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org ---------------BOOK DETAILS---------------[BOOK NAME] The Bet [TOTALPARTS] 68 ------------------------------------------[ BOOK DESCRIPTION ] -------------------------------------------When Drake Swift lost in a bet, his best friend wanted him to court a girl in a month and ask her to be his girl friend. After she said, "Yes", he wil l tell her that he doesn't love her and all that happened between them was a gam e. But what if Sophia Taylor, the girl his best friend chose, is clever than th ey think she is? What will happen if she knows something about their pretty litt le secret? ------------------------------------------******************************************* [1] The Bet *Deal ******************************************* PLEASE DO NOT ADVERTISE YOUR STORIES HERE. It's rude; the comment will be delete d. DO NOT POST MY STORY ON OTHER WEBSITES AND CLAIM THAT YOU'RE THE WRITER. Have so me dignity. I wrote The Bet for two years and I don't appreciate people stealing it. This is not based off She's All That. I haven't watched it, and the only reason how I knew about the existence of the movie was because of the readers of this s tory. ***** The guy on the picture is Ryan Christophe Lavigne. You can imagine your own Drak e though. The song is Stop and Stare by One Republic. I hope you'll listen to it, and to a ll the songs that will be posted in the story. Don't forget to leave a comment! :) Thank you! ____________________________________________________________________________ "The Bet" Copyright 2010 Kimberly Joy Villanueva. All rights reserved. Copyrights:

This story, "The Bet", is copyrighted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents A ct 1988. This includes all chapters, prologues/epilogues and associated content (i.e fanfics, teasers and content within blogs, social networks and eReaders). A ny unauthorized copying, broadcasting, manipulation, distribution or selling of this work constitutes as an infringement of copyright. Any infringement of this copyright is punishable by law. Any links, images, brand names or otherwise copy righted material is not my own, and is not covered by my copyright. No Copyright Infringement intended. Chapter 1 *Deal* ~Drake

I lost the bet. I, Drake Swift, lost for the first time in my entire life. I can't believe it! Now I have to do anything Andre wants me to. You'd think that since we're best friends, it'd be easy, but you're wrong! Inste ad of making each other's lives easier, we amuse ourselves by making it harder o n one another. People would think it's pathetic, but we enjoy it. Ironic isn't i t? But we're best friends through good times and bad times. Well. . . mostly in bad times. I know Andre. It's his first time winning so he'll take his time in thinking of what he wants me to do. All the worse scenarios are running through my mind. Eat ing gross food, punching someone, breaking furniture, getting myself grounded, h umiliating myself in public - no. . . he's not that rude. "I know what I want you to do," Andre says, snapping me out of my thoughts. We're on the steps of the Science Building. Our professor is absent so we stroll through the hallways. There are only few students here because most of the stud ents are in their classrooms. We're just lucky because our professor isn't here. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. "What?" I ask, looking at him. I don't kno w why we're best friends. We don't have anything in common. "I want you to date someone," he begins. His next words are cut off by my laughter. I can't believe it! He wants me to da te someone?! I thought he might even want me to punch someone in the face! Maybe I am wrong about my best friend. Dating didn't even come to my mind. With my dyed dirty blonde hair that falls ju st above my sparkyly blue eyes, I won't have a problem finding a girl. He smirks, reading my mind. "I'm not done." I roll my eyes. It can't be worse. "Continue then," I say after I stop laughing. He clears his throat. "I want you to date someone," he repeats, "And then ask he r to be your girlfriend."

I stare at him incredulously, the shock evident in my eyes. I should have expect ed that! Of course he wouldn't make it that easy on me. "I won't do it!" I say grudgingly. He, of all people, should know that! I never had a steady girlfriend in the seve nteen years of my existence. And now, because I lost a bet, he wants me to chang e it? No way! I'm content with what I'm doing. "You have to do it!" He says through gritted teeth. "When I lost, I did everythi ng you wanted me to do!" I think about the last time he lost. I told him to break up with his girlfriend. He did break up with her. To be honest, I know he didn't love her. But, because I ordered him to, he did it. And now, because I lost, I have to do what he want s me to. A sigh escape from my lips. This will be the last time I'm going to do a deal. "Okay," I mumble, defeat clearly in my voice. His scowl turns into a smile. "It's not that hard," he says and then he explains what he wants me to do. I'll court someone (of his choosing) for a month and then I'll ask her to be my girlfriend; she should say yes. At that point, I'll tell her it's just a game, t hat I lost on a bet and that's why I've been acting like I love her. This time, our bet is a secret. We can't tell anyone about it. Andre is worse than I thought. I can't believe he wants me to hurt a girl. Even though I'm bad, I never dreamed of hurting a girl. Well, that's karma, a part of me says. But I have no choice. When you lost, you don't have a free will. A deal's a deal. Andre starts to raise his forefinger. So this is it then, he's just going to pin point someone? I groan. Andre looks around for a minute, considering whom to choose. "Her," he says afte r a moment, pointing to a girl walking out of the Math building. I squint my eyes in the sunlight to see her clearly. All I can make out is that she has honey blonde hair that falls past her mid back. I can't see her face bec ause she's looking at the ground while she's walking. I give Andre a questioning look. He nods to the direction of the girl. She's walking towards us, and because she' s looking down, she bumps into a guy. I laugh at her clumsiness. The guy steadies her, and then she looks up. "Sorry," she says. When the guy walks away, the girl turns to us. For a fraction of a second, her p ale blue eyes stare to my dark ones. She looks away quickly, but not before I se e her face flushes in embarrassment.

Confused, I turn to Andre. "I don't know her," I tell him. I look around again f or the girl but she's nowhere to be seen. "Is she even a student here?" Andre looks at me oddly. "Of course she is!" He shakes his head, muttering unint elligible words at me. "Is she a new student?" I ask. Maybe she is a transferee. I don't recognize her. He snorts. "She's in one of your classes, stupid." "I'm not stupid," I say, scowling at him. "This is your fourth year in this school, and you don't know her?" He says mocki ngly. He playfully punches me on the shoulder. Even though it doesn't hurt, I glare at him. Really, I don't know the girl. Of course you don't know her, a voice in my head says, You hardly notice anyone not worth your attention. Awesome, now I'm talking to myself. I think I'm crazy. "Who is she then?" I snap. "Her name is Sophia Taylor," he answers. "I think it's a good thing I picked her . You can get to know each other," he says teasingly, wiggling his eyebrows. I want to punch him, but I control myself. I have to act cool. Besides, it's onl y a month. I bet it's only going to end up being a week because she'll fall for me that quickly. Courting a girl I didn't even know existing, until now. I wonder what her reaction will be when I ask her out. Maybe she'll jump for joy . Who wouldn't, with my looks? A grin appears on my face. I 'm too confident. I hope I won't fail. "You'll start tomorrow," Andre says, bringing me back to reality. "You have a mo nth." I see Sophia in the corner of my eye, walking towards the Main Building. She cat ches my eye and her feet trip on a rock. I choke a laugh, causing Andre to shake his head. "This is going to be fun," I say smugly. ******************************************* [2] The Bet *Plan ******************************************* Happy Reading! :) Chapter 2 *Plan* ~Drake

October 7, 2010.

The first day of the bet. I still can't believe why I agreed to do what Andre wants me to do. I hope nothi ng will happen in this month. For thirty days, I will court her, and on the thir ty first, I will ask her to be my girl friend. Sophia Taylor, what will I do to make you fall in love with me? I think to mysel f. "Draky!" I hear my sister yells my name. "What?" I call back to her. She walks to my room without knocking, her blue eyes , the same shade as mine, are full of hate. "And stop calling me Draky! My name is Drake." She glares at me with all her might. "Why did you eat my cake?" Oh. That chocolate coated cake I found in the refrigerator yesterday. After clas s, I was so stressed that I had to find something sweet! And when I saw that cak e, I couldn't help myself but eat it, savoring its delicious taste. "I didn't know it was yours," I explain. "It's your fault; you put it in the ref rigerator without writing your name on it." She stomps her feet automatically. "You should have asked first!" "Whatever." I roll my eyes at her. "It still is not my fault." "It is." "Is not." "It is!" "Is not." "It is!!" she yells at the top of her lungs. "Okay, okay." I raise my hands in surrender. I can't take her whining anymore, i t is so irritating. It was just a piece of cake! Girls are so annoying. They are creatures that are selfish, immature, envious, w ar freak, and self conscious. That's why I've never been in a relationship befor e; I don't want to be committed to a girl. I'm tired of their personalities. I can't even stand my own sister. I'm not even that close to her, considering we 're twins. Well, we don't look anything alike, save the eyes. I am older than he r by one minute and thirteen seconds. We're always teasing each other so we just end up annoying one another. Driana is nothing like me. She's sweet and kind to everyone, except me. I know h ow lame that sounds. She's intelligent, not that I'm not smart. Who am I kidding ? I almost flunked one of my subjects when I was a junior. Driana taps her feet on the floor impatiently, and puts her hands on her hips. "Don't act like a girl," I say, "It's annoying." "But I am a girl." She says, drawing out the word girl .

My head's starting to throb. "Can you please just leave me alone now?" I have to take a shower and organize my things before going to school. "I'll buy you a ca ke later." "The same one," she says through gritted teeth. "Fine." She's muttering some unintelligible nonsense as she walks out of my room. I still don't have a plan, but I won't let that stop me from winning the bet.

~Sophia

My parents' yelling is my alarm clock. They fight everyday; seriously, every-sin gle-day, since the misfortune, not bothering to think about their sleeping child or our neighbors. I don't know why they married each other when all they do is argue. I'm beginning to get used to it so I don't question them. I should have l earned from their broken relationship, but I didn't, so now my heart is torn in half. I thought love was the greatest feeling in the world. I waited for my prince for fifteen years, and when he came, he swept me off my feet. Our love was like a p erfect love story. . . at first. He was my shining armor. When I was with him, all my worries and problems seemed unimportant. All I could think about was how happy I was to be in love. In every relationship, someone's bound to get hurt. U nfortunately in ours, it was me. When we broke up, my life came crashing down on me. It's been almost a year since then, but the memory remains in my heart and mind. Fairytales? Castle? Glass shoes? Prince charming? They are just fake, a trickery of the mind! The authors of fairytales have good imaginations; making their peo ple, places, and stories seem very real. But the real world is hell. I have thirty more minutes before I have to go to school, so I tune out the yell ing of my parents by putting my headphones in and turning up my music full volum e.

~Drake

"So, what's the plan?" Andre whispers as the teacher's aide gives the questionna ire for our quiz. "I don't know," I hiss. Why can't he leave me alone? He's been bothering me with that question for almost two hours now. It started when I got out of my car. An d for now, he believes that I have a plan. "Come on," he urges, "You can tell me." "I can hear you talking there," Mrs. Young says, "please remain silent, so as no

t to disturb others." Andre slumps on his chair, and that's my cue to begin my quiz. The questions are a piece of cake. I read the topic twice last night so I'm not confused, and I answer faster than I intend to do. I need a plan. Of course, first things first; I need to talk to her. How? Accidentally bumping into her? Borrowing something she owns? Think fast! Time is running out, in just a minute, I mean an hour, I'll be havin g Literature with her. From what Andre has told me, Sophia is smart, an only chi ld, and a nice person. Well educated, huh? An idea pops into my mind.

~Sophia

"Can you please lower your voice?" I whisper to the guy behind me, not bothering to look back. I'm here to listen to the discussion, not to hear his chatter. He doesn't stop s o I twist on my chair and am about to glare when my eyes lands on a pair of fami liar blue eyes. The eyes that stared right through mine yesterday, the eyes of D rake Swift. Wait. Did he switch place with Ella? I don't remember him sitting behind me. He looks at me questioningly and I turn around and try to follow the discussion. Ha ndsome guys are my weakness. Looks can be deceiving! He may have an appearance like an angel but I know that he's wearing a mask. According to his sister, he's a jerk. Thanks to Driana, I d on't have a crush on her twin brother anymore. Remember that, Sophia, never fall in love with a jerk. Oh, scratch that, never fall in love again because you wil l end up getting hurt, like before. But I can't erase those eyes from my mind. T he color of the ocean, the sky, the-"Sophia," Cristina mutters beside me. "What?" Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I look around to see everyone star ing at me expectantly. What now? "Does that mean 'no'?" Mrs. Coelho, our Literature professor, asks, raising her eyebrow. What is she talking about? "Sorry, can you repeat that Ma'am?" This is why I don 't like guys messing with my mind. I have to focus. Sophia, take a deep breath. Erase the thoughts that are clouding your mind. "Your classmate Drake is having a hard time following the lesson," she says, "He asked if someone can help him. Can you? Since you have the highest grade on the previous test."

Oh no. I heave a sigh and mutter, "That's okay, I think." I don't have a choice. Can I decline the teacher? Of course not. "Meet up with him later after your last class," she instructs, "And tutor him." Turning around, I see Drake smiling mischievously. When he notices me staring, h is facial expression becomes blank and he turns to listen to whatever Mrs. Coelh o is discussing. Tutor Drake Swift in Literature. Fun. . . Not.

***** The song is What becomes of a broken hearted by Didi Benami =) There's a cast on the side, but you can imagine the characters in your head the way you picture them. . . Thank you for reading my story! :) xoxo, Kim ******************************************* [3] The Bet *Compromise ******************************************* Happy Reading :) Chapter 3 *Compromise* ~ Sophia

"What do you don't understand in the lesson?" I ask Drake. I am forced to tutor him because he doesn't understand A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, the play we are currently analyzing in Literature. We'r e just on Act 2 Scene 1 but I already finished reading it. I don't know why he d oesn't get it; it's quite simple, really. Drake is looking at me like he's trying to figure me out. I try to act confident , and not be intimidated by his presence. After Literature, we agreed to meet in the library after both our classes ended. He suggested that we should meet at t he coffee shop across the school but I refused. So here I am, sitting across from him, staring at his awfully handsome face as h e tries to read the play. How can this guy be Driana's twin? Yeah, they have the same sapphire eyes which

look good on them. I don't know anyone else sharing the same hue as theirs. "You know," he says, interrupting my thoughts and looking at me, "I can't think properly when I'm hungry. So why don't we eat first, and then you can teach me l ater?" I start to protest but he cuts me off. "I'll treat you." Hah! What does he think of me? Someone he can buy? A gold digger? Someone who wi ll go with him because it's free? My ego is hurt. I push my chair off and stand up. As I'm about to walk away, he grabs my arm to stop me. I look pointedly at h is hand but he doesn't let go. "I'm sorry," he says quickly, "I was just. . I didn't mean to--" "If you want me to teach you, listen carefully," I say through gritted teeth. "F irst, let go of my arm." He looks at me hesitantly but still let go. I cross my arms across my chest to s top them from shaking. "Second, I have a lot of things to do and place to go, so please cooperate." The last part is a lie, but I know he doesn't notice. "Okay Ma'am," he says under his breath. He still has the nerve to joke! "Lastly, don't kid around." That earns me a bored look from him. I hope he gets my point. He resumes reading so I sit back on my chair. I don't know why I over reacted but he shouldn't thi nk low of me! I get him to be speechless - one for Sophia, zero for Drake. He knows nothing about me! He doesn't know that after class, I usually go here, in the library, to study. I don't have anywhere else to go; going home is not on the list. As far as possible, I want to stay here as long as I can, but the lib rary closes at six in the evening. So whether I like it or not, I have to go hom e and study there. But I cannot. How can I study if there is constant yelling and screaming in the background? So when that happens, which is always, I put my headphones in their full volume so as not to hear my parents fight. I'd rather have loud music as my background noise instead of them. There are some days and nights when the house is silent. That means one of them is not home. I tried to runaway but I have no where else to go so I end up coming back. Home. Home. Home. Where is that? Before, my home was where he was. My refuge, my hero, my first lo ve. I still remember that day, the day he told me he loved me. That he couldn't live without me. I was so sure of him; I loved him with all my heart, more than I lo ved myself. He knew about my family, our situation, and he filled those gaps. I was blinded by his all consuming love. But I forgot that life is cruel. Nothing is here forever. My friends told me he doesn't deserve my love and that I'm better off without him. He couldn't be trus

ted. He will just break my heart and will leave me like his past girlfriends. Bu t I didn't believe anything they said. I defended him, fought with my friends, a nd accused them of being jealous. Because of him, I lost everything. "Pie? Pie?"

~ Drake

"Pie? Pie?" She can't seem to hear me. "Are you okay?" I ask. She's staring at nothing in particular, maybe she's day dreaming; how girly. I'm glad my plan worked. Knowing she's intelligent, I took it to my advantage and s tarted there. I know beforehand that Mrs. Coelho will pick Pie as my tutor becau se I was the one who checked her paper in the previous test. I wonder if she has any other things to do besides studying. I snap my fingers a few inches from he r face to get her attention. Thankfully, it does. She looks at me in bewilderment. "What did you call me?" "Pie," I answer automatically but carefully, afraid she might snap at me any sec ond. This girl has an attitude. I can't read her. "Don't call me that!" She says irritably, scowling at me. "Why? Isn't your name Sophia? Pie is an appropriate nickname." Pie is a sweet ni ckname. I wonder why she doesn't like it. "It's not! Just call me by my whole name." "But Sophia is kind of mouthful." Arguing with her is amusing. She doesn't want to lose and I'm not one to back off either. She starts to say something, but I can sense that she decides against it. She le t it go by saying, "Whatever Draky," mischievously. I stare at her blankly, trying to process what she just said. She looks at me sm ugly in return. How did she found that Draky . . . "Driana," I mutter darkly, so quiet Sophia haven't hear it. Closing my eyes, I try to control my anger. I don't know where Driana got that s tupid moniker. It's kind of ironic how I know now what she feels when she calls me that. When you call people names they don't like, the look on their face is a bsolutely priceless. But how does Sophia know? Oh! I slap myself mentally for forgetting what Andre told me. Sophia and my twin evil sister are friends, and that, I can get to my advantage. But I have to get the help of my sister. If she will help me. I am thankful of Andre, considering we're playing a game, he's still helping me.

He really is my best friend. I have to relax to think properly. "How about we compromise?" I ask Sophia, havi ng an idea to make her comfortable with me. I'm so smart, I can easily think of something. "Compromise?" she says slowly. "You know, the win-win situation, where both--" "I know that!" She snaps, cutting me off. Being with her makes smirking a habit. "What I meant was," she continues, "why would I compromise with you?" Pretty clever. Indeed, why would she compromise with me? She has not even heard of it yet and she already declines. "You can call me Draky when it's just the two of us," I say, "And I can call you Pie in return then." "I can call you Draky whenever I want," she says smugly. A cute dimple appears on her right cheek as she smiles. I don't know she has a d imple! But how can I know before? I just saw her yesterday. I don't even know sh e is friends with my sister if Andre didn't tell me. Suddenly, I feel like all t hose years, I am the center of my world, not knowing the outside forces. "So I'll start telling our classmates then that they can call you Pie from now o n." This girl can play games, but she can't beat me. "You cannot!" She says, slapping the table impulsively, to my surprise. On cue, ms fond (as if s so as the librarian walks towards us. She chastises us. I can see that she see of Pie and put the blame on me, saying that this place is called Library I don't know) and we should lower our voice and not do unnecessary thing not to disturb others.

Am I the one who slapped the table? Am I the one who nearly shouted? The students look at us sheepishly and mutter things only God knows what. When t he librarian, I forgot her name, is clearly contented that we're going to behave , she walks away with a look of disdain on her face. Pie looks at me and mumbles, "Sorry". Her pale face reddens in embarrassment whe n the full blast of what she did sink in. My lips twitches upward as my next words tumble out of my mouth. "So, is it a de al?" She looks at me dubiously and bites her lower lip. After a moment, she finally s ays, "Okay, deal." One for Drake, zero for Pie. I pinch my thigh to control myself from grinning. P ie is smart, she might know something's off when I look so smug about our compro mise. "Good," I say, standing up. "You have my word then."

"Wait!" She says, standing up as well. "Where are you going?" "Home," I answer, like I have anywhere else to go. It's a school night. "But I haven't tutored you yet," she says, frowning. "There's plenty of time for that." One step at a time. I'm so proud of myself; I made a progress this day. Soon, you will fall in love with me.

***** PIE is pronounced as p-i-e, like the food :> The song is If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet by Mayday Para de. Feel free to write what you think about my story :) I know there are more chapte rs after this, and maybe you want to read more, but don't forget to leave a comm ent. . . Thank you for reading <3 ******************************************* [4] The Bet *Dream ******************************************* Happy Reading :) Chapter 4 *Dream* ~ Sophia

Darkness. That's all I see around me. Actually, I don't see anything. Even if m y eyes are closed, there's no change. Where am I? Trying to find my way, I walk blindly forward with my hands outstretch before me . The saying, "I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the li ght" fills my mind. The one who wrote that haven't walked in complete darkness. I'd rather walk in the daylight alone, if this is the situation. But maybe if I have someone with me, that's another matter. Far ahead, I see a glow of light. I walk to that direction, hoping someone is th ere. Sure enough, a stranger is standing below the light. Glancing up, I can't think of a logical explanation where that light comes from. Black feathered wings are sprouting from the stranger's back which I just notice

now because of so much fascination in the light. His hair is as radiant as the sun. "Draky?" I ask without thinking. I don't even know why he comes to my mind. I haven't seen the face of the strang er and I'm already giving him a name. Good work Sophia. The guy turns around at the sound of my voice. A startle gasps escapes from my l ips as I stare at his face. His sapphire eyes became darker if that's even possi ble. "Come with me?" He asks. When I don't respond, he extends his right hand towards me. Looking around, I don't see anyone else besides us. My instinct says I have to g et out of here. Taking a step back, I try to not give away my next move, which i s to run. Is running good? If he has wings, he can fly. But what if they're not real? My heart thuds painfully in my chest. Why am I afraid of him? "I won't hurt you," he says, as if reading my mind. "What happened to you?" I ask. Staring at him hurts my eyes. "Trust me." And then, he's in front of me, his arms encircling my waist. "What are you doing?" I protest, trying to get his hands off me. Just like that, our feet are not touching the ground anymore. Afraid of falling, I put my arms around him making him smirks. "Put me down!" I order, forcing myself not to look below. I'm afraid of heights. Truth is, I'm afraid of falling, knowing there's no one to catch me when I fall . "Draky!" I snap. He just continues to go up, his wings fluttering in the wind, ignoring my protes ts. Trying to pinch him to get his attention, his body moves so fast he lets go of me, suddenly making me fall. My arms try to grab anything to stop and slow th e fall, but there's nothing. My lung thuds painfully in my throat. Gravity pulls me down so fast. Looking up, I scream for Draky to save me. He has a horrible e xpression on his face and his eyes says he's clearly in pain. But he doesn't do anything to save me. This is my death.

"No!" I scream, and sit upright. Nausea fills me. I'm so dizzy and my head throb s painfully. "It's just a dream, it's just a dream," I reassure my self again and again. Glancing beside me, I see in the alarm clock that it's just passed three in the morning. Sweat pours down my face as I wait for my breathing to return to normal . Taking a deep breath, I get up from my bed and head for the bathroom. Splashin

g water to my face seems a good idea to clear my thoughts. Looking at the mirror , I see that there are dark circles forming under my eyes. "Stupid nightmare," I mutter darkly. It's my first time to dream about Draky, an d then it's a nightmare. Figures. Going back to my bed, I know sleep won't come easily so I get Clockwork Angel fr om my bookshelf. There are times when I wish I am someone else. What would it be like, living oth er people's life? Tessa is wrong. Her gift is not a curse. She's pretty lucky; s he can be anyone she wants to be. But what's the point of living if you're livin g the life of others, and not your own? Does that even count as living? I cannot focus on reading because of these thoughts. Furthermore, the face of Dr aky in my dream corrupts my mind. Really, even in my dream, he's still himself. I can't even imagine him having white wings like an angel.

The soft murmurs coming from the hallway wakes me up. I don't even know when I f all asleep. Suddenly, I'm worried. I'm used to their yelling, and now it's gone . Is that even possible? What's happening? Curiosity urges me to listen to know what my parents are talking about. I walk t o their bedroom as quietly as I can and put my right ear beside the door to hear them clearly. If I'm going to eavesdrop, which I am, I might as well do it thor oughly. "What are we going to do?" My father asks in a calming tone I haven't heard sinc e the misfortune. "She's going to stay at my friend's place," My mother says. I'm amazed though, that they're speaking with each other civilly. In my mind, I can see my dad shaking his head. "She's still a minor." She? Are they talking about me? Staying at my friend's place? What does that mea n? Are we moving out? ".. the best for her," my mom says. I have to shut up my mind! I haven't heard the first part of that sentence. "Can she just stay here until things get better?" "No," my mom says firmly. I can imagine her mouth set in a thin line. "Staying h ere will make her more miserable." My father replies something in a low voice. "Our daughter's smart, she knows what's good for her." "When will she come back?" My dad asks grimly. "After we sort things out." How can they talk about me like that? Why would I move out? Did I do something? "She's a close friend of mine when we were in college," my mom answers the quest

ion of my dad I haven't hear. "We still keep in touch." "Is it okay for her? How about her family?" "I called her last night, and she told me it's alright." "Okay then." I hear scrambling inside and their footsteps coming closer. My feet are frozen i n place, they can't move! The door opens to my horror, and soon enough, my paren ts are both standing in front of me with a surprised expression on their face. "Honey," my mom says, moving towards me. "Don't cry, everything's under control. " She wipes my cheek and that's when I realize that I'm crying. Tears flows free ly from my eyes without consent. "You heard everything?" My dad asks, his brown eyes full of concern. "I heard enough," I whisper. "You can come back as soon as we fix it," my mom assures me, looking at my dad w ho nods in agreement. It. Meaning our family? But why am I the one who's suffering? "Do I have a choice?" I ask them, albeit I already know the answer. My father looks at me sadly and shakes his head. I grit my teeth to control myself from sobbing. As I walk away, my mother asks m e, "Where are you going?" "In my room," I answer without turning around. "Aren't you going to school?" Glancing at the wall clock, I see it's already eight in the morning. I'm already late. Besides, I'm not in the mood. "I'm going to pack!" "I'll help you," my mom offers, and starts to follow me but my dad stops her and whispers, "She needs to be alone." I leave them and go to my room, shutting the door tightly behind me. I know I wanted to runaway before, but not like this. Besides, I'm used to their fighting, so what's the point? Why are they fixing our family again? Not that I want a broken family . . Why am I even asking these questions to myself? Yeah, I know, I'm just dreading the worst question of all . . Where am I going to live?

***** This is story doesn't have any bizarre creatures, if you're wondering ;) The song is Sweet Dreams by Emily Browning -- OST of Sucker Punch. Really liked

that movie :D Banner by You4Real. Do you have a Twitter account? Follow me! Just click the External link on the si de. If you're going to add me on Facebook, tell me you're from Wattpad :) Thank you! ^.^ ******************************************* [5] The Bet *Guest ******************************************* Happy reading! :) Chapter 5 *Guest* ~Drake

"Drake," says my mom, as she settles our breakfast on the table. "How's school?" "Good," I say automatically. Driana snorts. I kick her under the table which earns me a glare from her. "You know," my mom says, ignoring us, "If you're having a hard time, you can ask Andre for help." "I know mom," I mutter. I roll my eyes at her and my twin little sister chokes a laugh. Andre is intelligent. He may be lazy in studying but when he does, he can get a perfect score. My mom looks at me expectantly. Taking a deep breath, I ask her, "What do you want me to do?" "You can stay at their house this weekend and let him tutor you." At the word tutor, my mind thinks of Sophia. If she can tutor me this weekend, w e'll get close to each other and then the month will just be a week. And then I' m finally free with the bet. "Okay," I tell my mom. "I'll ask Andre." "Call him now," My twin little sister says. If I know, she just wants the whole house to herself. No wonder my mom doesn't o ffer Driana's help, we might end up killing each other. "That's a good idea," My mom chimes in. Shaking my head, I dial Andre's number. "Hey," he answers at the third ring. "Can I stay at your house this weekend?" I ask, direct to the point.

"Sure," he says, not even thinking about it. "What about your mom?" "Of course, she won't mind." I can imagine him rolling his eyes. "Okay then," I say, "See you at school." "Satisfied?" I ask my mom and Driana after I hung up. Driana's mouth curves into a smile. My mom looks at me, a concern expression on her face. I know she's worried about my future, but I can take care of it. "I'm going to pack," I say, and walk to my room. After school, I'll go directly to Andre's house. Can I really study there? When Andre and I are together, we just have fun. And studying is not in our fun list. ----"Have you seen Sophia?" I ask. "I haven't seen her," my best friend, Andre, answers. "If you ask me that questi on again, I'll punch you," he threatens playfully. "What?" I ask, turning to glare at him. "You asked me that question for almost ten times already!" "And you're really counting," I say, with a smile forming on my lips. The cafeteria isn't crowded today because it's Friday. Students usually pick thi s day to absent to have an early weekend. "Don't tell me you already miss her," he teases. "You just saw her yesterday and you're going to see her after a few--" "Are you kidding?" I ask, cutting him off. Why would I miss her? "Yeah, man," he says, raising his hands in surrender. "That was a joke!" And the n he bursts out laughing. "Shut up!" I scowl at him, as I take a bite of my sandwich. ----Come on, why aren't you here? Just one more minute, the bell will ring already! A few seconds later, the bell rings and then Ma'am Coelho closes the door. I wonder why Sophia's absent. Why do you care? As if you're close to her. As a matter of fact, you just had yo u first conversation with her yesterday. I thought that maybe when I read the play beforehand, I can impress her. But wha t if she'll tell me I don't need a tutor anymore when I already understand it? "Did you meet with Sophia yesterday?" Mrs. Coelho asks me, breaking me from my reverie.

"Yes Ma'am," I say politely. "Good. Continue it then." I give her a nod and resume reading A Midsummer Night's Dream. I find myself sta ring at the door, but of course, she will not come anymore. It's already thirty minutes after the class started. How can I ask her to meet me tomorrow? She's absent today! I don't have her phon e number. But I know someone who has. Driana. Right! I'm going to ask Sophia's n umber to her later. The plan is, tomorrow, we're going to watch a movie together , just the two of us, and then eat. Maybe (I hope) we'll talk to get to know eac h other. The thing is what if she will not agree? What if she already has a plan for tomorrow? What if she doesn't want to be with me? That's a big problem! How can I win the bet if that happens? Don't you just hate What If's? ----"Why did you just tell me now?" I ask irritably. After school, Andre and I go directly to their house, and now we're in his room. I'm sprawled on his bed while he's using his laptop on his desk. "I forgot." Andre turns around, smiling sheepishly. "You forgot that a girl is going to stay in your house?" I say incredulously. "A re you that stupid?" "It's no big deal, idiot," he mutters. Andre just told me a while ago that a daughter of his mom's friend is going to s tay here for a couple of days due to a family problem. She's a senior student li ke us, studying in our school. Andre is pretty stupid! Why did he agree to let m e stay in their house if they already have a guest? What did he thought of their house, a dorm? "What's her name?" I ask. "I don't know!" He scratches his head, as if he doesn't really care. He can be o blivious with what's happening around him. "Maybe my staying here is not a good idea," I suggest. "I told you, my mom won't mind! You're like, family to us." "I'll leave you with the mysterious girl all to yourself." "Oh come on," he mutters. "I already like someone." I shake my head at him, and then remember what he said. "You like someone?" "I, uh, yes," he answers, averting his eyes. That's news! Since I asked him to break up with Mindy, he hasn't liked someone a gain. Or so I thought. "Who is she?" I ask, curiosity is clearly in my voice. When he doesn't respond, and pretends to be busy searching pictures for his Hist

ory assignment, I repeat the question. It's Friday, so why is he doing the assig nment already? "It's nothing serious, really," he says. "It's just a crush." "So why won't you tell me?" He makes a point of looking at the wall clock and says, "Our guest will arrive i n a couple of minutes." And then he stands up. "I'm going to take a bath." He hu rries to walk to his bathroom. But before he can get out of the room, I pick a p illow and throw it at his retreating figure. He's pretty fast, before it hits hi s head; he slaps it back towards me, laughing like there's no tomorrow. Not telling me who's his crush makes me more curious. Why won't he tell me? Mayb e I know her. Andre can be secretive when he wants. A knock on the front door breaks me from my thoughts. "Andre!" I yell. "Your guest is here." "Let them in." I can hear the shower turning off. "I'm not done." "Why would I?" I ask incredulously. "What do you want them to do, stand outside the door? Idiot." "Stupid," I retort. "Faster!" Hastily, I make my way towards the living room. This is not even my house so why am I the one opening the door? Yeah, I forgot, I'm going to stay here this week end to improve my studies. When I open the door, a woman appears in my line of sight. "Andre?" The woman asks. "Is that you?" I thought the guest was a girl! How can this woman be a senior student? She look s like more or less forty years old. Maybe I am wrong. She doesn't have a bag wi th her. Maybe she's just a family relative. But she thought I was Andre! Andre w ith a blonde hair and green eyes. We look nothing a like. One way to find out. "I'm Drake, Andre's friend," I say, clearing my throat. "Andre's taking a bath r ight now." The woman gives me a rueful smile. "I'm Emily. Nice to meet you." "You too," I mumble. There's something familiar about Emily, like I've seen her before but I don't remember how. "Come in," I say, opening the door widely so sh e can enter. "I'll just call my daughter," she says and walks toward the car, which I just no tice now, parked in the driveway. So, there's a girl . . The passenger door of the red Mercedes Benz opens and the girl gets out of it. W hen she looks at me, time stops. I find myself staring at her, wide eyes with sh ock, mouth hanging open. She has a confused expression on her face, and then she looks between me and her mom.

Finally, I find my voice and ask her, "What are you doing here?" I already have an idea but I want to hear it directly from her. "What are you doing here?" She says incredulously, as if I am the last person sh e expects to see here. Don't you hate it when you ask someone a question and they ask you that question too? Emily beams at us. "You know each other!" "Yes," Sophia and I say simultaneously without taking our eyes off each other. "That's great!" Emily grins, oblivious to our incredulous expression. And then s he takes something out the backseat. A luggage bag. That only means one thing. As a sign of courtesy, I take the bag out of Emily's hand. As we enter the house , Andre walks down the hall, bouncing like a ball with a wet hair. When he sees Sophia, he stops in his tracks and gives me a knowing smile. Did he know it before, or is he just as shock as me? He can conceal his expressi on, I know. But I think he won't keep it a secret to me. "Welcome to our home," he says, grinning broadly. "Enjoy your stay here, Sophia! "

***** The song is Fireflies by Owl City. Adam Young is amazing! Banner by CreativeSideOfLife :) Thank you <3 ******************************************* [6] The Bet *Homesick ******************************************* Happy reading! :) Chapter 6 *Homesick* ~Sophia

"Can you please pass the rice?" Andre requests. "Sure," says my mom, lifting the bowl of rice and handing it to him. This is the most awkward dinner ever. Remembering seeing Draky earlier, the surp rised I felt was astonishing. He was the last person I expected to see in this h ouse! When my mom told me I was going to stay in her friend's house, and I learn ed its Andre's, I didn't know what to feel. He is my classmate! More importantly , he's the best friend of Drake Swift. I begged my mom to let me stay in our house but her decision was firm. And then when I saw Draky outside Andre's house, my dream last night came crashi

ng down on me. After Andre welcomed me to their home, his mom, Veronica, walked inside the house coming from work. She looks like Andre, with their emerald eyes . Of course, he's her son. She was so eager to finally see me, her best friend's daughter. It's quite unbelievable that I just met my mom's best friend now. But if I really think about it, it's not surprising considering my mom and I aren't close. And then something unexpected happened. Aunt Veronica told me that Drake is here because he needs help with his studies. Andre is what, his savior? My life is like a roller coaster nowadays. Someone kicks me under the table making me yelp in surprise. Looking across from me, I see Draky with an amused expression on his face. When he catches me stari ng at him, he smirks. "What?" I ask. My mom looks at me patiently and says, "You haven't told me that you are assigne d to tutor Drake in Literature." "Oh. That," I mutter. Everyone looks at me expectantly. As if waiting for my ans wer that can change the world. "Yeah, but I haven't tutored him yet." I look poi ntedly at Draky making him choke the water he's drinking. "You can teach him tomorrow," Andre suggests, joining in the conversation. I hav e no doubt he saw the look Drake and I shared a while ago. "Tomorrow will be good," Drake says. Something in his expression makes me raise my eye brows. He looks like he's on t o something. Like he has a secret no one knows. "Okay," I agree. It won't do any good prolonging the inevitable. The sooner the better so I'm free off him. Trying to look busy eating my food, while my mom and Aunt V chat, my eyes lands on a photo beside the china ware. I'm going to call Aunt Veronica Aunt V from no w on, in my head; Veronica is a mouth full. A young Andre and her mom are on the picture. The man beside her is maybe her husband. He looks like an old version of Andre. "Where is your husband?" I ask Aunt V without thinking. Everyone in the table stops eating at once. A fork suddenly falls to the ground making a clattering sound. Andre gets up abruptly from his chair to get another fork. The tension in the air is thickening. What have I done? Did I say somethin g wrong? "He's dead," Aunt V says softly. "I'm sorry," I mumble, I can feel my face heats up in embarrassment. "I.. I didn 't know. Sorry." Aunt V smiles sadly. "That's okay." I feel so horrible right now. I want to be small, and to be precise, I want to v anish. Looking all around me except Aunt V, I see my mom with an incredulous exp ression on her face. A rage is building inside me. She forced me to live with th em without telling me anything about their family. Good job, mom.

