Be My Escape

Sleepover

August 2004

Our friend group had mostly recovered from The Great Alex and Lisa Breakup of Summer 2004. Lisa and Alex were friendly again and Lisa and I started going to band practices again shortly after that fateful party. Kara had never stopped. She'd said she was hurting for Lis, but couldn't help but keep supporting Rian. I didn't blame her, Rian was so good to her. It wasn't Rian's fault Alex turned out to be such a shit.

But tonight, we were having a girls' sleepover at Lisa's house.

"I'm bored," Lisa complained, flopping onto her stomach.

"It's your house," I said.

"I know," she said with a sigh.

"Hey, we should play truth or dare!" Kara said.

Lisa's eyes lit up. "Yeah!"

"I'll go first," Kara said. "Lisa, truth or dare."

"Truth," Lisa said.

"Was Alex really your first time?" Kara asked.

"Yes!" Lisa said, blushing scarlet red.

"Okay, just checking!" Kara laughed, putting her hands up in surrender.

"Kaelyn, truth or dare," Lisa said.

"Dare," I said.

"I dare you to prank call somebody," Kara said.

"Okay," I said. I picked up Lisa's cordless phone from her desk and dialed the first number that came to mind: Alex's. I put it on speaker as it rang. Lisa and Kara giggled next to me and I put my finger to my lips to shush them.

"Hello?" Alex asked, his voice rough as if he'd been sleeping. Huh, there must not be any parties tonight.

"'Ello, is this Alexander William Gaskarth?" I asked in an over-the-top English accent.

He sighed. "Yes, Kaelyn, what do you want?"

"Well, mate, I just wanted to know if you like tea and crumpets?" I asked.

Kara, Lisa, and I dissolved into laughter as Alex groaned loudly. "For fuck's sake, you guys, couldn't you have pranked Jack? I was sleeping."

"Nah, you're more fun. Plus, if Jack were here, he'd be in on the prank," I said.

He sighed. "Yeah, true. Can I go back to sleep now?"

"Sure, Gasbarf," I said.

"G'night ladies," he said, yawning.

We all said goodnight and hung up the phone.

"Alright, Kara. Truth or dare," I said.

"Truth," she said.

"Do you think you and Rian will get married?" I asked.

She blushed, but nodded and we all squealed. Hey, we were girls! What do you expect? "Alright, I'll go again. Lisa, truth or dare," Kara said.

"I'll take a dare this time," Lisa said.

"I dare you to eat four tablespoons of ketchup," Kara said.

Lisa did so, with only a small amount of gagging. "Alright, Kaelyn. Truth or dare."

"Truth," I said.

"Who was your first kiss?" Lisa asked.

"Ooh, I wanna hear this too!" Kara said.

My stomach dropped as their eyes fell on me, expectant. But I couldn't think of a quick lie, so I blurted it out. "Alex."

"Alex as in Gaskarth?" Kara asked, arching her eyebrows.

I stared down at my lap. I couldn't look at Lisa's face when this came out. "Yes."

To my surprise, they both squealed. I chanced a glance at Lisa and she didn't look upset, just intrigued.

"Well, tell us how it happened!" Kara said.

I exhaled sharply. "Well, it was the weekend before I started high school and we were camping out in his backyard and playing truth or dare. He dared me to kiss him," I said.

"Was it good?" Kara asked.

"Of course it was good, it's Alex!" Lisa scoffed.

"Well, I've never kissed him so I wouldn't know," Kara said stiffly.

"It was pretty special. I mean, I don't have anything to compare it to 'cause he was first and I haven't kissed anyone since, but he kinda...showed me what to do," I said. "Sorry if that makes you feel bad, Lis."

She shook her head. "No, it's okay. It's just weird that I didn't know. I mean, Alex never told me."

"Why would he? I'm sure it was just a blip on his radar," I said.

"Oh come on, I'm sure it meant something. He loves you, maybe not in that way, but he freaking adores you," Kara said.

"Yeah. If you were anyone else, I'd have been so jealous of you, but it was kinda nice that we were friends before and we could still be friends after," Lisa said.

"Thanks, guys," I said.

Next, Kara had to eat a spoonful of sriracha sauce and Lisa confessed to peeing her pants one time at cheer practice. Then it was my turn again.

"Alright, Kaelyn. Truth or dare," Kara said.

"Truth," I said.

"Who was your first crush?" Kara asked.

Once again, I didn't have it in me to lie. "Alex."

This time, only Kara squealed. Lisa looked pale. "What?" She asked, her voice small.

"I--I don't like him anymore, I swear. I just--I don't know. When he switched schools when I was in seventh grade, something changed. But I always figured he didn't like me back, so when I realized how perfect you guys were for each other, I set you two up. I didn't know he'd be such an ass to you, despite his reputation. I'm so, so sorry, Lis," I said.

She sighed. "And you're sure nothing else ever happened?"

"Positive. I would've told you if it had. But I just--I felt so silly crushing on him. I mean, he's my best friend and he's Alex Gaskarth, he's the one night stand king," I said.

"I get it," Lisa said.

She gave me a hug and we went back to the game. I felt so thankful to have friends like Lisa and Kara. It was cliche, but we looked out for each other, no matter what.