Chapter 12 - Olive's First Kiss ♡︎

The game picked up momentum, fueled by music humming from a nearby speaker and the crackling fire that threw long shadows across everyone's faces. One by one, people leaned forward with daring grins, pointing across the circle, challenging each other to ridiculous truths or bold dares. A couple dared kisses, some messy and spur-of-the-moment, drawing laughter and teasing whistles from the group. Others answered deeply personal questions, their confessions making the circle erupt with gasps or roars of approval.

Olive sat stiffly in her chair, her small frame curled inward as she fidgeted with the sleeves of her sweater, trying to shrink herself from the rowdy energy around her. She had barely touched her drink again after the first forced swallow, though it still burned in her stomach and left her cheeks flushed. But Cole, seated close enough that his knee brushed hers now and then, never looked away for long.

Around them, the others were too wrapped up in their own fun to notice much. One of Cole's teammates took a dare to sprint barefoot across the yard, coming back with grass stains and cheers of approval. Another admitted a humiliating story from freshman year of high school, sending everyone into hysterics. Someone else kissed their friend on a dare, and the circle broke out into loud chants of encouragement.

Through it all, Cole barely touched his drink. He'd taken a polite sip earlier, more to shut up his friends than anything else, but now the red plastic cup sat on the arm of his chair, untouched. Instead, he leaned back with that familiar, easy smirk that made it seem like he had everything under control.

It didn't take long for Dylan—louder than most of them, fueled by more alcohol than was probably smart—to notice. He narrowed his eyes across the fire at Cole, leaning forward on his knees, his bottle dangling from his hand. "Yo, Cole," he slurred slightly, though still clear enough to make everyone pause, "what's up with you tonight, man? You're usually the life of this game. Barely seen you drink."

A few people glanced at Cole curiously, some nodding in agreement. Olive tensed beside him, clutching her teddy keychain in her lap as if she could will herself invisible.

Cole's smirk deepened, and he sat forward slowly, resting his forearms casually on his thighs. "Somebody's gotta be responsible," he drawled, his tone calm but carrying just enough edge to shut down too many questions. His eyes flicked briefly toward Olive, then back to Dylan. "I've got to take her home."

That answer alone made Olive's breath hitch. Her head snapped toward him, her cheeks heating, but Cole didn't even look at her this time. His gaze stayed locked on Dylan, casual but firm.

"Her?" Dylan echoed, eyebrows arching as a grin spread across his face. He gave Olive a playful nudge on the arm that made her jump slightly. "Man, you're telling me this little thing is the reason you're not drinking? Didn't think the great Cole Walter could get tied down so easy."

The group chuckled at that, some nodding, others smirking in agreement, and Olive ducked her head immediately, wishing she could sink straight into the ground. She fumbled with her sleeves, trying to hide the shy smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

Cole leaned back again, not even fazed by the teasing. His smirk never wavered as he shrugged. "What can I say?" he replied smoothly, stretching his legs out with lazy confidence. "If I don't make sure she gets back safe, my parents will have my head. And Jackie..." He chuckled low, shaking his head. "Jackie would actually kill me. You guys think you're scary? Try crossing Jackie when it comes to Olive."

The fire popped, sparks jumping into the darkening sky, and the group broke into another wave of laughter at that. Dylan whistled, tipping his bottle in mock salute. "Guess we know who's calling the shots in your life now, man."

The game circled on, laughter ringing louder with every turn and every dare that got bolder, riskier, and sloppier. Cups clinked, bottles passed hands, and the fire popped as if it were joining in the chaos. Olive, who had started the night with shaking hands, was no longer shrinking back quite as tightly into herself. The alcohol warmed her from the inside out, blurring the sharp edges of her nerves. Her words came softer but looser, her giggles escaping more freely as her cheeks glowed pink. She was tipsy now, her body swaying slightly whenever she laughed, and though her small voice still stuttered here and there, she seemed less bound by her own anxiety.

At one point, she leaned forward shyly, her fingers twisting at her sleeves before she whispered, "I-I'll do a dare this time." Her words slurred slightly, but her tone carried that brave little quiver of someone trying to prove she could keep up.

The group cheered, instantly loving this side of Olive. But none cheered louder than Erin, who straightened in her chair with a smirk curling on her lips like she had been waiting for this very moment. "Oh, I have the perfect dare for you, Olive," she purred, her voice dripping with smugness. She leaned back, arms crossed, her eyes flicking toward Cole before darting back to Olive. "I dare you... to kiss Dylan."

The crowd erupted in ooo's and laughter, chairs scraping closer to the fire as the circle leaned in. The guys whistled, some clapping their hands together, egging it on. Olive's eyes widened, the flush on her cheeks deepening as her lips parted in shock.

"M-me?" she squeaked, looking between Erin, Dylan, and Cole as though she had misheard. Her breath quickened. "I-I've never... I've never kissed anyone before—"

The noise grew louder, the group eating it up. Dylan, who was already grinning from ear to ear, chuckled low and leaned closer, his elbow resting on his knee as he studied her with amused disbelief. "You're telling me," he teased, eyes gleaming, "a cutie like you has never been kissed? Not once?"

