After a few minutes of playful banter and laughs, Isabella found herself staring at Leonardo. Her eyes lingered for a moment, as if caught in a silent conversation only the two of them understood.
Jayden, who had been bouncing in his seat, suddenly raised his hands dramatically. "My turn, my turn!" he declared with a grin that could only mean one thing: chaos was about to follow.
"Alright, I'm gonna ask the question that's on everyone's mind," he said, his voice dropping to a mock-serious tone. He pointed his finger between Isabella and Leonardo, his eyes wide with mischief. "Have you two met before today?"
Isabella and Leonardo exchanged a long glance. Their faces were calm, but something unspoken passed between them. Finally, after a pause that felt too long, they both answered almost simultaneously.
"Yes."
The room fell into stunned silence for a beat before everyone erupted.
"Oh my gosh, I'm loving this game!" Jayden grinned, bouncing up in his seat like a kid in a candy store. "This is way better than I imagined!"
Ryan laughed, shaking his head. "Okay, okay, hold up… My turn. Are you two, like… kind of a thing?" He raised an eyebrow at them, but his expression was lighthearted, teasing.
Before Isabella could answer, both she and Leonardo nodded at the same time. It was a simple gesture, but it sent a wave of surprise and excitement through the room.
Lucas was the first to recover, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, if you were to kiss Bella, would you, Leo?" He leaned forward, clearly enjoying the suspense.
Leonardo chuckled, his deep voice smooth. "Yes," he said with a soft smirk, making everyone in the room hold their breath for a moment.
"And what about you, Bella?" Lucas asked, his voice just as playful, but there was a touch of curiosity in his eyes.
Isabella paused, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Yes," she replied simply.
That was all it took.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Ryan, Lucas, and Jayden chorused in unison, their voices filled with playful demands as they clapped their hands, egging them on. Isabella's cheeks flushed, but she didn't back down. Leonardo, with a calm grin, leaned in closer, his gaze fixed on hers. For a moment, the world seemed to pause — and then their lips met, gently but with undeniable chemistry.
The room exploded in shock and excitement.
"Woah!" Jayden exclaimed, his mouth hanging open.
"Oh my gosh!" Ryan said, barely able to contain his excitement.
Lucas, who had been watching the scene with wide eyes, suddenly frowned. "You know that's my sister, right?" he said, shaking his head in mock disapproval, though it was clear he was just playing.
Leonardo pulled away from Isabella, his eyes soft but amused. "I know," he said, his voice steady, though the energy in the room was palpable.
Jayden was still grinning like a maniac, his eyes bouncing between the two. "Okay, okay! That was definitely worth it." He clapped his hands, ready to move on. "Now, my turn. Let's get real."
He shifted in his seat, leaning forward with a mischievous smile. "What's your biggest secret?" Jayden asked, his voice dropping into a playful yet mysterious tone.
Isabella's eyes locked with his, a smile playing on her lips as she contemplated the question. For a long moment, the room went quiet, everyone watching her expectantly. Finally, Isabella picked up her glass, took a generous gulp, and smiled wide.
Jayden, clearly expecting her to answer, raised an eyebrow. "Wait, is it not that bitter?" he asked, squinting at her with a puzzled look. "Why are you smiling so much?"
Isabella only shrugged, clearly enjoying the suspense.
Jayden, never one to back down from a challenge, leaned forward to take a sip from the same jug. "Well, if you're acting like it's no big deal..." he muttered, then poured himself a large glass, ready for whatever chaos it would bring.
Before anyone could stop him, Jayden took a huge gulp, only to immediately turn beet red. His face contorted as the taste hit him, and he choked out a strangled yell.
"What is this?!" he screamed, clutching his throat, his eyes watering from the overwhelming bitterness. Without thinking, he scrambled up from his chair and dashed toward the kitchen, his hands covering his mouth as he desperately tried not to puke.
The others couldn't help but burst into laughter. Lucas was nearly on the floor, clutching his stomach from laughing so hard.
Jayden, now in the kitchen with the door open, hollered back, "That was evil! That's not even a drink, it's a weapon!"
Isabella grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "What? I didn't say it was going to be sweet." She turned to Leonardo, her expression softening. "Guess he learned the hard way."
Leonardo laughed quietly, his gaze never leaving her. "I think we all did," he said, watching Jayden continue to gag in the kitchen.
And as the laughter settled down, the energy in the room shifted once again. The air between Isabella and Leonardo seemed to crackle with something unspoken, a bond growing stronger by the minute. The game, it seemed, had only just begun.
The conversation shifted to lighter topics. They talked about school, jokes they had heard recently, and made fun of each other's silly dance moves from earlier. The energy in the room lightened as everyone swapped stories and shared jokes, the earlier tension now forgotten.
Eventually, the night began to wind down. The group started gathering their things, getting ready to head off to bed.
"Alright, guys, I think it's time we call it a night," Lucas said with a yawn, stretching his arms. "We've had enough excitement for one evening."
"Yeah, I think we're all gonna be feeling that drink tomorrow," Ryan added with a laugh, rubbing his stomach.
"I'll sleep like a rock tonight," Jayden joked, his eyes already half-closed. "Goodnight, everyone!"
"Goodnight!" the others chorused.
Isabella smiled at Leonardo one last time, her eyes lingering on him for a moment before she said, "Goodnight, everyone. See you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Bella," Leonardo replied softly, his voice holding that familiar warmth.
As they all headed to their respective rooms, the sound of laughter still echoed in the air. It had been a night full of surprises, but it wasn't over yet. There was still so much more to come.