have no pride at all? That brunette there is all over him. Come on, girl. Subtlety is your friend. Even I

know that Rizzo loves a challenge. He is only interested in what he can’t have.

Suddenly he looks over, directly at me, and cracks one of those killer smiles of his. I just give him a

look and roll my eyes. Is that all you got?

He grins, and for a brief moment I wonder if he just read my mind. I sniff and take a gulp of beer,

and decide that he hasn’t, because that would freak me out. I’ve had more logical moments, I think. But

then I wasn’t stuck in a room full of horny adolescents with nothing to do but drink. The air is so thick

with the penetrating smell of cannabis that I get that familiar warm, heavy feeling just breathing

normally. I stare at the ceiling, and imagine being in a cartoon movie. I could simply wipe out all the

people around me with a giant eraser, until only Casey and I remain. I try to erase Rizzo as well, but he

keeps popping back up. Most annoying.

Sometimes I wonder how it was possible for Casey to even slip under my guard like that. He’s far

too deep under my skin. Dangerously deep. I’d promised myself to never let that happen again. But

kindness, the kind of genuine kindness that he possesses, is powerfully disarming. I like how his eyes

focus on my face when he talks to me. I like how he smiles so warmly, sometimes a little shyly, and

how he gestures with his hands. I like the way he really listens, and how he always takes a moment to

think before he answers. I like the way he scratches his nose when he isn’t sure how to react to

something, and how he always runs his fingers through his short, blond hair when he’s nervous. I like

the way I know him thoroughly, and how he still manages to surprise me sometimes. I don’t think

there’s anything I don’t like about him. Except for that unhealthy infatuation with Rizzo, of course.

As if he had heard my silent call for him to rescue me from feeling isolated and out of place, Casey

joins me and sits down on my armrest. Close enough for me to feel the warmth emanating from his very

being.

“Hey, James.” Kind eyes, beautiful smile. Makes me feel all warm and mushy inside. Makes me

whole.

“Hey, Case.”

A sympathetic smile softens the brilliant blue of his eyes. “You don’t look very happy.”

“Oh, we’re alright.” I show him my beer, and he chuckles.

“If you wanna leave…”

“No, no, I’m fine. This is…” I trail off and can’t help grinning. “Okay, this is so not my idea of fun.”

Casey laughs, and I’m feeling better already. Must be the alcohol, messing with my head. Or maybe

I’m high. No idea how he does it, but he reduces me to a love-sick puppy, filled with the urge to write

bad, sappy poetry. How sad have I become? It’s very tragic. Casey moves back on the armrest until he

can lean his back against the back of the chair beside me. We’re practically sharing the seat now, and

gravity pulls him downwards, towards me, until the left side of his body is pressed against me. Can’t

say that I mind. He smiles as he takes the beer from my hand and takes a sip, lets his right leg dangle as

he looks around. He seems more relaxed now that he is beside me, and I guess that’s mutual. Well, in a

way. I ache to touch him, painfully, frighteningly. Sometimes I would really like to know what he sees

when he looks at me. I wish I could see myself through his eyes, just once. I wish I could crawl beneath

his skin, and see what the world looks like through Casey Mills’ eyes. But could I cope with what I’d

see, I wonder?

“Anybody up for a round of truth or dare?”

I look up with a small frown, and am surprised to find that a large group of people has sneakily

assembled on the floor around us. Where did they suddenly come from? Casey sits up straight and shifts

a bit, uncomfortably. Truth or dare? What is this, kindergarten? No way in hell. I’m not gonna hop

around the room on one leg or do anything even more degrading. Why am I not surprised to see Rizzo

join the circle with his entourage? He sits down directly opposite of us with an insidious grin curling his

lips. Count me out of this. I glance at Casey, ready to get up and leave, the question in my eyes. But he

just shrugs. Now that Rizzo is here, he wants to stay, come hell or high water. Which translates to me

not going anywhere either. Great.

“Bring it on, baby.” Rizzo winks at the tall blonde who suggested playing the game, and she laughs

too loudly. She is wearing too much makeup, I can smell her cheap, flowery perfume from over here.

What on earth leads girls to believe that guys like that kind of stench?

“Okay, I go first then.” Blondie bats her eyelashes and giggles. Man, she is pissed. She leans a bit

forward as she turns to Rizzo, the neck of her tight top giving everyone a great view at what she has to

offer. “Truth or dare, Danny.”

Rizzo takes a long drag on his cigarette, and exhales the smoke slowly. “Your choice.”

Bimbo Blonde giggles. “Okay. I pick…” Dramatic pause. “Truth.”

Cheers from the crowd welcome the choice. I bet she’ll ask if he could spend a night with anyone in

the world, who would it be. Go, me. She really does. How lame.

“You want the truth then, do you?” The dark eyes sparkle mischievously as everyone cheers. You

have to hand it to him, he’s got them all wrapped around his finger. I don’t even listen to his answer. I’m

distracted by the way Casey is watching him with a little smile. Jealousy stirs inside of me. I snap to

attention when I hear Rizzo saying his name.

“Casey. Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

Rizzo has a satisfied smirk on his face. “Ever kissed a guy?”

Roaring laughter, and Casey blushes furiously. But I’m relieved. That’s not so bad. I know the

answer to that, luckily. No reason to worry there.

“No. No, I never kissed a guy.” Casey shrugs and laughs. He turns to me and quickly gives me an

easy, safe question, because I pick truth, naturally. “Which three things would you like to have with you

if you were stranded on an island?”

Let me pretend to think hard. You, rubbers, lube. How would you like that? I don’t say that aloud.

Instead, I do what everybody does when they play truth or dare: I lie. D’uh.

Round two starts, and far too soon it is Rizzo’s turn again. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. And, as

expected, Rizzo looks right at Casey without a moment’s hesitation. I knew he wasn’t finished with him

yet. It was too easy. “Casey, truth or dare?”

Fearing no evil, Casey smiles, flattered to be chosen again. “Um… dare this time, I guess.”

Oh no. Not good. I can see the trap closing, and now he’s got him. Rizzo’s eyes sparkle

triumphantly. “Well, there’s really just one thing I could dare you to do now.”

Someone actually gasps, and two girls start to giggle madly. That wicked grin on his lips doesn’t

bode too well, but I refuse to believe he is seriously gonna do that until he speaks again.

“I dare you to kiss…” He pauses, looks around, searching for a victim or volunteer. I feel sick to my

stomach. Man, this whole situation is so high school. Did I mention that I hated high school with a

passion? Rizzo’s gaze comes to rest on me. “Kiss Foley. Until I tell you to stop.”

Son of a bitch. I don’t even flinch. I stay perfectly calm and unimpressed on the outside. Life has

taught me well to wear this mask. But Casey gasps, half-laughing, but the laughter dies in his throat. He

shakes his head unbelievingly. “Are you serious?”

Rizzo only smiles and takes a drag on his cigarette. He leans back, waiting to be entertained. I get a