The Bet

Prologue| The Day of the Bet

Celine Henderson's P.O.V.

I watch as Martia bounces toward me. She seems super excited; a grin forms on my face. 

"Hi, Martia!" I say cheerfully. 

"Hey, so I have an idea." Martia replies.

Noting the michevious gleam in her eyes, I nod my head eagerly. "Okay."

"Let's make a bet."

"Okay."

"Let's see who can play Gale Prior."

"As in?"

"Let's see who see who Gale Prior falls in love with."

"Time limit?"

"By the end of next month."

I nod. 61 days. 

"Okay," I agree. 

"Bye, Cel!" Martia waves at me and I wave back. 

--- 

Walking home gives me time to mull over the choice I've made. I don't think it's nice to play with other people's emotions, but my best friend made me this deal. I had to accept or it'd seem as if I didn't want to be friends with her. 

Arriving at my house, I see neither of my parent's cars parked. Sighing, I head inside and go upstairs. Changing into my pyjamas, I pick up my iPhone and decide to Facetime my other friend, Eleanor. 

She answers the request fairly quickly. "Hey," she grins at me.

I smile back. "Hi, Ellie! I've missed you. Why do you have to go to Johnson Prep?"

"Because my parents are assholes." She laughs. 

I laugh along with her. "I think I've gotten myself in a bit of a, um, situation."

This announcement captures her attention. "How so?"

"Martia made this bet with me; we have to see who can make Gale Prior fall in love with one of us first." I bite my lip, waiting for her response.

"Oh, honey. First off, it's not a good idea to play with people's feelings, most of all Gale Prior's. Second, Martia's a bit of a bitch. Third, no offense, but that is the dumbest thing you've agreed to do so far. Fourth, Martia and you have this kind of feud going on. Now you might not know about this, but she constantly tries to one-up you all the time."

Frowning, I think back. "She's never done that."

"Remember when you helped the homeless by offering them shelter while your parents were away and cooking for them? After that Martia let them live with her for a month each."

"But-" I protest, "she did that out of the good of her heart."

Ellie stares at me, then rolls her eyes. "Honey, that she-devil doesn't have a heart. There's an empty hole where it's located."

"Not true," I argue.

"Whatever," Eleanor waves her hand in the air dismissively. "My parents' have said that since I've gotten good grades and blah blah blah, I can return to Smithson."

My eyes light up in excitement. "Yay!" I cheer loudly throwing my hands in the air. 

Eleanor smiles. "Well, I have to go. Dinnertime. Bye-bye."

"Bye!" 

The Facetime ends and I slump against my headboard. Is it true that Martia's jealous and envious of me? But we've been friends forever. However, Ellie would never lie. She's like a sister.