Chapter 58 HARPER
The last exam paper sat in front of me like any other—full of numbers, theory, and the kind of questions designed to make you question all your life choices—but it barely mattered. Over the past week, the chaos of detentions, burns, and group clean-ups had pulled us together in ways I hadn’t expected. Peter, Tyler, Kane, Jax, Cassie, Billy, Mark, and even David had become more than just classmates or teammates; they were a gang. A messy, loud, unpredictable gang that somehow made the world feel lighter.
It wasn’t just Tyler and me anymore. Megan and Jax seemed to be circling closer, holding hands briefly when they thought no one was looking, though Megan hadn’t confirmed anything. And Cassie and Kane, which had been completely unexpected, seemed to enjoy stealing each other’s attention in subtle ways. Even Billy and David bickered like they were partners in crime, sharing every comment and joke. Somehow, since stepping in to help me with my disciplinary service, we’d all formed this strange orbit around each other, and it felt impossible to imagine the school without the gang at my side.
“Finally!” Peter groaned, tossing his pencil down like it had personally offended him. “Exams over. Let the chaos begin.”
Kane smirked. “You say that like we need an excuse.”
Peter leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head, eyes scanning the group. “Exactly. And since we’ve been working as a team all week, it’s only fair we celebrate as a team.”
Celebration, as it turned out, wasn’t a loud party or a crowded gym. Instead, we ended up at the small clearing behind the school, where Mark had built a modest bonfire. Smoke curled lazily into the night, carrying the scent of pine needles and melted marshmallows. A few classmates had joined, drawn in by the warmth and the smell, but the circle remained tight, intimate, and chaotic in the best way.
Peter perched on a log, that wild grin plastered across his face, already plotting mischief. Kane and Cassie argued over the last marshmallow, Megan and Jax curled together on a blanket, laughing quietly, and Mark hovered just a little too close to me, clearly wanting a word. I barely glanced at him.
“Alright,” Peter announced dramatically, standing on the log. “We’re done roasting marshmallows. It’s time for something far more… entertaining.”
Tyler gave him a wary look. “I don’t even want to know.”
“Oh, you want to know,” Peter said, smirking. “Truth or dare. Everyone gets a turn. And I promise… things get spicy.”
Tyler’s hand brushed mine, small and warm. I squeezed it lightly. I didn't need to speak for him to know I was ready.
Billy grinned. “Fine. I’ll start. Dare me!”
Peter pointed. “Easy. Serenade Cassie with your best love song. Eye contact’s mandatory.”
Billy groaned but went for it anyway, hopping up and belting a completely off-key, over-the-top version of a pop song. Cassie shrieked, smacking him with a marshmallow. Kane hooted, and everyone doubled over laughing.
Next was Megan. Peter’s eyes twinkled. “The baby of the group. I guess your dare’s going to be innocent.”
Megan rolled her eyes. “Just because I’m a grade lower doesn’t make me the baby.”
“I’m pretty sure it does,” Mark muttered, earning a glare.
Peter clapped. “Alright, miss-all-grown-up, pick someone and do the first thing that comes to mind.”
Megan shot up. “Piece of cake.”
Before anyone could react, she straddled Jax and pulled him into a teasing kiss. The crowd erupted, while his face went red.
“Oh, Jax, someone’s ovulating!” Peter sang, covering his face with one hand and pointing at her with the other.
“She’s sixteen, dude!” Mark growled.
“Relax, bro, just playing.” Peter winked at Jax, then laughed as Mark chucked a marshmallow at him.
He turned to Mark next. “Overprotective brother, truth: pick someone and state all the good and bad things you like about them.”
“Harper,” Mark said without hesitation. Tyler smirked at me.
“Look who’s got a crush,” he teased, nudging my knee. My cheeks burned pink.
“She’s smart, kind, funny… perfect,” Mark continued. “Honestly, there’s nothing I can say that is wrong about her.”
Peter whistled. “Someone just went straight to the top of cap’s murder list.”
“Shut up, Peter,” Tyler hissed, then turned to face me. “You might want to talk to Mark—he’s head over heels for you.”
I shrugged. “It’s just a crush. By graduation, he’ll get over it.”
Tyler raised a brow but said nothing more. I focused on Peter, who was readying the next round.
“Next rule: the next person that gets called chooses who goes next,” Peter shouted. “Got it?”
Everyone chorused yes. Peter pointed at Cassie.
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Are you and Kane secretly dating?”
“Who said it’s a secret?” Cassie smirked, sending the crowd wild. She pointed at Tyler.
“Yes!” Peter whooped. “Finally, Cap! Your turn. I dare you—”
“Don’t I get to choose?” Tyler interrupted.
Peter snorted. “Does a bear shit in the woods?”
I pressed my lips tight; Tyler’s eyes narrowed. The others shook their heads, stifling their laughter.
“I don’t think you know what that means, man,” Kane said.
Peter froze, tapped his chin, then shrugged. “Whatever. I meant, Cap, you don’t get to choose.”
“Fine. Hit me.”
Peter’s grin spread slowly. “I dare you… I dare you to kiss Harper.”
My breath caught. I opened my mouth to protest, but the words died in my throat. Tyler, meanwhile, seemed completely unfazed.
“And if I don’t?”
“You owe me fifty bucks,” Peter replied.
“You mean us,” Billy chimed in.
Tyler scratched his jaw, clearly unbothered. “Fine. Whatever. Remind me to send it to you.”
Everyone stared like he’d grown a second head.
“Dude,” Billy exclaimed, “you’d rather pay than kiss Harper? Have you seen those lips?”
My face burned. I wished the ground would open up and swallow me.
Tyler frowned. “They’re just lips. Besides, she’s my best friend. There's something called boundaries, Billy.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. She's your what now?” Peter cut in, feigning outrage.
I blurred out their teasing.
Boundaries.
The word hit me hard.
Every time he’d looked at me, lingered on my lips—it had meant nothing. Or maybe it had, but he didn’t think it mattered. My hands clenched in my lap.
Laughter continued, dares were shouted, and Peter monopolized Tyler’s attention like always. But none of it registered any longer as realization sank in: the feelings I’d begun thinking were mutual, the chemistry I’d counted on—it had all been one-sided all along.