The Bet

I Really Like You

"How's the job search coming along?" Mr. Friar asks his son as he enters the kitchen.

Being the town's sheriff Lucas' father was hardly ever home but he made up for that whenever he saw his kids by being the typical intrusive parent.

"Charlie got me a job." Lucas answers solemnly.

"Doing what exactly?"

"Odd jobs." He lies. "Fix a tire here screw a light bulb there."

He pats his son on the back but doesn't continue the conversation. After finishing up his coffee, Mr. Friar takes off for work.

It's been 6 days since the party last Friday. Since the last time Lucas saw Riley. The guilt he was feeling was eating him alive. He had to see her, he had to apologize.

During 3rd period he has study hall and instead of heading to the gym like he normally does he decides to take a little stroll over to her house.

It was the perfect opportunity for him to talk to her alone. Both her parents would be working and he hoped she'd be there too.

Thankfully Riley only lived 10 minutes away from school by foot so he managed to get there rather quickly.

Once outside her house he can see that her window is open and inside he can hear music playing. He looks around to make sure no neighbors are outside before he starts to climb up the vines that lead up to her room.

She made it look easy the way she pulled herself up those vines before. He struggled the whole way up, slightly embarrassed that this was so difficult for him.

He reaches her window and peaks in. This is a whole new level of creep. He thinks to himself as his eyes scan her room.

Eventually they land on the lifeless human shaped ball of laundry that laid across her bed.

He watches her shift in her spot for a second before sitting herself up. She pulls her legs in and gently rests her chin on her knees.

She was swaying to the music, softly singing along.

He had never seen her look so drained before. Her skin was pale, the only color on her face was the red irritation mark on her nose, and the starry eyes he remembered were dull and tired. She looked like a complete different person.

Finally he musters up the courage to speak. A quick tap on the glass window causes her to jump, giving him her undivided attention.

She squints her eyes at him, tilting her head to the side. "Lucas?" She asks and he nods his head. "What're you doing here?"

He takes her inquisitive nature as an invitation so he climbs the rest of the way through her window and stands awkwardly before her after adjusting himself.

"You haven't been at school...I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine thanks."

"You don't look fine." He answers, looking her in the eye.

"That's so nice to hear."

"No I just meant –." His train of thought is cut off when he notices her bed side table covered in medicine. "Are you sick?"

"You thought I wasn't in school because of what your girlfriend did to me?" There's a hint of mocking in her voice. "Don't flatter yourself."

"She's not my girlfriend." He defends, stepping closer to the brunette.

"Does she know that?"

The two just stare at each other.

"Look...I know you said to leave you alone and I'll respect that, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."