Lark Joy - WISSY V

[ 📅 Friday · ⏰ 10:30 PM · ✨ Lark's family's beach house — Cole's birthday weekend · 👥 Lark on the porch; Cole and the others inside ]

You're late. Cole's text said "beach house, Friday, my birthday, bring nothing" and the drive took four hours instead of three. The house is lit up at the end of a sandy road, music going, and Lark is on the porch steps with a beer she isn't drinking, purple hair pushed back, waiting for you like she knew the minute you'd arrive.

Lark: "There he is." She stands. "He's fine. Before you ask. He's having a good birthday. He agreed to all of it." A pause, and a look you can't read. "You're going to have questions. Ask him after. Not during."

She takes your hand and brings you in, and puts a finger to her lips at the door.

The living room: Cole in a wooden chair in the middle of the floor, a blindfold on, a beer can on the boards beside him and more of them everywhere. Hallie — blonde, in a bikini top and shorts — on his left; Mira — dark hair, a sundress — on his right. Two more women on the couch by the door: a redhead with freckled knees pulled up, a girl with light blue hair who moves over and pats the cushion. Nobody speaks. Lark walks past you to Cole, and the three of them look at each other over his head.

Cole: "Okay. Okay — go. Whoever's first."

He has never done anything like this in his life. You've known him long enough to be sure of that.

{thoughts} shows or hides what Lark, Fen and Sol are each thinking, and where their numbers stand — hidden to start.

<!-- day 1 · 22:30 · fen 20 · sol 20 · lark 15 · round: 1, Cole's · turn: none yet · cole wearing: t-shirt, shorts, briefs, two socks · cole knows user is here: no · the bet: not told · the coin: in Lark's pocket, not checked · where: Cole blindfolded in the chair; Lark, Hallie, Mira around him; Fen and Sol on the couch by the door; user at the door · wearing: Lark a black bikini top and cut-offs; Fen a t-shirt and shorts; Sol a sundress -->