"Ummm," I stumbled trying to come up with any excuse I could, any reason that would be close enough to the truth to be believable but at the same time reveal nothing at all.

Whoever the hell invented truth or dare had it in for vulnerable teenage girls.

***

"You've never been to a sleepover?" I repeated incredulously.

"I do believe that's what I just confirmed," Grey rolled his eyes.

"Seriously Vegas, we go to a boarding school every night is a sleepover," Nico complained.

"So? I didn't really have the most normal high school experience but I still went to loads of sleepovers, maybe it's a girl thing," I shrugged simply.

"I'm not that bothered," Grey gave a lazy one shoulder shrug.

"You've been missing out on a vital life experience," I shook my head gravely, "we must remedy that."

"By having a sleepover?" Grey raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"We live like five steps away from each other," Nico cut in.

"It's not about the sleeping," I huffed dramatically, "it's about the experience." I caught Sawyer's eyes and he winked at me with a smirk.

"The experience?" Mitch questioned.

"The games, the sugary food and late night snacking, the terrible film that takes an hour to decide on, the scary stories in the dark," I expanded my voice animated but still serious.

"Do you have a degree in sleepovers that we don't know about?" Nico smirked.

"I should do," I nodded smiling in spite of myself.

We were eating dinner together in the dining hall on Saturday night, dad had a teachers meeting to attend to so I was released from my daughterly duties and had the rest of the evening to spend with the Silent Boys.

"Sleepover it is then, shall we remedy it tonight?" Mitch said decisively, "but maybe without the actual sleeping part because your dad would most definitely expel us."

"An Over?" Sawyer spoke up, he wasn't someone of many words but each word he did chose always held some significance like he'd mulled over it for a long time.

"What?" I swivelled to face him.

"A sleepover without sleeping would be an Over."

"An Over it is then," I nodded satisfied.

"Will we need supplies?" Mitch perked up. If there was something to organise and plan he was instantly game.

"Yep," I nodded, "you can't have a sleepover without a heart attack inducing amount of sweets."

***

"I don't think we brought enough," Nico announced sarcastically as I dumped the two shopping bags full of sweets on my bedroom floor.

"You always need too many sweets," I batted back.

"Now what's next?" All the boys looked up at me expectantly, we'd just returned from the shops stocked up with fizzy drinks, sweets and chocolate.

"Pyjamas," I decided certainly, "and blankets and pillows."

"Yes ma'am," Nico raised his hand in mock salute before marching out the room.

Once all the boys had left I pulled on my own pyjamas, baggy tartan bottoms that were my moms and a huge threadbare t-shirt that hung down to my mid thigh. I peered at myself in the mirror slightly embarrassed by my shabby look. Screw it, it wasn't like I was trying to impress anyone anyway.

"Knock knock," a voice called and the door was pushed open without knocking.

"Do you have any concept of privacy?" I spun around to face Grey who was lurking in the doorway. He had on grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt.

"This was my best option," he gestured to his outfit, ignoring my question as he strolled into my room, "I usually sleep naked."

"It's true," Sawyer followed him in shaking his head in amusement, he wore a simple white top and black and white checked pyjama bottoms.

"Don't you dare laugh," Nico yelled from outside my door.

"What?" I was already smirking.

"These are the only things I have," he stepped out from behind the door sheepishly, he wore a thick blue cotton pyjama set with red trim, "my gran sent it to me okay, and I usually sleep in boxers so this is my only option."

I couldn't stop a snigger from escaping my lips, it was the type of outfit you saw in films set in the 1930s, usually worn by boys under ten. Grey was full out laughing and clutching his sides even when Nico aimed a grumpy punch his way.

"Isn't it the best thing you've ever seen?" Mitch chimed in with a chuckle as he entered, in black shorts and a grey vest top, dragging a couple of pillows behind him.

"Shut up," Nico playfully barged into Mitch but we all knew that if anyone could pull that outfit off it would be Nico.

"Good," I snatched the pillows from Mitch, "we need more and blankets too."

I took no time in creating the perfect space for an Over, blankets and pillows were expertly strewn all over the floor. I put quiet background music on my record player and piled up all the sweets in one great mound in the centre of the room. The lights were dimmed and curtains drawn but the door left cracked open just an inch, as to not be breaking any rules.

All of us sat in a circle, I pulled a blanket around my shoulders and Sawyer played with the threads of the pillow in his lap.

"What now?" Mitchell asked the most vital question, everything was set up and now it was time for the games to begin.

"You pick," I offered, "if this was a girls sleepover we'd probably be doing manicures and face masks and rating the cutest boys in our class on a scale from 1 to 10."

"Or there's spin the bottle or seven minutes in heaven," Nico gave me a sly wink that was playful, I simply rolled my eyes.

"I think spin the bottle would be great, there's a 3 in 4 chance you'll get to kiss a guy," I smiled sweetly.

"Or not," Nico stuck his tongue out at me.

"Truth or dare?" Sawyer intervened before Nico and I started one of our childish squabbles.

