The new girl in town.

Chapter 6 - It was time.

With Beth's announcement, the game of truth or dare began, and the room erupted with excitement. The sounds of laughter and chatter echoed off the walls as everyone eagerly anticipated their turn. The atmosphere was charged with electricity, fueled by the alcohol flowing freely around the room.

Jordan Nobbs was picked for the first round and was dared to take a shot of tequila. She didn't hesitate for a second before downing the fiery liquid, eliciting cheers from the group. Next up was Lucy, and she reluctantly picked truth, dreading the possibility of having to reveal a secret she wasn't ready to share.

But instead of a dreaded confession, Lucy was asked to go around the room and say things about each player. She went around, giving her fellow teammates wonderful compliments mixed with a small amount of banter that had the group in stitches. As she cast her gaze towards Leah, who was sitting across the room sipping her drink, Lucy's heart raced. The room was silent as she mustered up the courage to speak.

"Leah, you're one of the strongest, smartest people I've ever met," Lucy said, her voice barely above a whisper. Everyone in the room turned to look at Leah, who was clearly caught off guard. Her face flushed with a mix of surprise and pleasure.

Leah thanked Lucy, but Lucy could see the confusion in her eyes. She knew she had just complicated things even more, especially with Jessie in the room. A wave of guilt washed over her, and she couldn't help but think the alcohol had got to her even more than she thought.

As the game continued, becoming more raucous with each passing minute, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley announced the next dare: for Jessie to kiss Lucy. Lucy froze as all eyes were on the two of them. She kept telling herself it was just a game, but as Jessie leaned in close to her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation.

As their lips touched, the door to the room suddenly slammed open, and Leah walked out, her face contorted with anger and hurt. The noise from the party was instantly muted.

Lucy felt her heart sink as she realised she was the cause of Leah's distress. She couldn't help but feel anxious, and a horrible feeling had settled in her chest. The Silence was short lived as the room erupted with laughter, Lucy felt a pang of guilt in her chest. Jessie playfully leaned over and whispered to her, "Don't worry about Leah. She always gets a bit jealous of me." If only she knew, thought Lucy.

Lucy could feel the weight of her actions from earlier that night crushing down on her. She tried to push the feelings aside and took a big gulp of her drink, but the liquid felt like fire in her throat. Unable to bear the guilt any longer, she stumbled to her feet, muttering a quick excuse about needing to get some fresh air. The room seemed to spin around her as she made her way out of the apartment, her mind consumed by thoughts of Leah, Jake, and the tangled web she had found herself in. She needed time to think, to figure out what she really wanted and how she was going to handle the consequences of her actions.

It was the early hours of the morning, and Lucy could feel the alcohol coursing through her veins. The liquid courage made her feel bold and daring. With a mixture of hesitance and excitement, she pulled out her phone and typed out a message to Jake. The response was almost instantaneous, and to her surprise, Jake was still up and eager to see her. Without a second thought, Lucy hastily made her way outside, where Jake was already waiting in his car.

The air outside was chilly and the sky was still shrouded in darkness. Lucy shivered as she slid into the passenger seat, and Jake quickly turned up the heat. As they drove down the deserted streets, Lucy's nerves began to build. She had never been in this situation before, and the thought of confessing her feelings to Jake was terrifying. The silence between them was almost deafening, and Lucy fidgeted nervously with her hands.