ˏˋ°•*⁀ ➷ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗬-𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘
─◌✰್ 𝗉𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝖾
𝗉𝗂𝗇𝖾𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝖾（𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻）/ˈ𝗽𝗶̄ˌ𝗻𝗮𝗽 ə𝗹/
❝𝖺 𝗅𝖺𝗋𝗀𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗂𝖼𝗒 𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗉𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅 𝖿𝗋𝗎𝗂𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗌𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝖿 𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗒𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝖿𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗁 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝖺 𝗍𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗌𝖾𝗀𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗌𝗄𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗍𝗎𝖿𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖿𝖿 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗌．❞

"Okay, I need to know what the tea is between you and Minho."

You pointed across the circle at the girl sitting in her pear-green sleeping bag.

"Hey, why do I have to go first?" Tessa protested, gripping the bag of Sour Patch Kids that she'd claimed for herself since the beginning of the night. Her Keroppi pajamas stared back at you with the same wide eyes.

"Because that's some hot gossip even your besties don't know about," Lanhua pointed out, crossing her arms.

Tessa looked to JJ for help, but she just shrugged.

"Hey, don't look at me. You're the one keeping secrets from your best friends," JJ agreed.

"Yess, I've been dying for some good gossip," Riley grabbed a handful of barbecue potato chips from the communal bag before settling back in her spot.

"Ugh, fine," Tessa rolled her eyes. "But you can't tell anyone, especially not the guys."

"We swear!" Robin raised her left hand as proof. Everyone else nodded, rapt attention still on Tessa.

"Well, Minho and I have known each other since we were little," Tessa began haltingly, playing with the green sour candy that sat forgotten in her hands. "He lived next to me, and we used to play together. We even went to preschool and elementary school together, before he moved away. And of course, I've had a crush on him since I can remember."

"Oooh!" Mya exclaimed, covering her mouth. "How come Minho never mentioned you?? You're literally gorgeous!"

"Who wouldn't brag about you having a crush on them?" Robin agreed.

"I bet a lot of people have crushes on you," Renee agreed, taking a bite out of a peach ring.

Tessa sighed, her shoulders slumping. It was as if she was visibly crumpling in on herself. You weren't sure what happened to make her so upset, but you wished she would return to the funny, sarcastic girl you knew from two seconds ago.

"It feels like everyone says that except the guy I actually like," she muttered, wrapping her arms around her legs and ceasing to speak.

"Girl, you're way out of his league," Lanhua prodded her friend with her elbow. "Even if he's Lee Minho, you can do better."

"If he doesn't like you, he's not worth your time," JJ said passionately, grabbing her friend's hand in a show of solidarity.

"I think he likes you, Alaska," Tessa said, avoiding your confused gaze.

"Wha?" You choked on the Three Musketeers bar you were eating. "Why would he like me, if he could have you??"

"I dunno, but he does."

"Well, good for you, because I don't like him like that," you blurted, immediately regretting your words.

"Who do you like, Laska?" Lanhua grinned at you.

"I'm not answering that, it's not my turn yet!" You said quickly. "Why don't we talk about someone else's drama instead? If we go to me now, I'll probably take the rest of the night."

"I'll go," Robin volunteered. "Well, its not really drama, but isn't Han so hot??"

"He really is," Lanhua agreed. "The way he saw you and knew what he wanted was so attractive! Especially after he spent all that time dancing with Riley."

Riley wrinkled her nose. "That was so weird. Why did he ask to dance with me if he was going to get distracted by someone else?? I could have been dancing with Chris instead."

"He did like you, he just liked Robin more," Mya sighed. "That's so romantic!!"

"On top of all that, I was also drunk off my ass and he definitely heard me singing," Robin pointed out. "And as much as I hate to admit it, I don't bring people to their knees with my voice, unless they're begging me to stop."

"It just means he really likes you, I think," JJ said. "You two were hanging out all night!"

"Yeah, we exchanged numbers," Robin smiled, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. "Well, he actually took my phone and added his number, and I was too drunk to say no. But I'm into it."

Everyone laughed.

"I'm glad you were able to function semi-well while you were drunk," Riley complained. "I barely remember last night, and what I do remember was pretty mortifying."

"Except the end of the night, right?" Mya nudged her.

