Call Me Milo

Chapter 10

"What's she doing here?" Chance asks, eyeing the brunette who timidly enters his bedroom.

"Uh, no," one of the guys speaks and Tucker remembers his name to be Cole. "What's he doing in your house?" Cole points over at Tucker who nervously looks back at the group of guys and the one awkward girl.

"I asked you first," Chance says. "Who in their right mind thought it was a good idea to invite my ex-girlfriend?"

"We ran into her on the way here," Cole replies, refusing to make eye contact with Chance. "She said she wanted to let loose for a little while."

"So you invite her to my house?" Chance questions, a level of awkwardness stifling the room that dares anyone to speak.

"Seems like you have no problem inviting unwanted guests yourself," Cole spits back and everyone knows he's referring to Tucker.

"Hey."

This time the voice is raspy and deep and it belongs to Dizzy.

"Would you shut your mouth already?" Dizzy says and rises from his seat on the floor to level his gaze to Cole's. "You're not grasping the situation well right now and I'd suggest you walk your ass back-"

"Enough," Chance sighs. "I don't need my friends fighting right now. Let's all just cut loose for a while like Cindy wanted to do."

Cole silently takes a seat on the floor as Dizzy curses under his breath before he sits as well. Cindy plops down beside Tucker who has a difficult time looking over at the girl so he doesn't make any effort to. The room becomes uncomfortably quiet and increasingly smaller due to three more bodies entering it.

"How've you been?"

Cindy glances up at the owner of the quiet voice and Chance takes a swig of his beer, awaiting her answer to the question he asked.

"I've been okay," she replies, looking down at her hands. "How are you?"

"Could be better," he replies shortly, again creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for the group as silence fills the air.

"s**t guys," Cole says. "You're making this whole thing extremely awkward."

"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Chance asks, his typical smile appearing on his lips.

"I don't know. A drinking game?" Cole suggests. "Like truth or dare or something."

Tucker breathes out and grabs a beer, Dizzy's eyes trailing him but Tucker looks away. He knows Dizzy thinks he won't do anything since he's underage but even he needs to let loose.

"Are we in grade school?" the other guy asks. "Truth or dare? Really?"

Cole runs a hand through his blonde hair. "It's just to get started and the first thing that popped into my mind."

"You first then," the guy says.

Cole looks around the room at his options. He can choose Chance, Dizzy, Tucker, Cindy, or the guy who's name goes unknown by Tucker. If they choose not to complete the dare or answer the truth question, they must take a drink of their beer. Cole rubs the bottom of his chin as he thinks of his first culprit.

"Dizzy," Cole finally picks. "Truth or dare?"

Chance grins wickedly. "Let's go, Diz."

"Dare," Dizzy replies, no hint of nervousness nor excitement for the game. He picks at the carpet and waits for his dare.

"Everyone needs to close their eyes and you have to kiss one of us," Cole says as he grins.

Dizzy breathes out. "Childish."

"Then drink," Cole replies.

Despite this, Dizzy rises from the floor much to everyone's surprise and they are forced to close their eyes. Tucker knows if Dizzy kisses one of the guys, he'll be ostracized for it but if he kisses Cindy, Chance will most likely have a fit. So Tucker remains completely still and feels the nerves that Dizzy should have been feeling.

"Hurry up," Cole says.

"Yeah, yeah," Dizzy says back.

He then kneels to the ground and Tucker catches a whiff of his scent. Dizzy leans close, closer to Tucker than he had been in three years. With his lips almost grazing against the other boy's, Dizzy stops and whispers, his breath tickling Tucker's parted lips.

"As if."

Dizzy pulls away, one side of his mouth curled up in a lopsided grin. Tucker remains dumbfounded, his eyes open despite the rule, and his mouth hangs open. Dizzy chugs his beer for not completing the dare.

Everyone opens their eyes, clueless as to what happened.

"You didn't do it?" Cole asks.

Dizzy wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. "Of course not."

Cole laughs and Tucker still feels his heart racing. Out of everyone in the room, why did Dizzy come over to him?

Cole reaches for an empty beer bottle and spins it. The bottle points to Chance and it's now his turn to pick someone.

"Tucker," Chance says, grinning. "Truth or dare?"

Tucker knew he was going to get chosen at some point but wished it wasn't so soon. And so, he tentatively answers with truth.

"Who was your first kiss?"

Tucker's eyes instantly and unwillingly find their way to Dizzy who slightly shakes his head without making eye contact, warning him not to say anything. So Tucker doesn't say anything at all and remains silent as everyone stares at him.

"Fine, if you won't answer that then you can answer this. Did you love that person?"

Tucker hesitates a few seconds again before whispering an answer that barely becomes audible as he stares at the carpet beneath him.

"Yes."