Stars are bright in the night sky as we sit out on the cabin’s deck. A slightly chill air weaves its way through the trees. I lean back in my chair and smile, my eyes landing on Autumn. She’s sitting easily in a lounge chair, her laughs coming easily and her cheeks flushed with alcohol.

We all sit around in comfortable clothes, having changed out of our dresses and tuxes the moment we got to the cabin. Annie whispers something to Autumn and she giggles, shaking her head. Her auburn hair catches the firelight and I feel the sudden urge to tell her how gorgeous she is, how I want us to be more than friends.

“Alright, it’s time for truth and dare.” Carly smirks, looking at all of us.

“Okay.” Annie and Autumn giggle. Autumn’s eyes slid to mine and her eyes glow in the orange light.

“Aron, truth or dare?” Carly asks.

“Truth.” He replies.

“Oh boo, fine.” Carly sticks her tongue out at him. “How far have you and Annie gone?”

Both Aron and Annie blush. Annie looks over at Aron, while he just looks up at the sky, probably trying to figure out how to answer.

“Uhm,” Aron bites his lip.

“It’s okay Aron. We’re all friends here.” Annie says, knowing he was being quiet for her. “All the way.”

Cal throws a cat call towards Aron and we laugh.

“Annie, you ask since you answered.” Carly says.

“Oh, yay.” Annie says, her eyes sliding to Autumn. “Autumn, truth or dare?”

“Dare.” Autumn says, surprising us. I was expecting her to pick truth.

“I dare you…” Annie smiles and looks to me, “to kiss Levi.”

Autumn and I look at each other, then Autumn stands. I take a deep breath and stand as well, walking around the fire pit. I watch Autumn as she stumbles slightly, holding onto the back of a chair. This doesn’t mean anything; I think to myself, it’s a dare, and we’re both drunk. She falls against my chest as we meet and she smiles.

“Hey.” She whispers.

“Hey.” I reply, my eyes falling from her own to her lips.

“Kiss already!” Annie calls.

I take a deep breath and lean forward, pressing my lips softly against Autumns. We’re both stiff and my heart is racing. I begin to pull away but Autumn’s hands slid up to my cheeks then around my neck and she kisses me again, her body flowing against mine.

At first I don’t respond, confused and nervous. Autumn was kissing me and it was more than what the dare required. Before I know what I’m doing, my arms are wrapped around her and I’m holding her tight. Our kiss grows as my hunger for this moment eats into me. She tastes like alcohol, and that fact draws me back to my senses. She’s drunk. We’re both drunk. This wasn’t right. If she was sober she would not be doing this.

I move my hands to hers and gently untangle them from my hair, pulling back. She looks at me, smiling and then starts to giggle. She has definitely had way too much to drink.

“Well, that was slightly more than I asked for, but it works.” Annie says, laughing.

Autumn is still all giggles as she makes her way back to the seat next to Annie. I sit back in my chair, my body electric. The rest of the game I’m in a haze, still stuck to our kiss. No matter how many times I tell myself it meant nothing because we’re both drunk, I feel her body pressing up against mine like it can’t get close enough.

“Time for bed.” Cal yawns, standing up. We all agree and I stand, swallowing my feelings and helping Autumn up. We’re just friends, I tell myself. She leans into my body, barely able to stand, and I wonder just how much she’s had to drink. I’ve never seen her this drunk. Ever. Normally, she barely drinks anything at all.

I pull her arm over my shoulder and wrap my free arm around her waist.

“Let’s go.” I say, walking us towards the cabin. I guide us into our room and set her on the bed.

“Bed time?” Autumn slurs, stretching.

“Yep, time for bed.” I say, pulling her shoes off and setting them on the floor by the nightstand.

I pull my shirt off and sit down on the other side of the bed. Autumn moves against my back and wraps her arms around me.

“We should kiss again.” Autumn giggles.

I close my eyes a moment, taking a deep breath. After I get control of myself again I gently push her back to her side and smile at her.

“Autumn, you’re drunk. Let’s just go to sleep and we can talk about this in the morning okay?” I say, getting her to lay down.

“But I wanna kiss you.” She pouts and wiggles her head into my lap, reaching up to my cheeks.

“I promise you, if you remember tonight you can kiss me all you want for the rest of your life.” I run my fingers through her hair, cherishing this moment, this night. I know she won’t remember. My answer seems to placate her and she smiles, snuggling into the bed and pulling the covers around her.

“Love you.” She mutters.

I lay back under the covers and stare at the ceiling. We finally kissed, but it’s not at all how I imagined it going. I sigh and close my eyes.

“I love you too.” I whisper to her now sleeping form and close my eyes.