The Game Begins - Whiskey and Truth

Hours stretched long into the night, the fire settling to a soft glow, casting shadows that danced lazily across the bedrolls spread in a loose circle on the rug. I slumped onto mine, beanie yanked low over my head, my heavy pajamas too warm but stubbornly cozy, sleeves bunched at my wrists. Night was dragging its feet, and I was stuck here, legs itching to move. Tessa lobbed a can across the circle,

“Beans again, dig in!” Her voice bounced over the crackle. I caught it one-handed, popped the lid with a twist, scowling at the tinny sludge inside. Jaden grumbled from his solo bedroll, sweats sagging off his bony hips,

“Real food when?” He poked at his can with a spoon, nose wrinkled like it’d offended him. Lila sat cross-legged on hers, spooning slowly, her long-sleeve shifting against the fabric,

“It’s fine.” Her tone was flat, eyes barely lifting from her sketchpad propped on her knee.

Eli cracked his own can open, “Eat or starve,” he said, voice steady, sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms as he shoveled a bite. I scooped mine up, chewed slowly, the metallic taste sticking to my tongue, restless but home.

Cards came next, something to kill the quiet. Jaden grabbed the deck from his bedroll,

“Poker, let’s go!” He shuffled with big, clumsy hands, cards spilling across the rug in a messy arc, grinning like he’d just invented the game.

Tessa snapped from her spot, sprawled next to Lila, “Dumbass, deal right or don’t deal at all!”

He flashed that goofy grin, tossing cards out in sloppy piles, “Chill, sis, it’s art!”

Lila glanced up long enough to call, “Two,” her voice soft, barely peeling her eyes from her sketchpad.

Eli won a hand, “Luck,” he said low, too calm, leaning back on our shared bedroll, one elbow propped lazily.

I tossed my cards down, watching them scatter, “No stakes, dumb game.”

Tessa groaned, stretching her arms over her head, “Yeah, ugh, it’s dead without something on it.”

Jaden perked up, eyes glinting in the firelight, “Strip poker then!” His grin widened, all teeth, “Stakes, c’mon, who’s shedding first?”

Tessa lunged across the circle, smacking his arm hard, “No way, you little creep!”

Lila snorted, a rare crack in her calm, “Gross.”

Eli smirked, “Nice try, kid.”

I flicked a card at Jaden’s chest, “Shut it, Little J.” It bounced off his sweats, and he laughed, rubbing the spot,

“Worth a shot!” The deck flopped into a heap, cards curling at the edges, bored stiff, now what?

Tessa bounced to her feet, restless energy spilling out, her pajamas swishing as she crossed to the kitchen corner. “Hold up, what’s this?” She rummaged through a cluttered shelf, knocking over a tin that clattered loudly, then yanked out a dusty bottle, amber liquid sloshing inside. She spun back, holding it up like a trophy, catching the firelight in its curves, and shook it at Jaden, “Screw 21, Uncle Jake **** our hand with that garbage generator—and you’re why we need this, perv!” Her grin was all mischief as she sloshed whiskey into chipped mugs, splashing some on the floor, “Who’s in?” Tessa’s mess again, fine, whatever. I reached across, grabbed one, the sharp burn hitting my nose before I even sipped, ugh.

Jaden snatched his fast, “Sweet!” spilling a dribble down his chin—

Tessa snorted, “Wipe your face, slob!”

Lila took hers slowly, “Sure, why not” cradling it like it might break.

Eli shrugged, sipping once, “Not bad,” leaning forward slightly.

Tessa downed a gulp, coughed once, “Game time, let’s move!” she then plopped back onto her bedroll with a heavy thud, mug sloshing a splash of whiskey onto her knee. “Jaden, truth or dare?” she barked across the circle, she was already grinning, all teeth.

Jaden leaned back, “Truth.”

Tessa smirked, “Worst thing you ever stole, perv!?”

He shrugged, “Stole gum once from the corner store, so?” The crew groaned in unison, a ripple of slumps around the firelight.

“Lame,” I muttered, shifting on my spot.

Tessa rolled her eyes, “Weak move, bro, you’re killing the vibe!”

Eli’s voice came low and dry, “That’s it? Thought you’d nabbed a bike.”

Jaden grinned, “Gum’s gum, sue me.” He pointed at Lila, “Your turn, truth or dare?”

Lila sighed, her sweats rustling as she adjusted her sketchpad, “Dare.”

Jaden leaned in, “Sing something, loud!” She hummed a flat little note, more breath than melody, barely lifting her head. Jaden jeered, “Boo, c’mon, that’s it?”

Tessa snorted, “That’s half-dead, belt it out!”

Lila smirked, “That’s your song, done.” I leaned on my elbow, typical Lila. Lila glanced at Tessa, “Truth or dare?”

Tessa grinned, “Truth.”

Lila tilted her head, “Ever cheat on a test?”

