Chapter 10

Gathered around a crackling bonfire that illuminated the night, a diverse group of enthusiastic individuals, both male and female, engaged in lively conversation, punctuated by side chuckles and casual chitchat. Amidst the warmth and glow of the fire, a figure arose with a grace that seemed to transcend the ordinary, a vision bathed in the soft moonlight. Her eyes shone like the stars above, reflecting the same twinkle and mystery of the night sky, while her smile radiated a beacon of warmth and light, casting a spell of pure elegance and brightness over the gathering.

Addressing the group with a sense of camaraderie and openness, she spoke with a voice that carried a melody of sincerity and welcome. "This is a new group, and it would be wonderful to get to know each other by sharing our names," she announced. "I'm Stacy, and I'm from Virginia," she introduced herself, taking the initiative to kick off the introductions after she sat again. Despite the possibility that some had crossed paths or shared moments at the camp before, the need for formal introductions was clear. It was a moment to bridge any gaps in familiarity and forge new connections within the group. Each member, in turn, took the opportunity to share a piece of themselves:

"I'm Peter, but you can call me Shadow," offered a member, embracing a hint of mystery in his introduction.

"I'm Stara," another voice chimed in with a touch of simplicity and grace.

"Transformer, named after the iconic movie 'Transformer'," declared a member, sparking a round of laughter and recognition.

"I go by Presteen," shared another, adding a touch of individuality to the circle.

"I'm Kevin, with Gerald as my last name," introduced a member, blending tradition with a personal touch.

"I'm Elizabeth," another voice joined in, offering a sense of familiarity and warmth.

As the introductions continued, it soon became John's turn to share. "I'm John, no tags for me," he stated with a casual air, prompting a playful remark from Stacy. "I thought 'dummy' was your tag?" she teased, eliciting more laughter and light-hearted banter from the group. "Ha ha... Funny!" John responded with a playful grin, his eyes glinting with amusement as he exchanged a knowing glance with Stacy, a moment of shared connection amidst the circle of new acquaintances.

"This is serious!" Presteen's suddenly voiced through the group, causing a momentary pause in their light-hearted exchanges.

"What's serious?" Stacy's voice carried a note of confusion as she sought clarification.

Presteen chuckled softly before saying, "Never have I ever."

Stacy let out a hiss, her gaze momentarily drifting into the distance with a smile playing on her lips.

Undeterred, Presteen continued, "Yeah, the first and last time I played that game was back in kindergarten."

"No way!" exclaimed the group in unison, their astonishment echoing through the night.

"Kindergarten? Weren't you, like, five back then?" Elizabeth quipped, her curiosity piqued by the revelation.

Presteen chuckled at the confusion, "Funny you should mention that. I was actually just four at the time. We played a version where we'd say things like, 'Never have I ever stolen someone's pencil, or book, or even eaten boogers from my nose...'"

"Ew, that's gross," the group murmured in a mix of disgust and amusement.

Shaking off the momentary discomfort, Stara inquired, "But where did you even learn to play this game at such a young age?"

Presteen's eyes twinkled with mischief as he recounted, "My older sister used to play it with her friends. They'd bring the game home, leaving the door open, assuming I was too young to understand any of it, including that part," he gestured subtly.

"What part?" Kelvin interjected with a playful grin, eager to unravel the mystery.

Presteen's smirk widened, "I'm sure you all know."

"I have no clue," Peter feigned innocence. "And neither does anyone else, right?"

The group erupted in laughter and agreement, egging Presteen on with playful chants of "Say it!"

Rolling his eyes at their antics, Presteen relented, "Alright, fine! Stop shouting. It was... sex!"

A collective gasp followed by applause and cheers filled the air as the group reacted to Presteen's candid revelation.

Kelvin clapped Presteen on the back, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, that's quite the confession! Good on you for sharing," he commended, the camaraderie of the group reaffirmed by this unexpected revelation.

"So, who will start?" Presteen continued.

"We did not say we would play?" John interjected, showing hesitancy towards the game.

"It's a fun game, I'd be thrilled to participate," Stacy said, casting a mischievous glance at John.

"Argh…" John grunted softly and averted his gaze.

"I'm game," Stara voiced, raising her hand.

"Count me in too," Elizabeth added.

Presteen chuckled, clasping his hands. "Alright, the girls are all in. What about the boys?"

"Ah, forget it, we'll all play," Shadow declared.

"Great! Since we don't have any booze, we'll use pebbles instead. Toss it into the distance if you've, and keep it if you haven't," Presteen explained with a smile.

"Alright, so this is it. Since there isn't any booze, we will use pebbles instead. You know the rules," Presteen said as he distributed fifteen pebbles to each of them. His smile was mischievous as he relished the upcoming revelations. "Who would start?" he asked again.

Stacy clasped her hands, "John," she said with a giggle.

John was stupefied; this lady kept pestering him. But he didn't feel infuriated by it.

Despite this, he didn't feel angry. He glanced at her and the rest of the group. Their eager faces made it clear that objections were futile. So, reluctantly, he began.

"Never have I... um... had a brother born of my parents," John started tentatively.

The group's reaction was immediate; they burst out with disappointment, looking for something juicier. Transformer said, "Come on, man, that's no fun. We want something intimate, something bad."

John felt a hint of defeat but managed to muster a weak response, "I... I... will think of something. You guys can take your turns," he offered, feeling the pressure mounting.

Presteen, with a playful grin, seized the opportunity. "Never have I kissed a lady before," he announced.

Shadows, quick to respond, teased, "What! That's no fair, lip virgin," as he flung a pebble away. Laughter filled the air as the pebbles littered the distant horizon, even John's finding its place among them.

Stacy, finding amusement in this, couldn't resist a playful tease. She said to John, "see, you can say you are not a lip virgin too," she quipped, setting off another round of laughter and teasing.

As the game progressed, each participant revealed bits of their experiences, some tossing away pebbles, while others clutched them close, revealing their secrets.

When it was Presteen's turn again, he shared a provocative statement designed to elicit surprise: "Never have I had intimacy with an opposite-sex blood relative." The group, in unison, rebuffed the notion, and no one threw a pebble away—except for John, who was unexpectedly taken aback.

Stacy's gaze fell upon John, as she had being momentarily looking at him for any slight to tease him. But when she looked at him this time, she caught the fleeting expression that crossed his face. Her eyes lingered for just a moment, long enough to detect a subtle shift in his demeanor. Recognizing that there was something significant behind that reaction, she decided to address it directly. With a mix of curiosity, she posed the question to John, "Have you done that with a member of your family?" Her tone was gentle yet probing.

When John heard Stacy's question, his train of thought was abruptly derailed, snapping him back to the present with a jolt that made his body tremble involuntarily. "Uh?" he uttered, his eyes darting nervously to the expectant faces fixed on him.

Stammering, he attempted to defend himself, "I mean, umm... no..." His laughter rang hollow, his hand awkwardly scratching his head. "Of course not," he added hastily, but the air was thick with disbelief.

The group's skeptical stares bore into him, and John felt a cold sweat break out on his skin. Sensing the weight of their doubt, he spoke up weakly, "I would retire for the night," before swiftly rising and exiting the scene in a haste.

Stacy, disappointed by John's apparent dishonesty, felt a pang of disillusionment. She had assumed he was naive and peculiar, which had drawn her closer to him. Now, confronted with the truth that he could even entertain such a thought about a blood relative, it shattered her perception of him.

Back in his dorm, John collapsed on his bed, overwhelmed by the shocking turn of events. How would he face the group, especially Stacy, after this revelation? Memories of that fateful night with Imogene flooded his mind, leaving him in a sea of turmoil.