Was I Just A Bet?

(8) Dinner Date

"What are we doing?" I asked pulling my folded legs closer , seems like my cloths ( which included shorts and full sleeves gray top) weren't able the withstand the cold situations.

"Siting on the roof top at 3 a.m , talking about life." He said. He was wearing black jacket and Nike lowers.

"Which sucks, of course" I said as I tilted my head , thinking. What am I doing? Like siting on my house's roof with my bet-boyfriend instead of sleeping in my cozy bed? Life definitely sucks ( in numerous ways , yet to discover)

"By the way, what were you thinking when you decided to go in the party ? You knew Rachel hates you , what did you expect?" He said looking at me. His eyes were little narrowed like he will sleep in no time yet he looked flawless. No sleep deprivation visible on his face, no messed up hair , still smelling like Cinnamon. Just perfect. I had reasons of having him as my crush ( or attraction) What would it be like it have him like a real ( not bet) boyfriend?

I am sleep deprived enough that my brain cells have stopped functioning. Nathan as boyfriend? A big NO.

I looked in front. Town covered in snow. It was silent and cold with silver moon light falling all over. "I thought, maybe we had hope" I couldn't say more. It gives disappointment , not easy to bare. "But she is hopeless. No , maybe hopeless is 'us' , she and I" lack of words causes this.

"Hopeless. Right." He nodded but I felt like he was thinking about something else.

"So why are we not asleep? Me, because you crashed. What about you?" I asked since curiosity kills a cat.

"My father died" he said casually as if it won't have any impact on him at all. No expressions. None. Completely blank "It was eventually going to happen, they say " he said looking at the sky. He looked sad. Maybe. Who knows what all emotions are there behind that expressionless face?

"I am sorry" I said , feeling really terrible , not knowing what else to say. I felt like putting my hand on his shoulder.

"Am an awesome actor , ain't I?" He said smirking.

"What?"

"I was joking" He said.

"You are pathetic" I said , not believing him at all. Dafuq this guy is? "Please don't joke again , ever"

"I am hungry" I said as I decided to wake up.

"Wasn't that cake, noodles and brown pop enough?" He said smirking. Pissed , I looked sideways. "I didn't mean that , okay? I was joking. Wait, I think I have something" I turned around hearing plastic being crushed type voice "Nachos" He held a open Nachos packet in his hand. If not proper dinner, Nachos can work too.

"You have a very very bad sense of humor Nathan" I said grabbing the Nachos packet from his hand. Taking not much time, I started on those crunchy , shapeless, spicy chips.

"No I don't" He said.

"Yes, You do." I said trying to convince impossible to him.

"No I don't. I will show you that" I shrugged what he said and continued on those Nachos packet, already half empty.

"If I remember, you were drinking beet juice a couple of minutes ago and now you are munching on Nachos ,almost finishing them. How does that help in figure maintaining ?" He asked , shrugging.

"I don't drink that for maintaining figure, okay?" I said. How dare he thought that.

He looked at me for a second, maybe frowned and then looked away. Since I had nothing to say I remained quite like my usual sense. I don't know why I was talking much more than I did. Maybe it was because I had someone to listen. And maybe its not that bad being here , at 3 a.m ( lemme specify), with Nathan, talking stuff. Yeah! stuff.

"So, is that party over? What do you think?" He asked.

"Yup. And I think Rachel is back too. Why would I even bring you up here? being in my room we have 100 % chances that she will catch us" I said as a matter of fact.

"What would we be doing in your room that makes you say that she will 'catch' us?" he said emphasizing on 'catch'and giving me that double-meaning look. "Well, its never late. We can still go into your room and create some situation that will make her 'catch' us" he said again emphasizing on 'catch'. I rolled my eyes.

Boys are all the same. "I am not getting you" Yes. Here I go. He won't doubt. Everybody know I am innocent. Innocent nerd.

"Duh. You are boring" He said, sighing. I made a poker face. "Well, do you think Rachel would bring somebody home?" he asked casually.

