I stood there in stunned silence as Courtney walked back into the house. 

What just happened...... and why did I love it?

Suddenly, a crash of thunder boomed from above me. I looked up and a drop of rain fell on my nose. 

I walked back inside where I went to find Alejandro. I pushed past tons of people before I bumped into Scott.

"Hey, have you seen Courtney?" He asked. I can't find her and I've been looking for 15 minutes." 

"Oh.... I saw her earlier. She might be with Bridgette. Anyway, where's Alejandro? It's about to storm outside."

Scott looked confused. "Oh! I'll call my Papi. But I think I saw Alejandro go upstairs."

 "Got it, thanks."

 I ran towards the stairs and checked all the doors until I found one which he was inside, sitting on his bed on his phone. 

He perked up when he saw me. "What are you doing up here?" he asked. 

"I'd ask the same of you. But it's about to thunderstorm. We should send everyone home." 

"Oh!" He got up and followed me downstairs.

 After telling everyone it was time to leave, they called their parents and kids started going one by one.

"My mom said she can't get here with the storm!" Courtney said, worried. 

"Everyone left here, there is a tornado warning if you didn't see it on your phone. You will have to stay here the night." Alejandro explained.

 "What!" Courtney exclaimed. "We can't stay here!"

 Scott, Alejandro, Courtney, Zoey, Trent, Mike, Gwen, and I were the only people left. None of us wanted to stay the night. It was...... scary. 

Just then, I heard the garage door open. 

"Honey! We are home!" Alejandro's mom called.

 She walked into the room and was confused. 

"Why are some of your friends still here?" 

"Their parents couldn't pick them up at the time of the storm," Alejandro said. "They will have to stay here,"

"Also, everyone should head to the basement, if you have one," Scott added. "My family has a storm shelter but basements are also okay." 

"He's right," Alejandro's mom said. "Everyone, downstairs!" 

Once everyone got downstairs, we took a seat on the couches.

 Trent checked the time. "It's only 9:00, too early to go to bed."

 Gwen was looking away from him, awkwardly.

 Hmm....

"What do you guys want to do?" Mike asked. "A classic like truth or dare? A board game if you have any?" 

"I'm down for truth or dare," Scott said. 

"Me too!" Zoey agreed. Scott looked over at her and smiled. She didn't notice but I did. 

"Any objections." 

No one said anything. 

'Well, who wants to start?" 

"I can," Mike said. "Zoey, truth or dare?" 

"Hm..." Zoey thought about it for a bit. "Truth. I'm going to play it safe for now," 

"Okay." Mike smiled. "Well, why do you like me?"

"Oh!" Zoey looked surprised. "You are funny, nice, and smart, and I love your multiple personalities. They just make you weird. Which I think is amazing" 

Mike smiled. "Thanks, Zoey." 

They hugged. 

Scott scoffed. "Okay, heck if I'm dealing with this love-fest. Can we please get on with it?"

I scooted to where Scott was on the couch.

"What's your deal with Zoey?" I whispered. "What do you mean?" Scott asked. "She and Mike are just....... annoying." 

"Right, sure," I replied. 

"Truth," Alejandro said in reply to Zoey. 

"Hmmm, what's your biggest pet peeve?"

Alejandro shivered as he was able to come up with an answer immediately. 

"When people call me Al. It's such a stupid little nickname.

My brother, Jose, calls me it all the time and it's so annoying!" 

"Hey, my sister goes by Al." Scott said, looking second-hand insulted. "So don't go calling it stupid," 

"Okay sorry, Jengibre," Alejandro said. "Why do you always call me that?" Scott said, "It's annoying,"

"It's spanish for ginger, since that's the color of your hair,"

"Oh," Scott looked sort of surprised. "Well, I would'nt like to be called by my hair, thanks." he replied, running his fingers through his spiky, ginger hair. "Let's move on," Zoey said, trying to split the two up. 

"Wait," Gwen stopped them. "Doesn't Owen call you Al like, all the time," Alejandro rubbed his temples. "Yes, he does,"

"Why don't you just tell him,?" Mike asked. "I've tried, he doesn's listen," Alejandro complained. "It's become so normal I don't want to embarrass him by telling him I don't like it." "Let's just move on from this," I suggested.

