Valary’s POV

Since everyone is going away for Christmas Eve tomorrow, we decided to spend tonight all together to exchange gifts & have a really good time. So here we are… almost shit faced ready to play Truth or Dare. How childish are we? But leave it to my sister to come up with things like this. Although it’s nice to see her relax & just be her old self. She’s been stressing over the wedding & I can’t blame her. I almost went insane planning mine, with the difference that I let Matt helped me out. She doesn’t let anyone help her out. Not even Mom. Brian just gave up & little by little, everyone will start giving up too. Including me. I guess we’ll just have to have a sister-sister talk. I look around at the ‘circle’ we have made on Zacky’s living room floor. You have Matt next to Ann, who is next to Brian, who is next to Zacky, who is next to me. I’m next to my sis, sitting next to her is Lacey & next to her is Gena. We really have come far. My sister is getting married… to Brian, who is like a brother to me.

Gena & Zacky are happy living in ‘sin’ like Anna’s mom referred to them living together. They say they’re happy like this & that marriage is the last thing on their mind, but I know deep inside, Zacky is just waiting for the right opportunity to do it. & with Syn & Chelle getting married, that’ll have to wait though.

Johnny & Lacey are just too damn cute for their own good. They are really in love & you can see that Lacey is what Johnny needs. She keeps him on his toes, but always lets Johnny be the Johnny we all know & love.

Then you have Jimmy & Leana who are the craziest yet most perfect couple to ever walk this earth. It’s like Leana is the female version of The Rev. Only her could handle all that hyper & craziness. How could she not? SHE’S THE SAME. Even their fights are amusing. And now with baby Wren, they have become even closer than they were. They are becoming a real family. I can’t wait for them to take baby Wren home. The doctors have kept her under supervision, seeing that she was born so ahead of time. I know its killing Leana to see her baby like that & its killing Jimmy to see Leana suffer so much, but their mood is always the same. Always laughing, joking around & just being happy... just being them.

Then you have Matt & I. Married for almost 2 years (?) now & still very much in love. I’m married to my best friend, what more could I ask for? Although watching Leana with baby Wren has really made me want to have one of my own. I really want to experience that ‘infinite love’ Leana talks so much about. I really want that. I just don’t know when it will be the right time. With me pursuing a modeling/actress career & Matt constantly on tour or recording, I don’t see how we can make it work.

I finally turn to look at Annabelle that’s scratching Icky’s belly while chatting with Matt & Gena. I sometimes worry about her. She’s so young, yet she acts like our age. It’s like she also forgets that she’s just 23. I know I often forget her age. I sometimes wonder if we stole her youth. Well, when you have someone like Jimmy with you while growing up, you can’t say that it wasn’t a fun ride. It’s just that… she looks so, I don’t know… lonely. It’s like she’s surrounded by all the people that love her to death & that would do anything for her, yet you can see that there’s something missing for her. I don’t even know she noticed it herself. She has sheltered herself behind all of our feelings & happiness that I think she forgot what makes her happy. And I can’t help but feel that this has to do, somehow, with Brian & Michelle’s wedding.

“Ok, let’s play” Johnny says coming form the bathroom, breaking my thoughts. “How are we gonna do this thing?” He asks, sitting between Brian & Anna. Zacky places a bottle in the middle of us & spins it without any delay. It lands with the bottlenose pointing to Michelle & the end to me.

“Ok, you guys first & we’ll start from there” Zacky says, sitting next me again.

“Truth or dare?” I ask Michelle. She seems to think about it for a bit before answering truth. This is ridiculous… I know everything about her! WE’RE TWIN SISTERS! I sigh, thinking hard about a question. “If you could pick anyone from this room, besides Brian… who would you date?” I ask her & I see Brian turn to look at her with an eager look. I want to know too. She bites her lips & looks down & slowly raises her hand, pointing across from her. I can see everyone slowly follow the direction & I gasp. SHE’S POINTING AT MATT!!! I hear Lacey & Johnny laugh while Gena & Anna are biting their lips to stifle her laughter. I don’t find it funny! She never told me she even thought about dating Matt. Is she for real? “Why?” I ask her & I see from the corner of my eyes that Brian nods in acknowledgement too. Guess I’m not the only one that was kept in the dark. She opens her mouth to reply, but Annabelle cuts her.

“You’ll have to wait for another opportunity to ask her that. You should’ve thought better your question” She says, handing Michelle the bottle & her mouthing a thanks. Annabelle just winks at her. Michelle places the bottle & spins it. The bottlenose stopping right at the direction she pointed before… right at Matt. Great!

“Truth or Dare, Matt?” She says & I see Matt turn to look at me before answering dare. “Do 20 pushups with the person to your right on top of you” She says, smirking. We all turn to look at Annabelle. I guess payback is a bitch.

