Playing The Game

Chapter 1// The Game

Maverick

     I couldn't find my diary. I'd been searching everywhere. My locker, my classrooms, my backpack, my friends lockers and backpacks, I'd even retraced my steps. It was nowhere to be found. I had to find it. I write my deepest and most personal thoughts and secrets in there. There isn't anything super serious in there, but there is stuff about boys and whatnot in there. I have to find it before someone reads it.

"Maverick, deep breaths. Maybe you didn't bring it to school today. Maybe you left it at home," my best friend, Maria, tried to reassure me.

"Maybe you're right," I sighed, praying she is.

     But, it felt like just that morning I had written down about my dream from last night while I was waiting for Maria to get there. I had a super hard password on there, but it would be easy to smash it open.

"Look, the bell will ring soon and we'll be able to go home. You'll be able to check then," she smiled.

"Yeah, you're right," I said.

     The bell rang about two minutes later. I said goodbye to Maria and went to my locker to check one more time. I did my locker combination and opened my locker. That's when a piece of paper fell out of my locker. I bent down and picked it up. It read: Come to the old equipment room. Alone. 

     I looked around. The halls were empty besides the few kids waiting for their parents to come pick them up. I shoved the paper into my pocket and searched my locker one more time for my diary. When it didn't show up, I contemplated going to the old equipment room. On one hand, it could be a prank or a trap. On the other, it could be important. I stood there for a bit, weighing out my options. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. I locked my locker, grabbed my bag, and made my way to the old equipment room.

     We had too much equipment for all of the sports teams and gym classes, so they built a new one and left this one to which ever club won it that year. It wasn't huge, but it was bigger than the classrooms and much more secluded. Anyway, I made it to the door when it opened before I could even touch the handle.

"Hello, Maverick, we've been expecting you," Rose, one of the THC members, smiled a little too sweetly.

     Hesitantly, I entered the room. I guess they got the room this year. I was majorly confused. Why are they talking to me? Oh well, this better be good.

"Have a seat," Marigold said.

     I sat down in the nearest arm chair.

"I bet you're wondering why you're here," Petunia, the leader, smirked a bit.

"Um , yeah," I said awkwardly.

     Yes, they are all named after flowers. That's one of the reasons why they were all in this club together.

"We have something that you've... Misplaced," Marigold smirked.

"My diary," I breathed out.

"Correct," Rose said, taking a seat herself.

"Well, can I have it back?," I asked.

"Nope," Marigold said, popping the "p".

"Not until you play a little game with us," Petunia smirked.

     The Hot Clique was known for doing weird things when they were bored and feeling a bit twisted. They loved playing games with people.

"What kind of game?," I asked nervously.

"A love game," Rose said in a sing-song voice.

"What?," I asked.

"It's simple. First, we pick a boy. Second, we give you a little information on him. Third, you befriend him. Lastly, you make him fall in love with you," Petunia explained.

"Why would I do that?," I asked. 

"Because if you don't, we'll break into your diary and make copies of all the pages. Then, we'll give everyone a free copy and post some around the school and online too," Marigold smirked.

     I sank in my chair. I knew that I could go to an adult or someone else, but The Hot Clique would get me back worse than what they planned to do with my diary if I didn't play the game.

"If I win?," I questioned.

"You get love and your diary back," Rose said.

"And... If I lose?," I gulped.

"Your diary will be copied and given to whichever boy is in it the most and whoever is in it the most. What they do with it is up to them," Petunia smirked evilly.

"Fine," I finally said after weighing out my options.

"Good, you'll find out who the boy is tomorrow," Rose said.

"Have a nice day," Marigold said as she opens the door and escorted me out of the room.

     The door was shut behind me and I walked away, everything seeming to be a blur. I walked to my car, drove home, and called Maria immediately, telling her it's an emergency and she needed to come ASAP. Within minutes she was at my front door.

"What is going on? Did you find your diary?," Maria asked.

"No. Yes. Kind of," I said, quickly pulling her inside.

"What is your deal?," she asked.

'It's not safe to talk here," I told her as I dragged her upstairs and into my room.

"What is going on?," she asked, looking confused.

"THC has my diary and won't let me have it back unless I get someone to fall in love with me. If I don't, they'll post my diary everywhere and give everyone a copy," I explained to her.

"Are you serious?," she asked.

"Dead serious," I said.

"Goddammit. Why can't they leave everyone alone and find a more normal hobby?," she asked.

"I don't know. I mean, besides the fact that they're all psychos," I said.

"Don't worry. I'll help you through this. I mean, it can't be that hard. They'll probably end up choosing someone really easy because they don't want to risk any of the super hot guys," she said. 

"Hopefully you're right," I sighed.

     We talked more about the whole situation and how to handle it before I had to eat dinner, shower, and get to bed. Tomorrow I would find out who I had to get to fall in love with me and I couldn't decided whether I was excited or nervous as hell.