Ky doesn’t look annoyed, however. Ky looks like he’s got questions, and this time I can’t dodge them by pretending I need to use the restroom or changing the subject.
“Did the group give you permission to leave, or did you steal from them and leave while everyone else was sleeping?”
Cade tenses, and I think back to the first night when we decided to ask the council to let a group leave camp. Cade really believed they would vote in our favor, disobeying them was a last resort and one that brought no pleasure. We aren’t like Ky, who fought the group at every turn, but the way I see it this question works in our favor. We need to appear like there is a divide between us and the group that exiled him. I make sure my tone is firm when I answer.
“They voted against our leaving and we left anyway.”
Toni raises one eyebrow in appreciation.
Ky opens his mouth to issue a follow up question, but that’s not how this works and it’s my turn.
“Truth or Dare, Toni?”
“What do you want me to pick?” she asks, leaning over and extending her hands toward the fire.
It’s getting late and a cool breeze causes us all to crowd closer for warmth.
“Truth.”
I have to pick my question carefully or run the risk of her shutting the game down or worse refusing to pick anymore truths.
“Alright then, have at it. What’s your burning question?”
“Truth, you chose to come to this island. No crash landing, no accidental marooning.”
Toni smirks and drinks from her cup. “You’re smart for a child raised by idiots.”
“So, I’m right?”
“You’re not wrong.”
Her phrasing irritates me. What does that mean? I'm not wrong? Either she planned to live here or she didn’t.
“The tent, the radio, you brought all that with you.”
“Tisk tisk tisk,” says Toni, wagging a finger in front of her face. “It’s not your turn anymore.”
It’s early and there will be other chances so I swallow my frustration.
“Everybody drinks,” cries Toni standing and holding her cup toward us.
Ky and Cade clink their glasses against Toni’s but not me. “That’s not a truth or a dare.”
“I run the game, and I say everybody drinks.”
Cade locks eyes with me across the fire and lifts one eyebrow, a hint that I should shut up and play along. I am already halfway through my glass, and I’m certain that Toni refilled it while Cade and I were in the woods because a pleasant buzz is working its way through my body, and I’m having a hard time staying focused on the purpose of this game.
“Now,” says Toni tilting her head toward me. After everyone has obediently sipped from their cup she turns to Ky. “I would like to ask Ky, Truth or Dare?”
Ky doesn’t look like he’s having fun anymore. His eyes are cold, and I am beginning to get the impression that he and Toni aren’t as strong of allies as I thought. Maybe our being here isn’t so great for them. It’s hard to hide the fact that they don’t particularly like each other and now that we are here they don’t have to stay with one another to not be alone.
“Dare,” growls Ky.
Toni grins. “I dare you to show the little girl a real kiss.”
Little girl? I could claw the smirk from her face. I haven’t been a little girl since our plane landed on this island.
Cade starts to stand and Toni grabs him by the forearm pulling him back down onto the log where they have been sitting. “We all agreed to play.”
“Lena didn’t accept the Dare,” argues Cade, and though I can’t tell if it’s the moonshine or anger, his face and neck are flooding with red.
“You don’t have to,” says Ky, looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
I know I don’t have to, but what harm is there in a kiss? There is a hell of a lot more at stake if I refuse.
“It’s just a kiss,” I say, intentionally avoiding Cade’s gaze as I stand and extend my hand to Ky.
Ky is a good foot taller than me. He’ll have to lean over or I’ll have to stretch up onto my toes. I’m not sure which. Standing after sitting so long seems to flood the alcohol through my system. I do not feel nervous, I feel invincible.
“Whenever you’re rea—” I start to say, but I don’t finish because Ky’s hands are in my hair and his lips are pressed up against mine. I can barely catch my breath as his thumbs trace the bottom of my jaw and his tongue juts into my mouth cautious at first and then fully in control. This is kissing I think as I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him closer. This is kissing and I cannot get enough of it. My whole body seems to melt into his and for a moment I forget everything about where we are and whose lips are parting over mine.
A slow clap pulls me from the spell.
“Bravo!” chants Toni. “Bravo!”
Disoriented, I take a step back. Ky untangles himself from my embrace and looks hard into my eyes. I’m not sure what he’s thinking. I barely know what I’m thinking, but Cade’s voice cutting through the silence brings everything into focus.
“How about a real dare?”
“Yeah?” asks Ky. “You ready to play now?”
If this were the jungle this would be the part where the lions fly at one another, claws sinking in, teeth sharp and bare in the moonlight.
But here in the rainforest, it’s the snakes you have to watch out for.
Fourteen
“Settle down,” says Toni, taking in the tension between Ky and Cade. “I am hijacking this dare. Everyone participates, especially you.” Then she leans over and whispers something in Cade’s ear. Something that makes his already red cheeks grow darker.
“We’re going to the water,” sings Toni, the alcohol slops from her cup as she jumps to her feet and pulls Cade along with her.
I want to slide over beside Cade and tell him our plan is working. She’s getting looser by the minute, but my own legs wobble a little when I stand and an urge to giggle bubbles up inside of me. This is not good. Not good at all. Beside me, Ky shakes his head and gives me a little push toward the path where Cade and Toni have become dark shapes getting smaller and smaller the further they go.
“I know what you’re trying to do,” says Ky. “And you’re not very good at it.”
“Maybe if you helped instead of fighting with Cade,” I tease and then move to poke him in the ribs only I miss and he catches my wrist, pulling me to a stop instead.
His breath is coming fast and his face is so close to mine that I can see the little bit of sweat that clings to his forehead. I think he is going to kiss me again, but he doesn’t, he just stands there looking at me and waiting.
“I’ve been trying to warn you. There are no fun games with Toni. Whatever you think you can get from her, forget it. She doesn’t care about anyone.”
“Anyone?” I ask, my eyes finding Cade on the path.
“Anyone, and if you cross her...”
“What?” I laugh. The night is beautiful, and the silver glow cast by the moon on the tips of the leaves around us has me too entranced to take his caution seriously. “Come on Ky, it’s supposed to be a celebration.”