Got to take a deep breath, time to focus on you
All the big fights, long nights that you been through
I got a bottle of Tequila I been saving for you
— Good as Hell by Lizzo

The soccer house was a seven-minute walk from the dorm. It appeared more like a mansion with its long driveway, concrete walls, and tall glass windows. The area was also secluded and surrounded by different houses of different styles. Victoria said there were three more sections like this in Brickfields and that it was where the fraternities, sororities, and sports teams lived.

Prying eyes were on us as we walked through the massive foyer, and my throat tightened as we passed different parts of the house.

There was a group playing beer pong in the dining hall, another inside the game room engrossed in front of a PS5, and another playing pool and darts. A few people greeted Victoria as we slithered our way to a vast, modern kitchen that was far less crowded than all the other rooms.

A girl with deep-red hair pulled Victoria aside, and they both squealed enthusiastically. Not wanting to ruin their moment, I diverted my attention to picking up a red cup from the kitchen top, my nose scrunching in disgust as soon as I saw a fake eyelash floating in the alcohol.

To think of how that even reached inside was just unimaginable.

I scanned for a trash can and spotted it near the fridge. I picked up at least seven more cups, throwing the contents into the sink and then the cups inside the bin. Once I was done, I leaned against the counter where rows and rows of alcohol were placed.

"Babe," called Victoria, pulling her friend by the elbow as they approached me. "I want you to meet Scarlet. We've known each other since high school."

"Hello, it's nice to meet you," I said, smiling. She looked absolutely stunning with her deep-red hair and tanned skin.

"Scar, this is Summer. My new roommate."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "You're Summer Hale? The one from the rumors?"

"Rumors?" I questioned, my forehead creasing.

"Oh shit!" Victoria cursed loudly, slapping a hand to her forehead. "I forgot about that. There's a rumor going around in Brickfields about Gray having a girlfriend."

"And that said girlfriend is you," Scarlet added, her eyes twinkling with relief. "Seeing your reaction right now, I guess it's all just false rumors?"

"Of course," I nodded. "Gray and I just met."

She chuckled lightly in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I'm just shocked to finally meet you after hearing all those rumors all day. I'm Scarlet Lowell."

"You have such a pretty name," I said shyly. "How did those rumors start, anyway?"

"Gray threatened a group of seniors when he heard them talking about you in a rather disgusting way."

I nodded vaguely, my thoughts a total mess as I wondered why he would even bother doing such a thing. I was completely capable of handling myself.

Victoria reached across the counter to grab an empty cup and thoughtfully scanned the drinks. Scarlet followed, taking two cups and handing one to me.

"No, it's alright," I declined politely. "I don't wanna drink yet."

"No problem," she said.

Victoria and Scarlet filled their cups halfway with vodka, then added sprite and a wedge of lime before taking a swig. I watched in amusement as they refilled their drinks and repeated the action two more times.

"Follow me!" Victoria exclaimed.

Scarlet hollered, "It's time to party, ladies and gentlemen!"

We walked out of the kitchen and into a large living room cleared of most furniture, leaving a few couches, bean bags, and tables. The walls were creamy white, the floors polished concrete, and the large windows overlooked the crowded pool and garden. The living room was filled with students dancing and grinding on each other as the DJ at the corner hit them with some solid bass.

"Hey, guys!" Victoria greeted enthusiastically.

Scarlet made her way to the couch while I remained standing behind Victoria, not daring to sneak a peek at her small group of friends. I knew Jordan, Gray, and Liam would be here since Victoria mentioned it three times on the way.

"Who's the friend behind?" one of them asked.

Victoria grabbed my arm and pulled me to her side. I sucked in a breath in a cowardly response, crossing my fingers behind my back as my pulse quickened.

"This is Summer, my new roommate," Victoria said with burgeoning excitement.

I offered them a small wave. "Hey."

"Be nice to her, or I'll bite all your heads off," she threatened, removing her arm around me as she moved to sit beside Liam.

I almost reached out to grab her but quickly stopped, scolding myself internally and reminding my introverted side that I was a grown-ass woman and not a toddler.

Meeting new people shouldn't be a problem for me since I used to be a social butterfly before finding out that my late mother was dying of cancer. It was shameless of me to continue using that excuse as eight months had already passed, and deciding to come to this school was already a leap of faith.

"Howdy, Summer," Liam greeted with a cheeky grin.

"Howdy," I choked out, almost cringing at the sound of my voice.

"Summer, it's good to see you!" Jordan grinned at me, tapping the space to his left. "Come and sit here."

Focusing on the cluttered floor, I made my way to his side.

"Summer, huh?" asked a handsome brunette-haired boy with dark eyes and a tanned complexion. He was seated on the couch at the other end of the coffee table with Liam and Victoria, holding a bottle in one hand. I couldn't make out what it was, but I knew it was alcohol.

I smiled. "Yep, that's me."

"Cute," he commented, smiling cheekily. "I'm Isaac, and it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

"It's a pleasure as well."

My attention shifted to Gray, who was seated next to Scarlet. His mouth lifted into a crooked smile, and I couldn't help but smile back at him.

"So, what are we going to do first?" asked Scarlet.

Isaac cleared his throat. "We were thinking of playing Truth or Dare."

"Sounds fun," Victoria chirped.

"It does, doesn't it?" Liam grinned mischievously. "Then why don't we start with you and move clockwise from there. We spin a bottle, and whoever it lands on will do the questioning or give the dare. Cool?"

