Transition chapter which means it is short. Next one will be longer, be patient, ladies and gentlemen!

"Girl scouts didn't teach me what to do with emotionally unstable drunk boys." 

― Stephanie Perkins 

Chapter  Ten

"Shhhh!"

"I'm not talking!"

"You're breathing really loud," Jason whispered softly.

"That's you." I retorted. 

We were in the middle of the hallway, walking glued to each other. We'd be the chosen ones to check upstairs. Why us? Well, someone was stupid enough to propose we'd play truth and dare.

And that stupid someone had been me.

Lau had dared me to go upstairs with the chicken of the group who I thought it would be a girl. But as soon as she mentioned chicken, everyone stared at Jason.

I wondered why.

I thought sarcastically. 

Evan protested but rules were rules and I had been the one proposing the game after all.

Jason stopped walking, causing me to bump against his back, "Ow!" I winced, rubbing my nose, "Why are we stopping?"

"Jules," his tone had turned cold and serious.

"What?"

"Don't panic," he slurred the words.

"Why would I panic?" I tried to look over his shoulder but he pushed me back.

"Don't look."

Fear was running free through my veins, I swallowed, "What is it?"

"There's someone standing at the end of the hall," he muttered under his breath, freezing me in the spot.

"Why do you me-mean?" I stuttered. Cowardly, I glanced over Jason's shoulder to take a look at the dark hallway. My heart sped up, my breathing turned as loud as Jason's.

Because there was indeed someone standing at the end of the hallway.

To make it worse, the figure had the window behind him. Every time lighting would show, it marked its tall frame. I couldn't see anything besides its figure. It seemed like the figure of a man but I wasn't too sure.

I swallowed, "Why aren't we running?"

"I can't move, can you?" Jason asked, shooting me a glance over his shoulder.

I shook my head, "I don't think so."

Fear had paralyzed me. I'd always thought I'd run for my life when the moment came but apparently, I was more of the frozen type of person when it came to being scared.

"Hey," Jason waved his hand at the figure.

I slapped his back, "Don't talk to it!"

Jason took a step forwards, "Can we help you?"

"Jason!" I protested, "What are you doing?"

Jason let out a nervous chuckle, "I have no idea."

So it was the panic speaking, not my best friend. The figure tilted his head to the side and started trotting towards us.

And that was all it took for Jason to snap out of his panic. He turned on his feet and ran past me, leaving me behind.

I really knew how to pick my best friends.

I stood there as the figure rushed towards me.

Move, Jules! Do something!

I wanted to scream, to run but all I could do was to stand there like an idiot. Adrenaline finally kicked in and I turned around to run crazily downstairs. It was a miracle I didn't fall and kill myself.

Evan caught me in his arms as I finished the stairs, "What happened?" he urged, checking if I was hurt.

"There was someone up there," Jason said out of breath.

"What?" Lau asked, surprise all over her face, "Jules, is that true?"

I nodded, resting my face against Evan's chest. He caressed my hair.

"Are you sure?" Nadia questioned incredulously.

"It was probably a shadow," Nash shrugged, placing his hands inside his jeans pockets.

"If Jules says she saw someone, I believe her," Evan stood up for me. I pulled away from him to give me a grateful smile.

"Should we call the police?" Nadia intervened.

"Not yet," Evan spoke seriously, "First, we should spread and check the house," Everyone nodded.

I realized my boyfriend was good in the leader-ship area.

We divided ourselves in three groups: Nadia, Laura and Helen, Jason and Nash and Evan and me. There were three girls together because none of them wanted to be with Jason. I couldn't blame them. Jason was a coward and he had clearly dumped me upstairs.

Evan and I went for the upstairs part, with Laura, Nadia and Helen as back-up. Jason and Nash were in charge of the main part of the house.

When we reached the first floor, Evan turned to the girls.

"Stay here, Jules and I will check the rooms," Evan explained to them in a whisper.

"What do we do if we see something?" Lau asked shakily.

"Scream," Evan's reply made my lips twitch up, forming a smile.

"Oh well, that's easy to do," Lau said in relief.

"That's stupid," Nadia protested, "We should call the police if we see something,"

Evan sighed in annoyance, "If you see something and that something attacks you. First you scream so the guys downstairs or myself can come to help you, girls. And then when you're safe, you call the police, are we clear?"

Nadia nodded.

We left the girls there and ventured inside the hallway. Flashes of the figure came to me and I swallowed. Thankfully, the hallway was clear this time. We stopped in front of the first door.

"Are you ready?" Evan said, holding the door knob.

"No," I said honestly.

He sighed, turning to me, "I won't let anything happen to you," he promised, holding my face.

"I know."

He looked into my eyes, "Do you trust me?"

"Yes, I do. It's just... I'm scared, that's all," his thumb brushed my cheek.

"You know what?" he prompted, "You stay here. I'll check." Relief washed its way over me. However, that relief went away as fast as it came when I saw him disappear inside the room.

Nervously, I waited for him to come out.

All of the sudden, strong arms were wrapped around my waist and a hand covered my mouth. I was dragged to the end of the hallway; my ankles throbbed at the rough contact with the floor. Moans of negation were all I could produce. I was pushed inside the small closet Mom used to keep her cleaning stuff. It reminded me of the janitor's closet.

Inside, it was pitch black. I was pushed against the wall, I was about to scream my lungs out when a pair of warm lips crashed roughly against mine. I froze, staring wide-eyed at the shadow kissing me.

I didn't move at all. I was too shocked.

He groaned in frustration, pulling back slightly. His hands held my face and he brushed his lips against mine gently, tickling me. Then, his tongue darted out, licking the corners of my mouth which I thought it'd be disgusting but it actually felt good. His breath smelled of strawberry gum, my favorite. I pushed against his chest, trying to get some space between us but he wouldn't budge.

"Please," he croaked out pleadingly. His voice sounded familiar but I needed him to speak more to identify him. I didn't miss the need in his plead.

I didn't know if it was the adrenaline or just plain pity but when he pressed his lips against mine again, I responded to him. I dropped my hands from his chest.

I kissed him back.

Slowly, I moved my lips with his and he groaned in satisfaction this time. He sucked my lower lip hard enough to make it hurt a little. Then, he dove his tongue inside my mouth. His hands still clung to my face as if he was afraid I would vanish away. His kiss tasted of desperation and pain. It made my heart ache.

We pulled away to breath. I tried to see his face in the dark but it was impossible inside here where there were no windows. He kissed my forehead and opened the closet door. He left as fast as he had come.

I don't know for long I'd stayed there in shock. I knew what I did had been wrong but somehow I didn't feel bad about it. I didn't feel anything while kissing that stranger. I kissed him out of pity-which sounded cruel- but it was the pure truth.

I felt nothing but pity for the boy who stole that kiss from me.