astarfayel

[astarfayel]

truth or dare? - caleb

⌯⌲ synopsis: it was his idea to play truth or dare with you. caleb was casually hanging out with you in your room, but years of build up tension finally became too much

⌯⌲ genre: fluff, friends to lovers

⌯⌲ tags: caleb x fem!reader, raised as siblings, mutual pining, first kiss, slightly teasing, pet names (pipsqueak), VERY light angst

⌯⌲ word count: 1.4k

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You were lying on your bed with a book in your right hand, even though your eyes were locked on your phone in the other. A slightly warm summer breeze blew through your hair, coming from the half-open window. Your giggle at a funny video caught the attention of Caleb, who was walking past your room.

Caleb and you had been raised as brother and sister, but it always felt like you were just friends. You always called Caleb your best friend, even though sometimes it felt like it could be more. Through the years, you'd spent all your time together, leaving no room for other relationships to develop for either of you. Your friends always thought it was weird, but Caleb and you were both happy with the way things were—though it couldn't go on like this forever.

You put down your phone when you heard a knock on your door—Caleb's signature knock, the one he'd used for years. Before you could answer, the door swung open.

"Hey, Pipsqueak. Are you busy?"

Seeing his familiar grin and hearing the nickname he'd used for you since childhood brought a smile to your face. You turned around to face him, placing the book down as well.

"Ever heard of privacy, Caleb?" You sat up straight, your back resting against the pillows by the headboard.

"What do you need privacy for?" he chuckled, his hand resting on your ankle as he peeked over your body. "What were you watching?"

You glanced down at your phone beside you and quickly turned it over so he couldn't see the screen. Caleb smiled when he noticed the polaroid picture of the two of you in your phone case.

"Nothing. Did you need my help with something?" you asked, changing the subject.

"I'm bored," he sighed, falling back onto the foot of your bed and staring at the ceiling. His hand still rested on your ankle, his index finger fidgeting with the elastic hem of your sweatpants. Physical contact with Caleb felt completely natural—you'd known each other for so long.

"And...?"

"And I want to do something with you," Caleb said in his usual confident tone. He turned his head to face you, a smile stretched across his face, his eyebrows slightly raised.

"What do you want to do? Watch a movie or something?"

"Nah, too boring... how about a game?" he suggested, propping his head up on his hand. The loss of contact left a cold spot on your ankle. You pulled your legs back and crossed them, creating more space between you. Caleb’s gaze flickered to your legs for a second, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"What kind of game?" you asked, the grin on his face returning almost instantly.

"How about Truth or Dare?"

"Seriously? We haven't played that in years," you said, remembering all the times you used to play as kids.

"It'll be fun! You can start, Pipsqueak," Caleb offered, chuckling when you rolled your eyes.

"Fine, you win. Truth or dare?"

Caleb raised his hand to his face, tapping his chin as if he was facing the most difficult decision of his life. "Truth," he said confidently.

After thinking for a few seconds, a question popped into your head. A question you'd always wanted to ask but never did, afraid of the answer.

"Do you have a crush on anyone?" you asked hesitantly.

Caleb's smile faltered for a moment, his gaze dropping to the flowery bedsheets underneath you. He wasn't sure how to answer.

"Uh..." he hummed, avoiding eye contact. A hint of red spread across his cheeks and ears, the silence heavy until he finally broke it. "I do."

Your heartbeat picked up at his unexpected confession, thoughts racing to all the girls who had flirted with him over the years. He’d always said he never responded to any of them, but maybe he just never told you? You were shocked by your own reaction—no idea this would have so much impact.

Caleb cleared his throat, brushing his fingers through his bangs. "Alright, my turn. Truth or dare?" His eyes still avoided yours.

"Truth," you said in a soft voice, barely above a whisper.

A few seconds of silence followed. Caleb wasn’t sure if he should push this further. But after years of holding back, he did it anyway.

"Have you ever kissed anyone?" he asked, his voice softer, gentler. Finally, his eyes met yours again.

You slowly shook your head, innocence clear in your expression. He didn’t say anything, but the glint in his eyes gave his true reaction away. He sat up straight in front of you, legs crossed. "Really?" he asked, needing to confirm it.

"Yes, really," you said, quickly following up with your own question. "And you?"

A teasing grin spread across his face as he leaned forward slightly. "It’s not your turn yet, Pipsqueak."

You playfully rolled your eyes. "Fine. Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

You scoffed, grabbed a plushie off your bed, and threw it at his chest. Caleb laughed heartily, catching it just before it bounced off his shoulder.

"What?" he chuckled. "Did you want me to pick truth?"

You crossed your arms and leaned back against the headboard. "No, it’s fine. I have a dare for you," you said, a mischievous glint in your eyes.

Caleb's smile faltered slightly at your tone, his grip on the plushie tightening just a little.

"I dare you to give me a kiss." You chuckled. "No, I'm jok—"

"Okay," Caleb interrupted, the room falling into silence. Your eyes widened in shock, searching his face for any sign that he was joking. But he wasn’t. He pushed himself forward onto his hands and knees, closing the space between you.

"Caleb?"

"Yes?"

"Are you s-serious?"

"Yes."

His hand found your jaw, his thumb brushing over your cheekbone and briefly over your bottom lip. A small gasp escaped your lips at his touch and his sudden shift in demeanor.

As he leaned in closer, his eyes locked onto your lips, you thought about all the times you had been this close before. The times when you fell as a kid and he carried you back home; the nights spent whispering secrets; the moments when one of you got sick, and despite knowing they'd catch it too, the other always stayed to take care of them anyway.

But this—this was a whole different kind of intimacy, one you had never experienced before, not with him and not with anyone. You had thought about Caleb this way, and he had thought the same about you. There had always been a feeling that your friendship could turn into something more, but neither of you had acted on it—until now.

His hand trembled slightly against your cheek, making your own nerves spike.

"Do you want this, Pipsqueak?" His warm breath fanned over your lips, sending a shiver down your spine.

Even though this was your first kiss, there was no one else you’d ever wanted to share it with—never had been, never would be.

"Yes."

The corners of Caleb's mouth curled up at your soft whisper, his eyes darkening with something unreadable as he closed the remaining distance. His lips met yours, tentative at first, then firmer—like they had always been meant to.

Warmth bloomed in your chest as your fingers instinctively tangled in the soft hairs at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer. His breath hitched against your skin before he deepened the kiss, slow and unhurried, as if you had all the time in the world. The taste of him, the warmth of his skin against yours—it was new, yet it felt like something you had been waiting for forever.

When the kiss finally broke, Caleb rested his forehead against yours, both of you breathing heavily. A small moment of awkwardness passed before he broke it with a grin, making you smile too.

"I've always wanted to do that, if I'm being honest." Caleb confessed.

He leaned back and sat back down, his hand resting on your leg, his fingers lazily tracing circles on your thigh. "So… does this mean I finally get to say I’m your first kiss?" he asked with a smirk.

You scoffed, trying to ignore the heat rushing to your face. "Don’t let it go to your head."

He chuckled, leaning back on his elbows, completely at ease. "Too late." His leg brushed against yours, the warmth lingering.

You rolled your eyes, but the smile tugging at your lips betrayed you. Maybe you should’ve seen this coming—maybe, deep down, you always had.

And from the way Caleb was still looking at you, so sure of himself, you knew he had too.