CHAPTER NINE
1183 Words
During lunch break that same day, Megan stayed behind in the classroom while everyone else filed out. She paced back and forth, unable to think straight. She had to come up with a plan before it was too late. But what plan? She was at her wit’s end.
A gentle tap on her shoulder jolted her. “What is it?” she snapped, turning sharply.
“Jesus, calm down, girl! What’s going on in that head of yours? You look a mess,” Charlie said with a raised eyebrow.
Megan sighed, her voice cracking with frustration. “I’m a total wreck, Charlie. I got myself into some crazy s**t. I’ve got this stupid bet—to break up Hardin and Nikki. I don’t even know where to start. This girl… she’s not easy to get to.”
Charlie shook his head but smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I have some ideas. Although I still don’t get why you’d agree to something like this, I want to see you win. Come on, let’s grab some drinks. We’ll figure it out together.”
The two friends sashayed to the canteen, grabbing snacks and cold drinks. They settled in the quiet compound behind the main hall, under the shade of the palm trees. As they munched, Charlie laid out a couple of schemes and even devised a backup plan in case things went south.
When it was time for their math lesson—boring as always—Megan decided to skip it altogether. She already knew how the teacher would drone on. Instead, she retreated to the library and stayed there until lunchtime.
As soon as the lunch bell rang, Megan headed straight to the cafeteria. She loaded her tray with food, then, without a second thought, walked to the high table and sat down in Nikki’s seat. She waited, though her patience wore thin, for the elite gang to show up.
“Oh my God,” Hardin exclaimed when he saw her confidently seated at their table. They didn’t even glance at her as they set down their plates—Hardin, gentlemanly as always, carried both his and Nikki’s. Nikki placed the drinks on the table.
“I thought you never wanted to join our little group,” Nikki remarked coolly.
Megan gave her a half-smile. “Of course I don’t. I’m only here because Hardin practically begged me to join. He nearly went down on his knees.”
“And you decided to take my seat?” Nikki asked, her tone frosty.
“Sorry, I didn’t know it was yours,” Megan replied sweetly.
“Okay, I don’t mean to be rude,” Nikki said, though her tone was unmistakably sharp, “but move.”
Megan c****d her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Oh, and how would you sound if you did mean to be rude?”
Nikki’s eyes narrowed. “Are you mocking me?”
“Not at all,” Megan said, feigning innocence. “The person who invited me here will have to tell me to move.”
“Hardin, what are you waiting for?” Nikki snapped, glaring at her boyfriend.
Hardin sighed, clearly uncomfortable. “Tyler, buddy, can you grab another chair for Nikki? We’re starting to attract too much attention. Let’s just eat in peace.”
“Sure thing,” Tyler said, getting up to fetch a seat.
“Unbelievable,” Nikki muttered.
“Thanks, dear Hardin,” Megan said with a flirtatious smile. “I knew you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. I never imagined sitting at the high table could feel so… luxurious. Be sure to invite me again.”
Nikki’s eyes flashed with fury. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, blondie. This is the last time you’ll ever sit here. Next time, you can sit when we’ve all graduated and left.”
Megan shrugged, unfazed. “It’s just one meal. Why so offended?”
Hardin looked weary. “You guys, stop it. We’re making a scene. Nikki, please, let it go. And Megan—just eat and leave, okay? I don’t want you to get up before you’re finished, so make it quick.”
At this, Megan did the opposite—she slowed down her eating, picking at her food as if she had all the time in the world. Tyler returned with a chair, which he wedged between his and Jake’s seats. Nikki reluctantly took her new seat, clearly displeased by how far she now sat from Hardin.
A cynical silence settled over the table.
Halfway through her drink, Megan suddenly let out a soft groan and slumped forward, her head falling onto Hardin’s chest. “Oh no… I think I have food poisoning,” she mumbled dramatically, closing her eyes as if she were about to faint.
Hardin caught her instinctively. “What the hell do I do?” he whispered to Tyler.
“Man, you gotta tip her over,” Tyler said with a laugh.
“You’re kidding me,” Hardin muttered.
“I know, right?” Nikki added with a roll of her eyes.
“You gotta carry her,” Jake advised seriously.
Seeing no other option, Hardin carefully picked Megan up and carried her out of the cafeteria. He brought her to the sick bay, gently laying her on the bed. The nurse was nowhere to be found—no surprise, given it was lunch time.
Hardin looked around helplessly. “What can you even do for food poisoning? Maybe the drink was expired? Oh God, I don’t even know what to give her,” he rambled, opening every drawer in search of medicine.
He paused, staring at her with exasperation. “Come on, Megan… why would you even—”
“To win,” she said, opening her eyes and grinning slyly.
“I knew it,” he groaned. “You’d do anything to win. Wait, you’re awake? You faked this whole thing?”
“Because you like me, even though you can’t date me,” she teased. “Thanks for the lift from the cafeteria.”
“Good God, do you realize how mad Nikki is right now? She won’t talk to me for a week.”
“Do I care? You’re going to break up anyway. So why must you care so much?”
Hardin scowled. “Nikki and I are never breaking up. Not for any reason.”
“Unless she casts a spell on you,” Megan teased with a wink. “Anyway, I have no more lessons. Drive me home?”
He shook his head. “You’re taking this way too personally. I still have classes, Megan.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll walk,” she said lightly and slipped out of the room.
When Megan got home, she immediately took a long shower, telling herself it was to wash away any hidden starches. After drying off, she pulled on a short, tight dress with bold stripes. It was off-shoulder, hugging her figure perfectly. She laughed at herself in the mirror. Despite how fabulous she looked, she refused to believe it.
- Writer
