As much as I'd rather focus on literally anything else—like taxes, or the sound of people chewing with their mouths open—I still can't believe Liam and Cameron are brothers.
Well, Liam is adopted.
Liam is all sunshine, serotonin, and soft curls. The human equivalent of a puppy. Cameron is… not. Cameron is emotionally constipated, moody, and looks like he'd rather chew gravel than speak. I wouldn't be shocked if his Spotify playlist was just 3 hours of thunder and Gregorian chants. Now I see why they're both vastly different people.
Anyway. I couldn't wait to tell Isha. And with that thrilling thought, I fell asleep mid-text draft, drooling on my pillow like the well-rested queen I am.
————————————————————
"Navia! Get your ass down here, Isha's waiting!"
My mom's voice hit me like a car alarm in a cathedral. I jolted up so violently, I rolled off the bed, slammed into the floor, and lay there re-evaluating my life choices. Again.
From the living room, I heard my dad cheerfully go, "Twenty bucks, pay up!"
"Damn it," my mom muttered.
Ah. So I was the subject of another one of their stupid bets. Probably on whether I'd wake up on my own or fall out of bed like a tragic sitcom character.
Spoiler alert: I did both.
I staggered to the bathroom like a wounded war veteran, took the world's fastest shower, brushed my teeth like the minty apocalypse was coming, and yanked on the first thing that wasn't inside-out or a pajama top. Brushed my hair, slapped on some lip gloss, grabbed my phone and bag, and sprinted down the stairs.
"Morning! Love you! Byeeee!" I yelled mid-air as I vaulted past the kitchen.
"Wait!" Mom called, shoving a brown paper bag into my arms. "Two sandwiches and milk—for you and Kaisha!"
I clutched it like the Holy Grail. "Bless you, woman. You are appreciated."
"Bye, sweetie!"
"Have fun!" Dad added.
Kaisha was waiting outside in her car, radiating "I will murder you with my mind" energy.
"You're late," she said, glaring at me like I owed her rent money.
"I was dead. Then resurrected. Chill." I tossed her one of the sandwiches. "Peace offering."
She took one bite and nearly sobbed. "God, your mom's sandwiches. It's like eating a warm hug. A carb-based miracle."
"Focus on the road, miracle girl," I said as we pulled off. "I have gossip. Massive. Earth-shaking."
And just like that, I told her everything—Liam and Cameron: secret brothers. She nearly veered into a bush.
"NO. WAY," she gasped.
"Yes. Way."
We screamed about it for a solid five minutes, then talked about crushes, homework, and whether socks with sandals should be a jailable offense.
————————————————————
In history class, our teacher—Mrs Smith, the human tranquilizer—stared at us like we were all disappointments she was legally required to tolerate.
"How far have you all gone with your projects?" she asked.
Cue 26 teenagers making noises that could only be described as dolphin confusion.
"I hope you remember it's due in two weeks," she droned. "It's your future. Or whatever."
And she left.
I threw my hands up like I'd just won a court case. "FINALLYYYY!"
The entire class turned to glare at me like I farted in church.
Okay, rude.
But I didn't care. School was OVER. It was Friday. The air smelled like freedom and the faint odor of someone's expired gym socks.
Me and Kaisha strolled out of class like we were in a teen movie montage.
"Did you hear?" she asked.
"I hear many things. Be specific."
"Liam and Cameron are throwing a party tonight," she said, eyes gleaming. "And guess what? We're going."
I stopped walking. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. We?"
"Yes, we. As in you, me, and our stunning wardrobe choices."
"But what if I want to stay home and cry into my popcorn like a normal girl?"
"Nope," she said. "You're coming. You need to socialize before your bones turn into snark and sarcasm."
I groaned, "Fiiiiine. But if I get kidnapped or fall in love, it's your fault."
She did a dramatic happy dance in the hallway. People stared. We didn't care.
************
Back home, I informed my parents I was going to a party. You'd think I'd just announced I was quitting school to join a cult.