"I don't think she is in a relationship. Or even if she is, what do I have to do with that?" I said and looked at him. Last relationship of hers, I remember, was with this guy. "Are you guys, I mean Rachel and you, still going out?" I asked. I had to ask this question. I was just waiting for the right moment to drop.

"You think? No, obviously no. Rachel and I, were never a thing" he said and stood up on a little slant roof.

"I heard rumors." I said trying to stand up too.

"You never know rumors." He said giving me hand. "Hold, or else you will get your fat baby nose flattened by the roof floor" I held on his hands since getting up , fighting against slippery snow, would be hard. After getting up I rolled my eyes at his comment on my nose.

We used the stairs to get back. I , to my room. He, to his garden backyard. And through this , we didn't speak. I didn't because I couldn't believe if what he said was true. If Rachel and Nathan were never a thing. Then what was it about , being together always , driving her to school and back to home. He left me confused.

But at least I know by now that my bet-boyfriend isn't double-dating. Double-bet-dating.

After getting inside the room without turning on the lights, I made my way inside the blanket and brought it closer. Finally, warmness. The cozy feeling it gives. That's why I love winters. You get to sleep cozy and warm. I closed my eyes and no longer drifted into sleep. Long day.

~~~

I woke up with sun rays hitting my eyes forcing me to turn sideways. Just when I mentally decided on taking 30 minutes extra sleep 'cause I am skipping school today my phone started ringing with very loud voice. Who is missing me this early in the morning?

I sat up on my bed and the clock in front with about 25 degree elevation from eye told me it was not-so-early in the morning. 10 am.

I picked up the phone to find a unknown number display on the screen.

"Hello" I said, sounding little weird. Morning voice, not always good.

"Hey Gabriella" who is this person, I don't know, who is calling me with my real good name. "I am Mia. Mia Watson. I wanted to meet you. Its urgent."

"Oh. Hey Mia. Okay then, we will meet at 11." I said pulling the blanket off my legs.

"No. I am like standing outside your main door"

"What?" Now what is that urgent?

"I tried calling you many times. From 8 am , I am trying. I didn't have a option." She said. Something's really urgent, maybe? But I want to sleep more.

"Okay. Wait, I am coming. Just 5 minutes" I disconnected the call and jumped off the bed , walking up to the bathroom. Quickly, I washed my face, brushed and gargled. I looked in the mirror. Part of my left side hair were on the right and some were like sticking up here and there, tangled and knotted. My hair were like, serious mess. I groaned as moved my hands thru my hair, trying to make them look decent. A little decent. How about getting a boy cut? No mess.

Skipping on that thought I rushed out of my room, then downstairs. I opened the door to find Mia standing in front of me , continuously tapping her feet. She looked a little uncomfortable. What has gotten into her?

"Get in. Let's talk." I said , inviting her in. "Have a seat" She came and sat on sofa. "Do you need water or something? I was going to make myself coffee."

"No. Nothing. Just listen to me." I came and sat in front of her. She is making me excited in a different way. "This" She said as she took out her phone and showed me the same video Nathan did the other night. Brown pop rolling down my face. I looked away, just can't see this. "This is because of me" I looked at her with confused look. How can she be responsible?

"How's that possible?" I asked shrugging shoulders.

"No I don't mean the video, what happened to you is my mistake" She said trying to make me understand. Try remained a mere try. "You remember? yesterday we meeting before the class? I told you Nathan was kissing some girl in the locker area?"

"Yeah. But I never found him" I nodded as I said that. Now how does that connect to this video?

"That's because he was never kissing a girl. Rachel asked me to do that" Like repeat please? Why would Rachel ask her to do this? And why would she ever do it? "I knew Nathan wasn't doing any such thing but I had to do that for Rachel" she said leaving me complete speechless.

"And why would you do that?" The increase in my voice' volume could be noticed easily.

"I wanted to be one of Rachel's friends. It was the way to be in a safe zone. Away form bullies, and I am a new student. Prone to that. And also I could get all those merits of being with the queen-bee" She looked down. Miss queen bee has everybody swaying before her. "So I had to do that for her"

"Even after all this I don't get how this thing relates to what happened in party" I said while looking at her. She had all colors off her face.

