The end of GCSEs was a God send for some and a disappointment for others. Logan Brown was one such student who was disappointed. He loved school and work and was happiest when he had his nose stuck in a book or was busy doing work or extracurricular. He was the last person you'd expect to be friends with Roman Winston.

Roman was not disappointed that GCSEs were over. He hated school and work and preferred spending time with his friends or at the theatre or the cinema. His brother was no different in some aspects.

Remus Winston was hyper to say the least. He was always moving about, never staying still for long and he had some... interesting habits. When he was younger, he kept trying to eat cleaning products. He was insanely happy that GCSEs were over and he couldn't wait for the extra-long summer break to annoy Roman. Some people wondered how he had stayed alive seeing as he was always hanging out with Virgil Summers.

Virgil was quiet, cold and never spoke to anyone much. He had a lot of anxiety and he was half glad half disappointed that GCSEs were over. While he had enjoyed the silence that came with GSCE week, he hated the harsh, over-supervised situations of the exams. His brother couldn't have been more different.

Remy Summers was laid back, carefree and never seen without Starbucks and his sunglasses. He was ecstatic over the fact that GCSEs were over because it meant more free time and more trips to Starbucks. One of his closest friends was rather different.

Emile Picani was bubbly and kind. He was also calm, collected and knew what he wanted to do with his life. Although he didn't show it, he was terrified that his GCSE results wouldn't be good enough and he wouldn't be able to become a therapist. One of his favourite things to do was watch cartoons with his older brother.

Patton Picani was bubbly, helpful, cheerful and an all-around goody-two-shoes. He never swore, loved and forgave absolutely everyone and was one of the most popular guys in school. One of his best friends was a boy called Janus.

Janus Dagger was quite shy around new people but he was very confident with his friends. He made sure to grow his hair long so he could hide half of his face if he wished. He had been in a fire as a child and hadn't been able to get a skin graft so his face had stayed as half 'normal' and half scarred.

This interesting group of friends left their school building for an extra-long summer holiday, some happy and others less so.

"FREEDOM!" Remus yelled as he ran away from the school building.

"Remus, this is no time to be quoting Braveheart." Roman muttered as he made no attempt to catch up with his brother.

"Hey!" Remy yelled, getting the groups attention. "You know what would be fun?" He asked, taking a long sip of his Starbucks that had just magically appeared.

"To force you to put your Starbucks away?" Virgil asked, smirking and causing Roman to have a minor gay panic.

"No." Remy said and Virgil could actually feel the glare of Remy's eyes through his sunglasses. "We could do a huge Truth or Dare."

"We're not doing it at our house." Emile said, gesturing to himself and his brother. "Remus trashed the place last time."

"My parents are in all evening." Janus said, shrugging and shoving his hands into his pockets. "And they'll practically disown me if I bring Remus within 50 feet of my house."

"I'm starting to see a pattern here." Roman said. "My brother. We aren't doing it at my house. Remus' room is a mess, mine won't fit 8 people and mum and dad are in all night."

"Mine and Remy's whole flat couldn't fit half of us." Virgil piped up, being the only one who lived in an apartment (excluding Remy who was his brother)

"I'm not having Remus mess up my bookshelf again." Logan muttered. Suddenly, Remy clicked his fingers, signalling that he had an idea.

"There's an old, abandoned house on Em's road. We can do Truth or Dare there."

"No way." Patton said firmly. "I am not stepping foot in the Exspiravit House. Its house number is literally 666!"

"Come on Patton!" Remus whined, now back with the group. "Live a little." Then, he raised his hand. "I bags that I get to bring the forfeit for if anyone ducks out."

"Deal." Remy said, grinning. "I'll bring Starbucks for everyone-"

"And I'll bring a video camera. Princey's reaction to some of the dares is going to be priceless, I just know it." Virgil said, grinning.

"I'll bring some flashlights." Roman said, ignoring Virgil smirking in his direction.

"I'll bring some snacks." Janus offered.

"I'll bring a skeleton key. Knowing Remus, he's definitely going to insist on Seven Minutes in Heaven for him or someone else." Logan said, not lifting his eyes from his book.

"And I'll bring some soft drinks for anyone who doesn't want to drink Remy's bean juice." Emile offered. Everyone turned and looked at Patton expectantly.

"I guess I could come." He mumbled.

"Hazar!" Roman yelled.

"I'm telling you now, I'm only doing this for friendship." Patton said, running a little to catch up with the rest of the group.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever gurl." Remy muttered, sipping his Starbucks. "Tonight then. 8 p.m, the Exspiravit House, don't be late."

***

Patton poked his head in the door to house number 666.

"Hello?" He called. No answer.

"Well, looks like there's no one here. What a shame we couldn't-"

He was cut off by someone honking a car horn. He and Emile looked up to see Remus and Roman getting out of a car.

"Like the wheels?" Remus asked. "Just stole dad's keys."

"I had to stop him driving on the pavement. Several times." Roman grumbled, smoothing down his hair.

"Hey bitches!" Announced the arrival of Remy and Virgil.

"Apologise for being late. I had to wait for Janus."

"You didn't have to wait, Logan." Janus snarled. "I told you multiple times that you could go on ahead. We live on the same street, not in the same house."

"Shut up!" Remy yelled, dragging the last word out for ages. "Let's go bitches."

***

"Okay, the rules. Logan, read out the rules because I can't be bothered to." Remy said, waving his Starbucks in the direction of a scowling Logan.

"Very well. Rule 1, no tangent questions. For example, you cannot ask someone if they have a crush and them immediately ask them who it is afterwards. Rule 2, no dares that make someone feel uncomfortable. For example, you cannot ask someone to kiss someone else if both people do not consent to it."

