Chapter 75 Truth or dare
Chapter 75: Truth or Dare (Liam’s POV)
The bonfire was tall enough to reach the trees. The heat was intense, but it didn't stop the crowd from huddling around it. Someone had brought a massive speaker, and the bass was so loud I could feel it in my teeth. This was usually my element. I was usually the one standing on the hood of a truck, calling the shots. Tonight, I was just a guy in a hoodie, standing on the edge of the circle, watching Julian and Elena.
"Stop staring, Liam. It’s making you look desperate," Jax said, stumbling over to me with a red cup in his hand. He looked already halfway drunk. "Come on. We’re starting a game. It’s been too quiet."
"I'm not in the mood, Jax," I said.
"Too bad. Chloe wants to play, and what Chloe wants, she gets." Jax turned to the crowd and whistled through his teeth. "Listen up! Everyone in a circle! We’re playing Truth or Dare. Old school rules!"
The music died down a bit as people started sitting on logs and tailgates. I tried to walk away, but Maya caught my arm. She was wearing a look I couldn't quite read—half excitement, half something else.
"Don't be a buzzkill, Liam," she whispered, pulling me toward the circle. "Besides, Julian and Elena are playing. Don't you want to see what they have to say?"
I looked over. Julian was sitting on a low log, and he had pulled Elena down next to him. He had his arm around her shoulders like she was a trophy. Elena looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. Her cane was leaned against the log, and she was staring at the fire.
I sat down across from them. Maya sat right next to me, her leg pressing against mine.
The game started off stupid. Someone dared a freshman to jump into the dark water at the bottom of the pit. Someone else had to admit they had a crush on a teacher. Then, the bottle pointed at Chloe.
"Truth or dare, Chloe?" Jax asked, grinning.
"Dare," she said, flipping her hair.
"I dare you to tell everyone the real reason Elena isn't living at the Vance house anymore," Chloe said, her eyes snapping to Elena.
The circle went quiet. Elena’s head snapped up.
"That’s not a dare, that’s a question," I snapped.
"Fine," Chloe smirked. "I dare you to admit, Elena, that you only stayed with Liam because you wanted a free ride. And now that Julian is paying, you’ve moved on to the bigger wallet."
Elena’s face went white. She looked like she was about to cry. Julian didn't defend her. He just sat there, watching her with a weird, expectant look.
"She doesn't have to answer that," I said, standing up.
"Sit down, Liam!" Jax shouted. "It's the game!"
"I’m not a gold digger," Elena said, her voice shaking but loud. "I stayed because... because I thought he was a friend. But I was wrong."
She looked directly at me when she said it. It felt like a knife in the chest.
The bottle spun again. This time, it landed on Maya.
"Truth or dare, Maya?" Chloe asked, a wicked glint in her eye.
Maya didn't even hesitate. "Dare."
"I dare you," Chloe said, looking between Maya and me, "to kiss the guy you’ve been obsessed with since freshman year."
Everyone went "Oooooh." My heart sank. I knew exactly where this was going.
Maya didn't look shy. She turned to me, her eyes dark in the firelight. Before I could say anything, she leaned in. She didn't just give me a peck on the cheek. She grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me right in front of everyone.
The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles. I froze. I didn't kiss her back, but I didn't pull away fast enough either. My eyes stayed open, and I saw Elena.
She was watching us. Her eyes were wide, and I saw her lip tremble before she looked away. She grabbed her cane and tried to stand up, but Julian pulled her back down.
"Where are you going, babe?" Julian asked, his voice smooth and terrifying. "The game isn't over."
"I want to go," Elena whispered.
"Not yet," Julian said. He grabbed the bottle and spun it. It spun fast, the glass reflecting the orange flames, until it slowed down and pointed directly at me.
"Truth or dare, Vance?" Julian asked. The smile on his face didn't reach his eyes.
"Dare," I said, my voice cold. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a "truth."
Julian leaned forward. The firelight made the shadows on his face look like war paint. "I dare you to tell Elena the truth about the night of the hockey game. Tell her why you were really in the locker room when she got hurt. Tell her you didn't just 'find' her."
"I was looking for my gear," I said, my blood turning to ice.
"Lie," Julian said. "That’s not a dare. The dare is to tell the truth. Tell her you were the one who told Jax to 'handle' her so she’d stop distracting you from the game."
"That’s a lie!" I screamed, standing up. "I never told Jax to hurt her!"
"But you told him to make her go away, didn't you?" Julian challenged. He looked at Elena. "See? He’s the reason your mom is in the hospital, Elena. He’s the reason for everything."
Elena looked at me, her eyes filled with a new kind of horror. "Liam... is that true? Did you tell him to make me leave?"
"No! Elena, I told him I was stressed, but I never—"
"You’re a monster, Liam," Maya said, standing up next to me. She put her hand on my shoulder, acting like she was comforting me, but it felt like she was pinning me down. "Just admit it. You're better off with me anyway. We're the same."
Elena stood up, using her cane for support. This time, Julian let her. He stood up with her, looking like the protector.
"I hate you," Elena whispered to me. The fire was roaring behind her, but her voice was the coldest thing I’d ever heard. "I actually thought you were changing. I’m glad Maya kissed you. You deserve each other."
She turned and started limping away toward the car. Julian followed her, but before he left, he looked back at me and winked.
"Thanks for the game, Vance," Julian said.
I stood there, surrounded by people laughing and cheering, while the only person I cared about walked away thinking I was the person who ruined her life.