Chapter Five - Little Lies & Late Night Games
1057 Words
Friday night in Blue Dorm looked like a Pinterest board created by someone with ADHD and a grudge against minimalism.
Riley had dragged out fairy lights, beanbags, blankets, mismatched mugs for cocoa, and a Bluetooth speaker stuck on a playlist that refused to settle on one vibe. The result was a room that felt like sleepover chaos with a faint undertone of rebellion.
“Okay,” she announced dramatically, standing on the ottoman with a ladle as a microphone. “The first official Friday Chill Night of the year is here. And yes, I expect loyalty, confessions, and possibly a mild breakdown or two.”
“Why the ladle?” I asked, hiding a smile.
“It’s our sacred mic. Don’t disrespect tradition,” Riley said, handing me a mug of cocoa that smelled suspiciously like coffee and whipped cream.
Ty plopped onto a beanbag with a full-size bag of sour candy. “So we’re still pretending that Brielle won’t send a drone to spy on us tonight?”
“Oh, she’s watching,” Zara said from the window seat. “Probably has a burner account logged into DormTrolls just for this.”
“Not coming, though,” Riley confirmed. “She’s still salty over the ‘chocolate fountain’ incident.”
A few people chuckled. I didn’t know all the details, but apparently, earlier in the week, Blue Dorm had pulled a prank on Glams by replacing their chocolate fondue pot with something… less appetizing. Word was it involved refried beans and glitter.
“She’ll retaliate,” Zara added casually, sipping from her thermos. “She’s waiting. Plotting. She’s quiet right now, which means we should all be nervous.”
I glanced around the room. There was Ty, always a joke away from something real; Zara, moody and brilliant and unpredictable; Riley, commanding the room with ease. Then there was Maya from Glams, who had shown up late and quiet. A few other students lingered on the edges, watching, whispering. And of course—
Chase arrived late.
He always did.
He wore a black hoodie and joggers, one headphone still in, like he wasn’t totally invested but also didn’t want to miss anything.
“You’re late,” Riley accused, handing him the ladle.
“I bring snacks,” he said, holding up a bag of kettle chips like a peace offering.
He sat—of course—next to me. He didn’t ask. Just dropped onto the couch like it was his assigned seat.
“Still the new girl?” he asked, nudging my knee with his.
“Still pretending you don’t love the attention?” I shot back.
His grin was slow and infuriating. “I don’t pretend.”
---
The Game Begins: Truth or Dare, Dorm-Style
The Blue Dorm version was... riskier. Every round had a theme—“petty,” “exposed,” “confessions you’ll regret”—and Riley played judge, jury, and chaos coordinator.
First up was Ty. He chose truth.
“What’s your most shameful secret from last year?” Riley asked.
He groaned. “Okay, so... I may have broken into Glams’ closet, borrowed one of Brielle’s designer bags, used it for a date, and then snuck it back.”
“Borrowed or stole?” Zara asked.
“Borrowed. Gently. With flair.”
Next was Maya. She hesitated, then said, “Truth.”
Riley smirked. “What’s the worst thing you’ve said about someone in this room?”
Everyone leaned in.
Maya flushed, glancing around. “I… said Ty’s t****k dance was cringe.”
Ty clutched his chest. “Et tu, Maya?”
Then it was Chase’s turn.
“Dare,” he said, without hesitation.
Riley’s eyes sparkled. “I dare you to read the last five texts in your phone. Aloud.”
His eyebrows rose, but he didn’t flinch. He pulled out his phone and read them.
“Mom: ‘Don’t forget to eat something green today.’
Ty: ‘Your playlist sucks.’
Unknown number: ‘Come to the fountain at midnight. Alone.’
Riley: ‘BRING SNACKS.’
Me to Ava: ‘You survived another day. Proud.’”
The room collectively turned toward me.
I froze.
Chase gave me a quick glance. Just enough to say, Yeah, that was real.
I didn’t know how to react. No one else had seen the message. He hadn’t said anything. But he’d saved it—and read it out loud.
Ty looked between us. “That unknown number one is definitely a murder invitation.”
“Or Brielle,” Zara added. “Same vibe.”
---
My Turn
“Truth or dare?” Riley asked, eyes gleaming.
I sighed. “Truth.”
Zara leaned in. “What’s one thing you’re hiding?”
That was harder.
I could’ve lied. Said something harmless. But something about the way they all looked at me—waiting, curious—made me want to give them something real.
“Okay,” I said, exhaling. “Sometimes I feel like I’m living in someone else’s story. Like I was dropped into a show mid-season and everyone else got the script.”
No one laughed.
Chase looked at me like he saw the part of me I usually kept locked down.
Riley raised her cocoa. “Valid. Deep. Ten points.”
---
Later That Night: Dorm Gossip in Full Swing
The game wound down by midnight. People started to drift off—some to their rooms, some to sneak down to the vending machines.
Chase stayed.
He was quiet, sprawled next to me on the couch, staring at the ceiling like it held secrets.
“Good answer earlier,” he said finally.
“Which one?”
“The script thing. Felt honest.”
“It was.”
Silence. Not awkward. Just… present.
“I meant what I texted,” he added. “About being proud.”
I swallowed. “Thanks.”
He stood up, stretched, looked down at me. “You’re not background noise, Ava. You’re the part people rewind to hear again.”
Then he walked off, leaving me with my pulse thudding in my throat.
---
DormTrolls Notification – 12:48 A.M.
> User: DormTrollsAdmin
Post: “Blue Dorm’s Friday Night Game was all fun and flirty... but don’t be fooled. The queen of Glams is watching. And she never forgives. Watch your backs.”
Hashtags: #DormWars #GlamsVsBlue #TheBlondeIsBack
- Writer