The dinner becomes more awkward, if that's possible. Andre comes back with a gri n on his face, as if I didn't do something wrong. He chatters cheerfully about his professors and the girls who are falling head o ver heels for him, making our parents laugh. He's trying to make us forget about my stupid question, and I want to thank him for that. When Draky thinks I'm not looking, I see him in the corner of my eye, stealing g lances at me. Gritting my teeth, I control the urge to snap at him. I easily fee l self conscious, especially when I'm eating.

"Mom," I say, looking up at her and blinking back the tears that are threatening to spill from my eyes. I don't want to cry here, in front of them. "Honey," she begins, "you are safe here. I'll come back for you when the right t ime comes." She gives me a peck on the cheek and then walks away outside the doo r. She leaves me with these strangers. Someone from behind clears their throat. Turning around, I see Aunt V giving me a small smile. "Come on," she says gently. "I'll take you to your room so that you can rest. I know you're tired." I follow her upstairs, wondering where the boys are. Aunt V chats along the way. She tells me that Andre's room, and the entertainment rooms are downstairs. The guest rooms and the master's bedroom are upstairs. This is such a huge house! J ust walking on the staircase makes me feel like I'm in one of the fairytale's ca stle. Aunt V says that she's very pleased to have me here, to have a girl companion. She's very kind, and she smells nice .. Not a sickeningly sweet perfume, but flo wers. She smells of fresh flowers. "This is my room," she says, indicating the first room upstairs. When we round a corner, she stops walking in front of a white door. Opening it, she indicates that I come in. "This is your room," she says. Blank white walls are staring at me. There's a window on the back wall with a bl ack and white stripes curtain hanging from it. There's a bed with a pink plaid b ed sheet and two pillows. On the right side is a closet; while on the far corner are a desk and a chair. "I'm sorry," Aunt V says suddenly. "I haven't had the time to add furniture." "That's okay," I say. And then I notice another room across from mine. "What roo m is that?" "It's another guest room, and it's currently occupied by Drake." What? We already live inside the same house and we're going to stay across from each other? "The next door in his room is the bathroom," she continues, oblivious to my sile

nce. We're going to share the same bathroom! What on earth is happening here? My head is spinning so fast, I feel dizzy. "Sophia," Aunt V says softly, "If you need or want anything, please do not hesit ate to ask me or Andre, or Drake. And feel free to make this your home. If you w ant to add or change something in this room, I won't mind. I want you to be comf ortable here." "Okay," I say, and give her a nod. She smiles in return and squeezes my hand. "I'll leave you now so you can rest. Good night." "Thank you." She closes the door when she walks out of my room. I put my bag beside the closet and sit on the bed. A sigh escapes from my lips a s I take in my room. I miss my blue room. I miss the photos in my desk. I miss e verything at home. A sudden sound makes me startle. A second later, I realized i t's my hiccup. Lying on my bed, I stare at the ceiling. I miss my own ceiling where the glow in the light stars blinks in the dim light. Soon enough, tears flow from my eyes w ithout control. The pain in my chest is suffocating me, it's hard to breathe. And then the blank walls are closing in on me, I feel like I'm in a Hospital, st aring at my-No. No. Not that again. Furiously, I shake my head to clear my thoughts. I've been doing everything I ca n not to think of that. It already happened, it cannot be undone. Taking a deep breath, I will myself to think of now. I get my bag and take my th ings out of it and put them on the closet. If I'm going to stay here, which I am , I might as well get used to it. There are some books I brought with me. I put them on the desk. And then my litt le stuff animal which I named Shea comes into view. I place her on the bed. No o ne is ever too old for a teddy bear. Needing some fresh air, I walk to the window and slide it open. It overlooks the backyard of the house. In the middle is a pool and surrounding it are lounge ch airs. In the far corner is a little garden with different kinds of flowers. Closing my eyes and leaning my head in the window, my mind only forms one though t. I'm staying in a mansion.

~Drake

I toss and turn all night, sleeping here again needs some getting used to. Maybe the reason why I can't sleep is that Pie is sleeping across from my room. Getting up from the bed, I think fresh air will do me some good. I make my way t owards the open balcony in the far corner of the house. Standing in front of the railing is Pie. Seeing her makes me almost turn and go back to my room but I st op myself. Studying her this up close, makes me think of Andre's earlier comment that she's pretty. Come on, I wouldn't fall for her. She's not even my type. And I'm just talking t o her because of the bet. No more, no less. I don't know why she's here. What's with the family problem? She looked okay wit h her mom earlier. I'm afraid to ask her because she might get offended with my prying. A sudden sound makes me step back. Looking around, I see that she's crying. She' s trying to stop it but when tears fall, you cannot just tell them to stop. Guilt consumes me; it fills my head and strikes my chest. I'm not the reason why she's here, why do I feel guilty? Perhaps because she's already hurting, and I 'm going to add another pain to her. I have a hard time swallowing the lump in m y throat. I'm sorry, Pie. A deal's a deal.

***** The song is "Into the Ocean" by Blue October. I like this song so much =) Draky's POV is short. I almost didn't put it here and post it for another chapte r, but oh well. Maybe that's for later. I'm sorry if there are mistakes. English isn't my native language, but I'm doing my best to be good at it. Can you put a less than sign and a three in your comment (<3) so that I'll know if you read the author's note? I'm just curious :) Thank you for reading *.* ******************************************* [7] The Bet *Intruder ******************************************* This is dedicated to all of you :) Happy Reading *.* Chapter 7 *Intruder* ~Sophia

Opening my eyes, I rub the sleep from my eyes. I almost panic when I notice I'm not in my room, but then I remember that I'm in Andre's house. I stretch my arms to pop the muscles in my body. It feels stiff, not that the be d is uncomfortable, but because it's my first time to sleep in a bed besides my own. Looking at my alarm clock beside the bed, I see that it's already eight in the morning. I feel so tired, last night was exhausting. Crying myself to sleep makes me sick . Putting my headphones on full volume, A Day To Remember's You Should Have Killed Me When You Had The Chance plays in. I know I shouldn't put them on because the re's no more yelling but old habits die hard. Remembering my promise to Driana to text her when I get here, I take my cell pho ne in the front pocket of my school bag. A lot of things happened yesterday so I forgot to text her.There are two new messages from her. I hope she's not angry with me. The first one is: I can't still believe you're living with Andre! And I'm sorry about Draky, it's my fault he's there with you :( What did she meant by it's my fault he's there with you? The second message was sent thirteen hours after the first one. A smile appears on my face as I read it. Sophia! Are you still alive? Why aren't you texting me back? I'm dying here! Driana is like a sister to me. I'm glad she's my friend. I text her back, saying : Don't worry, I'm still breathing :) Talk to you soon! I'm going to tell her these, face to face. I want to see her reaction. I put the cell phone down on the bed, and grab my toothbrush. Singing Since U Been Gone silently while walking towards the bathroom makes me f eel normal, alive. I feel naked with my peach night gown that reached just below my thigh. My legs are expose, I can't help but shiver. Looking at the mirror is such a bad idea. My eyes are puffy and my nose is as red as Rudolph's. I'm glad I'm alone. Turning my iPod off so that I can brush my teeth, I hear water dripping from a s hower. My head snaps towards the sound, as my heart thumps in my chest one hundr ed miles per second. Sure enough, someone is taking a bath. "Oh My God," I mutter as I step back. How can I be stupid? Why haven't I notice that I am not alone here? Fortunately, the shower curtain is close and it's dark so I can't see beneath it. As I'm about to walk out of the room, the shower curtain moves. To my horror, it opens, making Draky's head comes into view. My heart leaps in my throat, making it hard to breathe.

Draky looks at me, color drains from his face. "I . . I . . uh . ." I feel like an idiot, stuttering in front of him. Tearing a way from his piercing gaze, I run to my room, my feet flailing beneath me. Oh my oh my oh my oh my oh my. That's the only coherent thought I have. When I enter my room, I sit on my bed, stunned. "Oh my God," I mutter. I haven't seen anything, right? "Yes," I say firmly. I ha ven't seen anything! But why is that my breathing doesn't want to return to norm al? It's as if I run in a marathon! Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly, counting one, two, three. I lay on my bed, trying to erase Draky's priceless face from my mind. I want to swallow, bu t there's something stuck in my throat. Suddenly, the door bursts open revealing Draky in his towel. Towel. He's just we aring a towel! Draky looks at me, his gaze lingering just below my neck. I fight the urge to co ver my chest. "What are you doing here?" I choke out, sitting up at the edge of my bed. I try hard not to stare at his body. I put my eyes on his face instead, noticing that his wet hair looks good on him. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I te ll myself to look anywhere, just not him. I try to swallow the lump in my throat again, to no avail. I thought he will not speak; he just stands there, not feeling self conscious th at's he's not wearing anything besides a towel that wraps on his waist. Please, let there be something beneath that. "Why did you enter the bathroom while I was taking my shower?" He demands. "I . . I didn't know you were inside," I explain. "You didn't know?" He asks incredulously. "Why didn't you lock the door while taking a shower?" I say defensively. "Because I didn't know someone would come." And then something, like realization hits him. "You want to see me naked." "Wh .. Wh .. What?!" He grins at my stuttering. My blood boils, fuming with rage. "How dare you accused me of something like tha t?!" I snap. He opens his mouth, no doubt to defend himself, but I cut him off. "It's not my problem you're stupid enough to take a bath without locking the doo r!" He mutters something under his breath, brushing his hand to his hair. "I, uh." H e clears his throat, suddenly looking nervous and embarrassed. "Did you see some thing?"

That makes me startle, like my anger suddenly turns off with a switch. My face f eels hot; I think it looks like a ripe tomato. "I didn't see anything," I whisper. "You sure?" He asks dubiously. "Yes," I stammer. Why does my words go like that? Draky might think I've seen hi m naked which is absolutely not true. That thought makes me squirm uncomfortably . "Why didn't you hear the water coming from the shower then?" Why doesn't he believe me? I have a feeling he's enjoying this conversation! "Because I was listening to music then," I explain. "When I turn my iPod off, th at's just when I heard you." I duck my head in embarrassment. Those words sound like a pathetic lie in my hea ring. Why am I sweating bullets? Draky considers it for a moment and finally nods. I breathe a sigh of relief bec ause he knows I'm telling the truth. So why isn't he leaving yet? "Why did you already take a bath?" I ask curiously. "It's just morning." He rolls his eyes and says, "I always start my day with a shower. You never know what the day will bring." He crosses his arms over his chest. I'm afraid the to wel will fall off. He's really an idiot! How can he enter a girl's room with jus t a towel? I don't know I am biting my lip until I taste my blood; it's like a metallic cop per. It's funny how I know the taste of metallic copper even if I haven't tasted it. "You look so innocent," he says, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Shut up!" I think I'm going to have a fever. "Next time, knock before you come in," he teases, a playful smile is starting to form on his lips. There's no next time, I thought. But I say, "Next time, lock the door." And then I realize something. I haven't brush my teeth yet, and I'm already talk ing to him! I cover my mouth automatically. Fortunately, he decides that it's time to leave me alone. As he opens the door, he turns back to me. "Peach look goods on you," he says matter-of-factly. I open my mouth to say something but no sound comes so I close it. He leaves me alone with a confused expression on my face.

***** I'm going to add something more but I think it's good to end the chapter here. I hope you laugh while reading this, as much as I did when I was writing it :D The song is Thick as Thieves by Dashboard Confessional. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS ON THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS <3 Thank you for reading :) ******************************************* [8] The Bet *Memories ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 8 *Memories* ~Sophia

After my encounter with Draky, I end up taking a bath too. It's not a bad idea, considering I feel sticky. It's like the conversation we had a while ago cling to my body so I rub it as much as I can. Of course, I lock the door; I don't wan t to repeat that scene again. After that, I go directly to my room (with fresh b reath) and decide to blow dry my hair. A knock on the door makes me startle. My hand slips the hold of the dryer. It fa lls on my toes, making me jump, more in surprise than in pain. I don't know I have an audience until I hear his manic laugh. I don't have to tu rn around to see its Draky. No doubt he saw my clumsiness. Tsk. I can feel that my toes are in pain. The blow dryer falls off on them, and it's hot! He even finds it amusing! "What do you want?" I snap, turning to glare at him. He clears his throat to cut off his laughter. "Aunt Veronica asked me to tell yo u that breakfast is ready." "Okay," I mutter. I pretend that he's not here as I wait for him to leave my room. As I turn my dryer off, he says, "I didn't know you sleep with a bear in your be d." He nods to the direction of Shea. "She's cute." "Thanks," I mumble. I thought he will make fun of me. "What's her name?" "Shea." I don't know why he cares. He gets Shea from my bed and I almost yell at him to put it back because I don't like it when people touches my things. The expression on his face stops me. "Shea," he says thoughtfully.

There's a flicker of something like sadness in his eyes, but when I look again, it's gone. It must be a figment of my imagination. I can't tell the expression that crosses his face as he studies Shea. For a seco nd, he looks vulnerable, like he's just an eight year old boy. Suddenly, he says, "I had a stuffed toy too." Had? I open my mouth to ask where it is now, when he puts Shea back on the bed a nd says, "Come on, let's not make Auntie wait for us." "Oh-Kay," I mumble, and follow him downstairs.

~Drake

I don't know why I told her about Bobby. Sometimes I can't hold off my tongue. W e walk down the stairs in uncomfortable silence, both of us preoccupied with our own thoughts. When we walk in the dining room, Auntie is nowhere in sight. Pie sits across from me, but doesn't dare look me in the eyes. Maybe she still c an't get over the fact that she walked in the bathroom while I was having my sho wer. What will you do if what happened to me, happens to you? I shift uncomfortably on my chair when Auntie walks in the dining room and sits beside Pie. "Good morning!" Aunt Veronica greets Pie. "Good morning too," Pie says shyly. "How was your sleep?" "Good," Pie says smoothly. I notice that Auntie doesn't ask questions about the puffiness of Pie's eyes. Ma ybe that's expected when your mom left you to live with strangers. "Where's Andre?" Pie asks curiously. "He went somewhere," Aunt Veronica answers, "He said it was important." Andre helps me a lot. He wants me to be alone with Pie so that I can finish what I started. "This is delicious," Pie compliments Auntie. The breakfast consists of eggs, hot-dogs, and bacon. Typical. Auntie and Pie talks about girl stuffs then. About dresses, shoes, bags, and any thing in between. Auntie looks happy. She's really enjoying because finally, she has a girl companion. Meanwhile, Pie doesn't seem interested in fashion. I thin k she'd rather talk about books. But she still gives her full attention to whate ver Auntie is saying. Some girls our age will just pretend that they're listenin g, but she's different.

When I'm picking my food, I see her in the corner of my eye stealing glances at me and then looking away quickly when I raise my head to take a bite. Stupid bathroom scene! How can I be so careless on not locking the door? A sigh escapes from my lips without my permission. In the days I've known her, I realize something. She doesn't like smiling. Perha ps she's not smiling when I'm around. But now, she looks carefree talking to Aun tie. "Ooh," Auntie suddenly gushes, looking at her wrist watch. "I'm late for work. I hope you don't mind washing the dishes." She looks at us with a small smile on her face. "It's okay," I reassure her. She says goodbye, and walks out of the room in a hurry. After a minute, I hear t he front door slam shut. Pie looks at me incredulously. "They don't have a maid?" "Yes," I say. "Why are you so surprise?" "Because this is a big house and Aunt V," she stops suddenly, maybe realizing wh at she says. "I meant Aunt Veronica is the only one who cleans it?" "Aunt V?" I tease her, "A very nice nickname." She ducks her head in embarrassment. "Shut up," she mutters. It's kind of amusing how she's always blushing when she's embarrass. "I'll wash the dishes, you'll dry," she says after a minute. "Okay," I agree. We carry the dirty dishes and make our way to the kitchen. We put the plates nea r the sink and begin to clean them. "Can I ask you something?" I ask hesitantly when she gives me a plate to dry. "Sure," she says. And then when I don't answer, she stares at me. "Why do you lo ok so surprise?" "I thought you'll say no." "Pessimist much?" She asks, a small smile is tugging at her lips. "Not really," I say wearily. She sighs. "Just because I gave you a permission to ask me a question doesn't me an I'm going to answer it." I open my mouth to retort but I can't think of anything to say. She smirks, no d oubt thinking that she can make me speechless. This girl is unbelievable! The first one who's immune to my charm! Suddenly, she laughs. I don't know what's funny. Can she at least share the joke

? Her laughter is different. It sounds like a tiny bell in a "Draky?" she says, interrupting me from my reverie. I shake my head furiously. I don't like where my thoughts are headed. She clears her throat and says, "What do you want to know?" "I, uh, just wondering . ." I trail off. "Wondering?" she prompts. "Why you stay here," I finish lamely. Pie looks away and continues to clean the dishes. I know I shouldn't have ask he r, but I'm curious. I thought she won't speak when she says," A family problem." I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, I know that it's a family problem. So I act patient and wait for her to elaborate it. After all the dirty dishes and glasses are clean, she sits on a clean part of th e kitchen counter. Finally, she says, "My mom and dad are fighting since I was thirteen years old." She stops and plays with the hem of her shirt. "It started when Matt died." I want to ask who Matt was but I don't want to interrupt her. "It was just an accident," she continues, "But they blamed each other. My father was driving when they got in a car accident. It wasn't my father's fault. The d river of the other car drove fast and his car crashed with my father's. The driv er of the other car died. Matt got an internal brain damage. He died before they arrived in the hospital. My father was in a coma for weeks. We didn't know if h e will live. The doctor said that prayer was the only thing that can save him." She takes a deep breath, clearly controlling her tears to behave. While I, on th e other hand, seem frozen in place. "That was the worst time of my life. I couldn't bear losing my father, like with my brother. I realized then that Death is inevitable. There is no such thing as beware, you'll die tomorrow. No one knows when our life will end. We'll just be gone, with or without unfinished business on earth, leaving our loved ones with grief, loss and the shock of never seeing us again. "I was in shock. I couldn't believe all that happened. My little brother, he was my only sibling. And then he left me alone. Someone recommended the book 90 Min utes in Heaven by Don Piper to me. It was Matt's funeral then. I was not in the mood to read and I almost screamed at my friend for telling me to read that book . "And then I didn't know what happened. I just read it in one sitting. That book made me realized that my little brother is now in Heaven. It made me see that de spite the hardships and sufferings we experienced, there's still hope for us. I didn't lose my faith in God. "After a few weeks, my father woke up. At first he was hysterical because he los

t his only son. He -" Pie chokes off, and then she's crying. I stand there like an idiot, not knowing what to do. Then I move closer to her a nd pat her back hesitantly. Where are the tissues when you really need them? What happened to her was indescribable. While his father was in a coma, his son was put in his tomb. Then after what happened, her parents should help each othe r and strengthen their family, but what they did, and still do, according to Pie , is fight. Even if Driana and I aren't close, I can't imagine my life without h er. This stupid guilt is coming again. Will she cry too when she finds out that I am just messing with her? "I'm sorry," she says suddenly. Her eyes are red again. Tears flows freely from them. I want to wipe them but I know she won't let me. Who am I? "I . . I shouldn't have said those to you." "It's okay." I hear that my voice is shaking. I clear my throat before I speak. "It was my fault, I asked you the question." She forces a laugh. "And I answered it." "It's our fault then." "You know, that's why I never like hospitals. They make me remember that unfortu nate event. I don't like blank white walls, narrow hallways, and the smell of ch emicals. I don't like everything about hospitals." "I used to hate hospitals too," I say inconspicuously. "It was the time when I w as eight years old. I sprained my ankle by climbing a tree. A naughty boy I was, I fell down." I chuckle, remembering the memory. "Of course, my parents brought me to the hospital where they told me that I couldn't play for a week." It's just a simple problem, really, but I hope it makes Pie feel better that she 's not alone in loathing hospitals. To my surprise, Pie laughs. It's a funny kin d of laugh because she just finishes crying. Still, I'm glad she stopped now, al beit it's in my expense. In the first place, I was the one who started it. She wipes the tears in her cheeks and hops off the counter. "Thank you for list ening," she says. "No problem," I mumble. I realized too late that I still don't know why she's he re. Asking the question again is not an option. Prying into her life isn't good after all. Look what I've done! Then out of nowhere, an idea pops into my head. It will help her try to forget h er pain while I can move on to my plan of making her fall in love with me. I sug gest it to Pie but she questions our tutorial lesson. Typical. After a few pleading, she gives up and agrees. I'm pretty persuasive if I want t o. And maybe, she's not completely immune to my charm.

***** I watched Beastly and it was very different from the book but still definitely w orth watching. Who can resist Alex Pettyfer? =) The song is In Christ Alone by Owl City <3 Thank you for all the comments you left on the previous chapters. I like reading them again and again :D Especially your guess about the characters and what mig ht happen next. Thank you! *.* ******************************************* [9] The Bet *Serendipity ******************************************* This is dedicated to all of you *.* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 9 *Serendipity* ~Sophia

"Sydney White or Love Wrecked?" Draky asks. "Neither," I say. He suggested a while ago that we should watch a movie first before I tutor him. At first, I declined but after a few persuasions, I agreed. I have to admit, he' s pretty persuasive. So here we are in the movie room. There's a big screen in front of me, the size of half the screen of a cinema. The walls are lined with cabinets with hundreds of DVD's inside them. There are sofas, couches, and different shapes of tables. I'm sitting comfortably on a velvet couch; my feet stretch out in front of me. Before we enter a while ago, we left our slippers outside. The floor is surround ed with European carpets. They have intricate swirling designs. Just by looking at them, I know they're expensive. It's strange without my slippers but the carpet is comfortable. When I walk, it tickles my feet. Draky is searching for a good movie in one of the cabinets. I don't know why I told him about my family. There are only two people besides h im who knows about my past. Whenever I think and talk about it, I can't control my emotion. Now he knows, he'll never look at me the same way. I know it by expe rience. Do I regret telling him? No. I feel like something lift off of my should ers. Believe it or not, I feel as light as the wind. "Pie?" Draky asks, breaking me from my reverie. "A Walk to Remember or The Noteb ook?" I watched those movies already, and read the books. I ignore the question and as

k mine instead. "How come there are a lot of DVD's here?" He turns around from the stack of pile of DVD's in front of him and says, "Usual ly, his friends hang out here more than the mall." "His friends?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. He rolls his eyes and says, "Our friends." He goes back to searching a good film worth watching. "Mean Girls or It's a Boy Girl Thing?" "None," I say slyly. He puffs out a breath. I'm thinking he's running out of patience in me. "Why do you keep on choosing Chick-flicks?" I ask curiously. "I thought guys can 't stand those kinds of movies." "Because I thought you'll like it." He's wiling to watch a movie he doesn't like just because I like it? "How do you know?" I ask. "Because you're a girl," he says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world . "I didn't know you stereotype," I comment, "just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I like Chick-flicks." "Don't you like them?" "I like them," I say hastily, "But that's not the point." "Stereotype?" he asks, remembering what I accused him earlier. "Just because I'm a guy doesn't mean I don't like Chick-flicks," he retorts. I open my mouth, but I know he got me there. I feel like a hypocrite, chastising him about stereotyping but I forgot I sometimes do it too. A sigh escapes from my lips without my permission. "Why don't you choose the movie that you want?" Draky suggests, his tone gently. "Maybe you'll not like it." He shrugs and says, "I'm not picky." "Okay," I murmur and walk towards the cabinet to search for a good film. There are a lot of options to choose from. There are horrors, suspense, thriller , sci-fi, comedy, action, romance, adventure, and even cartoons. In the end, I pick Serendipity. It's a 2001 romantic comedy film. Its synopsis s ays that, "A couple reunite years after the night they first met, fell in love, and separated, convinced that one day they'd end up together." Its tagline seems pretty interesting. "When Love Feels Like Magic, It's called D estiny. When Destiny Has A Sense of Humor, It's Called Serendipity." It catches my attention easily.

I turn to Draky who's sitting on the couch I vacated. "Um, can we watch this?" I raise the DVD on my hand so that he can see it. "Serendipity?" he asks, standing up and walks to where I'm kneeling. "Why? Have you watched it already?" "Not yet," he says, and gets the DVD from my hand. He reads the synopsis in the back. "A love story, huh?" He asks, amusement flickering in his eyes. "If you don't want it, I can find something else," I say, disappointment is clea rly in my voice. I really want to watch this movie. Its title is just so endeari ng . . . and perfect. "Don't bother," says Draky, "I want to watch it too." "Really?" I ask hopefully, standing up. My legs are numb from sitting Indian sty le. "Nope," he says, popping the p sound. He said he wants to watch it too, and now he doesn't. I can't help but frown. "O kay," I murmur and am about to search for another film when he laughs. "What's funny?" "You." "What about me?" I scowl at him. He clears his throat and tries to stop his laughter to no avail. "I was just kid ding and you actually get mad." I smack his arm impulsively. That stops his laughter. "What was that for?" he asks, rubbing his arm, pretending that I hurt him. I can see that he's fighting off a smile that's forming on his lips. The full blast of what I did sink in. "I . . . I . . I'm sorry," I stutter. I do n't know why I physically hit him. The only time I smack someone is when I'm lau ghing too hard (which is unusual nowadays) and when I'm with my friends (now, a friend). "It's okay," he says, "I didn't even feel it." And then he grins, showing all hi s perfect white teeth. I go back to the couch and wait for him to turn on the screen. When the movie st arts its opening credits, Draky turns off the lights. I feel like I'm in the cin ema. Draky sits beside me and whispers, "Do you want some snacks or popcorn?" His bre ath tickles my cheek. I don't know what my voice will be like so I just shake my head. I'm not yet hun gry, maybe later. "Okay, just tell me when you want some." I give him a nod.

He looks at me oddly, maybe wondering why I'm not speaking. "I was just kidding a while ago; I hope I didn't offend you." I'm glad with the darkness. I can feel the blush creeping into my cheeks. "You d idn't," I murmur. I can't help but squirm on my seat. There's something thumping loudly in my ches t. I wonder if he hears it, it's so loud, it make my ears ring. I certainly hope he doesn't. He looks like he wants to say something but the movie starts already. Phew! I let out the breath I don't know I am holding. I hope I can concentrate w atching this movie.

***** Feel free to make a banner; I'll post it with a chapter =) The song is Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift. I like this old version more than the on e in the Speak Now Album. Thank you! <3 ******************************************* [10] The Bet *Sparks ******************************************* Happy Reading! :) Chapter 10 *Sparks* ~Sophia

"What do you think or like about the movie?" Draky asks when the movie ends. I don't know what to say! Truth is, I haven't seen some parts of the movie becau se I was busy staring at his face. Come on, Sophia, think fast! Oh my my my. My head is like a blank sheet of paper. I can't even think of anything so I say, "Y ou first." My voice is rough so I clear my throat. Draky thinks for a moment. Finally, he says, "Despite the fact that they know no thing about each other, they still believed that they will see each other again. " "Me too," I mumble, which is true. "And it's really destiny because Jonathan's g irlfriend was the one who gave him the book which contained the name and number of Sara." "Yeah," he says, laughing. "The part where Sara wrote her number and then it was lost in the wind was kind of amusing." I laughed at that too. Poor Jonathan and Sara, the odds were never in their favo

r in the beginning of the film. "I don't like the kid, though." "Which kid?" I ask, albeit I know who he's talking about. "The kid on the elevator," he says. "Because of him, they didn't saw each other. " "At least we know that they picked the same number in the elevator. And if they saw each other already, the movie will have a quick ending." "I know," he says thoughtfully. "You don't have to understand. You just have to have faith." That was what Jonathan said to Sara. Hah. Even if I haven't seen so me parts of the movie, I recognized what he says. "Faith in what?" I ask, smiling. This is what Sara replied to Jonathan. "Destiny," he says, smiling in return. "If two people are meant to be together, it doesn't mean they have to be togethe r right now," I say softly. Draky turns to look at me. Staring at someone is rude, I want to say, but his gaze is so steady I find myse lf tongue-tied. I want to look away but he captures my eyes in his mesmerizing g aze. I'm like an ice cream, melting in my seat. You have to say something, Sophi a! "Um, what I said earlier, I . . uh, ." Shoot! I'm stuttering again. I take a dee p breath and continue, "I meant that for Jonathan and Sara." "Because if two people are meant to be together, they will find a way not to be separated, and they did," he says, cocking his head to the side. "Yeah, right," I mutter. Phew! I'm glad he understand me because half of what I said to him doesn't make sense to me. "Come on," he says suddenly. "Where are we going?" I ask. "I thought I'm going to help you study in Literatur e." "That can wait for tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "Yeah." "So where are we going?" I repeat. He smiles playfully, refusing to answer my question. "Okay, fine, you go," I mutter, "I'm going to stay here." Draky frowns at me. "Just trust me," he says, standing up. He walks to the TV s creen and turns it off.

Trust me? The thought lingers in my mind, never wanting to be erased. Before I can stop myself, I hear myself say, "Okay."

~Drake

"When's your birthday?" I ask Pie as I start the engine of my car. "Why?" "Is it wrong to ask your birthday?" "No," she says hastily. "When's your birthday?" This girl has a way of asking the same question you ask her. My birthday this ye ar already happened so there's no point in not telling her. Besides, it's just a birthday. "September 22," I say. She nods. "Why don't you wear your seat belt?" she asks, eyeing it. I never wear it unless it's necessary, but looking at her face makes me buckle m y seat belt. I give her a look that says, satisfied? "What about you?" I ask. "W hen's your birthday?" She smiles mischievously. "Secret," she says slyly. "Secret?" I say incredulously. "But I told you my birthday!" "I already know your birthday," she says, smiling sheepishly. "How?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. She bites her lip and shakes her head. "Pie," I say. "Draky." "Pie," I say warningly. "Draky," she says in the same tone as mine. "Pie," I say again, but there's already a smile forming on my lips. "Draky," she says, and sticks out her tongue like a child. I don't know why I'm not annoyed when Pie calls me Draky. Whenever my twin siste r calls me that, I want to strangle her. Maybe because when Pie calls me Draky, the sound of her voice "Why do you want to know?" Pie asks, interrupting my thoughts. "I'm just curious," I tell her, which is half true. "How old are you?"

She pauses for a second, maybe contemplating if she'll tell me or not. Finally, she says, "Sixteen." "Sixteen?" I repeat, taken aback. "Yeah, the sum of ten and six, or it can also be -" "I know!" I can't help but scowl at her. She can be sarcastic if she wants to. She clears her throat and says, "You know, I noticed you like repeating the thin gs I say." Amusement lightens her pale blue eyes. "Of course not," I mutter. Back to the point, I can't believe she's just sixteen. I thought she's seventeen , like me. But that doesn't mean that she looks older with her age. It's just th at I assumed she's seventeen because she's a senior like me. Wait! Pie is sixtee n, which means her birthday this year hasn't happen yet. "You're going to be seventeen this year," I say matter-of-factly. Pie just looks at me with a blank expression on her face without saying anything . Silence means yes. A grin makes its way onto my face. She's going to celebrate h er birthday this year! I have to know when it is so that I can surprise her. For sure, Driana will not tell me when I ask her. That's not a problem because an i dea already pops into my head. I really am smart. I wonder why I don't get medal s during recognition.

~Sophia

"Draky!" I snap, my heart pounding in my chest. He almost hit a kitten! "Why don 't you look on the road while driving?" He grins broadly. "I'm a very good driver. Even if my eyes aren't fixed on the r oad, I can manage." "If you do that again, I will never ride with you." He chuckles under his breath, ignoring my protest. He's a horrible driver. I wonder how he got a driver's license. He drives like a maniac. He doesn't care about speed limit. He's not looking on the road while h e's driving. He doesn't like seat belts. The list can go on and on. No matter what, I feel safe with him. Not that I'm ever going to admit that to h im. "I'm not ready to die yet," I mutter, just to annoy him. "You're not going to, Honey," he says thoughtfully. "But if you continue to drive like this -" I stop suddenly when what he said co mes rushing back into my mind.

DRAKE SWIFT called me HONEY! What on earth is he trying to imply? Wait! Maybe I' m just over reacting. It's Drake Swift we're talking about here. He is a player. That means calling a girl 'Honey' doesn't mean anything to him. A frustrated sigh escapes from my lips without my permission. Of course, it's no t a big deal to him. I bet he called a lot of girls Honey before. Perhaps Love, Baby, Sweetheart, Darling are on the lists too. I am not disappointed. Okay, I have to admit, my heart skipped a beat when he called me Honey. Truth i s, I had a huge crush on him before. I still remember that day when I first saw him. It was the first day of freshman year.

"Mom, don't leave me alone," I plead. "You're going to be okay, Sophia. It's just high school." "But it's the first day," I murmur, trying to control my tears from spilling. I don't want my classmates seeing me with puffy eyes on the first day of school. Some are already staring at me because I don't want my mom to leave me here. "I'm late for work," she says, and gives me a kiss on the cheek. And then, she d rives away, leaving me staring at the students entering the school. I'm so alone. While the other students have their friends with them, I have nobo dy. Thanks to my mom and dad for deciding that we should leave our old life behi nd. That meant leaving my friends and old neighborhood. So here I am in this big school without anyone I know. If only Matt didn't die, I wouldn't be here. Agai n, that thought! Past is past. There's nothing I can do about it. First, second, and third period passed in a blur. Nothing special happened. We j ust introduced ourselves in front of everyone. That meant stuttering in front of everyone. When the bell rings for lunch time, I search for a vacant table in the cafeteria after buying my food. And that's when I see him. Unlike me, he's surrounded with a lot of people. He has an air of confidence aro und him. The way his friends look at him while he talks makes me think he's sayi ng interesting things. When I look at his face, my heart thumps painfully in my chest. Am I sick? Maybe I have to go to the clinic to have this check up. On se cond thought, I have another realization why I'm feeling these things. This must be love at first sight. But no. I don't love him. You cannot love someone you d on't know. Perhaps this is what they call crush. The thought, even foreign, brin gs smile to my face. He's my first crush in my life. He may not know me but I wi ll make him my inspiration.

When I had a boyfriend, my attraction to Draky dimmed a little. But I know it wa s there, just buried under my feelings for my boyfriend. His name is a curse so I don't say it. I don't even think about it. Now, hanging out with Draky feels like someone lights a match stick that turns i nto fire. Perhaps even years had passed, you will always have that special feeli ng for someone you used to like.

"Pie?" Draky says, and I have a feeling it's not the first time he's calling me . "What?" I ask, blinking my eyes and shaking my head to clear my thoughts. "Why are you always daydreaming?" he asks in a teasing voice. "I am not!" I say defensively. I am just reminiscing the past. And by the way, i t's about you. He just smirks and rolls his eyes, oblivious to my thoughts. Looking around, I realize that the car isn't moving anymore. I'm about to ask wh ere are we when he goes out of the car. I do the same and stand beside him. "Paint shop?" I say dubiously. He wants me to take to a paint shop? I have to ad mit, I didn't expect it. Draky looks at me and says," You don't like blank white walls." "So?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. "So, we're going to paint your room," he says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "But I don't have money with me." "That's okay," he says, smiling. "I'm going to pay for it." "Um, I'm going to pay you later when we go home." Home? Did I really say that? I haven't considered Andre's house to be my home. "No need," he says. His right eye closes and then opens suddenly. My breath catches when I realize what he does. Draky winks at me! Like, really w ink. He smirks, no doubt thinking he got me. He walks to the shop, knowing I'll follow after him. Maybe Draky's not bad. I was just wrong about him. He listens to me whenever I t alk. He even thinks of my situation in my new room. He may be cocky and sarcasti c, but I know he has a good heart. Behind those cold eyes is a fire waiting to b e lighten.

