The night wasn't supposed to feel this loud.
Music thumped from the tiny speaker in the corner of the living room, the LED lights flickering between blue and pink like the walls were breathing. The house smelled like fried chicken, scented candles, and a little too much teenage freedom.
Eight of them sat in a loose circle on the floor, legs crossed, plates scattered everywhere. Everyone was laughing, arguing, shouting over each other… except him.
Eli.
Eli sat at the edge of the circle with his back against the couch, hoodie half-zipped, sleeves covering his hands. He had that quiet face people never knew how to read — soft eyes, sharp cheekbones, and a calmness that always felt like he was hiding something. He looked like he didn't belong in a chaotic party, but somehow, he always ended up in the middle of things.
Tonight wasn't any different.
Except for one problem.
Jay.
Jay was on the other side of the circle, laughing too hard at a joke Melissa said, leaning back on his palms, curls bouncing. He had the kind of presence that filled a room — messy hair, bright smile, and energy that dragged everyone into his orbit. He felt like sunshine dipped in gasoline.
Eli pretended not to watch him.
He failed.
Jay's laughter hit his chest like a punch every time. And whenever Jay's eyes darted around the room, looking at everyone except him… Eli felt something sharp twist under his ribs.
Then Jay looked at him.
Just once.
A brief glance.
A spark of something.
Then Jay looked away again.
Eli swallowed, staring at the floor like it offended him personally.
"Okay we're starting!" Mari shouted, clapping her hands like she owned the house. "Truth or Dare time!"
Everyone cheered except Eli, who just blinked slowly and exhaled through his nose like a tired cat.
Jay's smile grew. "Finally."
He sounded excited. Too excited.
Mari placed an empty bottle in the middle of the circle and spun it dramatically. It clattered and twirled, making everyone lean forward. The bottle slowed… slower… and then landed on—
Jay.
"Wicked," Mari grinned. "Jay, truth or dare?"
Jay flicked his curls back, that cocky grin appearing. "Dare, obviously."
Everyone cheered again.
Except Eli.
He already felt tension crawling up his spine.
Mari smirked. "I dare you to… sit on someone's lap for one minute."
Jay raised a brow. "Just that? Babe, please."
"Pick someone then," Mari said.
Jay's eyes scanned the circle playfully.
Melissa.
Tayo.
Diora.
Then—
Eli.
Their eyes locked.
Jay's smile changed — softened, sharpened, something in between.
Eli's stomach dropped.
Jay moved before Eli could look away.
He stood, walked around the circle, and without a word, sat down right on Eli's lap.
Warm.
Heavy.
Close.
Too close.
Eli froze completely.
Jay leaned back a little, his back resting on Eli's chest, curls brushing his jaw. "Comfy," Jay whispered, voice low enough that only Eli heard.
Eli swallowed hard. "Get off."
Jay smirked. "One minute. Don't be dramatic."
Everyone screamed and laughed like it was the hottest thing they'd ever seen. Phones came out. Pictures. Videos. Eli wanted to disappear into the carpet.
"Why him, Jay?" Melissa shouted, teasing.
Jay didn't even flinch. "Because he's the only one who won't flirt back."
The circle roared with laughter.
Eli's jaw clenched.
Jay felt it.
And smiled wider.
The timer beeped at one minute exactly. Jay stood up like nothing happened and returned to his spot across from him, but now his eyes kept flicking back to Eli like he couldn't look away.
The bottle spun again.
And fate, messy as always, decided to misbehave.
It landed on Eli.
Jay leaned forward instantly. "Truth or dare?"
His voice.
That tone.
Eli felt heat crawl up his neck.
"Truth," Eli muttered.
Jay's grin turned slow. Dangerous. "Alright. Tell the truth…"
The room quieted. Everyone leaned in.
Jay tilted his head slightly.
Eyes locked on Eli.
Voice soft. Almost intimate.
"Why can't you look at me for more than three seconds?"
The circle gasped.
Eli's heart slammed against his ribs. His fingers dug into the carpet. He wanted to stand up, walk away, throw the bottle out the window — anything but sit there under Jay's gaze.
"I look at you just fine," Eli said.
Jay smiled. "Liar."
Eli clenched his teeth. "You done?"
"No," Jay said softly. "Answer."
The tension in the room thickened, sweet and sharp at the same time. Everyone held their breath, eyes bouncing between them like a tennis match.
Eli tried to glare, but Jay's gaze didn't budge.
It stayed on him.
Warm.
Searching.
Annoyingly gentle.
"I don't look at you," Eli said quietly, "because you look back."
Jay's breath caught.
Just slightly.
But Eli saw it.
The circle erupted — screams, cheers, "WHATTT?!", Mari throwing a pillow, Melissa hitting Jay's shoulder.
Jay didn't laugh this time.
He just stared at Eli.
Wide-eyed.
Thrown off.
Intrigued.
A little breathless.
The bottle lay abandoned between them.
No one cared about the game anymore.
Jay licked his lips, still staring. "Eli…"
Eli forced himself to look away, even though his heart was racing like it wanted to escape his chest.
"Spin the bottle," Eli muttered.
But Jay didn't touch the bottle.
He touched Eli's knee.
Just lightly.
Just enough to shock him.
Just enough to make everyone go silent.
"We're not done," Jay said softly.
And for the first time that night, Eli realized the game wasn't the dangerous thing.
Jay was.
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