Chapter 1.
"Come on Marie!" one of the girls urged her, "a dare's a dare, you've got to do it!" she said.
"This is a stupid game" Marie pouted, starting to regret coming to the slumber party after all, "Don't you think we're a bit old for truth-or-dare?" she complained.
"Quit trying to chicken out!" another girl said, "you picked dare, now you've gotta do it."
"But all Angela had to do was knock on a door and run off," Marie complained, "and you three can't seem to understand that we're just friends! Nothing more."
"You're the only one, no one else talks to him, and he doesn't talk to anyone else. He's too intimidating," Angela shivered, "and for goodness sake, Marie, it's just a kiss!"
"But none of you have to kiss your best friend! If I do it, then things would get weird between us… L's my best friend, I'm not risking that for a stupid dare" Marie stated proudly.
"Chicken." Irene muttered, " At least he's not ugly, Marie. If you ask me, he's quite good-looking." She said with a blush receiving a giggle of agreement from the other girls, Marie smirked, L was definitely going to find out about this. "we could have paired you up with much, much worse" she giggled.
"Fine," Marie said, stiffly, leaving the girls in a fit of giggles. Outside of the door, she cracked a grin, herself. Little did the other girls know, but Marie intended on telling L everything that happened at the slumber party sooner or later, including her need of a kiss.
Marie walked down the long hallways until she finally arrived at the door to his room. She knocked only once, knowing that he would hear, and immediately heard a shuffling from inside the room. Soon, the door swung open, revealing L.
The girls were definitely right saying that L was good-looking, though she would never admit it. His jet black hair covered up his onyx eyes that stood out against his chalky skin in a way that was almost hypnotizing. He would probably look better if he didn't always look like he was about to fall asleep on the spot.
"Slumber party done already?" L asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
"Not exactly…" Marie said, stepping into his disorganized room which was littered with wrappers from sweets, papers and laundry. "You really should clean this place up, it's disgusting."
He ignored her comment about his room with a mere shoulder shrug, "so if the slumber party isn't over," he questioned, "what are you doing here?"
"Speaking of slumber party, I just survived a conversation about how good-looking you are, I nearly threw up!" she joked with a grin.
He grimaced slightly in embarrassment, if there was anything L hated, it was mindless compliments. "That's what you came here for?" he asked, seeing straight through my stalling.
'damn, he's too smart!' she thought. Marie twirled a strand of her black hair and looked up at L with innocent blue eyes. He shifted his weight uncomfortably and folded his arms in a defensive position. "What do you want?"
A small smile spread on her face, "a favor" she said.
"Well?" he asked, still in his defensive position, he did not like where this was going.
"Well, you see, we were playing truth-or-dare…" she started, hesitantly. What if he refused? What would she tell the girls? She got turned down by L? How would this affect their friendship? Why did her feelings hurt at the thought of him turning away from her and coming up with some lame excuse not to kiss her? "… They can't seem to comprehend that we're just friends…" she continued, unable to say the rest.
"You have to kiss me, don't you?" he said, bluntly. She sighed, for once, thankful that he wasn't stupid… and ugly.
"Sort of, yeah" she said, grinning sheepishly.
"… and there's no way out of it?" he asked. Marie was afraid that there was a look of hurt on her face, because he then said, "if not, there really isn't much we can do but oblige. Lets keep this strictly business, shall we?" he said, exasperated.
"Agreed." She said.
Standing face to face, the two best friends stood in an awkward silence, simply staring at one another, trying to decipher the other's thoughts. L finally moved ever so slowly lifting his had towards her face, but pausing inches from it, and letting it drop to his side with and exasperated sigh.
"What's the matter, L? First kiss?" Marie teased, attempting to hide her own hesitance and awkwardness.
L actually laughed at this remark, "Please, Marie, I'm 17. Of course this isn't my first kiss." He said, "You?" he added with a smirk.
"I… err… I'm… just… I've… uh…" Marie stuttered, much to Marie's embarrassment, this was her first kiss and L was well aware of that as his smirk grew into a full grown grin. She sighed. "Let's just get this over with, L" she said, suddenly putting both of her hands on the side of his face and standing on her tip-toes while still forcing him to lean over in order to reach his pale lips.
Marie was not prepared for what came with that kiss. Her face suddenly felt hot and her eyes were snapped shut. She was afraid to open them and see his shocked expression. The kiss lasted longer than what courtesy allowed, but Marie found herself content with the feeling of his smooth lips pressed against hers. She moved her hands from his face and down to the sides of his neck just above his soldiers. His arms were place firmly at his sides not even taking notice to the way she held him. She longed for those arms to wrap around her and feel the muscles in his arms that she knew he had but kept hidden to tense at her touch as hers did when he was near. She wanted him to show some sort of affection back to her, but found herself kissing and emotionless statue that looked like her L. In a feeble attempt, Marie's tongue tried to pry its way into his mouth but it was met with pursed lips. Finally, he easily broke her vice-grip and pulled away, forcing her hands, which had been running through his hair, to return to her sides.
"I thought we agreed it was to be strictly business?" L said, quietly.
"I'm sorry" Marie mumbled, embarrassed by her uncontrolled actions.
"What's wrong with you, Marie?" he asked, his tone was not angry, as she expected. It showed worry and curiosity. "You've been acting oddly lately." He said.
"Have I?" she asked.
"You know you can trust me with whatever is bothering you, right, Marie?" he worried more.
"Of course, L" she said, still not making eye-contact with him, and of course he noticed.
"Now get back to your slumber party, I'm sure those girls are waiting for a play-by-play of my kissing expertise." He joked, smiling at her. she looked up and smiled back,
"I'll give you a good review."
"Thanks," he grinned as she stepped out of his room and he softly closed the door leaving her in the dark hallway alone.
'L…" she thought, 'how can I trust you with what's bothering me, if you're the one bothering me?' she slumped slightly as she walked back to her room, she had to put on a impassive face for the girls, but in reality, her mind was constantly wondering 'how could I have fallen for L? My best friend!"