Truth or Dare Round 1

The circle is loud and loose, everyone several drinks deep, the energy of people who have been going since prom and have no intention of stopping.

Tyler spins the bottle. It lands on Priya.

Tyler looks at it, then looks at Miles with a grin.

Tyler: you know what. He points at Miles. newcomer gets to ask. Go ahead Miles.

The group cheers. Priya looks at Miles with bright eyes, already laughing at something Cadey said beside her.

Priya: oh god. She points at him. I know you. Body shots guy.

Miles: guilty.

Priya: She narrows her eyes. okay. Do your worst.

Miles thinks for a moment.

Miles: list everyone you've had any physical with tonight. Hug or more. In order.

The group reacts immediately, a mix of delighted and horrified.

Priya: She stares at him. you have got to be kidding me.

Gina: She gestures toward the cocktail. drink or answer Priya.

Priya looks at the cocktail. Then back at Miles. Then she takes a long sip of her own drink, straightens up, and holds up her fingers.

Priya: fine. She takes a breath. okay. So. Before prom. Me and Cadey.

She looks at Cadey beside her with a completely unapologetic expression.

Priya: Cadey spent about forty five minutes with her face between my legs before prom. Which by the way.

She points at Cadey.

Priya: outstanding work as always.

The group loses it instantly. Cadey covers her face with both hands.

Cadey: PRIYA. OH MY GOD.

Priya: She holds up a hand. you said list everyone. She moves to the next finger. then in the car on the way to prom. Mike. I had his cock in my mouth before we even hit the highway. He almost crashed twice.

Tyler: twice?

Priya: I am very thorough. She moves to the next finger. then at the venue. Found an empty room near the back. Got on my knees again for Mike. He really needed it apparently. Very high maintenance.

More laughter from the group.

Marcus: how many times did you blow this guy.

Priya: She holds up two fingers. just twice. She pauses. at the venue.

The group catches the implication immediately.

Zoey: just at the venue?

Priya: She moves on quickly. then at the party. Mike was completely done for the night. Absolutely useless. Couldn't get it up for anything. So.

She shrugs with complete casualness.

Priya: Ryan from the lacrosse team was standing right there looking very capable and I had needs that were not being met.

The group gasps then immediately erupts.

Zoey: RYAN?

Cadey: you fucked Ryan?

Priya: She holds up both hands. he was there. I had needs. We found a room. It was fine. Moving on.

Marcus: moving on to what exactly.

Priya hesitates for just a fraction of a second.

Priya: that's the list.

Zoey: She sits forward with a dangerous smile. that is absolutely not the list.

Priya: She looks at Zoey with wide warning eyes. zoey.

Zoey: there was also the thing in the upstairs bathroom. With Priya. And Ryan. And that other guy whose name she couldn't even—

Priya: ZOEY. She turns on her with full ****. what the actual FUCK.

Zoey: She shrugs completely unbothered. it was a dare. You're collateral damage.

Priya: She stares at her in genuine disbelief. I told you that in CONFIDENCE.

Zoey: confidence and truth or dare are mutually exclusive concepts Priya.

The group has completely dissolved, everyone shouting at once, demanding details, pointing at Priya who has her face buried in her hands.

Gina: wait so Ryan and who else—

Priya: She looks up from her hands. not telling you.

Cadey: was it someone we—

Priya: not. Telling. You. She points around the circle with complete finality. it is not my dare. I answered what I had to answer. The rest is classified information and will remain classified until I die.

Marcus: until you die or until the next round?

Priya: She looks at him. until I die Marcus.

The group dissolves into chaos, everyone speculating at once, names being thrown around, Priya batting every single one down with increasing exasperation.

Miles sits back and watches it all unfold with the quiet satisfaction of someone who asked exactly the right question.