“You’re listening right?”, Freya asked over the phone.

“Yeah yeah I am”, another girl answered from the other side.

“You know I am not kidding this time. It’s pretty serious.” Freya put more emphasis on her words as if to express how serious she was.

“I get it Fey-Fey! It’s a love triangle situation right?” the other girl on the phone assured.

“Technically yes. But you know I am not interested in him.”  

“Yes whatever you say missy.”

“By the way don't tell Keez that I already told you about yesterday.”

“Who? Kirsten? Nah why should I. Even if she confides in me by herself I will pretend to hear it for the first time.”

“Hmm.

Say Sops, will our friendship be soiled with this?”, Freya asked concernedly.

“Uhh…….it depends on how you three will cope with it. Also don’t call me Sops. It sounds like soap. Call me something proper!” the other girl chirped.

“No. Calling you Sophie is awkward. I'll call you Sops! Sops sops sops!” Freya teased Sophia.

“Urgh stop it. Once is enough!!!” Sophia yelled over the speaker as Freya started giggling.

“Ehem. Sorry. But we are very cool about it for now. And I hope we do for ever.” Freya returned to the topic at hand.

“Uh-huh. Just don’t complicate things later and make it uncomfortable.” Sophia gave a friendly reminder.

“No way that’s happening!”

“It’s okay then. But I really gotta go now. Or I'll be late. Bye.”

“Yeah go. Bye”

Freya put the phone down and walked up to the window. As she gazed outside, she kept recalling yesterday evening. She can’t seem to forget it that easily; the most thrilling new year’s eve of her life till now.

***

Ace, Freya and Kirsten(the ‘i’ pronounced as ‘ee’) . These three were best friends for quite a while now. Not really childhood buddies as they met each other at different points of time and at different places. But still it's been a pretty three years that they were hanging out together and thus were very close to each other. Yesterday being the New Years they planned on partying together.

As a matter of fact, Freya's home was chosen for the purpose. It was huge, equipped with the best quality home theatres and since Freya wasn’t allowed to leave her home, it qualified as the best destination to have a blast.

Moreover her parents didn't mind these stuffs since they were very busy persons and hardly had the time to bother with these.

And so the drinks were bought, the living room downstairs was decorated with beautiful party lights, tasty foods were served and with the best playlist playing on the speakers, the overall vibe was a chef's kiss. Ace even brought his older sister Annie which spiced things up even more.

After a few shots of Vodka, Kirsten was already tipsy. Ace, Freya and Anne were veterans so it took quite a number of shots to get them drunk.

It was then that Annie brought up the idea of playing truth and dare. The one who wouldn’t be complying should drink two shots of Vodka as punishment.

The rest of them agreed right away. Was it the alcohol muddling their thoughts? Well, who knows.

It started off pretty well considering all of them were quite drunk. Even between dares like hugging each other, giving small pecks, embarrassing confessions, or doing weirdest poses, they seemed to enjoy themselves.

Yet, things soon got heated up as Annie dared Kirsten to kiss Ace. Not some sisterly pecks on cheeks but a true kiss, right on the lips. For the moment, the effect of alcohol seemed to wear off and  they all became sober.

A kiss on the lips? It's true they were close and sometimes invaded more of each other’s personal space than was necessary. But this amount of intimacy was something they never dared. 

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Writer's thoughts: This is my very first work. So I am not expecting to have a great view. But for everyone reading, please leave some directions and advice about the places I am lacking in! Criticism are always more than accepted as I am anything but a rookie writer!(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

Though I hope the no. of critiques to be less obviously, who wouldn't! 😅

SEE YOU ON NEXT CHAPTER!

...

“Sis……I know you wanna make it fun but this type of dare…. It’s crossing the line isn’t it?”, Ace tried to reason with his sister. He kept looking at Freya and Kirsten repetitively urging them to support his point as well.

Unfortunately, both of them stayed quiet and ignored Ace's summon for help.

“Crossing the line? What are you, elementary kids? Even middle schoolers are prurient than you. Moreover you guys are even bffs!” Annie snapped at Ace. She made clear that the dare shan't be changed. It’s settled once and for all.

Ace rubbed his temple. The dare bothered him. The whole idea of it made him uncomfortable.

“Then let’s take the two Vodka shots instead.” He suggested after a while.

“No can do. Kirsten can’t drink anymore remember.” Annie vetoed the idea right away.

“I’ll drink in her stead then!” Ace offered. He was trying every means to avoid doing that dare.

“You cannot. It’s not your turn. We need to stick to the rules to maintain the fairness of the game.” Annie smiled as she once again rejected Ace. She wasn’t allowing either of them to escape from this.

All this while Freya observed Annie and found something unsettling. She was being unnecessarily strict. It was just a friendly T or D, within one's own people. Who gave a sweat about its fairness! So she got to be doing it on purpose.

'It was planned. She was planning to do this all along! Annie was just waiting for the perfect chance! But why?’

Freya couldn’t figure out why Annie would try to make Ace kiss Keez. It’s not like they have anything for each other.

At that moment, Freya's eyes met Annie's. Annie smiled back at her. Freya got goosebumps on her legs. She's watching her, examining her. That smile right now was anything but normal.

‘It’s like she is trying to figure out my thoughts. That smile was almost like asking me “How’s that?” . Then again. WHY?’

Suddenly, Freya realised something. She looked up at Annie bewildered. Annie wasn’t looking at her. Freya then glanced at her friends sitting beside her in the couch. Ace was hiding his face in his palms. His elbows rested on his knees, one of which was shaking. He was anxious and nervous.  As for Kirsten she sat calmly. Her face didn’t reveal any sort of emotion.

After all this while, the one person Freya still couldn’t understand was Kirsten. Like her, Kirsten had also stayed quiet throughout the whole facade. Normally, she would strongly deny the request if she was against it. And perhaps, Annie would've been bound to change the dare if Kirsten had joined Ace. But she didn’t. Why? Was the alcohol interfering her thoughts or was she tired. Whatever the reason, it was very unlikely of her.

Annie's plan was to create a romantic tension between the three. Freya recalled  Annie asked a question of similar vibe earlier. The question was to Ace about who he would choose between Freya or Kirsten for a romantic partner. Obviously Ace didn’t answer  and took the punishment instead.

Afterall, they were three best friends and none of them felt romantically for each other. Why would Annie try to spark something like that between them and in such a roundabout way at that. Freya noticed her throat was dry. Realising Annie's motives made her anxious. She took the glass of water from the coffee table and finished it in one go. As she looked up, Freya found Annie staring at her. Her hands shook slightly. Annie’s gaze felt like she was penetrating right into her thoughts. After a while, she nodded and turned away.

‘She knows that I figured it out.’

Freya carefully put the glass down. She didn’t dare look at Annie again. Who knew, that Annie had such a scary side to her. From now on she'll act carefully around her. Freya wondered if Kirsten figured it out too. She once again glanced at her friend. Kirsten was still the same: expression less. At the moment she was staring at Ace as if in a stance.  

‘Geez what's up with her!’ Freya thought.

And then all of sudden Ace lifted his head which blocked Freya's view since he sat between them.

He cleared his throat and declared.

“Let’s get it done quickly then.”