Jennie's POV
I follow Rosé to the kitchen, mentally psyching myself up so I can get through this party. I wanted to go over and curse Lisa out, tell her to never speak to me again, slap her and rip Nancy's pink hair out of her head. However, she would probably just smirk the whole time, so instead I decide to gulp down the entire cherry vodka sour that Rosé makes me and ask for another. Lisa has ruined too many of my nights, and I refuse to be that girl.
Rosé makes me another sour, but when I hold my cup out again a couple of minutes later, she laughs and holds up her hands. "Whoa, slow down, killer. You already drank two!"
"It just tastes really good." I laugh and lick the remaining cherry flavor off my lips.
"Well, let's just take it slow on this one, yeah?"
When I agree, she mixes me up another one and then says, "I think we are about to play another round of Truth or Dare."
What is with these guys and their annoying games of Truth or Dare? I thought people stopped playing those ridiculous games when they were in high school. The pain in my chest returns as my mind goes over all the things Lisa and Nancy may have already been dared to do tonight.
"What did I miss during the last round?" I ask her with the best flirty smile I can manage. I probably look insane, but she smiles back, so it seems to work.
"Just some drunk people sucking face, the usual." She shrugs. The lump in my throat rises but I swallow it back down with my drink. I give a fake laugh and continue to drink out of my cup as we make our way back to the others. Rosé takes a seat on the floor diagonally from Lisa and Nancy's spot on the couch, and I sit down next to her, closer than I usually would, but that's the point. Part of me had assume Lisa would have gotten Nancy off her lap by now, but she hasn't. So I lean in a little closer yet to Rosé.
Lisa's eyes draw to slits, but I ignore her. Nancy is still perched on her lap like the whore she is, and Wendy gives me a sympathetic smile and glances toward Lisa. The vodka is beginning to take its effect as Jackson's turn comes around.
"Truth or dare?" Wendy asks.
"Truth," he answers, and she rolls her eyes.
"Pussy." Her colorful language never ceases to surprise me. "Okay . . . Is it true that you pissed in Bambam's closet last weekend?" she asks and they all start laughing except me. I have no clue what they are talking about.
"No! I already told you guys that wasn't me!" he groans, making everyone laugh harder. Rosé looks over and winks at me in the middle of the uproar.
I hadn't really noticed before, but, Geez, she is hot. Really hot.
"Jennie, you playing?" Wendy asks and I nod. I look up at Lisa, who is staring at me. I smile at her, then look back at Rosé. The frown on Lisa's face takes a little pressure off my chest. She should feel as terrible as I do.
"Okay, truth or dare?" Nancy asks.
Of course she would be the one to ask me.
"Dare," I bravely say. God knows what she will have me do. "I dare you to kiss Rosé." A few gasps and chuckles are heard.
"We already know how she feels about kissing people; pick something else," Lisa says through her teeth.
"Actually, it's fine." She wants to play, we can play. "I don't think—" Lisa starts to say.
"Shut up, Lisa," Wendy says and gives me an encouraging smile.
I can't believe I agreed to kiss Rosé, even if she's one of the most attractive people I have ever seen. I have only really kissed Kai and Lisa; I figure Johnny from elementary school doesn't count, especially since he tasted like glue.
"You sure?" Rosé asks. She's trying to act concerned but I can see the excitement in her perfect features.
"Yeah, I am sure." I take another drink, forcing myself not to look up at Lisa, lest I change my mind. Everyone's eyes are on us as Rosé licks her lips and leans in to kiss me. Her lips are cold from her drink and I can taste the sweetness of the cherry juice on her tongue. Her lips are soft, yet hard against mine, and her tongue moves expertly with mine. I feel the heat rising in my stomach, not nearly as hot as with Lisa, but it feels so good that when Rosé's hands move to my waist, we both move up to our knees—
"Okay . . . damn. She said kiss, not fuck in front of everyone," Lisa says and Nancy tells her to shut up.
I let my eyes go over to Lisa, and she looks mad, beyond mad. But she brought this upon herself.
I pull away from Rosé and feel my cheeks flush as everyone stares at us. Wendy gives me a thumbs-up, but I look at the ground. Rosé looks very pleased and I feel embarrassed but thrilled with Lisa's reaction.
"Jennie, your turn to ask Bambam," Rosé says. Bambam chooses dare, so I give him the least creative dare and have him take a shot.
