Bet Me

Chapter 12

"James." Savannah's concerning tone from last night kept replaying back in my head like a broken record. Over and over again. Her voice lay snug in my mind.

After crying with Savannah on my back, we made our way back off the beach. After walking her home, I headed towards my apartment to sleep for what seemed like days. I couldn't get myself to move from that spot. The emotions kept flowing like a waterfall. The embarrassment, having actual feelings, it was all too much for me. I couldn't let myself get this way.

"James!"

"It's open." The voice wasn't Katie but it was definitely one of a girl.

I kept my sheets straddled over my head as the mystery girl walked over and grabbed them away from my grasp.

"James."

"Haley. What are you doing here?" I quickly sit up in the bed trying to cover up. It was at that moment that I noticed I kept my clothes on from last night. 

"To make sure I got the right place." My moms hair was tied up in a tight bun, she looked like she just got off of work. Her figure got closer as she stepped into my apartment. 

I rub my hand over my groggy face trying to keep a sane expression. I felt anything but sane at this point but I had to put on a show in front of them. I couldn't let anyone ever see me like that again.

"I'm busy. I can't take her anywhere today" I studied their faces. My mother nervously giggled a bit as her hands smooth out her dress pants. 

"Can we talk?" Both of their faces started blankly back at me. The instigation felt real. 

The carpet caught my gaze but the truth is anything would at this point. Wishing time would stop, I would have been happy doing anything else at this point. I felt humiliated and betrayed. I showed my true colors to a girl I've been trying to use for money and stayed in bed all day feeling embarrassed over it. This wasn't like me to cry in front of a girl and then the next day make up with my mother. I wasn't a happy endings type of guy.

My jaw clenched but I knew I had to keep my gaze looking down, "No." I couldn't let the pain of my mothers eyes haunt me, not this time.  I didn't want to feel emotion, that wasn't like me. 

The door shut softly but firmly. It was time to go back to sleep to pretend like this was a dream, as if none of this was happening.

Rolling over to the other side of my bed, I noticed it was 2 pm. My evening class started soon and I needed to go to class if I was going to cancel this bet.

The jog towards the campus was sweaty and cleansing. The sweat drip slowly town my temples and my music blared through my earbuds. The run was quite therapeutic.

"Have a nice day sir." I spoke happily to my professor after what seemed like the shortest lecture of my life. Walking out of that lecture room felt refreshing because although I didn't bother to pay attention, I did get a good nap in. I make my way out of the double doors of the university when I spot Savannah on the grass jotting down in her notebook. The look of concern and amusement filled her dainty face. I had pondered the thought that maybe she was writing about me, about last night. My heart sank. 

"James hey!" Savannah rose from her position to give me a hug.

"What's in the notebook." Extending my hand out, I reach for it. The furious expression that emerged from her face made me take several steps back. 

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Whatever is in that notebook Savannah..if it's about me, I need you to throw it away." I couldn't look her in the eyes. Something about being around her made me feel all sorts of emotions that I never thought I could feel before. This one, however, was embarrassment. I knew it wasn't right asking, "Or give it to me." I finally finish, hoping that lessens my harsh request.

"Oh so you think that date last night was something so special that I'm out here writing it down like a little school girl?"

I couldn't help but stare at her face while she was talking to me, her lightly tanned skin and brunette hair complimented each other perfectly. I noticed her nose scrunched up when she got mad which made her look even more cute. Trying to end this bet would probably be harder than I thought.

"See, there's this thing called college, James. If you weren't so blind, you'd probably know that's where we're at right now. In this crazy place we do something called assignments. Don't you ever think I was doing, I don't know, an assignment?"

"Why would you take a stupid writing class? If you need a filler you could ask me, I have some pretty good recommendations."  

"Stupid writing class? Writing is my major, James."

She proceeded to pick her journal up and walk the other way. With her slow drawn out pace, I knew she wanted me to follow so I did. I wasn't sure why but I would've done anything for her in this moment. She spun around and looked into my eyes, "I suppose you feel bad for saying that don't you?"

She took the words right out of my brain and left me speechless. Just as I was about to speak again, I got cut off. "But there's a way you can make it up to me. See, in my dumb writing classes I take I have all sorts of things I have to do. One of them, being a poetry class. Poetry was never my strong suit so to make up for your lack of intelligence, what do you say you redeem yourself?"

My mouth nearly dropped open. Hearing Savannah talk so confidently and swiftly was odd, I definitely didn't know her as much as I thought I did. 

"So?" She taps her foot lightly with her notebook pressed to her chest waiting for my response.

If I said no and never spoke to her again, it'd be too obvious. I couldn't just blow my cover like that. I needed to say yes no matter what. I could do this. "Yes." I blurt out quickly. I could tell she was about to stroll off again and I was too tired to chase her, "Now shut up and kiss me."