00. cruel games

Loud music blasted throughout the cabin as Mike danced wildly, his feet pounding against the wooden floor. The flickering lights cast playful shadows on the walls, creating a vibrant atmosphere that echoed the energy of the party. Laughter and cheers filled the air, blending with the rhythm of the music. Friends surrounded him, some with drinks in hand, while others joined him in a spontaneous dance-off.

Lila sat on the couch, almost as if she was glued to the cushions, her eyes glued to the scene in front of her. Around her, friends laughed and shouted, their voices blending with the music, yet she felt detached, as if a glass wall separated her from everything. Partying wasn't her thing, it never was. She was only here because her mom thought that some quality time between her and Mike would mend any problems they had with one another. Yet, there he was.. being the life of the party, and there she was. Wishing she was literally anywhere else.

Lila disappeared off into the kitchen, hoping for a moment of solitude away from the noise and chaos of the living room. The clatter of dishes and the sharp sound of laughter faded as she stepped into the cool, dimly lit space. She leaned against the counter, taking a deep breath, and let the coolness of the tile soothe her racing heart. Her thoughts were a tangled mess; she felt a mix of anxiety and relief at having escaped the overwhelming energy of the party.

"You do know the party's out there, right?" Lila snapped her head at the voice, only to see that it was Josh leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and an amused expression on his face.

"Yeah, I'm aware," she replied, trying to keep her tone light despite the sudden spike in her heart rate. "Just taking a moment to recharge."

"Recharge? Or avoid?" Josh challenged, stepping further into the kitchen. His casual demeanor made it hard for Lila to stay annoyed, and she found herself rolling her eyes despite herself. He opened the fridge, taking out two beer cans. He handed one to her.

Lila hesitated a bit before grabbing the can from Josh. "I guess you could say I'm... avoiding," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she took a sip, grimacing slightly at the taste. She didn't like beer all that much, but it was a distraction, a way to fit in even if it felt forced.

Josh noticed her reaction and chuckled lightly. "Not a fan, huh?" he asked, his tone playful yet understanding. He cracked his can open, taking a sip out of his beer.

"Not really," she confessed, setting the can back down on the counter.

"Then why not grab what you like?" he suggested, a warm smile on his face. "You don't have to drink beer just because everyone else is."

Lila considered this for a moment, the tension in her shoulders easing a bit. "I guess I was just trying to blend in, you know? It's easier to join the party if you have a drink in hand." She smiled weakly.

"You know what's an easier way to join a party?" Josh asked, leaning casually against the counter with a mischievous grin.

Lila raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What?"

"By joining in on the dancing." Josh leaned over and grabbed her hand, a playful spark in his eyes. He twirled her with his free hand, and Lila laughed, the surprise of the move sending a jolt of adrenaline through her.

"I'm not a good dancer though," Lila laughed, trying to keep up with Josh's energetic moves. She stumbled a little, but instead of feeling embarrassed, she found herself enjoying the moment more.

"Neither am I. Just live in the moment." Josh chuckled, guiding her into a silly dance routine. They twirled, spun, and jumped around, their laughter echoing above the music.

Lila blushed lightly once they finished their routine, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Their faces were just inches apart, and she could feel the warmth radiating from Josh, mixed with the exhilaration of their little dance-off.

"Wow, that was... crazy," Josh said, his breath slightly heavy, a playful glint in his eyes. "I didn't know you had it in you." He slid his hands down to her waist, pulling her a bit closer, and Lila felt her breath catch in her throat.

"Uh... I mean," she stammered, her heart racing as warmth flooded her cheeks. The close proximity made her acutely aware of every detail—the way his eyes sparkled, the faint scent of his cologne, and the feeling of his hands on her waist. She had never really been this close to a boy before. The past three years of high school resulted to her hiding in the shadows for the most part. She didn't ever think she'd be this close to a boy, at a high school party at least.

"You okay?" Josh asked, his voice low and teasing, a hint of amusement dancing in his gaze as he noticed her sudden fluster. He liked how flustered she was. There was a reason he visited Mike so often, and it wasn't because of him.

