Back in the Saddle

I Kissed a Boy and I Liked It

Karl's POV:

Alex has the five of us along with four other people circled up in his living room. In the center, he sets down a singular glass bottle that fills my mind with a sense of deja vu. Suddenly, I'm back to the first moment I ever met Alex, which was somehow four weeks ago. That kiss is fresh in my mind, but for no more of a reason other than it confused me on what I want.

"I'm sure all of you know how spin the bottle works, but in case you don't, you spin the bottle and kiss who it lands on. I vote that Simone kicks us off."

"Oh, you're a jerk," the girl who I assume is Simone says, though she leans forward to spin the bottle all the same. It goes around a few times before coming to a stop on a Latina girl. "You heard the bottle, Lilliana. Looks like now we gotta kiss."

"If I have to," Lilliana says with a smile before leaning forward to kiss the other girl.

It doesn't last very long and soon Lilliana is moving on to her turn, as if the quick kiss meant absolutely nothing. I wish I had that type of mindset, but sadly I don't, and whoever I end up kissing will be avoided for the duration of the party. Based on that conclusion as well as many other variables, I hope it's not any of my friends.

Lilliana lands on George, of course, much to his chagrin. It lasts pretty much the same amount of time as the first one, yet George seems much less nonchalant about it than the other two did. He spins the bottle with a red face full of embarrassment, ignoring the teasing and laughter of our friends. The bottle barely goes around once before slowing on, you'll never guess who... me.

"Oh, come one. Alex, I'm not doing this! He's my cousin!" George exclaims. On either side of us, Nick and Clay start absolutely dying of laughter while I try to shrink back into myself. 

"Fine, fine, you don't have to kiss Karl. But, I get to choose who else you kiss."

"Fine, but make it quick," George grumbles. Pretty much the whole circle is drowning in laughter at this point, though half of them have no idea who we are.

"Clay." He didn't take any time deciding that. "I want you to kiss Clay."

Clay's smirk lights up the room and George's face grows an even brighter red. Nick covers his mouth and I hold my breath, wondering if this will be the moment that they finally reveal to everyone that they're dating. I mean, it would be the perfect opportunity to do so. Almost as if it was planned this way...

They kiss and... let's just say there was nothing quick about it. By the time they pull away, the whole circle has grown silent. Alex and Nick's jaws are dropped to the floor; I'm shrieking on the inside.

"I suppose now would be a good time to say that George and I are dating," Clay whispers.

"WHAT?!" Alex and Nick shout at the same time. "When were you gonna tell us this?"

"At this party, actually," Clay laughs.

"I don't even know what to say. You guys are giving us the whole story later," Nick says firmly. "But stop holding up the game: Clay, spin."

Clay spins and it lands on yours truly. I sigh, knowing there's no getting out of this one. We both lean forward and I close my eyes, preparing for contact, and our lips peck together. As soon as we touch, I'm sitting back and wiping my mouth ferociously on my arm. Had it been anyone else kissing like that, Alex would've said something, but because it's me, he lets me off without saying anything.

"Wow, Karl. I didn't know you were that repulsed by me," Clay jokes.

"I'm surprised you didn't," Nick answers for me. "Has George not told you that I'm a much better kisser than you?"