Murder in the Dark

Murder in the Dark 6

"You have got to be kidding me," I grumbled. 

Jason chuckled. "You can't still be mad about Murder in the Dark?" 

I crossed my arms and glared at Jason. "I can feel whatever I like!" 

Jason rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let's just work on our math." 

"I think I'll work by myself for this," I retorted, turning my back to him. 

"Now it's time to act like a spoiled little kid! Typical Jess." 

"Shut up!" I snarled, whipping to face Jason again. "I do not act like that!" 

"You're doing it right now," Jason smirked. 

I glared at Jason with all my force, angry that he was right for a change. "That's only because you're acting like a jerk," I muttered. 

"I'm acting like the jerk?" 

"Yes." 

"You know what, I'll make you a bet," Jason grinned, mischievously. 

"Elaborate." 

"I bet that you can't go one week without making a mean or rude comment to me," Jason declared. 

"I could too!" I objected. "What's the stakes?" 

"If you win, you can pick any one girl for me to go out with." 

"You really shouldn't have said that," I grinned, wickedly. "I know just the girl for you. I'm sure Dayna would love to date you."  

Jason looked slightly worried but he continued to speak. "But if I win-" 

"Which you won't." 

"Ah, ah, ah, remember the bet," Jason chuckled. 

"I didn't insult you in any way! I was just stating a fact," I mumbled. "But if you still want to daydream about beating me go right on ahead. I'll be kind and won't stop your fanciful visions." 

Jason raised his eyebrows, amused. "If I win... You have to go on a date with me." 

"What?" I choked, staring at Jason with wide eyes. He stared right back with a smirk. "No way Buster!" 

"You already made the bet. You have to go through with it." 

"Well I wouldn't have made the bet if I knew those were the stakes!" I protested. 

"So now you doubt your abilities." 

"Heck no! I could take you any day!" 

"I don't doubt that," Jason chuckled. "But that's not the challenge. The challenge is to be nice to me." 

I gulped. "You just wait. In one week you'll be eating your words." 

"We'll see," Jason smiled. 

We stared at each other for a minute before I muttered "Fine," and began to work. 

As we worked, we talked as little as possible, rarely even bothering to show each other our answers so we could check them. It bothered me whenever we did check answers because Jason would always correct mine. However, I had to watch my tongue or else I would find myself dating him, something I absolutely didn't want to do. 

"Maybe you should just do it all. I'm obviously not being much help," I sighed after once again finding my answers to be wrong. 

"You're doing fine," Jason encouraged me. "I know it seems tricky, but as soon as you get a handle on it, it's a lot easier." 

"I sure hope so," I grumbled. 

Jason stared into my eyes. "If you want, I could always tutor you outside of school if you're still having trouble." 

I chuckled. "That would not be a good idea. Trust me. I have no desire to lose the bet, and that would only tempt me." 

Jason rolled his eyes at me, but it almost looked like there was a gleam of disappointment in them. However, at that moment the bell rang, and I high-tailed it out of the class, eagerly. Things were getting too weird for my taste. Strolling through the hallway, I headed to my locker. Much to my surprise, Sam was there waiting for me, leaned up cautiously on my locker. 

"How was math?" he asked me, stepping aside so I could open my locker. 

I sighed. "Stupid as usual. Actually, strike that. It was worse than usual because I had to have Jason as a partner." 

Sam's face tensed up and turned a little pink. "And how did that go?" 

"How do you think it went? Horrible!" I exclaimed, leaving out the part about the bet. A part of me knew that Sam wouldn't take it that well, and I was in no mood for an argument with my best friend. 

Sam relaxed. "Well hopefully English will be better." 

"I hope so." 

"Hey Jess!" Sandra yelled, running up to me. "You're SO lucky!" she exclaimed, a hint of jealousy in her eyes. 

"Why?" I asked. 

"Because you had Jason for a partner!" 

I rolled my eyes. "You know how I feel about him." 

"Seriously? I thought you were kidding. How could you not like Jason? He's so.... Perfect!" 

I stared at Sandra, curiously. Was Jason the guy that Sandra was crazy for, but didn't want to tell me about? I quickly wiped it from my mind. No, Sandra would never go for Jason no matter how much she complemented him. Plus if Sandra was so hesitant to tell me about Jason before, why would she be so willing to now? Nope, it was someone else that Sandra liked, and I would get to the bottom of who it was. "It's impossible to be perfect," I scoffed. " Plus I like flaws." 

Sam grabbed my hand. "Come on, let's get to class," he said, leading me away from Sandra who waved goodbye. 

"What's the rush?" I asked. 

"Well... I just don't like talking about Jason." he confessed. 

"Me neither." 

"Really?" 

I looked at Sam, weirdly. "What are you dumb? How many times do I have to say that I hate Jason?" 

Sam grinned. "A lot."