The Bet

2

Chapter 2: Victim Number One

The following day, the boys all met in the library during school, their books in front of them with half done homework assignments being held in place, but instead of working like they should have been, they were watching around carefully, examining the girls that came in and out, not picking a single one unless they were worth it.

"Elliot, see her over there?" Their eyes traveled to where Dalton was staring, a pretty girl was sitting by herself at a table, her hair pulled up in a messy bun and her face seemingly pressed in a permanent scowl. "I bet you two hundred dollars you can't get in her pants by the end of the summer."

Checking her out further, Elliot pursed his lips before shrugging his shoulders. "You're on."

Not wasting another moment, he collected his books and strides confidently over to her, not being seen until he sat himself down right next to her.

She looked up slowly from her book, brown eyes taking in the boy before her without shame. "I think you're in the wrong seat."

"I think I'm not, I'm Elliot but you can call me Eli or your boyfriend, whichever works for you."

One of her thick eyebrows whirled up at his words, her hands moving to turn the page in her history book, using a pencil to mark the page. "You must be joking? What's my name, Elliot?"

"I'm not sure, beautiful but you must be new because I'd remember a face like yours."

She rolled her eyes, piling her books up neatly. "I've lived here since I was five and we've been in the same classes every year since the eighth grade. If you want to know my name so badly, open up a yearbook and find it yourself."

"Feisty," Elliot watched her get from her chair and push it in before making beginning to walk away. She dressed nicely, nothing too flashy but it fit her body well. "I like that in my women."

"Then go find it in another because you and I aren't happening."

"We'll see about that, beautiful." He took his sweet time walking back to his friends. "She going to be a tricky one."

Hunter let out a deep laugh, his dimples protruding from his cheeks. "Can't do it, James? What's that I hear? Two hundred dollars falling down your drain."

"Not so fast, man. I have until the end of the summer and by then I'll make sure I have my money and a check mark on my list. Besides this should be fun, I always did love a challenge."

Jake looked up from his worksheet, it nearly finished give or take a few unanswered questions. He lifted a hand to raise his cap, push his hair back and set it back on. "Did you get her name?"

Eli sat back in his chair going silent. "She said we've been in the same class since eighth grade but I promise you I've never seen that girl a day in my life."

"Might as well set that money on fire now then."

"I'd like to see you get her then Jacob Mullins."

He shook his head at his best friend, pretty green eyes going wide. "Not a chance in hell, you know I don't participate in this fucked up game."

"It's not fucked up," Dalton is quick to defend, words sharp but holding enough of a tone that shows he isn't angry at his friend. "It's just a little bit of fun, and just so you know man, you keep score and make sure the money is paid in, meaning you're participating just as much as the rest of us are."

Jake fell silent, unable to defend himself any longer because he knew it was true. "Just be careful, I don't want to hear about one of you checking a girl off your list and adding a baby into the equation."

"Yeah right, I always wear a condom. There's not a chance in hell I'd get one of these girls knocked up, my mom would hang me from the chimney."

The bell rang signaling the end of their class hour, urging them to go onto their next. The boys left in different directions, giving handshakes and nods of goodbye's.

Eli walked down the senior hallway, his final class of the day, English. He went to his seat, leaning back and glancing around before his eyes caught on a familiar face. "Hey beautiful, don't tell me you're hiding from me now."

"Not hiding, I've been in the same place all semester. Don't tell me, you finally pulled your head from out of your ass and realized that there are other people on this planet besides yourself."

Eli pouted, one large hand coming up to rest over his chest. "Ouch, that one hurt. Don't be mad babe, how about I make it up to you?"

"By leaving me alone and never speaking to me again?"

"Maybe later, but actually I was thinking you should go on a date with me."

By now, she could feel the eyes of other students trained on them probably wondering why one of the hottest guys in school was even acknowledging her presence. "Should? Why should I?"

"Take it as an 'I'm sorry'."

"I don't need your pity, I was doing just fine without you noticing me."

"I don't doubt you, but now that I see you I can't look away, so please, just one date and we'll take it from there."

She stayed still watching him from her seat, irises trained up at him as he stood above her. "Find out my name and I'll think about it."

"Say swear."

"Swear."

Moving to the front of the class, Eli talked to the teacher for a moment, his brown eyes darting back to his target as he spoke. The conversation ended quickly and just as the bell rang he got what he wanted. "I'll see you tonight for dinner, Aspen."

"No, you won't."

"You said swear."

"I said swear, I'd think about it. Not swear I'd go on a date with you."

Eli but his lip, mouth finding a way to quirk up in a smile at her stubbornness. "It's going to happen, one way or another, you're going on a date with me."

"In your dreams."