Raye wasn't planning to get sweaty tonight.
Not like this, anyway.
The living room lights were dimmed.
Her sock-covered feet slid across the floor as she spun, whined, and twisted to the rhythm of the virtual dance game blasting from the screen.
"GIRL, SHAKE IT—YESSS," Jane screamed like a chaotic backup dancer.
"AM SHAKING " Raye yelled through the headphones staring intently at the tv and copying the moves.
"Girl push forward , I wanna see your waist wiggle" Jane screamed .
Damn how could they lose against some stupid anim
How could a computer twerk so good !!!!
"Am wiggling GIRL , am WIGGLING " Raye shouted too exhausted hand on her waist .
Raye laughed, breathless, bending low into the next move, hips rolling to the bass drop. "This is cardio and therapy!"
"Do that again and your future husband's gonna propose instantly," Jane cackled.
Raye twirled around, mock blowing a kiss at an invisible audience.
"This one's for the haters."
And that's when she saw him.
Standing by the open door.
Kyle.
Arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, smirking like a boy watching a private performance he definitely wasn't supposed to see.
Raye froze.
The game still screamed, "GREAT MOVE!" in the background as she stumbled for the remote, smacked it, and ended the chaos mid-beat.
Jane turned.
"GIRL what the ...oh," she said, blinking. Then grinned. "Wow. You're... real."
Kyle tilted his head. "I didn't knock loud enough?"
Raye was still paralyzed. "You—you—what are you doing here?!"
"Nice moves," he said casually, stepping in like he hadn't just caught her doing full-on body rolls. "That little spin thing? Elite."
Jane leaned over, whispering, "Girl, I'm gonna exit before you combust. Good luck."
She sauntered off with the grace of a fairy leaving behind a mortified mortal.
Raye slowly grabbed a pillow and hugged it like it could save her from death. "You... you could've texted first!"
"I did. Three times."
Raye blinked. Picked up her phone. Battery: Dead.
"Oh."
He smirked. "So. About earlier."
She looked everywhere but him. "You didn't say you were coming."
"Because you wouldn't have let me."
He took a step closer.
Raye instinctively backed up, bumping into the couch.
"I didn't smile at her," Kyle said, voice low now. "I wasn't interested. She talks too much. Kept droning on about student council drama."
Raye narrowed her eyes. "And you didn't think maybe I'd misread the whole thing and spiral for six hours?"
"Spiral?" His lips twitched. "You were spiraling?"
She grumbled. "You're annoying."
"I missed you."
Her breath hitched.
"What?"
He stepped closer again, so close now she could smell the faint mint on his breath and the cologne she secretly liked on his hoodie.
"I said I missed you," Kyle murmured. "You've been ignoring me, and I hated it."
Raye blinked. Her voice cracked. "Then maybe don't make me feel replaceable."
"You're not," he said immediately. "I don't want anyone else."
Silence.
Then she whispered, "Even after I was whining like a cracked-out duck?"
Kyle grinned. "Especially after that."
Her face went scarlet. She shoved him lightly. "You're evil."
But her voice was softer.
And Kyle?
He was already leaning down, close enough for their foreheads to nearly touch. "Don't shut me out again."
She hesitated.
Then nodded slowly.
"I won't."
He brushed his thumb across her cheek. "Good."
Raye hadn't planned on having Kyle McHotface at her house again, let alone for a sleepover.
And definitely not with his ridiculously handsome friend Rod tagging along.
But here they were—two huge, tall boys in hoodies, socks, and zero respect for personal space—dumped on her couch like they owned the place.
Jane?
She was thriving.
"Hi, I'm Jane. I don't usually look this good, but tonight's special."
Rod laughed, easygoing and boy-band cute with a mischievous grin. "You're hilarious."
"I know," Jane said sweetly, flipping her hair like she was auditioning for The Bachelor.
Raye side-eyed Kyle. "You invited him?"
"You made it weird when I show up alone," he shrugged. "Now it's group hangout. Deal with it."
She smacked him with a pillow. "You're the worst."
He leaned closer. "Still thinking about that dance?"
Her eyes went wide. "Do not bring that up."
"Too late," he grinned. "That body roll lives rent-free in my head."
Rod blinked. "What body roll?"
Kyle smirked. "You had to be there."
Raye groaned and hid under a blanket. "I regret everything."
By midnight, they were all on the floor, half-wrapped in blankets and potato chip crumbs, when Rod clapped and said,
"Let's play Truth or Dare."
"No," Raye said immediately.
"Yes," Jane said with a grin high five Rod.
Sometimes I feel like they were eborn in the same universe Raye though glaring at Jane and then Rod shaking her head slowly.
"What do you think Kyle "
Kyle just shrugged , Raye partly expected he would say no , cause duhh he didn't seem like someone who played such game .
But yeah the universe had jokes cause he agreed .
"Sure "
Raye shook her head disappointedly watching the stupid smirk on his face as he munch on his popcorn .
Rod rubbed his hands. "Let's get spicy."
They started off easy.
"Jane, truth or dare?"
"Truth."
Rod leaned in. "Have you ever kissed someone and regretted it?"
Jane looked at Raye ,smirked, then said,
"Nope. I make people regret kissing me."
Everyone laughed.
"Raye," Kyle said, "Truth or dare?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Truth."
He leaned closer, voice low. "Were you jealous when you saw me with that girl?"
Her cheeks went pink. "That's not a fair question."
Curse you she though huffing while glaring at Kyle .
Did he really wanted dher to say it out loud .
Come on it was embarrassing!!
"It's a truth question."
She fidgeted. "I was... confused."
Kyle grinned like he won a trophy. "Admit it. You were so jealous."
She threw a popcorn kernel at his face. "Drop dead."
"Later," he said. "Right now I'm busy being in love with you."
Jane and Rod: choking noises
Raye slumped on the floor covering her face , wishing she could disappear right now .
She shook her head, trying to hide her smile.
Later, when the lights were out and everyone pretended to sleep, Kyle shifted beside her on the floor.
"Still embarrassed about your little dance?"
She whispered, "If you bring it up one more time, I swear I'll body roll straight into your shins."
He chuckled softly. "You looked cute."
"You looked nosy."
He brushed her fingers under the blanket. "And you look kissable right now."
She looked away. "Kyle—"
"Shh," he murmured. "Just sleep. I'm not gonna do anything unless you dare me."
She held back a grin , trying to glare _ but couldn't.
Slowly she relaxed in his arm and the slow rhythmic patting on her back was able to lure her to sleep .
She fell asleep to the sound of his steady breathing beside her.