This is one of an anthology of short stories that take place in my world of Judicial Punishments. I aim to explore a variety of stories and characters whose lives are directly impacted by the new justice system and even those who only brush up against new codes. Each chapter is unrelated to the last so don't worry if you jump in in the middle and if one is not to your taste then the next one might be. Please feel free to comment and to private message me. I love speaking with readers and I value all of your input. I hope you enjoy.
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Nancy Ding held up three fingers like a W as she sat cross legged on the carpeted floor leaning back against the couch of her friend Yufan's apartment. The music was loud and the four friends had as to speak up in order to be heard as they played Never Have I Ever. "Loser does a dare right?" Nancy asked before they started.
"Yeah, or answers a truth," Kennedy confirmed.
"Ok, I'll start. Never have I ever kissed anybody outside my family," Yufan said, kicking the game off. Yufan, like Nancy, and the one man at the table, Bo, was of Chinese origin. She had dark eyes and long dark hair in a braid that went most of the way down her neck and, unlike the other three, had gotten to change clothes after getting back from the party. She had on short, black running shorts and a white t shirt with a black bra showing through the thin fabric.
"Ugh," Kennedy answered putting down a finger, "That's unfair. I keep telling you two to date." She was blonde and blue eyed and wore a short blue and white dress that made her be careful to keep her legs closed as she sat on the couch.
"Mom and Dad would be so mad," Yufan answered, "They sent me to school to be an engineer, not date."
"Same," Nancy agreed, "Even if you're born here, it's different with old fashioned parents. They would hate to know that I'm out drinking rather than studying." Nancy was still in her party clothes as well, short white jean shorts and a yellow spaghetti-strapped crop top. Her brown hair was short, not even reaching her shoulders and a half full glass of wine sat in front of her on the coffee table.
"I don't know," Bo, dressed in dark blue jeans and a button down shirt, said, "My dad asks if I've met anyone."
"That's because you're a guy," Nancy said, "And you still have three fingers so you've kissed somebody."
"Yep," Yufan agreed, "It's your turn, Kennedy."
"Alright, never have I ever broken a bone," Kennedy said.
"That's not nearly as fun," Bo said as Nancy put down a finger, "And yes I'm in college. I've kissed people."
"Yep, that question was very boring," Nancy agreed.
"Well you all are all virgins. The fun never have I evers are off the table," Kennedy said.
The group laughed and Bo continued, "Never have I ever smoked weed."
Everybody looked around and nobody put down a finger. "Really?" Bo asked, "I thought for sure I'd get Kennedy."
"No, I'm more of a gin girl," she answered.
"That means you lose a finger," Yufan said.
"Well, I guess we are just a boring group of friends," Bo said, putting a finger down.
"Alright, my turn," Nancy said, "Never have I ever driven a car."
Kennedy rolled her eyes as she dropped a finger and was down to one, "What? You've never driven?"
"Neither have I," Yufan answered, "Never needed to. I'm from the city."
"Yeah, that's why I haven't," Nancy said, "The subway is nice."
"I just never had a car," Bo said.
"Alright back to me," Yufan said.
"Just get Kennedy out," Bo said, "She's down to one."
"Fine the Asians ganging up on me," Kennedy laughed, "I see how it is."
The group laughed at the joke. The four of them had been close friends since they lived in first year dorms together and now as sophomores it was a running joke that Kennedy didn't fit in. "Alright, never have I ever let a man outside the family see me naked."
"Oh, wow. You don't really know me, do you?" Kennedy asked, "You're going to lose a finger for that."
As she thought, Yufan argued, "I know you went home with at least two guys last year. You told me you hooked up with them."
"Well, yeah, hooked up, but we didn't fuck. We made out and I got them off, you know, but I was never naked. Not completely."
"Wait hooked up doesn't mean having sex? I thought I was good at English," Bo joked.
"It can mean lots of things," Kennedy said, "But I promise a man has never seen me naked. You can put down a finger, Yufan."
"No," Nancy said, her face flushing red as she decided to tell the truth, "I'll put a finger down."
"What?" Kennedy exclaimed, as the other two looked at her, shocked, "You've never kissed a guy, but one has seen you naked."
The room seemed to freeze for a second as everybody stared at the twenty-year-old. "Yeah, I, um," she paused to collect her thoughts.
Suddenly serious, Kennedy spoke up, "You don't have to tell us if it was bad."
"Yeah, I didn't mean to start that conversation," Yufan said.
"No, it's not like that. Well, I mean, it was um," Nancy said, her face burning, "It was a punishment code thing."
"Oh," Kennedy said, "I'm sorry, babe. That must have been hard."
"I mean, yeah, it's fine," Nancy said, "It was a while ago. Before I met you guys."
"Before college?" Yufan asked.
"Yeah, right before I graduated high school," Nancy confirmed.
"We don't have to talk about it. I mean, unless you want to, because I'm curious," Kennedy admitted.
"Yeah, me too," Bo admitted.
The truth was that Nancy wanted to talk about it. It had been more than a year ago now and it was just a really strange couple hours of her life. Sometimes she forgot that it had even happened and she shared everything with these three other people. Nancy took a sip of her wine, "I've never talked to anybody about it."
"We are here if you want to talk about it," Kennedy said, sliding off the couch to sit on the floor next to Nancy.
"No, I mean, yeah, I'll talk about it but it's not a big deal. It wasn't like it happened yesterday. It was more than a year ago," Nancy said, "I don't want it to ruin the party."
"Well will you like talking about it?" Kennedy asked.
"I don't know. If you all think it's a good story, then I'll tell it. I'm kind of over it, I think."