One mildly cold shower later, I found myself nestled between my sister and Elias on the outdoor seat beneath a patio heater. The mixture of warmth from the heater, the mounds of blankets over us and the shared body heat helped keep the chill at bay. Aubrey sat on Elias's other side, looking incredibly adorable bundled up in her blanket, the pom pom on her beanie jiggling as she happily sipped on her drink. The pizzas the girls had brought back were rapidly devoured, everyone famished after a day of skiing (and emotional turmoil, on my part at least). 

I blew on the rim of my mug of hot chocolate, the steam wafting into the air. The motion made the fluffy blanket around my shoulders slip slightly, and before I could pull it back up, Elias's arm snaked around my shoulders to readjust it for me. I froze as the weight of his arm settled at my back for a lingering moment, searing hot amidst the frosty outdoors. When his hand rubbed up and down my bicep once, then twice, I almost spilt my drink at the sensation. But as quickly as it came, the warmth soon ebbed away when Elias picked up his own mug, shooting me a small smile.

God, why do you have to be so nice, dude? If you treat your friends so well, I can only imagine how you'd treat Aubrey once you start dating. 

"Thanks, Elias," I murmured, the boy shaking his head with another small smile, taking a long sip of his drink. I definitely did not ogle at the way his throat bobbed when he swallowed, or the way his pink tongue poked out to swipe at the sweetness clinging to his soft lips. No, definitely not.

For a short while, the four of us talked about everyday things; Aubrey asked my sister about things like her school, about which course she wants to get into for university, about how long she has known me for, how long it's been since we dated, and about how amazing it is that we're still such good friends. It was kind of strange how the conversation eventually drifted to things related to our relationship, which was extremely awkward considering our souls were brother and sister and yet our bodies had previously done the sinful salsa on multiple occasions.

"So, do you guys... hang out often?" Aubrey asked, looking between Amber and I as we both swallowed our drinks with strained gulps.

"Um, well, we hadn't seen each other for quite a while until recently..." I said slowly, looking at Amber who met my gaze, lips curling up wistfully at the memory of how vast our separation really was. I heard Aubrey cough, the sound making me turn back to her with a worried look, wondering if the poor girl was choking on her hot chocolate, only to catch Elias already patting her on the back with a slight frown.

Lex, you idiot. Why is your heart aching like that? You have no right to be jealous right now, you're the one that caught feelings for someone who already likes someone else. There's no one else to blame except for you and your stupidity.

"But still, it's hard to meet up because of school and exams," Amber sighed, rolling her eyes a little. Unlike the other students, my sister and I had done the whole final exam rodeo before, and instead of nervous we were just tired of studying. Still, as conscientious students who wanted to pave a path to a bright and comfortable future, we had to slave away at the books once again. 

At the mention of exams, both Elias and Aubrey also slumped in their blankets, before the protagonist shook her head.

"No talk about school or exams allowed while we're here," Aubrey declared, raising her mug as we all laughed, leaning forwards to clink our mugs together. "The only school-related thing we should talk about is the upcoming formal!"

"Ugh," I sighed, Aubrey pointing a finger at me accusingly, pouting. 

"What do you mean 'ugh', Alex! It's the formal! It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing! It's going to be so much fun!"

Well, for Amber and I it's a twice in a lifetime thing, but I wasn't keen to go to my first one and I'm sure as heck not keen to go to this one. Especially not when things will probably play out like in 'Say No to Bad Boys'. Formal night was written in trashy novel lore to be the day the main couple finally get together, and I was sure it would be the same in this iteration of that world. Sure, the main lead has been swapped out, but that would just mean that instead of Aubrey running barefoot like a fool to find chase after that dickhead Xander, she and Elias would go to the formal together as a proper couple and share a kiss under the tacky star decorations on the dance floor.

Plus, apart from the people around me right now, I didn't have any lingering attachments to any other students, considering I was terrified of 90% of them. My tadpole tube was constantly under threat from rabid, poorly-characterised side characters, and Xander's ex-friends looked like they wanted to drag me behind the school building to see how long my brick-hard abs would last under an onslaught of their fists.

"I'm just not fond of big parties like that. You know, wearing a stuffy suit, people packed onto a dance floor, bad but overpriced food... The list goes on," I said, shrugging. "Besides, it's not like I have a date to bring to it, anyway."

Elias's head jerked up to look at me as Aubrey sat up a little straighter in her seat, grinning. I looked at my two friends warily, mentally preparing my head and heart for their sugar-sweet declaration that they'd be going to the formal together. Because of course they were, what else could happen?