Riley frowned, her brows crinkling. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Well, when Jeongin walked with me- when I was coming back to the room, you wanna know what I saw?" Mya grinned.

"Should I be worried?" Riley groaned.

"Chan was leaving our room, and he had a huge smile on his face!" Mya exclaimed. "And we know he wasn't taking Laska back home, so therefore..."

"He walked me back to the house?" Riley asked, confused. "Why would he do that?"

"He must have liked your dance moves," JJ mused, laughing.

"We know that's not true," you laughed, earning a playful glare from Riley. "That's one of the only things I remember from last night, and I kind of wish I didn't."

"Hey, my dance moves are usually great!" Riley whined. "Last night was the exception, not the rule. And clearly, Chris didn't mind! Why didn't you tell me sooner??" She demanded to Mya.

Mya shrugged. "I assumed Chan would try and talk to you. It's not my fault you guys are so awkward."

"Right, says the girl who hid from Jeongin whenever he looked in her direction all day!" Riley shot back.

"Heyy, not fair!" Mya blushed. "M-my situation was completely different."

"Yeah it was," Lanhua smirked. "You were the last one back from the club. You even outlasted me and Bin."

"What were you guys doing?" You gaped open-mouthed. Mya had never stayed out past midnight, let alone been the last one home. There must have been something really great between them.

"Jeongin and I..." Mya trailed off, trying to find the words. "I think we really connected. He's just so... amazing, and we have a lot in common."

Mya sat back, taking a handful of chips so she would stop talking.

"Hello?? Is that all we get?" Tessa demanded. "I wasn't there, I need all the details!!"

"And most of us don't remember shit, so you better fill us in!" You added, hitting Mya's arm with your empty candy wrapper.

Mya sighed. "We talked about our love of music and singing. Since he's a music teacher, he's really passionate about spreading his love for music, and it was really cool to learn we had such similar interests. I don't get to meet a lot of people outside of dancing who love music as much as he does," Mya ducked her head.

"Oh my gosh you guys are so cute!" Lanhua gushed.

"The babies of the group!" Riley sniffed, pretending to wipe her nose on her sleeping bag.

"Are you guys gonna get married now??" You exclaimed, shaking your friend's arm. "Why the hell have you been hiding from him all day?? He probably thinks you hate him now!"

"I dont know!! It was such a wild night, I'm scared it'll all be over when I talk to him!" Mya hid her face. "What if he slept on it and realized that he doesn't actually like me, and he was just really tired or something? Why would a guy like him be into a girl like me? He's so cool and poised and I'm a mess."

You rolled your eyes. "Jeongin is not cool or poised. He's a weirdo, and you guys would be perfect for each other. Now you'd better talk to him tomorrow or I will push you down the stairs and make you."

"So not fair," Mya mumbled, but she didn't protest.

"You and Changbin were out late," JJ observed, wiggling her eyebrows at her friend. "I was awake till at least two after taking care of Hyunjin, and you still weren't back when I fell asleep."

Lanhua beamed. "Well, I really like him. He's super funny and hot - like, insanely hot - but he's also really respectful, which I didn't expect. That's such a turn-on, don't you think?"

"Changbin is definitely a hunk," Robin chimed in. "Those arms are no joke. He looks like he lives in the gym, but would also be a teddy bear. How is that possible?"

"He's literally the nicest," Tessa agreed. "He was telling me about his surfing skills, before Minho had to interrupt, per usual."

"I'm just saying, but I think you're underestimating his feelings for you," you predicted. "No way does a man interrupt his hot best friend from talking to you like that if he doesn't like you."

"Staking his claim, ya know," Riley agreed. "That's what Chris did with me. It was so hot. Am I drooling?"

"But do you think Bin is up for an actual relationship?" Lanhua asked, the question mostly pointed at you, Mya and Riley.

"He seems like the perfect boyfriend material," Mya said.

"I've never seen him flirt around," Riley added.

"He's always talked about wanting to find the perfect girl," you pondered. "I think he makes a lot of jokes to seem lighthearted, but he's a little insecure. People have said mean things about his appearance, and he doesn't think he deserves a hottie like you."

Lanhua sat silently, thinking your words over. "I definitely like him," was all she said in response.

