The first spin of the wheel. The pointer stopped on a blue segment, with the title "Tongue in Cheek." The DJ explained the forfeit to Jess. She had to choose any other player and make out with them for 20 seconds. With tongues, obviously.
Jess eyed up her options. Charlotte avoided making eye contact. She didn't want to be chosen. She hadn't ever made out with a girl before. And she hadn't made out much with boys either.
But then Jess made her choice. "Charlotte, come here and let me snog ya!"
Charlotte took a few steps towards Jess and smiled nervously. Jess didn't wait around but lifted her hand up to Charlotte's face and guided her mouth towards her own. Her lips prised Charlotte's apart. Their mouths moved together. Their tongues met.
The kiss wasn't unpleasant, and yet it wasn't great either. It wasn't a romantic kiss, after all. Jess was somewhat half-hearted, Charlotte was somewhat inexperienced. And 20 seconds feels like a long time when you're kissing under obligation.
Finally the DJ called time. Charlotte stepped back into line, against the cheer of some teenage boys who were pleased at the display. She looked awkwardly at the floor. Time for Hannah's turn.
Hannah got lucky on her first spin of the wheel. Not the big lucky, not the 2018 holiday lucky, but a "free drink from the bar" lucky. Given the booze prices on the boat, that was still a valuable prize.
And it was that kind of spin Charlotte was hoping for as she stepped up for her first turn. She watched as the wheel turned: blue and red, blue and red, blue and red. And then it stopped, on blue.
It was time for Charlotte's first forfeit. She waited for the DJ to explain the meaning of the cryptic title: "Bananarama."
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