The Boyfriend Bet Read online

  “See you at school today, maybe?” Riley smiled at me. Wow, he had an amazing smile, and he looked cuter than ever. And his dark eyes, did I mention how gorgeous they were? Did I mention how fit he is? Did he just say he would see me at school? Oh my god! What does that mean? Is that like a general saying or does he actually want to see me at school?

  “Charley?” Riley interrupted my thoughts. I realised I was actually just staring at him, my brain seemed to have lost the ability to make my mouth work and I just sort of nodded while forcing a deranged smile onto my face. Ella was gawping at us, ha!

  Then I heard sniggering. I glared at Riley’s brother who I now realised had been standing on his doorstep all along. What the hell was his problem? What is it with annoying siblings...I had Ella, and Riley obviously had him, so irritating. Just the way he was staring at me, like I was a stupid little girl or something, I couldn’t tell how old he was - he was slightly taller than Riley but he looked younger, he also had dark hair but his was a bit shorter and a total mess, what an idiot!

  “Bye.” I called out in an abnormally high pitched voice, in my desperation to make myself say something and the fact that Riley had started walking off towards school. I didn’t want him to think I was a moron and couldn’t speak, but I wished I had remained silent now.

  Riley turned around and let us in for another dazzling smile. Phew, he didn’t seem to have noticed my squeaky, desperado voice. Ella was waving in the most pathetic, girly way possible, and fluttering her eyelashes. I nudged her really hard as soon as Riley had turned around again.

  “Ow!” Ella shrieked and shoved me right back.

  “Byeee!” Riley’s annoying brother was mimicking my stupid, high-pitched, love-struck voice whilst doing his best impression of Ella’s theatrical waving and eyelash fluttering display.

  I could feel my cheeks burning as I had really sounded that pathetic. He was still laughing at us. I could feel Ella bristling with rage next to me - she’s not used to boys not immediately falling at her feet and obeying her every command. He really did look like her though, ha! In the desperate need for a ‘come-back’ and still feeling speechless, I put my middle finger up in the air at him, which I might add is totally uncharacteristic of me. I hadn’t done that to anyone since I was...like twelve or something.

  “Charley!” I heard Mum call out from behind me which made me jump. “You two, get in here and change now, I’m fed up with you both just ignoring me!”

  I was already at the gate. I looked up the road, Riley was way ahead, unaware of what was going on (thank god); Riley’s brother was dawdling - now half way up the road, he was practically walking backwards so he could witness the whole thing. He obviously thought it was highly amusing. I looked back at Mum. Ella was between me and Mum. I could so run away right now.

  “Don’t even think about doing a runner!” Mum shouted as both Ella and I seemed to have the same idea but unfortunately for Ella, Converse was totally going to win over six inch heels in a getaway sprint. I saw Mum sort of grab Ella as I legged it. I could hear Ella protesting and saying, “It’s not fair!” and then the door shut. Mum knew she didn’t have a hope in hell of catching me and had given up.

  Do you know, I think the tables may have turned and it’s my turn for the luck now. I’d woken up highly optimistic this morning, hence my greater effort in my appearance - more like the old me, before Sam and Ella. I was tired of being the victim. I was back and this time I was going to be me, whether people liked it or not and I was going to be stronger than ever. And nobody was going to stop me, not Mum, not Ella and certainly not Riley’s annoying brother!

  Speaking of Riley’s brother, he was still watching, his eyebrows raised, a smirk plastered across his face and I swear he was shaking his head as I stopped running and tried to look normal and not like a crazy person at all. I narrowed my eyes at him in my new found attitude. I was about to open my mouth and ask him what the hell his problem was, when a car just coasted through the one and only muddy puddle on the entire road, splashing me. Well my change in luck lasted long, not! Seriously, it wasn’t even raining. It hadn’t rained since yesterday evening.

  “Are you blind?” I yelled at the car. “Bloody hell, old people shouldn’t be allowed on the road!” I was really going for it now and was lost in a stream of verbal abuse. I wasn’t entirely sure if it was an old person but who else would drive such a small car, so badly? Plus, it was a quite a few years old and was still in immaculate condition. Reeks of old person if you ask me...oh shit, the driver had pulled over!