Alejandro went to Trent truth or dare as I quickly got distracted.

 I heard a sniffle from the other side of the room. It was Courtney. I walked over to her and sat down. She was looking at her phone, hiding her face with her knees, crying. 

"Are you okay?" I asked. 

"Yeah," she replied. "My parents are worried about me, I'm worried about myself...... and I'm scared. What if something happens and I.... don't see them again," 

"We're safe down here, don't worry. I felt bad for her. 

Another boom of lightning sounded from outside, and she jumped in fear, more tears streaming down her cheeks.

 I looked over at her phone and she was texting someone. Her mom was assuring her she'd be fine.

"W-we'll be okay," I said, unsure what else to do. "You've got us, you've got m- Scott! You've got Scott.

She looked over at me, looking doubtful. "Yeah, I-I'll be fine. Don't worry about me." She wiped the tears from her cheeks. 

"You saying that isn't going to stop me from worrying about you." I chuckled. 

"Gwen, truth or dare." We looked over and saw Trent was choosing the next person. 

Gwen looked confused. "Uh..... truth I guess?"

"Okay...." he paused for a bit, looking hesitant. "Um, what's your favorite color?" He said swiftly. 

Wow, boring, I thought. 

"Oh, well, midnight blue," Gwen replied. 

"Oh, okay," 

Trent looked at the wall, his back turned to everyone else. 

I leaned over to Courtney. 

"Do you have any idea what's going on with Trent and Gwen?" 

Courtney perked up and looked at Trent. 

"Oh, I don't know." She replied. "If it's such a concern, ask them." 

Suddenly, I heard my name from the other side of the room. It was Scott. 

"Duncan!" he whisper-shouted. "C'me,e," 

Oh?

 I waved to Courtney before walking to the other side of the room to sit down next to him. 

"What is it?" 

"You and Courtney seem........ close. " 

"Oh, she was just scared and I was trying to comfort her."

 "Oh well..... Okay. Go ahead I.... I have no idea how to do this. Be.... whatever I am to Courtney," 

"It's okay. Besides, you guys aren't even....... official yet. You know, she just asked you to the dance and.....-" 

I realized I was probably making him feel worse. 

"It's just confusing because last time I checked, she hated you." Scott said. 

"Oh.." I hesitated, just realizing how much we had changed in such a short amount of time. It was..... crazy. "I don't know, I guess we just clicked," I added, not sure what word to use. 

"I don't think me and Courtney have anything coming for a relationship like that. And besides I think I've made it more than obvious I like Zoey," "Yeah, but Zoey and Mike already like each other." He elbowed me in the arm hard. "You think I couldn't figure that out, genius?" He laughed. "Well, back to Courtney. Do you like her?" 

I froze. "Uh.... I- I don't know." 

"Well, do you want to find out?" 

"I guess, yeah, but what do you mean?" I asked.

"Hm," Scott paused for an uncomfortable amount of time. 

"Uh.... Scott, truth or dare?" It was Courtney.

 Scott flinched at looked up in surprise. 

"Ummmm, truth?" 

"Oh, well.... what were you writing in your notebook earlier today?" 

He looked up and stared Courtney dead in the eyes, the most serious expression I had ever seen. His face was red in embarrassment. Everyone was looking around, asking people what she was talking about. 

"I-" Scott froze. "It's-,"

"Don't worry, Scott!" Zoey said, comfortingly. "We won't think any less of you! I mean... If it's that important or embarrassing to you." 

Mike leaned back and rolled his eyes. 

Scott looked a bit less embarrassed after she said that. 

"It's... something. Something someone told me to write.... When I was feeling angry... or upset-" 

"Who? And why?" Courtney asked. 

"You can only ask me one question!" Scott yelled.

"Okay, okay.." Courtney looked surprised, and she leaned back in her chair, tense. 

"I-" Scott stammered, but he had done his damage. "I'm sorry...." 

He looked genuinely guilty, and I felt bad. I elbowed him. 

"You turn, man." 

He glanced at me before scanning the room. His eyes eventually led back to me. 

"Uh...... Duncan?" 