Olive whimpered softly, shaking her head with a shy little shake, her fingers tightening in her lap. The circle roared with even more noise at that—half disbelief, half excitement.

"She's gotta do it now!" someone shouted, slurring their words with drunken enthusiasm."Yeah! First kiss!" another chimed in."Come on, Olive, it's just a game!"

The voices overlapped, the energy swirling until Olive felt like she was suffocating beneath it all. Dylan sighed dramatically, but his smirk never faltered. "Alright then," he said, softer now, as though trying to soothe her. "Since this is your first kiss... I'll come to you."

He leaned forward, slowly, confidently, his intent written all over his face. Olive froze, her heart hammering, her lips parting with a helpless sound as her wide eyes flickered toward Cole—pleading, confused, afraid to move.

And Cole snapped.

The second Dylan leaned in, Cole shifted without hesitation. His hand braced against the arm of Olive's chair, his body angling in, and before Dylan's lips could reach hers, Cole stole the kiss himself.

It was nothing like the rowdy chants and drunken dares expected. It was not sloppy, not rushed. Cole kissed Olive gently, deliberately, his lips soft against hers, the firelight flickering across his sharp features as though sealing the moment. Olive's breath caught in her chest, her fingers clenching tight in her lap as the world around her seemed to vanish. The kiss was slow, steady, lingering far longer than any dare should have allowed, and when Cole finally pulled away, his eyes didn't leave hers for a second.

The crowd around them went absolutely wild. Cheers, whistles, and laughter rang out as Dylan leaned back in surprise, raising his brows but chuckling it off. Erin, however, sat stiff, her smugness shattered, her eyes narrowing into a glare that could have burned holes straight through Olive.

But Olive barely noticed any of them. She sat frozen, lips tingling, her heart beating so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it. She blinked up at Cole, her breath shaky, completely undone.___

The noise from the circle barely registered to Olive as she sat there, staring wide-eyed at Cole like the entire world had tilted off its axis. Her lips still tingled, her chest still thudded so hard she thought it might burst through her ribs. It hadn't felt like a dare. It hadn't felt like a joke or a game. It felt real—so real it left her trembling, speechless, as if her whole body had forgotten how to function.

Cole leaned in closer, his voice low and rough in a way that only she could hear, his breath brushing against her cheek. His green eyes caught the firelight as he tilted his head toward her. "You didn't think I'd let Dylan have your first kiss, did you?"

Olive froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her face burned hotter than the fire pit as his words sank in, crashing into her chest like waves. She felt her fingers twitch against her skirt, Cole Walter—complicated, intimidating, impossible Cole Walter—had just taken her first kiss like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She couldn't form words. She couldn't even form thoughts. Her mind was spinning, her heart was in chaos, and the only thing she could think to do, in her embarrassment and confusion, was grab the nearest thing—the vodka bottle—and lift it to her lips.

The burn hit her instantly, so sharp and fiery it made her gag, but she didn't stop. Her nerves were buzzing too much, her blush too uncontrollable. She wanted to hide, to bury herself, and the alcohol was the only shield she could reach. She tilted the bottle back and took another desperate gulp.

The circle went wild, cheering louder, stomping their feet, laughing and hollering like she was suddenly the star of the show. "Go, Olive!" someone shouted."She's got a backbone after all!" another called.Even Dylan laughed, clapping his hands together and shaking his head in disbelief.

But Cole's reaction was nothing like theirs. His eyes widened the second she started drinking, his smirk instantly vanishing into alarm. "Woah, woah, woah, tiny," he said firmly, reaching across her before she could take another swallow. His large hand closed around the bottle, tugging it from her small hands with ease. "That's enough."

Olive whimpered softly, wiping at her mouth, her cheeks still flushed pink from both the kiss and the alcohol. Her wide eyes flickered nervously toward Cole, and then down at her lap, too shy to meet his gaze. She fidgeted, tugging at her sleeves, her entire body screaming with embarrassment.

The crowd didn't care, though—they were too busy hollering and laughing, the energy feeding off her unexpected boldness. But one person was not laughing.

Erin sat back in her chair, her arms crossed tightly across her chest, her eyes locked on Olive with a glare sharp enough to cut glass. Her jaw clenched, her nails digging into her skin as she watched Cole lean protectively toward Olive, keeping the bottle far out of reach. Jealousy burned through her, so obvious she didn't bother hiding it. She had lost Cole to Jackie once. She wasn't about to sit back and watch him fall for someone like Olive.

Cole ignored the noise and the looks. His focus was entirely on Olive, his voice softening just for her again. "Tiny, you can't just down vodka like it's water," he muttered, his brow furrowing as his thumb brushed against the neck of the bottle. "You'll be sick before you even realize it."

Olive gave the tiniest nod, her fingers still fidgeting nervously in her lap. She didn't say a word, but the way her blush deepened and her lashes lowered made Cole's smirk return faintly, like he was the only one who noticed how flustered she really was.