The bully's redemption

The circle collectively drew in a sharp breath. Kamsi's eyes widened, her lips parting in disbelief, while Zendaya's jaw tightened in annoyance. She rolled her eyes and, without hesitation, yanked off her leader's jacket, revealing a sleeveless shirt underneath. The crowd went wild, and Damon's smirk faltered, just briefly. She wasn't fazed by him at all.

He leaned back, an exaggerated pout on his face, clearly disappointed by her lack of reaction. "Ouch," he muttered, feigning hurt. But inside, the sting was sharper than he let on. Why would she shed our clothes over going on a date with me?he thought, irritation quickly turning into a resolve to make her change her mind.

Gilbert smirked, now the coordinator of the game, his eyes scanning the circle, looking for his next target. The bottle spun again, its rhythm deliberate and slow. The anticipation thickened in the air as it landed, at last, on Camella and Patricia.

Damon leaned in, his voice silky with amusement. "Would you rather reconcile, or spill each other's secrets to everyone here?"

Patricia's face lit up with wicked delight. "I choose the latter," she declared, her gaze fixed on Camella. She settled back, taking her time as she threw a mocking look toward the girl she barely tolerated.

Kamsi's breath hitched as Patricia leaned in, lowering her voice to just above a whisper. "Camella is a cheap slut. She fucks Mr. Lincoln every chance she gets."

The words hit the group like a thunderclap, and a wave of murmurs spread through the circle. Kamsi's eyes flickered between Patricia's smug grin and Camella's furious, red face. The shock on everyone's face, except for the members of F4 was palpable. Camella was sleeping with their geography teacher? Kamsi couldn't believe it, though, in the back of her mind, she had always found Mr. Lincoln a little… creepy.

"You bitch!" Camella snarled, lunging for Patricia, but Damon was quick to stop her, his hand landing firmly on her shoulder. His grip was strong enough to hold her in place, but gentle enough to avoid further conflict.

"Fighting's against the rules, darling," Damon said coolly. "I'm afraid you'll have to leave the game if you can't control yourself."

The look in Camella's eyes could have burned holes through stone. "I'll make you pay for this," she hissed at Patricia before turning on Damon. "Fuck you," she spat, flipping him the bird as she stormed off into the darkness.

"Such an aggressive bitch," Damon muttered under his breath, his expression flickering for just a moment before he spun the bottle once more.

It landed on Gilbert this time, and Damon's grin returned, a devilish glint in his eyes. "Gilbert, my man," Damon said, leaning forward, clearly relishing this moment. "Would you rather make out with any girl here… or do the chicken dance?"

Gilbert shot him a look, a flicker of irritation crossing his face before he surveyed the group. His gaze briefly locked with Kamsi's, then shifted toward Xavier, whose expression had grown darker, unreadable. The tension between the two men was palpable, and for a moment, Kamsi thought she saw something almost threatening in Xavier's gaze.

Gilbert smirked, clearly undeterred. He glanced back at Damon and, after a brief pause, declared with confidence, "I'll take the chicken dance."

The girls around them groaned in disappointment, and Gilbert, with exaggerated flourish, launched into a hilarious rendition of the chicken dance. Laughter erupted around the fire, even Kamsi found herself chuckling despite herself. Xavier's jaw tightened, but his gaze never left Kamsi. There was something about the way she smiled—genuine and unguarded—that made his chest tighten. He hated that it wasn't *him* who was the reason for that smile, but he was determined that soon it would be.

The bottle spun again, and this time, it landed on Leonard, a guy Kamsi barely knew. He sat next to her, looking out of place among the more confident, outgoing members of the group. Kamsi didn't know what to make of him, but there was something about his quiet presence that made her notice him.

Damon's voice cut through the night, as sharp and sly as ever. "Leonard… would you rather kiss a stranger or tell your crush you like her?"

Leonard paused, his brow furrowing as he deliberated. The silence stretched on, thick with expectation, before he finally spoke, his voice low but clear: "I choose the latter."

And just like that, his gaze turned directly to Kamsi. "I like you," he said, his words cutting through the chatter and falling heavily into the quiet space between them.

Kamsi froze, her heart skipping a beat. She had never even considered Leonard as an option. She had barely registered his existence before tonight, and yet here he was, confessing in front of everyone. What the hell ?she thought, her eyes wide with shock and confusion.

Across from her, Xavier's jaw clenched so tight that the muscle in his neck twitched. His eyes were locked on Leonard with such intensity that it felt like he was burning a hole straight through him. Who the hell does you think he is? Xavier's thoughts were a storm of anger and possessiveness. He couldn't stand the idea of anyone—anyone—trying to claim what was his.

Before Kamsi could gather her thoughts, the bottle spun again, its rhythm slow and deliberate. The firelight danced in the shadows, as everyone turned to watch the outcome. The bottle came to a stop, pointing directly at Xavier.

The air around them grew heavier. Damon took his time, his eyes narrowing as he savored the moment. "Xavier," he said, his voice cool and taunting, "Would you rather have the undivided attention of a mysterious person for the rest of the night… or get your dream car?"

Xavier's smirk was slow, calculated, as he considered the options. "I choose the first," he said, his gaze shifting toward Kamsi, who was already staring back at him. There was a charged silence between them, one that only they could feel.

Damon's voice broke the quiet again, dripping with mischief. "Well then… try to seduce someone here. You've got 15 seconds. No physical touch. No explicit words. Just your charm."

The challenge hung in the air like a storm cloud. The entire circle leaned forward, waiting with bated breath. And as Xavier slowly rose from his seat, his eyes locked onto Kamsi, every muscle in his body moving with the certainty of a predator about to claim his prey.