And this party is shaking the walls—
Until Angie Malloy suddenly turns off the music.
Angie
I don’t know about you guys…
Angie
But I’m ready to have some REAL fun.
Angie
What do you say we play a game?!
My BFF, Bonnie, grips my arm.
Bonnie
Oh no — I’ve heard about Angie’s “games.”
Bonnie
We should get out of here while we can!
This is the first real party Bonnie and I have ever been to.
Usually, we’re stuck at home with our noses in our books.
That’s why I dragged her here tonight—
To finally have some fun before we go off to college.
Piper
Oh, come on, Bonnie!
Piper
We’re here to break out of our shells, remember?
Piper
Give this party a chance!
Bonnie
Piper, we’ve been standing by ourselves all night…
Bonnie
Watching everyone else get wild.
Bonnie
Just admit it — we’re too geeky to fit in.
I start to argue that point…
But then someone nearby chuckles.
Tanner Davis is standing there with his muscular arms crossed.
He’s wearing his team’s baseball jersey…
Along with his usual insufferable grin.
Tanner
Well, well, well…look what we have here.
Tanner
A couple of party virgins.
Tanner
No way. I’m sticking around to see you nerds play Angie’s party games.
Tanner
I could use the entertainment.
Tanner has been teasing me about being a good girl for years…
But he’s not going to ruin grad night for me!
As Angie gets everyone’s attention again…
Angie
All right, people, here’s tonight’s game!
Angie
It’s Seven Minutes in Heaven…
Isn’t that where you go into a dark closet with someone and…
Oh. I don’t think I like this game.
I mean, I’ve only kissed one guy before—
And it wasn’t even that great.
I’m not sure I’m up for this.
Angie
All your names are already in here—
Angie
And I’m ready to select our first participant!
She plucks a slip of paper from the hat.
Angie
Piper Douglas, come on down!!
A blast of adrenaline strangles me.
Tanner gives me a long look.
Tanner
There’s still time to back out, schoolgirl.
And that’s the moment I decide that I’m not scared at all.
I give him a sassy look, then march away.
Bonnie
You don’t have to do this, Piper.
He’s raising an eyebrow at me now.
Does he think I’ll chicken out?
Piper
I’ve got this, Bonnie.
I pat her arm, then walk over to Angie.
Sure, my heart is in my throat…
But as everyone cheers me on, I’m feeling braver and braver.
Angie greets me with a big smile.
Angie
Wow, Piper — aren’t you full of surprises?!
Angie
Now just hold still while I put this blindfold on you.
Piper
Wait. A blindfold??
Angie
Yeah. I told you we were playing Seven Minutes in Heaven my way.
Angie
So that means you’ll be blindfolded.
This is getting worse by the second.
Piper
Angie, if I’m blindfolded…
Piper
That means I won’t know who’s in the closet with me!
Angie
Exactly!! Spicy, right?
She seizes me, then puts the blindfold on me.
Then she leads me into the closet and shuts the door.
Outside, everyone is cheering me on:
“We didn’t know you had it in you, Piper!”
Yeah, I didn’t know I had it in me, either.
Then it gets really quiet outside.
Are they drawing the name of my partner from the hat?
OMG, I need to get out of here!
Just as I’m wishing that a hole would swallow me up…
I hear someone else come in.
My heart hammers as the door softly closes.
A guy speaks in an unfamiliar, scratchy voice.
Anonymous
Looks like you’re stuck with me for the next seven minutes.
He shifts around, almost like he’s nervous, too.
Words burst out of my mouth.
Piper
Listen, I just want to apologize in advance.
Piper
Because you’re in a closet with the biggest dork at the party.
Piper
Maybe you can trade me in for someone hotter.
Anonymous
To tell the truth…
Anonymous
You’re exactly the girl I was hoping I’d end up with.
I hear him move a little closer.
Anonymous
I’ve never gotten the chance to tell you this, Piper…
Anonymous
But I like that you’ve got brains.
Anonymous
You’re also the prettiest girl at school…
Anonymous
And the coolest thing about you is that you have no idea.
No way. I couldn’t have gotten this lucky.
Piper
I know what you’re doing.
Piper
You’re pretending you’re into me…
Piper
Just so you can get a kiss.
I hear him shuffle around.
Anonymous
Actually, I’ve always had a crush on you.
Anonymous
But I never thought things would work out with us.
As he pauses, my pulse beats in the air between us.
Anonymous
Does it matter why?
Anonymous
We’re both about to go off to college, anyway…
Anonymous
But at least I’ve got seven minutes with you now.
I practically turn into a pool of liquid.
I blindly reach toward him to see if I can feel his face.
My fingers skim over his muscled chest instead.
He takes my hand in his, and my skin hums.
Anonymous
Are you trying to find out who I am?
Anonymous
You’ll only be disappointed.
How could I possibly be disappointed in someone this genuine…
Someone who makes me want to do something…wild?
With my pulse thundering, I do what I came to this party to do—
Standing on my tiptoes, I feel for his mouth…
And press my lips to his.
I think he’s shocked, because he hesitates…
My heart swirls with excitement.
When I pull away from him, I sigh.
There’s an ache in his voice—
And suddenly, I realize something.
Piper
Your voice is…familiar.
Now it’s not even scratchy…
And I flinch as I fully recognize it.
Piper
Is that you, Tanner?!
He drops his hands from my hips.
I fumble with my blindfold.
But before I can get it off—
The closet door crashes open.
Everybody roars with laughter as they see me scrambling.
Angie
Tanner and the nerd were getting it on!
I finally tear the blindfold all the way off…
And find Tanner standing nervously in front of me.
Piper
Don’t say another word!
God, when I think about how this jerk just sweet-talked me…
I’m filled with mortification.
He was just teasing me again, wasn’t he?
I can’t believe he did this!
I simmer with hurt and betrayal.
Piper
Who knew that Seven Minutes in Heaven…
Piper
Would actually turn out to be hell!
Tanner flinches like I just gut-punched him.
Tanner
Okay, I understand why you’re mad.
Tanner
But just so you know, I meant everything I said, Piper.
And then he walks out of the room.
He’s still joking, right?
There’s no way Tanner Davis truly likes me.
I feel someone touch my arm.
Bonnie
Piper, there’s something you should know.
Bonnie
Tanner’s name wasn’t pulled out of the hat.
Bonnie
He volunteered to go into the closet with you.
Bonnie
He told me that he wanted to do it because he really does like you.
Because here’s the kicker—
I’m pretty sure I always did.
So why am I just standing here?
With a burst, I take off toward the staircase where Tanner went.
I find him halfway up the stairs.
He turns around, his green eyes full of emotion.
Something flexes in my chest.
Piper
When I said that our Seven Minutes in Heaven was actually hell…
Piper
I only said it because I thought you were teasing me again.
Piper
But the truth is, during those seven minutes in that closet…
Piper
Everything was perfect.
Then he slowly comes down the steps toward me.
One…then another…until we’re on the same level.
He looks deeply into my eyes.
Tanner
I thought things were pretty perfect, too.
Tanner
But we’re outside that closet now, Piper.
Tanner
What happens next?
I know exactly what comes next.
So I slip my arms around his neck.
Piper
Next, we have another perfect seven minutes.
I leave my statement hanging, kissing him instead.
And it’s like heaven all over again.
