The night had settled into a comfortable rhythm—laughter, music, and the flash of cell phones capturing every spontaneous moment. Hanna had found herself relaxing, almost forgetting the tension that had lingered when she’d first arrived. With Marco by her side, she had spent most of the evening dancing and chatting with friends, doing her best to ignore the occasional glances she stole in Finn’s direction.
She was just laughing at one of Marco’s exaggerated impressions of their biology teacher when a group nearby began setting up a circle for spin the bottle. A senior pulled an empty soda bottle from a recycling bin, waving it in the air with a grin.
“Alright, let’s start this up! Who’s brave enough for a round of spin the bottle?” someone called out.
Before Hanna had a chance to back away, Marco grabbed her hand, nudging her toward the forming circle. “Come on, Hanna. It’ll be fun!”
She tried to pull back, casting him a doubtful look. “Really? Spin the bottle?”
He winked, already settling down on the floor and patting the spot beside him. “It’s a party classic. No chickening out now.”
With a resigned sigh, Hanna sat down beside Marco, her cheeks warming as she saw who else was joining the circle—Finn, with Bella seated close beside him. Bella looked slightly confused, probably not used to party games, but Finn leaned over, murmuring something in her ear that made her laugh. Hanna felt a pang of jealousy as Bella looked up at him, her face lighting up.
But she quickly shifted her focus as the bottle was placed in the center and given its first spin. The circle erupted into cheers and laughter with each pairing, everyone playing along as the bottle chose random partners, daring people into brief, playful kisses. Some were casual, others were more dramatic, but everyone seemed to be having fun.
Then, halfway through the game, the bottle spun and landed squarely on Marco.
He grinned, looking at Hanna with a teasing smile. “Well, looks like it’s my turn.”
Hanna’s heart raced as she felt everyone’s eyes on her. She stole a quick glance at Finn, whose smile had vanished, his face unreadable. The weight of his gaze made her pulse quicken, but Marco’s voice was soft and gentle as he leaned in.
“Only if you’re okay with it,” he whispered, his hand brushing hers.
Hanna hesitated, but something about the moment—the playful, carefree atmosphere, the warmth of Marco’s smile, and the unexpected thrill of knowing Finn was watching—made her want to throw caution aside. She smiled and leaned forward, meeting Marco’s lips in a light, playful kiss.
The circle burst into applause and cheers, and Marco laughed as he pulled back, giving her a soft, appreciative look. “Not bad,” he said, squeezing her hand.
She couldn’t help but laugh, feeling her cheeks flush as she turned to face the group, but her amusement faded when she caught sight of Finn. His jaw was clenched, his expression dark, and for a moment, their eyes met. There was something raw in his gaze, something that made her heart twist. He quickly looked away, his hand resting tensely on Bella’s shoulder as he forced a strained smile.
Hanna felt a pang of guilt, but also a strange sense of satisfaction.