***** I still can't believe a lot of people read my story. You don't know how happy I am. I can't even put it into words. To all my fans, thank you! THANK YOU so much for supporting me and my story :) And I want to thank GlamorousGirl for the banners she made for The Bet =) And t hank you to yakisoba for the banner in this chapter. The song is Fallin' for you by Colbie Caillat

Thank you for reading *.* ******************************************* [11] The Bet *Visitor ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 11 *Visitor* ~Sophia

A loud thumping of the door wakes me up. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I get u p from the bed. A groan escapes from my lips when I see it's just seven in the m orning. It's so early! Whoever is at the other side of the door should have a go od explanation on why he or she is waking me up this time of the day. Knock. Knock. Knock. Ugh! He or she is impatient too. Opening the door, I step back as someone envelo ps me in a hug. "Whoa!" I try to gain my balance to no avail. My knees buckle from under me and I fall down on the floor with Driana. Driana! She laughs at my expression; no doubt, my eyes are wide with shock. She helps me stand up, smiling like there's no tomorrow. "What are you doing here?" I ask when I find my voice. "Visiting you." She grins cheekily. I raise my eyebrow. "Early in the morning?" Driana is not an early person so see ing her this time of the day surprises me. Furthermore, it's Sunday. She smiles sheepishly. "I can't wait to see you. And I want to know what happene d in the past few days." I should have known she's coming here. Knowing Driana, I should have expected it . She's not the type of girl who's willing to wait. And then I realize something . I haven't brush my teeth yet! It's just like yesterday. "I'm just going to brush my teeth," I tell Driana. She playfully covers her nose, as if I have a morning breath. Rolling my eyes, I say, "Make your self comfortable." Before going in the bathroom, I knock once, and then twice. Maybe Draky's not he re. Opening the door slowly, I listen for a second if there's an unnecessary sou nd. None, so the coast is clear. After brushing my teeth, I go to my room and find Driana looking at the walls th oughtfully. "Hey," she says when I enter the room. "Nice murals." Pursing my lips, I decide to tell her that Drake helped me in doing that.

Driana gives me a knowing look. The look she and I share when talking about Dra ky. It's not that we always talk about him. It's just that "Breakfast is ready!" Andre yells from the other side of the door. "Do you think he heard something?" I whisper. I don't know why I don't like Andr e knowing we're talking about his best friend. She shakes her head and says, "I doubt it." "We're going!" I say a little more loudly. "Let's go," Driana says. "I haven't eaten yet, you know?" "Yes, because when you woke up, you went directly to my room." That's when I rem ember something. "Who let you in?" I ask Driana as we walk down the stairs. "Andre's mom," she answers. "I hope you didn't wake her," I tease. She flushes. Her pale cheeks redden at the thought. "Of course I didn't!" She sc owls at me. A smile appears on my face as she turns towards the hallway leading to the kitch en. "This is the dining room," I say, pointing to the room across from the kitchen. "This is such a huge house," she mutters under her breath. "Tell me about it," I murmur. When we walk in the dining room, Aunt V, Andre, and Draky are already sitting on the table, talking to each other. "Good morning ladies," Aunt V greets us. "Morning," Driana and I say simultaneously. Driana takes the sit across from Andre. I have no choice but to sit across from Draky. Looking at him with a bored expression makes me remember of yesterday's e vents. Yesterday was kind of fun, minus the bathroom part. After we bought the paints a nd brushes, we went to McDonald's to buy our lunch. Of course, Draky paid for ev erything, considering I haven't brought any money with me. When we went to the h ouse, we took all the furniture outside the room so that we could paint the wall s. It was just Draky and me. Andre hadn't come at that time yet. We just splashe d the paint on the walls. We - I mean, Draky, bought different colors of paint. We painted different kinds of flowers and butterflies. After that, we waited for the paint to dry before putting back the furniture in the room. Now, it looks l ike a mural from an art museum. And I like it. A loud clearing of the throat breaks me from my reverie. "What brought you here?" Draky asks Driana. "I'm making sure Andre is going to help you study," Driana says.

Andre smiles sheepishly. "I will. Later." "Why do you care?" Draky glowers at Driana. "Because I'm your sister. Twin sister." "Just tell us the truth. You came here because you missed me." Driana gives Draky a scornful look. "The house is perfectly fine without you." "Oh, come on," Draky says sarcastically, "I know you love my company." Seeing them argue is kind of amusing. I won't be surprised if they will throw th e meals they're eating at each other. The way Driana talks about Draky, it feels like he's the most evil person in the world. Whenever she says his name, it's a lways full of venom. I wonder why they don't like each other. Can it be true, th at it's more than sibling rivalry? I doubt it. They don't even have the same gen der and it's not like their parents will pick a favorite among them.

"Learn to appreciate what you have before time forces you to appreciate what you lost," I say. "Thinking about Matt?" Driana asks. "Yeah," I murmur. "Even if you hate Drake -" She cuts me off and says, "Not hate, just dislike." "He's still your brother. Your twin, to be prcised. You should try to be friends w ith him." "I'll try. But I guess it will take a lot of time to gain that. We're just not . . you know?" She frowns. "Look, I'm sorry. You missed your little brother, and here I am, saying silly things about my twin."

Driana leans to me, interrupting my thoughts, and whispers, "It feels like a day off without him." I can't help but laugh at that. Everyone looks at us oddly, though. "Care to share the joke?" Andre asks dryly. "Nope," Driana says, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "What did you tell her?" Draky asks through gritted teeth. "Nothing," Driana says slyly. Draky opens his mouth but before he can say something, Aunt V says, "Children, d on't argue in front of the food. It's bad luck." Andre snorts, making Aunt V look pointedly at him. This breakfast is so bizarre! There are a lot of conversations going on; I don't know where to focus.

"Sophia," Aunt V suddenly says, "I heard you painted your room." "Um, yes," I say, "Drak. . Drake helped me." I almost say Draky in front of the m. I'm glad no one, except for Draky seem to notice it. Rolling my eyes at him, I see Aunt V looking approvingly at us. Maybe because I followed her suggestion about changing the style of my room. "That's good to hear." She smiles. "I want you to make this your home." "Sure," I mumble.

After eating, I suggest that I will clean the dishes, but Aunt V declines. "No, you should have fun. I can take care of it," Aunt V says. "Can you tutor me now?" Draky asks. Driana turns and gives me a scowl. "You're going to tutor him?" "Uh, yes," I murmur. "Why didn't you tell me?" "I haven't?" I ask incredulously. "No." She frowns, looking disappointed. "I guess it slipped off my mind," I explain. Draky smirks, while Andre looks amused, watching us. I'm about to snap at them w hen a plan crosses my mind. "I have an idea," I tell them. "Andre will tutor you first so that Driana and I can talk." Driana grins enthusiastically. I'm so glad she's here. At least, it's equal now. Two girls and two boys. They can't boss me around now. Not that they ever did, but still. Knowing someone will have your back makes you brave. "After that," I continue, "I can tutor you." Draky narrows his eyes. "What if Driana is still there after Andre and I finishe d our tuto -" "Don't worry," Driana cuts him off, looking smug. "I'll leave before that happen s." "Good," Draky mutters darkly. Andre chuckles quietly. I have no doubt he enjoys watching the twins argue. "Let 's start then," he says. I'm proud of Driana. She doesn't flinches with the daggers Draky throws her way. Perhaps she's used to it. We make our separate ways. The boys go to Draky's room to study, while Driana an

d I go to my room to have a chat. "I want to hear all about it," Driana says, sitting on my bed. "Um, I don't know where to start." I sit beside her, getting Shea from the corne r of the bed. "Start from the very beginning," she suggests. "Of course," I mutter, rolling my eyes. "Once upon a time," I begin. And then I tell her everything -- the reason why I am living in Andre's house, the awkward dinner, the movie time, and last but not least, the painting session. I omit the bathroom part. No need to add humiliation to myself. For sure, she'll just teas e me to death. "Really?" She asks dubiously after I'm done talking. "He helped you paint this r oom?" "Yeah," I murmur. I can't believe it either. "He even paid for the things neede d and he treated me lunch." Driana looks thoughtful for a moment. "I guess my brother has a good heart after all." "Yeah," I agree, chuckling quietly.

~ Drake

"Do you think you can make Sophia fall in love with you?" Andre asks me seriousl y. "I don't know," I tell him honestly. "I will try." "I know you will." Am I that easy to predict? Or maybe he knows it because he's my best friend? "Wh at do you think about her?" "Why? You want to cancel the bet?" "No," I mutter. "A deal's a deal." I lost, so I should continue what I started. "Why are you asking then?" "I'm just curious about your answer," I tell him. Andre pauses, and thinks for a moment. "She's brave," he says finally. "And like I said before, she's pretty. Just by looking at her pale blue eyes makes you wa nt to protect her." She's tougher than she looks, I thought. But I have to agree, Pie is brave. A lo t has happened to her already, and she survived them all. What will Andre think of Pie when he know about all the hardships and sufferings she experienced? Of c ourse, I can't tell him about it. It's not my secret and it feels wrong to tell anyone about it.

"Drake." His tone makes me look at him from the calculator on my hand. "What?" I ask. "If you want, we can forget about the bet." I shake my head. It's not fair to him. Is it fair to Pie? "I never back off," I say, ignoring the thoughts that are clouding my mind. "I know," he mutters. Of course, I haven't because it's my first time to lose. Changing the topic, I ask him about the assignment in Calculus. It's the reason why I'm here in the first place after all -- to study. Even if Andre is patient in teaching me, my mind is drifting in and out of focus. Tomorrow's the fifth day. What am I going to do?

~Sophia

"Read the play again from the start and tell me what you don't understand," I in struct. Draky and I are sitting across from each other in the library. Driana left a few minutes before Draky knocked on my door. "What?" he asks, taken aback. "I'm going to read it again from the very start?" "Yes," I say, biting my lip to stop the smile that's threatening to form on my l ips. He groans, but still reads it. I'm glad he's paying attention to what I say. I hope he's not escaping some stan zas just to finish it quickly. To be fair to him, I get my copy of A Midsummer N ight's Dream and begin to read, instead of staring at him while he's reading. So me part of me says I do it because of moral support, though.

"Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind." "Huh?" I say brilliantly. "What do you think about it?" Draky asks. "What do I think about what?" When I'm reading, I'm not here because I'm inside the book I'm reading. He rolls his eyes and says, "Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind." The quote is familiar. It was what Helena said Love should be.

What do I think about it? "Um." Yeah, 'um' - a great way to start a sentence. "For me," I say, "you should not love someone because of their physical appearan ce but rather, love them because of what they are inside. You may be beautiful o utside, but what's the sense if you have a black soul, right?" "Right," Draky mutters, looking away. "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisi ble to the eye," I quote from The Little Prince. "That's by Antoine de Saint-Exupry," he states. "How do you know?" I ask curiously. He smiles sheepishly. "The Little Prince is my favorite book." Whoa! I can't believe Draky likes to read. My mind makes a mental image of him s itting beside a tree, a book in hand. A smile appears on my face at that thought . "You're spacing again," he observes. "Am I that boring that you find yourself da ydreaming instead of being with me?" "No," I say quickly. "I just thought of something, that's why." He tilts his head to the side. "Care to share it?" "Nope," I say, smiling a bit. I don't know where the conversation is headed so I come back to the topic. Clearing my throat, I say, "Love looks not with the eye s but with the mind." Draky puts down his copy of the play and looks steadily at me. "I think, if you love someone, you shouldn't care about her appearance at all. Loving someone bec ause of her physical attribute isn't love at all. It's either lust or crush." Crush. . . Yeah, I know. What I felt about him was like, and not love. I know t he difference between the two. "Truth is," he continues, "a lot of people look at physical appearance when it c omes to beauty. Of course, the first thing you notice in a person is her face. P erhaps it's the reason why people fall in love with good looks. For some, the at titude of the person just comes after that." He says it like he's an expert when it comes to love. Well, considering he's Drake Swift . . . "Isn't it," he says, oblivious to my thoughts, "when you already love someone, y ou don't notice what they look anymore after you get to know them? It's because you don't just see them anymore. You see what they are inside. And that is love. " Wow. Drake Swift makes a speech about love! Never in my mind had I thought of hi m as a poet. I guess I should expect the unexpected when I'm with him.

*****

I hope you liked this Phew! A long chapter :) A very cute thing happened a while ago. My seven year old brother knew I write s tories. He asked me to tell him about them so I told him this story first. He sa id he liked Pie and he even guessed some of the next parts correctly. He wanted to make a Wattpad acct so that he could vote in every chapters. I was like "Aww <3" But I declined on making him an acct here xD The song is Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional. (:One of the best bands:) Bann er by Candyyyyyyy. Some are wondering where is my home country. I'm from Philippines, and I am a Fi lipino =) What about you? Thank you! <3 ******************************************* [12] The Bet *Situation ******************************************* Can I ask a favor? Can you please click the Vote button if you have a Wattpad ac count, and click the Like button if you have a Facebook account? I just want to know something. Thank you! :) This is dedicated to all of you and to my little brother who I talked about in t he previous chapter.

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 12 *Situation* ~Sophia

"Good morning! Rise and shine!" Is it six o'clock already? "Good morning! Rise and shine!" I put my pillow above my head to distort the sound. "Good morning! Rise and shine!" A groan escapes from my lips as I turn my alarm clock off. I still need more sle ep but I'll be late if I will not get ready now. I walk to the bathroom and take a bath. I wonder if Draky's already done or if h e's just being a gentleman, waiting for me to finish. Monday - - the start of school week. Even though I like studying, there comes a time when I want to rest. It's just the third week of school but I already can't wait for the vacation. I don't know where this laziness comes from. Putting some comfortable clothes, I blow dry my hair in my room. Going anywhere with a wet hair isn't my specialty. When I'm satisfied, I grab my things and wal k downstairs. Will I eat breakfast? I think so. Aunt V said that I should be com fortable here and make this my home. I should eat because I don't know what the

day will bring. Walking to the dining room, I see Andre eating hotcake and sipping a coffee. "Come and join us," Aunt V says, who's reading a newspaper. I take the chair across from Andre. "Good morning," he says. "Morning," I mumble, taking a bite of omelet. Draky's not here yet. Perhaps he's still taking a bath or getting dressed. Why a m I wondering with what he's doing? I should just focus on eating my food. "Andre will give you a ride when you go to school," Aunt V says. "No," I decline. "I'll just uh, ride a bus." Andre rolls his eyes. "We're going to the same place," he states. "Or maybe you' d rather sit with a bunch of strangers in a bus than me?" "It's not that," I mutter. I don't know where he got that thought. "I'm just uh . ." "Shy?" He finishes for me. "Yes," I whisper. Aunt V laughs, splattering some coffee on the table. She stops then, and looks s heepishly at us. "Don't be shy," she says amusedly. Andre says, "We're already living in the same house." "Okay," I murmur. Does that mean that while living here with Andre, I have to ride with him to and from school? It's not a bad idea but. Yes, there's a but. People will start to notice then. There will soon be questions ask. But I don't have to explain. I do n't owe them anything. Maybe not having a lot of friends has its advantages. Eve n if Driana is my only friend, I can manage. And she already knows my situation so it'll be just like a normal day for us. "Are you ready to go to school?" Andre asks suddenly. "Where's Drake?" I ask curiously. Are we going without him? "I forgot to tell you," Andre says sheepishly. "He already left a few hours ago. " Oh. "He wanted to say goodbye to you, but he saw you're still sleeping. He didn't wa nt to wake you." Drake walked in my room while I was sleeping? I don't know what to think about t hat. "He said to tell you that See you in Literature," he mimics Draky's voice.

We both end up laughing because of that. He's a horrible mimicker. "Are you ready to go now?" Andre repeats. "Yes," I say. "Let's go then." See you in Literature, repeats my mind again and again.

Andre is more of a safe driver than Draky. Even though he drives fast, his eyes are on the road. I don't have to snap at him to use his seatbelt. We're not talk ing though, because we don't have anything to say. Every few minutes, I catch hi m glancing at me. Do I have dirt on my face? It's a long ride than I'm used to because Andre's house is farther from the scho ol than in ours. This question is bothering me so I ask him, "What if people ask me why I'm ridin g with you?" Andre looks at me and says, "Then tell them to leave you alone." "As if I can do that," I mutter. "I know," Andre says, chuckling quietly. "You're not rude to people so you can't tell them that." I puff out a breath and scowl at him. "What if I can?" "No you can't." "I can," I say stubbornly. "You can't." He doesn't even know me so how dare he can say what I can or cannot do?! "I can! " To my surprise, he slams the brake hard, stopping the car just a few blocks away from the school. I almost hit the dashboard! When he turns to look at me, amusement flickers in his green eyes. "Drake is rig ht," he says thoughtfully. "It's fun arguing with you." I open my mouth to say something but the words he said comes rushing back in my mind. Drake is right. It's fun arguing with you. Does that mean they talk about me? Why? And what do they say? "Sophia," Andre says, interrupting me from my reverie. "You can tell them that y ou're living with us - me and my mom." "Really?" I ask dubiously. "Of course." He grins cheekily. "Why wouldn't you tell them the truth? Are you t hat ashamed that you're living with us?" "Of course not!" That thought didn't even come to my mind.

"You're blushing," he says amusedly. "I am not!" I say furiously. "And you seldom disagree to whatever I say." "You and Drake are real best friends," I mutter under my breath. "What did you say?" he asks curiously. "Nothing," I say slyly. I'm contemplating if I'll ride with him again tomorrow when he starts the car an d we move forward again.

~Drake

"Are you insane?" Andre asks furiously. "Why don't you just ask her?" "Didn't you listen? I asked her a few times already but she refused to tell me!" We're in the hallway, taking things from our lockers before the bell will ring. "Why don't you ask Driana then?" "As if she'll tell me." I scoff. "I'll ask her." "You?" I ask, taken aback by his suggestion. "Yes," he says. "She won't tell you," I say, shaking my head and rolling my eyes at him. "Why wouldn't she?" "Are you stupid? Of course Sophia already told her not to tell any of us!" Andre's eyes widen as realization crosses his face. "Right," he mutters. I told him about my plan to know when Pie's birthday is. It consists of breaking and entering. It's quite simple. I'm going to the Records Section where all the files of the students studying here are safely placed. I'm just going to find t he right file and then I'll go after that. Andre will be the guard, he'll tell m e if someone is coming so that we can escape before they see and capture us. Of course, the Record Section is in the Principal's Office. There are people there; the Principal, the Secretary, and well, other staffs. That's why we're going in the Lunch time. For sure, no one will eat inside the office. Unfortunately, Andre doesn't want my plan. It's risky, I know, but it's the only idea I have. Besides, the higher the risk, the higher the investment. Andre snaps his fingers in front of me. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I give him a questioning look.

"Why don't we ask someone to ask Sophia about her birthday?" he suggests. A devastated sigh escapes from my lips. "You think Sophia will just tell anyone her birthday?" "Yeah," he says, but I know he doesn't believe his idea will work. "Andre." "What?" he asks, frowning. "You don't have to help me if you don't want to." He scowls at me. "Of course I'll help you." "No, if you don't --" "I want to help you!" He snaps, glaring at me. "I know you will," I say, grinning. He rolls his eyes but he's smiling too. I know Andre hesitated before because if they capture us, there's a big chance t hat his records will be marred. And it'll be a huge problem because he wants to go to a prestigious university. "You're going to be my guard," I tell him. "Give me a sign, a whistle, clap, or whatever, when you see someone coming." "But I want to go there with you," he protests. "No," I say firmly. At least, if ever they catch us, I'll be the one to be blame . I don't have to take my best friend with me when I go down. "You're my best friend, I want to help you." "You're already helping me by sticking to the plan." He groans, but still says in a clearly defeated voice, "Okay." That's what I like about our friendship; we respect each other's decision. "Than ks Dre." "That's what friends are supposed to do." He shrugs. I'm about to agree when the bell rings. ----We walk towards the Principal's office, both of us preoccupied with our own thou ghts. This is a challenge for both Andre and me. I wonder why I'm taking a lot o f risks just to know when Pie's birthday is. Is it really that important? "Nervous, Swift?" Andre teases, a smile is tugging at the corner of his mouth. Taking a deep breath, I say, "I'm not, Lavigne." I have to focus, keep the prese nt in mind, and forget anything else until I'm done with the goal.

"Here we are," Andre says excitedly. We stop in front of the Principal's office. Fortunately, there's no one in sight . I twist the doorknob, and then nothing. It just clicks. I try again. And again, although I know it will not open. "It's locked," I say obviously. Andre looks smug. For a moment I think he's glad we don't have to do this, when he gets something from his jeans pocket. He dangles a key in front of me. "Where did you get that?" I ask. "Let's just say a friend of mine gave me a little favor," he says slyly. I don't bother questioning him about details even though I'm curious. The import ant thing is, "What if your friend tells about us?" "She will not," he says positively. "Put the key then." He slides the key and twists the doorknob. He opens the door quietly and says, " Ready?" "Absolutely!"

***** I hope you like this ^.^ The song is Count On Me by Bruno Mars. The song of Drake and Andre :> Banner by LittleMissIronic. It's nice knowing where the readers of my story live :) Happy Mother's Day to my mom, to your mom, and to you, if you're a mother =) Thank you for reading <3 ******************************************* [13] The Bet *Adrenaline ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 13 *Adrenaline ~Sophia

When I enter the room for my first class, some of my classmates look at me oddly . Maybe they're wondering why a girl like me can ride in Andre's car. This is th e reason why after arriving in the school, I went directly to the comfort room a

nd stayed there until five minutes before the bell will ring. I heave a sigh. As Andre said, I should expect this. The good thing is, none of them is brave enough to ask me the question. As the substitute discusses about the X and Y formula, I can feel the heavy star es at the back of my head. Unfortunately, they can see me because I'm sitting in front. Just perfect for their view. I feel like I'm in a center stage with a lot of people looking at me expectantly but I'm just staring at them, forgetting my lines and not performing my act. I'm being paranoid, I know. Glancing to my right, I catch one of my old friends looking curiously at me. I give her a small smile and then she nods in return. Are my old friends wondering if I now moved on from my bitter past? They must be . Moving on is simple, it's what you leave behind that makes it so difficult. Perhaps when he and I broke up, they had a full blast of I told you so. I'm just glad they didn't say it to me. With a lot of things happened then, I couldn't s tand anything more painfully. I still remember that day we fought because of him like it was just yesterday, s o fresh in my mind. I wonder why the bad memories don't go away. Is it because t o let us remember the hardships we experienced and then maybe when we thought we had enough, we can look back at them and think, I've had worse. I can survive a gain. When did I become so optimistic? Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, my gaze turns to my old friend, Elizabeth. Before, she was my closest friend. When I fought with her and our other friends , everything changed. We still talk and say occasional greetings but it's not th e same as before. I don't even know if they're still my friends. Sometimes, we a void eye contact too. I guess they're still mad at me. Well, I can't do anything about that. I was the one who got a heart broken and had been alone for a long time. Still, I said sorry to them. I listen to the substitute to not think of unnecessary things. Unfortunately for me, I already know what she's discussing so it's hard to tune out the thoughts that are clouding my mind.

~Drake

Where is the letter T? All around me are towers of shelves. I didn't know the Record Section can be thi s big. Every bookshelf has its own drawers. Looking around again, I search for t he letter T; which stands for Taylor. How minutes have passed since I enter this room? So far, Andre hasn't given me a signal yet that someone is coming. Unfortunately, there's no window in this massive room. That can only mean one th ing. If they catch us, there's no way to escape.

Adrenaline pumps in my blood making me more excited than I already am. When I open a drawer in the first shelf, there are a lot of envelopes in my line of sight. I wonder how the staff arranges the student's files. Why isn't there' s no letter indicated for every shelves and drawers? Maybe it's to prevent the students who want to know the information of other stu dents. So there goes my subconscious mind again. I missed you too, I think sarcastically. Getting an envelope, I see that this drawer is for the letter C. I hope they arr anged these alphabetically. Walking to another hallway, I look at signs for letters in the drawers. When a d rawer catches my attention, I open it. I don't have time to check all the drawer s here. It will take a day before I can finish. So I have to use my instinct ins tead. Why am I so curious in finding out Pie's birthday? What if it doesn't fall in th e bet month? Does that mean all this hard work will be nothing? A frustrated sigh escapes from my lips. I'm so focus on looking on the shelves I haven't seen a folder in front of me. I'm so lucky I trip because of it. I fall on the floor, hip first. To my horror, I hear footsteps coming near me. I mutte r something under my breath as I try to stand up. I just fall down again. Stupid, stupid, stupid! If I get caught, there's no future for me. Look at my grades! And they'll look at my behavior in school too. I'm busted, just because of a bet! And then someone comes into view. Andre? Sweat pours down his face. He looks nervous too. He's not even laughing at my cu rrent situation. "What's wrong?' I ask, ignoring the pain on my hip. He walks towards me and kneels where I'm sitting. "I told you to not come inside!" "I gave you a sign," he whispers. "There's someone coming! I whistled and clappe d repeatedly but you didn't get out so I come and tell you instead." "Are you insane?" I ask, horrified. "What if they see you?" "What if they catch you?" "You're stupid," I growl. "You shouldn't waste your time worrying about me!" "Idiot," he hisses. "I'm your best friend! I will never leave you." I shake my head and decide not to argue with him. I know I can't win this fight.

"What are we going to do?" I ask calmly. I know he will think of a logical answer because he's the smart one in this grou p. Group? It consists of two persons. Me and Andre. "The secretary just rounded the hallway when I saw her, and that's when I starte d to give you signs, which didn't get your attention, obviously." He stops and s cowls at me. "And then I come in, and you know what's next." "I s she alone?" I whisper. "Who?" Andre asks, confused. "The secretary," I mutter. Andre nods. He looks from side to side, just as surprised and awed as I was when I entered a few minutes earlier. "What if she'll enter here?" I ask quietly. "I doubt it," he says. "She looks rushed. Maybe she'll just get something in the office that's why she comes back." I hope Andre's optimism will not get us into trouble. He suddenly notices the state and position I am currently in. His brows furrows in confusion as he tries to analyze why I'm sitting on the floor. I am tempted to lie but will I pay him that for his kindness? So I tell him the truth. "I tripped on this stupid folder." I kick it out of the way. Andre snorts. If we're not in this kind of situation, there's no doubt he'll mak e fun of me. "So, have you seen Sophia's file?" "Not yet," I mutter darkly. He helps me stands up and we walk to another corridor. To our astonishment, we hear the door opening. I wonder why I didn't hear it whe n Andre entered. A loud clicking of stilettos on the floor makes us freeze. My heart thumps loudl y in my chest. Andre and I both look at each other in alarm. "Kneel down," he whispers fiercely. I kneel down and bow my head low. He does the same. In between the drawers, there's a little space. I peek into it, just in time to see the secretary narrowing her eyes to the place we just evacuated. Do they hav e supernatural powers? To our relief, she decides that there's nothing wrong with this room so she goes out. We both hear the click indicating that she locks the front door. I let out the breath I don't know I am holding. Andre looks amused. "Admit it, because of her," he jerks his head towards the do

or, "it becomes more exciting." "Yeah," I say. It's like I just rode a roller coaster! "Let's search fast," he says, standing up. "Let's?" "Yeah, considering you're too slow in finding one file." "Whatever." We make our separate way, opening the drawers I haven't checked yet. Because of what happened, I become paranoid. I always look behind my back, afraid someone w ill come again. The pain on my hip is slowly subsiding into nothing. This is fun, but I'm taking a lot of risks here to something I'm not sure I'll a chieve. "Five minutes to go," Andre whispers. We still have to be cautious because sometimes, unexpected things can happen. There are two drawers left that I haven't checked. Opening the first one, I scan it as fast as I can. I let out a frustrated growl when I realize it's for lette r M. Clearly, these aren't arranged alphabetically! What about the drawers I hav en't opened yet? What if Pie's file is there? We don't have time to check those too! Does that mean that everything we did and still do is for nothing? "Hey," Andre says, walking towards me. "I've checked all those files there." He points to the south part of the wall. He doesn't have to say anything because I know that he hasn't find Pie's file. "Have you checked all these drawers?" he asks. I shake my head. "I haven't checked this," I say, putting my hand on the drawer . "Why don't you open it?" "Because Pie's file will not be here!" "Pie?" Andre asks bemusedly. "Ignore it!" I snap. I don't even know why I call Sophia, Pie, in front of Andre . He whistles under his breath, grinning from ear to ear. "Let's go!" I say. "What?" he asks incredulously. "You haven't opened this one yet." "It's not there." "How can you be so sure?" I open the drawer to satisfy him. My eyes nearly bulge from their sockets when I see the blinking letter T on top of the envelopes. Swallowing the lump in my th

roat, I get the last one from the drawer. I raise it for Andre to see. "This is Sophia's file," I say, a smirk forming on my lips.

~Sophia

"How's school?" Aunt V asks. We're having our dinner in the dining room. When the school ended, Andre waited for me in the parking lot because my last subject extended from its usual time. "Fun," Andre answers, looking beside him to grin with Draky. They share a secret look which makes me curious. Draky is here again because he has to make a project in school, and Andre is his partner. As if I believe them. What else could it be then? Er, my subconscious mind is just saying that because I'm here, Draky will stay here too. Ugh! When will it shut up? "What about you, Sophia?" Aunt V asks me. "Good," I murmur. It feels like I have to add something more so I say, "We had a pop quiz in Literature and I got a perfect score." I don't know why I said it! They might think"That's great!" Aunt V beams, cutting off my thoughts. Draky smirks, amusement lighting his blue eyes. I wonder why he's late in Litera ture. We didn't talk because after Mrs. Coelho checked the seat plan, we had a p op quiz. I heard that Draky did a good job. When we finish our meal, Aunt V orders Andre to clean the dishes. I'm surprise h e doesn't complain like other guys will. I guess he really is nice, especially w hen it comes to his mom. Speaking of mom, my own mother called a few times, checking if I was okay. If th ey'll just take me home with them, I'll be more than okay. I still don't understand why they want me to move out. Their reason that they wa nt to fix our family is pretty lame. Besides, I didn't hear the first part of th eir conversation. I'm sure there's something going on that I don't know. Maybe they don't want me to know.

I decide to go outside to get some fresh air. I've been here for four days and i t's my first time to be here in the back porch. There's a huge swimming pool in the center t with my feet dangling in the cold water. le the sweet scents coming from them. I'll them. I'll ask Aunt V too if she can give m in my room. of To go me the yard. I walk towards it and si my left is Aunt V's garden. I inha there tomorrow morning and look at some flowers so that I can put the

Glancing up, I see a lot of stars blinking in the sky. Are they the same ones I see when I'm in our house? It's like there are more here than there. My heart leaps in my throat when I feel there's someone behind me. "You scared m e," I hiss. "Sorry," Draky says sheepishly. "Can I join you?" "Yeah," I mutter. "Do you want some chocolate?" he asks, raising the chocolate bar on his hand. I see there's a bit of chocolate on his lips. I find myself mesmerize with it. H e is so "Staring at someone is rude," he teases. "I'm not staring," I say, looking away. I'm glad with the darkness. That means h e can't see the blush creeping on my cheeks. "Sure," he says, chuckling under his breath. "So, you want some?" "No, thanks," I mumble. He rolls his eyes. "Why are you so serious? I was just kidding a while ago and y ou actually get mad." "I'm not mad," I murmur. "I just, uh, already brushed my teeth that's why I can' t eat chocolate." "Okay," he says, a smile is playing at the corner of his lips. Draky and I don't talk after that. We are satisfied with the silence he and I bo th share. One time, he stands up without saying anything and goes inside the house. A mome nt later, he comes back carrying a blanket on his hand. Without saying anything, he drapes it over my shoulders. I don't even realize I am shivering until the w arm blanket envelops me. "Thanks," I murmur. He just shrugs like it's just nothing but his eyes are sparkling like the stars in the sky.

***** The song is Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton. I like this s ong so much ;) I found the picture on Tumblr so I decided to make a scene about it. Do you have a favorite character so far? Thank you so much for reading! <3 *******************************************

[14] The Bet *Contagious ******************************************* If you want to know Sophia's birthday, the history of the surnames of the charac ters, and your request about their picture, read the Author's Note at the end of the chapter. Thank you to all my new fans and to my old fans too! =D

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 14 *Contagious* ~Drake

"Thanks," Pie says. I shrug like it doesn't matter but in reality, it does. There are only few people who aren't always saying thank you but when they do, t hey really mean it. Pie is one of them. I don't know why I want to please her. Is it only for the bet? What else can it be? I feel a little bit awkward towards her though, because I just put a blanket on her shoulders without her permission. I'm a guy; of course, I don't want her to shiver in my presence. If this situation happens to other guys, they will just p ut their arms around the girl. I can't do that. There's no doubt that Pie will f reak out. She might call me a maniac, a jerk, and well, more other names. That m eans I will have a hard time making her fall in love with me. It's funny how I can speak and act normally around Pie but in reality, I just do it for the sake of the bet. There comes a time when I wonder will I ever talk t o her if not for the bet? Will I know that she exists? Glancing at her beside me, I see she's looking peacefully at the stars in the sk y. I didn't know she likes gazing at them. I realize that I don't really know he r. Well, I guess this is the getting to know each other part. "Pie," I say. She doesn't seem to hear me because she doesn't respond when I call her name. I wonder what she's thinking. She looks thoughtful staring at the stars above us. Does she even spare a thought of me? Of course, says my subconscious mind. As if, I thought sarcastically. To stop it from commenting more, I turn to Pie a gain. "Pie," I repeat. Our bare arms almost touch lightly because of the proximity of where we are sitting. She yelps in surprise and looks startle. A smirk forms on my lips. I guess I interrupt a major thought running inside her

head. "What?" she asks, and snuggles close to the blanket I gave her. Does she really feel cold? Why don't I feel it? It's because you're numb. Geez, stop it already! I think I'm going crazy with this voice inside my head. What to say, what to say? Clearing my throat, I start, "Are you comfortable in your room now?" She looks taken aback with my question. I am either. It's the first one to pop i n my head. Why can I easily think of an idea and a plan but cannot start a norm al conversation? "Yes," Pie says finally. "Um, I can sleep peacefully now." "That's good." "Thanks to you." She thanked me again! That's two for tonight. "You are welcome," I say. After that, we don't talk again. I chastise myself in my head. Why can't I think of a decent topic? Like, what's her interest? If I can keep her talking, I can get to know her personally. That will help me win the bet. On second thought, am I just doing this to win? Or maybe a part of me really wan ts to know her? Perhaps it's because of A soft chuckle interrupts my line of thoughts. "What's funny?" I ask Pie curiously. "You asked the wrong question," she says, a smile forming on her lips. Rolling my eyes, I ask, "Who?" "You," she says obviously, her dimple coming into view. "What about me?" I think this already happened before. Is d j vu visiting me? She smirks. "You're always teasing me about daydreaming and you always do it to o." "I do not," I mutter. What is she trying to imply? "Yes, you do," she says smugly, her eyes lights up in amusement. If she wants to play a game, I will play with her. "How do you know?" "Um. I . . uh . . I um, noticed it." She looks away because a blush is making it s way on her cheeks. She twirls her loose hair in her fingers nervously. When sh e stutters, there will surely be a blush on her cheeks after. She notices me daydreaming? How? But I do not daydream, I'm just thinking! And t hey're not even the same! If I explain it to her, she'll tell me I'm defensive a

nd "You're doing it again," she says. A grin makes its way on her mouth. "Whatever," I mutter darkly. That ends our conversation again. Thanks to you, chastises my subconscious mind. I just ignore it, thinking that i f I leave it alone, it will not bother me anymore. I notice that Pie's in the mood right now. Smiling looks good on her. "Draky," Pie says. "What?" "What course will you get in college?" Her question catches me off guard. She's not looking at me. Her gaze is far away . I wonder if I'll ever see the same things she sees in her own eyes. "I still don't know," I answer. "Why do you not know?" "Because I don't know?" I joke. She's not smiling, that's why I know she's serious. Taking a deep breath, I tell her, "Truth is, I don't know if I'll continue my st udy after high school." She turns to me with wide eyes full of concern. "Why?" Even though it's just a one word, her voice catches at the end. "Because." I sigh. "Look at my grades! I don't know if a university will accept me!" Pie pulls her feet off the pool and turns so she's sitting, facing me. Swallowin g the lump in my throat, I do the same. "Andre is helping you study, right?" Pie asks softly. "And I'm still going to tu tor you in Literature." "Really?" I ask dubiously. "If you want, I can help you with your other subjects too, if you're having a ha rd time with them." Something tugs at the corner beside my chest. Looking away from her, I say, "I d on't need your pity." Her mouth hangs open and she looks shock at my accusation at her. "I don't pity you." "Sure you don't," I mutter. "Why are you acting like this?" she asks. "One minute you're nice, and then the

next . . ." "I'm not acting," I snap. "I just want to help you. If you don't want it, fine!" She turns away from me an d puts her feet back on the pool carelessly, splashing water lightly beside us. "Sorry," she mutters angrily. She hides her face in her hair so that I won't see her expression. I don't believe she pities me. I just want to say it because of the guilt I feel inside me. She wants to help me, but what will I repay her for her kindness? I' m just going to hurt her in the end. Even the thought of hurting her makes me fl inch now. Perhaps wanting to be close to her will make it more unbearable. Looking at her in the corner of my eye, I see that her teeth are gritted togethe r. Her eyes are fixed towards nothing in particular. Her fists are clenched on h er lap. She's trying hard not to cry. Oh. I guess even if I ignore my subconscious mind, it will not stop. "Pie," I begin, "I'm sorry I snapped at you." "Whatever," she mumbles, not sparing me a glance. "I didn't mean anything I said to you a while ago. I . . uh, I . ." Good, I'm st uttering too. Pie tainted me. Maybe it's contagious. I just have to hang out wit h her everyday and then I'll stutter in every sentence I'll say. Taking a deep breath, I continue, "If your offer is still up, I'll be glad if yo u'll tutor me." "Really?" she asks, looking at me right in the eye. "Yes," I say. I wonder why her eyes lights up. "Good." She smiles, forgetting my stupid outburst earlier. Why does she wants to help me study? I forgot to ask her what she wants to be in the future. "It's getting late," Pie says suddenly. "There's school tomorrow." "Thanks for reminding me," I mutter under my breath. She rolls her eyes and says, "I'm going inside. Are you staying here?" I shake my head. "I don't want to be late." "Good," she repeats. I have no doubt she wants me to go to a university and continue my studies for a better future. Pie stands up and as she takes her first step, she gets off balance. Her right f oot slides on the surface beside the pool where the water splashed a while ago, making the path slippery. Before she falls on the pool, I grab her hand impulsively and put my other arm a

round her to stop the impact. Her back bends and I'm looking at her face a few centimeters away from mine. Her pale blue eyes are staring at my own. I can feel her breath surrounding me. Sha king my head to clear my thoughts, I steady her to her feet. "Thank you," she says, out of breath. That's three already! "What?" she asks, a confused expression on her face. "What's three already?" Er, I don't know I said that aloud. "That's nothing," I say sheepishly. "Okay," she says slowly, not clearly convinced. Phew! I almost get caught! I look down and realize that I'm still holding her hand. I let it go like its el ectricity sending wave shocks to my body.