"Rosé, truth or dare?" Bambam asks as he chases his shot.
I down the rest of my drink, and the more I drink, the more numb my emotions become.
"Dare," Rosé answers, and Wendy whispers something in Bambam's ear that makes him grin.
"I dare you to take Jennie upstairs for ten minutes," Bambam says, and I choke on my breath. This is too much.
"That's a good one!" Nancy says and laughs at my expense.
Rosé looks at me as if asking me if I'm okay with it. Without thinking, I stand up and grab Rosé's hand. She looks as surprised as everyone else, but she stands up, too.
"This isn't part of Truth or Dare, this is . . . um . . . well, it's fucking dumb," Lisa says.
"Why does it matter? They are both single and it's all in good fun, so why do you care?" Nancy asks her.
"I . . . I don't care. I just think it's stupid," Lisa answers and my chest hurts again. She obviously had no plan to tell any of her friends that we are . . . were . . . whatever we were. She has been using me this entire time, I am just another girl to her and I was foolish, beyond foolish, to think otherwise.
"Well, good thing it's none of your business, Lisa," I snap and pull Rosé by the hand.
"Burn!" "Damn!" I hear a few voices say, and Lisa swears at them as Rosé and I walk away. We find a random bedroom at the top of the stairs and Rosé pulls the door open and turns the light on.
Now that I am away from Lisa, I begin to feel much more nervous being alone with Rosé. No matter how angry I am, I don't want to mess around with Rosé. Well, I wouldn't say I don't want to, but I know I shouldn't. I'm not that type of girl.
"So what do you want to do?" I squeak.
She chuckles a little and leads me to the bed. Oh Lord.
"Let's just talk, yeah?" she says and I nod and look down at the floor. "Not that I wouldn't love to do many other things with you, but you're intoxicated and I don't want to take advantage of you."
I gasp.
"Surprised?" She beams and I laugh. "A little," I admit.
"Why? I'm not a jerk, like Lisa," she says and I look away again. "You know, I thought you and Lisa had something going on for a little bit."
"No . . . we are just . . . well, we were friends, but not anymore." I don't want to admit how stupid I was for believing Lisa's lies.
"So are you still seeing your boyfriend from high school?" she asks.
Relieved not to be talking about Lisa, I relax and say, "No, we broke up."
"Oh, that's too bad. He was a lucky guy," she says with a sweet smile.
Rosé is so charming. I find myself staring into her caramel eyes; her eyelashes are fuller than mine. "Thanks."
"Maybe I could take you out sometime? On a proper date? Like, not into a bedroom at a frat party," she says, then chuckles nervously.
"Um . . ." I don't know what to say.
"How about I ask again tomorrow when you're sober?" She is much nicer than I thought she would be. Usually someone as attractive as her are jerks . . . like Lisa.
"Deal."
She takes my hand again. "All right then! Let's go back down."
When we walk back downstairs, Lisa and Nancy are still on the couch, but Lisa now has a drink and Nancy has moved so her legs are draped over her from the side. When Lisa's eyes dart down to where my hand is intertwined with Rosé's, I jerk away without thinking, but then grab it again quickly. Lisa clenches her jaw and I look away into the crowd of partiers.
"How was it?" Nancy smirks.
"Fun," I answer and Rosé stays quiet. I will thank her later for not correcting me.
"It's Nancy's turn," Jackson announces as we sit back on the floor. "Truth or dare?" Lisa asks her.
"Dare, of course."
And Lisa looks right into my eyes and says, "I dare you to kiss me."
My heart stops, literally. It stops beating; she is a bigger asshole than I ever imagined. My ears are swimming and my heart is pounding as Nancy shoots a boastful glance my way before she latches herself to Lisa. All the anger I feel toward Lisa is washed away and replaced by hurt, all- consuming hurt and the feel of hot tears on my face. I can't watch anymore, I just can't.
Within seconds, I'm on my feet and pushing through the drunk crowd. I hear Rosé and Wendy both call after me, but the room feels like it's spinning and when I close my eyes all I can see is Nancy and Lisa Knocking into people and not looking back, I finally reach the door and the fresh air outside fills my lungs and brings me back to reality.
How could she be so cruel? I run down the stairs on the sidewalk. I have to get away from here. I wish I had never met her, I wish I had had a different roommate. I even wish I had never come to WCU.
"Jennie!" I hear and I turn around, convinced I am imagining it until I see Lisa running after me.