Secret obsession with my stepbrother

HAYLEY. Dimly lights, DJ playing loud blasting music, echoes of laughter and discussions, everywhere felt so alive except me.. I felt like an outsider, crowded by unfamiliar faces. I could recognize a few from college but most faces were quite new to me. Alessia had vanished after dragging me to a party I didn't want to be at. I hated parties, I hated leaving my comfort zone to mingle with people. But Alessia insisted since I turned eighteen today, she insisted I must come to my first party. Turns out a popular guy from school has the same birthday date as mine, so here I was. I stood alone, feeling overwhelmed, people mingled and laughed like their lives depended on it. I gently tried to drag down the short skirts she forced me to wear, they were so uncomfortable, a v neck tank top that was supposed to expose a bit of cleavage. I wrapped my arms around myself, my eyes skimming the area for Alessia. I knew parties weren't for me, I feel so lost here and I want to go home. As I swept my eyes across the vibrant party scene, searching for Alessia, I stumbled upon those familiar curls, Easton. He lounged at the pool's edge, his legs swirling lazy patterns in the water, mesmerising me. I found myself staring longer than I should, admiring every bit of him. He was bare upwards and it was the first time I was getting a good view of his muscles and abs.. He was like a Greek god who would always sweep ladies off their feet. Gosh,he was so hot, his sexy blue eyes, thick brows and lips, everything was almost perfect. As he sipped his cocktail, Adam's apple bobbed subtly, sending a flutter through my chest. I gasped, my breath hitching for a moment. Time seemed to suspend since I lost myself, staring at Easton. “Hayley!” I snapped back to reality at the sound of Alessia's voice. I have been standing like a log of wood since we stepped into the party and nobody seemed to notice my presence as well, I wasn't in existence to them. Alessia rushed to me and linked arms with me.. “Why did you keep standing there, you could have followed me” She grumbled and I bit my lips slightly. “You know I'm not familiar with this things” I replied. “It's fine.” Alessia muttered. “Alessia! Come over, the game is starting!” A masculine voice echoed from afar, waving at our direction. I squinted my eyes. It was Jay, Easton 's best friend and he was also my birthday mate so practically, he was the one throwing this extravagant party. “We want to play a game, wanna join? You have to join though. You have never played this kind of games before. It's fun, come on” Alessia persuaded me. “Ally…I…” I tried to argue when she began dragging me. She paused a bit and raised her brows.. “Trust me, it's fun.” She said calmly and leaned in to whisper.. “The hottest boys are here, you might get a chance to have your first kiss” She giggled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I ….” I still tried to argue. I'm not so sure I would be comfortable playing the kind of games they played.. Alessia had always told me about the kind of games they played, dared to kiss a random guy, hook up, go naked, it's really freaky. “Stop being a prude, Hayley!” Alessia snapped. “You f*****g turned eighteen today! What kind of girl hasn't gotten her first kiss by this time in the 21st century” She whined and I gulped a bit. Alessia was right though. I was almost invincible. I pressed my lips together giving it a thought as I spotted Easton coming out of poolside and approaching the table. Some other people were also walking towards the table. I hate to say this but I have been obsessed with Easton since tenthgrade.. We were in the same class but he doesn't know of my existence. Not the same for me though because I know everything about him. When he secretly studies in the library, his hangouts and hobbies, his gang. I had even stalked him home oneday. “Let's go” Alessia caught my attention and I snapped out of my thoughts. Just like that, I clumsily followed her to the table. Getting there, I felt like the eyes on me were going to make me faint. It felt so hot and I feel like I was getting suffocated. Was there something on my cloth or what? I gently took my seat without uttering a word. The game was truly about to start as I inhaled a deep breath. “Okay guys, back off the game if you know you are a prude or goody goody. You have to do whatever you are told or drop $1000 if you refuse to obey or drink. ” Jay muttered and I gasped a bit and turned to whisper to Alessia. “Isn't $1000 a bit too much?” “You just have to obey or drink. It's fun, I promise.” Alessia answered and winked and I turned back to the table. I couldn't help but sneak peeks at Easton from the corner of my eyes. Chloe, a girl from school who had always been following Easton around was on his legs, running her hands on his chest. She was also one of the hottest girls in school and always so full of herself. Funny enough, she interacts with Alessia. I was nothing like Alessia, she socialized with people in school, free spirited and fun to be around. “Shout out to Hayley, Alessia's best friend who is also my birthday mate!” I inhaled sharply, my eyes widening a bit. I wasn't expecting my name to be called out like in front of people I don't identify with. Alessia nudged me immediately because I kept mute. I was still trying to process everything. Everyone’s gaze came on me since he pointed at me and he was at the other side of the table but directly in front of me. “uh…” I stuttered, my lips quivering. “Thank you for the shout out!” Alessia interrupted, standing to her feet. “Hayley is not that social, she barely talks. ” Alessia said to everyone and I bowed my head in a bit of shame. I feel so intimidated by these people and the way Alessia interrupted like I couldn't speak for myself was even more embarrassing. After Alessia took her seat, Jay spoke, “We will give a toast later to those who have their sanity left.” He muttered with a sly grin even as I was struggling to lift my face. “So as the celebrant, I'm starting the spin” Jay stood up and spinned the bottle in the middle of the table.. We were about fifteen, but not the total of everyone at the party. I wouldn't lie, I was drowning in anxiety. I pray that bottle doesn’t land on me. I have never played truth or dare, not even once. For me it was like compelling people to do what they weren't vulnerable to. The bottle rolled and stopped on Mike, another boy from Easton 's gang. “Woah..” He muttered. “Truth or dare, Dude… No more than two truths here generally. That's the rule!” He blurted out of the blue. Even though my attention was at the table, it was more on Easton, although codedly. “Truth” Mike answered. “How many girls have you gone down on this month?” Jay asked and my lips parted a bit, that was meant to be private! “Three, I guess…” He answered and their expressions were all normal except mine.. This was just the 10th number of the month, three already? These guys are something else. Mike spinned the bottle and it landed on Alessia. Each time they spinned the bottle, my heart drummed non stop. “Truth or dare, babe” “Dare” Alessia squirmed. Mike smirked “Remove ten things from your body, Ally” I flinched when he dared her, she would practically go naked. Heavy murmurs and whispers floated in the air, the guys whining in anticipation and making silly groans. Horny cows. “I will pass,” Alessia muttered after contemplating on it. Jay was quick to pass her a glass of beer. I saw him mixing it with vodka. “Finish the glass, Ally, no single drop…” He ordered as Alessia picked the glass. We all watched her as she tilted her head back and gulped the glass of beer and vodka in one swift motion. The liquid disappeared, and she coughed slightly, her eyes watering from the harsh burn of the alcohol. Alessia swallowed hard and dropped the glass on the table noisily. Alessia was used to this but I wasn't.. “Good girl…” Jay smirked and I reached out my hands and rubbed her back a bit. “I’m fine,” She whispered and spinned the bottle as it landed on Easton. My heart skipped. By this time, Chloe was on seperate seat but still beside Easton. “Truth or Dare, Easton…” Alessia asked. “No more Truths.. No truth for Easton.” Jay said. Gosh, I was trying to control the way I looked at Easton but his eyes were so damn cool, it was making my heart flutter every f*****g time. “I would go with Dare then..” He raised his brows. “Okay, I dare you to take on a hot make out session with Hayley for two minutes!” Alessia demanded, pointing at me and a slight hiccup escaped my throat. What?!