“I’m telling you, if I have to spend one more evening listening to first-years drone on about their feelings, I’m going to hex someone,” Daphne huffed.
Astoria rolled her eyes. “You say that every week and yet here we are — no hexes, just more gossip.”
“Maybe we need something new to liven things up,” Daphne said, then turned her gaze to you.
“New?” you echoed cautiously.
“A dare,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “A proper one..”
Astoria’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, I like this.”
You frowned. “What kind of dare?”
Daphne leaned forward. “I dare you to kiss Tom.”
“Tom?” you asked, raising your brows.
“Yes, him.” Daphne’s grin grew wolfish. “You’d be the first girl brave — or stupid — enough to try.”
“You’re joking.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Daphne asked sweetly. “One kiss. That’s all. Prove he’s not as untouchable as everyone thinks.”
“He’s not some trophy,” you said.
Astoria chimed in. “Come on. What’s the worst that could happen? He ignores you? Walks away? Pfft.”
You took a breath. “Fine,” you said. “I’ll do it.”
The next day, you found him sitting alone in the far corner of the library.
“Tom?” you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.
He looked up. “Yes?”
You stepped closer, your heart pounding. “I... needed to ask you something.”
He closed his book. “Go on.”
There was no turning back now.
Without another word, you leaned in and pressed your lips to his.
It was brief, but it ignited something between you. You could feel the tension in him, sense the way he inhaled sharply but didn’t pull away.
When you stepped back, your pulse thundered in your ears.
“What was that for?” he asked.
You swallowed. “Maybe I just wanted to. Maybe I thought you wouldn’t mind.”
A flicker of something crossed his features - perhaps curiosity. “Most people keep their distance.”
“Maybe I’m not most people.”
That got a small, almost invisible smile from him. “No. You’re not.”
You never knew who had told him. Perhaps it was Daphne, who was bored and craving drama, or maybe it was Astoria. Either way, when you turned the corner near the classroom and saw Tom waiting for you, you knew immediately knew why,
He stood unnervingly still, his hands clasped behind his back.
When your eyes met his, your stomach dropped. “Tom—” you began.
He raised a hand. “Don’t.”
He doesn’t react immediately; he just looks at you with an unreadable gaze. You’ve never seen his eyes that empty before.
“You mean to tell me,” he says slowly, “that all of this... was a dare? A game?”
You try to speak, but the lump in your throat makes it impossible.
He takes a step closer. “You think I haven’t seen betrayal before?” he murmurs. “You think I don’t know what lies look like?”
His voice drops. “You’re not special. Just another name in a long list of liars.”
You flinch.
His eyes narrow. “You’re nothing now. A footnote in my story.” He leans in slightly. “Congratulations.”