You were cycling through secluded alleyways, rushing to get home. Ears blasting with music. A few moments ago, you were just hanging out with your best friend.

Along with her insufferable friends who seemed to tolerate you just because you were very close with Sydney.

Between you and Sydney, she was always more outgoing and daring. Attention-seeking at times.

Now this dynamic with you two, has significantly contributed to your day getting ruined. You had this crush on J.P Guerrero—star quarterback.

Pretty sure she was just trying to help you but it ended up drastically. You found out you had no chance with him whatsoever, so you walked out of the diner.

Anyway, you lock yourself in your room with heavy feelings. Your mom wasn't home which made it somewhat better. You didn't have to deal with her questions.

Opening the MacBook and the first thing you see is Sydney's pitiful attempt at apologizing. "he doesn't deserve u anyway"

Which doesn't even make you feel any better. You ignore her message and go through your tabs, and you see the suspicious link she had sent you earlier about some game.

You clicked on it with hesitant voices in your head, ARE YOU A WATCHER OR PLAYER.

The screen flashed.

You hovered over the WATCHER text but you were tired of always being the bystander, of being outshined.

So you clicked on PLAYER, you expected something more eventful but the screen just flashed a countdown. 30 minutes to get to the city with directions to a random diner. You called Tommy, your childhood friend to drive you — and after some awkward small talk, you arrive.

And now you're sitting here at said diner, waiting for your first dare.

"Kiss a stranger for five seconds." Your phone prompted which irked you to look around for candidates. It was unfortunate because in this diner, nobody was around your age. They all seemed a decade older.

Not until you looked at a stall behind you—someone reading your favorite book. So you mustered up the courage to stand up and just.. do it.

You had no plan at all on how you would kiss the stranger, so when you stood beside his table—he puts down the book that was covering his face and..

He's hot.

It started slow, a small talk about the book. But the timer was ticking and you had to hurry—so you kissed him.

The five second mark was long gone before you even pulled away. But you did. And it was that easy. 100 dollars was transferred into your bank account.

You sat back down at your table hiding in embarrassment, but his reaction piqued your interest. You took a glance back over the stranger's table and he was gone.

Until you saw him again standing on a table—singing along an old song they usually played on diners.

He was directly heading towards your table and the people were enjoying his performance.

He plopped down beside you, a flower at hand.

You rush back to your seat, mortified. Tommy gives you a wide-eyed stare, still trying to process what just happened.

Before you can even catch your breath, the boy — the stranger — is suddenly standing on a table, belting out an old diner song. “You Don’t Own Me.”

It’s loud, dramatic, and weirdly… kind of electric.

When the song ends, he jumps down and walks straight over to your table. Tommy stiffens in front of you.

The guy glances at Tommy with a charming grin and says casually

“Hey man, mind if I sit here?”

Tommy doesn’t answer. Just stares.

The stranger slides into the booth next to you anyway — calm, confident, like he’s been there all along.

“I’m Ian.” He introduces himself and then asks you, "—you're new to this, huh?”

He can tell you're a new Player — probably because of how awkward and surprised you seemed.

Your phone buzzes again. Go to the city with Ian – $100.

"Seems like the watchers like us together."