Jennie's POV
I change out of my pajamas and put on a new pair of jeans that I haven't worn yet. They are a little tighter than my usual pants, but I'm in desperate need of a trip to the laundry room, so I don't have much of a choice. My shirt is a simple black button-up, sleeveless shirt with lace trim on the shoulders.
"Wow, I actually like your outfit a lot," Wendy tells me. I smile and she tries to offer me eyeliner again.
"Not this time," I tell her, remembering how it smeared from my tears last time. Why did I agree to go back to that frat house again?
"Okay. Nancy is picking us up instead of Jack; she just texted that she'll be here any minute."
"I don't think she likes me," I say as I check myself out in the mirror.
Wendy cocks her head to one side. "What? She does. She's just bitchy and too honest sometimes. And I think she is intimidated by you."
"Intimidated? By me? Why on earth would she be intimidated by me?" I say and laugh. Wendy clearly has this backward.
"I think just because you're so different from us," she says and smiles. I know I'm different from them, but to me they are the "different" ones. "Don't worry about her, though; she'll be occupied tonight."
"By Lisa?" I ask before I can stop myself. I continue to look at the mirror, but I can't help but notice the way she is looking at me with one eyebrow raised.
"No, by Rosé probably. She changes guys every week."
That's a harsh thing to say about a friend, but she just smiles and adjusts her top.
"She isn't dating Lisa?" The image of them making out on the bed comes to mind.
"No way. Lisa doesn't date. She fucks with a lot of girls, but she doesn't date anyone. Ever."
"Oh," is all I manage to say.
THE PARTY TONIGHT is the same as last week. The lawn and house are crowded with drunk people everywhere. Why didn't I just stay in and stare at my ceiling?
Nancy disappears as soon as we arrive, and I end up getting a spot on the couch and am sitting there for at least an hour when Lisa walks by.
"You look . . . different," she says after a short pause. Her eyes rake down my body and back up to rest on my face. She doesn't even try to be subtle about the way she's assessing me. I stay silent until her eyes meet mine. "Your clothes actually fit you tonight."
I roll my eyes and adjust my shirt, suddenly wishing I was wearing my normal loose clothing.
"It's a surprise to see you here."
"I'm a bit surprised that I ended up here again," I say and walk away from her. She doesn't follow, but for some reason I find myself wishing she would have.
A few hours later, Wendy is drunk again. Well, as much as everyone else is. "Let's play Truth or Dare," Rosé slurs and their small group of friends gather around the couch. Nancy passes a bottle of clear alcohol to Jackson and he takes a swig. Lisa's hand is so large that it covers her entire red cup as she takes a sip. Another punk-looking girl joins the game, making it Lisa, Rosé, Jackson, Jackson's roommate Bambam, Nancy, Wendy, and the new girl.
I'm just thinking that a drunken game of Truth or Dare can't possibly end well when Nancy says with a wicked smile, "You should play, too, Jennie."
"No, I'd rather not," I tell her and focus my attention on a brown stain on the carpet.
"To actually play, she would have to stop being a prude for five minutes," Lisa tells them and they all laugh except Wendy. Her words anger me. I am not a prude. Yeah, I will admit I'm not by any means wild, but I'm not some cloistered nun. I glare at Lisa and sit down cross- legged in their little circle, between Jackson and another girl. Lisa laughs and whispers something to Rosé before they start.
The first few truths and dares include Rosé being dared to chug an entire can of beer, Nancy being dared to flash her bare chest to the group, which she does, and Wendy revealing the truth that her nipples are pierced.
"Truth or dare, Jennie?" Lisa asks and I gulp. "Truth?" I squeak.
She laughs and mutters, "Of course," but I ignore her as Jackson rubs his hands together.
"Okay. Are you . . . a virgin?" Rosé asks, and I choke. No one seems fazed by the intrusive question besides me. I feel the heat in my cheeks and the humor in everyone's faces.
"Well?" Lisa presses. Despite how much I want to run away and hide, I just nod. Of course I'm a virgin; the furthest Kai and I have gone is making out and some slight groping, over our clothes, of course.
Still, no one seems outright surprised by my answer, just intrigued.
"So you have been dating Kai for two years and you haven't had sex?" Wendy asks, and I shift uncomfortably.
I just shake my head. "Lisa's turn," I say quickly, hoping to take the attention off myself.