----As the lightning strikes, I see a silhouette beside my window. It's raining so h ard, I can't see who it is. The electricity went off a few minutes ago because o f the thunder. My heart thumps a little loudly in my chest as I try to see who t he person is. Did a thief enter Andre's house? When the light suddenly flickers to life for a second, I see who that is. A sigh of relief escapes from my mouth when I see that it's just Pie. "What are you doing here?" My voice is stupidly shaking so I clear my throat. She tilts her head to the side and walks a few feet towards me. I haven't even seen her enter my room! She's wearing a light beige night gown an d her usual straight hair is now flowing curly on her shoulders. "What is this about?" I ask, getting up from my bed. Why isn't she talking? Her hands are clasps behind her back, like she's holding something precious there. Looking at her face, I see it's expressionless. "Are you trying to seduce me?" I tease her. Maybe she planned it with Andre. A laugh escapes from my mouth as I watch her w alks, no; it's more like glides, towards me. Give it to me to laugh in this kind of situation. Pie looks like an avenging angel. What happened to the Pie I talked to a while a go? "Okay, stop it now," I say, "It isn't funny." To my astonishment, she glares at me with eyes pure of hate. "How dare you play with me?" She growls.

Taking a step back, I can't help but notice that she practiced well. "I haven't done anything to you." I know I'm lying, but look at her! She's not Pie! "I trusted you!" She yells, moving slowly now because there's only a few feet in front of us. "I even liked you! You know I've been through a lot, and you still continue to play this game!" Oh. So she knew about the bet? But how? Only Andre and I only knew about that. A ndre would never betray me. So how did she know? Are we that careless? Am I not a good actor? What am I going to do? "Look Pie," I start. "Pie?" She snaps. "You stupid idiot, don't ever call me that!" It's like nature is with her because when she speaks, the rumbling of the clouds goes with her. Taking a deep breath, I say, "Sorry." She scoffs. "Sorry?! The damage is already done! You cannot do anything about it !" She shakes her head and glides towards me. I want to step back again when my back connects with the wall. I have to calm he r. She looks nothing like the Pie I know. It's like someone else is using her bo dy. "Pie," I begin. And then I know I said the wrong thing because "You deserve to die," she hisses, and lunges towards me. I realize too late what the precious thing on her hands is. Taken by surprise, I just watch her as she strikes the knife in my chest.

***** The song is The Shot Heard 'Round The World by Boys Like Girls (:one of my favor ite boy bands:) Banner by LittleMissIronic. About the birthday of Sophia, you'll know it when the right time comes :P I got the surname of Drake from Taylor Swift and the surname of Sophia from Tayl or's name (:I bet you already guessed it:) I didn't really think of Avril Lavign e when I get the surname of Andre. It was last minute thinking and I was browsin g facebook when I saw the profile of Ryan Christophe Lavigne. I thought, "Why no t?" I used his surname then :> About the pictures of the other characters, feel free to imagine them in your he ad (I already gave their physical appearance). The only reason Drake has a pictu re is because when I started writing this story way back in September 2010, I sa w Ryan. And even though I'm using his picture, the Drake in my mind isn't him; a lbeit they almost look the same. Whoa! It's a long Author's Note! Thank you for reading it =D

Thank you for reading my story <3 ******************************************* [15] The Bet *Revelation ******************************************* This is dedicated to all of you <3 Happy Reading! (: Chapter 15 *Revelation* ~ Sophia

Blank white walls are staring at me wherever I look. Where am I? Stupid question! Of course I am in the most dreading place I can imagine. Why am I here? Is there someone I know who's No. I can't even finish that line of thought. I'm like a protagonist in a story, trying to find the end of the maze, desperate ly searching for the finish line. Wherever hallways and floors I go, it still is the same. The blank white paint i s closing in on me, making it hard to breathe. I run frantically, searching for someone to help me. In the corner of my eye, I see a door on my right. The first one r. I make my way towards it quietly and slowly. I don't know why one will see me when in the first place, I wanted to see a human is pounding so hard in my chest, maybe from nervousness than in m going to see. I've seen so fa I'm afraid some being. My heart fear of what I'

When I'm about to twist the doorknob, a loud scream makes me startle. Everything becomes blurry all of a sudden. All around me, it's fading. I am fading.

Opening my eyes, a sigh of relief escapes from my mouth when I realize it was ju st a dream. Blinking my eyes, I focus on my breathing to return to normal. I've never been so glad to be in this room. But wait! A loud scream woke me up a nd I'm sure it was not part of the dream. Light footsteps are coming from the hallway. If I'm not wrong, the scream came f rom the room across from mine. Draky. I sit upright which makes me dizzy. I wait for a few seconds before I stand up b ecause my vision is quite blurry. I don't know why I'm suddenly nervous. Perhaps because I'm afraid something happened to Draky. At that thought, I get up from

the bed and walk out of my room, not bothering to glance at a mirror. Whispers can be heard inside Draky's room. I'm about to knock when I hear my nam e comes out from Andre's mouth. I know it's rude to eavesdrop but I want to know why are they talking about me, or rather, why did Andre say my name. Swallowing the lump in my throat and calming the bubbles that are rising in my s tomach because of the excitement, I move closer to the door to hear them clearly . It feels like a d j vu when I overhear my pa"What happened?" Andre asks, interrupting my thoughts. "I had a dream," Draky whispers, "A nightmare." I notice that his voice is a lit tle shaky. Maybe it was the reason why he screamed. A smirk makes its way onto my face. I t hought guys screaming because of a nightmare only happen in movies. I know I sho uldn't make fun of him, but Draky screaming because of a nightmare is close to i mpossible. Draky asks Andre a question I didn't hear. Okay, it's time to shut up my babblin g mind. "I couldn't sleep," Andre says, "so I walk around the house, waiting for the dro wsiness to take me." Perhaps Draky asked him how he heard him. I wonder why Aunt V isn't here. Maybe she's dreaming peacefully. What time is it anyway? A few hours after midnight? "That's when I heard you," Andre continues, "I thought there were aliens abducti ng you." I hear shuffling inside and a groan from someone. "Ouch!" Andre grunts. I wonder what Draky did to him. After an awkward silence (in my part), they star t talking again. "You told me it was about Sophia," Andre says. "Yes," replies Draky. "What was it?" Does that mean that Draky dreamed of me? And it was a nightmare? Talk about emba rrassing! And to top it all, Andre wants to know about it. What did I do to him in his dream that made him scream? Hah. Why do I even think I have a major role in his dream? I bet I was just a background in it. A clearing of the throat makes me yelp in surprise. I look around me wildly, afr aid that they catch me eavesdropping on them. I exhale a sigh of relief when I r ealize that the sound came inside Draky's room. "It was raining, and I was here inside this room," Draky begins in a quiet voice . I wonder if he'll tell this dream if he knows I am listening. "Suddenly," he continues, "Pie, no I mean, Sophia, just appeared out of nowhere.

I was shocked to see her inside my room, you know. I thought you were both play ing a prank on me." I really want to see Draky's expression while he's talking. "She was not the Sophia I know. She looked like an avenging angel advancing towa rds me." Me, an avenging angel? It's kind of amusing when people tell their friends about their dream. But why did he say earlier that it was a nightmare? "And then she started talking about the bet," Draky says in an urgent tone. "How did she know?" Andre whispers. The bet? What are they talking about? "I don't know! Thank goodness it was just a dream! But I was so shocked with her outbursts I just stared at her like she was a bizarre creature." "It's impossible," Andre says slowly. "She'll never know. We're the only one who knows about it." "I know," Draky agrees. "But this surprised me even more. She said that she even liked me. Like, she had a crush on me." "Yeah," Andre says in a dry tone. "It was just a dream; don't put it in your hea d." "Shut up," Draky mutters. "I'm not even done." "Continue it then. I want to know the ending of your dream." I can't even think straight while they're talking because part of me is focused on what they are saying. "When I called her Pie," Draky says slowly, "She lunged at me and stroked the kn ife in my chest." "Whoa! Where did the knife came from?" Andre asks, his voice full of excitement. "I don't know. Maybe she was holding it the whole time she was there." They don't speak after that. My mind is whirling with a lot of thoughts. Why wou ld I kill Draky in his dream? What's the bet they're talking about? How "That's when I heard you scream," Andre repeats, "When you thought you were goin g to die." "It was such a creepy nightmare," Draky says quietly. "But why would you dream of that?" "Perhaps it was because of my subconscious mind, or it can be the guilt consumin g me because I am playing with her." "Do you want to cancel the bet?" Andre asks in a concern tone. "No," Draky says firmly. He pauses and says, "It's the sixth day already. I can' t back out now."

"Don't worry Swift, we just have to be careful." "Do you think she knows what we're up to?" "I doubt it. As you said, today is the sixth day and nothing weird happened sinc e the first day." "I just have to make her fall in love with me." "Maybe you are falling in love with her," Andre says matter-of-factly. "Are you crazy?!" Draky snaps. "You just can't fall in love with someone within just a few days of hanging out with her. And just because I will make her fall i n love with me doesn't mean I'll do the same." "I was just kidding," Andre says in a soft voice. "She's not even my type," Draky says furiously. "Remember," Andre reminds him, "You have to ask her to be your girl friend. She should say yes on the thirty-first." "I know," Draky whispers. "And then I'll tell her it was all a bet." A bet, a bet, a bet. It was all a bet. My mind is spinning wildly, I feel dizzy again. Is this a nightmare? I pinch my cheek to wake up but I'm still here, my face a few inches from the door. I can't form a coherent thought. I don't know why my heart wants to rip its way out of my chest. Time suddenly stops ticking. My messed up mind tries to fit the puzzle perfectly . The nightmare. The killing. The guilt. The bet. Of course, before that, the tutoring lesson, him staying at this house while I'm here, listening to me, hanging out with me, pretending he's concern with my sit uation. Oh God. It's so obvious. I was just blind. I should have known! He did not talk to me before, and then like a magic puff, he wants to get close to me, like he's suddenly interested in me. I feel so brainless! What's the point of being intelligent when I don't even kno w someone is playing with me? Closing my eyes, I try to block the images burning in my mind when I was with Dr aky. To my horror, I hear feet shuffling inside the room. Someone wants to get o ut. I am frozen in place, like the time when I overheard my parents talking about me . My feet are numb; they are firmly planted on the ground. But I can't let them see me. Using all the energy left in my body, I crawl inside my room painfully. It's hard, when my own body doesn't want to cooperate. I don't want to fail so I continue, ignoring the protest of my limbs and muscles until I enter my room. H ow I lock the door behind me with shaking and uncontrollable fingers is beyond m

e. There's an arrow with a fire that pierces right through my chest, striking it so hard I stumble on the floor. She's not even my type. Make her fall in love with me. Tell her all about the be t. My mind haunts me with those words again and again. An eerie kind of sound is inside my room. My eyes are close so I can't see where it's coming from. My stomach is clenching in pain, it's tightening so hard. I c rawl into a ball, hugging it to numb the pain. I guess my lung is malfunctioning because I can't breathe. A hiccup escapes from my quivering lips and that's when I realize what the eerie sound I heard earlier is. It's my sob; a hysterical kind of sobbing. I didn't e ven know it was me. Tears flows through my eyes like rain from the sky. He did all those things to make me fall in his trap. He's a stupid guy, playing a girl, making her fall in love with him because of a bet. Why me? There are a l ot of girls out there! Did they think I am shallow enough to fall for him? What they are doing is absolutely wrong and immoral! Even if the victim isn't me . They want to make my life miserable? I won't let them! My life is already mess ed up as it is. They don't have to add another burden in me! Did they say today is the sixth day? My mind do the math and I realize that they started on the day Ma'am Coelho instructed me to tutor Draky. I guess he or bot h Andre and him planned it all along. Did they plan this too, me staying at this house? Perhaps all his actions were all pretend to make me fall. My heart is shattering into tiny pieces in my body. It's not because I love him. How can I even love that stupid moron? It's because of the thought that everyth ing happened between us was all a lie. Did they really think I will fall for their idiotic game? Those jerks even think low of me! I shove all the pains aside, trying to think logically. My breathing is sharp an d slow, I can feel the anger radiating off my body. I shouldn't be moping around like there's no tomorrow. I should save all my ener gy to think of a plan to sabotage their deadly little game. Drake Swift sure won in those first five days but I won't let him score again. I f he wants to play, I will give him a game he will never forget for the rest of his life.

***** I hope you like this <3

It's short, but I have to end it here. The fun and real action will surely begin in the next chapters =) The song has nothing to do with the chapter but it makes me cry whenever I liste n to it. It's called Terrible Things by Mayday Parade. Banner by: XxRandomDancerxX Thank you for supporting me and my story :) It means a lot to me, I can't even p ut it into words <3 Thank you! *.* ******************************************* [16] The Bet *Reverse ******************************************* Thank you to all my new fans! Hello to all my previous fans. Hi to all the read ers out there. The song for the chapter is What the Hell by Avril Lavigne. Banner by oOMusicJunkieOo Click the External link on the side to watch a trailer of The Bet <3

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 16 *Reverse* ~ Drake

Andre has been my best friend since middle school so telling him about my creepy nightmare was not a big deal. Truth be told, I was scared of it. Who wouldn't, when someone they know wanted to kill them, even if it was just a dream? I shoul dn't be thinking on it so hard. The odds are in my favor. Sophia will not know Geez! Even in my mind, I'm calling her Sophia now instead of Pie. The nightmare did strike my nerves! I lie awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Glancing at my phone, I see it's jus t past three in the morning. I know I will not sleep anymore because of the nigh tmare I dreamed. Suddenly, I envy Andre who's sleeping in his room now. Will Sophia really do that when she finds out about the bet? I don't think any s ane person will do that. Any sane person will not play with someone's feelings. "Whatever," I mutter. I will do everything I can to win this time. Pie will get hurt. Why, will she really fall in love with me? Wait! Why do I even doubt myself? Of course she will!

Knowing my subconscious mind will not stop torturing me, I need to have a distra ction. What will I do? It's not even my room so my things aren't here. Why am I even staying at this house? I guess I have to sleep in our house from now on. I feel tired, like my energy was sucked out of me, leaving me drain and breathle ss. Out of nowhere, an idea pops in my head. Why don't I read a book? A Midsumme r Night's Dream! It will help me in getting good grades and well, a chance in en tering a big university. Swinging my legs off the bed, I go to my desk to get the copy of the play. Unfor tunately, it's not there. Where is it? I open my school bag and take all my thin gs out but I still can't find it. I close my eyes and think deeply on the last time I've seen it. Yesterday we had Literature but I don't remember using it. The day before that was Sunday. Drian a came here and then Sophia tutored me in the library. In the library! Of course it's there! Opening my eyes, I can't believe I'm that careless to leave the pla y there. What if I'll need it in school? Go and get it now! "Okay boss," I say dryly. This voice is really getting on my nerves! What will I do to make it stop? Stop the bet. "No thanks," I retort. It's your choice. Am I crazy? Why am I talking to myself? I guess all teenagers experienced this a t one point in their life. I walk out of my room quietly to not disturb Sophia on her sleep. I'm glad she d id not wake up when I screamed earlier. What makes you think that she didn't hear you? If she heard me, there's no doubt that she'll go to my room immediately. She eve n told me that she's comfortable in her room. Perhaps she's having a wonderful d ream right now. Am I explaining this to my subconscious mind, or am I reassuring my self? Either way, I feel normal now. I walk downstairs and take the hallway to the right that leads to the Entertainm ent room, Game room, and finally, the Library. I am tempted to just play Final F antasy but I fight that urge off and decide to just go to the library which is r eally my first choice. Opening its door, I am clearly amaze of seeing a lot of books even though it isn 't my first time to come here. Tall bookshelves are taking much of the space in the room. According to Andre, the books are arranged based on their titles. Ther e are hardbound, paperback, and leather-cover. Every bookshelf is marked with th eir genres of the book that are placed there. Fiction, non-fiction, romance, cla ssic, documentaries, Encyclopedia, and some others I can't name. One thing I kno w, you'll not have a hard time finding a book you like to read. Sofas, couches, chairs, and tables are surrounding the massive fire place in the center of the room. Above it hangs pictures of Andre and his family. On the rig ht side of the fire place are two giant windows overlooking Aunt Veronica's gard en. A velvet curtain is drape over them. Between the two windows is an antique w

all clock. What really special about this room is the flooring. It's not tiles or even an e xpensive carpet. There are printed words in it, the favorite quotations of Aunti e from the books she read. The first time I came here, I read all those quotatio ns. It took me three hours to finish them all. They're not even repeatable. If I remember correctly, there are three hundred sixty five quotes all in all. Unfor tunately, I just read more or less three hundred because I couldn't read the quo tations from under the shelf. I can still remember the amused smile on Auntie's face when she watched me read her favorite quotes. There's a remote control for the lights of the room so that you can choose your own preference when you're reading. I pick the remote control on one of the tabl es and click a random button. Like a magic, the lights dim a little. I'm about t o change it when I remember the reason why I'm here. Finding my copy of A Midsum mer Night's Dream is not so hard because it's still on the same place where Soph ia and I studied. I make myself comfortable in a chair and start to read on the part where I stopp ed when Sophia tutored me. To my amazement, I don't feel bored as I read it. Before, when I want to sleep, I'll just grab a book and read it. After a few minutes, I will surely fall aslee p. Now, it's different. I'm even enjoying my self a little. The reason why I put the play down is because when I glance at the wall clock, it's almost six in th e morning. Time to go home. I stretch my arms above me and yawn involuntarily. I hope I'll not fall asleep i n class. I go back to my room and pack my things. I write a note for Andre, saying that I 'll go home now. Downstairs, I make my way towards his room and slip the paper b elow his door. He'll see it when he wakes up. Closing the front door as I go out, I'm not worried that someone will come in be cause the door has an automatic lock. It's unusually cold this time of the day. The wind makes me shiver so I tighten my coat around me. I walk to where my car is parked and I slide in it gratefully . As soon as I start the engine, I turn on the heater to stop my teeth from chat tering. When I arrive at the house, I get my spare key in my jeans pocket and twist it i n the doorknob. A light is coming through the kitchen so I go to that direction. Driana is in her night gown, preparing her breakfast. "Where's mom?" I ask. To my surprise, she jumps at the sound of my voice. She even drops the bowl she' s holding. Driana turns around with a scowl on her face. Without meaning to, I smirk. "Next time you come here," she says in a disapproving voice, "Give me a signal. Don't startle me!" Didn't she hear me walk in? "It was your fault," I say smugly. "You're oblivious to your surroundings."

"I am not!" She exclaims, picking up the bowl from the floor. "Yes, you are," I say, mostly to annoy her. "Whatever, Draky," she says dryly, rolling her eyes. I guess she's not in the mood so I let it go to have a real conversation with he r. "Where's mom?" I repeat. "I don't know," she says, opening the refrigerator to get some milk. She pours i t on the bowl until it's almost full. "Why do you not know?" I question. "Because I don't know," she insists. Hah. We really are twins. Those were the same words I said to Sophia last night when she asked me about my future. Driana gets the fruity loops cereal on the upper cabinet and puts some on her bo wl. She mixes the milk and the cereal with a satisfied look on her face. A frustrated sigh escapes from my lips as I watch her eat that kind of thing. Yo u can't be full just because of that. "Driana, where is mom?" I ask seriously. I wonder where she is. This time of the day, she's usually in the kitchen preparing breakfast. "I really don't know," she says carelessly, munching her food. As if on cue, my mom walks in the room. "Good morning twins," she greets us. I don't like it when mom calls us the twins, even if it's true. Driana knows it so she sticks her tongue at me like she used to when we were kids. She hops on t he kitchen counter beside me, almost toppling her food on me. She smiles sheepis hly, and pretends to pour the milk on me. I'm about to yell at her when my mom t urns to me. "What time did you get here?" She asks. "A while ago," I answer. I notice that she's not wearing her usual clothes when she's staying at home. "Where are you going?" I ask. A wry smile crosses her face as she shares a look with Driana. Are they keeping a secret from me? Finally, she says, "I'm going to have a vacation." "Vacation?" I ask incredulously. "Yes" "Where?" I ask, "With whom?" Vacation in October?! "With your father, of course," she says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Isn't he busy with his work?" My mom shrugs, like she doesn't care about it. "He was the one who planned it."

"Where?" I repeat. "Oh, just a resort somewhere." I guess they are the only information I will get. "Why did you just tell me now? " Mom puts her hands on her hips. She opens her mouth to say something but Driana cuts her off. "Come on," Driana starts, "Give mom a break! You seldom sleep here and when you do, you always come home late. So how can she tell you?" This is the reason why I don't like my twin. She's not even in the conversation but she's joining and voicing her opinions without permission. Always jumping in at the wrong time! Don't you hate siblings like her? I turn to my mom who has a sad expression on her face. As a mother, she doesn't like her children fighting and arguing. But what can I do about that? Driana can easily piss me off! Taking a deep breath, I say, "Sorry." Mom walks to where I'm standing and gives me a pat on the cheek. "That's okay," she says affectionately. "Try to be civilize with each other while I'm gone. I'l l be back after three days." Mom needs this vacation to be free of stress coming from us. I can't help but wi nce at the thought. I wonder why my subconscious mind isn't talking right now. "I have to go," my mom says suddenly. "Your father and I will just meet at the a irport." Airport? Where will they go? "I'll take you there," I offer. "No, it's alright. I'll just get a cab. Besides, you have to get ready for schoo l." "Okay," I say with a sigh. After mom hugs us, she reminds us things we already know. Like lock the door whe n we go out, clean the house, eat, and other basic things. And then she leaves u s with an excited smile on her face. To my astonishment, Driana whoops joyfully and do a happy dance. She's really fu nny to watch, especially her facial expression. "What are you doing?" I ask amusedly. She suddenly stops, and momentarily remembers that I'm in the same room as her. "The house is mine for three days!" She smiles from ear to ear. "Who said that?" I ask. "Are you deaf?" She says sarcastically. "I just said it." She's really getting on my nerves! Controlling the urge to say vicious things at her, I say, "Who said that you're going to be alone in this house?"

Her smile falters and then her mouth sets into a thin hard line. "Why?" "Of course I'm staying here to look after my young sister." "Aren't you staying at Andre's house?" "Nope," I say, popping the p sound. She stomps her feet angrily and grumbles, "Ugh!" A cheeky grin makes its way onto my face. At least I can still annoy her.

~Sophia

They say that if you want to make revenge, just live a happy life. I can't do th at, considering I know that Draky's still on the game. I'm not waiting for karma to do its job. I want to do it on my own. As they say, payback is as sweet as r evenge. I can already taste it on my tongue; the victory I will achieve no matte r what. I get ready for school an hour before the usual time because I don't want to rid e in Andre's car. I might snap at him in an instant. Taking the bus full of stra ngers seems a good idea than riding alone in a car with a jerk. When I'm done preparing, I go to the kitchen to grab some eat-while-you-are-walk ing-food. Unfortunately, Aunt V is there, cooking something for breakfast. I'm a bout to walk away unnoticed when she turns and sees me. "Good morning!" She says. Nothing is good in my morning, I want to say, but instead I greet her, "Good mor ning too." "Breakfast is almost ready, just a few minutes to go." If I stay here five minutes longer, Andre will see me and will insist that I'll ride with him. I cannot let that happen. "I have to meet with my friend in school. I'm running late," I lie. I'm sorry Au nt V. She frowns. "You're not going to eat anything?" She pauses, and then says, "Wait ." I watch her as she gets bread from the oven and put something in it. When she's done, she hands it to me with a smile. I'm glad she doesn't offer that I'll ride with Andre today. "Thank you," I say. "You're welcome." "I have to go now," I say, doing my best not to sound rude. "Good luck with school!"

And with that, I walk towards the front door and into the misty morning air. Whi le going to the bus stop, I eat the bread. It has a delicious taste and a unique flavor. When I look at it, I see that there's some kind of jam in its center. Unfortunately, I can't help but think of how shallow I was to think that Andre w as nice. Wasn't he the one who picked me? At least Andre even considered cancelling the bet. Draky didn't want to. When the bus arrives, I take the seat farthest from the door and beside a window . I process my thoughts on what I'm going to do now. Acting like I know somethin g isn't a good idea. I should just be normal, with an edge. Even though I hate Draky, everything about him, I can't imagine his life miserab le because of me. That's why I'm still going to tutor him, despite his stupidity . Maybe Andre is right - that I'm too nice to hurt other people, even the ones w ho are hurting me. But now I will. Things change. Nothing is permanent. I can think of a lot of ways to make my revenge on him. Besides, if I'll not do that, how can I make him suffer? I can do a lot of damage to him. He doesn't eve n know his opponent. Something is bugging me but I can't quite get what it is. Suddenly, a light bulb shines in my head. Driana. Will I tell her? She already doesn't like her brother, and then I'll add more re ason for her to hate him. She can help me, I know. Even if I want to make him su ffer, I don't want to destroy their relationship as family. Driana is like a sister to me, so keeping a secret from her makes me guilty. But I know I made the right decision because despite of what I know, my heart is at peace. I don't want her to get hurt too because I know she will, especially whe n she finds out that her twin brother is playing with me. I'll wait for the righ t time comes before I spill their dirty little secret to her. Now, I have to make a plan. What will I do? Do I need steps? Why don't I reverse the bet? Instead of me, falling in love with him, why not hi m, falling in love with me? That's a good idea! I'll crumple their stupid game in my hands and I'll mess wit h his head. I'm even excited at the thought. Kind hearted people are the only ones allowed to enter Heaven but you know what they say, there's an exception to every rule.

******************************************* [17] The Bet *Snap ******************************************* Happy Reading! ;) Chapter 17 *Snap*

~Sophia

"You're going to eat all of that?" Driana asks incredulously, staring wide eyes at the food in front of me. "Of course," I say. My food consists of Baked Mac, two slices of pizza, a crme brle, one diet coke and an orange juice. "Are you okay?" she asks worriedly. She leans on the table and puts her hand on my forehead. Rolling my eyes at her, I decide to start with Baked Mac. The first half of the day passed in a blur. For the first time in a long time, I haven't learned a thi ng from the teachers. "I'm fine," I reassure her. She doesn't even buy it. "They say that when people are stress, they tend to eat a lot." "And you believe that?" I ask her teasingly. "Whatever," she says evasively, twirling a loose hair on her finger. Staring at her across from me, I can't stop the guilt I feel inside me. Maybe I should tell her? Driana is smart, she knows what to do. But didn't I already thi nk about that earlier? That the less she knows, the better? Driana's eyes remind me so much of Draky's. Those luminous blue eyes that can lo ok right through you. Can I really A tap on my shoulder makes me jump from my seat. It's like someone sends an elec tric shock through my body. "What are you doing here?" Driana asks, throwing daggers at someone behind me. Turning around, my heart leaps in my throat when I see its Draky. I almost choke the juice I'm drinking. This is the first time I see him since I've known the b et. Some part of me is urging to confront with him but I tune it out. My breathi ng is rag and slow, my hands are shaking so I put them on my lap. This is not th e time to fight with him yet. I'm not even ready to see him. The seconds is slow ly ticking by as we stare at each other. He has an unreadable expression on his face as he looks at me. I can't take my e yes off his piercing gaze! The only thing that breaks as apart is when Driana cl ears her throat. "What are you doing here?" she repeats. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I twist on my chair to face my food. "I'm wondering if I can join you today," Draky says. "Why?" Driana asks

"Because if you haven't noticed, there's no available seat anymore," he says wea rily. Glancing around me, I see that it's true. Some people are crowding in some table s. Some are even standing. If the weather is nice, I'm sure they will just eat o utside. "Why don't you eat with your friends then?" Driana asks, raising her delicate ey ebrows. "Because our table is already full," he says flatly. I'm like an audience, watching on the sideline of their show. "Oh," Driana mutters. "They can't even spare you a space?" "Not really," Draky says, "I just want to eat with my little sister today." "Who says you can eat with us?" Driana says with a voice full of venom. "Me." I can't see his face but I have no doubt he's smiling manically. To my horror, h e slides on the chair beside me. Driana scowls at him but doesn't say anything. What can she do? Make a scene? He's already seated. Every part of my body knows the enemy is just a few inches away from me. I don't want to be close to him so I move my chair farther from him. I feel so dirty ju st by being near him. He doesn't seem to notice because he's staring at my food with genuine interest. "Wow," he says, smiling. "You eat a lot." My gaze turns to his food which just consists of a cheeseburger and a coke in ca n. "I wonder why you don't get fat," he continues. Suddenly I feel self conscious. How dare he talk about me like that? This creatu re I despise so much, I want to make his life a living hell. Driana puts down her fork and stops eating her spaghetti. "How come your sidekic k is not with you?" "Sidekick?" Draky asks, and then realization hits him. "You mean Andre? Why, are you interested in him?" Driana's cheeks redden at the accusation. "I am not," she says through gritted t eeth. "I'm just wondering why he's not with you." The corner of Draky's mouth twitches upward. "That's good because he's certainly not interested with you either." Driana looks at her brother with disgust. "As for your question," he says, "Andre's not here because he attends the Studen t Council meeting." "Hah." Driana scoffs.

Draky turns to me. "I wonder why you don't eat a lot in Andre's house," he says thoughtfully. I feel really irritated. It's like if I open my mouth, I know I will shout at hi s face. Taking a deep breath, I force myself to exhale it slowly. Okay Sophia, y ou have to calm yourself. I breathe in and out until I feel semi normal. "Leave Sophia alone," Driana snaps. "Are you talking to me?" Draky asks amusedly. She puffs out a breath. Before she can say something, Draky mutters, "Shutting u p now." I eat my food, ignoring the guy beside me. Actually, I eat it faster than I'm us ed to. I'm not even chewing it, I just swallow it. "Whoa," he exclaims. "There's no need to rush!" I just continue munching on my last pizza without sparing him a glance. Driana l ooks at me with a confused expression on her face. Maybe she's wondering why I'm acting like this. After drinking my coke until it's empty, I grab my things fro m the floor and stand up. "Wait," Driana says quickly. "What's the rush?" I need to get away from Draky! His presence gives me awful and horrible thoughts . "Sophia," he starts. "I need to go now," I blurt out. "Why?" Driana asks. "I'm not yet done in my homework in Literature," I say. "Homework in Lit?" Draky asks incredulously. Shoot! I slap myself mentally. Goodness! How can I forget that he's my classmate there? "I mean in Arts," I say, biting my lip. "But we don't," Driana says slowly. Ow! She's my classmate in Arts! What's happening to me? Fortunately, Driana real izes what I'm doing. "Oh, yeah," she mumbles, "Our homework in Arts." She gives me a knowing look. Phew! That's close! I let out the breath I don't know I am holding. "I have to go now," I say. I can feel Draky's eyes on me but I don't dare look a t him. "Wait for me!" Driana puts down her fork and joins me. Suddenly I feel bad. She doesn't even finish her food because of me.

"You're going to leave me here alone?" Draky asks, brushing bits of crusts from his mouth. "Yes," Driana answers. She links her arm to mine and we make our way towards the Lit hall without a backward glance. "Thank you," I say with a sigh of relief. We're already in front of my room. It's quiet because my classmates are still in the cafeteria. "It's nothing," Driana says, rolling her eyes. "I know you can't stand Drake as much as me." "Yeah," I murmur. More than you do. "See you in Arts!" "See you." She waves at me and begins to walk away. I enter the classroom and sit on my pla ce. What am I getting myself into? I thought I'm going to make him fall in love with me? How can I do that if I can't even look at him in the eyes? Making him fall in love is not as easy as I thought it would be. Am I even brave enough to do that? Of course I am! I already experienced a lot of sufferings an d hardships so this should be a piece of cake. But there's a problem. I don't kn ow how to start. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I can do this! I can win! Girl power ! After a few minutes, some of my classmates start to enter the room. I read my co py of A Midsummer Nights Dream in case Draky wants to talk to me. Unfortunately, I can feel his presence when he enters the room. When he comes in, I look up fr om my book and my eyes lock with his. He even smirks! He walks to his place behind me with confident strides. I want t o do something to hurt him. Why not start with Oh, I have a very bright idea. I slide me left foot on the way at the same time he walks. He almost falls down on his hips but unfortunately he has fast reflexes so he grabs the chair beside him and straightens himself. Some of my classmates who have seen the scene are now trying hard not to laugh. Draky glares at them and they look hastily away. Meanwhile, a smirk is forming o n my lips. I fake a cough but I know Draky is not too stupid to notice that I'm just trying not to laugh. "Pie," he mutters, scowling at me. "What?" I ask innocently. "Your left foot was out of the way, and you tripped me!" "Oh," I mumble. Good, you deserve it, idiot.

Save by the bell, I don't have to say sorry to him. As if I'll ever say that wor d to him, even in his dream.

~Drake

What's her problem? Why is she ignoring me? She even tripped me! Did she? Shut up, I snap. You're even accusing her of things she didn't do. WhatI sigh. Yes, I'm accusing her of tripping me. What if she just stretched her foo t at the wrong time? I should think logically and not blame other people for the accidents that are happening. I mean, happened. Ma'am Coelho starts reading a poem called The Rubaiyat. Somehow, I find this cla ss boring but when Pie tutors me, I find it interesting. I yawn involuntarily. I almost stretch my arms in front of me but stop my self when I remember I am in a classroom. Looking around, I notice that I'm not the only one who wants to sleep. Some are even pretending to listen but in reality, their body is present but their spirit is wandering elsewhere. It's hard to focus on the discussion because I haven't even heard the first part of the poem and I'm not in the mood to listen. I think I'll ask Pie to tutor me later. "Pie," I say quietly. She doesn't seem to hear me because she doesn't respond. " Pie," I repeat. Again, she doesn't look back. "Pie," I call softly. Is she purpo sely ignoring me or really doesn't hear me? She's just a few feet in front of me ! The girl beside me looks at me oddly, but when I return her gaze, she turns back to the front of the room where Ma'am Coelho is reading. My patience is running out of me so I tap Sophia's shoulder to get her attention . Her body freezes at my touch. Good, that means She turns around slowly with a scowl on her face. Before she can say anything, M a'am Coelho stops walking beside her. "Is there something you want to share with the class?" she asks. At her voice, m y classmates who are sleepy a while ago are now wide awake. "Nothing ma'am," Pie says. She clearly doesn't want to be the center of attentio n. It says so on her face. "Why is that it looks like you and Mr. Swift," she pauses, and gives me a pointe d glance, "are having a conversation?"

