"WHAT ARE WE, freshmen?" Hunter grumbles as Cameron doles out plastic shot glasses on the table, one for each of us. A less than impressed Eliza had returned a few minutes ago, quickly agreeing to whatever game Cameron had in store for us— as long as it involves alcohol.

Addy, on the other hand, needed a bit more convincing.

"Come on Addy," I chide. "If drinking isn't your thing, that's fine. I'm sure Cameron has some Tabasco sauce or prune juice around."

The blonde's face pinches in disgust. "That sounds disgusting."

"She's right, Skirt. That's just nasty."

I flick my hair over my shoulder, shooting Hunter a confused look. "Have you guys never done that before?"

"Nah, we prefer to be civil human beings."

I roll my eyes, but give up as Cameron jogs back into the kitchen and returns with a tall can in his hand. If the little lightening bolt logo on the drink is any giveaway, it appears to be an energy drink.

"This is what us humane, small town folks do, Pey-Bae," he announces, popping the tab on the can and handing it to Ethan, who pours it into the shot glass in front of Addison.

I shoot Cameron the finger, but he completely ignores me as he sits in his chair and rubs his hands together excitedly. "Alright, boys and girls. Never Have I Ever— I'm assuming everyone knows the rules?"

We all nod, but out of the corner of my eye I notice Ethan duck his head close to Addy to whisper something into her ear.

Satisfied with our response, Cameron picks up his shot glass and holds it up in the air. "I'll go first, since it's my house and y'all were rude enough to walk in and ruin my fun."

There's a mass grumble, but Cameron only shoots me a wicked grins. "Never have I ever been to New York."

"Dick," I mumble before knocking back the shot. The amber liquid burns on the way down, an ode to how cheap the liquor is, but that warm tingly feeling soon kicks in, and I put it out of my mind.

I refill my glass as Lauren lifts her's from the coffee table and ponders. "Never have I ever snuck into a bar."

This time, I'm not the only one knocking back a shot. Cameron, Ethan and Hunter all join in, and we pass the bottle around as we refill.

Eliza doesn't bother picking up her glass. She eyes the three boys cunningly from her spot on the floor and smiles. "Never have I ever had a one night stand."

I watch as they unsurprisingly all take a shot. As soon as their glasses hit the table, I lift my own and gulp down my third.

Cameron howls with laughter. "Naughty, naughty," he chides playfully, filling my glass for me.

I raise my shoulders in a shrug, leaning back into the leather sofa and carefully crossing my legs in my denim skirt. "What can I say, New York Peyton didn't give two shits."

"New York Peyton sounds like fun."

Part of me agrees with him. But the reality is, New York Peyton didn't just not care who she slept with, she didn't care about anything of substance. She had no friends, no role models, and she had no hobbies outside of partying and shopping.

Before I can respond, Ethan jumps in with his statement, breaking my streak.

"Never have I ever been arrested."

There's a brief pause while our eyes dart back and fourth between everyone in the room. Just when it appears we've finally found something none of us has done, Lauren timidly picks up her glass and downs her first shot.

Hunter leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Do tell," he prods.

She sets her glass on the table with a shutter. "It was a totally peaceful protest," she says, raising her hands defensively. "We were just trying to save this old historic building from being torn down and turned into condos, but the police said we were trespassing."

Cameron grins. "I like you even more now, Laur-Bear."

Lauren winces harder than she did when she took her shot. "Please stop calling me that."

On Hunter's other side, Addison picks up her glass of energy drink and purses her lips. "Never have I ever bought booze?"

"You're so innocent, Adds," Eliza teases from across the table as the rest of us take a drink.

Cameron, who has awarded himself the role of bartender, busies himself with refilling our glasses. As soon as he finishes pouring his own, he holds it up in Hunter's direction. "Do our worst buddy," he grins.

Hunter meets Cameron's grin with a level gaze. His hand settles on my thigh as they stare at each other for a moment, Cameron's blue eyes practically challenging Hunter to find something the one boy has done that the other has not.

The boy beside me, however, doesn't hesitate. "Never have I ever gone to the emergency room after hooking up with a girl in the bathroom at the gas station."