"Ehhh, so the reason you don't want to go is because you don't have a date, Alex? But you're so popular," Aubrey said, almost batting her eyelashes as I just scoffed, rolling my eyes once again. "Hey, don't roll your eyes at me, Alex! You are popular, you just don't see it."

Hey, it's not me that's popular, it's just that all the witches and bitches want to go for a ride on my magic broomstick, okay? So maybe it's just you who doesn't see it, Miss Protagonist! Not surprising though, considering how dense you were in 'Say No to Bad Boys' - you couldn't spot that Xander loved you even when he was literally and emotionally naked in front of you, blinded by his massive third leg.

"Hey, that reminds me. Elias, you're super popular too, but you don't have a date either, right?" Aubrey said, now turning to her future husband, who just ducked his head meekly, shaking his head with a shy smile. 

"No, I don't... Not yet, at least..." Elias said ambiguously, Aubrey's smile getting wider as I shuddered, trying to push down the feeling of my heart shattering by chugging down the rest of my hot chocolate.

God, do I have to be here to witness the guy I like ask out the protagonist? Can I unsubscribe to this show, please? Ugh, I guess I'll just have to push them along to get this episode over and done with.

"Aubrey, you're also super popular," I said quickly, feigning nonchalance by plucking some of the snacks from the table in front of us and chewing them violently. "You also don't have a date. Why don't you and Elias go together? You'd make a cute pair."

Elias and Aubrey looked at each other then, and I swore I could see the sparks flying between them, before they both turned to look at me with varied expressions. Aubrey was almost incredulous, whilst Elias just looked carefully blank, emotions shuttered.

Ah, maybe they're embarrassed? Hm, I guess I'm being a bit too pushy. I should try a gentler approach so they don't feel as awkward.

"It's just an idea," I said, giving the two of them an easy-going smile. "But maybe if you guys end up going together, I'll come along with Amber. That's a good idea, isn't it?"

I suddenly felt Amber's elbow stab itself into my side, the motion hidden from view underneath the mound of blankets, making me wince. 

"Huh? When did I ever say I wanted to go to your formal, Lex?" Amber said slowly, her beautiful face putting on an expression worthy of the body of the original villain. "Hm? Tell me. When exactly did I say I wanted to go?"

I gave my sister a pleading look, the girl staring back at me with an even more fiery gaze, before there was a clang of ceramic on glass as Elias fumbled with the mug he was placing down. The clattering noise disrupted our sibling staring contest, the four of us settling into a strange silence before Aubrey spoke up again to try and dispel the odd tension.

"Well, it doesn't matter, it'll even be fun if all four of us went to formal as friends. Don't need to follow such archaic traditions about finding a date," Aubrey said, Amber nodding as Elias let out a hum in agreement. "But that means you're coming, right, Alex?"

Aubrey and Elias both stared at me then, pleading, and I caved. 

"Fine, fine, you've convinced me," I groaned, flicking some wayward snow at their faces, the two main characters laughing happily, which made a small part of me happy too. Even though they were going to become a couple on formal night, seeing my friends so happy still gave me some joy, and that little slice of happiness was something I would have to hold on to.

"Yay! You can't take that back now, Alex!" Aubrey cheered, clapping her hands together as Elias just laughed, eyes crinkling as he smiled at me, also far too happy about something as trivial as me deciding to go to formal to suffer the true life of a third wheel. I'd have to really beg Amber to come with us so I don't have to suffer this pain alone.

"Anyway, since it's still early, why don't we play a game?" Aubrey said, eyes bright under the moonlight, the girl leaning forward eagerly. 

"A game?" Elias asked, raising a brow, intrigued. Aubrey just giggled, nodding enthusiastically.

"Yeah! On trips like these, aren't we supposed to play silly games like never have I ever, truth or dare... or spin the bottle," Aubrey said, eyes gleaming mischievously as I choked on my own spit. Aubrey caught my reaction, bursting out with a gleeful laugh.

"Truth or dare does sound kind of fun," Elias said, glancing at me with a cheeky curl of his lip. "Unless Alex wants to play spin the bottle instead?"

"Truth or dare is fine!" I said quickly, which only made my friends giggle more. "Since you guys are so keen, Elias, you go first. Truth or dare?" I asked, Elias pausing to think for a moment.

"Truth, I suppose," Elias said, Aubrey calling him a chicken, which he just smiled at.

"Hm... Then... I guess..." I started, trying to think of a question. To be honest, I was quite impressed that Aubrey was able to think of such an activity, because this was the perfect opportunity to become closer to the one you like! I thought a little longer, before steeling the shields around my heart, asking Elias his question. "So, Elias, do you currently like anyone? Romantically, of course."