"Hey Josh, you need help with the—woah." Chris's eyes widened as he stepped into the room, taking in the sight of Lila and Josh swaying closely together. The playful atmosphere immediately shifted, and Lila felt her cheeks heat up even more at the sudden interruption. She knew Chris was prone to teasing. This wouldn't be good for her later.

"Hey, Chris." Josh said, stepping back slightly but still keeping one hand on Lila's waist, which made her heart race. "What's up?"

Chris glanced at the two, a small smirk on his face. "Just wanted to see where the stronger shit was." He placed his hands on his hips. "So, what's going on here?"

Lila's heart jumped, feeling the weight of the question hanging in the air. She looked to Josh for support, but he was already smirking back at Chris, clearly unbothered.

"Just helping Lila get into the party mood," Josh said casually, shrugging as if it was the most normal thing in the world to be holding her that close. His hand lingered on her waist, sending her nerves into overdrive again.

"Uh-huh," Chris responded, his eyebrow arched as if he wasn't quite buying it. "Looked a bit more... cozy than just party mood to me."

"I think— I um, I'm gonna head back out," Lila stammered, her face burning with a deep blush. She quickly excused herself, stepping out of Josh's hold and making her way toward the kitchen door before the moment could get any more awkward.

Josh opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, she was already halfway out. "Lila, wait—" he called after her, but she only waved a hand over her shoulder without turning around.

As soon as she stepped into the living room, the lively sounds of the party washed over her, the noise a welcome distraction from the knot of emotions she was wrestling with. Her heart still raced, and she could feel the warmth in her cheeks refusing to fade.

What was she thinking back there? Getting so caught up in the moment with Josh... she felt a confusing swirl of excitement, embarrassment, and something else she wasn't quite ready to name.

"Oh my God, Lila?" Emily's voice rang out over the noise of the party as she sauntered over with Mike by her side. They were inseparable, having been dating for a while now. Emily, notorious for her sharp tongue and cutting remarks, was known as the school bitch—someone who reveled in making others feel small. However, she was always kind of nice-ish to Lila.

Lila turned toward them, already feeling a bit on edge but forcing a smile. "Hey, Emily," she greeted, trying to sound casual. "Michael."

Michael gave her a nod, his usual aloof expression firmly in place, but it was clear he was just there to follow Emily's lead.

Emily, with her hand casually hooked around Michael's arm, flashed a grin that felt more calculating than friendly. "Didn't expect to see you here!"

"Yeah, I was kinda dragged along," Lila said with a small, tight smile, glancing briefly at Michael before looking back at Emily. She tried to play it off, but she could feel the tension in the air. Michael, standing beside Emily with his arms crossed, rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed that Lila was here at all.

"More like forced to come," Michael mumbled under his breath, his annoyance palpable.

Lila caught the comment but chose to let it slide. Before she could respond, Michael switched gears. "Anyways, we need your help with something." He stated.

Emily's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in closer. "Oh my God, yes! So, we're planning this prank on Hannah. You know how she's been trying to act all flirty with Mike lately, right?"

Lila frowned, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach. She knew exactly what Emily meant by a "prank." This was going to be something so ugly. "What are you planning?" she asked cautiously, already dreading the answer.

Emily smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. "Well, we're going to set up this fake secret admirer situation. You know how she thinks every guy is into her? We thought it'd be hilarious to feed into that for a bit. Just to see how she reacts. We're gonna use Mike to bait her."

Lila's heart sank. "Emily, that's kind of mean. What if it backfires?" She whispered. Hannah just had a crush. It was wrong, but she was sure it was nothing serious. This seemed a little extreme.

Emily shrugged, dismissing Lila's concerns. "She'll be fine. It's just a prank! She needs to learn a lesson about not getting too carried away with her fantasies." Emily paused.  "Besides, if anyone gets hurt, it'll be her ego. It's not like we're doing anything really bad."

Lila felt a flicker of frustration. "But what if it goes too far? I don't want her to do anything extreme." She frowned, wrapping her arms around herself.