Cameron's challenging grin morphs into a glare as he swigs his fourth shot. The glass slams onto the table as he raises his hand to point at Hunter. "I was drunk and she was a gymnast. You have no idea how creative those girls can get."

A comment forms in my head, and before I can stop it, the words are flying out of my mouth. "I used to be a gymnast."

Dammit, Peyton.

Cameron's gaze snaps to me, his strong jaw popping half-open as he bawks. He snaps it shut quickly, looking at me with the most serious expression I've ever seen on his face. "Marry me."

"Stop trying to steal my girl, asshole," Hunter mutters, rolling his eyes. He wraps a strong arm around my shoulders, and, with little resistance on my part, pulls me tightly against his side. "She doesn't even like you."

Another round of questions and shots later, it's becoming kind of obvious that between Hunter, Ethan, Cameron and I, we're not as different as one might think. We've taken the most drinks out of the group, and despite my higher tolerance for alcohol, I have to admit I'm more than a little tipsy.

We finally get Addison to take a shot of her energy drink when Lauren says, "Never have I ever cheated."

Addison, cheeks flaming red, hesitates before she leans forward and gulps down her drink with a soured expression.

Cameron whoops with laughter and my jaw falls open in shock.

I lean to the side, my legs hooked over Hunter's, and look Addison in the eye. "Spill," I order, focusing all of my attention on the girl in the floral dress.

She purses her lips as she sets her glass back on the table and nervously picks at her bare finger nails. "I cheated on a math test. In third grade. I felt horrible about it, and I ended up telling my teacher a week later. She made me wash the blackboard for a week, and I got a zero on it."

"I remember that," Eliza chuckles, shaking her head at her best friend.

I pinch my lips together in a flat line, trying my best to hold back another fit of giggles as I look at her fondly. "You're actually the cutest, Addison. I fucking love you."

Addison says nothing, tucking her hair behind her ear. Her cheeks are still bright red from embarrassment, but I don't miss the way Ethan's eyes are watching her like she's the only one sitting in the room with him.

"Alright, I'm bored," I announce with an exaggerated yawn. A plan begins to solidify through the drunken stupor, and I grin like a maniac. "Spin the bottle anyone?"

Cameron whoops his support immediately, while the rest of the group groans aloud.

"And now we're back in seventh grade," Hunter mutters beside me.

I shoot him a look and roll my eyes. "I don't see you coming up with a better idea, Maddox."

His grin is familiar now. His hand slides up my thigh, and his gaze is fixed on my mouth. "Oh, I have plenty of ideas. But none of them include our friends here."

Addison blushes for me, seeing as I'm seemingly more immune to his sexual advances than any other straight female. Eliza, on the other hand, snorts loudly from across the coffee table. "Get a goddamn room. I can feel my veggie burger coming back up."

Eliza's commentary earns snickers from the rest of our friends, but I'm too busy leaning towards the smirking boy beside me. My lips barely brush his jaw. "Want a kiss, Hunter?" I ask as I lean back, dodging his attempt to catch me. "Play the game."

"Oh, I'm down," Cameron bellows, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

Hunter's smirk turns to a scowl as he looks past me. "Like I want your filthy mouth anywhere near my girlfriend."

"I second that notion," Eliza adds, a similar scowl set on her own face.

I shrug my shoulders. "I could just as easily wind up kissing Liza, or Ethan. Besides, nobody said anyone had to kiss on the mouth."

Its Hunter's turn to roll his eyes. "That's kind of the rule."

My lips curve into an alcohol-induced grin. "Well, I prefer to play by my own rules."

Hunter studies my face for a moment, taking in my blithe grin and the challenge in my eyes. "Deal," he announces finally, his eyes darting to Cameron again as he raises a finger to point in his friend's direction. "Keep your hands to yourself. And if you try sticking your tongue down her throat and I will punch you in the face."

Cameron raises his arms defensively. "Fine. This time."

The attention shifts to Lauren and Eliza. Lauren turns to her girlfriend and shrugs her shoulders. Eliza, in turn, narrows her eyes at nobody in particular. "I'm not kissing that walking, talking, STD over there."

"Fair," I nod, moving my eyes to Ethan, who shoots a thumbs up. Addison's wide eyes meet mine when I look at her across Hunter.

