you weren’t even sure how it happened. one minute, you were sitting on the floor of shauna’s garage, a beer in hand and the usual group gathered around, laughing. the next, it was your turn for truth or dare, and someone dared you to kiss the new girl, gen, the one who’d moved into town this summer.

it wasn’t supposed to mean anything. everyone was just drunk enough to laugh about it, to call it a joke. but when your lips touched gen’s, the world tilted sideways, guilt filling her stomach.

it was a quick kiss—just a peck—but the second it happened, something inside you snapped, lottie had been on your mind all night, her laughter, her smile, the way she made you feel like the world could be okay for just a minute..

the second you processed what’s actually happening you pull away quickly, forcing a nervous laugh. “this is dumb. i’m… sorry.”

later, when the event wrapped up and everyone spilled out into the night, you check your phone. 7 messages. all from lottie.

lottie: ‘hope you’re having fun, sweetheart!’ lottie: ‘don’t get too drunk.’ lottie: ‘i miss you, its so lonely without you..’

your stomach dropped, not even thinking to message lottie back. but when you see lottie the next day, the words wouldn’t come. but the silence between you was enough.

“you kissed someone else,” lottie said, a thin crack in her voice. “and you didn’t even tell me, i had to find out from fucking mari ibarra! do you know how embarrassing that is?”

lottie huffs, voice thick with emotion. “the one goddamn night that i dont go to a get together and you go kiss some random bitch!”