Emily rolled her eyes again. "Hannah has been way too confident lately. She needs a reality check." She shrugged. "Besides, you owe me."

Lila shrunk a bit, feeling the pit in her stomach grow more and more. "I... okay. What do you need me to do?"

"I just need you to distract her while we set everything up in the guest room." Emily shared. "Sam's gonna need another person to help her with that part. She already has cold feet about the whole thing."

Lila nodded, though she furrowed her brows in confusion. Sam was Hannah's best friend. Why was she agreeing to do this?

"I'll text you when everything's ready." Emily winked at Lila before walking off to find Jessica.

Lila looked up at Michael, disbelief written on her face. "I can't believe you're doing this," she said, shaking her head as she tried to process the situation. "You're actually going along with Emily's plan?"

Mike shrugged. "It's just a silly prank. She's gonna get embarrassed but then get over it after." He looked at Lila, trying to downplay the seriousness of the situation.

"It's cruel. She likes you, Mike!" Lila said, her voice rising with frustration. "Hannah has been crushing on you for months. This isn't just a silly prank; it's messing with someone's feelings."

"You're not fucking innocent either. You have a mind of your own. Why bother joining the prank?" Mike shot back, frustration seeping into his tone.

"Because I owe Em. She helped me with something last time and—"

"Fucking save it. I knew bringing you here was a mistake." Mike spat, his frustration evident as he glared at Lila.

Lila felt her heart sink at his tone but stood her ground. "You think I wanted to come to this stupid party? I didn't. I came because you couldn't put your fucking foot down." She spat.

"I'm not dealing with you." Mike huffed, turning around and walking away from her. He wasn't gonna let his "stepsister" ruin his night. She wasn't supposed to be here anyways.

As Mike walked away, Lila stood frozen in place, her heart heavy in her chest. The noise of the party faded into the background, leaving her in a bubble of silence filled with her swirling thoughts and emotions. No matter how hard she tried, she could never quite find the strength to stand up for herself.

Lila started to hyperventilate, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps as she hurried up the stairs and into the bathroom. She slammed the door behind her, locking it as if to keep the chaos of the party at bay. The moment she was alone, the overwhelming feelings began to flood her.

She splashed cold water on her face, hoping to bring herself back to reality. It didn't help. The anxiety twisted in her stomach like a knot, and she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She moved to sit with her back against the door. Nothing she did amounted to anything. Maybe if she hid, she wouldn't have to deal with the prank.

Just as Lila steadied herself, a gentle knock echoed from the other side of the bathroom door. "Hey, is anyone in there?" Sam's voice was light and casual, completely unaware of Lila's presence.

Lila's heart raced. She felt a surge of panic at the thought of having to explain why she was hiding in there. "Um, just a second!" she called out, quickly wiping her eyes and trying to compose herself. She stood up, hovering over the doorknob. She let out a bunch of quiet curses, upset that she had been in there for too long.

"Okay! I really need to use it!" Sam replied, sounding more impatient now. "Like now!"

Lila opened the door, giving Sam a small apologetic smile. "Sorry, sorry. I just needed to get away." She apologized, looking down at Sam's chest area. There was a chunky, thick substance on her shirt, that could only be described as vomit.

"Oh my God, what happened?" Lila exclaimed as she moved aside to let Sam enter the bathroom.

"Chris had a little too much to drink," Sam replied, rolling her eyes. "He bumped into me while I was getting a drink, and well... you can see how that turned out." She gestured at the vomit on her shirt, trying to laugh it off despite the embarrassment.

"I, um, have a spare sweater if you need it?" Lila offered, trying to lighten the mood. "Though you're going to have to burn yours... it smells horrible." She chuckled weakly, her chest still tight from her earlier anxiety.

"That would be amazing." Sam smiled softly, starting to follow Lila to her room. "I can't believe this happened. I just wanted to have a fun night!" She sighed. "Between this and that prank later, I don't know what's worse."

"You know what? Just blame it on Chris," Lila suggested, trying to keep the mood light. "He's the one who made you the target of his projectile vomit."

