I raised a hand to my hair and proceeded to shake out the loose droplets. Luckily, my mane as only damp, not drenched like I'd feared. When my hair is wet, it takes forever to dry and feels like a wet rag. Looking around, I realized that, after sorting themselves out, people had migrated in a way back to the clusters they were talking in before.

Just as I was about to blend into the wallpapers, a hand grabbed my wrist and started dragging me through the throng. Luckily it was only Riz, no doubt dragging me somewhere to talk and be social.

She pushed through a door, probably to a guest bedroom of sorts, to reveal a small mass of about 15 people, guys and girls, sitting in a lumpy circle. My blood ran cold as I realized what this was.

"Truth or dare?" Mandy Maldor asked Julia Rill.

"Dare."

"I dare you to go cut off a piece of Amanda's hair. You have to bring it back and show us."

I cringed. I didn't want to have to do something like that. I wasn't stealthy at all so I would probably have ended up with a stiletto to the face if I attempted it.

Two minutes later, Julia was back, triumphantly holding a small piece of dark brown hair. She took a seat a immediately asked Greg truth or dare."

It went on like that through a few people, and I hoped that maybe they'd forget about me. In the meantime, somebody had to steal a pair of panties from someone, several virgins were revealed, along with nonvirgins, and someone even had to go around asking every girl outside the room for a lap dance.

"Thariah." I could feel the blood drain from my face. Someone knew my name, and worse, I was the next victim. Truth or dare?"

Truth was the safest so that's what I chose.

One of the guys, Paul, I think, Scoffed. "We've had so many truths lately. You all are cowards."

"I'm not a coward." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"Oh really," He cocked his head and smirked. "Then why don't you choose dare?"

I had screwed myself over and now I would have to go through with it. "Fine. Dare."

The grin on Paul's face grew. Lei was the girl who had originally chosen me. "Can I choose her dare?"

Lei shrugged. "Sure. I'm not good at coming up with them anyways."

Paul took his time. He tapped a finger to his chin, mock contemplating my fate. "I dare you..." He dragged it out. "I dare you to kiss Azrael Montenegro."

***

My eyes went wide and it felt like someone had taken a frying pan to my face.

"Wh-what?!"

"You heard."

"But-" I sputtered, trying to wrap my head around this catastrophe. "He's not even in the room. He won't know it's a dare."

"Too bad. Go exchange saliva."

My face burned hotter than the Sahara. Slowly, I got up and made my way to the door.

How was I going to find him? Would I be able to get him alone, or would I have an audience to view the end of my dignity. If I went through with it, I doubt I'd be invisible to him again, and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

***

Azrael POV

Rachel was here. Just when I had begun to settle down and laugh and joke with my friends. I saw her straightened brown hair, heard her pony laugh. Ice formed in the pit of my stomach. It had been a month since we broke up, but I had barely seen her in the mean time, due to it being summer vacation. I thought I was over it, but I don't think I can look her in the eyes, feel betrayed again. I shouldn't be the one feeling this. She should feel the guilt, avoiding me whenever she heard I was around, hiding whenever she saw me. I can't believe it's the other way round.

Nate elbows me. "Hey, she isn't worth it enough for the night to be ruined."

"Thanks man." Now I can't make an excuse to run and hide in the bathroom without it looking suspicious. I'm such a wimp, can't even face my cheating ex-girlfriend.

Tristan on the other side of me pipes. "There's a shit ton of people here, so there's less if a chance she'll bump into us. If she does, then we shall protect you, dear sweet innocent child." He struck a dramatic pose.

"You're such an idiot." Nate grumbled but laughed. I felt a smile tug at my lips.

We went on, joking and laughing with each other. Slowly, ever so slowly, the ice in the pit of my stomach began to thaw.

A little while later, I felt eyes on me. I glanced around and saw a girl, with long dirty blonde hair, sitting in a camp chair at the edge of the yard. Our eyes met and she quickly looked away, leaning down to pet the dog. Something niggled at the back of my brain. I knew her. I had seen her before and suddenly I felt bad. I couldn't remember her name. Wow, I'm such a conceited jerk. I recognize her from school, probably even had classes with her and I don't even remember her name. Maybe Rachel was right to cheat on me. I'm such an insensitive jerk.

Nate says something. "What?" I ask.

"Who are you looking at?"

"No one," I say, a bit too quickly.

"You were looking at someone."

Tristan grins. "Nice to know you're moving on."

"Oh shut it. I swear I need to get the two of you girlfriends so you can stop gossiping and give me a little peace."

"As tempting as that sounds, it's much more fun to annoy you." Tristan declared and Nate agreed.

It started to rain. There was practically a stampede to the house, and Tristan, Nate, and were pulled right along with it.

Inside, everyone filled out the rooms and continued on as they had before.

At one point, someone had turned on music, and now it was being blasted through the house.

Then I saw straightened brown hair, and I sort of panicked, shuffling away with the excuse of finding the bathroom.

I ventured down a hallway, past a room where I think they were playing the truth or dare I was tempted to join, in hopes of avoiding Rachel, but instead I turned the corner to where it was quiet and leaned against the wall. Man I'm such a wimp.