Chapter 11

"So how's the bet going, Robin?" Bethany asked.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "It's been like a day since we made the bet."

"And?"

I rolled my eyes and sipped my water.

"No, but really. How's the bet going?" Megan questioned, turning her gaze onto mine.

"How's yours going?" I snapped.

She gave me a shocked face, raising her eyebrows and opened her mother to wide. She got up from the table, stomping her way out of the cafeteria. An amused smirk tugged at my lips as I saw her huff her way out of the cafeteria.

Man I loved pissing my fake friends off.

"Answer the question, Robin." Beth demanded.

I turned to her and raised an eyebrow.

My friends, let me rephrase that actually. My fake friends were demanding and inpatient. They're like that nagy mother your friend has who always tries to embarrass them whenever you come over.

If I was asked to think of one good thing about them and their personality, I would be heading out the door before the person could finish their sentence.

Just thinking about them being nice made me spit out my water. Bottled water, get your head out of the gutter.

"It's been barely a day, you can't expect me to have some progress in the spam of less than a single day."

My smirk went away and Bethany's played at her lips. She smacked them and stared at me right in the eye as Lana scrolled downbeat her phone, ignoring us.

"Any of us could have gotten a date with him yesterday." She bragged, arrogance covering her features.

I laughed, almost letting some water escape my mouth and land on Bethany. Actually that's not a bad idea now that I think about it.

"You couldn't even get him to look at your direction, let alone get a date with him. You're way too pushy and bossy."

She scoffed and grabbed her coffee, glaring at me. "Two months, good luck poser."

And with that she walked away. I rolled my eyes and got up, but Lana grabbed my wrist. I turned around to look at her and she was looking down at the floor.

"Robin...I'm sorry." I furrowed my eyebrows at her and she kept her gaze to the floor while I let a confused expression rest on my face.

"I'm sorry." She said again, almost whispering.

I kneeled down since she was sitting at the table and I was standing. She looked at me and I saw a tear roll down her cheek. I put my hand on her shoulder, squeezing it.

"What do you mean you're sorry?"

She wiped her tear away and closed her eyes tightly and I got up. "Robin, I can't say this-,"

But she was cut off by Bethany and Megan who yelled Lana's name. Lana wiped the tears that went down her cheek away and got up.

"Good luck." She replied before running over at Bethany who was raising an eyebrow at her and crossing her arms.

My confused expression was easily spotted and Bethany did nothing, but smirk and look away. Megan followed next to Bethany whining about something while Lana followed both of them from behind.

She looked back at me for a quick glance and instantly turned back around and before I knew it her figure disappeared when she passed the wall.

I sat back down the table, rubbing my forehead in confusion.

What did she mean I'm sorry?

There's a million things she could have meant by that, but only one of them was right. Unfortunately, I was never getting it out of her since Megan and or Bethany were always around her and it would look suspicious.

Bethany would have a leery idea about why Lana and I would be talking alone. There was no way I was finding out about what she knew and what I didn't know. Asking her would be too suspicious.

But her telling me wouldn't.

~•~

I walked towards my next class, debating whether I should go or not.

It was English and I was pretty good at English. Essay's weren't my forte, but book report projects were. They were kind of the same, but book report projects meant you got to choose the book you wanted to do the project on.

Essays gave you a specific book, novel, or article. Meaning you didn't get a choice, I however like having a choice to make in life.

I never really miss English unless I feel like it, I only do skip classes when I know I have an A in them. Or there's a test that day and I want to do it the next day. Extra day meaning more time to study.

But my thoughts were interrupted when two guys walking beside me whispered to each other.

"Leon told me we were going to do a project today in English. Something about an original story." The guy next to him groaned.

"Seriously? English projects are so much work! How the hell am I supposed to come up with an original story?"

What an absolute tragedy.

"Well I'm hoping we get partners. There's no way I'm coming up with a story on my own."

The guy who groaned stopped and nodded and they both kept walking.

While everyone was talking about it, I was hoping we wouldn't get partners. The teacher almost always chooses and I have no friends at my school, meaning I usually get people I don't know/don't like.

I even get Beth a couple times and let me tell you it was like walking in Hades' home with his three headed dogs guarding it.

What? I wanted to describe hell in a very explicit and creative way.

I decided to go to class since I wanted all the time I could get to do the project, and know more than just write an original story which sounded pretty simple. Plus I needed to know if it was a partner project or an independent project.

I was hoping for the second option.

I walked in the classroom, chills running up and down my spine continuously as I sat down and waited for everyone else to come in. I sat in the back like everyone else while there were about two empty seats in the front.

Bethany and Lana came in, both having to sit in the front which they did. Mitchell came in and sat next to Bethany and I saw her roller eyes and whisper something in Lana's ear.

My eyes widened when I saw Ashton walk in and sit in a seat three seats away from mine. He somehow found the empty spot in the back that was being blocked by three tall guys surrounding it.

I groaned silently to myself as I rested my hand on the desk with my arms supporting my head as a pillow.

I put my head up and the teacher came out of her seat and clapped her hands together, eyeing everyone in the classroom.

"Good morning students," she said, "today we'll be focusing on working on a project."

Everyone groaned.

"Yes I know, how devastating," she said dramatically, "but to make it easier I decided it was a partner project."

Everyone got up, cheering and dancing. Some girls were even twerking and I covered my eyes, looking away.

"Yes, you're welcome, but I'm choosing your partners."

Everyone groaned and I laughed quietly to myself.

Sucks to suck.

She got out her clipboard with a piece of paper on it and I raised my hand, she looked up and raised an eyebrow at me.