  And then I remembered all too well who has a bright red, old-style, Nissan Micra which just happens to be in immaculate condition. Mrs Davenport, our very posh, very strict and also very deranged Headmistress emerged from the driver’s side of the biddy car. I recognised her as soon as I saw the hair: not one piece out of place as it defied the laws of gravity, curled on top of her head. It was coloured this gross copper colour, all apart from a pure white streak at the front. I mean, who would do that? She was wearing her trademark cord blazer and matching thigh length skirt with some disgusting burgundy heels, not higher than an inch and they were now clip clopping up the road towards me with purpose. Shit!

  I was actually speechless, my gobby rant could not be taken back and Riley’s brother was watching silently. I’m sure he could tell by the look on my face that the woman I had just verbally abused was not just a random driver.

  “Charley Wallis, do you have something to say to me?” Mrs Davenport asked me quietly as she finally stopped right in front of me.

  “No.” I muttered, as I couldn’t help thinking that this was the calm before the storm. Mrs Davenport didn’t always shout but she was scary in the way that she was so crazy you never quite knew what she would say, or do, or worse still, what weird and embarrassing punishments she would dream up for you.

  “So, you don’t think that I’m a crazy, deranged, old bag that shouldn’t have a driving licence?” Mrs Davenport quoted me. Did I really say that? Actually I can remember something along those lines when I had been in full swing, rant mode.

  “Um...no.” I answered, wondering where this was going and I was fully aware that Riley’s brother was nearly peeing himself, silently laughing.

  “Good, then I’d better escort you to school, so you can’t get into any more trouble.” Mrs Davenport smiled at me. I probably looked completely mortified as muddy water dripped off the bottom of my shoulder length and previously straightened hair.

  “School?” I whispered. I had water and mud splashed all over me, and she wanted me to go to school looking like that?

  “Unless you’d rather me take you home?” Mrs Davenport smiled even more sweetly. She is so evil. Mum would not be too chuffed if I was taken home by the Headmistress.

  “No, school, is fine.” I muttered. Riley’s brother was stifling a hysterical laugh which could now be heard.

  “Do you find this funny?” Mrs Davenport turned away from me. “I’m not familiar with you young man, but I can see you have a Hadley school uniform on. What’s your name?”

  “Jay,” Riley’s brother (I mean Jay) answered. “Jay Jackson.”

  “Well Mr Jackson, what exactly do you find funny?” Mrs Davenport asked, her eyebrows raised and waiting expectantly for the answer.

  “Erm, the bit when she shouted that her half blind, great nan could probably drive better,” Jay smirked. I just stared at him with my mouth wide open. I’m not sure Jay was entirely sure who he’d just insulted but I was sure this wasn’t going to end well for him.

  “Don’t be cheeky! I can see I’m going to have trouble with you, young man.” Mrs Davenport snapped. “Now get in the car, NOW!”

  I didn’t dare argue - it’s best to just do what you’re told where Mrs Davenport is concerned. I got in the back of the car quickly. I dreaded people seeing me arrive at school with Mrs Davenport. Please don’t let there be too many witnesses.

  “And you,” Mrs Davenport turned to Jay.
/>   “What? I haven’t done anything!” Jay protested.

  “You were just rude to your new Headmistress and we can’t have that can we?” Mrs Davenport smiled one of her weird, unnerving smiles. Jay looked like he wanted to kick himself. Now it was my turn to smirk at his sorry face as he unwillingly got in the back of the car.

  “Mr Jackson, you will soon learn that one thing I cannot stand at this school is rudeness. Call me old fashioned but I will not tolerate it.” Mrs Davenport said in a sing song sort of voice and then turned the radio up and started singing in the most horrendously chirpy way to a song that must have been recorded like fifty years ago or something. I vaguely remembered my Nanna dancing to it (embarrassingly) at a family party.

  Jay was staring wide eyed and looked totally horrified at the situation he had found himself in. “What a complete nut,” Jay muttered, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t be in this...erm...weird situation if it wasn’t for your mouthy rant.”

