The Bet

Chapter 45

Riley's POV

I carefully put all my new clothes away, examining each one before I put it in the drawer.

I wonder if James bought clothes for all his other girlfriends...

Thoughts like this always cross my mind when I'm with James, or when he does something involving me.

Did he take all his other girlfriends to that cliff? Did he sleep at the other girls house when he got into a fight with his parents? Did be take them shopping for clothes, and pay for them?

Another thing was also always on my mind.

Why me?

It was an annoying thought, always seeming to poke it's way through my regular thoughts whenever James and I kiss, hug, talk. Anything.

There's nothing special about me. I'm mean, I'm not ugly. But I'm not gorgeous like other girls at school that would be more than willing to go out with him. I'm just an average looking, average lifestyle girl you would meet at the supermarket. No big deal.

Yet, it's me he chooses to kiss. And hug. And text late at night.

But still. Why me?

James's POV

My mother took my cell phone away from me for the night, in some attempt that punishment will drive me to break up with Riley. Not working.

I wondered to Jacob's room in boredom.

"What's up?" I ask, leaning against the door frame, crossing my arms.

"Why do you care?" He asks. I shrug.

"Mom took my phone away from me." I admit to him.

"Oh, so you can't text your Riley." He says, than mutters, "Or whoever your dating now."

"I'm still dating Riley." I tell him.

"I'm surprised." He mumbles. "I thought you broke up."

"Nah, just a little fight. No biggie." I shrug. He sets whatever he was fidgeting with down and looks at me.

"Where were you last night? Mom and dad were really worried." He tells me.

"Mom and dad and I got into a fight, so I stayed the night at Riley's." I tell him.

"You fought over Riley, didn't you?" He asks.

"Yeah." I sigh.

"I heard mom and dad talking about her when you went to go and apologize to her." He says. "They don't like her."

"I know they don't. They told me." I reply. He shrugs.

"Do you like her?" I ask. He smiles and nods.

"Yeah. She's really nice." He says.

"And really pretty." He adds, blushing. I chuckle.

"You can call her that all you like. It doesn't change the fact that your too young for her, and that she's mine!" I tell him. He laughs a little.

"I know that. But you should bring her over again." He tells me. "You know, when mom and dad aren't home."

"Yeah, maybe I will." I mumble to myself.

"Take her swimming in the pool." He says.

"I bet she'll look hot in a swimsuit." He adds in the most serious voice. I playfully punch him.

"Hey! You can't think about that!" I laugh. "Even though it's probably true."

We both laugh together, something that doesn't happen very often.

"Hey James?" Jacob speaks.

"Yeah?"

"I know where mom hid your phone." He tells me.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

God love Jacob, he did know where my phone was, and he managed to get it for me. There were a couple of messages from Riley, so I decided to just call her.

"Hey." She says sweetly.

"My mom took my phone away, but I got it back." I tell her.

"You mean you stole it back." She laughs.

"Yeah, that fits the situation better." I chuckle.

"So what's up?" She asks.

"Well, while I was deprived of cellular communication, I had a chat with my brother." I say.

"Oh, how did that go?" She asks.

"Good, good." I say. "I think he has a crush on you, but good." She laughs.

"Hate to break it to him, but I'm taken by am amazing guy." She says.

"And I have an even more amazing girl." I reply.