Page 2 of Counter Bet

Rick looks unconvinced but doesn’t comment. We exit the vehicle, and he puts his arm over my shoulder as we make our way over to our friends. As always, Rick is oblivious to the longing looks girls throw his way. Or he simply doesn’t care.

“Hey, man,” he says to his best friend, Jamie. They do some weird handshake and shoulder thump while Hailey pulls me into a bone-crushing hug like we didn’t see each other yesterday.

I laugh through a mouthful of her hair.

“He fucks like an animal! I can hardly walk,” she whispers, looking pointedly at Jamie.

I follow her line of sight. Jamie, the school’s star receiver, looks pleased with himself as Rick and the other guys laugh at one of his rare jokes. He reaches up and sweeps his unruly blonde hair off his forehead. I can see the appeal, but he’s a notorious player.

“I called it, didn’t I?” My smile is boastful. They flirted with each other for the better part of last year, but they both refused to act on it until summer. I now know more about Jamie’s cock than I care to admit, thanks to Hailey.

We make our way into school. The hallway is bustling with students and bleary-eyed teachers who look anything but happy to be back after their summer vacation. Rick keeps close to my side with a possessive hand on my hip as Jamie talks about the upcoming football season.

I tune out, lost in my own thoughts. My workload this year will be even more challenging with cheer practice and art classes. I need to keep my head level.

* * *

I move the pasta around on my plate as Hailey launches into the latest gossip. Interestingly, this stuff fascinates her so much when I literally can’t care less about who sucked whose dick and pulled what girl’s hair. Sometimes, I feel like an outsider looking in. Still, I appreciate the normality of my friends laughing and gossiping in the lunch hall.

A football flies over my head. Rick catches it, then passes it on to Jamie. I push my tray back, leaving my food untouched. Unease twists my stomach for reasons I can’t pinpoint. It’s been happening a lot lately.

Rick pulls me onto his lap and kisses me until I’m lightheaded. I don’t pull away. He angles my head to the side and trails kisses over my jaw. His cock hardens in his jeans, poking me in the thigh.

I scan my eyes across the bustling lunch hall. My mask is still intact. But only just.

Students laugh with their friends, and teachers look fed up at being back at work even though it’s only lunchtime. An empty coke can flies across the room.

Rick grabs my ass, nipping my skin with his teeth.

Am I the only one who feels empty inside?

I feel eyes on me. Not the everyday envious glances from other girls or appreciative looks from boys. Someone is observing me.

I shake off my self-deprecating thoughts and sweep my gaze across the room until they collide with a set of kohl-rimmed blue eyes.

Dallas Garcia.

She’s new to the school. I don’t know much about her. Only that she hangs out with the emo kids and is a regular in detention.

I swallow past the thick lump in my throat while she continues studying me as if she can see right through me. It makes my skin itch.

“Let’s get out of here,” Rick whispers in my ear, then steals another kiss.

I avert my gaze from Dallas’ penetrating eyes and kiss him back, ignoring the unease knotting my stomach.

There’s a crack in my façade.

* * *

Mr. Greenwood stands at the front, pointing to his barely legible handwriting on the whiteboard. There’s a dried coffee stain on his wrinkled shirt, which is also missing a button.

My eyes drift over my shoulder.

Dallas pops gum and taps her foot to the beat playing in her earphones while typing on her phone. I count at least three piercings, one in her nose and two in her eyebrow. Both of her arms are covered in tattoos.

“Dallas!” Mr. Greenwood sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Steph, Dallas’ best friend, nudges her shoulder. My eyes drop to Dallas’ legs beneath the desk. Creamy skin peeks out through the holes in her ripped black jeans.

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