Bet Me

Chapter 6

James POV

I wake up with a throbbing headache, the pain was immense and felt sprawled out all throughout my skull. I wake up remembering the previous events of that night and groan into my pillow. I think about Savannah and last night, wondering why I had drank so much. 

If she would have given herself up, today would have been different. I would wake up to some girl clinging onto me tightly begging to stay as she kissed me on the lips with her fading red lipstick. It would have been gross and I would have contemplated another last round before we ventured off into our separate ways.  However, that was not today and for some reason, I felt relief take over me that it wasn't. 

I look around my bedroom, get dressed and sit on the couch of my living room, the exact same spot I sat on when I showed myself off, not caring that I probably made the biggest fool of myself. I didn't know the girl and probably never would  see her again so I wasn't going to let this embarrassing night get to me.

"3 sugars and a cream." After class, I catch myself on Shorepoints campus getting coffee at one of the coffee stands. Next to it, was a booth of college sorority girls advertising their stupid group cause. I put a 5 dollar bill in their donation box and walk away not even acknowledging their thank yous or brochures they try to fling at me. Normally I'd try to flirt and get a number or four but my sunglasses trying to block out the sun indicated I had yet another hangover and was not feeling it. I close my eyes and take a deep breath feeling fresh oxygen enter my body. It was so great to be a loner for the day.

"James!"

Dammit.

My eyes shoot open and I look down. Katie.

"What do you want?" It's almost like my legs spoke for me as I mindlessly walk away. I just wanted everyone to leave me alone but Katie was hard to get rid of. 

She ran behind me trying to keep up as she made her way in front of me, pressing her dainty hand against my rock hard abs. I stopped and rolled my eyes as she pulled me in closer. "I have class in 30 minutes, I thought we could go back to your place and---"

I back away gently. "Not in the mood." I walk the other way just to hear her tiny heels click right behind me.

"Is it from the other day? Because I'm sorry James. You're not a douche."

I spin around and hang my head back. "Katie it's not that."

She looks down at her nails as to inspect them. Rubbing her thumb over one of her french tips. "Fine we don't gotta do anything but  I got a solution for the dad-major thing." Her eyes got wide and she took my hand, running us over to a bench to sit down at. 

I normally wanted to be alone and although I had a massive hangover, a serious issue like this couldn't wait. I knew deep down Katie cared and just wanted what was for my best interest. If she was wiling to help me come up with a solution, I was willing to spare a few minutes to hear her out. 

My eyebrows rise "So?"

"Okay. So the other day when we got into a fight I was thinking."

I roll my eyes. It's never a good thing when a girl thinks. 

She ignores my eye roll and continues with her speech "You do need a girlfriend. I'm not wrong about that." She states confidently.

"Katie-" I try to cut her off, not wanting to explain that I didn't feel for her the way she probably did for me.

"No no. Not me, ew no."

Thanks Katie, I think to myself as I press the Styrofoam cup to my lips taking a drink of the hot coffee.

"Would you listen James? I was thinking to myself the other day in your apartment 'yeah I could give him the money for his tuition but that wouldn't help him' I mean not really, right? So I came up with this amazing solution."

"Forget it." I start to get up but she scoots closer to me grabbing my hand, squeezing it tightly.

"You have to get a girlfriend. If you don't, I'm not paying for your tuition. You can do that, or you can find a major at the end of the month and mooch off your dad, your choice."

I started thinking long and hard. It wouldn't be a huge deal if I knew what I wanted to do but I was at a loss. I spent the majority of my college career partying and hooking up with random girls that my studies never really came across to me. If I had longer than  a month with my dad, I could just pick a shitty major. However, Katie was willing to pay my entire tuition if I found a girlfriend. She never said I had to be serious and I could just fake the whole thing, collect the money, and then mysteriously dump her.

"I'm in." I blurt on a whim.

"James, you have to really do this." She pats my shoulder gently. "I want you to be in a happy committed relationship. If you can do that, I will see you're responsible enough and I'll happily pay for your college."

 "It's a bet." I shake her hand. I didn't have to be with the girl for long, just get a girlfriend date for about a month and collect my money. Piece of cake. 

"And I'm picking your girlfriend."

I felt a big knot in my stomach. The last girl Katie hooked me up with turned into a psychopath who busted out a window of my old car. 

She must've noticed the look on my face "It's not Michelle. I just figured I could pick a random girl out here. You go up to her, talk to her, get to know her."

Even more nerve racking. What if Katie picked out a girl I wasn't even attracted to? I nodded anyway and looked off to the crowd of people with Katie.

"Her." I look past Katie's index finger pointing at the brunette. Her back was turned. I checked out her butt. 

"Nice ass, but what about her face." I chuckle loudly as Katie smacks me. 

The mysterious lady turns around and my smile drops off my face quicker than I can get a girls number.

"Savannah." My mind spoke aloud.

"You know her? James!"

"Yeah but not like you think." I glance quickly at Katie and then back at Savannah. She had just paid for coffee and was walking over to a table to sit  down. She pulls out a notebook with a pen and starts to write in it. 

"Let me guess, you tried something and she rejected?"

It was scary how accurate Katie was when it came to me but all I could do was nod. My eyes were fixed on Savannah, her perfect body and the way her hair lays perfectly on her shoulders. 

"Well that's an even better reason to get to know her." Katie got up trying to pull me by my hand. I was too strong for her petite body to move me. 

"I can't." I stutter a little as I don't break my gaze from Savannah. There was no way I was going to manipulate this girl to fall in love with me. 

"You can. Go do this."

I stand up from the bench. My feet felt like they were in wet cement.

"I have to go James." Katie pats me on the back and walks in the other direction. My head turns for a brief second to see which way she was going. I looked back at Savannah noticing that she never broke her gaze from her notebook.