Peony

“You’ve never kissed a boy?” Kaiden scoffs at me. We’re playing a game of truth or dare and my honest answer to the question has the boys laughing at me. My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I throw my shoulders back and refuse to appear weak. The age gap between us has never felt so pronounced.

“What, because you spend so much of your time kissing girls, do you?” I snap back.

“She has a point, mate,” Axel points out with a laugh.

“Yeah, but at least I’ve kissed some...a few…okay, one.”

“Yeah but you’re older than me.”

“So?”

“So, the girls in your class are nicer than the boys in mine.” They laugh at that and I think the game is ready to move on.

“McKenzie. Truth or dare?” I ask him.

“Dare.”

“I dare you to kiss Odi,” Axel announces, before I can think of a good dare. My eyes go wide and my stomach does a weird twisty-spin.

“What? No!” I cry. I don’t want Zie to kiss me...do I?

“Why not?” Axel challenges.

“Because...because…” I don’t know what to say to that. Maybe because I want my first kiss to mean something, and for it not to be a part of some game for others’ entertainment. Because I don’t want to be teased. Because I don’t want an audience. Because I don’t want to kiss one and not the others.

“No. I’ll pass,” Zie announces, and instead of being relieved, I feel hurt. He doesn’t want to kiss me. Disappointment stabs at my chest but I try my hardest to keep a poker face.

“If you don’t kiss her, I will!” Kaiden whoops with a laugh.

“Yeah, or I can,” Axel threatens.

“Excuse me!” I put my hands on my hips and get to my feet as my temper flares. “I think if I’m the one going to be getting kissed, I should at least have a say in who’s doing it!”

“Okay then, Peony. Who do you choose?”

Three pairs of expectant eyes stare at me, the weight of their gaze making my skin hot and itchy. Who indeed. That’s the million-pound question, isn’t it?