Fall For You (ON HOLD)

(15)

I spend the next ten minutes searching around the house for Alex, shoving through the crowds of people, hoping that no alcoholic drink spills on me. Alex is no where to be found, which is ridiculous because he couldn't have left since he doesn't have a car.

Unless he planned on walking back to his dorm which doesn't seem like a good idea considering it was getting late, it was getting close to 10:30 at night.

I walk back around the house in the same order of rooms that I started, I figure if I can't find him then maybe he'll find me.

When I arrive back into the living room, I find Alex. Finally. He's standing in the corner, a can of raspberry soda in his hands. He looks more relaxed, or rather, he's trying to act more relaxed. I can still see the slight hint of panic in his eyes that screams, 'what if something goes wrong?'

As I walk over to Alex, I discard my now empty red cup that was once filled with lemonade, putting it on a table with a whole bunch of other empty cups and various other items.

Here we go.

"Having fun?" I ask Alex smiling, practically shouting over the loud music.

"Yeah, tonnes." Alex replies, clearly sarcastic.

How do you ask someone out, who clearly doesn't like you and who you've made very clear that you don't like either?

"Wanna get out of here?" I ask Alex.

"I'm not having sex with you, Gemma." Alex tells me, trying to be firm and assertive as he crosses his arms across his chest.

"I wasn't asking you to." I laugh. A red tint, one that I've become so used to seeing, spreads across Alex's cheeks. He's embarrassed by his assumption.

"Oh." He replies lamely.

"I was just asking if you wanted to leave the party because if you do, I could rive you back tot he dorms before it gets too late?" I suggest.

Getting Alex alone is important. It will give me the chance I need to see if there's anything I can use to my advantage to make him fall in love with me, so I win the bet.

All I know about him so far is that school is a priority for him, he doesn't like the party atmosphere and he's never been in love before. Oh, and he has strict parents that really don't like me.

"You want to leave the party?" Alex questions surprised. Yes. I don't like parties but you can't tell anyone that because I have a reputation to protect.

"Yeah." I shrug.

"Why?" He asks. Alex always has to question everything. He always need to have an answer. It's a constant Q&A with him. It usually annoys me but right now, it's irritating me more than ever.

"Look, if you don't want a ride home then don't worry about it." I snap and turn around on my heel, prepared to dramatically storm away from him like a child having a tantrum.

"Wait!" Alex calls out from behind me, to my surprise. I want expecting for him to concede so quickly. I thought there would be much more of a struggle before he gave in. I turn around to face him.

"Yes?"

"We'll go straight back to the dormitories, right?" Alex questions. I have something else in mind, but if I tell Alex about my plans for a slight detour, he'll be nosy. He'll ask more questions which will ruin the fabulous surprise that just formed in my mind.

"Of course." I reply.

Alex takes a few moments to weigh up the pros and cons of my offer.

"Okay, let's go." He finally says. Clearly the pros won against the lions this time. One point to Gemma.

***

Alex and I climb into my car and buckle up our seatbelts. As I start the car, I consider ditching my plan and just taking him back to the dorms, like I said I would. I'm not even sure if he'll like the plan I created.

No, Gemma. You need to make this boy fall for your ass and get the money. I remind myself.

Alex doesn't touch my car stereo like he did last time. Instead, he just lets the music play despite the fact that he doesn't like the music. I can tell by the way his nose scrunches up as we drive down the deserted streets.

I drive past the street that goes directly to the dorms and Alex notices. He sits up straighter and turns his attention to me.

"Gemma, that was where we are supposed to turn off." Alex informs me.

"I know." I smile and put my foot on the accelerator, speeding up as we pass a sign with a new speed limit. 

"Where are we going?" Alex asks, worriedly and then he gets angry. "You said we were going back to the dorms. Straight back!"

I want to yell at him, tell him to shut up and let me drive. Another part of me wants to just give in and ruin the surprise by telling him where we're heading. I don't though. I manage to bite my tongue.

"Gemma!" Alex complains. His whiny attitude annoys me. I can feel myself begin to get frustrated. No, Gemma. You aren't going to fight with him. Not tonight.

I take a deep breath in and out. "Just relax, Alex. I know we're I'm going and I'll get your back to the dorms before midnight. Scouts honour." I hold my hand up, and turn my head to face him. I offer him what I hope looks both comforting and playful.

Alex visibly relaxes, before telling me I need to keep my "eyes on the road!"

I direct my attention back to the road ahead of me.

We drive along the road for another few minutes before I turn into the parking bay for the place that Alex and I are going to.