Chapter 3: Sleepless in Alphea

A/N: I do not own Winx Club

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"Come on girls, it's time!" Stella chimed enthusiastically.

"Stella do we have to do this?" Bloom asked in a monotone indicating her unwillingness which the blonde beauty conveniently ignored.

"I'm really in no mood." She said hugging her blanket as if it were a protective shield which would absorb her sadness away. The girls were gathered in the common area of their room at Stella's command who summoned everyone for a 'much needed' sleepover.

"Oh come on Bloomy, you don't have to be sad for that good for nothing Sky Brandon or whatever he calls himself. There are tons of fishes in the oceans and it's time you leave your comfy bed, get in a boat and cast your net!" All she got in return was a depressing silence.

"That's true. Who needs those pathetic losers when there are so many great guys out there who would consider themselves lucky on receiving even a single glance from us?" Musa chimed in.

Stella and Musa had been on an ex-boyfriend bashing spree since a week or so. While they rarely agreed on anything due to their contrasting personalities, this was a topic where their compatibility was off the charts. On some occasions, they would even complete each other's sentences … that is if anti-men slogans are qualified to be called as sentences ...Fries before guys… Hickery Dickery Dock, my ex-boyfriend is such a … you get the idea.

"Exactly, and it's been so long since we last did this. It's our ritual - playing truth or dare, watching chick lits and gossiping about the latest happenings in school."

Tecna secretly rolled her eyes at Stella item of the agenda which did not go unnoticed by the blonde.

"Come on Tecna, you know you want to!" She said in an alluring voice.

"As a matter of fact I do. If past data is any indication, sleep overs have been fundamental in maintaining our intimacy as a group. They also serve as a platform for updating each other on the latest happenings of our respective lives."

"Leave it to Tecna to make something as fun as sleepover sound like a research paper."

Musa's comment was greeted by a pillow flung by the teal eyed girl. Stella chucked while Bloom and Flora managed to let out shy smiles.

"So it's decided. Let the sleep over begin! We're playing truth or dare, huddle up girls."

All the girls gathered in a small circle at Stella's announcement. Bloom let out a soft groan as Stella snatched her beloved blanket from her body and flung it in a corner of the room like a candy wrapper.

"So, let's begin with…' She pondered for a minute "… Musa." Musa had a cocky grin on her face.

"Dare as always." She said confidently. After stealing a fountain pen from the warden's office, drinking an unholy mixture of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise and roaming in the dorm corridors dressed as a ghost, there was nothing that could intimidated her.

"Hmm… let me think. Call Jared and flirt with him." Stella challenged.

The shy smiles and secret glances that Jared gave Musa had not escaped her notice, and after the whole Riven fiasco she just wished for her friend to find true love. So when she saw an opportunity, she went for it.

"This is not a good idea." Flora jumped in the conversation for the first time.

"That's why it's a dare sweety!" Stella said in a sweet song like manner. "Fast Muse, time is running out."

"Fine, will get done with this." Flirting was to Musa like honey was to frogs.

Musa let out a small involuntary groan as she picked up her phone and dialled Jared's number, putting it on speaker. She did not know Jared very well, but from what she he seemed to be a sweet and kind guy, always helpful, never running into trouble like a certain magenta coloured guy she would rather not think about. So she decided to have a small playful chat with Jared enough to amuse the girls' coz honestly that's what the dare is all about, while keeping it friendly and not giving him the wrong idea. Jared picked up the call in the second ring itself.

"Hello?" He sounded a bit surprised.

"Hi Jared this is Musa, from Art class." She mentally cursed herself for not planning ahead about what she was supposed to tell him before dialling the call. Ok Musa, keep it simple and sweet.

"I know you Musa, how can I not. You are the best singer in entire Magix"

Stella made a heart shape with her fingers, at which the remaining girls giggled. Musa only glared at her with deadpan eyes. "FLIRT" Stella mouthed.

"Aahh Musa you still there?"

"Ohh yes, I was thinking…. Thinking how sweet you are. You could put Hershey's' out of business." She tried to flirt.

"Ohh well, not me. I mean.. you know." He stuttered at the unexpected compliment, not knowing how to react. This was unexpected, not that he was complaining.

"Musa I was wondering," He approached with the gentleness of a hunter catching a butterfly.

"Hmm"

"My younger sister's birthday is next week and I want to gift her headphones, she's always wanted a pair. So I am heading to Magix tomorrow and I was wondering if maybe you could join me?" He asked reluctantly.