Oh, okay then. 

"Truth or dare." 

"Dare, gotta be risky sometime, right?" I looked around at everyone as they slightly laughed. 

"Okay.." Scott hesitated, thinking about what to dare me to do. Then he grinned and glanced at Courtney, then back at me. 

"What!" Courtney shouted. "Scott, you and I are literally at this party together." 

"Honestly, It's not much of a party anymore," Mike said. "It's more of us not being able to leave for the night." 

Other than that, everyone else was shocked at Scott's dare. 

"What, do you think I'm blind?" Scott asked Courtney, smiling. "You two are too obvious, I'd rather not be stuck here pretending you like me. We both know it." 

She stared at Scott for a long time before turning back to me. 

"This isn't even my dare!" Courtney blurted. "Why should I be forced into this?" 

Scott shrugged and lean back on the couch. "Either that or Duncan loses and the game ends, I guess," 

"Fine, consider it ended," Courtney went to stomp off but I grabbed her hand. 

"Wait! How come she decides if the game is over even though it's my dare!" I argued, looking at Scott.

Courtney turned back and looked at me, she looked hesitant and a bit guilty. At least before turning back and walking away. 

"Darn, That would've been awesome to record," Alejandro joked

Courtney just scoffed in reply. 

"Courtney wait!" I called, following her to the other side of the basement, out of hearing range from everyone else. 

"I am not kissing you," She said, pushing me away.

"But you heard Scott, you both know you don't like each other like that." 

"So what, you like me now? She replied, crossing her arms.

"Not gonna lie, thought I made that one obvious." I grinned. 

"Wait, you weren't joking?" She said, .

"Well, I thought I was.... I'm pretty sure I was I guess." I replied. 

"I- Wha....?" 

Courtney was in shock but I had to play it cool and pretend it wasn't that big of a deal.

 "Your turn," I said to her, regaining my seat next to Scott. 

"Wait- Uh-" 

She slowly made her way back to the couch with everyone else, who was grinning uncontrollably. 

I would never admit this out loud, but heck did I love it.

"Well uh-" Courtney was sweating and blushing. "Y-Y'know, truth or dare is kinda b-boring, isn't it? " 

"Boring, huh?" Gwen asked jokingly. "The look is all over your face, don't you even try." 

Courtney glared at Gwen. 

"Shut up!" She squeaked. 

"I kind of have to agree with Courtney," Trent said. "I think the game has hit a climax. It's all downhill from there." 

"Okay then," Scott said, still grinning at the event prior. "What to do now?"

Trent looked at the time again. "It's 10:30. Anyone tired?"

 "I sure am" Zoey yawned and stretched her arms, leaning on Mike's chest. 

Mike was flustered and blushing. "M-me too." 

"Okay, I can go tell my dad, if he's still awake,"

Alejandro got up to leave and went to a doorway where his parents were. We heard some faint, muffled voices, and the squeak of a mattress. Then his dad walked outside the door. 

"Okay, we have a guest bedroom over here where the girls can sleep. A chest of blankets is in the corner since some of you will need to sleep on the floor. Guys can stay out here on the sectional." 

Everyone nodded their heads before Alejandro's father left to go back into the room. 

I looked over and Courtney seemed nervous and worried. 

I grabbed her shoulder from behind and spun her around. 

"Everything okay?" I asked. 

She laughed. "Uh, yeah don't expect me to speak to you for the rest of the night." 

"It was a dare, a game, calm down."

 "How am I supposed to calm down when you practically confessed your love for me? The guy who has been annoying me, a huge pain in my neck, since grade school! You can't just do that to a person and pretend everything is fine!" She looked like she was about to cry. 

"Princess, I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't exactly..... realize until tonight. Also, last time I took a long look at your expression after kissing you, I'm pretty sure you like me?"

 Courtney paused, and her face turned red. "So what if I do?" You can't just change your entire personality in a few hours! Th-this has to be a trick." 

She turned back around and tugged her arm away.

Called it.

(Note from the author) 

OMG this was my favorite chapter to write! Sorry the comics are rlly sloppy haha. I wanted a better way to describe those events except just words! I might clean up the lines on it a bit.