Chapter 7

I bounced my knee as Alice, and I drove around looking for a parking space. The street was packed with cars already, and we were early. I was nervous as hell. Parties surely aren't my thing, but Alice had wanted me to come with her to be her wingman. Thankfully Chani said she would go if I did, so I would have someone to hang out with when Alice inevitably ditched me for some quarterback.

"Finally." Alice pulled into a parking spot and turned the car off before facing me. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I nodded slowly, watching as she got out of the car before following suit.

Alice grabbed the liquor out of the backseat before we started walking towards the party. I couldn't help as my eyes lingered on her. She looked amazing. Her slightly tanned skin glittered in the street lights, encased in her tight latex dress. She always looked good, but tonight she looked like a fucking treat. I just knew the treat was for someone else.

We got into the party without trouble. The house was large and nice, nicer than any house I had been in before, though Alice's house was the nicest one I had been in and though she was rich, living out in the middle of nowhere meant they had a ranch instead of a mansion like this.

It didn't take long for Alice to start socializing. I slipped away to grab us some beers but returned to find her nowhere to be seen. She had ditched me barely ten minutes into the party, not even texting me. I sighed and took a seat on one of the couches. I imagined this house was someone's parent's but had no idea who had posted the party. I only even knew of the party because of Alice and all of her dubious contacts.

I watched the room, watched people laugh, talk, dance. I felt out of place, more than usual. I didn't fit in and never really did. I always felt like Alice had taken pity on me when we were kids, which is why she let me stick around. Not that it made me feel any better. Sure, I'm glad we're still friends, but I don't want to just feel like a convenience, like a friend only when she's not busy with some guy.

I sighed, looking down at the drinks sadly. I shouldn't be here.

"Hey." I looked up to see a smiling Chani. She was dressed in full black as usual but showing a bit more skin. She looked amazing.

"Hi." I smiled slightly.

"Why're you still on the couch by yourself?"

"Alice ditched me." I shrugged. "Guess she found someone else to hang out with when I went to get the drinks." I held them up slightly.

"I'll take one." Chani smiled at me softly, taking a seat next to me. She took a drink out of my hand before taking a sip. "Thanks."

"No problem. Did you just get here?"

"Yeah. Took forever to find a place to park."

"Us too." I nodded.

"So…" She trailed off, seeming more nervous than her usual self. "Did you think over the date?"

"Not really." I admitted. "What did you have in mind, though?"

"I thought we could do something fun. Like urban exploring. I know a few places I haven't been yet."

"Sounds…like fun." I smiled. "Doesn't have the be a date, though."

"True, but it could be." She shrugged.

"I'll go with you, and we can decide if it was a date or not afterward."

"Fair enough." Chani smiled, before grabbing my arm and pulling me up. "Let's go find something to do. Can't spend the whole party hiding away."

We walked through the party, looking for anyone we recoginzed. Eventually, we stumbled upon Chani's roommate and boyfriend hanging out with a handful of people. Chani's roommate, Nicole, instantly lit up as she saw Chani, getting up and hugging her. Chani awkwardly patted her back until she backed up.

"We're about to play truth or dare, you have to play!"

"I don't know." Chani looked back at me. I shrugged, not really caring either way. "Sure."

We found our spots around the circle and settled in. The first few guys did dares, which mostly consisted of chugging a beer or taking a shot, but when it came to Chani and she said dare, Nicole's boyfriend told her to kiss one of the guys.

"Dean…" Nicole nudged him and then lowered her voice. "She's gay."

"Oh. okay." He smirked. "Then kiss her instead." He pointed a finger at me.

Chani looked over at me cautiously. She moved in closer and spoke. "We don't have to, Mali."

"You were dared…" I cracked a smile, causing her to smile too.

Chani tenderly leaned in and placed a hand on my cheek. Her dark brown eyes locked with mine. I could feel her breath on my face, gently and almost tickling. So close I could breathe her perfume in. It took what felt like forever for her to press her lips against mine. But when her lips finally met mine, there was a spark as if she had shocked me on my lip, electric.

"With tongue!" Dean yelled.

Chani slipped her tongue into my open mouth, tilting her head to the side slightly. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, savoring her minty saliva.

"Damn!" Dean and the other guys cheered as she split up.

There were goosebumps on my skin as a result of the kiss. Of my first perfect kiss. Not an awkward peck with a pubescent boy who didn't know how to even kiss, but a real kiss.

Chani's eyes never left mine as she pulled back, a smile on her face. "I hope it'll be a date."

I smiled slightly. "It might have to be."