playing with her phone, looking almost bored.
My heart sank.
I made it around the circle, singing the ridiculous song at the top of my lungs. I wanted to crawl into a hole.
When I finally got back to my seat, I shot an apologetic look at Kiel, but he didn't seem to notice. He was still watching Mia.
I felt like I was losing. Losing Kiel, losing control of the situation, and—worse—losing myself.
"Alright, alright, Keiyi," one of the classmates laughed, "You've survived that one, but let's see if the bottle lands on you again."
I groaned, pulling my legs up to my chest. "No more, please."
And of course, the bottle spun again, and just as expected…
It landed on me. Please get me out of here.
I shot them all a pleading look. "Please, not again."
"Too bad!" someone called out. "Truth or dare?"
I slapped my hand to my forehead, already defeated. "Dare," I muttered, trying to be brave about it, even though I knew this couldn't end well.
The classmate who was spinning the bottle—Mason, I think—grinned like a cheshire cat. "Alright, Keiyi, I dare you to run one full lap around the room. And—here's the catch—you can't stop until you say the phrase 'Lincoln is my knight in shining armor' at least three times."
I could practically feel Lincoln's grin before I even looked at him. Sure enough, he was grinning like a maniac, practically jumping out of his seat. "Come on, Keiyi! This is going to be great!"
I stared at him, then at the whole group, and then back at the bottle. What had I done to deserve this?
With a sigh, I got up trying to ready myself for a lap. I couldn't help but hear the collective chuckles around the room as I awkwardly took off, half-limping, half-dragging myself across the floor.
"Lincoln is my knight in shining armor…" I mumbled, my face burning red. "Lincoln is my knight in shining armor…" I repeated, each time making myself sound even more ridiculous than the last.
"Come on, Keiyi!" Lincoln cheered. "Louder! You're making this too easy!"
The more I said it, the more absurd it felt. But of course, I had to finish the dare. And sure enough, I did—dragging myself across the room with my pride completely shattered.
By the time I finally finish, I felt like the entire universe had conspired against me.
But there was no time to recover. The bottle spun again, and I dreaded the inevitable.
It landed on… Kiel.
I straightened up, trying to act casual even though I could feel my heart beating faster. "Kiel," one of the classmates called out, "truth or dare?"
His lips quirked into a smirk. "Dare," he said, clearly expecting something interesting.
The classmate glanced over at Mia, and I saw the flash of competition in her eyes. She clearly had something in mind.
"I dare you to—" the classmate started, but Mark interrupted.
"No, no, I've got this one," he said with a sly smile, looking directly at Kiel. "Kiel, I dare you to act out a romantic scene from a movie… with Keiyi as your co-star. And you must kiss her hand at the end."
My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't tell if Mark was trying to push my buttons or if he was genuinely trying to make me uncomfortable. Either way, I could feel all the eyes on me as I froze, unsure how to react.
I hate attention.
Kiel, to my surprise, didn't hesitate. He stood up smoothly, his eyes locking with mine. "Alright, Keiyi," he said, his voice just a little too smooth for comfort. "You ready?"
I swallowed, trying to act cool despite my racing heart. "Uh, sure… What exactly do you want me to do?"
Mark's eyes were practically sparkling, and I couldn't tell if he was more excited for the scene or for the fact that he was setting me up for something awkward.
Kiel took my hand gently, looking at me like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Let's just go with a classic," he said, his voice soft but intense. "You're my Juliet, and I'm your Romeo."
Before I could say anything, he held my hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss on it, much to my horror—and the obvious satisfaction of everyone watching.
Mia's jaw nearly hit the floor. Mia was practically shooting daggers at me with her eyes. It was as if every time the bottle picked me, her patience was slowly running out and I could see Lincoln in the corner, his fists clenched. He wasn't even pretending to hide his jealousy anymore.
"That was a bit much, wasn't it?" I said, trying to cover my discomfort with a nervous laugh.
