Chapter Five: The Bet
446 Words
The sun was high over Marcecue High’s football field, where Max and his new crew lounged under the shade of a tall mango tree. The air buzzed with laughter, inside jokes, and the thud of a football hitting dusty palms.
Max had become one of them — effortlessly.
But not everyone was convinced he was here just to blend in.
Jay tossed the ball lazily in the air and caught it again.
“Bro, you sef dey lucky o,” he said, grinning. “Hazel’s been eyeing you since last week.”
Max leaned back on his elbow, unfazed. “She looks at everybody like that.”
Victor raised an eyebrow. “Okay. But what about Isabella? She barely talks to anyone.”
Max smirked. “Then I guess I won’t waste my time.”
The boys chuckled — except for Dele. He was studying Max carefully, like someone trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces.
“You always this cool, or just pretending?” Dele asked, half-joking.
Max didn’t answer. Instead, he stood, stretched, and grabbed the ball. “What’s the point of pretending?”
That’s when Kingsley laughed and said the words that would change everything.
“Bet you can’t make both of them like you. Hazel and Isabella.”
Jay’s eyes lit up. “No flirting. No lies. Just be you.”
Max rolled his eyes. “I’m not here for drama.”
“Fifty bucks,” Kingsley said, grinning. “You in or not?”
Max hesitated.
He didn’t care about the money — but something about the challenge got under his skin.
“Fine,” he said. “But if I win, I don’t just get the money… You all stop calling me the ‘Lakeside transfer.’ Deal?”
“Deal,” they all echoed.
—
Across campus, Hazel leaned against the balcony railing with a lollipop in her mouth.
“He’s got confidence,” she said, watching Max from afar. “But I’m not that easy.”
Isabella sat on the bench beside her, flipping a page of her novel. “He asked me about chemistry class. Actually waited for my answer.”
Hazel smirked. “Careful. That’s how it starts.”
Isabella didn’t reply. But the corner of her mouth curled upward, just slightly.
—
That night, Max sat on the edge of his bed, earphones in, football at his feet.
This was supposed to be simple — a fresh start. No pressure. No complications.
But now, two names kept echoing in his head.
Hazel.
Isabella.
And a stupid bet he hadn’t meant to take.
He closed his eyes and leaned back.
This wasn’t just a game anymore.
- Writer