Tessa laughed, “Once, math, copied off Sammy, aced it!”

Jaden hooted, “Busted, sneaky!”

Lila smirked, “I Knew it!”

I huffed, same Tessa, silly as ever. She spun to Jaden, “Truth or dare?”

Jaden leaned in, “Dare.”

Tessa grinned, “Chug your mug, now!”

He tilted it back, downed the whiskey, sputtered hard, “Ha!”

Tessa laughed, “Choked on it, lightweight!”

Eli chuckled low, “Rough go.” Same loud mess, getting wild.

Jaden wiped his chin, “Lila, truth or dare?”

Lila shrugged, “Truth.”

Jaden hooted, “Last guy you kissed?”

She smirked, “Nope, never kissed a guy.”

Jaden gaped, “No way!”

Tessa laughed, “Really?”

Eli sipped, “Fair.”

She smirked, “Deal with it.” Didn’t see that coming either, I mused.

Lila turned to Eli, “Truth or dare?”

Eli leaned back, “Truth.”

Lila paused, “Ever skip school?”

He smirked, “Couple times, senior year, beach runs.”

Tessa whistled as Jaden grinned, “Rebel!” I shifted on my spot beside Eli, steady but loose.

Eli glanced at Tessa, “Truth or dare?”

Tessa sat up, “Dare.”

Eli grinned, “Yell something dumb outside.”

She hopped up, dashed to the door, cold wind rushing in, making us shiver, and hollered, “Bears suck!” then slammed it shut, flopped back laughing, “Done!”

Lila smirked, “Loud.” while Jaden hooted once again,

“Epic!”

Tessa’s eyes locked on me, “Mara, truth or dare?”

I held her gaze, “Dare.”

She grinned wide, “Since you’ll sleep together, I think you should get closer… kiss Eli!” The circle stilled. Jaden perked up. Lila’s pencil stopped mid-scratch.

“What?” My gut lurched. “No, him? Wh… Damn it!”

Tessa’s grin was wicked—she knew I wouldn’t duck. I could sense Eli shifting beside me, his knee brushing mine, steady but closer now. I glared harder. “Fine.”

I leaned in, fast, lips barely grazing his—sharp, fleeting—then pulled back, face blazing.

“Bullshit,” Tessa cackled. “Real kiss!” She shoved my arm.

“C’mon, Shorty, sell it.” Jaden whooped, bouncing. Lila smirked, pencil poised.

Eli shrugged. “Your move.” His smirk was faint, his gray eyes steady, knee nudging mine again.

My lungs locked. I glared at Tessa, smug as shit. Her fault. Fine.

I lunged.

Eli barely had time to react before my lips crashed into his, too fast, too hard. His breath hitched against mine. My fingers fisted his shirt, yanking him closer, fabric bunching tight in my grip.

Then—heat.

His hand found my cheek, rough fingers curling under my ear, holding me steady. His lips pressed back, slower this time, deeper. Testing. Whiskey tangled between us, warm and burning.

The others blurred away.

The faint scratch of stubble grazed my skin as he tilted his head, mouth moving against mine, deliberate, pulling me in. My pulse pounded. My knees dug into the bedroll, body tipping—caught in it.

His eyes—open, gray, steady—met mine. A jolt snapped through me.

I shoved off him, breath tearing free as I scrambled back, chest heaving.

Eli leaned back slowly, wiping his thumb across his lip—too calm. Like nothing happened. Like we hadn’t just… like we hadn’t just—

Tessa cackled, clapping loud enough to shake the rafters. “That’s my girl!”

Jaden whooped, bouncing. “Shorty’s a beast!”

Lila grinned, pencil tapping faster. “Solid move. Might sketch that.”

Eli smirked, stretching back. “Not bad.”

I was going to **** all of them.

Right after I remembered how to breathe.

The fire popped, splitting a spark across the rug. Jaden yelped, swatting it with his sock.

Tessa laughed. “Serves you right, perv!”

Lila’s grin widened. “Burn him next.”

I sank back, whiskey sloshing in my grip, glaring at Tessa—damn her—she knew.

She sloshed more into her mug. “Next round, who’s up?”

“Mara again,” Lila smirked. “Round two’s hers.”

Eli shifted beside me. “Your call,” voice low, knee still there.

The fire flared, heat licking my face, too close. Enough. “Pass!”

I sank back onto my bedroll, breath still uneven, the taste of whiskey and something else lingering on my lips. My fingers curled against the fabric, like they could still feel the grip of his shirt, the warmth of his skin.

Damn it.

The others were laughing, voices spilling over each other—Jaden hooting, Tessa smacking something (probably him), Lila’s pencil scratching—but it all faded, muffled beneath the replay spinning in my head.

Too fast. Too hard. The way Eli had steadied me. The way he hadn’t hesitated.

The way I almost hadn’t, either.

My face burned.

Someone called my name—another dare, another round—but my pulse was still stuck in the last one.