  “I wouldn’t have been in such a bad mood if it wasn’t for you, hanging around, taking the piss and generally being a complete moron!” I snapped and narrowed my eyes at him. We were both staring at each other now, not wanting to be the one to break eye contact, equally showing as much contempt as the other. Seriously, I wanted to slap him or something. So, my luck was in with landing Riley as our new neighbour but obviously I couldn’t have it all, so I had to settle with having the totally annoying Jay living there as well. Great.

  And just when I thought (well, more like hoped) there wouldn’t be many witnesses to see me arrive in Mrs Davenports car, I was wrong. Worse still, as if arriving in the Head Teacher’s car wasn’t bad enough, being seen with Jay was just as bad. I do not want to be associated by any means with Jay Jackson. Well, if in the future he would become my brother in-law, this association would be absolutely fine, but for now he can totally do one.

  No such luck. Mrs Davenport made us go into her office and gave us one of her legendary lectures, and then she said she may be old but she wasn’t deaf and had heard every word I yelled and also she had heard Jay call her a nut in the car (haha). Then she said as punishment...wait for it...I had to do litter picking duties at lunch time for a whole week and worse still, I had company...Jay Jackson.

  Another rainy day

  It was typically wet nearly every lunch time that week and by Friday I was not surprised to find myself outside, litter picking in torrential rain. Honestly, it was horrific weather and it was not particularly warm either. “You can borrow my delightful yellow and pink striped, waterproof mac,” Mrs Davenport had told me brightly when she’d heard me grumbling about the bad weather. I mean, she is such a sly witch. Of course I wouldn’t be seen dead in her bloody horrendous rain mac. I’d rather get my hair wet, seriously!

  I’d spent rather too much time with Jay, when all I really wanted to do was spend a little more time with the other Jackson brother. Unfortunately Jay just happens to be in Year Eleven which is just bloody typical. I think it’s safe to say we actually hate each other; he is so full of himself and I’m sure he thinks he’s so much better than me. Oh well, after today I wouldn’t need to spend anymore unnecessary time with him.

  “You look like a drowned rat,” Bex informed me when I‘d finally finished the last day of litter picking.

  “Thanks,” I muttered. I probably looked a damn sight worse than a rat. My hair was drenched, water was dripping off the end of my nose and I’m sure my mascara had smudged half way down my cheeks.

  “You’re right Charley, he is so fit!” Sarah was gawping at Riley Jackson, who I’d found out was in year thirteen, his eighteenth birthday is in June, and his favourite colour is blue. Not bad stalkerish work for less than a week!

  “I know, right! But I did see him first.” I reminded Sarah. The advantage of him being new was the most popular girls didn’t already have their eyes on him (no doubt they would soon) and Riley didn’t know anything about any of us, so in theory this increased my chances greatly. On the down side of things, when I’d pointed him out to Sarah on Monday morning she had kind of approved of him a little too much and I’m sure she wants him for herself.

  “Did you hear the news?” Bex looked at me. “Sam’s on the market again.”

  “What?” This made me tear my eyes away from Riley. I didn’t know how I felt about this. I wondered if he actually had come to his senses and dumped Ella or had she discarded him just as she did to everyone else as soon as she’d got bored? Every time I saw Sam I still had that little flutter in my stomach. I still missed him and as much as I tried to hate him, I’m pretty sure part of me still loves him.

  “Just a heads up,” Sarah said looking at me sternly. “You don’t want to go there again, do you!” This wasn’t a question because Sarah was telling me in no uncertain terms could I be an item with Sam Smith ever again.

  “No,” I barely whispered.

  “Trust me you don’t.” Sarah added. “He’s complete scum. I know you sort of love him in a weird way but there is no way this could end well if you go after Sam again.”

  “I won’t!” I protested, but I wasn’t even convincing myself.

  “There are too many reasons not to.” Sarah reminded me. “He cheated on you...”

  “With your sister,” Bex interrupted. Like I needed to be reminded of that - it’s not like I don’t think of it every day.

  “And you’re not the same when you’re with him: you’re all dependant and girly and stupid and...and...well, not you.” Bex might as well have just punched me in the mouth because she was bloody well going over the top with the insults now.

