Midnight Message

Chapter 14 - New bets are made

The three friends stare at the pile of money lying on the grass between them. Ryan places his hands on the grass behind him and leans back lazily. 

'What's the matter?' he says to Andy, who has been moody since Ryan suggested that they decide who had won the bets. 'No one at my family's BBQ wants to get laid by you?' 

'Shut up.' Says Andy. 'Your cousin secretly wants me.' 

Ryan rolls his eyes. 

Andy continues sulkily. 'You guys may as well take the money now. I know I haven't won any of the bets.' 

Trent watches the exchange between his mates quietly. It was Saturday and the friends had spent most of the day at Ryan's family BBQ. After the food was eaten, everyone broke into separate groups and Ryan suggested that Andy, Trent and himself should find out who won the bets. They had moved to a quiet corner of the yard, away from Ryan's family and neighbours. Luckily it hadn't rained in a couple of days so the grass was dry enough to sit on. 

Lucky. Trent thought to himself. He still couldn't understand why Ryan's dad insisted on hosting his annual BBQ in the middle of winter. 

Trent looks at Andy's face and then at the relaxed, cocky way Ryan was sitting. Obviously Ryan was pretty confident he had won most of the bets. 

I doubt he'll win the bet about having the longest conversation. I don't see how anyone can beat the length of my conversation with Gemma.  

Trent almost feels reluctant to reveal his texts to his mates. At first this was just a bet, but there was something interesting about Gemma. She obviously knew who he was and that he was a star footballer, and yet, she wasn't throwing herself at him like most of the girls he met. Then there was the note she left in his bag after the game on Friday..... 

'Alright boys' Ryan says energetically, bringing Trent back to the present. 'Should we start with the first bet we made? The one about the most interesting reply?' 

'Why not?' says Trent. He pulls out his phone and looks at the reply Gemma had typed the night he had sent the first message. Her reply to his text 'You are going to die tonight' was....... 'Who is this??'

Trent purses his lips. Not an overly interesting reply. And judging by Ryan's cocky attitude, he obviously thinks he has a winning reply. 

'Gentlemen' Ryan says, holding his phone tightly to his chest 'present your responses!' 

Trent rolls his eyes.

Andy sulkily throws his phone on the ground, followed by three $5 notes. 'The first person I texted never replied' he says, by way of explanation. 'So I tried texting another number' 

'You can't do that. That's against the rules' Ryan interrupts. 

'Shut up mate' Andy says. 'The second person replied with a mixture of swear words too dirty to repeat with your sweet Granny sitting so close.' 

The boys glance across Ryan's backyard and look at his Grandma, wrapped up in a woollen shawl, sitting on a chair on the back veranda. 

Trent laughs. He pats Andy good naturedly on the back 'It's ok mate. There will be other bets.' 

Trent feels sorry for his mate. After all, it was Andy's idea to make the bets in the first place. Still, a bet was a bet. 

'On with business then' says Ryan. 'What was your first reply, Casanova?' 

Trent rolls his eyes. 'Who is this??' he says. 

'Not bad, not bad' says Ryan in a patronising tone.