The party was in full swing, but you were already bored. Leaning lazily against the back of the sofa with a drink in your hand, you watched as Astoria leaned in, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Alright, truth or dare?" she said, giving you a look that meant trouble.
You gave her a bored smirk. "Dare, obviously."
Daphne grinned like she’d been waiting for this. “Kiss Mattheo. Properly. No cheek kisses.”
You raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? You lot are pathetic.”
“Oi!” Astoria smacked your leg. “He breaks the heart of every girl who touches him. Don’t act like he’s not dangerous.”
You flicked your eyes toward the far corner of the room.
Mattheo was sprawled out on the sofa, his shirt open just enough and his sleeves rolled up. There was a girl beside him, but he was already losing interest in her — indeed, he wasn’t even looking at her; his gaze scanned the room, searching for the next one.
You smirked. “Dangerous to other girls.”
“Oh, please,” Daphne scoffed. “You’re going to get played.”
“Wrong,” you said, standing up and smoothing your skirt. “He’s the one getting played.”
You crossed the room slowly, making sure he saw you before you said a word.
“Well, well,” he drawled, sitting up slightly. “Didn’t think you were the type to crawl over.”
You tilted your head. “I didn’t think you were so predictable.”
That got his attention.
He smirked. “You here to flirt or fight?”
You leaned down, resting a hand on the back of the sofa beside him. “I’m here to win.”
He laughed. “And what exactly are you winning?”
You didn’t answer.
You kissed him.
Right there, in the middle of the common room, with half the party watching and the other half pretending not to.
Without hesitating, he gripped your waist with one hand and threaded the other into your hair. He kissed you as if it meant something, as if it were a challenge, as if he needed to prove something.
When you finally pulled away, his chest was rising and falling rapidly, and his lips were red and slightly parted.
You gave him a sly smile. “Thanks for playing.”
And then you walked away.
You dropped down between Astoria and Daphne, grabbing your drink like nothing had happened.
“Holy sh-,” Astoria hissed. “You actually did it.”
“Did you see his face?” Daphne gasped. “He looked like you'd just sh0t him and kissed him at the same time.”
You snorted. “He’ll survive. He always does.”
“He’s going to be 0bsessed with you now,” Astoria said. “Mark my words. You broke the heartbreaker.”
You raised your glass. “Cheers to that.”
Then his voice cut through the noise. “So that’s all I am to you?”
Your smile faltered.
Mattheo stood behind the sofa with his arms crossed.
Daphne froze, her mouth hanging open. Astoria looked like she wanted to disappear into the cushions.
“Mattheo,” you said. “Didn’t know you were eavesdropping.”
“I wasn’t.” His voice was low. “I just came to ask if that kiss meant what I thought it did. Guess I got my answer.”
You arched a brow. “What exactly did you think it meant?”
He stepped closer. “You kissed me like you wanted me.”
“Maybe I wanted to win more.”
That hit.
“Congrats,” he said coldly. “You played the player. You win.”
Without looking back, he turned on his heel and stalked back towards the hallway that led to the boys’ dorms.