"Speaking of really liking someone, what about you and Seungmin??" You turned to Renee, who had been relatively quiet all night.

"We've been waiting for Seungmin to meet someone, he's been kinda alone the whole trip!" Riley smiled.

Renee flushed. "I-I don't know, honestly. He's really cute and he seems really nice. I'd love to learn more about him."

"Ask us anything! We've known him for years!" You invited. "Literally, I've seen him go through puberty, I can tell you everything."

Renee smiled shyly. "It's relieving to know you don't have anything bad to say about him. You don't, do you?" She added hurriedly.

"Except that he can be a frustrating little shit?" you asked. "No, he's really a great guy, when he's not being difficult."

"I can deal with difficult," Renee nodded. "It's just players that I can't stand."

"Seungmin is a loyal puppy," Riley laughed. "Really, he's all bark and no bite. But with you, he didn't even bark. He barely made one mean joke the entire time you guys talked! That's promising."

"I guess guys are just like that with hot girls," Robin mused. "I've never seen a guy so tongue-tied as Hyunjin was with you, JJ."

JJ chuckled. "I really tend to shut him up, don't I?"

"I've never seen Hyunjin speechless before," you giggled. "It was really nice, actually."

"Maybe he likes getting bossed around," Lanhua snickered. "For being such a stuck-up prick sometimes, he was a real mess last night, wasn't he?"

"He doesn't usually get drunk," you agreed. "Who knew he was an emotional drunk?"

"All of us," Riley snorted. "Your brother is so uptight, he needed something to help him let loose for a night."

"Thank god, because it let us actually have a good time for once, didnt it?" You grinned.

"Speaking of..." Lanhua said, raising her eyebrows at you expectantly. "What the hell is up with you and Felix?"

"We need to hear everything," Tessa agreed. "Especially since I embarrassed myself so bad earlier, I deserve an explanation at least. Lanhua wasn't very good at it."

You sighed. "Honestly? I don't even know what the hell happened. He's been so awkward since the club, and I know there's something that happened. And I need to know what it was!"

"And there's only one person who was sober enough to remember," Riley looked pointedly at Mya.

All eyes turned to your friend, who seemed to shrink further into her sleeping bag at the curious stares.

"Oh fine," Mya sighed. "I didn't get to hear or see everything, but from what I did catch... you and Felix slow danced together, and he took you home."

"But that's not a bad thing, right??" You exclaimed, finally letting your frustration bubble to the surface. "That's not a good reason for him to be acting like this!"

"Well, you were dancing with Minho first, before he left," Mya said hesitantly. "And the only thing I heard was you telling Felix that you liked one of your brother's best friends. And you were going to hunt him down, because you were pissed."

"I was definitely pissed off at him," you agreed hesitantly. "But why is he acting so weird around me? When he talked to me outside, he acted like he hoped I remembered something. What could that be?"

"I just said I don't remember what else you said," Mya replied uncomfortably, shuffling down even further.

She wasn't a very good liar.

"Mya..." you said, a warning in your tone. "You know something, and I need you to tell me! Whatever it is, not knowing is way worse."

"Even if what you said might have made Felix think you don't like him?" Mya asked, covering her face.

"What??" Lanhua gasped. "Why would you do that?? You're like, obsessed with him, right??"

"Oh yeah, she is," Riley assured Lanhua. "She's been into him since elementary school, at least."

You glared at Riley. "That's so besides the point! C'mon Mya, just tell me! What the hell did I say?"

"Well, Felix asked you about what the guy looked like, and you said..." she paused again for what felt like ten thousand years. "You said that he had dark hair. And that's all I heard, I swear."

"But Lix has blonde hair!" Tessa stated the obvious.

"Was I really so drunk that I forgot what color hair Felix has?" You pondered aloud, appalled at yourself. You'd always considered yourself to be a fairly intelligent person, even when you were drunk. Apparently last night proved you wrong.

"Wow, and I thought I was stupid," Riley snorted. "Makes my night look a little better, huh?"

"No!" Everyone else chorused.

"You should talk to him!" JJ advised. "If he thinks you like one of Hyunjin's other friends, especially Minho, he's probably not doing so well."

You didn't ask her why she thought that.

"I don't think he really wants to talk to me," you grumbled. "Based off the fact he ran away from me twice already."

