Some truths are too heavy to speak aloud… some secrets burn brighter when set free.
Tonight, the fire listens to all of them.
That evening, just as planned, the boys had set up a bonfire, the "slave duty" for the night. Fae and Suzanne lucked out, they could just relax while the others handled all the prep. The fire pit crackled in the center of the clearing, casting warm, flickering light across their faces, and the smell of burning wood mingled with the salty breeze from the nearby sea. It was the perfect setting for a game that would stir hearts and secrets alike.
"Okay! Everyone's tired of plain Truth or Dare, so it's time to level up the game," Suzanne announced, taking charge alongside Dale. She tapped a pen against her paper as if marking the start of something legendary.
"And since it's a level-up, we'll call it 'Tell or Burn.' Here's how it works," Dale jumped in, his grin wide. "First, everyone has to be in, no killjoys allowed. Second, we've got pens and paper for the 'burn.' Zane, explain why and how."
Suzzane leaned forward, the firelight catching his grin. "Here's the deal: when the bottle points at you, pick 'tell' to say something you really want to say, no holding back. Don't name anyone directly, though. If you pick 'burn,' write it down and toss it into the bonfire. The fire will swallow it up, like your secrets disappear into the night. Got it?"
Everyone nodded immediately, a mix of nervous excitement and giddy anticipation sparking in their eyes. The tension between fear and thrill was tangible, and the fire's warm glow made the shadows dance in ways that made everything feel both safe and dangerous at the same time.
"Any violent reactions or questions before we start?" Dale asked with a playful grin. The group shook their heads, laughter bubbling up.
The boys opened beers while the game began. Dale spun the bottle first; it was only fair since he'd invented the game. He'd probably played it at countless parties before, always enjoying the attention and the thrill of secrets revealed in the right moment.
The bottle landed on Glacey. She glanced at everyone before picking 'burn.' Silence fell for a moment, a mix of curiosity and understanding. Fae suspected it was intentional, her brother and cousins were nearby, and she admired Glacey's subtlety.
When Glacey spun the bottle, it landed on Suzanne. She picked 'tell.'
"I hope you feel how much I love you! But I'm too scared to say it face-to-face because I know what's in your heart. Even though I have a boyfriend, I still think about you. Damn, you're impossible to erase from my heart!"
The group went silent, the kind of quiet that made the fire crackle louder than it should.
"Wow, that's deep," Dale broke the tension, and everyone laughed, some nervously, some openly.
"Who is he, Zane? First time seeing you like this… that's one hell of a confession. That guy's stupid for not noticing!" Leon teased, nudging Suzanne lightly.
Suzanne just smiled, shook her head, and sipped her beer. She spun the bottle again, and it landed on Isle.
Everyone was surprised. No matter how long they'd been friends, there were still hidden corners of each other's hearts.
"This is all about courage, right? But no names?" Isle asked, her tone teasing but curious.
"Yep, just say whatever you want, no names!" Suzanne encouraged, her grin infectious.
Isle smiled, looked at the dark sky, and said, "I don't know… I think I have a crush on you, but I don't want to say because I'd embarrass myself! And for the record, I'm a girl, not a lesbian!"
The group burst into laughter again. Fae found herself smiling, enjoying how free and open everyone seemed. The game allowed them to show sides of themselves no one had seen before, without judgment or consequence.
Next was Rob, the twins' cousin. He kept it simple, shouting three special words: "I love you!"
"Man, when will someone ever say that to me?" Dale commented.
Fae didn't expect the bottle to point at her next. Her stomach twisted, a mixture of nerves and excitement.
"Tell or burn?" Rob asked, leaning forward slightly, his eyes curious.
"Wait… I wasn't ready. Tell, I guess? Whatever!" she blurted, heart hammering.
"Tell!"
"You're so brave! Seriously, Fae, you've got guts!" Dale teased, making Fae laugh nervously, trying to hide the pounding of her heart.
"I love you! But blind love is wrong… you're just too oblivious to notice me! But fine, I'll learn to forget you!" she shouted. Suzanne quickly handed her a beer to calm her nerves, and she took a shaky sip, the liquid burning slightly as it went down.
"You idiot! You wasted our Fae! Good thing she doesn't deserve someone like you. Forget him, there are plenty more!" Liam said from beside her, sliding his arm around her shoulders again, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
"I wish it could be you instead… because I know I wouldn't get hurt if I chose you. This is so hard!" Fae muttered silently, heart aching with the weight of unspoken feelings.
"Exactly! He doesn't deserve our Faerie, beautiful, smart, and kind-hearted!" Rome added with a smile, and Fae felt a little warmth in her chest despite the ache.
"That's for you! You're completely oblivious, hmph!"
The bottle spun again, landing back on Dale.
"Going all out this time! Tell!" Fae called, curiosity mixing with apprehension.
"Damn it! No matter how many flings I've had, you're still the one my heart screams for! You've always been it! I never dated anyone seriously because I was too scared to admit it to you! I've been holding this in for years!" Dale finished, draining his bottle, the firelight reflecting in his eyes as he looked around at the group.
All eyes turned to him, astonished.
"What? Why are you all staring at me like that?" he asked, confused, cheeks slightly red.
"That's not our Dale! Bring him back to us!" Suzanne said, raising her hands in mock prayer. Everyone laughed, the sound mingling with the crackling fire. Dale bowed his head, embarrassed but grinning.
"I swear, our confessions just keep getting deeper! Is this from the beer or the cold?" Leon joked, leaning back and stretching, the shadows dancing across his face.
"Damn! You can joke like that? When the curse hits you, I don't know if you'll survive!" Dale shot back, and the group laughed even harder, the fire reflecting their joy.
But their laughter stopped when Suzanne suddenly stood up and excused herself to make a call. They waited for her return, checking the shadows for any sign of her, but she never came back. With her gone, the game fizzled out, there weren't enough players to continue, and the lively tension slowly dissolved into the night air.
The boys carried on with their drinks, joking and teasing each other, while the girls listened, occasionally adding their thoughts or laughing at the absurdity of the stories. Fae noticed Rome had quietly disappeared, slipping out like a shadow, and she didn't let it show that her eyes were searching for him.
"Maybe he went after Suzanne?" she wondered quietly, frowning slightly. She sipped her beer and tried to focus on the fire instead, letting the warmth soothe the flutter in her chest, but a small part of her couldn't shake the thought.
As the embers danced and the waves whispered from the nearby shore, the night felt endless, a mix of revelations, laughter, and unspoken tension. Fae realized that no matter how well she thought she knew everyone, there were still hidden corners in the hearts of her friends, secrets waiting to be uncovered, feelings that had lingered in the quiet shadows, and moments like this that made friendship feel thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
Even as the game had ended, the energy lingered, the kind that made her pulse a little faster, made her laugh a little louder, and made her heart ache in ways that only this circle of friends could.
And in that moment, under the dark sky and the firelight, Fae understood one thing clearly. No matter how much you thought you knew someone, there was always a part of them left untamed, a secret burning quietly inside, waiting for the right time or the right dare to come alive.