Chapter six

I give up. I knew it has been like a day but everything just seemed so bleak. First off I found out this betting shit had some ridiculous organizers, just so everyone gambled legally. The number of girls willing to join in increased until the bet was raised to one hundred thousand dollars. It was huge, hence why I was giving up.

Can I even compete with those rich girls? I mean look at my plain ass. Once I sign those documents, my money is never coming back. If I lost, that was it. No refund, no nothing. Taking out money from my savings was going to bite me in the ass. Literally.

"You've been sighing nonstop. It's irritating " jake complained picking up an empty can behind a tree.

"Oh my bad. Me overthinking the stupid bet and stuff is making me sigh so much, so excuse me for making you feel miserable with me".

He regarded me skeptically. "You're in a sour mood, I see" he pointed out and I gasped.

"Omg, you noticed. And here I thought I was being subtle about it."

Jake rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Never knew you as a person who backs out of a dare, so this is a bit surprising".

"Am not backing out" I got out, shocking him. "I'm going to win this, I just have to weigh the consequences this is going to have on me".

The way Jake rolled his eyes was something I needed to learn. He was like a pro or something. His pupils completely disappeared, before appearing at the edges and then settling in the middle.

"Then what have you been doing for the past hour," he asked turning to face me.

"As I said just now, I was just calculating the consequence this bet is going to have on my life".

"Continue on that path and you'll be doing sanitation on your own for the next week" he threatened. I grinned widely, folding my hands together in apology.

"Sorry, Mr teddy".

"Don't call me that" he warned sternly, but his demeanor was not angry.

"You're such a grumpy grandpa". I said wrapping my arms around his waist, snuggling into him.

"You're hopeless," he groaned with a smile on his face, screwing up my hair. I glared at him, cause my hair didn't need more messing with, not with how it looked at the moment. "For every time you waste doing sanitation, Arielle is getting closer to winning that money".

I pulled out of his arms aghast.

"No! I can never allow that to happen. Why won't she just let me be. She doesn't even need that money".

"You're right. She doesn't want the money, just the guy kiddo. Winning the cash is just a bonus for her".

"Ugh, you see why we don't get along right."

He turned me to face him, grabbing at my shoulder.

"Hey, you've got this. Zach will notice you. You just have to be yourself. You're smart, funny, and beautiful, you have all it takes" I smiled, sure that my cheek was tinted pink from me fighting a blush. Jake just said the sweetest things. "And if that doesn't work, then we try out giving you a makeover which I've been hinting at for years". There he goes, ruining my praise. Flushing it down the toilet like poop. That was disgusting, but I'm not going to take it back.

"I don't need a stupid makeover. I want him to want me for me".

He stared at me like I was a lost cause "Hey, stop being ridiculous ok. This is a bet. You need to get the guy to win the money. Anything else and you're going to find yourself a homeless freak, with no home to return to, cause your mom will let you go. The guy is not supposed to fall for you. You just need to win the money" he got out. Might as well have clapped at that last part.

"I hate you," I told in all seriousness. He patted my hair, agreeing with me.

"Of course you do. That's why I hate you too miss Teddy" he teased. I glared at him.

"That just makes you look extremely ugly" I smacked him on the chest, before stomping off.

"You can't leave me here to do your work for you, kiddo". He yelled after me. Oh shit. I forgot this was kind of my job and that he was just helping out. I tromp back toward him petulant. Eish!, nothing ever goes my way.

"You better watch your back Jake" I threatened.

"I am so scared" he got out shuddering dramatically. It was my turn to roll my eyes. Let's roll the credit, I managed to do it exactly as he did his. I learned fast.

****

*****

We finished sanitation in time. Jake had a late afternoon lecture so he left me on my own.

I rushed to the secret base where the bet was taking place, only to find out that there was only a spot remaining. I applied with fidgety hands, dreading my eventual failure. Watching some stranger swipe your card is not a nice feeling. There was a ping on my phone, but I didn't want to view the message of doom.

Signing documents made everything more real for me, and I as stepped out, it was like I had been doused with cold water. I felt almost weightless.

Adrianna walked up to me. I squealed as I see her. I knew she'd show up to cheer me on.

"Bess. Yay. You came to support me right.

She deadpans. "I came to take you home. I am starving".

Are my ears still working right, or not? because I was not expecting that. I stared at her incredulously. "How can you even talk about food right now. One hundred thousand dollars is a big deal. I had to drop my savings of ten thousand... And if I lose, I don't know what I'll do, but I'm thinking in the line of jumping off a bridge, cause how can I continue living after failing" I wailed. She sighed, rolling her eyes as she patted my hair.

"There, there love. No need to be that drastic. I've got these thick ropes that can do the trick, you know if you lose and stuff".

I stared at her, my jaw on the floor.

"What? Jumping off a bridge is too dramatic, you'd break your bones and stuff".

"Wow!" I gasped, placing my hand on my chest. "I mean, recommending me a rope... Excellent idea. I knew we were a match made in heaven, just didn't know how tight our bond was" she shrugged smiling, clearly choosing to ignore my sarcasm. Can I hit her just once? Please just let me.

"You know best friend, I always have the best ideas. In the light of that, I would recommend a makeover." I scoffed, walking away from her. She ran to catch up.

"You and Jake really should stop trying to make me change myself just to get a guy".

She grabbed my hand, making me stop in my stride. She turned me to face her, an incredulous look on her face.

"In case you haven't noticed, you've got lots of competition, and on a scale of one to ten, you're at ten. So if I were you, I'd get a makeover, even chip in a little plastic surgery. Girl, get with the cliche. Haven't you watched enough movies or read enough novels to wise up?" She rushed out, almost breathless.

I gotta agree with her. Even Cinderella got a makeover so that prince freaking charming could notice her, so who am I to think I'd get the attention of someone like Zach Dante without being dolled up, or at least fixing my tangled up hair. Andria was watching me closely, her throat working as she anticipated my agreement to her whole plan.

"Fine! But I'm only going to consider a makeover after going through the first step and failing." Andrianna exhaled tiredly. It's not my fault, I didn't ask her to get so excited.

"Knock yourself out," she mumbled sourly, shrugged, then walk off. I ran to catch up. Stupid karma.