Truth or dare

Somehow—by divine luck or Thea's dictatorship—we actually managed to sit down at the restaurant without flipping a table.

Thea stood like a proud general at the head of the table, assigning seats like it was a war strategy.

Nova and Zim sat at the far left, already looking over the menu and gossiping in low voices. Aven sat beside Thea, who made sure to plant herself between Jace and Leo, probably as a safety barrier in case of murder.

Which left me directly across from Leo.

Of course.

I glanced up at him just once—and immediately regretted it. His lips curled into a slow smirk like he'd won something.

We all placed our dinner orders, but the table was anything but calm.

Thea and Jace kept shooting each other those classic "I hope your drink spills" kind of looks. Jace was this close to rolling his eyes out of his head every time Thea opened her mouth.

Aven leaned forward between them, hands up like a hostage negotiator. "Okay, please. Let's not turn this into a battlefield. I just want to eat in peace."

Thea snorted. "Then tell brooding boy here to stop judging my existence."

Jace glared at her. "I wouldn't need to if your existence wasn't so loud."

Nova, sipping water like wine, muttered under her breath, "This is going well."

Zim was staring at all of us like we were aliens who'd crashed her peaceful fries fantasy.

Leo, meanwhile, had clearly decided that poking me was more fun than eating.

"Didn't expect you will stay," he said, voice low, resting his chin on one hand.

"I didn't stay for you," I replied flatly, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Oh, I know. You stayed for me without realizing it. That's called fate, baby girl."

I gave him a look sharp enough to slice glass. "Stop. Calling me. That."

Leo leaned back, chuckling softly. "Touchy."

Jace noticed. Of course, he did.

His eyes narrowed, jaw tightening as he stared at Leo. "What exactly is your deal with Kael anyway?"

Leo turned to him, completely unbothered. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Jace looked like he was ready to launch the cutlery across the table.

"Don't," Aven warned him, nudging his leg under the table. "We just got served drinks."

Thea raised her glass, smirking. "To drama."

Zim blinked. "Wait, is this normal? Are you guys like… always like this?"

Nova patted her shoulder. "This is actually tame."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. Between Leo's endless teasing, Thea and Jace's mutual loathing, and everyone else pretending we weren't about to combust—I honestly couldn't tell if this was dinner or a live episode of a reality show.

And still… Leo was watching me.

Like this chaos was his playground, and I was his favorite game.

By the time the food arrived, the table was split into invisible war zones.

Thea was busy twirling her pasta like she didn't just insult Jace's haircut three minutes ago. Jace stabbed at his grilled chicken like it owed him money. Aven kept sipping from his glass like it was alcohol—unfortunately for him, it wasn't.

Nova was quiet but alert, eyes flicking between Leo and me like she was collecting data for a secret report.

Leo?

Still smirking. Still watching me.

I tried focusing on my plate. Tried ignoring the heat crawling up the back of my neck every time his foot brushed against mine under the table like it was by accident—which we both knew it wasn't.

And then, because this group cannot go ten minutes without tempting fate…

Thea dropped her fork dramatically and clapped once.

"Alright, I'm bored. Let's play truth or dare."

Jace groaned. "We're not twelve."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she shot back, "do you need a bedtime story instead?"

Zim perked up. "I vote yes."

Leo chuckled. "You guys are way more fun than I thought."

Jace's glare could've set his steak on fire. "You weren't invited."

"I invited myself," Leo said casually, taking a slow sip of his drink. "Kael didn't exactly tell me to leave."

My cheeks burned again. "That's not what happened."

Nova raised a brow. "You sure?"

I sent her a warning glance. "You promised not to start."

Leo leaned in, elbow on the table, chin in his hand. "What did she promise not to start, baby girl?"

I kicked him under the table.

"Still not scared," I muttered, biting into my bread roll like it had done something wrong.

He just grinned wider. "You should be. I'm very charming."

Before I could throw my fork at his head, Thea saved the moment.

Or ruined it.

"Kael," she said sweetly. "Truth or dare?"

"No."

"That's not how this works."

Nova cut in. "Pick truth. It's safer. For now."

I sighed. "Truth."

Thea lit up like a demon. "Who here makes you the most nervous?"

I blinked.

Leo didn't.

He leaned back, stretching just enough to flash the tattoo on his collarbone—the one I noticed the night I found his gun in his jacket.

My eyes flicked to his. His brow raised, like he dared me to say it.

I swallowed. "Next question."

Everyone booed. Except Leo, who just smiled like I gave him exactly what he wanted.

Across the table, Aven leaned toward Jace.

"Please don't throw anything. This table wasn't cheap."

Jace didn't answer. His eyes were locked on Leo.

And just for a second… I thought Leo looked back like he recognized that stare. Like maybe this wasn't their first time being enemies.

I shoved the thought aside.

Dinner was wild enough.

Everything was going…

Chaotic.

Like emotionally unstable ducks trying to cross a highway.

There was tension thick enough to chew.

Bitter-sweet chemistry zipping between everyone like static.

Nova tried to stay composed, but she kept giving Thea the I-swear-to-god-stop-shipping-them glare.

Thea, in return, looked delighted.

Girl was practically narrating a BL drama in her head.

Aven was sipping water like it was vodka, giving Jace side-eyes every three seconds.

Zim had stolen someone's fries and dared Leo to arm-wrestle her for the last dumpling.

Jace was pretending Leo didn't exist—except for the way his jaw clenched every time Leo opened his mouth.

And Leo?

Leo was smirking like he knew everyone's secrets and was saving them for dessert.

"Okay," Thea suddenly said, clapping her hands once. "Enough brooding. We were playing Truth or Dare."

"No," Nova said immediately.

"Yes," Thea grinned. "Group vote?"

Everyone groaned, but somehow, it still happened.

We pushed the plates aside.

The mood shifted into something more... dangerous.

Like, let's emotionally ruin each other for fun type of dangerous.

The bottle spun.

First target?

Zim.

Nova squinted. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

Nova smiled dangerously. "Go flirt with the waiter and ask for his number."

Zim: "Bet."

She skipped off before anyone could say anything.

The bottle spun again.

Aven.

Thea leaned in. "Truth. Is it true you and Jace once—"

"Nope," Aven cut her off, red as a tomato. "im straight ! How can you ask this question to me thea ?"

Jace get offended ,"im straight as someone can be "

Cue laughter.

The bottle pointed next at...

Leo.

Oh no.

Jace smirked. "Truth or dare?"

Leo tilted his head. "Truth."

Jace didn't even hesitate. "Who do you actually like at this table?"he was exepting that leo would take Thea's name .

Thea choked on her drink.

Nova froze.

Everyone stared.

Leo's eyes slowly found mine.

"I think you already know," he said smoothly, eyes locked on mine like a challenge.

I nearly kicked him under the table.

Thea: screaming internally

Nova: judging silently

Jace: literally vibrating with annoyance

I cleared my throat. "Anyway, my turn—"

Thea cut in. "Wait wait wait. Kael's turn, for real. Truth or dare?"

"…Truth."

She grinned. "Do you like Leo?"

I blinked. "No."

Leo raised a brow.

Thea leaned forward. "Are you sure?"

I repeated, slower, "No."

Zim (returning with a napkin and the waiter's number): "He didn't say he hate me either but i dont like man."

Everyone: gasps

Leo leaned toward me again, lips too close. "Liar."

I turned my face, ears burning.

It was a war I was losing.