"You're going to a what?" Mom blinked.
"A party." I deadpan. "A gathering of humans. With music. And possible snacks."
My parents stared at me in silence. Then—in perfect sync—they leapt up and started dancing. Like, full-on arms-flailing, feet-stomping, dancing.
"MOM! DAD! You need an exorcism!" I shrieked.
They froze mid-wiggle. Like I'd caught them trying to rob a bank.
"Isha's here," I muttered. "Leaving before this becomes a TikTok."
"Have fun! Get kissed! Get laid!" Mom shouted after me.
I turned back with a horrified face. "EXCUSE ME?!"
Dad just waved like this was normal.
*************
Isha beeped the horn, and I jumped in.
"Ouuu, look at you," she said. "You're giving mysterious hottie with tragic backstory."
"I was going for 'doesn't smell like anxiety,'" I said. "Let's roll."
_________________________________________
The party was LIT. Music blasting, lights flashing, teenagers everywhere doing the most.
"This is chaos," I said.
"I love it," Isha said, eyes sparkling.
We waded in, and ten seconds later—Kaisha ditched me. Danced off with some boy who looked like he'd never used chapstick in his life.
"Naviaaaa!" Liam spotted me, bounding over like a golden retriever on espresso. "You made it!"
"I did. Please release my lungs," I gasped mid-hug.
He pulled back sheepishly. "Come on! We're playing truth or dare."
Before I could say "No thanks, I'd rather wrestle a cactus," he dragged me into a circle.
"Navia's here!" someone announced.
Some clapped. Some ignored. Cameron barely acknowledged me, per usual, and Katherina looked like I was mold on toast.
I sat beside Liam, clutching a soda like a life raft.
Then Lucas spun the bottle. It spun… and spun… and landed on—me.
OF COURSE.
I haven't even been here for up to 30 seconds.
"Truth or dare, Navia?" Lucas asked with a smirk that gave me trust issues.
"Truth?"
"BOOOOO!" Katherina shrieked. "Truth is for babies."
I rolled my eyes so hard I saw my ancestors. "Fine. Dare."
Lucas smirked wider. "I dare you to kiss Cameron. For a full minute."
Silence.
Time froze. Music blurred into the background. All I could hear was the screeching in my brain.
"I… what?"
"You heard me."
I glanced at Cameron. Still expressionless. Like I was being told to kiss a marble statue.
"Alternate dare, please?" I said, voice high and desperate.
"Nope," Lucas said like the villain he is.
Liam? Cheering. CHEERING. That traitorous golden noodle.
I stood up slowly, my soul quietly leaving my body. I walked over to Cameron, heart thudding so loud I was sure everyone could hear it.
He looked up at me, expression unreadable. His eyes, though—they were doing something to my brain.
"You really wanna do this?" I asked, voice low.
"It's your dare," he said, shrugging. "Not mine."
And something in me snapped.
I leaned in. The air around us felt electric—like something big was about to happen. My heart was doing gymnastics. My hands were shaking.
Then—I kissed him.
And it was nothing like I expected.
No fireworks. No slow-mo movie moment. It was just… intense.
His lips were warm. Soft. Real. And for someone who acted like a brick wall, Cameron kissed like he meant it. Like he was saying something he couldn't put into words. I felt the world tilt. My knees forgot how to knee.
For sixty seconds, the noise disappeared.
It was just me. And him. And the terrifying realization that maybe—just maybe—this dare was going to change everything.
When I pulled back, breathless and slightly disoriented, Cameron stared at me.
Expressionless.
But his eyes?
They were on fire.
And for once, not cold.
My hands were trembling. My soul had left the chat.
The room exploded in hoots and whistles, but I barely heard it. I was too busy having an out-of-body experience.
I turned to walk away—awkwardly. Stiff. Woozy. On the verge of cardiac arrest.
Liam was laughing. Katherina looked like she swallowed vinegar.
Cameron?
Still staring at me like I'd ruined his carefully planned emotional barricade.
And maybe I had.