"We aren't Ma'am," Pie says politely. "Okay then," she says, even though she's not convinced. Fortunately, Pie is her star pupil so she lets it go. A sigh of relief escapes f rom my mouth. That was close! After that, I force my self to behave like a good student. But I don't know what 's wrong with me because I always look at the time on my wrist watch. Because of that, time passes more slowly. This boredom is killing me! Getting my notebook from my bag, I decide to draw. I'm not that good, but I want to do something to pass the time. Suddenly, an idea comes into my mind. Tearing a new page from my notebook, I write: Hi Pie. I fold it in half and pass it to her. Actually, I just put it beside her. After a few minutes, she decides to answer it. She grabs it and writes something on it . She tosses it towards me and I catch it before it falls to the ground. Opening it, I see her delicate handwriting. She writes really well. Compare to m y hand writing which looks like an elementary student wrote it. I expect her to reply: Hello, but I guess I should expect the unexpected when it comes to her. W hat I read is: What do you want? My first thought is to write: You, just to tease her, but I think that she'll ju st scold me later for that. Instead, I write: Meet me later after class. I'm so oblivious. I'm about to pass her the paper when someone snatches it away from my hands. "Hey!" I say. Looking up, my eyes widen when I see Ma'am Coelho reading the words written on t he paper. I groan inwardly. How can I be so careless? "What is this supposed to mean?" she asks, raising the paper for everyone to see . "A love letter," a guy from the front of the room suggests. Some girls giggle li ke cheerleaders. "It's not a love letter Ma'am," I say wearily. I glare at the guy who said it bu t he's purposely not looking at me. "Read it a loud ma'am," someone from the back of the room shouts. And then there are a lot of them talking at once, curious to know what are the w ords written on the paper. This is my entire fault! Sophia is too shock to speak. "Okay," Ma'am Coelho says, stopping my classmates from saying anything else. "I' ll read it."

And so, she does. After reading it to the class, they're all clapping and shouting that Sophia and I will have a date. The classroom feels like a zoo, and my classmates look like wild animals. "You'll meet each other at detention," Ma'am Coelho instructs. "What?" Sophia asks incredulously, snapping from her reverie. "I already gave you a warning but you just ignored it. Now, you'll have detentio n." "But I didn't do anything," she protests. "No buts," she says impatiently. "You two are going to have detention whether yo u like it or not." I'm falling down and I'm dragging Pie with me.

~Sophia

Something big fell on my shoulders. Me, in detention? Who would have thought tha t this day will come? I didn't do anything wrong! It's Draky's fault! I still fe el humiliated, especially when Ma'am C read the paper in class. I wanted to beco me invisible. Driana feels sorry and amused at the same time when I told her in Arts that I'm going to have detention. Draky is really - ugh! When PE class starts, I want it to extend its time; a first time for me, because PE is not my cup of tea. I'm good, but it's not the same with my other subjects . Before I know it, I'm in the girl's locker room and changing my clothes. I hear whispers and murmurs that Draky and I are dating. Why are they assuming? They do n't even know me! They talk behind my back, thinking I can't hear them. I want t his day to end already! But before that, there's detention. . . What will I do? It's just Draky and me in a room for one hour. But I can't be su re that we're the only one, right? Unfortunately, the odds aren't in my favor. When I'm done, I make my way slowly towards the detention room. I wish something will happen so that I won't have to go. I'm about to turn around when I see the door, but Ma'am C sees me. "Ms. Taylor," she says disapprovingly, "this is the detention room. Where are yo u going?" Biting my lip, I enter the room. Draky is already here, siting at the back, and he is alone. He waves at me and smiles apologetically. I choose a seat in front to be away from him. I just have to endure this for an hour, and then I'll be free. When Ma'am C enters, she closes the door behind her.

Wait, that's it? Just Draky and me? I turn around to see him with a wicked smirk plastered on his face. After more or less thirty minutes, a girl who looks like a sophomore enters the room. She speaks with Ma'am C for a moment. I don't know what they're talking ab out. Suddenly, Ma'am C stands up. "We're going to have a meeting in the faculty room, " she says. "I don't want you to do unnecessary things. I'll be back when it's f inished." She leaves the room with the girl trailing behind her. Shoot me now! I'm officially alone with Draky. "Pie," he calls. I pretend to not hear him. "Pie," he repeats. And then I hear footsteps behind me. Oh no, he's walking towards me. "I'm sorry," he says. He's already in front of me. "Whatever," I mutter, not looking at him. "I know it's my fault," he says sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Just don't talk to me okay?" "You have it, huh?" A smile is playing at the corner of his mouth. "What do you mean?" I ask. "Is it your second day?" "What?" I exclaim. "Don't worry, I'll try to understand." Does he mean . . Oh God! How can he even say that?! I'm a girl, he's a boy! I ca n feel my cheeks burning in embarrassment. This guy is utterly stupid! I can't b elieve he have the guts to say that to me. My blood is fuming with rage, my fist s are clenched tight and I have the urge to punch him in the face. "Or maybe it's your third day," he mutters. "Shut up," I snap. I have no doubt I look like a ripe tomato. "Or the first day," he says under his breath. "I don't have it, okay?!" His stupidity is getting the best of me. He even looks amused at my outburst. If it's not a sin to kill, oh my, I want him to vanish in this instant. "Okay, look," he starts. "I was just -" "Leave me alone," I say furiously, cutting him off.

He sighs and brushes the hair from his eyes. "Did I do something to face this wr ath of yours?" he asks curiously. Wrong question, I thought bitterly. All you did and still do is wrong! When I don't answer, he continues, "You're not talking to me." "I'm not in the mood to talk." "You're even ignoring me," he states. "I'm not ignoring you." I'm quite surprise with his patience in me. No matter how much I push him away, he's still trying hard. In it to win it? He's silent for a moment. "Let's play." "Play?" I ask incredulously. "Yes," he says. "What?" "The quote guessing game," he suggests. "What is that?" I ask. He grabs a chair and sits in front of me. "It's simple," he begins, "I'm going t o quote something and then you'll tell who said it or where it came from. But fi rst, we need a topic." "Books," I say. I love reading so of course it's the first one I can think. "I'm not into reading," he notes dryly. "What about movies?" "I'm not into movies," I say evasively. He looks at me oddly and thinks for a moment. Before I know it, the detention is finally over.

***** Click the External link on the side to watch another trailer of The Bet ^.^ The song is You Should Have Killed Me When You Had The Chance by A Day To Rememb er :) Banner by CreativeSideOfLife. Remember in Chapter 12, I asked you to vote? It's because I made a deal with mys elf. If I get 500 Votes until the second week of the update, I will do something . But I didn't get the vote until yesterday .. Thank you so much!

******************************************* [18] The Bet *Unexpected ******************************************* Click the External link to watch another trailer of The Bet :> Happy Reading! (: Chapter 18 *Unexpected* ~Drake

Plip! Clack! Plop! I groan and put a pillow over my head. Still, I can hear it because the kitchen where the sound is coming from is under my room. "Driana!" I growl. Swinging my legs off the bed, I stand up and rub the sleep from my eyes. Glancin g in the alarm clock beside my bed, I notice it's just six in the morning. A yaw n escapes from my mouth as I stretch my arms in front of me. I make my way downstairs and walk in the kitchen. Driana is well, Driana. "What are you doing?" I ask. She turns around with a scowl on her face. "I told you to make a sound when you enter a room," she chastises. "As for your question, I'm making a breakfast." "Why are you noisy?" I ask irritably. She rolls her eyes and mutters, "I'm not." I shake my head. "What's for breakfast?" I ask, walking towards her. "I don't know to you." "You don't know?" I ask incredulously. "You said you're making it!" "Yes, I'm making it, but that doesn't mean I'm making one for you too." Really, my head hurts from talking to her. Besides, I did not have a good night' s sleep. Driana is infuriating! She's already making a breakfast but she doesn't want to make me one. "Selfish," I say under my breath. She turns around so fast I step back. "Who's selfish?" I shrug. I thought she won't hear that. "You're just lazy," she snaps. "You want everything to be prepared for you. You don't care what other people think as long as you're having fun!"

Her accusation surprises me. It's like she slaps me on the face. I prefer to be slapped than to be accused. "Don't ever talk to me like that," I say through clench teeth. "I'm still older than you!" She scoffs; her face reddens at her outbursts. "By one minute and thirteen secon ds." She's breathing heavily, her chest rises and falls as she breathes.

In the end, Driana prepares breakfast for two. She cooks sausages and eggs. We e at it on the kitchen counter silently. After eating, I take a bath and get ready for school. Downstairs, I see her in t he living room browsing one of the albums in the shelf. I walk to where she's st anding and look at the picture she's staring. My eyes widen when I see Driana and me with goofy smiles on our faces. Below the picture is a caption of: September 21, the day before the twins tenth birthday. When we were kids, Driana and I looked a like. Same dirty blonde hair, and blue eyes. We had the same height too. Now, I'm taller than her and my hair is blonde with a few streaks of gold in it. When I get home later, I will dye my hair to its natural color. Driana is intently staring at the photograph, remembering the old days. I have a feeling she doesn't know that I'm standing beside her. When Driana and I were kids, we used to be close. There were no secrets and we n ever lied to each other. We used to teamed up in every games, and well, everythi ng. Those days, we were inseparable. We did everything together. Now I don't know what's happening to us. As they say, everything changes. As we grow up, we learn things in life that shapes us to become what we are now. But Driana and I have a connection other siblings doesn't have. We are twins and therefore, we can feel what the other feels. "Driana," I say softly. She closes the album quickly and puts it back on the shelf. She blinks her eyes to stop the tears that are threatening to flow from them. To our surprise, I pull her towards me. And then Driana do something that shocks me. She hugs me back! My twin sister who thinks I'm the bane of her existence. I do not know until now that I missed my twin. We have a bond that cannot be bro ken by anyone. After a few minutes, we pull away awkwardly. "Come on," she murmurs. "Let's go to school." Whoa! Now she wants to ride with me? Before, she usually takes the bus. A grin m akes its way onto my face as I walk outside the house and get in my car. Driana locks the door and slides in after.

"Can you stop here for a moment?" She says suddenly. I park my car on the driveway and shut the engine off. "Wait a minute, I'm just going to buy something," she says, and then gets out of the car. The store reads Charms and Crystals. I bet all they sell are girly products. After a few minutes, Driana comes back carrying a small pink paper bag. "Thanks, " she says, smiling lightly. Driana thanked me! Who would have thought? I start the car and drive to school w ith a smile on my face.

~Sophia

Drops of water are dripping on my face. Is it raining? Why do I feel wet? "Sophia, Sophia," a faraway voice says. The water does not stop coming for me. Soon enough, my arms are shivering becaus e of the cold water. "Sophia!" Someone shouts in my ear. I bolt upright, my head thumping into someone's chin. Ow! Someone grunts. Opening my eyes, I see Andre rubbing his chin. I look around me in bewilderment. So, it's not a dream. Andre looks amused at the sight of me. He's carrying a pitcher on his right hand . "Mom told me to wake you." "Why am I wet?" I ask, touching my arms. "I've been waking you for almost ten minutes now. It's thirty minutes before eig ht." "What?" I ask, standing up from the bed. My wet shirt clings to my body, and I f eel sticky. "We're going to be late," he says bemusedly. "Is that why you pour water on me?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him. He shrugs, amusement lighting his green eyes. This is the first time I see him s ince I've known the bet. Last night, I ate my dinner in my room. How dare he spl ash water on me?! I have the urge to claw my fingers in his eyes.

Suddenly, I'm afraid. How can I easily think of these things? At least he wakes you. "Get going," Andre says. "I'm going to wait downstairs." He walks out of my room and closes the door. The panic starts to begin. Oh no! I'm going to ride with y towards the bathroom hastily and do everything in fast y teeth. And then I hurry to my room to blow dry my hair After that, I put the first shirt and jeans I find in my on my sneakers and grab my bag from the desk. him today. I make my wa motion. Shower. Brush m for about two minutes. drawer. I shove my feet

Ugh! Why didn't my alarm clock wake me up? Now I'm rushing! Getting it from the side of the bed, I notice that I have not set it. I sigh. This is my entire faul t. Last night, I think of plans to make Draky fall in love with me. All points l ead to one idea: I have to flirt with him. Unfortunately, I have no idea what it means. I need to keep my mind and eyes open to see my classmates and schoolmate s do that thing. "Sophia!" Andre calls from downstairs. Suddenly, I feel guilty for making him late. But wait! I almost forgot that I'm going to make a revenge on him too. Hah. He deserves to be late. He owes me, big time!

The drive towards school is quiet as I hope it'll be. Andre is focus on driving and even drives faster than the speed limit because we're running late. Andre senses my indifference. Surely, my mood can be read as clearly as the sun. He doesn't even start a conversation until we're a few blocks away from school. "You and Drake, huh?" he says, glancing at me. I almost ask, "What about us?" When I remember there's no such thing as "us". In stead I say, "What about Drake and me?" Don't tell me . . "There are talks that you're going to have a date with him," he says, wiggling h is eyebrows. Stupid note, I think bitterly. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly to cal m my nerves. "And you believe them?" I ask dryly. I don't even know why I'm talk ing to him. He's one of the enemies! It takes a lot of effort just to sit here and not shout vicious things at him. T ime is on my hands. I can do a lot of things that's beyond their imagination. But I already act indifferent as it is, he might think something's off. He's sma rt. Not that smart because he doesn't know that I know their dirty little game. "Not really," he says after a moment, oblivious to my thoughts. "I'm just amazed that my best friend and my guest are the hot topic in school." "I don't like it," I snap. His eyes twinkle in amusement, and a smile crosses his face. "I just thought of something," he says. "Do you want to hear it?"

"No," I say. He pretends not to hear me and still tells me, "If ever you and Drake will be to gether, you're going to be Sophia Taylor Swift." That's not going to happen, I think firmly. "Isn't that wonderful?" He asks, grinning from ear to ear. I'd rather stay single for the rest of my life than marry the guy I despise so m uch who doesn't have a heart. Oh, wait, he does have a heart. It's black, like the color of his soul. "Taylor Swift," Andre teases. "Shut up," I mutter. "It's a love story baby just say yes," he sings. I put my hands over my ears and he just laughs at my gesture. Fortunately, I can already see the front gate of the school. I can't wait to get away from this monster beside me. ______ I'm on my way to the cafeteria. My last subject extends for five minutes and aft er that I go to the comfort room to wash my hands. Now, the hallway is silent be cause the students are already eating their food! "Sophia," someone from behind me says. I . . I know that voice anywhere. Does that mean How? Turning around slowly, I see a man with a dark hair and hazel eyes that has gree n and gold freckles in them. He stands six feet tall and has a well-cared body. I am amaze when he pulls me in for a tight bear hug. My arms are paralyzed with shock. I can't believe this is happening even though I can feel his arms around me. Rubbing my eyes, I realize that this is real. And then I find my voice. "Parker?" I ask softly, afraid that he might vanish when I speak louder. He pulls away and I notice that his eyes are clear with fresh tears running on h is cheeks. "Oh Sophia, I missed you so much." My emotion gets the best of me so I hug him tight. I put my arms around him and sob at his shoulder, staining his shirt with my tears. It's kind of ironic that we're both crying because finally, we see each other ag ain. My mind is swirling with thoughts of the past, overwhelming me. All those d ays I've spent with him aren't forgotten. They're here in my heart. No one and n othing can take them away from me. We pull away after a minute and we stare at each other. Because he is Parker and I am Sophia, we laugh.

Oh God, he's still the same Parker I know. He wipes the tears from my cheeks, and a smile makes its way on my mouth. I feel happy, it's like yesterday was the last time I saw him. I pinch my cheek to mak e sure I'm not dreaming and he chuckles softly. "You're still the same Sophia I know," he says. "Same old, same old," I say lightly. "I can't belie-" "Pie." I turn around to see Draky narrowing his eyes at Parker. He shifts his eyes to m e and they soften when he sees my face. He glowers at Parker while Parker scruti nizes him. Maybe Draky thinks Parker hurt me. But why does he care? If looks can kill, for sure, Parker is ten times dead by now for the daggers Dra ky throws his way. What's up with him? "Who are you?" Draky asks, crossing his arms over his chest. Parker clears his throat and does something that surprises me and Draky. He puts his arms around me! "I'm Sophia's boyfriend," Parker says.

***** The song is All Around Me by Flyleaf :> Banner by LittleMissIronic. OMG! Half a million reads :D :) :] Thank you so much! <3 ******************************************* [19] The Bet *Daydreamer ******************************************* Read the Author's Note at the end of the chapter :>

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 19 *Daydreamer* ~Drake

Pie has a boyfriend? Oh come on! I don't believe it. I'm not stupid! It's so obv ious that she's single. I even think that she never have a boyfriend. It's a saf e bet that I'll be her first. I don't even know who this guy is. He's Parker. Shut up! I'm not talking to you. He doesn't even look like a student. He even dresses like a professor. He looks like twenty years old! This Parker is surely lying! Sophia is single! Andre and I made sure of that before making the bet official. What did this freak do to Sophia? Why is she crying? Anger gets the best of me. I close the distance between us and grab him by the c ollar. He's clearly taken aback. Pie shrieks and tries to stop me from choking Parker but I don't pay attention t o her. Meanwhile, Parker claws at my hands but there's nothing he can do. He just makes me angrier. I will make him pay for hurting Pie. No one can hurt Sophia besides you? Parker kicks me on the shin and I fall on the floor with a groan escaping from m y lips. He doesn't fight fair, and he can kick! I don't even know him but I alre ady hate him. I stand up quickly, ignoring the pain on my knee. Sophia tries to get between Parker and me but I push her away. She should move! She might get in trouble with this fight! Parker looks pale. He just stands there, gasping for breaths. He's not a fighter ! His hands are on his neck, trying to minimize the pain I've caused. I'm not ye t done. Balling my hands into fists, I swing my arm to punch him on the face. There's a sickening sound that indicates something is broken. I glance down at my throbbing knuckles but I know the damage isn't on me. Parker is bending on his knee, touching his bleeding nose. Sophia hurries to where he is. I stop her by grabbing her arm. She twists her-

"Drake," Pie says. I have a feeling it isn't the first time she's calling me. Whoa! What is that? I blink my eyes and shake my head to clear my thoughts and to thin k clearly. "Daydreaming again, huh?" Pie asks, a smirk is tugging at the corner of her mout h. Is that a daydream? That's only my imagination? It did not really happen? I thou

ght . . I thought it's real! I look at Parker who's smiling mischievously. He's perfectly fine! Why did INo. I am not the one who daydreamed, but my subconscious mind. Pie decides to introduce us formally. "Drake," she says, glancing at me, "This i s Parker." She gestures to him. "Parker, this is Drake." What the! Why doesn't she deny that she's Parker's girlfriend? What is that supp osed to mean? Parker is looking amusedly between Pie and me. Nothing's even funny. I want to make my imagination real. My hands are resting o n my sides but they're balled into tight fists. My body is tense, ready to fight . But I can't just punch him without being suspended. Worse, expel. Besides, I d on't really know him. Anyway, why am I even making threats to him in my head? Parker walks towards me and offers his right hand. Is it even clean? I don't touch dirty things and I always use sanitizer. Okay, I know I'm making that up. Pie gives me a hard look, nodding her head towards Parker. Rolling my eyes, I shake his hand firmly, once. I don't like to get"Nice to meet you," Parker says pleasantly. I hope not to see you again, I think. Instead, I say, "The pleasure is mine." "Sophia and I will have a lunch," Parker starts. "If you want-" "No," Pie cuts him off. "Drake will eat with his friends today." She widens her eyes for emphasis. "Yes," I say reluctantly. "I always eat with them." Anyway, I might choke on my food while eating if I get to eat with Parker. His s oft features are getting on my nerves. There's something about him that isn't ri ght. I can feel it. It's bugging me since the first time I laid my eyes on him. Who in their right mind would name their child Parker? It's as if his parents wa nt him to be teased about his name. Parker, where will you park your car? Of cou rse, in the parking lot. I even laugh at my own joke. I can't wait to say it a l oud. Pie makes a shooing motion. That simple gesture makes me want to annoy her and f ollow her even if Parker the parking lot is with her. "Goodbye," she says eagerly. She can't wait for me to leave them alone. I don't bother to tell them goodbye. If I open my mouth, I might say something I will regret later. So I make my way towards the cafeteria without saying anything and without a backward glance.

In the cafeteria, I order a double cheese burger and a Pepsi. My friends are eas y to spot. They're on our usual table, sitting on their chairs. It's like we own

the place because no one else sits there besides us. I slide on my chair between Brian and Jake; across from Andre. I just set down m y tray on the table when Dwayne notices my behavior. "Dude, what happened?" he asks. "Nothing," I mutter darkly. I don't even know why he thinks something happened. "I can see a dark aura surrounding you," Troy says. "Something bad," Jake chimes in. Andre is looking thoughtfully at me. We've been friends for years now so he know s something happened. He's not voicing his opinion in front of our friends. He r aises his eyebrow when he catches me looking at him. I know what it means: 'Want to talk about it?' I shake my head a little, just for him to notice. I'm not comfortable to talk about my feelings. And besides, what's there to say? Anyway, we're guys. We're not just telling our friends about what we feel. Andr e is another matter entirely, though. What's up with the blabbering? Yeah, what's up with that? My mind is so active right now. I wonder why. "It's clearly painted on your face," Brian says, breaking me from my reverie. "Huh?" I ask brilliantly. "What do you mean?" "You might as well wear a sign that says: 'Caution, don't come near me. I bite." My friends laugh at me. Even Andre is clearly enjoying this. "Shut up," I snap. "I heard you're starting to date Sophia," says Troy. "What?" I ask, taken aback. Andre shoots me a knowing look. "Where did you hear that?" I ask. "It's all over the school," Dwayne says. "Especially your little note," says Jake, wiggling his eyebrows. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I should have seen that coming. It's hig h school, for God's sake! Of course, they're hungry for gossip and news about th eir schoolmates. Truth is, I haven't paid attention to it! If I just really think about it, I kno w something's off by the way my classmates are looking at me. I just thought it' s nothing considering they're always looking at me. I sigh inwardly as I admit to myself that I can be oblivious at times.

"I didn't even know she's your type," Brian muses. To lie or not to lie? "I don't have a type," I say cautiously. "So you're saying that you like her?" Troy probes. "I did not say that." My head wants to explode. "If you don't like her," Jake says, "Maybe I'll ask her out." "What?" I ask incredulously. "I'm just saying that-" "Forget it," I snap, cutting him off. Some of them throw me odd looks while the others are smirking. No one wants to g et on my bad side, so after a few glares here and there, they leave me alone.

~Sophia *This happens after Drake walks away*

"Your friend's weird," Parker says, watching Draky's retreating figure. Weird? Definitely. He just walks away without saying anything. It just shows how much of a jerk he is. And a player. And a monster. And a . . The list can go o n and on. I turn back to Parker and ignore Draky. "I still can't believe I'm seeing you right now," I say. To my surprise, he pinches me on my arm. I smack his hand impulsively, scowling at him. "What was that for?" I scold. "You still think you're dreaming," he says bemusedly. "Hmp," I mutter, rubbing the spot where he pinched me. It throbs when I touch it . I will surely have a bruise later. "I did not really expect to see you here, you know," Parker says thoughtfully. " But I'm glad I did." "I'm glad you're glad." I say, smiling a bit. His eyes glitter in delight. "Come on," he says, grabbing my hand. "Let's talk w hile eating. I'm starving." "You're still the same old Parker," I say. "I'm not old," he says grimly. "I'm just four years older than you. No," he corr ects himself. "Just three years. You'll be seventeen this month."

I roll my eyes at him. He likes to tease me because he knows I don't like talkin g about my birthday. Silly, I know. People can't wait for their birthday but I j ust want to sleep and let the day pass when mine arrives. "Three years is still old," I tease to lighten the mood. He ruffles my hair, grinning from ear to ear. "Parker!" I slap his hand away and smooth down my hair. "Loosen up," he orders, chuckling softly. "It's not. . ." I trail off, looking down at my shoes. If he knows what's happening to me, he'll understand. Because of him, I forget the bet for a second. But just because I'm smiling does n't mean I'm not hurting. Okay, I will stop thinking about it now. For a while. I have to enjoy myself. Besides, Parker is here. Just by being in his presence w ill make you happy. "Hey," he says softly. "Anything wrong?" Looking up, I put a smile on my face. He stares at me worriedly. "Nothing," I lie. I don't know if he believes me but he lets it go. "Does my mom know you're here?" I ask, changing the topic. "Not yet," he answers. "When will you tell her?" "When I see her," he says. The corner of his mouth twitches upward when he looks at my face. "Come on," I say evasively. "Let's eat."

"So," Driana muses, "This is the famous Parker you're always talking about?" Always talking about? "I . . It's not," I stutter. To my embarrassment, a blush starts to flood on my cheeks. When I became friends with Driana, I told her about my old life. Of course, Park er is one of the main points. I introduced them earlier with each other when we enter the cafeteria and spot Driana on our usual table. "Driana," I say warily. "What?" she asks innocently, biting her lower lip to stop the smile forming on h er lips. Some of my classmates steal glances our way when they think none of us is lookin g. That stupid note is getting on my nerves. Girls are staring at Parker. When h e looks at them, he smiles, making the girls giggle and turns back to their tabl

e; as if they're embarrassed that they get caught doing something bad. Parker brushes his hair that falls to his eyes. "Don't be shy," Parker says to m e. "We both know you had a crush on me." I can't believe this. I can't believe this is happening. "You're teaming up against me?" I ask slowly. They both shrug at the same time and ends up laughing. I can feel a smile tuggin g at my lips. Driana and Parker just met but they're already comfortable with ea ch other. When they stop laughing, Parker looks at Driana like he's studying her. His brow s furrows when he's trying to solve a difficult problem. "Aha!" He exclaims, making Driana and I both jump on our seat. "Are you related to Drake?" What?! "Um, yeah," Driana murmurs. "We're twins." "I knew it," Parker says, smiling cheekily. He looks at me and cocks his head to the side. His eyes say: 'Why didn't you tel l me that they're twins?' Don't ask me how I know it. We had years of practice to know each other. I smile sheepishly. I forgot to tell him that Draky and Driana are twins. Beside s, it isn't important, right? He smirks, his eyes lighting in amusement. For once, I don't know what that means. Ten minutes before the bell rings, Parker excuses himself. "Where are you going?" I ask. "I have to do something," he answers, standing up. "Wait," I say quickly, afraid that he might vanish. "How will we see each other again?" A wry smile crosses his face. "Believe me; you'll see me later." He's acting weird. How can I see him later, we'll have class after lunch break. But I trust him, so I nod. He bids us au revoir and walks away. I slap myself mentally when I realize I haven't asked him why he's here. Driana looks at me with a smile on her face. "What?" I ask, rubbing my mouth. Maybe I have dirt on my face. She's gazing dreamily at the seat Parker evacuated.

"What?" I repeat. "He's cute," Driana murmurs.

***** Thank you so much for all the votes and comments on the previous chapters :) TB became #2 on the What's Hot List for two days! libertyk told me it became #1. I can't even believe it! Dream come true! Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart <3 Parker, Brian, Jake, Dwayne, and Troy are new characters. xSmileForTheCamera interviewed me. Click the external link to read it :> The song is Fidelity by Regina Spektor. Banner by CreativeSideOfLife. Thank you! <3 ******************************************* [20] The Bet *Surprise ******************************************* WHOO! 2018 fans! =D Thanks to each and everyone of you <3 Read the A/N at the end of the chapter :> Pay attention to every detail, even if it's just a minor one. Everything is impo rtant. Happy Reading! (:

Chapter 20 *Surprise* ~Sophia

"Taylor Swift." Clever, whoever thinks of putting our last names together. I haven't even though t of that, even when I had a crush on him before. I didn't even consider it. "Taylor Swift," a cheerleader says in a singsong voice. Ignore it Sophia, they're just bunch of immature seniors. I close my eyes and pr etend that I am not here, that I'm somewhere else, and that I'm not experiencing this. Someone even plays You Belong With Me in their IPod and turn the volume up so th at everyone in the room can hear it. Glancing behind me, I know that he's not there yet. They will not play a prank about us if he's here.

Ugh! I should have just come when the bell rings! I have to endure this teasing for three more minutes. If I go out now, they will be surely happy about it. It just means that I'm affected. In reality, not really. I'm just not used to peopl e noticing me. I'm already a senior but they just become interested in me now si nce I live in Andre's house and when I started to talk to Draky. Yes, he's makin g my life miserable. My head snaps to the front of the room when I hear the door opening. Someone tur ns off their IPod. Draky walks inside with his hands on his pockets. Girls stop talking about me an d stare at him. He bumps some boys' fist and continues to make his way towards h is seat behind me. When he catches my eye, he nods. That's it. It's like he's ig noring me. Okay, whatever. I don't even like you and besides, I'm angry at you. The loud ringing of the bell makes me jump in surprise. He even coughs a laugh! Jeez! Why am I nervous? It's just an ordinary day, except that Parker is here. W hat does he mean that I'll see him later? How many days will he stay here? Where ? Perhaps in our house? My mom won't mind but. . . Will I be stuck at Andre's? What's happening in the house? Why did my parents want me to move out? Where is Ma'am C? She has not been late, ever. Maybe she's absent? Maybe somethi ng happened to her? "Sophia." I look up to see Parker smiling at me. Parker! I'm about to rub my eyes when he bursts out laughing. My classmates stop whatever they're doing and stare at him. At me. At us. He flashes them a smile and takes a seat in front of me. "Parker," I whisper. "Oh, hey Sophia," he says, as if surprise to see me. I can't help but roll my eyes at him. "What are you doing?" I ask. In my classro om? He ignores my question and looks behind me. "Hi Drake," he says. I twist in my chair to see Draky with a furious expression on his face. He got u p from the wrong side of the bed in the morning. He doesn't even greet Parker in return. So impolite! He turns his back to us and talks to Cassidy; the head cheerleader of our school . Of course, the jock and the cheerleader. How perfect! Too bad he quit the bask etball team last school year. No one knows the reason why; maybe Andre and his c lose friends because Driana certainly doesn't know anything about it. Anyway, wh y do I care about his shining glory? I'm just . . . I should be plotting against him, not"Sophia!" I turn to see Parker smiling amusedly at me.

"What?" I ask. He's the one ignoring me. "If I know, you're interested with Drake," he tells me. "What?" It's even hard to let the word out of my mouth. I glance quickly behind me to check if Drake hears it. Absolutely not. He's too busy flirting. Inside the classroom. He's not even shy about it. She's not even trying to control her giggle. Get a room! Even if they' re not doing anything besides looking at each other with gooey eyes, it makes me want to puke. Drake is faking it. I can see right through his faade. Can I, reall y? A loud clearing of the throat makes me stop from staring at the two people behi nd me. "Sorry," I say sheepishly. "It's okay," Parker says. And then I remember my question earlier, the one he didn't answer. "Why are you here?" "I failed Literature, so here I am," he says. He ruffles his hair and laughs to himself. "Really," I say, not bothering to roll my eyes this time. "How can you know?" He asks. "You left at the end of my third year high school. Really, I failed Literature 4." He gestures to himself. "I enrolled here to see you." I scowl at him. As if he can fool me. He's a smart student. I like studying beca use of him. Besides, he's three years older than me. If he failed it, he already took it the next year. "Do you know my major?" He asks, changing the subject. At least he stops fooling around now. "No," I answer. "You were going to be a senior in high school when we left." "That's right," he says. "But you liked to be a manager," I say matter-of-factly. That's what I remember. "But I get Education." "What?" I ask incredulously. "That was not one of your options!" "Yes," he says sheepishly. "I don't know why I picked it." Wait, my mind is having a hard time processing his words. The last time I saw hi m was four years ago. He was one of my closest friends back when Matt was alive. I used to pretend Parker was my old brother, considering he's older than me. Last I checked, he doesn't like teaching and now he's studying it? I have a lot of questions for him. How are our friends back home? What's his major? How long will he stay here? Why is he here? I guess I have to speak my thoughts, otherwis e he can't answer them.

"Wait," he says, before I can open my mouth. He raises his forefinger. "I see yo u have a lot of questions in your mind." I nod eagerly, and glance quickly at the door, afraid that Ma'am C will just ent er and will make Parker leave the room. "What's your first question?" He asks. He brushes the hair that falls on his eye s and then I realize something. There's something weird about him. I can't put my finger on it. He's the same P arker but at the same time, he's not. I wonder why I just noticed it now. Maybe because of the joy of seeing him? That's possible. My brows furrow in confusion as I analyze what's new with him. A light suddenly switches in my head. Why don't I just ask him? "Parker," I start, "There's something new about you." He grins, showing all his perfect white teeth. "I'm waiting for you to say that! " "What is it?" Suddenly, I think of Driana. Does she like Parker? I'll ask her la ter in Arts. "I won't tell you. You should guess it." Typical Parker! I'll just leave that subject alone because I know he'll tell me about it when he wants to. "Why are you here?" I ask instead. "My major is Literature," he says, ignoring my question. "Your school asked the administrator in my university for college students' substitutes." I don't know where this is going. Ma'am C is six minutes late. "I am on my third year in the university, and our Director picked me and my othe r colleagues to go to your school. This will help us to improve our studies and it'll be a first experience to us." I still can't wrap my mind around it. There are a lot of possibilities. "You're saying that . ." I trail off. "That I'm going to be your substitute for this class," he says obviously. "Some of my other colleagues are in other classes right now. We are seven chosen picke d to substitute your teachers." "That means-" "Yes, there's one for Calculus, Biology, History, Arts, PE, Geography, and of c ourse me, for Literature." "Why not the graduating students?" I ask. "Because they're already having their on the job training," he answers. "Anyway, only the senior high school students are affected. Your professors are now havi ng a professional meeting in my university. It should have started on Monday so it'll be a week but something happened."

"What-" "It's a long story, and it's pretty gruesome," he cuts me off. "Oh, and we're st aying in a hotel," he says excitedly. "Because you know, this place is far from our university." "But my other professors are here," I say. I still can't believe this is happeni ng. "Of course," he says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "They just chose seven professors in your school.' "Why?" "What do you want? Leave the senior high school students with bunch of third yea r college students? We don't even have a license to teach. Before we went here, we had trainings. Luckily, I was one of the chosen. I did my best, you know, esp ecially when they said this is the school we are going to teach." "You mean . . ." I trail off, not knowing how to organize my thoughts. Actually, my mind is like a blank sheet of paper. First things first. Parker is here because he's going to be a sub for Ma'am C. " How many days will you stay here?" I ask. "I'm not sure," he says, frowning. "They told us to pack clothes for one week." "A week only?" "At least I have time to see you. Four years is a long time." "Yes," I say with a sigh. I should be thankful. At least I can have time with hi m, instead of nothing. "Sophia," Parker says in a low voice. "I think it's time to introduce myself to your classmates." Glancing in front of the room at the wall clock, I say, "That's a good idea." Te n minutes have already passed since the ringing of the bell. Parker takes a deep breath and exhales it slowly. "You can do it," I encourage him. He gives me a nervous smile and stands up. He walks in front of the room and put s his satchel on the desk. "Good afternoon," he says. My classmates don't even bother to stop talking. Some girls are staring at him l ike he's a male model. Someone snorts from behind and I don't have to turn aroun d to see its Drake. I'm about to twist in my chair and glare at him when Parker looks at me for help. I bite my lip and shake my head a little. I want to help him but there's nothing I can do. My classmates don't even listen to me and they just talk to me when t hey feel like teasing me. I just ignore them because it's not true. "Good afternoon," Parker says again. Half of the class stops whatever they're doing and stare at him. After a few sec onds, they continue to ignore him. It's hard to tame graduating high school stud

ents. Parker is running out of patience. "What's your friend doing here?" Drake asks curiously. Now he's talking to me? "He's going to be-" Clack! I look in front of the room where the sound comes from, to see Parker's hand on the table. Oh. He slapped it. No wonder why there's a loud booming voice slash clattering n oise. He smiles triumphantly. Give it to Parker to do something unthinkable. At least he gets the attention of the whole class now. "Good afternoon," he says for the third time. A complete silence follows after that. Some are looking at Parker like he's craz y and some are curious about him. "I'm Parker Condie," he says, "and I'm going to be your substitute teacher for L iterature." There are a lot of questions after that, so Parker tells them about the things h e explained to me, except he shortens this version. He omits some parts, like he 's not a college student. After that, he says, "Let's do something." When he sees the expression of my cla ssmates, he adds, "No, it's not a school work. It's an entertaining," he pauses and thinks for a moment, "game." He instructs us to move our chair so that we'll have a big circle and we'll be s itting seeing all our classmates. He puts the desk on the center. I glance at my classmate to see that they're all eager to get started with the " game". Drake is a few chairs away from me. Suddenly, he catches me staring at hi m and turns to talk to Cassidy. "Get a paper and a pen," Parker says, "and write your name at the top." What game involves a pen and a paper? Parker should know what he's doing. Gettin g a piece of paper, I write my name at the top in bold letters. "Done?" Parker asks. "Yes, sir," My classmates says simultaneously. Parker's lips quirk into a smile at the word 'sir'. "This is what you're going t o do," he says. "You'll pass the paper on your right and then you'll write somet hing about that person's paper. Like, if he's kind, or if she's pretty. Anything . You can write your feelings too, but there's a time limit so that you can writ e on everyone's paper." There are choruses of Aah's and Ooh's from my classmates. I have to admit, Parke r is really creative to think of a game like this. "Wait," he says as an after thought. "You cannot write your name on your classma te's paper. It's a rule. Let them wonder who wrote it." Nervous laughs erupt from the class.

