A Heart's Disguise

Chapter 2

The next day, the atmosphere in the Cameron household was electric with anticipation. Sarah had invited the Pogues over for a casual hangout, and Olivia's heart raced at the thought of seeing John B again. She was still reeling from their stolen kiss, and the idea of facing him in a group setting made her stomach churn with anxiety.

"Olivia! Can you help me set things up?" Sarah called from the living room, her excitement palpable.

"Yeah, I'll be right there!" Olivia replied, forcing herself to sound cheerful as she headed to the kitchen. She busied herself preparing snacks, trying to distract her mind from the whirlwind of emotions brewing inside her. The kitchen smelled of freshly baked cookies, and Olivia focused on the rhythmic sounds of chopping vegetables and mixing dips, hoping the culinary routine would calm her nerves.

As she worked, she heard the front door swing open and the cheerful chatter of her sister and the Pogues filled the air. Olivia felt her heart race again, but this time with an urge to hide. She didn't want to face John B, not when all her feelings were so raw and complicated.

"Olivia!" Sarah shouted, her voice bright with enthusiasm. "Come on out! Everyone's here!"

"Just a minute!" Olivia called back, quickly wiping her hands on a towel and taking a deep breath to steady herself. She lingered in the kitchen, peering through the doorway to catch a glimpse of the familiar faces.

JJ bounded into the room first, his playful energy lighting up the space. "I hope you have enough snacks for us, Olivia! We're hungry!" he joked, causing laughter to ripple through the group.

Pope and Kiara followed closely behind, both teasing JJ about his bottomless appetite. The laughter eased some of Olivia's tension, but her gaze instinctively searched for John B. He appeared a moment later, his casual confidence radiating as he joined the banter.

"Are you guys talking about food again?" John B smirked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. The sight of him sent butterflies fluttering in Olivia's stomach, and she felt a rush of warmth wash over her. She tried not to make eye contact even when her heart was pounding out of her chest.

She wanted to step out and join them, but the fear of what might happen held her back. Instead, she lingered in the shadows, listening to the banter as the group settled into the living room, taking their places on the couch and floor.

"Sarah, you're not getting out of this movie night without showing us your secret stash of snacks!" Kiara chimed in, giggling.

Sarah laughed and pointed toward the kitchen. "Olivia's got it all covered! She's the snack queen today."

"Snack queen? Nice title!" JJ called out, glancing in her direction. "Hey, Olivia, bring us some goodies!"

Feeling the spotlight shift towards her, Olivia hesitated before stepping into the living room. She plastered on a smile, trying to appear more confident than she felt. "Coming right up!" she said, her voice slightly shaky as she grabbed a tray of cookies and a bowl of chips.

As she walked into the room, her heart raced again when she locked eyes with John B. He was looking at her with an intensity that made her cheeks flush.

"Wow, Olivia, you've outdone yourself!" JJ exclaimed, grabbing a cookie and popping it into his mouth. "These look amazing!"

"Thanks," she replied, her eyes darting to John B, who smiled softly at her, a hint of warmth in his gaze. It was a simple gesture, yet it sent a thrill through her.

"Sit with us!" Sarah encouraged, patting the couch beside her.

Taking a deep breath, Olivia joined them, settling on the edge of the couch while everyone settled in around her. The movie began, but Olivia's attention was only half on the screen; the other half was acutely aware of John B's presence beside her.

As the film played on, Olivia couldn't shake the feeling of his arm brushing against hers, sending jolts of electricity through her. They exchanged occasional glances, each one loaded with unspoken words and memories from the night before. She was smiling to herself when he would lean in close and their lips barely touched.

Throughout the evening, laughter echoed in the room, and Olivia tried to lose herself in the joy of the moment. Still, a part of her remained on high alert, waiting for a moment when they might be alone, a chance to explore the undeniable connection that had sparked between them.When the credits rolled, and the laughter began to die down, Sarah suggested a game. "How about we play Truth or Dare?" she proposed a glint of mischief in her eyes.

"Oh, this is going to get interesting," JJ said, grinning. "Olivia, you start!"

Olivia felt her cheeks flush as she stammered, "Um, okay. I'll pick... dare."

"Dare? Ooh, let's see..." JJ rubbed his hands together, clearly enjoying the moment. "I dare you to... kiss John B!"

The room erupted in laughter, but Olivia felt the blood rush to her face, her heart pounding in her ears. She glanced at John B, who was wearing a sheepish smile but also looked intrigued by the dare.

Before she could even process it, Sarah jumped in. "No, no! That's too much! How about you kiss the person on your left instead?"

Relief washed over Olivia as she realized she could avoid the dare. She turned to kiss Kiara on the cheek, laughter erupting again. But a part of her couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. The dare had been outrageous, but it also revealed how close she was to John B, how close she wanted to be.

As the game continued, Olivia felt the tension simmering beneath the surface. She tried her best to act carefree, but the lingering thrill of that kiss from the night before weighed heavily on her mind.

With every laugh, and every glance at John B, Olivia found herself torn between the excitement of the moment and the deep-seated fear of what her feelings could mean. And as the evening wore on, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much more complicated than she ever imagined.