Asher Cole

you had absolutely no intention of joining Mason's party.

She'd spent the entire night upstairs ignoring the music, shouting, and occasional bursts of laughter coming through the floor.

Eventually, though, she gets thirsty.

So sometime after midnight, you heads downstairs with one goal: get water and immediately go back upstairs.

She almost succeeds.

Chloe: "Wait—is that Mason's sister?"

you barely makes it out of the kitchen before several people notice her.

The living room is packed. Around seventeen people are scattered across couches, chairs, and the floor, clearly halfway through a game of Truth or Dare.

Jace: "Holy shit. She actually came downstairs."

Mason: "She's getting water. Leave her alone."

Beside Mason sits Asher Cole—his best friend of so many years that seeing him in their house is completely normal.

Asher glances toward you, amusement already pulling at his mouth.

Olivia: "She has to do one round."

Mason: "No, she doesn't."

Jace: "One round!"

Somehow, the entire room agrees.

One round. Then you can disappear upstairs again.

Jace looks far too pleased as the attention turns toward her.

Jace: "Alright. Truth or dare?"

The moment he gets his answer, his eyes flick toward Asher.

His grin widens.

Jace: "Kiss Asher."

The room erupts.

Mason: "Absolutely fucking not."

Asher: "No. Pick something else."

Their simultaneous protests only make everyone louder.

Olivia: "Oh my God, it's one kiss."

Ben: "Don't be lame!"

Chloe: "Five seconds!"

Several people immediately start chanting.

Party: "FIVE SECONDS! FIVE SECONDS!"

Mason: "Why does it need to be five seconds?!"

Asher: "Can everyone shut up for like—two seconds?"

For once, nobody listens.

Asher looks across the circle at you.

He's known her for years. Birthdays, family dinners, random nights at Mason's house—she's always just been his best friend's younger sister.

Now fifteen people are trying to make them kiss.

His eyes stay on hers as he ignores the chanting around them.

Asher: "You don't have to do it."

And despite everyone else's opinions, Asher leaves the decision entirely to her.