  “And it would look pathetic after he went out with your sister. You don’t want to be sloppy seconds.” Sarah added.

  “I think I actually went out with him first!” I snapped. God, Sarah was pissing me off. Who needed best friends like her? I looked to Bex but she seemed to be nodding in agreement. Great, was I really that pathetic?

  “And I heard Zoe Ryan has him in her sights,” Bex added.

  “Are you saying I can’t compete with Zoe Ryan?” I huffed. Ok I probably couldn’t compete with Zoe but my mates shouldn’t be telling me that, should they? Zoe was indeed little Miss Popularity, with her beautiful tanned skin and stunningly thick, long brunette hair and then there were her very full, pouty lips. Actually there was a rumour going around last year that she’d had lip fillers - I’m not sure, but either way it makes you sick and the thought of Sam with her was making me feel a bit queasy, just like the thought of what he had potentially been getting up to with my sister.

  “Anyway, that’s why we need to help you get with him,” Sarah nodded in Riley’s direction. He was now leaving the dining room as lunch was over. I wiped my smudged mascara on the back of my hand and I watched Riley walk out of the door towards the Sixth Form block. Just the way he walked was pretty mesmerising. There was just something about him, and maybe...just maybe he would be the one to get me over Sam.

  “You mean you don’t want him all for yourself,” I faced Sarah. I could feel Bex smirking beside me.

  “No, you need him more than me,” Sarah said as though she was sacrificing her life for me. “And I’m not like your sister!”

  “Yeah yeah, I’m sorry. You’re nothing like and never will be anything like my sister.” I laughed.

  “That’s a good look, Charley.” Zoe Ryan screwed her face up at my dripping hair and smudged make-up and then she practically shoved me out of her way. “God knows what Sam ever saw in you.” And then she just carried on walking, her friends giggling and following her like small, lost, little puppies.

  I raised my eyebrows to Sarah and Bex. “Looks like you were right about Zoe,” I nodded to Bex. “Unbelievable!”

  “That’s what we meant about her having her eye on Sam. Do you really want to have to suffer that kind of crap everyday when he so isn’t right for you anyway?” Bex smiled tactfully.

  “Anyway, I think you rock that look,” Sarah nudged me.

  “
What look is that, exactly?” I muttered but I was easily distracted as Sam was walking in our direction and it took me a second to realise that he was actually approaching me. Oh no, I think I’d forgotten how to breathe. “Quick, get me out of here.” I hissed as I elbowed Sarah discreetly and nodded in Sam’s direction.

  Sarah pulled on my arm and she and Bex just sort of bundled me into the nearest loos. “There you go, safe. No chance of bumping in to him in the girls’ toilets.”

  “Wow, at least she’s seen sense, not even giving Sam the time of day!” Bex was nodding in respect at our quick getaway.

  “I didn’t want to see him because I look like this!” I pointed at myself as if it was obvious.

  “Shit, she has it bad.” Bex shook her head. And she was right because it wasn’t just that I didn’t want him to see me looking so unattractive. It was the fact that I knew Sarah and Bex were right. I could never go there with Sam again, however much I wanted to. The worst part of it was that even though I am normally a strong person, Sam makes me weak and I know that I wouldn’t be able to say no to him.

  “That’s why we need to get her with Riley. He’s the first boy she’s even shown any interest in since the wonderful Sam.” Sarah said sarcastically.

  “You’re right,” I nodded. “I’ll see you later.” I made my way out of the girls’ loos, praying I wouldn’t bump into Sam or Riley for that matter. It would be much more fortunate if I were to run into Riley later on. I just needed to find out what his plans were for tonight, where he was going and what he liked doing and then I could ‘accidently’ bump in to him when I was looking as decent as I could manage. Now that was an idea...

  *****

  Spying on Riley is of course easier said than done; the fact that I have to share a room with Ella and I don’t want her to realise what we are up to only makes it harder. Our only hope was that as it was Friday, Ella would hopefully be going out and now that she was single again she would surely be on the prowl for her next victim. And I was going to make damn sure it wasn’t going to be Riley Jackson.