The Bet

Chapter 17

Riley's POV

I stride through the hallway, James besde me. No matter how many times that I try to quicken my pace, or slow down the smallest bit to make it look like we aren't walking together, James will either catch up to me or slow down as well.

Just as we arrive at our lockers, a preppy girl with long blonde hair approaches James.

"Hey James." She says, fluttering her eyelashes.

"Hey Allison." He replies.

"So, I'm having a couple people over to my house tonight. Care to come?" She asks, running her hand up his chest. I roll my eyes.

"Actually, I'm pretty busy. Maybe another time." He tells her. She pouts.

"Fine. Next time?" She asks.

"Maybe." Is all James says, then she leaves. James turns to me and smirks.

"So, what are you doing tonight?" He asks, leaning against the lockers.

"Anything but being with you." I say smugly.

"Very funny." He says, rolling his eyes. "But seriously, what are you doing tonight?"

"I got a shift at the cafe." I say quietly.

"Oh. Maybe I'll come by later to see you." He tells me. I roll my eyes, just as the bell goes.

"Whatever." I mutter as I begin to walk off.

"Wait!" James says quickly. I turn around. He smiles a little. "Can I have a kiss first?"

"In your dreams." I say with a smug smile as I turn around again.

"Everynight!" I hear him call out.

~~~~~

James's POV

I scan the crowded lunchroom for Riley. She finally walks in, her arms crossed self-consciously. She looks so cute.

"Hey Riley!" I call out. She looks my way, giving me a confused look, but she starts to make her way over anyway.

"You're seriously inviting her to sit with us?" Stephanie remarks, wrinkling her nose.

"Yeah, why not?" I ask.

"Because she's a loser." Michelle chimes in with a 'duh' tone. I just shrug, just as Riley approaches me.

"What do you want James?" Riley asks with an exasperated sigh.

Riley's POV

"I want you to sit with us." James replies, motioning to the empty seat next to him.

I hesitate. I look at his friends, West and Eldon I think their names are, and their girlfriends. The boys were looking me up and down, a smirk on their face. The girls did the same, but instead looks disgusted with my prescence.

I shake my head.

"No thanks, I think I'll sit somewhere else." I say shyly. The blonde girl, Michelle I think, jumps up.

"Do you have any idea who we are?" She growls at me. "You were asked to sit with us, and you think that you can just say 'no thanks'?!"

"Babe, calm down." Eldon says calmly.

"No! She just thinks she can waltz in here like she owns the place!" She snaps. "But she got another thing coming if she thinks she can do that while working at a cafe to make some money because she's so poor!"

James catches my eye, but I quickly look away. I knew I shouldn't have told him anything. How many times, and how many people did he tell about my personal life?

I fast walk out of the cafeteria and to the hallway, which was surprisingly empty. I fumble visciously with my locker, like usual, to get my stuff so I can go home. Skipping off wasn't like me, but facing them, especially James, was too painful.