Game Over

6

I sighed in boredom, waving my hand in frustration as I repeated the question, hoping he'd finally say what he came here for. "Lucas, what do you *really* want?"

"You." He said it—just three letters, with no hesitation. Again, like he'd been ready for this question all along. His wide smile stayed fixed on his lips while I struggled to process the word.

No one tells you every day that they actually *want* you. But the person saying this to me is also the one who called me crazy. Thinking about it, we're just not on the same wavelength, which is why we throw annoying nicknames at each other.

I’ve never hated Lucas. I just despise him, like every other guy in the world.

Ignoring my thoughts and feelings, I played along with my words. There’s no fun without a little game. "Really? So you're not gonna use those awful names next time you call me?"

Plan One: Pretend like I’m moved by his words, let him think he’s won, and then I’ll trap him in his own mess. That jerk won’t see it coming.

He blinked slowly. Honestly, I can't even pretend I'm moved. I raised my eyebrows skeptically after a long stare. "Of course! You know, those nicknames were just jokes. I didn’t mean anything by them, I swear."

The honest don’t swear, and the innocent don’t justify themselves. And he’s neither honest nor innocent.

I tried to pull off a polite smile as best I could, asking with disbelief, "Really?"

He nodded again, relief spreading across his face as he believed I actually trusted him. Oh, how I wanted to scream in his face and tell him he’s a fool.

"So, are we good now?" he asked, raising his eyebrows as he waited for my answer. I nodded, my brows furrowed, wondering why he’d ask such a dumb question. As if we were ever friends. "Sure."

My phone buzzed in my jeans pocket, and I pulled it out to see messages from Georgia, always looking for another opportunity. She said we needed to show up early tomorrow.

I replied with a quick, "Sure thing," and sent them this message:

_Girls, there's an emergency!

Georgia:

What's up?

I pretended to be curious too and texted them back:

_I’m with Lucas. Can you meet me at Johnny’s Café?

They agreed right away, and I smiled in relief. I glanced up at Lucas, who was staring off into the street, waiting for me to finish. I put my phone back in my pocket.

We continued walking toward Johnny’s Café, the silence hanging between us. Lucas broke it by saying, "I love walking, that’s why I didn’t—"

I cut him off, already bored. "Lucas, your aunt’s punishing you. Everyone knows."

"She’s my *aunt*," he corrected me, and I rolled my eyes, completely indifferent. His aunt had gone to visit family, and he hadn’t gone with her, using her absence to throw a party. What I was really curious about was why he didn’t go to see his family.

"Lucas…" He hummed in response, so I pressed on, trying to hide my curiosity. "Why didn’t you go see your family and instead chose to stay?"

He snapped his head toward me so fast it made me raise my eyebrows in suspicion and take a step back. He exhaled angrily, rolling his eyes in frustration. What’s with the mood swings, dude?

"None of your business," he spat back, quoting my own words with a slimy smile as he pushed the glass door to the café open and stood by it, waiting for me to go in first. Okay, I won’t deny it—he *is* polite.

I walked into the café, my eyebrows still knitted in suspicion. I had this weird feeling that what I was doing was wrong.

I mean, I was going to walk in with him and his friends, looking like I’d given in so easily. But it’s no big deal. We were partners on a few research projects before. Sure, we ended up with the worst grades in class, but still, there’s some history there.

Our relationship is just complicated. Why am I even justifying why I agreed to walk with him? Ugh.

Time for a new plan.

Plan One: Make him fall in love with me, then break his heart.

Yeah, that's what I'm going with. Along with exposing him, of course.

I’m Solene Parker. You think you can make a bet on me? That’s hilarious.