The Girl Next Door

6. Truth or Dare

After practice, the boys dropped me off at my house just long enough for me to throw my gear in my room and change into something more casual. I wasn't planning on sticking around. Geoff's house was the next stop. Another party. It seemed like it was almost every week now, but I didn't mind. It was always loud, chaotic, and the kind of distraction I needed to shake off whatever was going on in my head.

When I pulled up to Geoff's place, the driveway was already filling up with cars. The music was blasting from inside, and I could see people hanging out in the yard. Typical Geoff—throwing a party after every win like it was his thing. It was Monday, sure, but why let that get in the way of having a good time?

I walked into the house, and it didn't take long before the place was buzzing with people. There were groups forming all around, some in the kitchen, others out by the pool, and the usual crowd gathered around the living room where the beer pong table was set up.

I found the guys quickly, and we hung out for a bit, chatting and catching up. But then, as always, the inevitable happened. Melanie Hawkens and her cheerleader squad pulled everyone into a game of Truth or Dare. It wasn't my first time playing, but I knew how these things went. You could never escape the consequences of dares.

I wasn't exactly excited to get involved, but by the time the game started, there was no backing out.

The group was loud, and Melanie was in her usual element—attention on her at all times. She was grinning from ear to ear, holding her red cup, and looking like she was ready to stir up some trouble.

As the game went on, I was barely paying attention to the questions being asked. That's when I noticed something—Astrid, standing off to the side, holding her own red cup in hand. She wasn't really with anyone, just observing, not quite blending into the chaos around her.

But then Melanie caught sight of her and, of course, called her over.

"Come on. You should join," Melanie called out, waving her over with a big smile.

Astrid raised an eyebrow as she walked over, unimpressed by the whole scene. "What are you playing?" she asked, her tone flat, almost like she didn't care.

"Truth or dare," Melanie responded enthusiastically.

Astrid glanced around the circle and then shrugged. "Child's play. I see."

I couldn't help but smile at her response. The way she casually shot down the idea of this silly game... It was a typical Astrid move. And yet, there was something about her detachment that made her stand out.

"This game is different," Melanie said with a mischievous grin, her eyes gleaming like she was in on some big secret.

Astrid raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "How so?"

Melanie's smile only widened. "Join, and you'll find out."

There was a moment of hesitation, and for a second, I thought Astrid might just walk away and keep her distance like she usually did. But instead, she walked into the circle and stood there with her arms crossed, still looking a bit skeptical but not backing down.

I couldn't blame her. Honestly, I wasn't too excited about playing, but when Melanie's involved, things tend to get... interesting.

I watched as Astrid took her spot, and the game continued. I had a feeling things were about to get more complicated—like they always did when Melanie got involved in anything.

As the bottle spun and the dares got bolder, I couldn't help but notice how much Astrid was not reacting to anything around her. While the rest of us were laughing or blushing at the questions, she just stood there, uninterested, as if she was playing her own game, detached from the chaos.

When the bottle stopped spinning and pointed at her, everyone went silent, waiting for her to pick her fate.

Melanie, never one to miss a beat, leaned forward. "Truth... or dare?" she asked, her tone teasing.

Astrid didn't even flinch. "Dare," she replied coolly, a hint of challenge in her voice.

The group murmured in anticipation. Melanie's grin spread even wider, and I could tell she was cooking up something. She loved pushing people to their limits.

"Well, let's see," Melanie said, her eyes flicking around the room as she made up her mind. "I dare you to—"

I didn't hear the rest of it because I was already distracted. It wasn't just the game that had my attention now; it was Astrid. The way she stood there, unbothered by everything, her eyes scanning the room. I could tell she wasn't here to play along with the group. She wasn't even pretending.

And as much as I tried to focus on the game, it was clear—I was already caught up in something I didn't fully understand.