Been You

Chapter 33: Truth or Dare with Me

ELYSANDRA'S POV:

"Truth or Dare... Justin," I slur. This vodka is really starting to hit me. He's still staring at me. I'm not sure why, but I have a notion that it's probably lust.

"Truth, babe," he says easily, taking a sip of his drink. I grab for mine too, but Justin is faster, holding my cup out of reach. "You've had enough," he  decides. I pout at this. It's not fair.

"Tell the truth... how many cheerleaders did you sleep with in high school?" I ask, jokingly at first but now genuinely curious. Justin was a popular athlete in high school. He could've had anyone he wanted. I was not so much. I only had one boyfriend, one sexual partner, hell, one kiss before Justin. I always knew he and I had different experience levels. But now I want to know just how different. He rolls his eye, uncomfortable with the question. Damn, it's bad.

"Ely, don't do this. Pick something else," Justin says, shaking his head. The rest of the group have their eyes wide, ironically eating popcorn.

"No, Justin, I wanna know. Tell me. I can't be mad, we weren't even dating," I insist. I don't know why I'm pressing the issue so hard, but I need to know. He still doesn't say anything. "Justin, I don't see why you can't just answer the -"

"All of them, alright?!" Justin yells. My jaw drops. I know I said I can't be mad, but that really did sting. I shut my mouth in a thin line, blinking back tears. Ouch. There's nothing more that I want than to go back to my dorm and cry in my own bed. But I don't. I stay, holding it in. It's dead silent now. I can feel the whole room staring at me, but I avoid the eyes, focusing too intently on eating my popcorn. Justin reaches over to rub my shoulder but I shrug him off.

"It's your turn," I say flatly, desperate for the staring to end. He deliberates on that for a moment before continuing the game.

"Ryan, truth or dare?" Justin asks, emotionlessly.

"After that last one? I think I'm gonna go with dare," Ryan jokes. No one laughs but him.

"I dare you to... I don't know, pants yourself," Justin dares, obviously eager to complete his turn. Ryan initially tries to get out of it, but the group holds him to it. When he finally removes his pants for what seems like a half second, we finally have an answer to our question: Ryan definitely has the smallest penis. The whole room erupts in laughter. I just smirk, amused but still hurt. Everyone seems so happy and cheerful, playing around. I can't do this.

I get up to walk into the kitchen, muttering, "I need another drink," before going. Justin follows me in. No surprise.

"El, talk to me," he pleads, when I don't acknowledge his presence. I still don't say anything as I fill a new cup halfway with vodka. He grabs my hand, stopping me when my cup is a quarter full. "What did you want me to do? Lie?" He asks, genuinely wanting to know.

"No," I answer honestly. I take a deep breath. "I just... I thought I was special, you know? Like I knew about your reputation in high school, but I always saw you as my best friend, so I never believed it to actually be that true. But now that I know that it is... I just feel like another girl for you to f-" I ramble before he cuts me off, grabbing both of my hands now, looking me deeply in my eyes.

"You are special, Ely, can't you see? All throughout high school, I was lost. I knew I was missing something but I just didn't know what. So I was desperate to try any and everything to fill that void. Didn't you ever find it strange how those rumors started going around once you started dating... Tyler. When you weren't around, it felt like I was missing a part of me. I tried everything I could to make that feeling go away, not knowing that all I needed was you all along. You're the most special thing in my life, El. It hurts to hear that you think anything else but that," Justin explains, squeezing my hands. Wow. I never thought about it that way. I peck him on the cheek.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry for prying, for pressuring you, for getting upset about your history... I was wrong. I'm sorry. I don't have to tell you how special you are to me, Justin. You're my world," I gush. We walk back into the living room hand in hand. I'm swooning at my adorable boyfriend when I remember. "Dammit, my vodka!" I jump up to go get it, but Justin reaches up to grab me by my waist, pulling me back down. It's very easy for him because jumping up so fast with alcohol in my system made me woozy.

"Not so fast, baby girl," he teases, kissing me on the cheek.

"Love you," I croon, suddenly exhausted. He kisses me on the forehead as my eyelids meet.