The Deal
1072 Words
I took a step back, putting some space between me and Garett. Doesn’t this guy have anything better to do? It’s like he’s got all the time in the world just to mess with other people’s lives.
“What made you think I like Dustin?”
Was I really that obvious?
“Well… I literally saw you staring at him the whole time.”
“Maybe that’s just your imagination.”
I walked past him, leaving him there. As if I’d actually admit to him that I have a crush on Dustin. This guy doesn’t just invade people’s personal space—he’s also kind of a lowkey gossip.
“So, don’t tell me you’re into the same s*x?” he grinned.
He even accused me of being a lesbian? There’s seriously something messed up about the way this guy thinks. As if that would offend me.
I ignored him and kept walking, but he blocked my path again.
I looked up at him. “Why don’t you just study and try to pass your exam instead of bothering other people?”
I turned my back on him. But before I could even take a step, he blocked my way again.
“I told you—”
“I have a proposal for you,” he cut me off before I could finish speaking.
I opened my mouth to respond, but he continued.
“You’ll help me pass the exam, and in return—”
“I already told you, I don’t need your money. I have my own.”
“I’m not offering money this time…”
I instinctively stepped back, clutching the book to my chest as he leaned in, bringing our faces to the same level.
“It’s simple—you help me with our literature class, and I’ll help you with Dustin.”
“W-What… I never said I had a crush on him…”
He burst out laughing. “Even if you dont say it, I can see it the way to stared at him and girl he's with."
I looked away and started walking again. “You’re just imagining things.”
But he kept following me. “For the record, that girl isn’t his girlfriend.”
I knew it. If Dustin had a new girlfriend, Elona would’ve found out by now. Still… who is that girl to him?
“But that girl—she’s persistent, you know? When she likes someone, she’ll do whatever it takes to get him…”
I came to a halt. “Persistent… goes all in?”
“Yeah. A few of my teammates already hooked up with her. They said she’s pretty wild in bed…”
“Why would you talk about things like that?” I said, frowning at him. “Shouldn’t intimate matters stay between the two people involved?”
“Boy talk,” Garett said with a shrug. “So, back to our topic. Well? Are you in or not? Better decide soon… someone else might beat you to it.”
Dustin isn’t just some hookup guy. I know there’s more to him than that!
But then again, I don’t really know him… and boys will be boys…
I bit my lower lip, suddenly lost in thought. Compared to the girl Dustin was with earlier—tall, pretty, and radiating confidence—I didn’t stand a chance. I couldn’t even talk to him without stuttering. I wasn’t even pretty. Just… average.
There were probably tons of girls crushing on him. My chances of getting noticed were smaller than a speck of dust—unless I actually made a move.
I looked at Garett. He was grinning ear to ear, patiently waiting for my answer. He and Dustin were teammates. Even though I noticed they weren’t particularly close—despite being classmates in one subject—they still had a connection.
Being on the same basketball team, he could give me more reliable updates about Dustin than Elona ever could. Her sources were completely sketchy!
Accepting Garett’s offer shouldn’t be too harmful, right? He knows my brother. If he ever tried anything shady, he knows he’d have to answer to him.
I nodded slowly and crossed my arms over my chest. “Okay.”
“Okay?” he repeated.
“I’ll help you pass the retake exam in exchange for… helping me with Dustin.” I looked away, embarrassed.
“Shoot!” He extended his hand to me. “Deal?”
I stared at his hand and took a deep breath before shaking it. “Deal.”
Garett and I agreed that our study sessions would be after class. We had different schedules since I was a sophomore and he was a junior. All my classes were in the morning, while his were in the afternoon—and he still had basketball practice after that.
I packed my iPad, binder, tumbler, and air freshener into my bag. I tied my hair up and grabbed my condo keys from the vanity dresser.
As I stepped out of my room, I saw Elona had just gotten home. She looked surprised to see me heading out.
“Where are you going?” she asked, eyeing me from head to toe.
“I have a review session with some classmates…”
I didn’t tell her the truth. She’d just tease me again and start imagining all sorts of things.
She stopped in front of her room. “Review session? Didn’t the exam just end?”
“Yeah. I’m just helping out those who have to retake the exam next week. Anyway, I gotta go.”
“Hmm… are you sure you’re not going on a date or something?”
“As if someone would actually like me like that.”
“Duh! Of course, there are! You’re just not that sociable, that’s why they’re too shy to approach you.”
She really is my best friend. She always boosts my confidence with lies.
I waved her off and started walking down the hallway. “I gotta go.”
“Okay! Just send me the location of that ‘classmate’ so we know who to hunt down if you get murdered!” she called out after me.
I’m used to her morbid and sometimes borderline-offensive jokes. She’s been that way since high school.
I shook my head and went out of my unit. A cold breeze greeted me as I exited the building. . .
- Writer
