𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄| 𝐉.𝐁.

15: Shot game

"W-what? This is a joke, right?" I say to him.

"No, Lex. It isn't. Why would I lie about something like this?" He huffs.

"Maybe to keep Shawn and I apart." I shrug and he scoffs at me.

"You know what, just forget I even said anything." He chuckles to himself and reaches for the closet door.

"Four minutes left!" I hear Ethan yell and Josh pulls his hand back, groaning.

"What are we supposed to do, stand here for the last four minutes?" I sigh.

"Guess so." He shrugs and I roll my eyes.

"Look Josh, I have a lot to think about and I don't really know why you said it knowing you're with Kacey so, I can't really give you an answer." I shrug.

"C'mon Lex, don't be like that." He says, stepping closer to me.

"Don't be like what? Josh, you came here with Kacey and didn't even text me when you were here."

"I'm sorry, okay?! I lost track of time and my mom was upset when she came home." He sighs.

"Are we seriously having this conversation in a closet at a party?" I say.

"Yes." He blurts out, chuckling to himself.

"And I'd like to continue this conversation after tonight. Just you and I." He adds and I look up at him.

"Only if you want to." He immediately says.

"There's nothing else to talk about. You're with Kacey and Shawn and I have something going on."

"You and Shawn, seriously? All you've guys done was smile at each other like idiots and were dared to kiss."

"How do you know we didn't do anything else? You came late." I spit and he glares at me.

"Look, all I'm saying is, I don't trust him." He sighs.

"Okay, that's your opinion. But I'm your friend, you should want me to be happy no matter what. I don't like Kacey but if she makes you happy, I'm happy. You should want that for me too." I frown at him.

He looks at me with pain in his eyes and my heart begins to sink.

"Time's up!" Taylor shouts and I roll my eyes, putting my hand on the closet door.

"Alexis-" He starts but I cut him off.

"Josh, no. Not now, now ever." I say through gritted teeth as I open the door and sit back in circle, giving everyone a grin.

"How was it you two?" Taylor slurs.

"Fine." I say, sitting next to Shawn.

"It was nothing." Josh shrugs, putting his arms over his knees as he pulls them to his chest.

I see Kacey intertwine her hand with Josh's and he rubs her knuckles with the pads of his thumbs.

He shoots her a grin and then looks back at me, his grin dropping.

I feel a hand slip into mine and I turn my head.

Shawn smirks at me and I crack a grin at him, pushing some hair behind my ear.

I turn my head and see Josh still staring at me, but with his jaw clenching.

I give him a stop it look and I turn back to Shawn, grinning at him.

"Alright, I need to get fucked up. And fuck this game." Ethan chuckles and gets up, leaving our circle.

"Lex, are you sure you don't want any? You don't have to be goody two shoes here." Ethan offers and I chuckle.

"How do you know this isn't vodka?" I say to him, holding up the water bottle and I wink at Taylor.

Ethan squints his eyes at me as I open the lid, chugging it.

"And how do you know I didn't spit in that water?" He says and I choke on it.

"I'm kidding!" Ethan says and I laugh, shaking my head.

"Good, I was about to pour this whole damn thing on you." I joke.

"Sure, sis. And I just wanted you to confess to your horrible lie." He scoffs.

"Fine, I'll have one shot." I groan, getting up from the circle.

"Really?" Everyone else says, except Josh who is staying weirdly quiet.

"I said I would, didn't I?" I smirk and Shawn raises his eyebrows at me.

"Damn." I hear Shawn mutter and I see Josh immediately glaring at me.

"Are you guys joining us or what?" Ethan says.

Everyone nods as I link my arm with Ethan's as we walk to the kitchen.

"Okay, here you go." He says, pouring the alcohol in the shot glass.

I take it from him and I look at everyone.

But Josh gives me a don't do it Lex, this isn't you look, but I ignore it.

I give him a hard stare and swallow it, ignoring the burning sensation in my throat.

"Well?" Everyone says.

"Not as bad as I though it would be." I say and Ethan raises his eyebrows.

"Seriously? Usually first time drinkers almost throw up from their first shot." Ethan says, impressed.

"Guess it didn't affect me." I shrug.

"Well it's proven that the body could be immune to alcohol or maybe just stress levels that cause the body's reaction levels to numb." Taylor simply says.

"Well whatever my body is doing, I like it." I say, ignoring Josh's stare as I grab the bottle of Vodka from Ethan's hand.

"Yes girl, now we're getting the party started!" Ethan says, clapping his hands.

I chuckle as I remove the bottle from my mouth, grinning at Ethan.

"I call a shot challenge!" Kacey says as she notices Josh's lingering stare on me.

"With who?" Josh says to her with a shocked expression.

"Alexis." She says with a clear fake smile.

"I don't think this is a good idea-" Josh says but she cuts him off.

"Don't speak for her babe. She's not scared, right Alexis?" She says through gritted teeth.

Well, I gotta do what I gotta do.

"Not one bit. Bring it." I say, getting in her face.

"Oh, this is gonna be good." Ethan says, high fiving Taylor but she gives me a worried expression.

"Let's do this!" Ethan exclaims and we follow him to the living room.

What the fuck did I just get myself into?