"It was Diana's idea. She said if you go looking for Nathan , that means you guys are definitely something or other and this mere thought made Rachel burn of fire" She said shifting uncomfortably, maybe because I hadn't responded badly until now. Maybe she was just waiting for my outburst or my reaction. "And you did go looking for him. Then Rachel decided to call you to her party. Rest you know" She stopped "I am sorry Gabriella. I never knew they were going to do this to you"

"You don't know Rachel yet." Rachel set up a trap that I fell into. But something made me feel not that bad. Guess what?

Nathan hadn't been kissing a girl.

I am messed up. Ain't I?

"I am sorry. When I saw that video , I immediately decided on leaving that queen bee group. I wanted popularity but that doesn't mean I would turn into a b***h" She said. Her face had dropped. She looked like she regrets. But who knows? "So I am gonna give you this. Since I am , for now, a part of their group I had this. Damian cropped it to where you were being ragged. You can use this one the way Rachel did or you can delete it away" She said as she message me the video.

I checked out to find a video. I played it but it wasn't me getting embarrassed but Rachel. It was the video when I slapped her. Darn it! I looked at Mia. So she is really going to leave that group.

"If they ever know you did this?" I asked widening my eyes a bit.

"What else would they do besides ragging or bullying? I would deal with it" She said. She doesn't know what it means when Rachel and her friend bully.

"That's so not a good idea. I am deleting this." I touched the dustbin icon up on the title bar. But before I could re-confirm about deleting the video, I heard Jessica's voice that made me stop.

"That's an awesome idea." Jessica and Ethan walked to the area where I and Mia were sitting. I might have left the main door open. "How can you say no to this after that s**t Rachel circulated? This would a kick on her bitchy ass." She continued.

"But what happens after party? They would torture Mia. I don't think that's fair" I said moving my hand thru my hair to ensure that they look decent enough. I won't like them watching my hair sticking up in random directions.

"They won't until they know Mia has given us that video. And why would they question their own group member? I don't think Rachel or her sparkle dust collectors have enough brains." Jessica said as Jessica and Ethan settled on the sofa.

"But I am leaving that group now" Mia said what I was going to say. We all look at Jessica.

"No your not if you want to save yourself from them. I think I have a plan" I see what's coming. Jessica is already planning against Rachel. And it doesn't sound bad idea at all. She has been a pain in buttocks since you-know I was born. "5 days after, The Head Girl Competition is starting. I am sure that your gonna pass the examination that was held about a weak ago and so is Rachel. We know that Rachel always has something set up to win 'cause loosing is too dangerous to her reputation. And with Mia being one of the members of queen-bee's fan club, we would get to know every set up even before it's in motion." She said shrugging. That may actually help.

"But what about the voting round, which's the last and most important. If she wins that, she wins the contest." Considering her large follower group, she surely would reach the last round.

"She would win that round only if she is good in terms of reputation. And Mia would help in taking caring of that too." She winked at us. This was a great idea. But I still think, Jessica has something more in her mind. "And about shifting, your shifting nowhere Gabriella. Instead, I am coming to your house. Let's see how far Rachel can go to get what she wants." Jessica smirked. She coming to my house gives me a chance to apologize to her. "Message me the video. Rachel's face would be a worth watch" She said as I messaged her the video.

"Mia, if you ever want to leave that group, you are free to do that. We shouldn't drag you in trouble" Ethan said as always, being the good guy.

"No I think, this actually is a good idea. Messing up with the queen-bee without her knowing about it. Sounds good" she grinned as we looked at her.

"Step 1. Completed. The video's on circulation" Jessica said as she grinned at us. This excites me. Jessica being on revenge road. I think I know why she is here. I am so with you Jess.

I was brought out of my thoughts when suddenly my phone started ringing. I picked up to find Nathan calling me as my screen flashed with the name 'PIA'. Pain In Ass.

"Hey" I said.

"We are going on a date tonight. Dinner at Hotel Alluvia. Be ready. Be there at 7" Not giving me a chance to speak, he hung up.

What?