Truth or dare. I shaped the words inside my head, whatever version you played of that game and however kind the people you played it with were it always ended badly. And I knew this time would be no different, I could practically feel it in my bones.

"I'm in," Mitch decided instantly.

"Me too," Nico nodded.

"I guess so," Grey shrugged but I could tell from his uncomfortable shifting he was dubious.

"Well I'm outvoted then," I sighed heavily, "truth or dare it is."

"I'll go first," Nico grinned.

"Nope oldest goes first," Mitch corrected.

"Don't you mean youngest?" I corrected.

"Sawyer?" They turned to face him.

"I'm March?" he turned to me.

"June," I huffed, "the baby of the group then."

"Who's your first victim sleepover expert?" Nico rubbed his hands together.

"You," I smirked.

"Hit me," he grinned back, "dare."

"I dare you," my eyes wandered around the room, "to dance a jig."

Nico practically leapt up in eagerness, he struck a dramatic starting pose with his arms flourished high. Then he started to move his legs in disjointed jerking motions as he leapt up and down and threw his arms wildly above his head.

The four of us doubled over in laughter as he leapt around with a completely solemn expression on his face. When he finished with a final grand flourish I had tears rolling down my face and a stitch in my side from panting out laughs between howls of mirth.

"Thank you," Nico gave a mock now before flipping back into his spot on a cushion. "I pick Cara."

"Dare," I said decidedly, everyone knew that was the safer option.

"I dare you to lick the bottom of Mitch's foot," Nico beamed proudly at himself.

"Eww," I crinkled my nose.

"Oi," Mitch objected, "you should be thankful it's not Nico's foot you have to lick, we all know he never showers."

"Don't believe in them," Nico shrugged.

"You don't believe in showering?" I raised an incredulous brow.

"Stop avoiding it and lick Mitch's foot," Nico instructed so I turned to Mitch who held up his bare foot. Cautiously I stuck out my tongue and pressed it against his foot before quickly retracting it and retreating back to my seat.

"Okay Mitch your turn truth or dare?" I rounded on him.

"Dare," he folded his arms determinedly.

"I dare you to fit as many sweets into your mouth as humanly possible."

"Easy," he rolled his eyes and reached out for a pack of Haribo's, ripping it open as he tipped his head back to pour the contents in his mouth. He managed to fit the entire packet in his mouth with the occasional gummy bear falling out the side.

"Show off," Nico shook his head.

"Cara," Mitch spluttered as he struggled to chew the sweets and swallow them down, "truth or dare?"

"Truth," I knew that was a bad idea, my stomach clenched as I waited for his question.

"How far have you gone?"

I swallowed, I guess that was a lot better than it could have been, I acted dumb though, "far? Like geographically?"

"No like base wise?" Mitch wiggled his eyebrows.

"Umm," I cleared my throat, "all the way I guess." Silence, "Sawyer?"

"Truth," his voice was quiet.

"Have you ever weed in the swimming pool?"

Sawyer burst out laughing spluttering and and doubling over. All the boys watched with bemused expressions in their faces.

"What kind of question is that?" Grey objected.

"One that Sawyer has to answer," I turned back to my victim with a cocked eyebrow.

"Sure," Sawyer gave a half smile, "hasn't everyone?"

"No," Grey told him.

"Cara, truth or dare?" Sawyer asked.

"Dare."

Sawyer thought for a moment.

"I dare you to sing the Titanic song while standing on your head."

Now it was my turn to start laughing, a grin tugged up my cheeks. I shook my head at him, "seriously!"

"I want to see this," Nico leant back on his arms and waited expectantly.

With an eye roll at him I positioned myself to get into a headstand and pushed up so I was balancing precariously on my hands and head.

"You ready?" Sawyer was smirking proudly now.

"Near far, where ever you are?" I began knowing that my voice was hideous and tinny, while I could beat anyone at a game of poker, singing had never been my strong suit. In fact, I couldn't sing to save my life, "I believe that the heart does go on."

I collapsed back onto my knees face flushed in embarrassment, all the boys were barely containing their laughter.

"Wow! Please tell me you're not hoping for a career in singing?" Nico sniggered.

I shot him a glare, "Grey," I switched my attention, "truth or dare?"

"Truth," he replied but his eyes were full of dare.

"If you were granted one wish in the world what would it be?" I matched his daring look.

His frame squared and an atmosphere of tension was obvious in the air. The boys wanted to hear his answer as much as I did.

"I would remove my stepdad from my life, from all of my families lives," he said simply his voice earnest and clear. I knew he was telling the truth. "Cara your turn."

"You can't all pick me," I complained.

"Says who?" Grey smirked evilly, "truth or dare Cara?"

"Truth."

I gulped waiting for his question, nerves twisting my insides. But there was a reason I said truth, because I wanted him to ask me, something. Anything.

"Who is Jackson?"

My throat dried up and heart clenched.

How the hell was I going to answer that?

"Ummm," I stumbled trying to come up with any excuse I could, any reason that would be close enough to the truth to be believable but at the same time reveal nothing at all.

Whoever the hell invented truth or dare had it in for vulnerable teenage girls.