Alli barely looks at me and I mouth an apology to her but she just nods her head and displays a very weak smile. I know she’s not mad atme, but that doesn’t mean it sucks any less.
“Alright,” Natasha starts. “Who’s got fourteen?”
I don’t even look, zoning out the next few moments of the conversation. I feel terrible that I set my friend up like that and I’m also not really getting anything out of this stupid game right now. I decide that it’s best for me to leave, not caring about the consequences of quitting, but right as I attempt to stand, I hear my name.
I look up, everyone with their eyes on me.
I don’t even know who said it as I glance around the circle. And before I know it, Banks is tossing me the coin.
No.
I catch it, barely, and stare at it. I don’t want to do this, any of this.
“It won’t flip itself, sweetie.” I hear someone say and a few people break out into giggles.
But my heart freezes. That sounded eerily like Seren. I try to find her face amongst the people around me, but I know she’s not here and I’m just hearing things. But then…
“One of the greatest things you can do for your future self is to say yes to things you think you want to say no to. People love a bitch who can do something they expect her not to do. It makes them envious. And they also learn how to shut their fucking mouth,” Seren says, dripping with absolute confidence.
She’s like a movie that way, always seeming like she’s speaking from a script. Like she’s warning you of what to do because she already knows the ending. I watch her as she turns to the person next to her and smiles, not even waiting for me to respond.
Everyone is chatting, the fire burning bright between us and the next moment, a boy stands up and calls Seren’s name. Silence falls around the circle and Seren’s face drains, the life being sucked out of her and as I turn to look at the boy who called her name…
The vision fades, flitting in static waves.
A memory.
Who was the boy? Why did Seren’s face look like that when he called her name for the dare? And why didn’t I remember this before? I thought I only lostpart of my memory from the actual night their deaths took place but now that I think about it, I could be missing more than I know. I haven’t really thought about the other nights much, because I never really thought they were important. But as I search my mind, I realize that prior to the night of the murders, I can remember everything except for any memories of Seren. It’s like she’s been erased from that weekend entirely.
My head starts to spin. How is that possible? And how have I not noticed that in all these years? I close my eyes. I can’t even remember getting to the cabin with her. And I know we bunked together.
“Olivia.” Sage calls my name and drags me from my thoughts.
I look back down at the coin, now remembering the time Seren took it and flipped it with confidence. I don’t even remember playing this with her, but now I know that we did. We played truth or dare that year for Thriller Nights and I saw it, the look in her eyes. She was afraid of whoever called on her.
I swipe at the tear slipping down my face, not caring who the fuck sees or what they insinuate the reason to be. But as more and more people start to gossip around me, I flip the coin. It circles itself around and around in the air before landing on the ground. I lean down to look at it.
“Tails,” I say, feeling the dread sink into my gut.
All I want to do is recall every detail of that memory with Seren but now I am forced to submit to some ridiculous dare.
“What’s the dare, then?” Alli asks and I turn my head toward some kid I hardly recognize. Likely a freshman in college, a few years younger than me.
I don’t know what I expect but as he opens his mouth, my heart stops.
“Get down on your knees and show us what you look like when you have dick down your throat.” He chuckles with his friends around him.
“What?” I ask, pure disgust on my face while a proud smile paints his.
Everyone’s eyes are on me.
Sage, Alli and Evin are motionless beside me as Jensen and Trace both look at me with anticipation, maybe. But only one of them seems somewhat eager for me to fulfill the dare. The other one seems like he’ll kill someone if I do.
“Liv, you do not have to do that.” I turn my head to see worry in Alli’s eyes.
“Don’t be a fucking prude,” someone says and everyone laughs.
People love a bitch who can do something they expect her not to do.
