I Don't Kiss Strangers.

"I dare you to kiss ..."

Hearing the word "kiss" was enough to make Mia's heart begin to palpate, and for her palms to become uncomfortably sweaty. She was never the social butterfly, so parties—dares—weren't her thing. That's the main reason she got dragged here in the first place. Her friend, Eva, always encouraged her to get out of the safe haven that was her room, where she'd find solitude in the cliche Netflix movies that she felt her life was slowly becoming in this moment. She would always wish her life could mirror those main characters, who get the dream boy they always wanted, go to parties, and even participate in truth or dare. Until that actually happened, and now Mia wishes she could be watching the main character through her TV as usual, instead of actually becoming it.

The girl was staring at Mia, looks of mischief baring well on her face as she decided to pick her poison. Her red highlights spun around the room as she did, her eyes scanning to choose someone that'll fulfill the dreaded dare. Mia anxiously followed the girl's head movements too, her eyes keeping track of where her red hair flowed. Hoping that she'd give up on her search, Mia realized that possibility was unlikely once she noticed that her red hair stopped moving.

The girl's eyes widened, the whites of her eyes showing clearly once she realized she found the perfect person. She pointed out her finger.

"Him." She said through a smirk. She the continued to finish the dare, "I dare you to kiss Liam." Her eyes turning back to Mia, who was about to turn blue.

Mia began to question why she was so nervous, the voice inside her head anxiously attempting to talk her through this mess of a situation.

Liam? Who's Liam? Oh yeah, he's in my Biology class, she thought as she picked at the skin around her fingers. She could feel her body heating up, her clothes suddenly feeling tighter and more uncomfortable on her skin.

It's not like I never had my first kiss before. It'll be fine, right? Yeah, it'll be fine. It's just a peck, it's not like I have to stick my tongue down his throat ... unless he does. Oh no. Mia's brain continued to rack through all the worse and unbearable possibilities that could've happened. She kept wondering if it was too late to back out now, it was just a stupid dare in her eyes, and it's not like she has to sign her life away if she didn't do it.

"Mia, are you okay?" Eva said to her, weary with concern. Her voice snapped Mia out of the downward mental spiral she was experiencing . She shot up, touching her red, heated face, unaware that her looks of nervousness translated to the outside for everyone to see.

"What happened? Are you scared?" The girl with the red highlights mocked, stifling her laugh as she saw the mess that was currently Mia.

"NO! I'll do it." Mia shot out, unbeknownst to her of why she suddenly had the desire to actually complete the dare. Maybe it was peer pressure, every teenager's enemy, or maybe she wanted to finally live out her main character dreams. Either way, the dare was happening and she was going to have to kiss Liam from Biology class.

Taking the sudden words of confidence as a shock, the girl called Liam over to where the group was sitting. Mia watched uneasily as he put his red cup down on the table, and began to walk over to the girl. Her mind started to race again, and her heart felt like it was about to beat out of her chest.

What if he says no! Then I will be free and we can all go home and never talk about this again. Mia thought as she sat down on the white cloth couch, picking at the loose strings on the arms. She apprehensively looked up, now seeing that girl was whispering something in Liam's ear. She noticed a slight smile form on his face, causing her anxiety to boil over.

Well, it helps that he's cute, Mia sheepishly thought. She never paid notice to him prior to this forced encounter. However, Mia never really paid notice to anyone. She was always in her own little world, zoning out from reality. So things like boys, and anything that existed in the real world was something she was rarely concerned about since she was too busy existing in her own.

She remembers one interaction with him though. There was a time where he offered to bring her computer back to the laptop cart. Mia remembers his gentle voice as he asked.

Okay. This isn't bad! He's nice, and he's cute. This is just a peck. One tiny interaction between two humans that happens all the time! While Mia was silently psyching herself up, it gave Liam time to gradually walk himself over towards the white couch she was sitting on—where she was still playing with its loose strings, unknowingly making new ones.

"Hey, Mia." He said, as he lightly touched her shoulder to shift her attention from the touch to him.

Mia felt her cheeks start to sting and burn up. She nervously stuttered in attempting a reply back to him. "He-, Hey."

"I can tell you're nervous," Liam laughed before continuing, "But I promise, it's just a stupid dare and it'll last 5 seconds max. I feel bad you got dragged into this, Gabi just won't quit sometimes."

Mia figured that the girl with the red highlights was named Gabi, the unruly person who got her into this mess. Stubborn, she thought as she exhaled a sigh of relief, luckily Liam seemed like a decent guy.

"Yea, I know. But I sort of got myself into this mess, wishing I stayed home right about now." She cooly replied, slowly starting to feel comfortable with the boy. She then heard someone clearing their throat.

"This is a dare, not a blind date where we sit down and get to know each other. Hurry it up." Gabi said impatiently, prompting an eye-roll from Liam. Mia figured they were friends, which made things slightly more nerve-racking.

"I can't get to know the person I'm about to kiss? You know kissing strangers isn't my thing." He playfully taunted, further annoying Gabi more. Causing a laugh from Mia, they both shared eye contact for a short second. She noticed his deep brown eyes, and the faded dimple that appears on his right cheek as he smiled.

Yep, I really am in a Netflix movie now. Mia thought to herself.

"Okay, so I guess we have to do it now ... I feel like we're on display at a zoo. She hesitantly said, causing Liam to react with a small chuckle.

"Don't worry, take a deep breath and just pucker your lips. It'll be quick and I won't shove my tongue down your throat." He cringed at the last sentence, hoping to ease Mia's noticeable nervousness.

Preparing for one of the most awkward kisses of her life, Mia pushed her hair back to her shoulders and continually fidgeted with the sleeves of her top. She noticed that Liam was waiting for a signal for when she was done.

"Okay. Ready!" She couldn't wait to get this over with.

Liam cautiously moved in closer to her, his hand gently grazing her cheek, and the other nearing her waist. Mia was overwhelmed with every emotion in the book, nervousness, adrenaline ... and possibly excitement? Which came as a surprise to her.

As the space between them became much smaller, Mia realized it was now time to fulfill her dare. She opened her eyes a second before their lips met, to have an idea of how to match her lips to his and make this kissing ordeal less painful than it already was.

Before she knew it, she felt his lips press onto hers. Much to her surprise, waves of electricity didn't course through her body—but it was a nice kiss. Gentle, and apprehensive almost?

The kiss lasted approximately 5 seconds like Liam said, but they were actually a pleasant 5 seconds to Mia. The short kiss eventually came to an end as he pulled away, his hand lingering for a few seconds more. He smiled warmly, happy that the dare was finally over.

"Are you happy now?" Mia sarcastically shot at Gabi, who had a look of surprise on her face. She can't believe the whole thing actually happened, and Mia didn't back out.

I shouldn't have done it, I'm going to be thinking about that forever.