We all nodded in agreement. Liam glanced up at me with a smile, his eyes seeking assurance, and I smiled back at him in response. Receiving my approval, he placed an empty bottle on the coffee table and spun it. I watched anxiously as it slowed, and a sigh of relief escaped my lips when it landed at Jordan. I didn't want to be the one giving dares or asking questions.

"Dare!" Victoria exclaimed before Jordan could ask.

"Fuck, marry, kill," said Jordan. "Who would you choose in this group?"

"Fuck Gray. Everyone knows you'll come out not knowing your name once you sleep with him," she answered matter-of-factly, and Gray shrugged in response. "Marry Liam. Kill Isaac."

"Ouch," Isaac huffed.

"Sorry, love."

"I didn't think I would be receiving a marriage proposal tonight," Liam teased, wiggling his eyebrows. "I'm sorry, angel, but I would have to decline your generosity. I'm too young to get married."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "What a bummer."

The game continued with Liam and then to Jordan. They both played dare with Gray telling Liam to give Victoria a lap dance and Isaac daring Jordan to kiss someone in the room he found attractive.

The lap dance was a total disaster, but it set the tone and mood for the rest of the group, and it only added to the uneasiness in my chest. Jordan scanned the living room momentarily before approaching a handsome dark-skinned guy standing by the fireplace. My eyes widened slightly from the obvious revelation. They made small talk, glancing over at us briefly before completing the dare with a light peck on the lips.

Once Jordan was back seated in his spot, it was my turn. Liam spun the bottle, and it landed on Scarlet.

She lifted a perfect eyebrow at me as a sweet smile appeared on her lips. "Truth or Dare?" she asked.

"Truth," I answered without hesitation.

I knew that if I picked dare, she would definitely make me do something I would regret for the rest of my life. Truth was the safest for me since they wouldn't know if what I would say would actually be the truth or not.

"What's your body count?"

"I didn't know you've been to my basement," I deadpanned.

Scarlet furrowed her eyebrows in confusion while the others erupted in a burst of loud laughter. Heat rushed to my cheeks at the fact that I answered her without much thought.

"Funny," Scarlet remarked. "Since your answer doesn't count, you'll have to do another question. Truth or dare?" she asked again.

"She's never going to pick dare," Gray inserted. He was smiling, but his eyes were impenetrable. "I doubt she even played dare before."

"Are you sure about that?" I scoffed.

He wasn't wrong; I had never played dare before, and I usually dodged Truth or Dare games at parties. But he didn't need to know that.

He flashed me a wicked grin. "I know a scaredy-cat when I see one."

"Are you judging me right now?"

"Weren't you the one who said we're all made to judge each other? I'm simply taking that belief into consideration."

There was no way in hell I was going to back down from his challenging stare. I raised an eyebrow at him, and before I could think about my decision, I answered, "Dare."

"I dare you to make out with Gray Stanford."

My head snapped in Scarlet's direction. Her eyes twinkled in mischief, and her lips were lifted into a sly grin. This was precisely why I hated this game. Look at where that brought me, dared into doing something I didn't want to do.

"I'd rather chug down what Isaac is drinking," I drawled.

Liam let out a long whistle, which earned him a glare from Gray, who looked more amused than offended.

"That is the kind of attitude we need in this world!" Isaac hollered.

He stretched his arm out across the table, handing the bottle over, and I took it from him. I checked the label and grimaced; it was vodka. But there was only about 1/8 liquid left inside.

I knew alcohol, how it tasted, and what it did to you when you had more than what the body could take. I was confident that I could handle the remaining amount even though it had been at least two years since I last drank.

Taking in a deep breath, I chugged down the remaining vodka, the cheering of Victoria and her friends drumming in my ears as the contents slightly burned my throat. Once I swallowed the last drop of the vile liquid, I slammed the bottle on the coffee table, my face contorting from the intense, horrible sensation.

Realizing the crowd that formed around where we were seated, I snapped my head up and cringed almost instantly as a wave of nausea hit me. I noticed Scarlet staring at me at the corner of my eye, her expression amused.

"You're now one of my favorite people, Summer," said Isaac, blowing me a kiss.

Liam snickered. "You like everyone, Isaac."

"That's a major offense, asshole."

"A fact is a fact. Right, Gray?" Liam turned to Gray with eyes filled with hope.

"Certainly," said Gray.

Isaac gasped out loud, slamming a hand to his chest as he stared at Gray in disbelief. "And I thought you loved me?!" he exclaimed.

"Clearly, we'll need to address this misunderstanding," Gray snorted. "But why don't we go back to Summer chugging down straight vodka. That's more amusing than Liam and Isaac combined."

"Excuse you," Liam huffed, folding his arms.

Issac groaned, "I am hurt."

"And how is chugging down vodka amusing?" I bickered, feeling the effects of the drink infiltrating my system. The feeling was beyond awful.

I should've just kissed Gray.

Gray chuckled, the knowing look in his eyes making me shudder. "You should've just accepted the dare and kissed me. It would've been easier."

"Over. My. Dead. Body," I scoffed, feeling the warmth of color in my cheeks.

"Then tell me why you're blushing, Shortcake?" he taunted persistently, the corner of his mouth lifting into a stupid smirk.

"I am not blushing, Nincompoop. Your cocky attitude is just pissing me off." I puffed my cheeks and looked away, fighting the urge to tackle him to the ground.

Scarlet laughed loudly, shutting Gray up from what he was about to say. "You're interesting, Summer," she said.