"It's up to you, Addy," I assure her, masking the fact that I will be incredibly disappointed if she foils my matchmaking plans by not participating.

To my surprise, and relief, Addy shakes her head. "No, I'll do it," she says proudly, scooting forward to the edge of the couch and mentally preparing herself.

"So who's first?" Cameron asks, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "And where's the bottle?"

I eye the bottle on the table, realizing it's too square to actually spin worth a damn. Swatting Hunter's hand off of my leg, I get to my feet and march into the kitchen. To the far side is a recycle bin, and I grab an empty wine bottle out of it and return eagerly to my friends in the living room.

I fall somewhat gracefully back onto the couch beside Hunter, showing off the bottle proudly before setting it down on its side on the coffee table.

"Alright, I'm thinking of a number between one and ten," I announce, pointing to Lauren across from me. "Shoot."

"Seven," she guesses.

Eliza is next. "Four," she says, obviously bored.

"Six," Ethan says.

"Two."

"One."

"Eleven."

My eyes narrow in Cameron's direction, a look somewhere between annoyed disbelief and confusion on my face. The boy only shrugs. "It's what I always pick."

I roll my eyes towards Eliza. "It was four."

The blonde looks like she honestly couldn't care less, but regardless, she leans forward and spins the bottle. I don't catch whatever she mumbles under her breath, but knowing Eliza, I know it's hardly something positive.

The bottle spins a couple of times before it stops, the opening pointing at the blonde at the opposite end of the couch.

Unfazed, Eliza hops up off of the floor and scoots around the table until she can perch on the arm of the couch beside Addison. Eliza leans down and gives Addy a quick peck on the cheek before returning to the floor beside her girlfriend.

A loud groan sounds from the chair beside me, and I look over to see Cameron, looking incredibly disappointed.

"Pervert," I mutter, shaking my head. The vibrations against my shoulder let me know Hunter overheard my comment, and I can't stop the tiny smile that spreads across my lips.

Shaking my head, I nod in Lauren's direction. "Your turn."

Lauren spins the bottle quickly, folding her hands in her lap while it spins. When it stops, the neck is pointing to the empty space between Ethan and Eliza. Before anyone can suggest Lauren re-spin the bottle, Eliza reaches out and points the bottle towards herself.

"Would you look at that," Liza shrugs, patting her cheek with her finger.

Lauren giggles softly before she leans forward, and places a palm against her cheek as she gives the girl beside her a sweet kiss. It was obvious, even in my inebriated state, that what the two of them had was special. They couldn't be more different on the outside— but what's that saying about opposites?

Lauren leans back after a moment, a shining smile on her mouth and in her eyes. Before I can even acknowledge how innocent she looks, she looks back over her shoulder at Cameron. "I think it's your turn now."

A snicker escapes my throat, and my hand flies up to cover my mouth before I can burst into a fit of laughter. I'm not the only one affected; both Ethan and Hunter are chuckling at the wounded look on their friend's face.

Eliza's face is set in a smug grin.

"Alright, Cam," Hunter chuckles beside me, one arm draped lazily across my shoulders. He kicks his feet up onto the coffee table. "Pick your jaw up off the floor and spin the damned bottle."

The dark haired boy shakes his head, his expression clearing. He spins the bottle as instructed, without any of his signature inappropriate commentary- even when the bottle stops on the boy with his arm wrapped around me.

"Fucking hell," Hunter grumbles, his head lolling onto my shoulder.

I giggle softly, reaching up to pat him on the cheek unsupportively. "Sucks to be you."

When we turn back to Cameron, his face has morphed into a smarmy grin. It doesn't quite meet his dark eyes, but he earns a whoop of laughter from a few of us when he gets up and nudges past me, only to fall heavily into Hunter's unwelcoming lap.

Addison squeals, squeezingherself farther into the corner of the couch.

The boy beside me lets out an oomph as the taller boy lands on him, and his hand flies from my leg to try and shove his friend off of his lap.

"Get off me, fat ass," Hunter grumbles, pushing at Cameron's arm..

Cameron shakes his head, elbowing back. "Nuh uh, Hunt. Can't cheat the bottle, bro," he chides.