Elias sucked in a tight breath as Aubrey let out a squeal, hands on her cheeks as she looked at Elias carefully, her small feet tapping on the ground. I reigned in my sigh, because these two dunces were so obvious and yet so, so slow. Honestly, without me here to help them, they would never get anywhere. They should be glad I'm apparently such a masochist, helping the boy I love get with my other close friend.

Putting bros before hoes has never been so painful, and yet, I'm nothing if not dedicated to sacrificing myself for the greater good.

Elias seemed hesitant, eyes trained on the ground and fingers knotting together, before finally managing to nod his head. Aubrey squealed again as my sister quietly clapped her hands from beside me, nodding her head at his honest admission. 

I felt my heart fracture a little more, because even with my good intentions, it still hurt to hear him admit that he liked someone.

"Okay, my turn now," Elias said quickly, turning to Aubrey beside him as we moved around the circle. "Aubrey, truth or dare?"

"Dare, obviously," Aubrey said, grinning as Amber clapped her hands again, cheering on the protagonist with her boldness.

"Then, I dare you to give Amber your phone and let her post a picture of you right now on your insta," Elias said, Aubrey gasping as Amber cackled, already stretching out her slender arm in a 'give it here' motion, devilish smile on her face. Aubrey looked at Elias pathetically, all of her eagerness when declaring dare gone, the protagonist whining as she handed my sister her phone reluctantly. 

"Don't worry, Aubrey, you look adorable all wrapped up like that!" I laughed, Aubrey scrunching up her face at me in her baby pink unicorn pyjama set and beanie, her pants tucked into pastel fluffy striped socks. Even though she thought she was dressed down to the maximum, her protagonist genes were still going strong, and she somehow managed to look excessively adorable all swathed in soft layers and with a grumpy expression on her face.

As her face was bunched up in distaste at my teasing, Amber snapped a few pictures, earning her another gasp from the protagonist as Amber grinned while tapping her long nails on the phone. I leaned in closer to see what my sister was typing, snorting when I saw her terribly cheesy caption.

"Mm, perfect, if I do say so myself," I said, Amber passing Aubrey back her phone as Elias and Aubrey almost bumped heads to look at her phone screen. Elias laughed at the picture and caption as Aubrey blushed, letting out a whine and burying her head in her hands. 

"That's so embarrassing!" Aubrey said, the rest of us laughing at her reaction and bright red face. "'I came, I thaw, I conquered'? That caption is so lame!"

"It's very punny, very punny indeed, truly a line of literary brilliance," I teased, Aubrey sticking her tongue out at me before looking at Amber.

"Okay, Amber, your turn! Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Alright, you asked for it. Amber, are you still in love with Alex?" Aubrey asked, Amber immediately letting out a raucous "Huuuh?!" as my eyes boggled at the protagonist.

"What kind of truth question is that, Aubrey?!" I asked, Aubrey just ignoring me as she stared at Amber, who blanched and made a loud vomiting noise.

"In love with him? Ew, no. I love him, don't get me wrong, but I only love him like a brother. Literally. He's my bro. Ew. In love with Lex, ew, no, nope, yikes, no thank you. Gross," Amber said, shivering at the implication of Aubrey's question, the two of us still squeamish about the incongruence between the relationship of our souls versus our bodies. 

"Really? This is truth or dare, Amber - you're not allowed to lie!" Aubrey said, pointing at my sister with determination. "You swear that you're telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"

"Huh? Yeah, of course it's the truth. Thinking about anything romantic with this dude makes me want to throw up, honestly, and Lex feels the same way. Right, dude?" Amber said, making me nod rapidly.

"Amen to that. Blegh, no thanks, not into that kind of thing," I said, Aubrey letting our words sink in, before the girl giggled once again.

"Hehe, alright, if you say so! Now, Alex, it's your turn!" Aubrey said, my sister nudging me questioningly so we could move the game away from talk about our ambiguous relationship. 

"Dare, I guess," I said, my sister letting out a low, evil chuckle. Oh, no... "I mean tru-"

"Nuh uh, Lex! You said dare, no take backs!" Amber said, clamping her hands over my shoulders with another cackle. "Lex, I dare you to get naked and run into the snow to the tree line and back!"

Aubrey immediately began to scream with excitement, Elias covering his mouth with his hands as he tried to hide his hysterical laughter, while I just jumped back on the chair to try and run away. My sister yelled at me and locked me in place by grabbing my waist, my traitorous friends cheering her on because apparently everyone wanted me to make a complete fool of myself.

