Don't Bet on It

Chapter 5

"So he told you about the bet." Eric looked betrayed.

I nodded. "Yeah, sorry I had to shut it down." I wasn't sorry at all.

Eric gave me a look. "Shut it down? What are you talking about?"

"You can't really do it now that I know."

He grinned. "You think that's gonna stop me when I could make fifty bucks on this?"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, the bet's still on, Cupcake," Eric said, winking at me. "I'll see you after school."

"What?" I screamed after him. "We're not seeing each other after school!"

"We are now!" he called. "Meet me in the parking lot!"

Like that's gonna happen, I thought, walking toward my sixth period class. I was staying as far away from both of them as possible for the next year or so.

"You don't look like you're in a good mood," Deena observed as I sat down in my usual spot next to her. "Everything okay?"

"Your boyfriend and his idiot friend made a stupid bet about me," I grumbled.

Deena rolled her eyes. "He's not my boyfriend."

I gave her a look. "If he hasn't asked you out already, you should ask him."

She looked down. "I donno, Jess...."

"C'mon. What've you got to lose? And he obviously likes you too."

Deena looked uncomfortable. "So what was the bet?"

I made a face. "They wanna see how long it'll take for me to go out with Eric."

"Oooh." Deena smiled mischievously and waggled her eyebrows.

"Shut up." I turned toward the front of the room.

She laughed.

After school, I walked with Deena toward Emma's car. My phone buzzed, so I pulled it out of my purse and looked at it. I had one text from Emma: I'm staying after school. Can you get a ride?

I sighed.

"What's up?" Deena asked.

"Nothing." I looked around for Daniel and saw him walking out of school with Eric. "Can you give me a ride?"

"Why don't you ask Daniel? He lives closer to you than I do."

I pointed behind her, and she turned around and saw them. She flashed me a smile and then ran away.

Traitor! I wanted to scream after her.

"Hi, Jessa!" Eric blew a kiss at me.

I caught it and threw it back at him.

He laughed. "I knew you'd wait for me."

"Shut up." I turned to Daniel. "Can you give me a ride?"

"Nonsense," Eric said. "I'll take you."

"Never in a million years," I said, shaking my head.

He grinned. "C'mon, Sugar."

"You stay the heck away from me." I looked at Daniel. "Please?"

He shrugged. "Okay."

"Jessaaaaaaaaaa!" Eric pouted as I walked with Daniel to his car.

"Don't think I forgive you," I said, getting in. "I'm still mad at you, but I need to get home."