"And then when I say 'Pass'," Parker continues, "you should pass the paper to yo ur right. It will continue until you receive your own paper. So, let's start."

"Pass." This time, I get Drake's paper. It's not as if I can help it. There are words li ke: You're so cute, Handsome, I like you, I love you. And so on and so forth. An d yes, there's a heart shaped thing on the paper, both our names are written ins ide it. What will I write? Usually, I write: Kind, Nice, Smart; because I don't really k now them. Before Parker can say 'Pass', I write: You're my first crush. I don't know why I wrote it, but it's true. Drake is my first crush. I never had a crush on Parker. He's just like an old brother to me. He just teased me a whi le ago because he likes doing it to annoy me. Drake Swift is my first crush. Sadly, there's nothing that can change it. You ca n never change the past, but you can always make a bright future. As they say, t omorrow's another day. I don't know what I write after Draky's paper. Before I know it, I'm holding my own paper. Someone puts 'Swift' at the end of my last name so it looks like: Sop hia Taylor Swift. The idiot even copies my hand writing. Someone even wrote: Drake is mine. I scoff. As if I'm taking him away from her. There are some words like: Smart, Cute, Pretty, Intelligent, Beautiful. Wow, there are a lot of compliments. My heart is fluttering in my chest and a sm ile forms in my lips. Like in Draky's paper, someone drew a heart and put our names in it. We're alrea dy seniors but they're still childish. I scan the paper quickly and then I find two interesting things at the bottom of the paper. One is: I'm sorry. Below it, with a different hand writing are the words: I like you. I wonder who wrote these. Parker tells us to submit our paper, but he says that he will not grade us base on what our classmates wrote about us. My classmates thank Parker for the game and for the wonderful experience. For su re, they are happy about the words written in their paper. I hope he'll not read mine. When the bell rings, Parker tells me that he'll walk me to my next class. "We'll see each other later, right?" I ask hopefully. "No, unfortunately," he says, frowning. "It's my first day here and I'll have a meeting with my colleagues and prepare for tomorrow's lesson. I'm just not here to have a vacation."

"Yeah, right," I mutter. I thought we can hang out and catch up on what's new. "I think I'm free tomorrow," Parker says, trying to cheer me up. "I don't know. I have a lot of-" He pokes me on my side, beside the ribs. "That hurts," I say, scowling at him. "You're pretending to be busy," he says wearily. "Yes," I admit. "I'm free tomorrow after class." A grin lights his face. "Tomorrow then," he says. We're already outside my classroom in Arts. I can see Driana sitting in her chai r. She waves when she sees us. Parker smiles at her. "See you tomorrow Prof," I say. "I like that," he says, his eyes glitter in delight. I walk inside the room but turn around when Parker calls me. "What?" I ask. "Drake," he says, while backing away. "What about him?" I don't know why he suddenly says his name. A nice way to say goodbye. He's already a few feet away, walking backwards, when he says, "He's cute." What does he mean? "Parker!" I call after him. He continues to walk, pretending he doesn't hear me. He has a lot of explaining to say tomorrow.

***** Cassidy is a new character. If you are confused, tell me what you are confused about, okay? Some of you guessed it right -- that Parker is a substitute teacher xD The song is Liar, Liar by Nevershoutnever :) If you are wondering where to send me the links for the banner, just send it to me in private message. And then I'll post it here -- on the story, and the faceb ook page. Thanks to libertyk for the banner in this chap :>

School will start tomorrow -.- The only good thing about it is I'm on my last ye ar in college. Whoop! =) Thank you for reading! <3 ******************************************* [21] The Bet *Temptation ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 21 *Temptation* ~Sophia

"Do you like Parker?" I ask Driana. The substitute in Arts is from Parker's university, and is a female, more or les s twenty years old. She has a cute dimple on her chin, and can speak fluently in French. Her name is Chloe. She has an adorable voice when she talks and you can imagine her flying with the birds in the sky. "Of course not," Driana says finally. "But you said that he's cute," I remind her. She rolls her eyes and says, "Just because I said that he's cute doesn't mean th at I like him." I nod my head slowly. This is the bad thing about assuming. You don't"Why?" She asks, interrupting my thoughts. "Are you jealous?" I scoff. "You know that he's just like an old brother to me." "But can you resist him?" She says amusedly. "He looks amazing!" A smirk makes its way into my mouth. "And she said she's not interested." She frowns at me, not clearly affected by my words. "Really, I am not." When she looks at my face, she adds, "I swear." Not wanting to argue with her, I decide to let the topic go. I don't want her to be furious with me, considering she's the only friend I have. "Okay class," Chloe says. "Get your paint and brushes in the supply room and dra w something that inspires you."

----Teach me how to sleep because I forget how to do it. I've been staring at the ce iling for a couple of minutes now since I lay on the bed. My mind is so busy thi nking different things, it's like it doesn't want to rest. It's already eleven thirty in the evening! I'm so tired. My eyes are drooping slowly but I have no peace of mind. What wil

l happen if I really forget how to sleep? Can someone teach me how to do it? Wha t will happen to me then? Twenty four hours awake, with no sleep. I put on my headphones and listen to Pachelbel's Canon. When I want to calm myse lf, I usually listen to it, and it's effective. But now, I don't think so. How to sleep? Can anybody sing me to sleep? I miss my mom. When Matt and I were kids, she used to sing us lullabies until we fell asleep. Sigh. A lot has changed after the incident. I don't even know my parents anymore. I do n't want to think what they are doing now. I guess I'll just count the sheep I see in my mind so that I can sleep. Research ers indicate that it's quite effective. I'll start now. One red sheep. Two orange sheep. Three yellow sheep. Four green sheep. Five blu e sheep. Six indigo sheep. Seven violet sheep. Wow! There are a lot of sheep in my head, and they're the color of rainbow. Instead of falling asleep, my mind is weirdly alert. This is Parker's entire fault! What did he mean when he said that He is cute? Wh o? He - as in Draky? But why would he tell me that he's cute? Is he gay? It's just guy. Well, 'll accept The thought makes me shudder, not that I have something against them. that I can't imagine Parker as one of them. As far as I know, he's a no matter what he is, he's still my friend. So if he really is gay, I it.

We have our own choices so we are free to choose. Besides, he's already a grownup. He knows what's best for him. There's something bugging me, but I don't want to think about it because I don't want to make sense about that complication. I can't just escape it and pretend I don't know so I might as well think about it now instead of waiting for sleep to come. Who wrote: I'm sorry, and I like you? Is there something behind those words? Are they true or maybe the one who wrote them were just pretending? The I'm sorry can be from one of my classmates who continuously annoy me. It can be from anyone who hurt me. Hmm I can think of someone who might write it. But if they want to say sorry, they should at least say it to my face, not write it on a piece of paper where I'll not know to whom it came from. Parker is awfully wrong. It's not entertaining to guess who wrote the words on y our paper. The I like you is another matter, entirely. Maybe someone is playing with me? Wh y do I think of Draky in that playing with me? Perhaps he has another game to pl ay. Why am I always blaming him for all the bad things happening to me? And why am I

thinking that receiving words like I like you is a bad thing? What if . . . What if . . . Sigh. I can't even finish that line of thought. Taking a deep breath, I try agai n. What. If. Someone . . . really likes me? I dismiss the thought quickly as soon as it forms in my head. But maybe it's true . . . I'm not hideous looking, and besides, only a fool love s a person because of his or her physical characteristics. But it's like, not love and there are a lot of possibilities. Okay, I'll just not think of that again. Anyway, there's more important issue th an the previous one. If Parker is gay, does he like Draky? That's why he said he's cute? The shuddering thought makes me want to puke. Drake and Parker? I can't even put their names in the same sentence. They are like fire and ice. Just by being in the same room is not a good idea. Unfortunately, there is no choice about that b ecause Parker is the substitute teacher in Literature. If ever he likes Draky, i t's forbidden because of the law. A teacher and a student cannot have a relation ship. Besides, Drake is a guy. Anyway, Parker is not gay. Even though I'm not one hund red percent sure. If ever Parker is, he'll not fall for Drake because as far as I'm concerned, he has taste. Grr! I will just leave that thought behind! It just makes my head throb. Beep. Beep. The sound of my cell phone startles me. Getting it from my drawer, I see that I have a new message from an unknown number. The message is: Good night Pie. Pie. Of course it's from Drake. Who else will it be? He's the only one who's cal ling me Pie. Where did he get my number? Will I reply to him or not? In the end, I text him: Good night Draky! In my mind, I add, bad dreams for you. Beep. Beep. Whoa! He types fast. You're still awake? No, I'm not. I'm sleep texting. Of course I'm awake! The best joke I've heard in a long time. That was not a joke. And you didn't hear it; I add to myself, you read it. There

's a big difference between the two. Why is he soBeep. Beep. You're so sarcastic. I'm not. It just depends on who I'm talking to. What did you write on my paper? He changes the topic. Why would I tell you? I'm just wondering. . Wonder all you want, I will never ever tell you. What did you write on my paper? Secret :P He even put a smiley. Whatever. I don't care. And then I remember something. Whe re did you get my number? Its seven minutes later when he replies: I'm already sleepy. See you tomorrow! Jerk! Such a bad way to dodge a topic. Because I like to have the last word, I t ext him: Sleep tight! He's so irritating! I hope he dreams of zombies eating his brain. I know I won't be able to sleep anymore so I decide to walk around the house. Wh en I pass the movie room, I open the door and come inside. To watch a good film is a good idea to pass the time. It's so dark! I can't find the light switch. Where is it? I should have brought my phone with me so that I'll have a light. I'm just being cautious because Drak y might text me again. I don't want to reply to him. How can I find the light switch ifA startle gasp escapes from my lips when I am suddenly blinded with the lights o f the room. I haven't even find the light switch yet. My heart drums painfully i n my chest as I wait for my breathing to return to normal. "Sophia." I whip around to see Andre behind me. "What are you doing here?" I ask. My voice cracks at the end. "I can't sleep," he answers. "So I decided to come here and watch a movie." I look at him through narrow eyes. This monster scared me to death! "I'm sorry if I scare you," he says, as if reading my mind. "Whatever," I mutter. Of course I won't tell him that he surprised me. "You," he says, brushing off his hair that falls to his eyes, "what are you doin

g here?" "I cannot sleep either." I notice he's holding something in his hand. Andre follows my gaze and says, "500 Days of Summer." He raises the DVD so that I can see it. "My friend told me it was good so I bought it," he pauses and look s at the wall clock, "yesterday," he finishes. I can't believe its past midnight. "Do you want to watch it?" He asks. I almost say No, but what will I do? I might as well make my time precious by wa tching a movie instead of thinking unnecessary thoughts; even if that means I'm going to share my time with him. "Sure," I say. I walk to the couch and sit comfortably. "I'm making a popcorn," Andre says, while turning on the screen and putting the DVD in the player. "You want some?" "Yes," I say. I'm starving, so why decline the food offer? He walks out of the room and comes back bowls full of popcorn (I can smell the th ice, and two coke in can. He puts it for the play button. He sits beside me, e's not invading my personal space. after a minute, carrying a tray with two flavor, which is cheese), two glasses wi down on the table and clicks the remote but we have space between us. I'm glad h

"Drake told me about your game," he says when the movie starts its opening credi ts. "So?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. "What did you write on his paper?" Wow! He's really crazy to think that I will answer that question. "Why would I t ell you?" He rolls his eyes and says, "I just want to know because I'm curious." "And?" "You want to know what he wrote on your paper," he says matter-of-factly. I . . . yes. I am curious. I want to know what Draky wrote on my paper because y ou know, about their game. Did Drake tell Andre what he wrote? Perhaps, consider ing they are best friends. "Let's make a deal," Andre says, breaking me from my thoughts. DEAL? As in, deal, like how they started the bet? I feel like crying, but appare ntly, there are no tears flowing from my eyes which is good because I hate cryin g, especially beside a monster. There's hollowness inside me, like the time when I overheard them talking. My th roat is burning, it's hard to breathe, and my eyes are stinging. What makes him think that I will have a deal with him?

"This is how it goes," he says, as if I already agree to what he wants. "If you tell me what you wrote on his paper, I'll tell you what he wrote on your paper." It's kind of suspicious why he wants to know about those papers; in the first pl ace he's not even a participant. It is such a tempting offer. Will I accept it or not?

***** For those who are confused, Matt was the younger brother of Sophia who died in a car accident (Chapter 8) Cassidy is the head cheerleader of the school who Drak e talked to in Chapter 20. The song is Asleep by Emily Browning (Perfect!) Another OST of Sucker Punch. Click the external link for another interview of me. Thank you so much <3 ******************************************* [22] The Bet *Hidden Truths ******************************************* Do you know how to make a trailer? Can you make one for The Bet? :D My stories can only be read in Wattpad so if you think someone is copying my ide as, or posting my stories on other website, please tell me.

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 22 *Hidden Truths* ~Sophia

I can lie. Say I wrote: Handsome. I even saw that word on Drake's paper. But wil l Andre believe me? Besides, he can lie either. Say something that's obviously w ritten on my paper. Even though he hasn't seen it, he can say: Smart, because ba sically there are a lot of smart's in my paper. I'd rather not know what he wrote on my paper than tell Andre what I wrote on Dr aky's paper. Maybe he planned this conversation with Andre because it's the same with his mes sage a while ago. You shouldn't let people know your weakness so that they can't fool you. "No deal," I say to Andre firmly. He looks disappointed but he doesn't press the topic. We continue to watch the movie in awkward silence. I don't even really understan d it because my mind is busy thinking different things.

"Andre," I say. "What?" he asks, turning to look at me. "Um." I don't know how to say this without offending him but something in me is urging to ask this question for a long time now. Taking a deep breath, I ask, "H ow did your father die?" He looks pointedly at the screen and is silent for a minute. I cringe inwardly b ecause I might retrieve a painful memory in his mind. I have a hard time swallow ing the lump in my throat. Maybe it's not a good idea, me questioning him. Curio sity kills the cat is a very good example of this situation I am currently in. "He died in a car accident," he says softly. "Car accident?" I ask dubiously. Like the one that killed Matt? Andre still doesn't look at me, but continues, "He was supposed to have a busine ss meeting in another town but he was running late. He was driving too fast and his car collided with another car." He pauses and drinks his coke. His hand trem bles as he takes a sip. "He died, and one of the people in the other car died to o. I don't know what was wrong with him that day. He is, I mean, he was a good d river you know. That's why it's hard to process things." He's still talking but I stop listening on the part where one of the people on t he other car died. Can it be? Car accident is so common, maybe it's just a coincidence. But as far as I know, there's no such thing as coincidence. Everything happens for a reason . My mind is whirling with thoughts. Taking a huge breath, I ask him, "When did yo ur father die?" He looks at me warily and finally says, "May 26, 2007." I hear someone gasp, and then I realize after a second that the sound comes from me. The accident that killed his father and my brother. This is not true. I shake my head to clear it from these haunting thoughts. He's lying. I know it! He's a monster so he's lying. "Sophia," he says in a gentle voice. I close my eyes and pretend that he's not here. I want to run away but my feet a re locked in place. "Don't cry," he murmurs. Opening my eyes, I see him with a raise hand. He wants to wipe my tears away. Bu t he thinks better of it so he puts it back down on his side. Didn't I just say that I hate crying? Stupid tears! They flow freely at the wron g place and at the wrong time. Suddenly, my mind thinks back on my first day here in this house -- when we had our first dinner and I asked where his father was. My mother sent me an incredul

ous look and the dinner became more awkward after that. Now I understand. "Did you know?" I ask, my voice hoarse. I wipe my tears at the back of my hand. I can't believe I can't stop them. "Yes," he whispers, averting his gaze away from me. "My mom and I went to your b rother's funeral. That was the first time I saw you. You were sitting at the fro nt, alone." He plays with his shaking fingers, staring at the carpet on the grou nd. "Your friends were around you but you wouldn't talk to them. And that was wh en I realized that he was your brother. I wanted to talk to you but I didn't kno w how. How could I say that the man who killed your brother was my father?" What is he talking about? He saw me? I didn't see him. Actually, I didn't really care at all what was happening around me back then. The only thought I had was I am alone. Matt is dead. No one will ever call me Phia again. Even though I tol d him I hated his nickname for me, deep inside, I liked it. My mom told me that the people who love us are the only ones who give us names. Truth is, I don't even care about the other car. I never thought that he had a f amily too that will mourn for him. I only thought that because of him, my brothe r is dead. My mom went to the man's funeral but I had no idea that his wife is h er friend. "I'm sorry," Andre says in a muffled voice. I turn to see him with his head on his hands, looking miserable. Why is he saying, sorry? He didn't do anything wrong. And then a horrible though t comes to my mind. He already knows what I've been through yet he still chose t o hurt me. "I was shocked to see you on the first day of freshman year," he says, obliviou s to my thoughts. "I even thought I was hallucinating. I tried again to talk to you and say all the things that I know but I chickened out. I was afraid you'll blame my father." Why? Why is he so wicked? Does he want to get a payback for the death of his fat her? But I lost someone too! Not just him! "You know what amazes me?" Andre says. "Your mom and my mom are friends even be fore the accident. But they didn't fight because of it. It's kind of unusual. My mom told me she talked to your mom about it. They became closer after the accid ent. They don't blame anyone. They still are the same." Finally, he looks at me with his green eyes full of sadness. But why didn't my mom tell me about it? That I'm living with the family of the o ther car? Why? There are a lot of secrets in my family. I don't know why my pare nts aren't telling me about it. What if I wake up one day to find out that I'm just an orphan? That they aren't really my parents? I guess I don't really know them. They should have at least t old me so that I'll know what to expect. It's my right! What does Aunt V think of me? The daughter of the man who killed her husband (I know my dad wasn't the one who killed his husband, but still). I don't know what to think! I feel hollow inside out. I'm tired of my parents keeping secrets fro m me. I swear I'll find out everything--

"When my mom told me you'll stay here with us," Andre says, interrupting me from my reverie, "I didn't even believe her at first. How can I? Why in the world wi ll you stay with us?" He shakes his head smiling, but the smile doesn't reach hi s eyes. "And then she said that you don't know about my father, because your mom didn't tell you." "Of course she didn't," I mutter. If she did, there's no doubt that I will not stay here. I don't even know why th ey want me to move out. My parents are so strange! I have the weirdest family ev er. "My mom is happy to have you here," he says after a moment. A smile forms on my mouth. "She's very kind," I say honestly. "Yes," he agrees. "She's very brave. She's really trying to make me feel that ou r family is still complete even if my dad is dead." "I'm sorry about that," I murmur. He shrugs, and turns to watch the movie. The music from the screen is a background noise to us. I wonder if Andre underst ands the film. "Maybe my brother and your dad know each other know, considering they are both i n heaven," I say lightly. That brings a real smile to his face. I feel . . . I don't know what to feel. I have mix emotions in me. One thing is for sure; my anger towards Andre dims a little; maybe because I empathize with h im. We experienced the same kind of pain when we lost our loved ones. I have a lot of questions for him, like why did he choose me for the bet? What's the reason behind that? Andre and I have something in common and it makes me fe el that I'm not alone even though I still don't like him. When the movie ends, Andre gets up and turns off the screen. "Can you keep a secret for me?" I hear myself ask him. "What?" he asks, taken aback. "Please don't tell your mom that I know all about it now," I whisper. "If you do , she'll tell my mom. I want my parents to admit it to me when they're ready." If they'll ever be. "Okay," he says, giving me a nod. "Does Drake know?" I ask. When I told Draky about my past, he looked surprise. He was even speechless. "What?" Andre, asks, confused. Controlling the urge to roll my eyes, I say, "About your dad and my brother."

He shakes his head solemnly. "I didn't tell him." I want to ask him why, but I think better of it. Maybe he has his own reason tha t's why he can't even tell it to his best friend. Anyway, Draky didn't tell Andr e about my past. Even if he did, Andre already knows it, even before him. Before I can stop myself, I ask him, "Why are you friends with Drake?" "What?" He's clearly taken aback with my question. I don't know what's gotten to me to ask him that. "What do you mean?" he says after a moment. "Um, you have a lot of friends," I start, "So why did you choose him to be your best friend?" Yes, I changed my question. "I don't know," he says, a wry smile crosses his face. "And we both chose each o ther." We are silent for a minute and then he says, "Why?" "I'm just wondering," I lie. "Perhaps because despite our differences, we still understand each other." "Maybe." "It's better to enjoy life committing mistakes and learn nothing rather than pla y safe your entire life and learned nothing at all," he says thoughtfully. Mistakes-as in, their deal? Don't worry, you'll sure learn from playing tricks o n me. "Remember when we were young?" he asks. "Our mother's taught us how to close and open our palms. They wanted us to have a lesson; a lesson that will help us whe n we grow up. Unfortunately, only few people know that." "What is it?" I ask impatiently. I don't know where this conversation is going. "To learn when to let go and when to hold on tight." He closes and opens his lef t hand, showing his point to me. That makes sense because even though I was just a toddler back then, I know that my mom taught me how to do that-the close open on the palm. A comfortable silence passes between us. "Good night," Andre says suddenly, and then corrects himself automatically, "Goo d morning." He smiles, and ruffles the back of his hair. "I think the right term is Good mornight," I say, realizing that both of us came here to watch a movie but instead he spilled the hidden truths about our family . "Good mornight then," he says, standing up and walking away.

-----Because of talking to Andre a while ago, memories of the past floods in my mind. "Phia, Phia." I groan and put the pillow over my head. "Phia." Matt shakes my arm. "Phia." "Matt, get out," I say wearily. I still need to sleep. Suddenly, he's jumping up and down on my bed. It makes me dizzy! "I'm awake now! " I throw my pillow away. He laughs at my expression. "Mom told me to wake you," he says. My body feels heavy so I'm not getting up. Suddenly, Matt is on my side and is t ickling me. "Hey!" I complain, squirming away from him. "Stop it!" Laughter escapes from my mouth without control. Matt knows my weakness so he's using it against me. He laughs with me because I' m trying to get away from him. Even though he's just ten and I'm already thirtee n, I can't push him away from me. He's really clever to think of this plan. "Matt!" I yell. He laughs, the sound of a bell chiming. "Okay," I choke the words out. "I'm going to get up now." "Are you sure?" he asks between laughs. "Yes," I gasp. He's still tickling me; until I fall off my bed and to the ground, butt first. "Ow!" "Oops," Matt mutters from above. There's a smile threatening to form on his lips . "I didn't mean to push you." He swings his legs off the bed and offers his han d to help me stand up. Instead of him, pulling me to him, I grab his hand to pull him to me. There's a thud when he falls on the floor beside me. I can't stop laughing at his facial e xpression. It's so priceless! Matt turns to me with a scowl on his face. It seems unlikely because he looks li ke a sweet angel that comes from heaven. In that moment, I promise to myself that I will do everything I can to protect m y brother. He looks like he's up to something so I give him a hug. "I love you Phia," he says, hugging me tight.

"Love you too Matty," I say wholeheartedly. "Sophia, Matt," Mom calls from downstairs. "We're coming!" I say loudly. I get up from the floor slowly. My hip will surely have a bruise later. I help Matt stand up and we walk hand in hand downstairs. Shaking my head, I try not to reminisce about the past. That event happened the day of the accident. Phia is close to Pie that's why I almost snap at Draky when he called me that na me for the first time. It brought memories from the past. I don't even know why he calls me that name. At least Phia is from Sophia, while Pie is from . . I don 't know. I lay in bed, trying to think of nothing, waiting for sleep to come.

***** I was supposed to upload this last night but the electricity went off :/ There's a storm in our country. A really bad weather. The next chapter is on Drake's POV. I bet you want to know what he's thinking =D The song for this chapter is Secrets by One Republic. Banner by Risterbug13 :) Thank you for reading! <3 ******************************************* [23] The Bet *Stalker ******************************************* Happy Reading! :) Chapter 23 *Stalker* ~Drake

The bad thing about loving someone is no matter how angry you are at the person, the moment you see her, all the anger will be vanish and will be replaced by yo ur love for that person. It's like you're never even mad at the first placeI close my copy of Accidentally in Love and put it on the bed beside me. I saw t his book on Pie's desk when I went to her room to say good night but found her s leeping instead. I didn't mean to pry on her things. I swear I didn't! I just sa w this novel because it was on the top. I decided then that I'll buy it so that we can have something to talk about. So far, I like it. I'm glad it's changing o n person's point of view so that the readers can know what the other characters are thinking. I smile to myself as I wonder: What will it be like to be a fictional character? They don't have a choice. Because they do what the author writes about them. Sud

denly, I feel sad for them. I don't know why. What will happen if all the fictio nal characters from the books will come true to life? That means all kinds of cr eatures will live in Earth. Why am I even thinking these kinds of things? They a re allRing! Ring! Ring! That's my alarm clock. That means it's time to get ready for school. For once, I didn't need its help to wake me. Maybe adrenaline is still running through my v eins because of the nightmare I dreamed last night. I wonder why I always get ba d dreams. After texting Pie last night, I directly fell asleep only to dream that I was a sunflower, and a zombie ate me. I shudder involuntarily. Such a creepy nightmare ! I won't play Plants vs. Zombies again! ----There's something weird about Andre. And that's saying something. The way he talk and act is unusual. Perhaps something happened to him yesterday because the day before that, he was normal. I asked him a while ago but he just shrugged. Something's going on with him but he doesn't want to share it with me. Maybe it's about a girl because he's only being secretive when it comes to the o pposite gender. ----"Are you sure you aren't going to date Sophia?" Jake asks. "Why?" I ask him furiously. "I'm just curious," he says, leaning to my locker. "Excuse me," I mutter, shutting my locker with a bang. It's lunch time. Before I go to the cafeteria, I walk to my locker first and pu t my things inside it. And then I grab all the books I need for my next class. I don't know why Jake is bothering me with this question. It's not as if I can s top him from dating Sophia. But I have to! Because I'm the one who's supposed to date her, not him! Everything will fall apart if she likes another guy. Competition is good for the heart. It's not. Why, are you afraid she won't choose you? I am not! "Hello," Jake says, waving his hand in front of my face, "Earth to Drake." "Cut it out," I snap, glowering at him. He smirks, ignoring the tone of my voice. "I smell jealousy here," he says, his

brown eyes sparkling in amusement. "Can you?" "Woke up at the wrong side of the bed, huh?" Of all my friends, Jake is the most annoying one. If he opens his mouth to tease me again, I swear I'll punch him. He looks like he reads my mind because he backs off slowly. "See you later Drake ," he says dryly. In the cafeteria, I sit in our usual place. I'm not eating, just picking on my f ood. "Anything you want to share?" Troy says playfully. I look up to see him staring at me. "Nothing," I mutter. Andre is looking at me curiously but he doesn't say anything because he knows I' m not in the mood. Besides, I'm not the only one who's keeping secrets. Anyway, I don't have a secret. Pathetic. You don't even have a secret only you know. I'm about to retort a vicious reply when Dwayne exclaims, "What's Jake doing the re?!" I snap out of my reverie instantly, and quickly scan the cafeteria. My eyes land on the far corner where my twin sister is sitting with Pie. Standing beside her chair is Jake, who's balancing his tray on his left hand. His right hand is on the back of Pie's chair! "If looks can kill," Andre murmurs beside me, "Jake is long gone by now." "Shut up," I growl. He doesn't even flinch. His mouth just twitches upward in amusement. "What is he doing?" Troy asks me. As if I know! "He's asking permission if he can sit with them," says Brian. "How do you know?" Dwayne asks curiously. Brian rolls his eyes and says, "It's obvious." I look uneasily at my twin's table to see Jake walking hastily away from it. He looks very irritated and annoyed at the same time. His expression is really funn y; I can't help but laugh at him. The anger I don't know I have gets out of my system. My friends soon join me in laughing. Our laughter becomes more loudly when Jake takes his usual seat in our table. His mouth turns into a hard line. "Why don't you all shut up?!" He scolds. "What happened dude?" Dwayne asks lightly.

"Busted already?" Troy chimes in. Jake can't stand it any longer -- he smacks Troy's head. "That hurts," Troy grumbles, shaking his head furiously. He reaches across the t able to take his revenge. Before his fist connects to Jake's face, Jake already ducks down his head. And that's when we know that everything's okay with Jake because he's already la ughing with us. Poor Troy, he's the one who takes Jake's irritation. Our friends continue to tease and ask Jake what was that about but he just shrug s off all their questions. Meanwhile, I glance one more time to Pie's table to see her staring straight at me. ----"Okay class," Parker says when he walks inside the room. "I'll give your paper b ack today." Excited chatters fill the room. They, my classmates, wait in anticipation on Par ker's next words. "You have very interesting words written on your paper," he says amusedly. I haven't even read mine because yesterday, when the paper came back to me, Cass idy grabbed it before I can read it. Last night I wondered what they wrote on my paper. I wondered what Pie wrote on my paper. Parker calls our name one by one and gives the paper back to the owner. When it's my turn, I stand up and walk to the front to get my paper. Parker is getting on my nerves. What is wrong with him?! Why is he looking at me amusedly? It's like he has a secret only he knows. Even though he has not done anything wrong, I don't like him. When I sit back on my chair, I scan my paper quickly. There are a lot of I like you on my paper. There are even some I love you. How can you love someone you do n't know? There are words like: Handsome, Cute, Can I date you?, Come back to the basketba ll team - they need you! I roll my eyes at the last one. I'll never play basketb all again. On the bottom of my paper are the words: You are my first crush. A smile makes its way in my face. Those are interesting words. I wonder who wrot e that. I try to remember Pie's handwriting, when we passed notes two days ago. The only thing I can remember is that she writes legibly. If only Ma'am Coelho didn't co

nfiscate the paper! I can compare the two papers then, and find out what Pie wro te. Are you stupid? I groan internally. This voice is a pain! Of course Sophia changed her hand writing. I haven't thought of that, but it makes sense. Maybe she changed her handwriting so I won't recognize it. I didn't bother changing mine when I wrote on my class mate's paper. Now I understand why Parker gives me that look. He read all our papers yesterday , so that means he saw the paper of Pie -- the one with my surname written after her name. I don't have an idea who wrote that. With my classmates, you cannot tell. After all the papers are back to their owner, Parker continues the discussion on A Midsummer Night's Dream - where Ma'am Coelho stopped.

"I have a little project for you," Parker says before he ends the lesson. "You'l l pass it tomorrow. But it's by partner," he adds quickly when he sees the expre ssion on the faces of my classmates. You can practically hear their sighs of relief. Clearly, they don't want to make a project alone -- especially one that you'll pass tomorrow. Cassidy tries to get my attention. When she sees me, she raises her eye brow. I smile at her. Of course, she wants me to be her partner. Nothing unusual with that. "I'm going to assign your partner," Parker says to our surprise. "What?! Cassidy exclaims. Parker ignores her tone and says, "Your partner is the one behind you." Pie glances at me with wide eyes. Oh. We're partner. She's on the third row, and I'm on the fourth. Of course the people on the first and second rows are partners. A smirk forms in my mouth with out my permission.

"Let's do the assignment in Lit," I say to Pie when the bell rings, indicating t hat class in Lit is over. "I can't after class," she says, glancing uneasily in front of the room where Pa rker is organizing his things. "Why?" I ask. "I have to do something," she says evasively.

"What about our project?" I demand. I don't really care about our project. I'm j ust wondering what she will do after school. "Um, can we do it in the evening?" She asks hesitantly. "Why?" I repeat. She rolls her eyes and ignores me. "You're stubborn," I say. "No I am not," she says, narrowing her eyes at me. "Yes you are," I state, crossing my arms over my chest. "I am not!" "See?" I say, raising my eye brow. "Whatever," she mutters. "We can meet later." This girl is impossible! Heaving a sigh, I ask, "At Andre's?" "If you want," she answers. "Okay," I mutter. She looks pleased. Of course, she gets what she wants. "I'll just text you when I get home." My brows furrow as I analyze what she's going to do. I'm supposed to make her fall in love with me. But what am I doing? Nothing! How can she love me if I continue to act this way? How many days since the bet started? I count the days on my fingers. Maybe I get it wrong. I recount again. And again. I can't believe it's just the eighth day! It's just a week! We started it last T hursday, and today is Thursday again. A lot has happened already. It feels like . . . ----On my way to the parking lot of the school, I see Parker in the corner of my eye , his left hand on Sophia's shoulder. Pie's shoulder! The scene that I'm seeing shock me, I stop walking. Parker and Pie are almost on the gate of the school. Where are they going? Will they have a date? But that's forbidden because he's a teacher and she's a studen t. Even if he's just a sub, it's still against the law! I don't even know how th ey knew each other. As far as I'm concern, Parker is not Pie's boyfriend. I'm sure Parker's taking a

dvantage of her innocence. I have to make sure that that's not going to happen. Before I know it, I'm outside the school. I don't even know when I start to walk . One thing is for sure. I'll follow them wherever they'll go. Stalker much? No, I think irritably, I just want to make sure that Pie is okay. I follow a safe distance behind, afraid that one of them will see me. They're ta lking, but of course, I can't hear them. It's not as if I can walk beside them a nd join in their conversation. Their distance at each other isn't really the boyfriend/girlfriend type, which i s good. Don't let your hopes up. "Shut up," I mutter under my breath. I walk normally because I don't want to let the other people walking nearby to l ook at me suspiciously. Pie's face is glowing as she smiles to whatever Parker t ells her. He doesn't even look humorous to me. They continue to walk and stop in front of a cafe. Looking up, I see its Coffee Academy. Hmm . . . Maybe they're going to . . . I don't know. I don't have an id ea. That's why I'm following them so I can find out. When Parker opens the door, I hide beside a dark alley so that he won't see me. And then I peek out and see that he comes in after Pie. I wait for three minutes before I make my way towards the cafe. My eyes scan the area and see them on the farthest corner beside a window overlo oking the garden of the cafe. I take the table a little bit farther away from th em so that they won't see me. I can still hear their conversation if I strain ha rder. Little Eavesdropper. I ignore it because I don't have a retort for that. When I'm comfortably sitting on my chair, a waiter walks to my table. "Good afternoon sir," he says politely. "What can I get you?" "Chocolate Java Chip," I answer. "Anything else?" "No." "Right away." He nods and walks away. And then, I wait for them to talk. Glancing at their table, I see Pie staring pe acefully at the rose's buds. I look away quickly before they catch me. "Parker," Pie says. Her tone makes me think that it's the start of their convers ation. I straighten on my chair and wait for Parker's response.

***** Thank you -- to all the new readers out there and to all my fans :D Your commen ts make me happy, and I do read all of them :) The first part was from Accidentally in Love. Yes, it's my story. I always wante d to start a chapter from a book, but I had a hard time choosing. And then, sudd enly, like a light bulb switched in my head, I thought of AIL :) I know it's not a book, but this story is a fiction so . . . The song is Boy Meets Girl (and Vice Versa) by FM Static =) Banner by libertyk. P.S. If you're going to add me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, please tell me you're from Wattpad :) Thank you so much! <3 ******************************************* [24] The Bet *Wrong Turn ******************************************* Please read the Author's Note at the end ^.^ Happy Reading! (: Chapter 24 *Wrong Turn* ~Sophia

"Parker," I say hesitantly. "Are you gay?" To my surprise, he laughs. I even assume that he'll be mad. He's laughing really loud, there are even tears flowing from his eyes. "Parker," I whisper fiercely. "Are you out of your mind?" He ignores my question, and asks, "What's gotten in to you to ask me that?" "You said he's cute," I say defensively. "Just because I said he's cute doesn't mean I like him." That's the same thing Driana told me. They really have a lot of things in common . "So why did you say that he's cute?" I probe. "Because I saw a lot of You're cute on his paper, and I just wanted to tease you ." "By?" "By saying he's cute," he says obviously.

"I don't get it," I mutter. "I thought you're one of the girls who wrote those words." "I am not shallow," I say, crossing my arms over my chest. "I know," he says bemusedly. "And for the record, I know what you wrote on his p aper." "You do?" I ask doubtfully. How can he? "Of course," he says proudly. "And that is?" I urge him to continue. "A secret," he says, grinning. "Secret?" I repeat. "You just don't know it." "I know it," he insists. "I just don't want to say it because someone might hear it." "Like who?" I ask, looking around me in bewilderment. I don't see anyone familia r. Confuse, I turn to Parker. "Never mind," he says, slurping his cookies and cream shake. I shake my head at him. He really is impossible! He's just dodging the topic and I'm quite sure that he doesn't know what I wrote on Draky's paper. He just does n't want to admit it. "How come you get to that conclusion?" Parker asks me. "You said that there's something new about you," I say slowly. "So I thought you 're gay. I'm sorry I doubted your manhood." "Manhood?" He smirks. "A nice choice of word." "Shut up," I mutter. "How are your parents?" He asks, changing the subject. And then I tell him everything that happened in the past few days. That my paren ts are still fighting and they wanted me to move out. And now I'm living in Andr e's house. Parker doesn't interrupt to ask questions. I'm sure he's saving them when I finish talking. I tell him that I don't know what's wrong with my family, everything, except about the bet. I don't know, but when I'm about to start talking about it, I suddenly pause. Th ere's an unseen force forbidding me to spill the secret. Creepy, I know. When I finish, Parker says, "Your parents sure have a reason why they want you t o move out." "I hope so," I murmur. "Who's Andre?" He asks curiously. "Drake's best friend," I say automatically.