"Miss. Banks?" she asked and I put my hand down. "Can I work by myself?" Everyone looked at me, slowly turning their head and I rolled my eyes.

"Are you sure? We have an even dumb classroom, meaning someone won't get a partner."

Yes because I care about these horny human organisms and if they have to do a project on their own.

"I'm sure they'll be fine." I replied and she nodded.

"Okay, Bethany and Michael. Zachary and Ralph." she continued saying people's name. I got out my phone to play a quick game, but what caught my attention was when the teacher said, "Ashton and Christian."

"Uh Ms., Christian switched classes and he's in advanced now." A student called out.

I lifted my head up in curiousness. "Oh, well Ashton you will have to work alone."

An idea, a very bad, but good idea popped in my head. I needed a jump boost with this bet and picturing Bethany's mouth drop when I tell her would be priceless.

I raised my hand, getting up. "Actually, I can be his partner since everyone already has a partner." I offered.

I was going to hate this, but the sooner I get this bet over with the sooner this stress will go away. Two months. Only two months, better make them count.

"Are you sure, Miss. Banks?" the teacher asked as Ashton raised an eyebrow at me. I nodded and Ashton continued staring at me as he walked over.

"That's very kind of you, Robin." the teacher replied, softly.

Ha, if only she knew half the things I did.

Ashton sat down next to me and I cleared my throat. His gaze never left mine and after a couple seconds, I looked away. This was way too awkward.

"Okay students, you and your partner will be writing an original story. It can be any type of genre, but I am expecting a twelfth grade project. Not a fifth grade story."

She raised her eyebrows at Mitchell and everyone looked at him.

"What are you guys looking at?" Everyone looked away and he grumbled something, but I wasn't able to catch it since he had said it to himself.

"You have two weeks, both of you will have to work at each other's houses. Be creative and concise as possible. And plagiarism will drop your grade so be careful."

She sat back down and placed her glasses over her eyes and started typing on her computer.

I faced Ashton who had already gotten out a piece of paper and started jotting some things down. "Genre." he said, but it sounded more of a question.

"Horror." He looked up at me and arched an eyebrow. "October, better write something that fits in the season." I quickly added.

He nodded and kept writing more things.

"So, would you say you're good at English?"

He chuckled to himself, removing his gaze from the paper. "I'm average," He answered.

I nodded saying, "Ah." I didn't exactly know what to say or even how I would say something. Everything was way too awkward.

"Got any ideas?" Before I could reply, the bell rang and Ashton grabbed his backpack and books. He grabbed the paper and I looked at him.

"Your house or mine?" He shrugged and brought out his phone, scrolling down.

"Something's going on at mine so yours." I nodded, biting my lip. I wasn't excited since I didn't know how early my parents were coming back to the house from work.

"I'll meet you at the entrance."

I nodded again, grabbing my stuff and phone and walked out of the classroom.

Tonight would be interesting, that's for sure.

~•~

I sat at one of the sitting areas, letting my music beam in my ears from my ear phones. I looked up to see Ashton with his phone up to his ear and a guy next to him rambling about something.

I took one earphone out as he came closer and his friend walked away after realizing Ashton wasn't paying attention. Ashton was still talking to someone and he gave me a signal with his index finger that it'd only take one more minute.

He turned around and started whispering to the other line while I put my earphone back in. When Bethany and Megan walked pasted me Bethany smirked and Megan smiled, mischievously. They knew why I decided to be partners with Ashton, and the reasons were nothing, but selfish.

I would have to really try to get a jump boost, all I needed was for Ashton to like me. But in a friendly and platonic way. I was just hoping this project would find its way into bringing us close, but not too close.

I didn't know what type of girl he was into or what type of guy he is, I just knew I would have to find out by myself. From observant notices, Ashton doesn't seem like the type to immediately develop feelings for someone. He seems more of the take-it-slow kind of guy.

If he truly was that kind of guy and my speculation was right, rushing things would not be my helper so I knew I couldn't rush this bet in two weeks. I was kind of hoping I would get this thing over with in a span on those two weeks. I'm afraid it might be two months.

The full 61 whether I wanted to rush things or not.

I looked up and saw him still talking on the phone. I was a little impatient and patient with things, but seeing as I wanted to rush this bet. Yeah I was more along the lines of impatient.

"Cass, I know," If anything, I could tell he seemed stressed. He started running a hand through his hair which was a sign of either frustration or stress. Or both.

"Okay. I'll call you tonight and let you know. Okay bye." He ended the phone call and sighed heavily, still not reaching my eyes.

I cleared my throat and he looked at me as I put my earphones and phone away. I got up with my backpack over my shoulders and forced a smile.

"My house." I said, but it also came out as a question. I needed to know if he had other plans or if we were still going to continue our plans.

He nodded and a sigh of relief washed over my face, "At least this time I won't have to tell you my address." He chuckled, but I could tell he was forcing it. Just like how I forced that smile earlier.

We seemed similar in some ways, but completely different in others. It's crazy to think that other people could have the same mindset, personality, and view of life just like yourself. We're all different in our own way, but everyone is similar and wants the same goal in life.

Love, happiness, everything someone would want in life before they die. However, I don't think Ashton wants any of those. Who knows, maybe he doesn't have everything he ever wanted, and just wishes he did have all of that.

Or, he has everything and wishes he didn't.

But I wasn't able to think of anything anymore because he interrupted my thoughts, and said three words that meant that the bet starts here.

And this is when I begin my tiring two months which depends on my future going forth with my parents and in my high school.

"Lead the way."