The Bet (The Badboy's Claim Series #1) ✔️

FORTY-ONE

a/n: need wifi to see the pics (and ignore the change of percentage i forgot what it was...)

KIMORA

"Is Maddy Davison here?" The substitute teacher observed the room for any raised hands but, there was none.

It wasn't a surprise either.

Maddy is avoiding Jaxon and I. Well, maybe she isn't for me since she showed up at the hospital without any fear but, when Jaxon had left. If she was here, I wouldn't be able to pursue my plans since I had this wretched fever.

The sub stood up from the desk. "Your teacher didn't leave any assigned work for you so do whatever. I don't care. Someone take this paper down to the office please."

Mare's hand shot up and I didn't expect her to leave. However, I had an opportunity here. Shortly after Mare had left out, I asked if I could go to the "bathroom" and caught up to her.

"Hey! Mare!" I called from down the empty hall. I'm sure the other teachers in the classrooms nearby heard me. She turned around alert but, relaxed when she recognized me. "Oh, hey Kimora. What's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you, remember?"

She nodded and in her eyes, I could tell she already knew what I was going to talk about. Yet, she played dumb. "What is it?"

"Sean. He told me everything..." I paused, seeing if she was going to react but, she didn't. "I just wanted to let you know, I know Sean cares about you a lot. I don't want to get in between that. I'm sorry."

She shifted on her feet, her static expression not changing at all. "I know that all but, you know how hard it is to try and be with someone when they have feelings for another person?"

I didn't know. I couldn't relate to her and she noticed that. Mare sighed, staring off blankly. "It's hard and I'm only waiting for Sean to clear his mind and it only to be with me. Not someone else."

I nodded. "I understand."

"Good. By the way, you look like death. Are you sure you're okay?" She stepped closer, going to put her hand on my forehead as Jaxon did. I waved my hand, taking a step back. A big one. I didn't need anyone worrying about me. Jaxon was already enough. Not saying that no one else was but, he's a handful.

"I'm fine. Don't worry."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll just pretend I believe that."

Hey, it was the best I could get.

"Kimora! Mare! I'm glad I'm running into you two." We both sucked out teeth from Ariana trudging down the hall towards us. This would be a great time to ditch school.

"What do you want, Ariana?" Mare asked bitterly.

She smiled with a look in her eye. "Oh, since you two were involved with what happened in the forest, I thought I would take it upon myself to interview you."

"No thanks," I said without missing a beat. I didn't need my business spreading around. I already had enough of it. We're hardly even into the school year yet. Surprisingly, no one knew that it was Maddy who shot me except for Jaxon.

"Why not? People will have so much sympathy for you." Her friendly act broken as she crossed her arms, observing me closely.

"Because I don't want to." I mimicked her.