"I can't get naked in public! I'm gonna get arrested!" I said, gesturing out at the pristine blanket of snow in front of us. Our room overlooked a scenic expanse of snow and tall trees, and even though there weren't other people sitting out on their balconies at the moment, if they happened to look outside at the wrong time they would get a whole eyeful of a different kind of tree. 

"Nope! You said dare, you have to commit now!" Amber whistled, jokingly grabbing on to the waistband of my sweatpants and giving them a friendly tug, making me screech even more. 

"Fine, you don't have to run to the trees, just half way there and back is enough!" Aubrey chimed in as I began to feel my chest and face grow heated.

"But I'm gonna freeze to death!" I whined, slapping at Amber's hands that pretended to grab at my pants. "My nipples are just gonna drop off in the cold!"

Everyone began wheezing in hysterics at my words, the two girls almost with tears in their eyes as Elias's shoulders continued to shake despite his best efforts to try and maintain a shred of decency. 

"Come on, Lex! If you run, you'll be out there for max 10 seconds! Come on, I'll even let you keep your socks on!" Amber said, wiggling a perfectly shaped brow, and I glowered at her.

"I can keep my socks?" I reiterated slowly, my sister nodding as everyone else snorted.

"Yep, socks are allowed," my sister said, grinning, before dropping her voice to only a whisper I could hear. "If you do this, I'll suffer through your formal with you. It's a fair trade, don't you think?"

Grovelling, I began to pull my shirt over my head, both of the girls whistling as Elias just watched with a small, amused smile, and I felt myself blush again. 

'Oh God, he's looking, he's looking, oh no,' I whined to myself, throwing my shirt at my sister, the bite of the cold mountain air already making the goosebumps perk up on my skin. My stomach clenched with the cold, Amber yelling for the pants to come off too. 

Ugh, well, I suppose it would be a waste of these abs harder than bricks if I don't show them off every now and then, right? I just hope my pork sword doesn't get frostbite and fall off in the process.

"Come on, the quicker you get nakey, the quicker it'll be over," my sister said in a sing-song voice, making me curse colourfully as I pointedly pulled off my pants, leaving me just in my briefs and socks. Aubrey let out a high-pitched noise once again, hiding her eyes between widely splayed open fingers, kicking Elias's leg repeatedly in excitement as my best friend just shook his head with an incredulous smile.

"Ah! My eyes! My eyes!" Aubrey teased, pointedly making gaps between her fingers as she pretended to shield her supposedly coy gaze.

"Shut up, guys!" I whimpered, sucking in a tight breath as I fingered the waistband of my briefs, mentally playing out how I would quickly whip off my last shred of dignity and make a run for the snow.

Okay... Three... Two... One!

I whipped off my briefs, throwing them only Heaven knows where, letting out a chesty war cry as I charged forward. Leaping over the balcony fence, with one hand cupping my organic grapes and banana to recover a scrap of self-respect, I ran like a madman.

I let out a shrill yelp as my (socked) feet hit the freezing snow, which crept up my shins but ended beneath my knees, my teeth rattling and my toes freezing.

"Fuck! Fuck! It's so cold! Oh, God," I screeched, reaching the halfway mark and clumsily turning back, almost slipping in the snow and face planting since my arms were focused on keeping my magic sword sheathed. 

"Whoo! Nice one, Lex!" Amber cheered, waving her beanie in the air as she wiped away tears of amusement. 

"Ahh! I'm blind! I'm blind!" Aubrey screamed between wheezes of laughter, slapping her hands over her baby blues and collapsing back into her chair like a scandalised child.

Elias was just leaning forward on his knees, hands covering his mouth as he continued to just laugh, seemingly almost unable to breathe. When I neared them again, Elias got up and grabbed my discarded blanket, holding it out for me. I barrelled into the warm fabric, wrapping it around myself and my assets, before curling up into a ball on the floor in embarrassment.

"I'd like to just say that I fucking hate you all," I said bitterly as my teeth chattered with cold, glaring up at my friends who just smiled. My sister kicked over my discarded clothes with a devilish grin, before turning back to Elias and Aubrey.

"So, truth or dare - who's next?"

A/N: This chapter was longer than normal, but oh so fun to write! Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, because our gang of four are all so silly (the protagonist being the biggest dumb dumb, of course!).

Also, just as a note, this story will have *roughly* 34 chapters in total, but I'm also planning on writing a bonus chapter or two (~hello Elias's POV~), so still plenty more fun to be had!

(My sense of humour is still trash, sorry not sorry lol)