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Chapter 10: The Challenge

Listen to "Safe Inside" by James Arthur for this chapter.

Also, a picture of Toddy Smithy as Reece Jackson.

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We reached Jared's place and walked straight into the living room to see Kyle smoking on a joint, Reece sprawled on the couch, Gina lying on the ground with Heath's head resting on her stomach. Twenty One Pilots' "Heathens" played in the background. On seeing us, they gave us an enthusiastic welcome.

Jared who had come out of the kitchen and had started placing beer bottles and packets of snacks on the table, came and kissed Natalie on the lips, hugged me and introduced Vincent.

It took the others only fifteen minutes to include him into the group like he was their long lost friend. After some bottles of beer were down, Kyle suggested a round of spin the bottle.

Once again, in order to choose the participants of the "something"-eth hunger games, Jared stood up on one of the couches and started scanning us. His eyes went from Reece to Heath to Gina to Natalie to Me.

That was it. This time I was not so lucky.

"Reece versus Ashley" he announced

Everyone cheered in agreement.

I was too awestruck to even say a word. Me, Ashley Knight versus Reece Jackson. Yeah right.

Vincent who sat next to Kyle, cheered with the rest of them. Asshole. Apparently, he didn't know to what extent these challenges could go. I just hoped that my challenge was as easy as Reece and Kyle's, like the last time we played spin the bottle.

"Why do you always find me to do these?" Reece complained. The others laughed

"Why me??!" I thought.

"Okay! Let's do this!" Was what I said aloud.

What the fuck.

Jared smirked, the others cheered, and in no time the "Spin! Spin! Spin!" Chanting started. Natalie, who sat next to Jared, chanted with the rest of the others.

"If the bottle faces Reece, I treat everyone to chipotle. But if it faces Ashley, both of you have to make out" Jared concludes.

I swear I hated Jared so much that very point of time!

Make out! Me? and Reece?? What is this? The bachelorette??

The guy was like a brother to me for God's sake!

Reece smirked,"I'm ready" he said. And out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Vincent stiffen, his face pulled into a frown. His eyes widened in what I could not decipher.

This challenge was going to get super cringy.

Reece sat down opposite to me on the ground. Kyle placed the bottle between us and spun it. I closed my eyes, wishing that this time I would get saved. The others cheered. After a few seconds (which, obviously, felt like minutes) the cheering stopped and I opened my eyes.

The bottle faced me. I had to make out with Reece.

Not cool Jared. NOT COOL!

Reece walked up to me and sat on the couch. I looked at Natalie, who had sensed my awkwardness and was giving me an apologetic look. I signalled Jared that he was dead after this, and he stuck his tongue out. That fucker!

Not that I hate Jared. He's a super nice guy. But at times, he can easily become the definition of "asshole" for the Oxford English Dictionary.

Asshole: Jared Saunders

The other guys cheered on, except Vincent. He seemed exceptionally silent. I looked at him once, and I immediately regretted my decision. His blue eyes bore into me. If his eyes were a drilling machine, I would've been drilled down a thousand times already.

Then I saw Reece. He smiled at me and said,"just do it for the sake of a challenge". Then he held the side of my face, and placed his lips on mine. We kissed for only a second and then we pulled back.

The challenge was done.

The others cheered once again and I couldn't face to look at Vincent again. Though I knew that he was still 'drilling' into me. Jared clasped a hand on his back and grinned at me and Reece,"So how did it feel?"

"Felt like I'm kissing my sister" Reece scoffed.

"Exactly" I agreed.

To that, I saw Vincent's glare soften a bit. The clench he had in his jaw, settled down.

Just then Vincent's phone started ringing.

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Last update before I leave for my vacations :)

I don't know if I'll be able to update during these 10 days. Chances are negative.

Thanks for everything.

Peace.