He nods thoughtfully, and glances uneasily behind him. My eyes furrows as I look over his shoulder but I don't see anything interesting . "He's the son of the other car," I whisper softly. Parker chokes the cake he's eating. I give him water and help him drink it. "Rea lly?" He asks when he's okay. "Yes," I say, slurping my milkshake. He cocks his head to the side, and is silent for a moment. "Andre just told me last night," I admit quietly. "Your parents didn't tell you," he observes. "My parents don't know that I know now." "And you're going to tell them?" He asks quietly. "I'm not planning to," I murmur. I don't know why we're talking in hush voices, but I like it. Parker gets something from his satchel. "This is for you," he says, handing me a paper bag. "Me?" I ask, pointing to myself. "No." He shakes his head. "I mean the person beside you," he says sarcastically. "Same old Parker," I mutter. The corner of his mouth twitches upward. "What is this?" I ask, getting the bag from his hand. It's not heavy. "Why don't you open it and see for yourself?" He asks amusedly. And then he glan ces behind him. "What?" I ask. What is he looking behind him? "Nothing," he says slyly. "Just open it." Rolling my eyes, I pull the ribbon off the bag. Opening it, I find a lot of conf etti's inside. "What's this?" I ask dryly. "Why don't you get the thing inside it?" He says, using the tone I used. Heaving a sigh, I get the thing from the paper bag. A gasp escapes from my lips as I look at the dress in front of me. I glance at P arker to see him smiling broadly, his eyes glittering in delight. "Do you like it?" He asks excitedly. "No," I murmur, staring at the dress. His smile falters and he looks a bit hurt.

"Parker," I whisper. "Where did you get this dress?" It's sleeveless. The upper part is gray, and the skirt is white. In the middle of the bodice is a zipper, I 'm glad it's just a design, and cannot be open. When I wear it, it will fall a f ew inches above my knees. "You don't like it," he states, looking away. "Are you insane?" I ask, laughing now. "Of course I don't like it. I love it!" He grins, showing his perfect white teeth. 'I'm glad you do," he says, "because that's my birthday gift for you." "Birthday gift?" I repeat. "Yes," he says, looking at me oddly. "Your birthday is next week." "What?" I ask incredulously. "Don't tell me you forget it," he says wryly. "Yes," I admit sheepishly. I can't wrap my mind around it. I'm going to be seven teen next week! "You're the only person who can forget her own birthday," he says. "It's not as if I'll magically grow up in that day," I point out. "Your birthday is important because it is the day you were born." "Whatever," I mutter. "And thanks for the dress. You shouldn't have wasted your money on it." He shakes his head at me disapprovingly. "It's not a waste," he tells me. "When I was searching a gift for you, I saw that dress and instantly imagined you in i t." A smile crosses my face as an idea shines in my head. "Thank you Parker," I say, reaching for his cheek and pinching it. "Ow!" He mutters, scowling at me. And then he smiles evilly. Before I can do som ething, he reaches across the table and pinches me on my cheek. "You're welcome Sophia," he says mischievously. "Stop it," I say, slapping his hand away. I touch my right cheek, and it throbs. "You're so childish." I scold. "You're the one who started it," he retorts. "I'm just sixteen," I say, using my age to defend me. "Seventeen soon," he says evasively. "Whatever." I notice that I'm fond of using Whatever today. How many times have I already"It's just a shame," Parker says, interrupting my thoughts, "That I won't see yo u in that dress." I have an idea on what he's doing, and where this conversation is going.

"You know, I really see you in that dress. But it's just my imagination," he say s furiously. "Imagination and reality aren't the same." "What do you want me to do?" I ask wryly. "Can you wear that dress tomorrow?" When he looks at my expression, his face fal ls. "Never mind, I know you don't like the dress. You're just saying that you lo ve it because you don't want to hurt my feelings." I groan. He's trying to guilt me, and he knows that I know. He's purposely not l ooking at me. This is unfair! "Fine," I say grudgingly. "You win!" "Really?" Parker says dubiously, fighting the smile forming in his lips. "You're going to wear it tomorrow?" "Yes," I say curtly. "If you want to, you know-" "I said fine!" He smiles sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "You'll be amazing in tha t dress." I sigh and then force myself to smile, only to end up grimacing instead. "You're the sweetest and the kindest person I've ever met!" "You're just saying that because you get what you want," I grumble. "No, it's true," he says firmly. "You have a big heart." I shake my head and roll my eyes at him. "It's true," he insists. "Just don't let other people take advantage of you." "Like you?" I tease. "Yes," he says, and then pauses. "Except for me," he jokes. "You know I won't d o anything to hurt you," he says seriously, taking my hand that's on the table. "I know," I say, squeezing his hand. I have a problem. I am not comfortable wearing a dress! I own three dresses but I haven't really worn any of them. I don't know. I just don't feel like it. And then a horrible thought comes in my head. "I don't have shoes for that dress!" "What do you mean?" Parker asks, confuse. "I don't have shoes that will go well with the dress," I complain. "What am I go ing to wear, sneakers?" A grin lights his face. "It's not a bad idea." "Parker!"

"We can buy your shoes now," he offers. "Bad idea," I say flatly. "Of course it is," he mutters, "Because I have the perfect shoes for you." "What?" I exclaim. "You really thought I'll not give you shoes that will go well with your dress?" He says mockingly. "Of course not! I'll never do that. Besides, it's not from me ." He gets something from another paper bag on the floor and hands a box to me. "If you're wondering what's inside this box," he says with a big smile on his face, "It's a pair of shoes." "Who is it from?" I ask, taking the box from him. "Chloe," he answers. "Chloe?" I repeat. I don't have friends back home who have a name of Chloe. I op en the box to find green shoes with four inches heel. It's suede sling-back pump with glossy patent detailing. "She's my girlfriend," he says, smirking. "You have a girlfriend?" I ask. My voice catches at the end of the sentence. "Why are you so surprised?" He wonders. "It's not a sin to be in a relationship. " "I don't know," I admit. "It's just that when we left, you didn't have a girlfri end. You never had a girlfriend, for that matter." He rolls his eyes and says, "I was not ready before, and I am now." "Is she you first girlfriend?" I ask curiously. "Yes," he answers, giving me a nod. Wait. Chloe is a familiar name! Where did I hear it? Like a light shines in my h ead, I say, "Chloe, as in my sub in Arts?" "Yes," he says and his lips quirks into a smile. My eyes widen at his answer. "Where did you meet?" "For being smart, you're . . ." he trails off. "What?" I ask, glaring at him. "Nothing," he mutters. "I told Chloe about you, and when she saw that dress, she told me that I had to give you shoes too. In the end, she bought it for you." I make a mental note to myself to thank Chloe tomorrow. "We were classmates when we were first year," Parker says, answering my question , "When we were choosing what major to take."

"Oh," I mumble. "Why did you choose her?" "We chose each other," he corrects me. "When did you become so melodramatic?" "When I met her," he admits. "And it's not really melodramatic." "If it's not, what do you call it?" "Forget it." I sigh. I only have short time with him and I'm already ruining it. Taking a dee p breath, I ask, "What do you like about her?" He thinks for a moment and finally says, "She's kind, sweet, and thoughtful." Imagining Chloe in my head, I nod. She looks nice, and pretty too. "If you're wondering what I love about her," he says, interrupting my thoughts, "I don't have an answer for that." "Why?" "Because if you love someone, there's no reason behind that," he says. "Don't tr y so hard looking for a perfect partner. It's just this simple: Be with someone who knows how lucky he is to have you." "Who are you?" I ask teasingly. I don't like where the conversation is heading s o I have to change the topic. "Where did you put the real Parker?" The corner of his mouth twitches upward, and he reaches across the table to pinc h my nose. I slap his hand away with a scowl on my face. I don't like it when pe ople touch my nose. Parker knows it so he's doing it to annoy me. "Same old Sophia," he says, "Always dodging topics about love." I stick my tongue at him. I'm suddenly regretting telling him about my ex boyfri end. Because long distance call is expensive, Parker and I write letters to eac h other. It's like writing on a diary but sending it to him. "Remember your tenth birthday?" He asks suddenly. "Of course," I say. "How come you remember that?" "I have a good memory." He smirks. The theme of my tenth birthday was magical. My parents hired clowns and magician s but they didn't come because of an unfathomable reason. My family and friends didn't want to let me down because it was my day. They dressed as clowns and mag icians. A smile forms in my lips as I remember the memory. I was the only audience because all of them were performers; even Matty who was just seven year old back then. They did tricks that were not good, but it was re ally funny because I was with them. If I remember correctly, Parker was the one who organized my party. He and my ot her friends were the ones who went to different shops to buy necessary things th

at were needed. It's not the effort that makes me smile. It's the willingness of people to do cr azy things to make me feel special. "By the way," I say, "Why did you choose our partners to be like that?" "I just like it," he says. "I'm tired of people choosing their partners because they're their friends." He's not looking at me as he says it that's why I know h e's lying. I don't know what Parker's plan is, but I'm sure I'll know it when th e right time comes. "Let's go," he says, as soon as we finish eating our cakes, and slurping our sha kes. "You still have to make your project." "Thanks for reminding me," I mutter. "You're welcome my friend," he says, his eyes glittering in amusement. I carry Parker's gift as we walk outside the coffee shop. Parker wants to take me home but I decline his offer. His hotel is just around t he corner and I don't want him to be away just to make sure I'll be safely home. "I'm just going to ride a bus," I say for the tenth time. "But it's already late," he says, glancing at his wrist watch. "It's just seven," I remind him. "You're so stubborn," he says disapprovingly. That just makes me smile. "Goodbye Parker," I say, "Thanks for the time." "Goodbye," he says reluctantly, leaning down to kiss me on my forehead. "See you tomorrow, and take care!" "You too," I say, and walk away to the bus station. On my right is an alley, if I'm right, at the end of it is the bus station. I me an, the bus station is near in that side. I feel lucky for seeing a shortcut rig ht now. I have to talk to Draky later for the project Parker requires us to submit tomor row. I make my way towards the alley, and then just a few feet of walking, I feel tra p. It's so dark here, and I can't even see the light on the other end. I don't e ven know that this alley is long. Why did I even think of entering this dark place? I chastise myself again and ag ain but the only way to make this right is to turn back the way I come in. I'm about to turn around when I hear footsteps shuffling behind me. My feet free ze automatically, as my heart thumps painfully in my chest. It's like its trying to burst out of me. Run, I order myself but I'm not moving. I'm not even breathing. My heart is so l oud, I can't hear clearly. I slap myself mentally to think clearly.

Sooner or later the person behind me will realize that I know he's there. Flight or fight? There's no question about that. In that kind of situation, I'll fligh t. But how can I? I can't even move my feet! And even if I run, there's no doubt that he can outrun me. Sophia, you can do this! It's not good to have your back on the enemy, or whatev er the person behind me is. Swallowing the lump in my throat and trying to stand firmly because my knees are shaking beneath me, I whip around to face the perso n behind me. I can't see anything because it's dark. It's darker than before. And then I can make out a shadow a few feet away from me. With a few squinting, I notice that t he stranger is alone. A startle scream escape from my mouth as the guy advances towards me.

***** Yay! 1000000 views! Thank you so much <3 :) I still remember the day when The Bet just had 897 views. Of all my stories, it had the lowest numbers of readers. I didn't even expect to have reads of a hundr ed thousand on any of my stories. When I saw it, I smiled and cried at the same time XD Sophia's birthday is next week, my birthday is this month. I'm going to be ninet een this July 22. . oh, getting old haha :D The song is Sentimental Heart by She and Him. I really love this song, and it's perfect for the chapter because, Sophia cried last night ;) Open the external link to see Parker and Chloe's gifts for Sophia (The dress and the shoes). It's by MellisaBoyce. She's a fashion consultant here in Wattpad. SEIZE THE MOMENT! (: Thank you so much ^.^ ******************************************* [25] The Bet *Dead End ******************************************* "Didn't you know that it's dangerous for young girls to walk alone in the dark?" A creepy voice asks. I open my mouth to scream but only choke sound comes from my mouth. I back away slowly, seizing my opponent. And then a light blinds my eyes. I close them momentarily to minimize the pain. "A lovely fellow you are, you aren't using your mind." I flinch at the sound of the stranger's voice. The man looks like twenty three a nd has ash blonde hair and black eyes. He's tall and has muscles on his forearms . Oh God, how can I fight this man?

He glides towards me while I just stand on my ground, my knees shaking beneath m e. Suddenly, he's towering over me. That's when I whip around and run as fast as I can. My breathing is rag and slow, as I try not to fall face first on the ground. And then, he's on top of me. His weight knocks my head against the hard floor. F or a moment, I'm blind. I see stars, even though my eyes are closed. I hear something thumps in the floor and see the light beside me when I open my eyes. He must have dropped the flashlight when he ran after me. I try to squirm away from his body, but he pin me flat against the ground. "Help!" I yell. The man puts his hand over my mouth. His hand is so big; it almost covers my who le face. It's hard to breathe! His arms are at the top of my chest, choking me for breath s. I'm starting to fall into unconsciousness but I have to save myself. I force my hands under him and pull his hair as far as I can, taking a few stran ds away. He cries out in pain and punches me on my stomach. That's when I black out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Okay, that didn't really happen. That's my surprise for you! =D *Read the A/N fo r the explanation.* This is the real scene that happens after the previous chapter. Happy Reading! :) Chapter 25 *Dead End* ~Sophia

"Help," I shriek, as I twist around and run as fast as I can. It's just a few steps when I trip my feet on something lying on the ground. Stro ng hands catch me before I fall. I slap the stranger's hand away, twist around o nce again, and am about to runaway when he holds my hand and pulls me towards hi m. I push him away as roughly as I can. He gets off balance but he tries to straighten himself while I runaway again. My right foot isn't working right because when I almost fell to the ground, I tw ist my ankle. Sweat pours down my face as my heart wants to rip its way out of my chest. I'm n

ot a fast runner, but I won't die without trying. I'd rather"Pie!" That nickname becomes so usual to me, I stop in my tracks. But why is it Pie? Th ere's only oneIn a matter of seconds, he's in front of me. My heart is pounding so hard, there 's no doubt that he can hear it. Even though I hate him, I even swear I'll make his life miserable, in this instant, I'm so happy to see him. I've never been so glad to see him. He just stares at me without saying ee, he has an unreadable expression thinking. He's breathing heavily; I hands are clench, the skin over his anything. From the little light that I can s on his face. It's hard to imagine what he's can see the rise and fall of his chest. His knuckles white.

"You're stupid, aren't you?" He says furiously, his eyes blazing with fire. "Why are you walking alone in the middle of the night? Don't you know that there are dangers everywhere? This alley is a dead end!" I try to open my mouth, but I don't know what to say, so I just snap it shut. "Why aren't you thinking?" He growls. And then he starts to pace back and forth in front of me. "For being smart, you're. . ." He trails off, looking pointedly at me. His mouth sets into a thin hard line. That's what Parker said to me a while ago. What am I? My feet are hurting, just by standing here. I feel so tired, adrenaline leaves m e without energy. I don't have an idea what I look like now. My eyes are stinging, more seconds to go, they will surely fall. It's hard to ho ld them; I can't take it any longer. My lips are shaking uncontrollably, I can't talk. If I open my mouth to say something, I will surely breakdown. To my astonishment, he pulls me into him. My shock gets the best of me as he say s soothing words at me. Drake Swift is hugging me! My arms are useless beside me; I don't know what to do with them. A tear escapes from my eyes and soon enough, more follows after that. "Ssshh," he murmurs, "Everything's fine. I'm sorry I yelled at you." He tightens his arms around me. I put my arms on his neck, and let the guy I despise so much comfort me. He lets me cry on his shoulder as he pats my back reassuringly. After a few minutes, we pull away from each other. I swallow the lump in my thro at to no avail. "Come on," he says, taking my hand. He picks the paper bags I must have dropped when I ran. "Let's get you home," He says softly. Unfortunately, I can't walk. He sees my hesitation and I point to my right foot. "Ooh," he murmurs. He drops on one knee and let go of my hand.

"What are you doing?" I ask in a hoarse voice, gaping at him. "Get in my back," he instructs. "Why?" "I'll carry you." "No, I-" "Please," he interjects. "Okay," I whisper, and ride on his back. When he stands up, he gets the paper bags and holds them while holding my legs t oo. I put my arms on his neck instinctively. He starts walking without saying an ything. "Am I heavy?" I ask him after a few minutes of comfortable silence. "Light as a feather," he says. I can't see his face, but I hear the smile in his voice. We are silent for a minute. My gaze turns upward, toward the sky. There are a lo t of visible stars tonight. They are like Christmas lights, but much better. "Pie," Draky says. "Hmm?" I murmur. I can't help but breathe him in. His smell is so irresistible, it's not the perfume most guys are using. A few people are just passing the streets, but they don't stare at us, which is good. I never liked to be the center of attention. "Do not do that again," he says seriously. "What?" "Walking in the alley," he says, "Even if it's day, especially at night." "Okay," I mumble, nodding slowly. I feel like falling, so I tighten my arms on his neck. He holds my legs more sec urely. Hmm I think this lessen my dislike towards him. What would happen if he w as not the one in the dark alley? I shudder at the thought. "Are you okay?" He asks worriedly. Of course he felt my shudder. So embarrassing! I'm glad he can't see my face bec ause there's no doubt that it's scarlet. "I'm fine," I mutter. And then I remember the question I haven't asked him. "Wha t are you doing in the dark alley?" The sound of our synchronize breathing and the steps he takes is the only sound I hear. What time is it? Why are there no cars here? Is it already late? "Draky?" I murmur. "Yes?"

"What are you doing in the dark alley?" I repeat. He takes a deep breath, and tightens his hold on me. Finally, he says, "I follow ed you." "You followed me?" I ask incredulously. "Yes." "You're a stalker," I say matter-of-factly. "I was just worried about you," he says quietly. "Why?" I ask curiously. "Because you're my. . ." "You're what?" "Friend," he finishes. "Why, really?" I exclaim. "I want the truth." "I don't know," he says uneasily. "When did you start following me?" I ask instead. He sighs. "I saw you walking out of the school with Parker," he says wearily. "I thought he'll do something bad to you." "Like?" I probe. He mutters something under his breath. "You mean you followed us in the caf too?" I realize. "Yes," he admits. "Why did you do that?" "Instinct." "You heard what we were talking about," I say obviously. "I did not." "You did," I say accusingly. "Did not," he insists. I put my hand on his head and pull his hair away from him. "Ow!" He grunts. Fortunately, he doesn't let go of me. "Pie! Stop that!" "Tell me the truth," I say warningly. "Or I'll pull your hair away." I tug at hi s hair for emphasis. Instead of locking my arms on his neck, I take a handful of his hair in my hands. "I swear I did not hear a thing," he whimpers. "My table was far from yours."

I realize that he doesn't stop walking so that means he isn't really hurting. "Cut it out!" "I want the truth!" I say. "I'm telling you the truth," he insists. "If I'm a liar, don't you think I shoul d have lied on the part when I start to follow you? In that case, I don't have t o explain any of it. I can just say that I saw you walked in the dark alley so I followed you. But I did not. I really am telling the truth." "Really?" I ask doubtfully. "Yes," he says, and then pauses. "Wait, I heard the first part, when you asked P arker if he was gay, and then-Ow!" I realize that I grab a hold of his hair again. I let it go, and put my arms bac k to his neck. He starts walking again. "And then I saw him giving you something," he continues, turning his head to loo k at me. My heart stops beating for a second because the proximity of our faces is so clo se! His eyes widens when he realizes it, so he look in front of him again. "You star ted to talk in low voices so I did not hear you," he says flatly. "Eavesdropping is bad," I say flatly. "I know," he says, but there's no remorse in his voice. I tell him that eavesdropping is bad, but I do it too. It's even the reason how I knew their bet about me. Wait, there's been something nagging on my mind when Draky told me that he follo wed me. I close my eyes to think clearly. It's about. . It's . . . Parker! He must have seen Draky following us, because when we walked towards the caf, he l ooked behind our backs for a couple of times. Even when we were inside the caf, h e glanced behind him. But why didn't he tell me? I'm so oblivious! Why did I not force him to spill it? Ugh! I really hate Why questions. This is such a long day! My head throbs in synchronize with the beating of my he art. "We're here," Draky says. Opening my eyes, I see that we're in the parking lot of the school. "Why are we here?" I ask. "My car," he answers. "You left your car in the school?" I ask incredulously. "Yes," he says, "As if I can follow you while driving." He walks towards his car . There are some lights on the gym and a few cars parked in the school lot.

"How come there are still students here?" I wonder out loud. "The basketball team is practicing for their big game next week," he answers. "Oh," I murmur. "By the way, why did you quit?" "I get tired of it," he says in a strain voice. I don't ask him why because the topic is clearly forbidden. When we reach his black convertible, he puts down the paper bags and gets the ca r keys in his pocket. He opens the passenger door, and helps me get in. First, h e puts me down. When I'm about to take my first step, he carries me in his arms, princess style. A gasp escapes from my lips while he smirks at my expression. When I'm comfortable, he gives me my paper bags and walk to the driver's side. H e starts the car when he gets in. "Do you mind if we go to my house first?" I ask. "I just want to check if my par ents are okay." "Sure," he says. Even though my parents are secretive and confusing at the same time, they're sti ll my family. And now, I miss them. How many days have passed since I last saw t hem? A lot has happened already since I lived in Andre's house. To my surprise, Draky knows the way to my house. "How come you know my house?" I ask curiously. "It's a small town," he says. How come you just know that I exist when you start the bet? Before I know it, I'm already in front of my house. He stops the engine and look s at me expectantly. "Wait a second," I say. "I'll just say hello, and then we can go." "Take your time," he says. The corner of his mouth is starting to form into a sm ile. I open the door and get out of the car. I walk slowly towards the house to minim ize the pain. I'm so happy to be here again, I don't notice until I'm already in the front porch that there's no light from the house. My brows furrow in confusion as I try to calculate what time is it. Are they sle eping already? Even if they are, they'll leave one light open; the living room o r the kitchen. Now, it's dark. A wind ruffles my hair, making me shiver. Raising my hand, I kno ck on the door. My house keys are on my desk back at Aunt V's house. Nothing. There's no sound emanating from the house. "Pie." My heart leaps in my throat, as I jump in surprise. Turning around, I see Draky

a few feet away from me. "You scared me." I scold. "Sorry," he says sheepishly. I sigh. "I think they're not here." "Where are they?" "I don't know." Where are my parents? "Let's go." "Are you sure?" He asks. "We can wait for them here." "We have to make our project," I say. "Yeah, right," he mutters. "By the way, how did you know Parker?" I look to see him with a curious expression on his face. "He's my friend," I say carefully. I don't want him to give important details of my past. If he's telli ng the truth, he doesn't know about the connection of my family and Andre's. "You mean, way back?" "Yes," I say. He nods in understanding. I'm glad he's not asking a lot of questions because I don't want to answer him. "Come on," I say, and starts to walk (more like hop on my left foot). "I think we should go to a hospital first," he suggests. "No, I'm okay," I say quickly. "I just sprained my ankle. It will be gone tomorr ow." He hesitates, and then finally nods. Maybe he remembers my dislike towards hospi tals. He leans down and pull me up into his arm. "I can walk," I say warily. His mouth twitches upward. "Sure you can," he says amusedly. I puff out a breath, and cross my arms over my chest. I try not to look at his e yes because they're just a few inches away from mine. He opens the passenger's door and helps me settle in. When he gets in, he starts the car and drives towards Andre's house. The time in the dashboard indicates t hat it's just eight thirty. "Draky," I say hesitantly. "Can we keep this a secret?" "What do you mean?" He asks. "Don't tell anyone about what happened tonight." "Oh-kay," he says. "Even Andre," I insist.

"Sure," he agrees, "Even Driana?" He raises his eyebrows. "I. . . Yes," I say finally. "That means it's just the two of us," he says matter-of-factly. "I know." "Do you want a pinky promise, Pie?" He asks, raising his right hand towards me. "Okay," I say, raising my left hand towards him. "Promise," Draky says softly, smiling at our entwine pinky fingers.

***** THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EARLY GREETINGS <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL THE JULY CELEBRAN TS! :) I hope you like my surprise for you! I was waiting for the time I could do that trick, and finally it arrived XD The first part isn't real! I did it because a l ot of you guess the right scene - that it's Drake. I even thought of changing it to a complete stranger but that means a lot of scenes in the future chapters wi ll change. What if no one will come for Sophia? What if she gets hurt? She alrea dy suffered enough. What if- Okay, you get the point =D The song is It Ends Tonight by The All American Rejects <3 The song shot will be Every time we touch. Thank you for all your votes! I'll po st it when I finish it ;) Whoo! I'm on the Dean's List again! So happy :D :) :> Hmm such a long Author's N ote . . Thank you for reading it <3 and thank you for reading my story =D <3 :) I know, I overuse smiley's :> ******************************************* [26] The Bet *Unpredictable ******************************************* I'm sorry for the late update. I've been busy; this week is our Prelims (Thursda y-Sunday). Please, be patient. After that, hopefully, I can update regularly. The song is 9 in the Afternoon by Panic! At the Disco <3 Banner by pentapper. I hope you'll like this. Thank you, and happy reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 26 *Unpredictable* ~Sophia

"Your eyes are the size of the moon." "What?" I ask incredulously.

"Nothing," Draky says sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. I turn toward the window of the car and look up at the moon. My eyes are the siz e of the moon?! What is he talking about? Drake really is insane. "Do you want to listen to music?" he asks. "Sure," I murmur, looking pass the buildings on the street. He clicks the stereo, and a song plays. It's on its refrain already but it's unf amiliar. In the corner of my eye, I see Draky mouthing the lyrics of the song. H ah. He knows them. I listen to the song intently to catch the words. Fortunately , it's on the chorus. It's nine in the afternoon, you're eyes are the size of the moon. You could 'cau seWait! Your eyes are the size of the moon. That's what Draky told me a while ago! A smile escapes from my lips without my permission. "Reciting lyrics of a song o ut of nowhere," I say. Draky's lips quirks into a smile. "It just came on my mind." I don't know why I'm not convinced. "What's the title?" I ask, as the band plays the bridge of the song. "Nine in the afternoon." "Oh," I mutter, "By?" "Panic at the disco," he says, cocking his head to the side to look at me. "Never heard of them," I say. "Never?" he asks incredulously. "Never," I repeat. "What band do you listen to?" he asks, as if I'm a girl from the mountain. "A lot," I say evasively. I'm quite satisfied with the way he drives, because it's very different from bef ore. He even wears his seatbelt now. "Maybe all you listen to are the songs of Taylor Swift," Draky says matter-of-fa ctly. Taylor Swift? Is he teasing me? I close my eyes to lessen the annoyance I feel. When I don't respond, he asks, "What bands do you listen to?" "Why?" I grumble, not opening my eyes. "I'm curious," he says. I open my eyes to see him staring at me. "Look at the road," I chastise. "And, c uriosity killed the cat."

"Cats have nine lives," he points out. "Good thing the curiosity didn't get tired of killing the cat." The corner of his mouth twitches upward. "You don't like cats," he observes. "Yes," I agree. I don't know why I'm not fond of animals. I think they're okay, but"Who's your favorite band?" he asks again, going back to the original topic. "Why do you want to know?" I ask, glancing at him uneasily. "Forget it," he says evasively. Forget it, I mimic in my mind. As if he can persuade me in telling who's my favo rite band to him. I don't even know the reason why he's asking. Maybe he'll use it to his advantage of making me fall for him. But how? He did help me, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I forgive him. I'm not sh allow and stupid for that! When we arrive at the house, I tell Draky that I'll just change my clothes, and after that, we can start. We're just going to meet in the library. I go to my room, I'm limping but I can manage, and change in a shirt and shorts. I'm on my way to the kitchen to grab some snack, and then I see Aunt V preparing the dinner. "Hello Sophia," she says. "How are you?" "I'm good, thank you," I murmur. "Come on, let's eat." "Um, I. . . Drake's here," I stammer. I'm getting better at calling Draky, Drake with other people. "I know, silly," she says. "You know?" I ask incredulously, "How?" "I saw him walking around the house," she answers. My brows furrow at that. Draky doesn't know how to follow instructions! I told h im to go to the library, but instead"Let's go," Aunt V says, interrupting my thoughts. "I'm starving." I don't realize until now that I'm hungry. A couple of minutes of eating aren't really long. Anyway, the project isn't that complicated. I help Aunt V carry the dishes to the dining room. "What's wrong with your feet?" Aunt V asks, staring at me worriedly. "Um, I just tripped," I lie. I try not to bite my lip and look away-usual give a way of people who are lying.

Fortunately, Aunt V is not a suspicious kind of person. She sighs. "Next time, look where you are walking." I'm glad she believes me, but I'm guilty at the same time. "Be careful," she adds. "Okay," I murmur, nodding slowly. I hear voices coming from the dining room; no doubt the owners of the voices are Draky and Andre. The walls muffle the sounds so I don't know what they're talki ng about. Anyway, why would I care? "Delicious," Andre says when we enter. He's sitting beside Draky who's looking a t the dishes in my hands, which has Beef Broccoli, and Fried Chickens. Aunt V al ways prepares food for five people. No one's surprised that Draky is here because this is his second home. Aunt V ta kes the seat across from Andre, so I have no choice but to sit across from Draky . I put the dishes on the center of the table, between us. When we start eating, I tell them that Draky is my partner in Literature. I don't know, but I feel obli ged to tell them that that's the reason why he's here. "Like in real life?" Andre asks amusedly as I pause to breathe. "Are you and Drake in a relationship?" Aunt V asks, oblivious to my expression. "Of course not," I say quickly, before Andre or Draky can utter a lie. "Really?" Andre asks, staring at me intently. "Why are you blushing then?" "I am not," I say indignantly. Aunt V is smiling slyly, like she's up to something. I'm about to ask her what, when Draky speaks. "We're just friends," he says, in a tone that clearly indicates that there's mor e between us. In his dreams! As if he can fool me. I know he's just acting and pretending to m ake me fall in love with him. Let's see who the best is when I start with my pla n. "Boys," Aunt V says, taking my hand and squeezing it, "Don't make Sophia uncomfo rtable. Just continue eating." Andre's mouth twitches upward. I can't believe he's the same guy I talked to las t night. He seems a different kind of person now. Back to his old self. Heaving a sigh, I continue to eat my food. The dinner isn't awkward because ther e are conversations going on. Andre talks nonstop about his day-the tests he got a perfect score, and the girl s trailing behind his back. He's so full of himself. I wonder when his head will explode. He's too confident, like his best friend. Aunt V talks about her business. She, I mean, their family have a lot of shares

of stock in big companies in the country. "Managers are the lifeblood of the company," she says thoughtfully. "Without the m, there's no business. If you're going to take Marketing in college, don't let Accounting students look down at you. They're just the ones who are going to com pute your money in the future." Andre smirks. "You're just saying that because you're a Marketing graduate," he says. Aunt V shakes her head. "My professor told us that lesson when I was in my first year in college. Now, I know that it's true. I'm experiencing it," she adds, an d then grins. "Anyway, I didn't forget that. I even made it my inspiration to to p the class. I mean, I'm the number one in the President's List; a Marketing stu dent." She smiles, remembering the memory. Wow! Aunt V is intelligent. "When you're going to marry," she continues, looking at Andre and Draky, "Choose an intelligent girl. There's a huge possibility that your children will be smar t too." No doubt, Andre gets the genes from his mother. He's intelligent too. "Anyway, I forgot to ask," Aunt V says, looking at me, "What course will you tak e in college?" "I'm not sure," I say honestly. "I haven't thought about it yet." She nods slowly. "There's plenty of time for that." I have a lot of choices on what course to take, but I have not made my final dec ision yet. "Andre," I say, "What will you get?" He cocks his head to the side, like he's thinking about it. "I don't know," he s ays finally. "Maybe I'll take Marketing so that I can continue our business." Aunt V sighs. "You can take whatever you want and its okay for me." "I know," he says, an unreadable expression crosses his face. Before the silence becomes uncomfortable, I ask Draky if he's starting his tutor ial lesson with Andre. He's clearly surprised with my question. What can I do? I t's the first question that comes to my mind. "Not yet," he says, after clearing his throat. "Why not?" I ask. He shrugs. "No time." "Sophia," Aunt V says, in a voice like she just remembers something. "What is it?" I ask curiously. "Your birthday is next week!" She says excitedly. Andre spits out the water he's drinking. Instead of helping him, we laugh at him

. Draky is slapping the table while he laughs. The good thing is, Andre already drinks some of the water on his glass so"You know Sophia's birthday?" Andre exclaims, coughing the water he swallows une xpectedly. "Of course," Aunt V says obviously. She hands a table cloth to Andre to wipe his mouth. "Her mother is my best friend, so it's not that surprising to know her d aughter's birthday." Andre and Draky exchange quick glance and then they both look at me. "What?" I ask uneasily. "Nothing," they both say at the same time. They both shake their head and laugh; just as loud as before. What's that look about? What about their exchange glance at each other? Boys are really confusing! After eating, I tell Draky to wait for me in the library, I'll just wash the dis hes. "No need," Aunt V reassures me, "Just start with your project. Andre will wash t he plates tonight. "Okay," I say, and then to Draky, "Let's go." We stand up from our chair and then Draky says, "Clean well, dish boy." Andre rolls his eyes, and mutters something under his breath. Too soft that no o ne hears it. Draky offers his help in carrying me, but I decline it. I don't want to depend o n him. Besides, I notice that the more I walk, the more my right foot is getting better. When we enter the library, I can't help but marvel at the beauty of the place. T his is my favorite part of the house. The smell of books greets me, like they're enveloping me into a warm hug with their covers. Weird, I know, but that's what I feel. "Pie," Draky says, interrupting me from my reverie. "What?" I ask, taking the chair across from him. "Can I ask a hypothetical question to you?" "Shoot." "Will you answer it?" He asks, smiling lightly. "Let's see," I say. He rolls his eyes. "What will you do if someone is talking inside your head?" "Talking in your head?"I ask incredulously. "Yes," he says, nodding.

"What do you mean?" "There's a voice talking to you," he whispers. "Like your subconscious mind?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. He thinks for a moment. "Something like that," he says finally. "Why?" He doesn't respond. "Is it happening to you?" I ask. A smile is tugging at the corner of my mouth. I know it's just a hypothetical question but I can't help but be amused at it. "You think I'm crazy," he observes, crossing his arms over his chest. "No," I say, "Actually, I'm thinking about The Host." "The Host?" His brows furrow in confusion. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. I have to understand, not all people like to r ead. "It's a novel about two minds in one body. An alien in a human body." "Oh," he murmurs. "Anyway, I think it's your subconscious mind." Draky looks uncomfortable while fidgeting on his seat. "Will you, uh," he stutte rs, "Accept its advice?" "Why, are you talking back to it?" I ask amusedly. "You're teasing me," he says wearily. "I said that it's just a hypothetical ques tion." "Sure," I say, my lips quirk into a smile. He looks at me expectantly, waiting for my answer. "I think you should take its advice," I say finally, "But it depends, on what it s saying. Besides, it's still you, just some other part of you." Draky opens his mouth, but before he can utter his first word, the door of the l ibrary opens. "Hello," Andre says, closing the door behind him. His brows furrow in confusion as he analyzes why we are silent. "Did I interrupt something?" "What are you doing here?" Draky asks flatly. "My mom lets me off the hook." A grin lights Andre's face. He walks towards us, and sits beside Draky. "Any progression in your project?" "No," I say. "What is it again?" He asks. "We're going to come up with two statements," Draky explains. "It's like two dif ferent topics, but they should connect in some way. And then we'll have to expla

in it in front of the class, and submit a handwritten note about it." "Oh," Andre murmurs, "Let's start." We do brainstorming then. I don't know what the relevance of this to our lesson is. Parker is really unpre dictable. Even though I'm his friend, I can't predict his next move. Andre talks a lot. He suggests weird statements like: You are what you eat, and I think therefore I am. How can we connect those two? I can't concentrate with his annoying voice and unlimited teasing. Out of nowher e, he'll just stop talking and will look at Draky and me. Why don't you leave us alone?! I want to shout at him. Unfortunately, I can't do that because it's not my house. In my peripheral vision I see Draky staring at my hands. I look down to see them in tight fists. I open them slowly just to see that there are red marks on my p alms. Draky seems to know what I'm thinking. He turns to Andre and says, "Why don't yo u sleep already?" "Oh, I like it here." Andre's eyes spark in amusement. "You two look cute togeth er." I shake my head at him. He's so impossible! How can he say something like that?! "Why not about love?" Andre suggests suddenly. "You're a girl, Drake's a guy. Be sides, you two have chemistry." A stupid blush is starting to form in my cheeks, flooding my face. "Look!" Andre says, pointing at me. "She's blushing!" "No, I'm not," I deny. I hear Draky snorts, but I don't dare look at him. "You're lucky," Andre says, gesturing to both Draky and me. "You have that subst itute who is very imaginative in making his lessons." Parker is very creative. I wonder where he gets his ideas. "First, the paper," Andre continues, "And now, this. I want to transfer in your class!" Draky looks at me, a smile is plastered on his face. "Want a topic about love?" he asks, raising his eyebrows. Just thinking about it makes me squirm uncomfortably. But I have to do it. There 's no other choice. Besides, a love topic is entertaining and it's a step to mak e Draky fall in love with me. A smile forms in my lips at that idea. We think topics about love then. "Love is a magic," Andre says. "Too cheesy," Draky says dryly.

