An Inconvenient Bet

Chapter Fourteen

Carter and Britney were still dancing together and it wasn't as if I was annoyed, it was simply that Britney did my head in. She always wanted attention from guys, which I couldn't tear her down for because every girl should support another, but for some unknown reason, Britney had never been able to be nice to me. I wasn't sure if it was because I hung around with more guys than girls and she didn't like it or because I had no interest in running in her own pretentious hierarchy.

I looked away from them and noticed Justin walking over to Aria and I. Already I felt my heart increase at the thought of him being remotely anywhere near me and yet my feet forced me to stay when the idea of winding Carter up was inevitable.

"Incoming, jerk alert," Dylan snarled, pulling Aria against him to dance and most likely away from Justin, which left me to talk to him.

"Saffie, looking gorgeous as ever," Justin smiled and wrapped his arms around me tightly, planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Thanks, nice suit," I replied.

Normally I wasn't very interested in talking to Justin. As hot as he was, he could be an absolute sleaze and I knew a lot of girls had fallen victim to his charm. He was all about numbers on his bedpost and that was the only thing he cared about. Even the other guys in our school weren't that keen and I knew Carter hated him.

So instead of brushing him off, I continued to engage with him. Not for myself, but if it would show Carter what he was missing, then I wouldn't mind putting up with him for five minutes.

I wasn't sure why I wanted to irritate Carter, it was mainly Britney, but still I never normally cared about having his attention. He was my friend and Britney had stolen him, so it was my duty to steal him back right? At least that was what I told myself, but I couldn't help feeling disappointed that I hadn't gotten to kiss Carter a minute ago.

"Fancy a dance?" I asked Justin and although the alarm bells and red flags were going off around me, I nodded.

He grinned and pulled my body against his. I wrapped my arms around his neck and forced myself to smile at him. This felt completely wrong and uncomfortable and I immediately regretted it.

I shook the thought of how this didn't feel anything close to what it felt like when Carter held me. Justin's hands were clammy and too tight, they weren't smooth and determined like Carter's. Justin smelt like bourbon and cigarettes, whereas Carter smelt like mint and his cologne.

I looked around noticing that both Dylan and Aria were shooting me questionable looks and Carter's eyes were practically burning holes into my back.

"I've been wanting to get you alone for some time now," Justin admitted, his grip tightening on my waist.

"Is that so?" I asked, cringing internally.

He nodded, "especially now that you're not shagging all those guys," he said, raising his eyebrows knowingly at me.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, even though I knew what he meant. I had heard what people had said about me over the years.

My reputation for sleeping around had spun out of control after people had heard I'd lost my virginity and I didn't have the energy to correct everyone. The most unfortunate rule that existed in high school was that you were either the prude or the slut; you couldn't be both and you had to be one of them and no matter how much you denied rumours, it did not and would not change the fact that people still talked about you.

"Come on Saffie, I saw you sneaking off at lunch all the time. We're the same you and I, so why don't you give it up for me?" he asked.

I half laughed at his words and released my arms from around his neck.