“Seriously? After I saved your ass?” She says as Matt & her stand up. “I can see who the evil twin is now” She mutters before lying on top of Matt, that was lying on the center of the circle. “Lucky for you, I haven’t eaten too much this holidays” She says to him, before he starts his push-ups. He did the first 14 without a problem, but when the 15th came around, you could see his arms shaking a bit & he wasn’t getting up as fast. A minute later he finishes, almost dropping Annabelle twice. Everybody clapped & I kissed him. He was starting to break a sweat. He spins the bottle landing on Lacey.

“Truth… or dare?” He says between gasps. Lacey answers truth without hesitation. Guess she doesn’t want to be put in a similar situation like Matt. “Who is your best friend & what is the least you like about them?” He asks & I roll my eyes. My husband isn’t a bit creative when it comes to this.

“Johnny. & the thing I least like about him is the one thing I love the most about him. He makes me step out of my comfort zone & try new things even though he knows I love my routines & that I like to organize everything beforehand. So, when he makes me do things out of the blue, just for the sake of it, I hate him. But I love him cuz he’s making me grow & I like to think that we’re growing together” She says & looks at him, who’s staring at her with such devotion that it makes me want to cry. You can hear some ‘aww’s’ when they share a kiss & mumble words. I guess my husband is good at this. Never expected that kind of answer. “My turn” She says after a while, spinning the bottle, landing on Johnny. “Truth or dare, babe?” She asks.

“Dare” He says.

“I dare you to…” She glances around the room, almost like picking her victim. “Do an impression of anyone from here” & I see Johnny stand up, straighten his shirt & place his hand on his hip.

“Oh my God, Brian. Stop acting like a little baby, ok? It is a manly dog” Earning him the first round of laughs. “You just have to get in touch with your feminine side. There’s nothing wrong with a tiny, fragile dog to prove your secure about you manliness. I’m sure none of the guys will make fun of you for choosing a small dog. At least they’ll know you’re not compensating for other things” He says, staring at Brian’s crotch before bursting out in laughter, sending all of us into a fit of laugher. Well… except Michelle who was mockingly glaring at him, trying to hold back her laughter. He nailed it! Everyone started clapping & he bowed before spinning the bottle & taking his seat. It landed on Gena. “Truth or dare?” He asks, still laughing a bit.

“Truth” She says & you can see the pattern here. Girls are truth… guys are dare. It would be completely different if Leana was here.

“What is one secret you have never told anyone?” He asks & I see Gena smirk.

“Um…” You can see her thinking how to say it. “It’s not just my secret. A couple of years ago, Annabelle & I went to Miami for a photo shoot & we got kinda wasted & went skinny dipping” She says & I turn to look at Annabelle who is staring at her.

“You promised that was gonna stay between us” She says, pointing at her.

“They would’ve found out anyway. So, we were skinny dipping & all of our clothes got stolen & since it was 3 PM, we got arrested for indecent exposure & when Ann tried to flirt her way out of jail, they thought we were hookers & we had to spend the night in a cell with a bunch of women that kept talking to us in Spanish. That’s why we came back 2 days later. They had to clear us” She says & I see Annabelle shaking her head in shame. “It was Annabelle’s idea too” She says & Anna lifts her head up, glaring at her.

“I hate you” She says & everyone laughs. Who would’ve thought? “Just spin the damn bottle” She says, slumping back. Gena laughs & blows her a kiss before spinning the bottle.

“Truth or dare, Brian” She asks him.

“Dare” He says with his ever present smirk.

“Lick Annabelle’s ear” She says eyeing Anna. “And face” She says with an evil grin. Anna’s mouth hangs open before she stands up.

“Hold on a minute. Why it is that most of these things are involving me? Are you guys ganging up on me or something? I don’t like this fucking game” She says, crossing her arms over her chest & pouting. She look so cute.

“Oh, shut up, Anna, & just do it” Zacky says. Brian sighs & stands up.

“You better make it quick” She mutters to Brian. He removes her hair from her right side slowly before placing his hands on her neck to make her stand there & move her head as her starts licking her ear, although it looks more like his kissing every inch of skin delicately & softly, almost romantically, before moving to her cheek & over her forehead before landing on her other cheek & moving to her nose, licking up & down but stopping at the top of her nose. Ann opens her eyes & they stare at each other for a second too long. All of us where holding our breath.

Would he do it? It was the only place missing. He sighs & licks her chin, to all of our dismay. Well, except Michelle who was watching with a careful eye. I would too if that was my future husband kissing/licking someone else, but he didn’t do it. He didn’t do it because of Michelle. I see him letting go of her face & walking to his spot, leaving Annabelle standing there, almost shivering. I guess that Gena’s intention wasn’t for it to be so sensual. But it was. It was far from gross & disgusting. & I don’t know why I feel almost disappointed. She takes her sit & Brian spins the bottle, the end landing on Annabelle. He looks at her, almost silently asking her truth or dare. “Truth” She says.

“What is the one thing you regret the most in your life?” He asks. She swallows hard & I see her glance quickly to Gena before letting out her breath.

“Not being able to dedicate more time to painting & quitting my dance lessons” She says & I can see through her lie. I turn to see who’s gonna call her out on her shit & I see Gena slowly shaking her head for me not to do it. So I let it slip. “My turn” She says & you can feel the tension in the air created after Brian’s dare. The bottle stops on Zacky. “Truth or dare, Zack?” She asks.