Hunter curses up a storm, but Cameron grabs a hold of his face with both of his hands, and plants a loud, smacking kiss on Hunter's forehead.

Cameron jumps off of his friend's lap before Hunter can wind up to punch him in the face. Without the giant teenage boy blocking my vision, I can see that Addison looks somewhat overwhelmed by the exchange, but when the rest of us start cackling with laughter as Hunter chucks a pillow at Cameron, her expression softens, and she joins in with her own lilting laugh.

Ethan has to duck as a second pillow is launched in Cameron's direction— who's dived behind the chair that Ethan's lounging in. A handful of plastic shot glasses follow Cameron as he dodges his way back to the chair beside me, narrowly avoiding tripping of Eliza and Lauren on the floor. With a lack of projectiles, Hunter settles for making  noise of disgust and wiping at his forehead while the perpetrator settles back into his chair proudly.

"Aw, babe," I coo, my bottom lip pouting out sardonically. "You okay?"

Hunter grumbles, his eyes narrowing. "My face was violated. Of course I'm not. I'm going to kill him."

I cup one of his cheeks with my hand, looking up at him from under my lashes. "I think you'll be just fine," I giggle.

"You know, I think there is something that would make me feel better," he says, his blue eyes darting to look just below the tip of my nose. "A kiss from my girl."

I'm barely able to turn my cheek to him as he tries to snatch a kiss. An resonance of gagging noises sounds to my left and across from me.

"For the love of god," Eliza retches.

"Yeah!" Cameron echoes. "She's gotta spin the bottle first!"

Cameron's right— not that I would ever tell him that— but, he does offer me a great distraction from the drunken, horny teenage boy sitting beside me.

I lean my elbows against my bare knees and spin the bottle on the table. It wobbles as it spins quickly on the hard wood, and I watch it expectantly, if only to keep my attention on one spot.

As it slows, it wobbles even more, and I can feel a pit forming in my stomach for no apparent reason. Drinking barely phases my stomach anymore— my tolerance having been built up from a young age,  when I would sneak champagne from my parents' parties.

I ignore the feeling as the bottle stops in its place. I do a double take, making sure I'm not imagining things. But, much to my chagrin, the neck of the bottle points to the boy beside me.

And not the one whose annoyingly delightful cologne is overwhelming my senses every time I inhale.

Cameron looks up from the bottle with a smirk— a smug smirk that I would like to slap off of his smug face.

But, on the other hand, I had asked for this. I had suggested the game in hopes of Ethan or Addy spinning on each other. Tomorrow morning, I would realize how horrible the idea had been. But in the present, drunk Peyton didn't see anything wrong with the idea.

In the back of my mind, I vaguely recall one of the songs I had heard on the radio in Hunter's truck, something about a guy writing a letter to his drunk self, telling him to stop doing stupid things. Maybe I should take a page out of that guy's book.

But until then, I get up off the couch and wobble at the sudden change of position. I steady myself on the arm of the couch, and stumble a couple of steps, binging me to stand in front of Cameron, who follows my movements with a rather sobered gaze.

I put a hand on his shoulder to steady myself, but the small action only fans the flames of his ego.

"Show me what you've got, Pey Bae," he taunts, scooting forward so that he's sitting on the edge of his seat.

I don't know why I do it. Just a habit, I guess. The only guys I've ever kissed on the cheek are my dad, and Chad Barnaby in the second grade.

So, instead of giving Cameron a perfectly platonic kiss on the cheek, I lean down and my eyes close as I meet his lips with mine. It's hardly a hot, rip-your-clothes-off kind of kiss. It's quick, and sweet. There's no hands, no tongue, and it's over in ten seconds.

But that's ten seconds too long.

I've barely had the time to stand up straight before my hand drops from Cameron's shoulder as if I've been burned. Realization hits my alcohol-fogged brain too late.

I just kissed my fake boyfriend's best friend. In front of my fake boyfriend.

Well, shit.

Looks like someone might be in a wee bit of trouble.

Stay tuned, the next chapters coming at you moderately soon!
Until next time, shout out your predictions in the comments. Spoilers will be prosecuted.

Lots of love,