"Smart." Sam chuckled, standing by the door once they made their way to Lila's room. Lila started to rummage through her dresser, pulling out a red Christmas sweater she had packed.

"How's this?" Lila asked, handing over the red Christmas sweater to Sam.

"It's perfect. Thank you..." Sam stood quiet for a moment, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall Lila's name. She and Lila had a few classes together, but they didn't know each other all that well. They were just kinda mutual with Josh.

"Lila," Lila said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I know it's a bit out there for a party, but it's cozy, right?"

"Right! Lila, of course! Sorry, it's been a long night," Sam replied, a hint of embarrassment creeping into her voice. "I really appreciate this. You're a lifesaver." She closed the door behind her, starting to change out of her dirty shirt and into the red Christmas sweater.

Lila quickly looked away, not wanting Sam to feel uncomfortable. A bright blush spread across her cheeks as she tried to focus on anything else in the room.

"Alright, how do I look?" Sam turned to look at Lila, doing a little twirl.

"Fabulous," Lila chuckled, trying to ease the lingering tension. "Oh, you can just throw your old sweater into the hamper." She pointed at the hamper in the corner of the room, grateful for the distraction.

Sam nodded, tossing the dirty sweater into Lila's hamper. "You're Mike's sister, yeah?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah, sort of," Lila replied, biting her lip. "We're step-siblings, but I guess that makes us family, right?"

"Right! I didn't realize that," Sam said, her eyes widening in surprise. "I always thought you two had a weird vibe. Not that I was judging or anything," she added quickly, raising her hands defensively.

"Yeah... he doesn't like me and I don't like him." Lila shrugged. "We just kinda deal with it. You'd think after five years we'd be like the best of friends."

Sam raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. "Wow, that's tough. What's the deal?" She asked curiously, having a seat on her bed.

"He doesn't like the idea of having a sibling. Especially one as 'boring' as him," Lila rolled her eyes, a touch of frustration creeping into her voice. As she spoke, her chest tightened up a bit, the weight of her feelings surfacing.

Sam frowned, sensing Lila's discomfort. "That sounds really rough. I mean, I'd like to have another sibling in the house. It'd make me feel less lonely," she admitted, her tone sincere.

"It's just something I have to get used to. He's heading back to college in a few weeks. I won't have to see him anymore," Lila shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant, but a hint of sadness crept into her voice.

"Oh, that's kind of a relief, I guess," Sam said, tilting her head. "You're not in school?"

"Just community college," Lila replied, a bit sheepishly. "I'm still figuring things out, you know? It's not exactly what I dreamed of, but it works for now."

Sam nodded, standing up from Lila's bed. "We should probably head back down. We gotta start preparing," she sighed heavily, a hint of reluctance in her voice. "Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about this prank anymore."

"Yeah, me neither," Lila admitted, frowning slightly. "It just feels... mean. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"I'm just hoping it's not as bad as Emily's making it out to be," Sam said, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Me too." Lila whispered, following Sam out of the room. This was for sure going to be a long night. Time would only drag on from this point on.

Lila stood beside Hannah, watching as she excitedly adjusted her hair and outfit for her meeting with Mike. The anticipation in the room was thick, and Lila couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for what was about to unfold.

"You look great, Hannah," Lila offered, trying to keep her voice steady despite the tension swirling inside her. "Are you excited?"

Hannah gave her a nervous smile, smoothing out the wrinkles in her shirt. "Yeah, but I'm also a little scared. I mean, it's Mike, you know? I've liked him for so long, and I just hope tonight goes well." She told her, grabbing her lipgloss from her dresser.

Lila forced a smile, her chest tightening. She glanced over at the guest room, where Emily and Sam were setting up for the prank. "I'm sure it will," she said softly, her heart sinking with every word. If this didn't go well, she was never going to forgive herself.

Hannah glanced at her reflection in the mirror, biting her lip. "You think he'll like me, right? I mean, I don't know if he feels the same, but maybe tonight's my chance."