"You know Lix, he doesn't make the first move," Mya sighed.

"I'm sure he would listen to you," Renee said hopefully.

"Maybe you need to force him to listen," Robin piped up.

You frowned, but stayed silent. Maybe Robin was right. If Felix wouldn't sit still long enough to hear you out, maybe you needed to make him.

"Room service!"

Everyone in the tent jumped so hard, they could have been getting attacked by bears.

"Who is that??" Renee hissed, her eyes so wide they might pop out of her head.

"Room service! Erm, for uh... the beach room!"

You groaned, unzipping the tent a few inches so only your face peeked out. "Han, what the hell do you want?" You demanded, staring at the excited, round-faced man.

"Nothing!" He insisted, glancing behind him shiftily. "We- I mean I just came down here to offer you guys some of our dinner! I assume you're hungry!"

"Oi, don't forget the s'mores!" Changbin hissed not-so-quietly behind Han.

"Changbin!" Han whined. "We weren't supposed to tell them that's why we're here! Now they'll never let us in!"

"I know how we can get in," Seungmin said.

"What are you guys-" you began.

But before you could say anything else, the outside zipper (which you didn't know even existed, a damn manufacturing flaw in your opinion) opened, and three grown men tumbled into the warm tent.

"Ow, my legs!" Mya yelped, trying unsuccessfully to shove Han off of her as he flopped around like a live salmon.

"Get your feet out of my face!" You smacked at Seungmin's legs, which were tangled up in your sleeping bag. "What the hell is wrong with you guys??"

"We didnt get an invite to the sleepover!" Changbin whined, trying to scoot past JJ, Tessa, and Robin and over to Lanhua, who sat at the back of the tent.

"And we heard there might be s'mores," Han said breathlessly, taking a spot cross-legged in front of Mya, who looked displeased that he was taking up space at the bottom of her sleeping bag. He just stared at Robin, who sat directly across from you.

"Well, we only bought enough for us girls," Lanhua replied, shrugging. "This is a girls only party. That's why you didn't get an invite."

"Aww, not even me?" Changbin pouted, giving Lanhua his signature puppy-dog face.

She rolled her eyes, trying to hide a smile. "Even you, Bin. We can buy more marshmallows tomorrow."

Changbin perked up. "Really?? I'm down!"

"Can you guys leave?" Riley asked impatiently. "We were just getting to some juicy gossip."

"Gossip?" Minho peeked into the tent curiously. You'd all been so distracted, you hadn't heard his footsteps as he walked the dry sand. "I like gossip."

Tessa rolled her eyes but didn't say anything.

"You're part of the gossip, Minho," you said, raising both eyebrows. "And we don't want you to hear it. So you're gonna have to leave."

"Hey, that's not fair!" Minho exclaimed. "Now I know you're saying bad stuff about me!"

"And whose fault is that?" Tessa mumbled quietly. Not quiet enough for Minho to miss it, of course.

The man silenced and nodded solemnly, a pained expression crossing his face for a moment, before passing. You frowned at him. You'd have to investigate that later.

"C'mon boys, let's pack up and leave the girls to it," he said, motioning to the others.

"I was just getting cozy!" Seungmin exclaimed as he tried to steal more of your sleeping bag.

"Get off me," you sighed, nudging him a few spots down to where Renee sat. "I'm not the one who's into you."

Seungmin stuck his tongue out at you like a child. "I never said you were."

"Well, go sit next to the girl who might be!" You countered.

Renee immediately blushed, visible even in the fading light.

"What are you guys doing out here?"

A voice, textured with a slight Australian lilt, filled the tent. Chan appeared at the entrance with a stressed-looking Hyunjin in tow.

Riley, who had been prepared to order the guys out once more, snapped her mouth shut with an audible crack. You were almost worried her jaw broke.

Chan's curious gaze instantly focused on her, and her cheeks flushed, but she met us eyes fiercely.

"I bet you don't mind us guys staying a little longer now, huh?" Seungmin grinned over at Riley. He'd taken a spot between her and Renee, who looked like she wanted to disappear under the tent. Riley glared poison at him.

"Someone has a crush!" Changbin giggled, and Lanhua pushed his well-muscled arm. He silenced, but still