The Bet

Chapter 98

James's POV

"So, how was your little wedding over the weekend?" West asks me and Riley Monday at school by our lockers.

"It was good." I reply, pulling my girlfriend closer to me. She wraps both her arms around me, and I respond by wrapping one around her.

"Speaking of big events, me and Stephanie are going prom dress shopping Wednesday. Care to come?" Michelle offers Riley.

"Yeah, and me and Eldon are being forced to go with." West mutters, earning an agitated smack up side the head by Stephanie.

"Yeah, sure, we'll-"

"No, thanks anyway." Riley cuts me off. I stare at her in disbelief.

"You don't want to come?" Stephanie questions in shock.

"No, I'm not going to prom." Riley tells her.

"You have got to be kidding right?" Michelle exclaims. And I have to agree with her.

"No, I'm not really interested in going." Riley says. I knew it wasn't true.

"Well you can still come dress shopping with us." Stephanie points out. Riley shrugs.

"Yeah, sure." She mutters. They two couples walk away, finally leaving us alone.

"What do you mean you're bit going to prom?" I ask.

"I'm just not going." She replies.

"Yeah, I get that, but why?" I ask again. She sighs.

"Do you have any idea how much an average prom dress costs?" She asks, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, like two hundred, three hundred, maybe four hundred-"

"Expensive." She cuts in.

"Two hundred or so bucks isn't that bad." I chuckled. She looks down.

"For you maybe." She says quietly.

"I can buy you a dress." I offer.

"No James." She groans.

"C'mon, it's no big deal." I persist.

"James, you already do so much for me. More than I usually want you to do. You can't do this too. It's too much." She tells me.

"Riley, all I want to see on prom night, is a beautiful dress, and an even more beautiful you in it." I tell her sweetly. She reaches up slowly and kisses my cheek.

"Sorry, but you won't be seeing that." She whispers.