“Dare” He says. I see an evil glint on Anna’s eye. Trust her to break all tension. She's so good at that.

“Give me your cookies” She says & you see her smirk. Zacky’s eyes looked like they were gonna pop out of head. “I dare you to give me your homemade cookies & watch me eat them” She says & I think Zacky was on the binge of tears. Don’t mess with his cookies! NEVER mess with his cookies.

“You can’t be serious. That isn’t even a real dare, right?” He says, looking around for someone to agree with him.

“Oh, shut up, Zack, & just do it” Annabelle says, spitting his same words to him. “I chose the dare & I can choose whatever I want. So… I dare you to give me your precious homemade cookies that you have stashed somewhere in this house & watch me eat them” She says. Brian laughs. You can see her creativity in everything she does. Even a simple dare, is a piece of art for her. Zacky huffs & stands, walking out of the living room. The minute he left, we burst out laughing.

“You know he’s gonna hate you, right?” Gena says to her. Anna just shrugs. Zacky walks in with a bag full of cookies & gruffly hands it to Anna who thanks him.

“You better enjoy them” He says to her, taking his sit next to me.

“Oh, I will” She says, taking one out. She bits it & ‘mmm’-ed. This caught Icky’s attention who walked to her. She turned to see Zacky before she handed the cookie to Icky & I hear Zacky gasp. “Isn’t it delicious, Ichabod?” She says, petting the dog’s head. “It’s your turn, Zack” She says, not looking at Zacky who was really pissed. It’s hilarious. She really knows how to push his buttons. Guess if Leana is missing, you can always count on Annabelle. Zacky spins the bottle landing on Johnny.

“Truth or dare?” He says through clenched teeth.

“Truth” Johnny says.

“What is your worst fear?”

“That the Rev will become invisible & kill me” He says & we all laugh. He spins it & lands on me. “Truth or dare, Val?” He asks me.

“Truth”

“Have you ever gone skinny dipping & got mistaken for a hooker like Annabelle?” He asks. Annabelle smacks him with a 'hey', her mouth full with Zacky’s cookies.

“Umm… I’ve been skinny dipping, not in the middle of the day though & I definitely have never been mistaken for a hooker” I say. “I guess Annabelle & Gena got that profession covered” I smile at her & Annabelle flips me off. Gena just laughs. I spin the bottle landing on Anna. “Truth or dare, little Anna?”

“You guys are all cowards” She says, swallowing. “Dare” She says, pulling her hair up on a ponytail.

“I dare you to… make out with anyone sitting on this room” I say.

“Anyone?” She asks, her eyebrow rose. I nod, before catching the small evil smirk on her face. Oh, shit! I see her turn to her left, eyeing Matt before smiling flirtatiously. This bitch isn’t seriously thinking about kissing Matt, right? She gets on her knees & hands, sitting on Matt’s lap, more like straddling him, who was eyeing her carefully. She leans towards him, looking him straight on his eyes & I swallow hard. I’ve never been the jealous type. I mean, I can’t be when my husband is the lead singer of a band & had thousands of girls thrown at his feet. But right now… I want to strangle Anna for even getting this close to him. I’ve never been jealous of her seeing that I’ve known her since forever & their relationship, Matt’s & Anna’s, has always been more of brother & sister than anything else. She turns to look at me over her shoulder, with her playful smirk present. Nobody was breathing. Everyone was expectant to her next move. Her smirk turned into a smile, before she turned back around, leaning even closer to Matt, who didn’t move an inch. I didn’t even realize my hands were curled into fists until Michelle placed her hand over mine. Just as she was about to kiss him, she was just mere centimeters away from his lips, she turned to her right & grabbed Gena, delicately, by her neck, gently placing her lips on hers. Anna was still straddling Matt but was making out with Gena. All the guys had their mouths wide open, even adjusting themselves to see better. Zacky was almost on top of me. I had to admit… it was pretty fucking hot sight. A minute later, they part smiling at each other, before Anna turned to look at Matt, laughing & kissing his cheek. She crawls back to her sit like nothing happened. Needless to say, the guys were staring at them. Annabelle wipes the corner of her mouth with her index & looks up… to find us all staring at her. “What? You guys didn’t actually thought I was gonna kiss Shadz, right?” She says. Nobody said a word. "He's married" She says. Guess that's her only excuse.

“That was…” Brian started saying.

“Fucking hot” Johnny says looking to Zacky who just nods.

“Guys are so stupid” Annabelle mutters & all the girls agree. She spins the bottle & it lands on Zacky.

“Truth” He says quickly without giving her a chance to ask. I guess he doesn’t want to be dared by Ann again. She laughs.

“Are you still mad that I took your cookies?” She asks.

“If you’re gonna do that…” He says signaling her & Gena. “Every time you piss me off… I’ll always be pissed off at you” He says & Annabelle laughs, biting another cookie.