The Bet

I Want Her

Thursday Morning

"Good morning beautiful" Tiffany greeted me as she placed a kiss on my cheek no doubt leaving a cherry red kiss mark there. "How's lovers' quarrel?" She asked throwing an arm carelessly around my waist.

"Knock it off T," I say taking her arm from around me. "I'm not in the mood"

"Jesus! Who pissed in your Cheerios" She retorted, rolling her eyes.

"I'm just not in the mood for your antics today, ok?" I say with a stern hard voice. "Now just leave me alone"

"Ryan, we've been friends for how long? So, if you think that playing this hard bitchy demeanour is gonna make me walk away and leave you alone then clearly you don't know what kind of best friend I am" She says grabbing a hold of my wrist, turning me around. "Now talk to me like you got some freaking sense in that gorgeous head of yours"

"..Can we go somewhere a little bit more private?" I asked looking around us seeing some of our classmates staring at us.

Tiffany didn't say anything but let me go as she walked off and away towards the quad. I didn't say anything else as I followed after her. As I was walking I heard one dude call me a wuss, for not putting up an argument with Tiffany.

"Ok talk and this time, talk to me like you got some sense," she says crossing her arms over her chest. I didn't reply still trying to gather my words. "I'm waiting"

"Sup pretty ladies," Chris says seeing us in the quad, coming our way. "Whoa who died? Don't tell me it was a celebrity I care about. Wait! Tell me actually, I'd rather hear it from my two best friends than the media. You know how they like to lie about remotely anything-"

"Chris would you shut up! Nobody has died" Tiffany hushed him, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "Ryan, however, will die if she doesn't answer me"

"What did you do?" Chris questioned standing by Tiffany. "Don't tell me you are reconsidering things with Ashley again"

"Oh god no!" I finally say with a shiver going down my spine at the thought of getting back together with her. "The truth is no matter what I do my mind wonders to her. And before either one of you says anything or give me any advice on what to do there's no use. Rachel told me how she felt and like the idiot I am I ruined it"

"How? You feel the same way"

"She told me I look at her with love in my eyes-"

"Not understanding how that's a bad thing though," Tiffany says. "I'm sure I look at cha-cha the same way"

"Before I went to meet up with her, my mom told me the same thing and when Rachel confirmed it I just froze"

"Yikes," They both said sucking their teeth.

"Yeah, and because I froze she took that as her sign and told me we can be friends one day but just not right now and left. I haven't tried to talk to her since"

"But why not? Ry if you like her then do something about it" Chris advised me.

"Yeah this isn't like you to just accept something so easily"

"She wanted space and time. I'm respecting that finally. Look, if it's meant to be then we'll end up together but I do want what's best for her. I am not giving up on her ok, I want her but I can't have her right now. I'm coming to terms with this truth even though it's a bitch, but I know the kind of life Rachel will have, the moment she graduates and I don't want to derail her plans"

"But-"

"Just leave it be guys"

".. Let's head to class then, yeah?" Chris suggested, changing the subject.

"I'll drop this for now, but only because I need to copy your economics homework"

"Ok that's fine," I say leading us out of the quad.
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"Why so glum chum? Still no luck with Miss Rachel?" Geoffrey asked me, as I threw my bag across the island table.

"No, but I don't care right now about that. I mean, I do of course, but I have to focus on the company's future for a while. I gave it thought and after everything that has happened between the two of us I know for a fact that those feelings won't just go away but at the same time graduation is closing in and regardless of how I feel, I have to take on a lot of responsibilities, I will not and do not have time for a fantasy"

"Love is no fantasy. However, how I see it love can be whatever you want it to be when you have that special person with you"

"You don't get it. I'm trying here to desperately move on from her. I know what I feel for her, I won't feel towards anyone else. I know this because I just want her and everything she has to offer"

"How so?"

"I want it all. I want everything that deals with Rachel. I want her indecisiveness. I want her insecurities. I want the pain that she feels when she's having a bad day. Like the frustration, she feels when she's dealing with her father, I want that. I want the bad days. I want her everything. I want everything that Rachel has because I know that I offered her much more within 2 weeks same as she did to me and that alone lets me know she's my person. I never felt this way for anyone but her"

"Well that's sounding a lot like you're saying in love with her"

"But I can't have her. She wants to be friends nothing more nothing less she has made that very clear-"

"If I may say this, I think you two are made for one another. You bring out her more fun and relaxed side while she grounds you to your truest self. Relationships are fifty per cent trials and tribulations while the rest is just pure bliss and happiness. So man up and go get the girl and stop whining and complaining...This is all spoken with respect and love, Miss Ryan" Geoffrey said clearing his throat as I looked at him shocked.

"I've been put in my place by my damn butler" I chuckled lightly looking at the island table. "Now there's something you don't hear or see every day, but you're hundred per cent right. I've gotta go" I say getting up ready to go to the door, till mom walked in.

"Whoa! where are you going in such a rush?" she asked stopping me in my tracks.

"I'm going to win back Rachel once and for all. Everyone but mainly for Geoffrey has made me realise something important"

"Oh? And what's that?"

"That it's time to man up"

"Well, good luck honey. I believe in you" She tells me giving me a strong embrace.

"I'm proud of you as well," Geoffrey says coming towards us. "Here, don't wanna forget your keys, now," He said giving them to me. I gave him a cheeky smile before looking at them both.

"Wish me luck," I said turning on my heels.

"You don't need it!" They both said to me as I closed the front door.

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"Well now isn't this a surprise?" She said once the door swung open and she saw my face.