Rules we don't break

Game of dares

By the time I walked into Joshua's house that night, I wasn't prepared for what awaited.

The living room was packed with people, music pounding, laughter echoing off the walls. Drinks were scattered on every table, and the smell of soda mixed with spilled wine lingered in the air. Emma immediately grabbed my hand and dragged me into the chaos.

"Maddie! Truth or Dare! You're not sitting this one out," she shouted over the music, her blonde hair bouncing as she laughed.

"I don't know, Emma..." I started, but she shook her head firmly.

"No excuses. It's going to be fun!"

I rolled my eyes but followed her to the circle forming in the middle of the room. People were laughing, shouting dares, and teasing each other mercilessly. I spotted Joshua leaning against the wall, drink in hand — secretly sipping something he wasn't supposed to. His eyes flicked toward me, sharp and calculating, and I immediately felt a jolt of tension.

⸻

The first rounds were light: silly dares, funny confessions, playful teasing. Then it landed on Maddie.

"Truth or Dare, Maddie?" a boy named Ryan asked with a devilish grin.

"Dare," I said, bracing myself.

Ryan leaned in. "I dare you... to kiss Luke."

My stomach dropped. I glanced at Luke, who was smirking confidently. And then I felt it — Joshua's gaze piercing my back, dark and intense. I walked over, kissed Luke quickly to satisfy the dare, then stepped back, trying to hide the sting of jealousy I saw in Joshua's jaw.

Emma cheered, high-fiving me. "Maddie! That was perfect!"

⸻

The dares kept coming:
• Jack had to kiss Emma, and they leaned into a playful, teasing smooch that made everyone laugh.
• Maddie had to let someone tie a scarf around her eyes and guess who kissed her cheek. It was Joshua, and I could feel the warmth of his lips brush my skin.
• I had to dance with Luke, holding his hands while the group teased us.
• At one point, I had to whisper something flirty to Joshua. My stomach flipped as I leaned in. His dark eyes glinted, jaw tight, and for a split second, he looked dangerously close, his hand brushing mine as he let the moment linger.

Joshua sipped his hidden drink while everyone else laughed and teased, keeping his emotions tightly controlled. I could feel the pull between us growing, sharp and dangerous, every glance filled with tension.

⸻

As the night went on, a few others went into seven minutes in heaven:
• Ryan and Emma, giggling and whispering in the small closet.
• Jack and one of the other girls, pretending to be scandalous but mostly laughing.

Finally, someone shouted, "Seven minutes in heaven! Maddie and Joshua, you're up!"

My heart skipped. I looked at Joshua, whose eyes darkened and a slow smirk appeared. I followed him into the tiny, dimly lit closet, my stomach twisting in anticipation.

Inside, it was close, the space barely enough for us to stand. Joshua's hand rested against the wall beside me, and the other lightly held my arm, pulling me dangerously close. I could feel the heat from his body, the tension in every movement.

"Don't think I'm going easy on you," he murmured, eyes locked on mine.

I swallowed hard. "We're just... best friends."

He smirked, brushing his lips ever so slightly against mine in a quick, deliberate kiss — enough to make it look casual if anyone peeked through the door, but not enough for me to forget the tension of the moment.

Joshua's gaze lingered on me, intense and unreadable. His hands gently held me in place for a few heartbeats before he stepped back, letting me breathe but not entirely releasing the closeness.

⸻

When the buzzer rang, we stepped out together. People were laughing and cheering, oblivious to the sharp undercurrent of tension between us. Emma grabbed me, squealing. "Maddie! That was insane!"

I laughed nervously, trying to calm my racing heart while Joshua casually took another sip of his hidden drink, smirking like nothing had happened. But I could tell he hadn't let go of me entirely — and neither had I.