"I know nothing about headphones and stuff so maybe you could help me choose good ones for her. It won't be long. We can leave in the morning and maybe grab lunch together?" Now it was the girl's chance to be caught off guard.

Musa took a moment to gather herself before responding. Stella however beat her to it and squealed a "yes!" which Jared thought was coming from an excited Musa.

"Thanks! That's great! I'll pick you up tomorrow morning just give me a ring when you are ready!"

"Sure." It was Musa this time. She could not refuse him now, that ship had already sailed. Stella is so gonna pay for this!

"Good night Musa. See you tomorrow!"

"Good night Jared."

Disconnecting the phone, she turned towards Stella giving her a death glare "Stella Solaria are you crazy?" she yelled at the top of her voice.

"I was just helping you sweetie. Besides, he is doing this for his little sister, how can anyone say no to that." She said in a mellifluous voice making a puppy face.

"That was nice of him." Flora remarked.

"Flora you too? This is practically a lunch date!"

"Well one date couldn't hurt, right?" Tecna asked, not totally sure what lunch dates signify in the world of dating and love, but it couldn't be that bad, right?

"See, even Tecna agrees!" Stella gushed as if she'd just won an election.

"You are so done Stella." Was all Musa could say for now.

"Let's continue with the game." Bloom requested. It was a good distraction from the memories of a certain blond guy that were haunting her, and besides seeing the girls excited and happy warmed her heart.

"Ok, Stella, truth or dare?"

Stella thought for a moment. The girls would ask her to do something stupid regarding Brandon so to avoid that, she opted for truth.

"What is the cheesiest pick up line anyone has used on you?" Flora asked.

That brought a smile to her faced as she began speaking. "Well, a guy once told me 'Seeing you from across the room, I had at least 50 compliments lined up. But seeing you up front, I know even 5 million of them are not enough to describe your beauty and grace.' "

"Awww" the girls except Tecna chimed in chorus.

"That was so romantic. Who was that guy?" Flora asked.

The only answer she got was a longing nostalgic stare and half a smile. They all understood who it was.

"Moving on," Bloom changed the topic, "Flora, truth or dare."

This was the moment Flora was dreading. The last time they were playing this wretched game, the girls had dared her to put 20 love notes in Helia's locker. It seemed harmless to her back then. She could send those little love notes she had written for him during boring history lectures and also remain anonymous. It was almost prefect and could have gone smoothly without a hiccup except for the fact that just when she was inserting the last pink heart shaped note in his locker, Helia appeared out of nowhere! She was caught red or should we say pink handed! And what's worse, he even asked her what was she doing near his locker. Flooded by panic and embarrassment, Flora shifted her gaze to the ground and darted out of that place ignoring everyone and everything around her. Ever since that day, she has been avoiding him like plague. Even the thought of that day or Helia brought her immense anxiety and embarrassment.

"Truth, but nothing about Helia"

"Then where is the fun in it?" Stella complained.

"Or you can choose dare and we promise it won't be about Helia. Or any other boy" Tecna saw an opportunity here and grabbed it. The girls gave Tecna a quizzical look.

"Okay."

Flora thought she negotiated her way out of this, but little did she know, just like the previous time, this seemingly uneventful dare too will turn out to be memorable.

"You have to accompany me to Magix Movie theatre tomorrow, they are playing a documentary which I want to see it but no one would accompany me."

"Nooooo." The rest of the girls chimed in unison.

"This is too simple. And Boring!" Stella complained.

"And what about Timmy?" Musa questioned. "Don't you want to go on a date with him?" She attempted to coax her.

"He'd love to go to this with you. Seeing two of his favourite things combined." Flora said genuinely.

"Yeah Tecna, you guys should totally go on a movie date. Buttery popcorn and sugary company."

"Yuck Stella, that was so bad it made me want to throw up." The blonde in question ignored Musa's comment.

"So you want a different dare?" Ignoring Stella's comment Tecna turned to Flora.

"No no, this sounds great. We'll go to the movies!" Flora was relieved. Tecna flashed an uncharacteristic smirk for a split second before returning to her normal self. She might have to make a late night call to a certain brown-orange haired bespectacled specialist after all.

"Your turn Tecna. And your dare is.." Stella said

"I believe I get to choose between truth and dare"

"Since you gave Flora a very easy, not to mention super boring one, you don't."

"Now, give us your phone." Stella grinned wickedly. Tecna did not like where this was going.

That would be suicidal

…

A/N: Isn't Stella the best? Riven may not agree though.