Lila's stomach twisted. "Hannah, listen—" she started, but her words trailed off. How could she warn her without giving everything away?

Hannah looked down at her phone, letting out a small squeal once she saw that it was Mike. "That's him. I gotta go." She grinned, shoving her phone into the back pocket.

"Hannah, wait." Lila grabbed Hannah's wrist, gently. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to."

Hannah furrowed her brows, clearly confused. "What do you mean? I want to talk to Mike."

Lila bit her lip, her heart pounding. "I just mean... don't feel pressured. If you're nervous or if anything feels off, you can back out, no one's going to judge you for it."

"Okay, noted." Hannah smiled, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I'll see you later." She squeezed Lila's shoulder, making her way out of the room and into the next.

Lila stood there for a few minutes, her heart pounding in her chest as Hannah disappeared into the next room. The guilt gnawed at her, twisting her insides. She could hear muffled voices through the wall, and every second felt like an eternity.

I should've said something. I should've stopped her. The thoughts raced through Lila's mind as she clenched her fists by her sides. Her legs felt like they were glued to the floor, torn between rushing in to stop everything and running as far away as possible.

After standing there frozen in guilt for what felt like an eternity, Lila finally bolted out of the room, her pulse racing. As soon as she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Hannah running down, tears streaming down her face.

"Where is she going?" Lila asked Sam, her voice shaky as she watched Hannah disappear through the front door.

"They took it way too far." Sam replied, quickly running after Hannah. "Hannah, wait up!"

Lila followed close behind, her heart pounding in her chest. She darted through the cabin as she rushed toward the front of the cabin. The cold night air hit her face as she burst through the door, spotting Hannah up ahead.

"Hannah!" Leia called after her, watching as Beth pushed through them.

"What's going on? Where's my sister going?" Beth asked, concern written all over her face as she walked backward slowly.

"Ugh, it's fine," Jess groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically and crossing her arms. "She just can't take a joke."

"It was just a prank, Han!" Emma called out tauntingly from behind, her voice dripping with mockery.

Beth scoffed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked from one person to the next. "What did you do?" Her voice was sharp, demanding an answer.

"We were just messing around, Beth. It wasn't serious..." Mike sighed, placing his hand on his hip as if tired of defending himself.

Beth's eyes blazed with fury, her hands clenched into fists. "You jerks!" she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. Without another word, she spun around and ran off into the forest, her figure quickly disappearing into the darkness as she went to find her sister.

Lila watched, tears brimming in her eyes as Beth ran into the forest. None of this felt good—none of it felt like the harmless prank Emily had promised. The pit in her stomach grew deeper with every second, and the guilt was suffocating. She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears, but it was no use. Everything felt wrong.

Mike sighed, his voice flat. "So... should we go after her?"

Lila shot him a cold, piercing glare, her eyes filled with disgust. She didn't bother responding. How could he be so careless? He was the route of this prank and he didn't even care.

"Y'know, I kinda think you're the last person she wants to see right now, Mike," Sam spat, glaring up at him. Her voice was sharp, her patience long gone.

Lila looked out into the forest, feeling her heart sink into her stomach. The trees loomed overhead, and she felt lost in the shadows. What had they done? Each step felt heavier as guilt washed over her. She replayed every moment in her mind, wishing she had spoken up. This was meant to be a fun night, but it had turned into something hurtful. She thought of Hannah's tear-streaked face and felt a wave of shame.

Lila couldn't believe she had gone along with the prank. The darkness around her matched the heaviness in her chest. There was no way to fix what had happened.

Little did she know this would be the last time she saw Hannah or Beth. This would be the last time anything would be normal.

˗ˏˋ AUTHOR'S NOTES 'ˎ˗
i've been writing this prologue
all day LMAO. i'm actually so
freaking excited about this
fanfic! i kept restarting the
prologue because i wanted
it to be good enough for you
guys. it might be a little
unclear but i hope you guys
liked it <333

DATE PUBLISHED: 10/16/24
TIME PUBLISHED: 9:51 pm
WORD COUNT: 4205