An Inconvenient Bet

Chapter Nine

The hall was empty. It was just me standing next to my locker thinking back to the weekend. I couldn't believe I had slept with Carter. I mean it was good, great actually, but that wasn't the point.

The point was that it was Carter and I had rules; now I had broken two of those rules, all because I couldn't say no to a bet.

I think the worse part was that I didn't mind that I had slept with him. Obviously, I was angry at myself and also wishing he wasn't so pleased with himself for finally completing one of his most desired tasks. But apart from all the things about Carter that I hated, I couldn't deny that he knew what he was doing in bed, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of telling him so.

I slammed my locker shut, completely frustrated with myself about the entire situation, when the problem itself came walking in my direction.

"So, about the other night," he said close enough to me that I could feel his breath brush against my face.

"What you mean the bet?" I asked, brushing his comment away.

I knew what he was doing. He wanted me to admit that I enjoyed myself and that I wanted to do it again, but that wasn't going to happen, not today. I refused to break my rules again.

"This isn't about the bet, this is about you and me," he replied.

"There is no you and me," I hit back, rolling my eyes.

He brushed a loose strand of hair from my face and tucked it behind my left ear.

"There could be."

I rolled my eyes again. He was so annoying when he tried to flirt with me and pretend to be all romantic, when I knew what he was really like. I had grown up with him for goodness sake. He couldn't hide much from me, and maybe I couldn't hide much from him either?

"I don't date Carter, especially not you," I said back.

"Ouch that hurt," he said fake pouting as he put his hand over his heart. "But I don't want to date you either. We'd be a disaster," he added.

At least I could agree with him on that.

"Then what do you want?" I asked, walking away from him.

I was already late to my class and couldn't afford to spend another day in the Principal's office, not when I'd only just gotten into trouble last week.

"Look," he said, grabbing my arm. "We aren't that different. We both fuck to forget thinking about our lives."

"Don't pretend you have me all figured out just because you put your dick inside me. It doesn't make you special," I snarled back.

Who did he think he was trying to get inside my head and act like he knew everything I'd been through and who I was? We may have known each other for a long time, but that didn't mean we braided each other's hair and canoodled late at night.

"I'm just saying a little distraction never hurt anybody," he smirked back, his gaze going to my chest.

I went to hit him, but suddenly I heard voices coming around the corner and they didn't sound like preppy girls that attended this school nor jocks. I could tell from where I was stood that it was Mark and another teacher.

Shit.

I could not get caught not being in class. I had to hide or I was going to be in big trouble and I didn't want to have to deal with another lecture from him or my mum for that matter.

I noticed the supply closet behind Carter and before they came any closer, I shoved him through the door and shut it behind me.

"What the hell are you doing?" He said and I had to shove my hand over his mouth to stop him being so damn loud.

"Would you shut up!" I whispered. "The bloody Principle is out there and I'm not getting in trouble because you can't keep quiet," I added.

I waited until I heard the footsteps go past the door and into the distance. I let a sigh of relief out, releasing my hand from Carter's mouth. It was only when I took my hand back that I realised how our bodies were pressed together so closely I could nearly hear his heartbeat.

Suddenly he leaned in, his lips touching mine. He was firm like he was sure of himself.

"Carter, what's wrong with you?" I asked, pushing him away from me.

"I'm being quiet like you said. So, do you want me or not Saf?" He grinned at me, before slowly moving back in my direction.

I couldn't help it, just looking at him and knowing that he wanted me, needed me almost, made me crazy. My hands found the front of his shirt and I pulled him towards me, his body crashing into mine.

Before I knew it, I was kissing him and he was kissing me back. His hands roamed my body as he picked me up and slammed my back into the wall.

If there was any reason to skip class, this was a good enough excuse.

Carter and I wouldn't work in a functioning relationship, but for some reason half naked in a supply closet, we did. We worked this way and perhaps Carter was right. He was a good distraction and that was all we both needed right now.

*********************

"You're screwing Carter Hughes!" Aria screamed in such a high pitch; I thought my ear drum was going to burst.

Her face was a mixture of excitement and yet also it was filled with disgust; exactly as I had expected it would be.

"It's only sex, would you chill out," I said sternly.

"I thought your golden rules were set firmly in stone?" She questioned.

"Well, they were. I might have just bent the rules ever so slightly," I cringed, knowing full well I had abolished the rules.

If the rules had been a match, I had quite literally just lit my entire house on fire in the blink of an eye and I was stood in the flames dancing.

She laughed at me, sitting down on my bed trying to contain herself. I threw the nearest pillow I could get my hands on and launched it towards her face.

"How many times have you 'bent the rules'?" she asked once she had gained composure.

I shrugged not meeting her eyes as I played with my fraying jeans, "a few."

"Out of everyone you could have picked in the entire school, you pick him. I know he's freaking hot, but it's Carter," she said.

I couldn't truthfully justify my actions because I was as surprised as anyone, but now that it had started, I couldn't stop. It was as if every cliché teenage movie I had watched or romantic novel I had read where every female character claimed that the man, they were interested in was 'like a drug.' That cliché line had officially become my living hell. Except, hell had a great body and looked a lot more inviting than heaven.

Carter and I had an understanding in our weird sex pact. We both had no interest in dating, which took out any awkwardness and we didn't even have to pretend to be nice to each other all the time.

I'd ignored Aria's question because she wouldn't understand it. Her family were together, her dad hadn't abandoned her. Carter and this situation was not ideal, but it wasn't like I was going to fall in love with him. I didn't even think I fell in love, not like other people did.

"Is he sleeping with other girls or are you two exclusive?" She asked, breaking my thoughts.

"I don't know, it's not like we set rules on this," I said.

"Well maybe you should, Saffie. If you're having all this mind-blowing sex, shouldn't you just be doing it with each other," she suggested. "At least for safety precautions."

She sort of had a point. I mean I knew I didn't need anybody else, but I couldn't exactly ask that of him, could I? Practically two weeks ago we hadn't even kissed and now I was having regular sex with Carter. Even as I said that in my head, I couldn't believe it.

"How would I even bring something like that up?" I asked.

"It's Carter, I'm sure you can just ask. It's not like you care what he thinks, right?" she asked.

"Right," I agreed, even though I wasn't one-hundred percent sure.