"Aw, that's no fun." Remus said, pouting.

"Rule 4, no scaring Patton. He'll have a heart attack otherwise. Same goes for Virgil and anyone else who is particularly jumpy. Rule 5, if you forfeit, you have to drink the forfeit smoothie. Remus, what does the forfeit smoothie consist of?"

Remus took out a clear, sealed cup and shook it. "Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and lemonade!" He sang loudly.

"I think that is all, we can now begin the game."

"Okay. Who wants to go first?"

Everyone sat in a circle on the floor and looked at everyone else. Eventually, Roman rolled his eyes.

"I'll go first. Janus, truth or dare?"

"I'll play it safe. Truth."

Roman closed his eyes, thinking for a minute. Then, an evil grin spread across his face. "Janus, is it true that, in Year 7, you kissed Remus for ten quid?"

Janus put his head in his hands and groaned, his whole face going pink. "Yes. I wanted a new action figure but I was ten pounds short." He looked up, his face still pink and refused to look at Remus. "Emile, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Janus grinned. "Do you have a crush on someone in this room?"

Emile gave Janus a death stare, his face turning red. "Yes." He muttered. "Remy, truth or dare?" He asked hurriedly.

"You're all a bunch of sissies. Dare."

Emile thought for a second. "I dare you to call your crush. Right now."

"I would but I didn't bring my phone." Remy said hurriedly.

"Liar!" Virgil hissed. Remy sighed, his whole face going bright red.

"Fine." He mumbled, getting out his phone and dialling a number.

Nothing happened for a few seconds then, Emile's phone rang. Emile picked it up.

"Remy, why're you calling me?"

"Are you really that dense, Emile?" Janus asked.

Emile said nothing for a few seconds, then it clicked and his whole face went scarlet and he dropped his phone as if it had burnt him. Virgil was laughing his head off at his brother's face.

"Virgil, truth or dare?" Remy snapped, stowing his phone in his jacket. Virgil was trapped and he knew it.

"Truth." He said cautiously.

Remy smirked. "Who do you have a crush on?"

Virgil didn't say anything, he just lay down on the ground and let his whole face go bright red.

"What're you doing?"

"Letting God kill me because I'd rather die than answer that question." Virgil said, his eyes closed.

"Well, I'm afraid dying is not an option." Remy said, biting back a grin. "Answer the question."

Virgil sighed and sat up. He pointed at Roman and hurriedly continued with the game.

It was a few rounds later and it was Remus' turn to ask Roman.

"Roman, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

Remus grinned wickedly and Roman knew he had made a mistake. "I dare you to kiss your crush."

"What if they don't consent?" Roman asked, his face quickly flushing red.

"Oh, I have a feeling they will." Remus said, eyeing Virgil. Roman sighed and got up. Quickly he went over to Virgil and pressed a kiss to Virgil's lips very quickly.

The effect was instantaneous. Virgil went crimson, Remus started cackling, Patton and Emile started squealing, Janus was smirking and filming the whole thing and Logan grabbed onto Remy's arm to stop him flying at Roman.

"Janus, truth or dare?" Roman asked, returning to his seat and trying to keep his voice even.

"Truth." Janus said, shrugging.

"When you kissed Remus in Year 7, did it mean more than getting money?"

"I hate you, Roman, you know that." Janus growled. "But yes." He didn't look Remus in the eye and immediately moved the game on.

It was a few hours later and Patton yawning like a puppy was what drew the groups attention to the time.

"We'd better make this the last round otherwise I'll have to carry my brother home." Emile said, grinning at his older brother's attempts to stay awake.

"Very well. Remus, truth or dare?" Logan asked.

"Dare because I'm bored."

"I dare you to.... call your crush."

Remus sighed and pulled out his phone. Almost immediately, Janus' phone started ringing.

"You might want to answer that." Remus muttered.

Janus looked at his phone and rolled his eyes, a blush creeping up his face. "Remus, you know you could've just asked me out rather than doing the dare." He said.

"Nah. The dare was fun. It means I get to see you flustered." Remus said, laughing at Janus' reaction. "Patton, truth or dare?"

"Dare?" Patton asked, stifling a yawn.

"I dare you to kiss Logan!" Remus screeched. Patton looked at Logan, his face turning red.

"Do you mind if I kiss you?" Patton asked. Logan merely shrugged and Patton quickly leaned over and kissed Logan's cheek. "Logan, truth or dare?" He asked.

"Truth."

"Do you like me?" Patton asked in a mock-Remy voice. Logan rolled his eyes and smiled slightly.

"I suppose."

"That's not an answer!" The group chorused.

"Fine! Yes, I like you romantically, Patton." Logan said, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Virgil, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to ask your crush out. Right now. Over text."

"Okay." Virgil said, seemingly calm but given away by the blush creeping up his pale face. He sent a text to someone. Nothing happened. "Did someone not bring their phone?" Virgil asked. "I sent the text."

"Roman left his phone in the car." Remus sang.

"Let's move on before I suffer anymore embarrassment." Virgil muttered. "Remus, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Do Seven Minutes of Heaven with Janus." Virgil said, grinning and not missing a beat.

Janus started spluttering incoherently but Remus just grinned. "Happily."

"I think me and Patton had better get home." Emile said, rapping his arm around his brother's shoulders.

"Same with me and Rem." Virgil said, getting up and stretching.

"I had better depart for home as well." Logan said, checking his watch.

"Oh and I'll hold the fort while my brother and Janus make out in a closet, should I?" Roman asked.

"That's the idea, Princey." Virgil said, winking at Roman and smirking. "And check your phone when you get home."

"But that's not fair!" Roman whined.

"On the contrary, Roman. I feel that it is very fair."

(Word count: 2078)