Chapter 44
Prom Night 2.0 – Drunken Truths
The mansion was silent when they returned.
Prom had ended hours ago, but the energy from it still buzzed through the group like electricity.
Daisy kicked off her heels the moment she stepped inside.
"Finally," she groaned. "My feet are dead."
Joong laughed, catching her waist as she almost stumbled.
Alex and Lyra disappeared toward the kitchen, still whispering to each other like the world didn't exist beyond them.
Ash leaned against Kevin's shoulder, half exhausted, half smiling like she still couldn't believe he had proposed to her earlier.
Kevin wrapped an arm around her.
"You alive?"
"Barely."
Nova and Ben were arguing about who had danced worse.
"I did NOT trip," Ben said defensively.
"You literally stepped on your own shoelace," Nova shot back.
Meanwhile—
Care walked quietly into the living room.
She rubbed her arms.
The mansion felt colder than usual tonight.
Or maybe it was just the emotional exhaustion.
Cole noticed immediately.
He always noticed.
Without saying a word, he took off his black jacket and walked over.
Then casually wrapped it around her shoulders.
Care blinked.
"You'll get cold," he said simply.
The room went silent for a second.
Then—
Ash gasped dramatically.
"Oh my GOD."
Daisy clapped her hands like a seal.
"THE DRAMA."
Kevin leaned back on the couch.
"Bro is jealous but not even the boyfriend."
Joong burst out laughing.
Cole rolled his eyes.
"Shut up."
Care pulled the jacket tighter around herself.
It smelled like him.
Which was extremely dangerous information for her heart.
The Drinking Begins
Someone — probably Daisy — brought out drinks.
Bad decision.
Very bad decision.
Twenty minutes later:
Everyone was a little drunk.
Thirty minutes later:
Everyone was very drunk.
Forty minutes later:
They started Truth & Dare.
Joong grinned.
"Alright rules."
He pointed dramatically.
"No lying."
"No escaping."
"No crying."
Ash raised her hand.
"I might cry."
Kevin kissed the top of her head.
"You cry beautifully."
Everyone groaned.
"THE COUPLES ARE DISGUSTING."
The bottle spun.
Round and round.
Then stopped.
Nova.
And…
Ben.
The room erupted.
Daisy screamed.
"Oh MY GOD."
"THIS IS GOOD."
Nova leaned back against the couch.
"Truth."
Ben laughed.
"You're brave."
Joong asked immediately.
"Nova… have you ever liked someone in this room?"
Everyone froze.
Nova stared at the floor.
Then laughed nervously.
"Yeah."
Ten heads snapped toward her.
"WHO."
Ben leaned forward.
"Who?"
Nova avoided his eyes.
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does," Daisy said dramatically.
"NAME."
Nova sighed.
Then whispered.
"...Ben."
The room exploded.
Kevin literally fell off the couch.
"WHAT."
Ash screamed into a pillow.
Ben blinked like his brain had stopped functioning.
"You—"
Nova immediately covered her face.
"Okay I'm drunk. Ignore that."
"Too late," Joong said.
Everyone stared at Ben.
Daisy crossed her arms.
"Your turn."
Ben picked Truth.
Kevin smirked.
"Have you ever liked Nova?"
Ben didn't answer immediately.
He stared at her.
She was still hiding her face.
He laughed softly.
"Yeah."
Nova looked up slowly.
Ben continued.
"Since like… forever actually."
Silence.
Care whispered dramatically:
"Oh my god."
Daisy screamed again.
"JUST KISS."
Nova stared at him like her brain couldn't process reality.
"You liked me?"
"You literally never shut up," Ben said.
"That's when I realized I was in trouble."
Everyone started clapping.
Joong wiped fake tears.
"This is cinema."
Ben stood up.
Walked toward Nova.
She stood too.
Both slightly drunk.
Both smiling like idiots.
"You sure about this?" he asked softly.
Nova shrugged.
"I'm drunk."
"Same."
Then he kissed her.
The room erupted like fireworks.
Kevin yelled.
"FOURTH COUPLE."
Ash jumped onto Kevin laughing.
Alex clapped loudly.
Lyra wiped happy tears.
Daisy tackled Joong.
"WE DID IT."
Care covered her face laughing.
Cole shook his head but smiled.
Later That Night
Everyone slowly calmed down.
Nova and Ben were sitting on the floor together now.
Still holding hands.
Still slightly shocked.
The mansion lights dimmed.
Music played softly in the background.
Care was sitting on the couch wrapped in Cole's jacket.
Still cold.
Cole noticed again.
He sighed.
Then sat beside her.
"Still cold?"
"A little."
He adjusted the jacket around her.
Their faces were close.
Too close.
Ash whispered loudly from the other couch.
"THE TENSION."
Kevin nodded.
"Crazy."
Care threw a pillow at them.
Cole smirked.
But inside?
His jealousy from earlier was still burning.
Seeing her dance with other guys tonight had nearly driven him insane.
And he wasn't even her boyfriend.
Yet.
Across the room—
Nova rested her head on Ben's shoulder.
"Are we actually a couple now?"
Ben smiled.
"I think we accidentally became one."
She laughed softly.
"Best accident ever."
And just like that…
The mansion now had:
Alex & Lyra
Kevin & Ash
Daisy & Joong
Nova & Ben
Four couples.
And two idiots pretending they weren't next.
Care.
And Cole.