But Kiel just smirked and returned to his seat, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
Mia, of course, wasn't letting it go. "Well, now we know who's really got chemistry," she quipped, clearly trying to hide the tinge of irritation in her voice.
At that moment, I felt completely cornered. Kiel had kissed my hand, and now it was out there. I could feel Mia's eyes boring into me, and Lincoln's barely-contained tension was palpable across the room.
This had to be the most awkward game of truth or dare in history.
But the bottle spun again, and I was almost certain that this time it would land on anyone but me.
Say about luck, huh.
"Keiyi!" one of the classmates shouted. "Truth or dare?"
This time, I groaned loudly, my patience running thin. "Dare."
"Alright," the classmate said, "I dare you to… do the chicken dance for one minute. But every time you flap your arms, you have to say, 'I love Lincoln.'"
My jaw dropped. My world must be playing at this point.
"What?!" I blurted out.
"Do it, do it!" Mark and Mason cheered in unison, and I felt like I was about to explode.
I looked at Lincoln, whose eyes were twinkling with mischief, and then over at Kiel, whose face was turning red with what I could only describe as rage.
With a sigh, I stood up and began the most ridiculous dance I had ever done. "I love Lincoln!" I muttered, flapping my arms like a chicken. "I love Lincoln!" I had to say it twice, making the entire group burst into laughter at my misery.
I want to die.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I sat down, completely defeated. The bottle spun again—fate clearly had a vendetta against me.
And, of course, it landed on me… again.
Fuck.
"I dare you to kiss Lincoln on the lips."
The air sucked out of the group.
My heart skipped a beat. The words seemed to echo in my head. The room felt suddenly smaller, and my stomach flipped uncomfortably. Lincoln? Of all people?
I glanced at Lincoln, who was sitting across from me with a cocky grin plastered on his face, clearly pleased by the dare. He winked at me, and I could see the playful glint in his eyes. This wasn't just a casual dare anymore—it felt like another move in the strange, unspoken game we were all playing.
I hesitated, the weight of Kiel's gaze heavy on me. I dared not look at him directly, but I could feel his eyes burning into me from across the circle. The atmosphere had shifted. The playful tension from earlier had turned into something sharp, something heavy.
Kiel… he wasn't taking this well.
I stood up slowly, my knees feeling like they were made of jelly. Lincoln did the same, leaning forward as if to make the moment as awkward as possible. I took a deep breath and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. It was quick, almost too quick, but it felt like time slowed down as I did it.
When I pulled away, the room seemed to hold its breath.
I stole a quick glance at Kiel, and for a split second, everything else faded. His face was hard to read, but the tightness in his jaw told me everything I needed to know. His eyes were narrowed, his fists clenched by his sides. He was trying to keep it together, but the jealousy was seeping through the cracks.
Lincoln, completely oblivious to Kiel's discomfort, leaned back in his chair, grinning smugly. "Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?" he joked, clearly pleased with himself.
But Kiel? He was anything but pleased.
The next few moments were a blur. I barely heard what the others were saying as I tried to compose myself. I could feel the tension between Kiel and Lincoln, but this time it was different. Kiel wasn't hiding it anymore. His jealousy was practically radiating off him in waves. I could see his chest rising and falling rapidly, as though he were trying to control his temper.
And then, before anyone could say anything more, Kiel stood up abruptly. He didn't even look at anyone as he stormed out of the group, his face flushed with anger.
"I'm done," he muttered, his voice tight. "This is all just… stupid."
With that, he walked out, leaving a stunned silence behind him.
It felt like the entire game had backfired. It wasn't just the dare—it was everything. Kiel's jealousy, Lincoln's smugness, Mia's unreadable expressions—it was all starting to feel too heavy to carry. I tried to shake off the unease swirling in my stomach, but it wasn't working. The game, the dares—everything felt so much more complicated now. Kiel was gone, and I was left wondering if I had just made a mistake. The dare was inevitable, like a bad joke you just couldn't escape.