We continue to suggest, but in the end, we don't pick any of them. "Life is ironic," Andre says, shaking his head. "Life is ironic?" I repeat questioningly. Draky looks at me curiously. "Life is ironic." "Yeah, I like it," I say. "I'm a genius," Andre remarks. "I'm not even suggesting it; it just came on my m ind." Draky shakes his head, but the corner of his mouth twitches upward. "One to go a nd it should be about love." "Hate comes from love," I blurt out without thinking. "Creepy," they say simultaneously. Do they have interconnected cells in their brain? It seems like they know what t he other is thinking. Strange, I know. Like a light bulb switch in my head, I think of something. "Love is strange," I say. "How can it connect to Life is ironic?" Draky asks me. Andre yawns loudly before I can answer Draky's question. "I guess I'll leave you two alone. You already think of the answer. I need to sleep now and get my beau ty sleep." Despite my annoyance, I laugh at him. "Your beauty rest?" "It's my responsibility," he says. "Good night to both of you." "Good night," I say. "Night," says Draky, bumping the outstretch fist of Andre. "The connection?" Draky asks after Andre walks out of the room. "Um, love is strange because we love someone who doesn't love us, and someone lo ves us but we don't love back." Draky nods thoughtfully. "Life is ironic," I continue, "It flows the way we don't plan it. Unexpected thi ngs happen. One move can change your life forever." "I think the connection can be: Live the way you want, and love the way you live ," he says. I nod. "It can be." "Pie." "What, Draky?"

"I'm going to write that." "Why?" I ask. "You're tired, and you need rest," he says. "I know that my penmanship isn't go od, but I'll do my best. I'm going to add more explanation, and I'll tell them t o you tomorrow." "Okay," I say. When we finish, I tell him that I'll walk him outside. We're silent as we make o ur way towards the front door; me, limping, him, carrying most of my weight. His touch sends electric shock through my body which I ignore. He opens the door and we just stand outside for a couple of seconds. "Good night," he says, putting his hands in the pocket of his jeans. "Good night," I murmur. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow," he says. "Thank you for saving my life," I whisper. "You're welcome," he says, brushing his hair that falls to his eyes. Above us, the stars are twinkling and the moon is shining brightly. I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him on the cheek. His mouth opens in surprise. As I close the door behind me, I see that he's still awestruck. Let the games begin, I think smugly. ******************************************* [27] The Bet *Cynical ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 27 *Cynical* ~Drake

Sophia kissed me on the cheek. I made a progress. Does that mean she's falling in love with me? Maybe that's ju st a thank you for keeping her safe? I don't know what to feel about that. I'm quite confused on the way I act. How much of it is for the bet? As far as I know, I'm doing everything for the bet. I can't think straight. My thoughts are incomprehensible, while my body is dead tired. I might black out any minute now. Sometimes I wonder why Andre chose Pie. Is it a coincidence? That she walked in

at the wrong place, at the wrong time? Does Andre know that I can have any girl I want but Pie? She's available, but there's something about her that's complica ted. Why her? There comes a time when I lay awake at night, just thinking about that. What if she did not walk in at that time? What if it was another girl? If that's the case, I won't know Pie. For heaven's sake, the only reason I knew her is because of the bet! She shouldn't have walked in at the time so that I won't hurt her. Is pride real ly important to me, that I'll sacrifice Pie's friendship for winning? Maybe it's good for both of us if we don't know each other. You really should stop the bet. Oh, hi there, I thought sarcastically, I told Pie about you. You like her, don't you? I can't help but laugh at that. Me? I like Pie? Oh c'mon! That's the funniest th ought I've ever think. In my peripheral vision, I see in the clock that it's almost midnight. It's late ; I still have to dye my hair. I'm glad I'm done adding more explanation to our project. I already wrote it a w hile ago. I'm impressed because I really like my handwriting there. I hope Parke r; I mean Mr. Condie, will give it back to us because I'm planning on putting it in a frame. No joke. Besides, I like the words written on it. I wonder what wil l Pie think when she reads it.

~ Sophia

"I love you," he says, touching my bare arms, sending chills and warmth all over me. "I know," I murmur, leaning back at him. "I love you too." "You mean we're together now?" he asks. "I mean, you're my girlfriend now?" "Yes." "Sophia," he says softly, tightening his arms around me. A good kind of shiver runs passed my body. Swallowing hard, I ask, "What?" "You are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." Even though I can't see his face, I hear the smile in his voice. He then turns m e around to face him. His soft brown eyes gaze at me wonderingly, maybe asking h is self if I'm real. Above us, there are thousands of stars twinkling in the sky. Here beside me is m

y boyfriend. What more can I ask for? "This is the best night ever," he says, putting his hand on my cheek. His other hand is still on my waist. I pinch my arm to check if I'm just dreaming, but it hurts, so this is definitel y real. Putting my arms on his neck, I stand on my tiptoe and kiss him on the cheek. At the last second, he turns his head so I kiss his lips instead. I'm so shock, I let my arms fall to my side. "Sorry," I mutter. To my surprise, he laughs. Really laughs, there are even tears flowing from his eyes. What's funny? That's my first kiss, and he finds it amusing! I wait for a few seconds before he stops. When he does, he looks at me with his eyes glittering in delight. "What?" I mutter, taking a step back, and crossing my arms over my chest. He closes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. Sighing, I put my arms around him. What can I do? He's so irresistible! I lay my head on his chest; I feel so comfortable here. "You're so innocent," he murmurs. "That's my first kiss," I admit shyly. "I'm glad," he says. The corner of his mouth twitches upward. He puts both of hi s hands on my face, and leans down so our eye level is the same. Oh my! I'm going to have my real first kiss! My heart is thumping so loud in my chest. It's like it's trying to get out of me . There's no doubt he can hear it. "This is your first kiss," he says, as if reading my mind. As he talk, his lips brushes mine because our face is so close! "I don't know how to kiss," I say, biting my lip. His lips quirk into a smile. "Neither can I," he says, "We just have to let our instinct take over." And then he closes the little distance between our lips. I can write a whole nov el about this kiss. It's soBeep. Beep. A sigh escapes from my lips when I open my eyes. Those stupid brown eyes still h aunts me in my dreams. Why did I dream of him now? It's been a long time since t he last time it happened. I'm thankful for whomever text me because I woke up from my nightmare; a memory woven into a dream.

Unfortunately, it looks real! Before, when he touches me, I feel warm. Now, reme mbering my dream, I feel cold all over my body. I shudder at the thought of him kissing me again. At that thought, my mind thinks back of last night. A smile makes its way in my face as I remember Draky's expression. I can't belie ve I kissed him! When I had a crush on him before, I did not even dream of it be cause it was impossible. But I did! I kissed him on the cheek! Way to go Sophia! Hmm I wonder what he thought about the kiss. Does he think I'm falling in love with him now? In his dreams! I can't wait to see the look on hi s face when he finds out that I know about their game, and that I'm playing with him. Suddenly, I remember the reason I woke up. Getting my cell phone from my drawer, I open it to see that Draky's the one who sent me a message. Hah. Speaking of t he devil. Is it okay if we meet at the cafeteria later? So that we can study our notes tog ether. And, good morning Pie! If we'll meet at lunch, that means I'm going to eat with him. The thought isn't appealing but I have to remember to act on my role. Heaving a sigh, I type: Good morning Draky! That's okay. See you :) I put a smiley so that he'll think I like his message. Am I overdoing it? I don' t think so. Am I crazy, talking to myself? Hmm as far as I know, crazy people do n't think they're crazy. Besides, I'm talking to my subconscious mind. Not that it's answering. At that, I remember Draky. What does it feel like to have your s ubconscious mind talking back to you? I have to stop now because I know I'm just blubbering. I do it when I'm nervous. I'm nervous because in my peripheral vision, I can see the dress I will wear tod ay. Below the dress are the shoes. How can I walk in those heels? I hope I won't trip or slide. Fortunately, my ankle isn't in pain anymore. I just have to walk carefully and look at the ground where I'm walking. I'm procrastinating, I know, because I have to take a bath now. Walking in the bathroom, I lock the door behind me. After removing my clothes, I open the cold water to take me. I'm shivering from head to toe but I don't want to shower in the warm water because. . . I don't know, I might loose my nerve. Suddenly, a thought comes to my head. My grandparents are divorced. My parents are fighting. My ex boyfriend broke my heart. Someone is playing a game on me. How can I believe that there is such a t hing called love? I'm so stupid! I should have learned from their mistakes but I didn't. I didn't even learn from my own experience. A tear escapes from my eyes without my permission. That's it-I promise myself th at this will be the last time I will cry. I'll just do everything based on my in stinct, not on my emotion.

I have to give myself some credit, though. Because everyday I smile and act like there's nothing wrong. It's called putting everything aside and simply being st rong as much as I can. First, I have to get all the answers I need from my parents. I'll go to our hous e later after school. After showering, I put on my underwear and then my bathrobe. I'm just going to d ress in my room because it might get wet here. I walk inside my room and blow dries my hair. After that, I put on my dress. In the mirror, it's two to three inches above the knee. Swallowing the lump in my t hroat, I shove my feet on my heels. I try to walk around in my room. So far so g ood; I'm even walking straight. Phew! The only thing I don't like is that the he els are clicking on the ground. Grabbing my bag, I go downstairs and walk in the dining room. "Good morning Sophia," Aunt V says, putting her newspaper down on the table. Andre isn't here. Maybe he's still sleeping, considering it's still early. Aunt V looks at me, like really look. "Sophia," she exclaims. Am I horrible? I'll strangle Parker later for forcing me to wear this dress. "There's something missing," she says, standing up, and studying me thoughtfully . "Missing?" I repeat. "Yes," she says, nodding. "But first, you have to eat first and then I'll do som ething to you." Do something to me? What is that? I take the seat beside Aunt V and make a sandwich. She pours me a chocolate drin k. "Thank you," I say. She's still looking at me which makes me feel uncomfortable. Why is she staring? After eating, Aunt V tells me to go to her room. "I'll um, just brush my teeth again," I say, to prolong the moment, and because I have to brush my teeth again because I ate. "Okay," she says, smiling lightly. When I'm done brushing my teeth, I knock on Aunt V's door. I'm quite nervous on what she's going to do with me. "Come in," Aunt V says. A gasp escapes from my mouth when I open the door. The room is so-- wow! There's a magnificent bed in the center and a vanity place at the back corner. I can't even find words to describe it. The furniture's inside are from Europe. How did I know? It's obvious! The chairs, the windows-

"Sophia," Aunt V says, interrupting my thoughts. "Sit here." What will she do? I sit on the chair, facing the mirror. "Um, Auntie?" "I'll curl your hair, if that's okay with you?" She asks hopefully. "Sure," I say hesitantly. "And then I'll put a make up too." When she sees my expression, she adds, "Minim al only." "Okay," I say uneasily. She starts with massaging my hair first, while waiting for the curler to be read y. Her touch is so soft, I find myself closing my eyes.

"Sophia." Someone tugs at my arms. "Sophia." Oh my! Did I fell asleep? I can't believe I fell asleep! I open my eyes slowly. I wonder why they feel heavy. What time is it? Oh no! I'll be late. A startle gasp escapes from my lips when I see the girl in the mirror. The girl in front of me isn't me. Her hair is curly which really looks good on h er. She has a light make up, which brings out her features, especially her blue eyes. A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. "You have to go, you might be late in school," Aunt V says. "Thank you," I say wholeheartedly. "Thank you," she says, touching my hair lightly, "I've been waiting for the time I can do it." We smile at each other, and then we walk outside of her room. "Do you want to be late?" Andre asks quite irritably. "You know, it's--" He stop s talking when he sees me. "Sorry," I mumble. "No need to say sorry," Aunt V says, giving Andre a pointed look. "You won't be late if you're going now." "Bye mom," Andre murmurs, kissing his mom's cheek. "Bye Dre, Sophia," she says, waving her hand. "Take care!" "You too," I say. Andre and I walk downstairs and then we continue to go outside, and get in his c ar. Andre is quiet as he drives. He looks at me every now and then, and will turn ba

ck again to the road. What do I look like? I feel uncomfortable with his stare! He's so different from last night because he was annoying and now he's so silent . In this instant, I prefer the annoying Andre. When we arrive in the school, I say, "Thank you." I'm glad we're not late. There are even a few minutes to spare. "You're welcome," he says evasively. Before I go to my first class, I decide to go to my locker first to get the book s I need. "Who are you?" A voice from behind asks. Turning around, I see Driana smiling broadly. "Um, did I overdo it?" I ask uneas ily. "Look at you," she gushes. "Where did you put the real Sophia?" My lips quirk into a smile. "I hide her in my locker." "You look great in that dress," she says excitedly, "Where did you get those sho es?" "Chloe gave them to me." "Who's Chloe?" She asks, raising her eyebrows. "Our sub in Arts," I answer. "What?" she asks incredulously. "Yeah," I say, "She's-" "Sophia?" I whip around to see Draky standing beside his locker. His hair is dark; maybe h e dyed it last night. "Hey," I say, trying to make my voice smooth. He just stares at me, his mouth hanging open. His expression is so priceless; I should have brought a camera with me. "Take a picture," I say amusedly, "It lasts longer."

***** You saw a glimpse of Sophia's past with her ex boyfriend. What do you think abou t him? Don't worry; you'll know what Drake wrote on Sophia's paper. The song is What is Love? by Nevershoutnever! Banner by antus_girl.

A lot of readers ask me about the sequel. This is not even finished lol :D hmm i t depends on how this story will end *I already have an ending in mind* ;) I lik e writing this story so maybe there will be a sequel :) Thank you so much! <3 ******************************************* [28] The Bet *Statue ******************************************* There's a trailer on the side. You have to watch it because it's amazing! Creati veSideOfLife made it. I really like it :) If you are interested in making a trai ler, what are you waiting for? You can ask me about the details you want to put in the video, or you can make it the way you want. Banner on the side by RaylaSa n :> This is just the first part, and I'll add the next one this weekend. The song fo r the chapter is Statue by Lil Eddie. I got the title of the chapter from the so ng xD

Happy reading! (: Chapter 28 Part 1 *Statue* ~ Drake

The girl in front of me is a goddess. I don't know why, but I can't take my eyes off her. Is this Pie? I notice that she wears light make up. In my opinion, she still looks beautiful without it. For me, someone is beautiful when it's natura l. Even though her dress is short, it looks classy on her. She has the same color of her hair, and the eyes. The blue eyes that only belon g to her"Draky," Driana says, snapping me out of my reverie. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. I really don't like where they're going. "Staring at someone is rude," Pie says bemusedly. Her eyes glitter in delight. I look away, embarrassed that she catches me staring at her. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I decide that I can't let her see me like this; open, vulnera"Who's star-struck?" Driana asks amusedly. "I don't know," I say evasively, glowering at her. She sure knows when and how t o tease me. Right, because we're twins. "Draky, are you?" she says, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I want to snap at her this instant but I know she's just testing my patience. Fortunately, Driana has something to do before the first class starts so she tel ls us goodbye. She walks away, but not before winking at me. I shake my head at her, but I'm smiling slightly. Blocking her path, I ruffle he r hair like I used to when we were kids.

She slaps my hand away, and then pauses to scowl at me. "Don't mess my hair agai n," she complains, smoothing it back. She's cute when she looks irritated that's why I want to tease her whenever ther e's a chance and an opportunity. "Whatever," I say. I'm not promising anything. She puffs out her breath and continues to go to the direction she has in mind. And then it's just Pie and me in the hallway of lockers. There are students walk ing to and from, and there is loud banging of lockers as they open and close. People stare at me, but I'm used to it. Some glances shyly, and when they catch my eye, they look away quickly. Some are brave. When they catch my eye, they wil l nod, or smile. Some talk to me like they know me. I don't mind though, because I'm friendly. Now, they just stare. They don't try to catch my eye. They, too, are staring at the girl beside me. The guys linger at Pie's a little longer, like she's a statu e to be gawk at. I don't know why, but I mind. I feel protective of her all of a sudden. Why is that? I ignore it because talking back to it won't do me any good. You're selfish aren't you? Selfish? I snap inwardly. Because you want that you're the only one who can hurt her. I'm so startle by the accusation, I stop thinking. Like, I shutdown or something . Am I really hurting her? I'm just"Draky," Pie says, interrupting my thoughts. "What?" I ask slowly, coming back to my senses. "See you later in the cafeteria," she tells me. "Would you mind if I walk you to your first class?" I ask her. And then I pause. Where did that came from? Me, walking Pie to her first class? She's clearly taken aback my suggestion. It's painted on her face. I expect her to ask why, but she doesn't. Anyway, when did she do something I ex pect of her? I can see that she's contemplating her answer. Suddenly, I want to vanish in thi s instant. I feel humiliated and unwanted for no apparent reason. I'm about to open my mouth and say I'm just kidding when she says, "I'd love to. " "Really?" I ask dubiously.

"Yes," she says, nodding her head. The corner of my mouth twitches upward. I turn my head away so she won't see my smile. She might know how much her answer matter to me. "Let's go," I say, before the bell rings. I don't want us to be late. "How was your sleep?" she asks after a few seconds of silence. We are walking side by side, not close enough to touch, but not faraway to feel like strangers. I notice that something in her voice is different. Is she going to bring up the kiss last night? "Good," I say. "What about you?" She smiles, but it's more like a smirk. "Fine, thank you," she says pleasantly. There's something weird about her, but I can't quite get what it is. "What happened to your hair?" Pie asks suddenly. "I dyed it," I say, not too obviously. She rolls her eyes. "What I meant was why you dyed it?" she asks dryly. I shrug, because it's no big deal. "I just feel like it," I say, "I want to make it like it was before but I don't know how. So here it is." My hair is a combin ation of black, and brown which really look good on me. One moment I'm walking her to her first class, and then the next I'm telling her goodbye because we're already in front of her room. I make my way to my class i n a daze. First, second, and third period passed in a blur. I didn't learn a thing. Like, seriously. Besides, Pie will tutor me. The only thing I remember is going in and out of my classrooms, moving with my classmates to the next room. I can't wait to eat. I can't wait to go to the cafeteria and choose what food I will eat for today. I want to fast forward everything and stop when I'm sitting on the chair across from her. Before I know it, the bell signaling its lunch time rings. I don't know why but my feet walk quickly to the cafeteria. I even have a feeling that I'm not the on e making them move. And then I see her, all alone in their usual table. Before I go there, I order m y food first because Pie already has a tray on the table. I wonder what she got. I buy double cheeseburger, fries, and a coke. On my way to the table, Brian blocks my path. "Drake," he says. "Hey," I say, bumping his extended fist. "I won't join you for lunch today." Usually, when I don't eat with them, I don't tell them, or ask their permission. Now that one of my friends is here, I don't want to be impolite.

"Going to sit with the chick there?" he asks, cocking his head to the side. "What chick?" I ask, gaping at him. He points to where Pie is sitting. I look at Brian to see if he's kidding but he's face is so serious. "You mean, you don't know her?" I ask, studying his face carefully to know if he 's playing a joke on me. He looks at me like I'm crazy. "I. Don't. Know. Her," he says. Is he stupid? Pie only curls her hair, puts some make up, wears a dress and heel s, and he doesn't recognize her anymore? I'm about to say so but I think better of it. Instead, I say, "She's Sophia." Brian steps back like I punch him. "Sophia?" he says incredulously. "As in, Soph ia Taylor?" I nod. "That's her." He glances at her, and then at me. He repeats that sequence for at least three t imes more. "Now you know her?" I ask, balancing my tray on my left hand. "Of course," he says. "She's my classmate in History." He smiles, like he gets t he missing puzzle he wants to complete. "See you around," I say, walking away from him. Pie smiles at me when I take the seat across from her. She really is different. Some girls are cautious about the food they eat in the school because they're afraid of what might people think about them. Pie doesn't. She has cheeseburger, fries, coke; and sansrival for dessert. I'm glad we almost have the same kind of food. "Where's Driana?" I ask curiously. "She has to do something for her biology project," she answers. "That's the same thing Andre told me." "Because they are partner," Pie says obviously. "Oh," I murmur. Did Andre mention it? Maybe he did. It just got out of my mind. At first, Pie and I eat in silence, and then we talk about our project. I give h er the note, and she reads it while chewing her cheeseburger. Jake catches my eye on the table across from us. He smiles at me, like an evil k ind of smile, and then he laughs at what my friends are talking about. "We can't help who we fall in love with," she says, looking up from the paper, a nd then at me. "Where did you get that?"

"I don't know," I say, "It just came to my mind last night." She nods thoughtfully, like what I said makes sense, and resumes reading. I've been dying to ask this question for a long time now but I always chickened out. Until now. "Have you been in love?" I ask. She lowers the paper and puts it on the table methodically. She tilts her head t o the side, making her curly hair hide her eyes. My fingers are itching to brush her hair so I can see her face. I close my hands and make them into fist before I do something stupid. And then I remember the b et, so I lean towards her and tucks her loose her behind her ear. I hear her catch her breath and the loud pumping of her heart. How can I hear her heart? Maybe it's just my imagination, running wild again. I should be used to it by now. But I'm not. "Draky," she says deliberately, "Have you been in love?" Again, she asks me the same question I asked her. Isn't she tired of it? Heaving a sigh, I say, "No." Not yet, I say to myself. "Not once?" she asks. "Not once," I say. Are you sure? One hundred percent, I think firmly. "What about you, Pie?" I ask her curiously. "What about me?" she asks innocently. I fight the urge to roll my eyes, and say, "Have you been in love?" "Secret," she says, sticking out her tongue at me. "Secret?" I repeat incredulously. "But I answered you." She shrugs. "That's not fair," I complain. "Life is not fair," she says matter-of-factly. Yeah, right. Life is never fair. When you thought that everything's going to wor k out, it will all fall apart. "He did not catch me when I fall," she says softly. If I'm not leaning towards her, I won't hear her because she said it very quietl y. "He?" I murmur.

Does that mean she had a boyfriend before? Why does that thought make me uneasy? Clearing my throat, I ask, "What is he like?" "Why?" she asks, raising her eyebrows delicately. The eye shadow on her eyes mak es her eyes more blue and mysterious at the same time. "What why?" I ask, a little bit confused. Pie puts her hands on the table. "Why are you asking that question?" "Oh," I mumble, looking away from her. I don't know why I asked her that questio n. It's because you're jealous. Me, jealous? You can't even admit it to yourself. "Shut up," I mutter under my breath. "You said something?" Pie asks. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, and then I decide to answer her question. "I'm just curious." A smile makes its way in my face as I remember the time Pie and I talked about curiosity. "Daydreaming again," she says amusedly. There's a bit of bread crust on her lips. Slowly, I lean towards her and brush i t off her soft lips.

******************************************* [29] The Bet *Save Me ******************************************* Whoo! 4000+ fans! Thank you to each and every one of you :) xSelennax made a trailer for The Bet. It's the video on the side. Click the Exte rnal link for another trailer; Poisonedbones made it. They're both amazing! :> B anner by a fan. Want to have a chapter dedicated to you? Read the instruction at the last part o f the chapter. There are two songs for this chapter: So Far Away by Mayday Parade and Welcome t o My Life by Simple Plan :>

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 28 Part 2 *Save Me* ~Sophia

"She's hot," a guy whispers softly to his friend. I pretend not to hear it and look innocent. He thinks I haven't heard him. Fortu nately, I have a good hearing. I bite my lip to stop the smile forming on my lip s. I don't know why people keep staring at me. It's like I'm a bizarre creature. I' ve been studying in this school for three years, and this is my fourth and last year but they just notice me now. Maybe Aunt V overdid my makeover. Draky and I are on our way to our classroom, minutes before the bell will ring. "Is she Drake's girlfriend?" I hear someone asks from behind. Draky's mouth forms onto a smirk. I scowl at him for finding it amusing and then I remember that he wants me to be his girlfriend for the bet. I try to walk faster, I really do, but with these h eels I'm wearing, it's close to impossible. Besides, my ankle still hurts from l ast night. Ugh! Suddenly, I'm regretting wearing this dress with these heels, curling my hair an d putting make up. And then I remember Draky's face earlier. And that makes it worth it. I made him speechless. I made him stare at me with h is mouth hanging open. And I know I made the right choice.

When the bell rings, Parker doesn't waste a minute and start to choose who will discuss first. I don't know if it's intentional because he isn't calling my name . I have a feeling that Draky and I will be the last to report. I wonder if today's his last day in teaching us. When will he go back to his col lege? We haven't really talked. I hope tomorrow we will. Before he leaves. There are a lot of discussions going on, one after another. But only three topic s grab my attention. The first one is about beauty and brain. Cristina and Xande r discuss it. Their topic reminds me of the night when Draky and I talked about love. They say that your beauty doesn't matter when you don't have knowledge in your b rain. I think it's for shallow people who always want to look perfect instead of studying. And then they explain the relevance of the two by adding quotations f rom books and songs. The next topic is about attraction and intelligence. At first I thought it was t he same as beauty and brain but I was wrong. Ella and Mitch tell us that if a person is intelligent, he or she will more like ly be attracted to handsome guys or girls. Hah. I thought it's just me. I never know that it's a fact. Until now. Handsome guys are my weakness. Now I know. Is my intelligence the only reason why I was attracted to Draky? Is that it? Ma ybe, because now I know the real him. Now I'll use my intelligence to outsmart h im.

The last topic that makes me listen is about circumstances and people. Kent and Jamie explain that the way we treat people affects their life. If you're mean to someone and you're hurting them, you have a great impact on their life. As they say, actions speak louder than words. You don't know what's happening in their life so you don't have the right to mess it. A small thing can lead into a big thing that can change someone's life forever. After their discussion, the room's in a complete silence. The whole class absorb s what they heard. "That's deep," Parker says solemnly. And then he continues to call names for the reporting. The other topics are quite similar and ordinary, I find myself thinking other th ings. I can't really focus on the next discussions of my classmates because my mind ca n't stop replaying the time when Draky brushed his fingers on my lips. I asked h im why he did that. He said in an embarrass tone that there was a bread crust on my lips. He really is stupid if he thought he got me. I can't wait for this to end so that I can have my normal life back. All I want is to finish my high school and leave this town. I'll go to my college of choice and will live in a dorm until I graduate. I want to be away for a while to shape my life the way I want it. "Last but not least," Parker says loudly, snapping me out my reverie, "Drake Swi ft and Sophia Taylor." My mouth is dry. I swallow the lump in my throat to no avail. Draky stands first and nods at me. Clearing my throat quietly, I get up and walk towards the front of the room. All of my classmates stare at Draky and me expec tantly. I'm not usually nervous in standing in front of a crowd but know I am. I don't k now why, but my knees are shaking beneath me. I hope I will not embarrass myself . Draky looks at me questioningly. His eyes ask permission if he can start the dis cussion. I nod, and turn towards the class. Parker smiles at me and waits for us to begin. Draky says, "Our topic is about-" Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find that what you're looking for "Stop it," Parker says angrily. Has been here the whole tiThat's Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me. Aren't they tired of annoying me? They even play music while in class. Really childish. "Whose cell phone is that?" Parker asks, looking around.

No one's answering. Some of my classmates look down as if they're guilty. "If you don't tell me this instant-" "It's my cell phone, sir," Gian says, raising his hand shakily. "Why did you do it?" Parker asks sternly. "I was just . . ." he trails off, not knowing what to say next. "I don't tolerate that kind of behavior in my class," Parker says in a strain vo ice. "You'll have a detention later." "But sir-" "No excuses," he interjects, giving Gian a pointed look. Whoa! I think, like my classmates, I stare at Parker with wide eyes. In this ins tant, he looks like a professor. A real professor. That's what you get when you mess in his class. I glance beside me and see Draky shoots a glare at Gian, making him slump in his seat. "Drake, Sophia," Parker says, "Please continue." Draky grabs my hand softly and squeezes it without looking at me. After that, he lets go and says, "Our topic is about love and life. Love is strange because we love someone who doesn't have any feelings for us and people love us but we don 't love them back." He stops and nods at me, my cue to start my part. "Life is ironic," I begin. I'm proud of myself; my voice doesn't even quiver. "I t flows the way we don't plan it. Unexpected things can happen. One moment can l ead into another. In just a blink of an eye, your life can change forever." "We can't help who we fall in love with," Draky continues. "It's even surprisin g when you find out that everything you want is not going according to plan." What is he talking about? "Love comes in least expected places and situations," he says. "You have two opt ions. First is to accept it with open arms. Second, you can let it go away. It's your choice." He looks at me after his last word. "What?" I ask uneasily. "The connection," he murmurs. "Oh," I mouth. I face the class and say, "Live the life you want and love the wa y you live." My classmates clap their hands as Draky and I go back to our seats. Parker walks in front of the room and says, "Thank you for sharing your thoughts in the class. Even though I just knew you two days ago, I feel like I know all of you for a long time. I'm glad I had the privilege to teach your class. I hope you'll have a bright future ahead." "Why are you saying that, sir?" Lorraine asks.

Parker sighs quietly. "It's my last day in teaching you." There are sad "Aww" coming from my classmates mouths. "Remember to follow your dreams," he continues. "Don't be discouraged by simple problems. Always believe in yourself. Again, thank you." We clap our hands for him. I know that all of us enjoy Parker's class. I'm so pr oud to be his friend. "Sir?" Gian asks hesitantly when we stop clapping. "Yes?" Parker says, glancing at him. "Will I still have detention?" "Of course," Parker says amusedly, making my classmates laugh hysterically.

After my last class, I go directly to the bus stop and get in when it arrives. My mind drifts back in Arts, replaying what happened there. I say my gratitude t o Chloe and her face brightens when she sees that I'm wearing her gift. In that instant, I know that she and Parker will have a happy future with each other. I know it. On the next bus stop, I descend the bus and walk in the empty street leading to our house. The soles of my feet are complaining. I don't know why I'm afraid, I'm just going to go home and visit my parents. Whe n's the last time I saw them? I really miss them so much. A honk beside me makes me jump in surprise. I'm so focused on my thoughts; I don 't notice I'm walking on the road beside a car. I turn towards it and see Draky lowering his window. "What are you doing here?" he asks amusedly. "What are you doing here?" I ask incredulously, gaping at him. He looks at me oddly, and shrugs his shoulders. And then I remember the time he followed me. Is it only just yesterday? Why does it feel like a long time ago? "Are you following me?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him. "Of course not," he says quickly. "My mother called me to check on my Aunt who's living in the last house on this street." "Really?" I ask dubiously, crossing my arms over my chest. "I swear," he says. But why does it sound like he's defensive? "Okay," I say slowly, and then I'm about to continue walking when he calls my na me. "What?" I ask.

"Get in," he says. "For what?" "So that you won't have to walk," he says obviously. I'm quite surprise he doesn 't roll his eyes. "I don't want to add burden to you," I say warily. "Believe me," he says amusedly, "You're not a burden to me." Is this you're plan on making me fall in love with you, huh? "Fine," I say, and slide in the passenger seat. Let's see what you will do. But he doesn't try to start a conversation. He's silent as he drives. "Do you want to come in?" I ask when we arrive in my house. "No," he says, shaking his head. "I'll just wait for you here." "Huh?" I murmur. "I'll wait for you here so that you won't have to ride a bus when you go to Andr e's house." I know that he almost say home instead of Andre's house but he stop his self bec ause he doesn't know what I will think of it. "Okay," I say, and then get out of the car and walk to the path leading to my ho use. It's so silent; it's like no one's here. Again. I search for my house key in my bag and when I find them, I put it in, twist the doorknob, and open the door. I'm glad I grab the keys in the drawer beside my b ed before leaving the house. "Mom?" I call. It's so dark here. My mom doesn't leave the house without a light. Did she or da d go home last night? I find the switch and click it so I can see. This is my house but why do I feel like I'm an intruder? "Dad?" I call as I make my way towards the kitchen. "Mom?" Why aren't they answe ring me? "Anybody here?" My heart is doing little drum beats in my chest. I can feel my blood pumping thr ough my veins. When I rounded the corner to the kitchen, no one's there. Maybe they're upstairs, sleeping. Calm down, calm down, I repeat again and again . But I can't. It's hard to breathe! Do you know the feeling that you're drowning in the ocean even though you're safe on the land? The world is starting to spin; I might faint, so I sit on the floor and pull my knees towards me. I put my head against them. Inhale. Exhale. I do that for a couple of seconds until I'm sure that the world isn't spinning a

nymore. It's like when Matt diedStop! I don't have to go that far. There's nothing wrong happened to my parents. They're alive; just sleeping in their room. My mouth is dry. My tongue is like a sandpaper grating against my teeth. I stand up slowly and try to walk towards the fridge and get some water. I need liquid in my body. When I open the fridge, the food I bought a few days before I started to live in Andre's house falls to the ground. Why are these foods still here? Why didn't m y parents eat them? They might get spoiled! Don't think too much, I remind myself. Maybe they don't feel like cooking so the y just ate outside or maybe they ordered pizza. I have to distract myself to sto p thinking these kinds of thoughts. I make my way upstairs and the first thing I see is the grandfather clock on the wall beside the stairwell. There's my room at the far corner. But first, I have to go to my parent's room t o see them. I open their door quietly even though I have a nagging feeling that they aren't inside. I push the door so I can enter. I'm right. They aren't here. I don't know what's gotten into me to check the closet of my mom. What I see whe n I open it makes me gasp. Some of my mom's clothes are gone. And then I move to the other side of the room for my father's cabinet. Some of his clothes aren't here too. Tears start streaming down my face when I realize that my parents left me. They left me on my own. My head is pounding hard, I can't think straight. My body fee ls numb. I don't remember much what happens after. I think I run blindly downstairs, trip ping because of the heels I'm wearing. When I get outside, I hear Draky's voice calling my name. I ignore him and conti nue to run without a destination in mind. A stone on my path I haven't seen because of my blurry vision makes me trip on t he sidewalk. I'm about to fall face first on the ground when a hand grabs my wai st and straightens me. I push Draky away from me but he just ignores my weak attempt to break free. Whe n my arms fall to my side, he pulls me towards him, pushing my tangled hair out of my face. My head rests on his shoulder and his arms encircle my waist. He's just quiet, r ubbing my back softly while murmuring words at me soothingly. I'm sobbing uncontrollably, I let the guy I despise so much comfort me. "What happened?" he murmurs long after my tears stop falling from my eyes. How many minutes have passed? How many hours? We're still on the middle of the r oad. Like before, it's empty. Empty, just like my heart.

I shake my head because I know when I open my mouth, I'll breakdown again. He seems to know what I'm thinking because he doesn't wait for my answer. "Let's go," he says suddenly. Where will we go? "Trust me," he says, and helps me get in his car.

****** I'll dedicate three chapters, for three fans. First, for the commenter that has the most imaginative place on where will Drake and Sophia go, and what will they do. Second, whoever has the closest guess on what will really happen. Third, th e funniest and probably the longest comment :) Update: I'm sorry, but the guessi ng game is now closed. I already picked the winners. Thank you! :) ******************************************* [30] The Bet *Into the Wild ******************************************* PLEASE READ: Thank you so much for participating in the guessing game! You guys have creative minds :) I really enjoyed reading your guesses about what might happen. You are all deserving to win but unfortunately, I can just dedicate three chapters for three fans. The good news is I changed it to TEN fans! :D For the other readers I didn't pick, I'm sorry, but there's still next time :> The winners are: ~kukudube, ~ purpleprincess97, ~ImBrittney, ~CaliforniaGirl, ~lidiipopz, ~Eterna lLovee, ~XxLoveIsBlindxX, ~booklover121, ~KatyLouiseJohnX, ~ Chessernie03 Message me on what chapter you want me to dedicate to you -- as long as it's not yet dedicated to someone else ;) Banner by KieraaFran. I made a Facebook page! Click the external link, and kindly like it if you have a Facebook. Or just search: Ilurvbooks There are two songs for this chapter: Shakespeare in Love by Layla Kaylif and Fo rever and a Day by Jem :) Happy Reading, and enjoy! (:

Chapter 29 *Into the Wild* ~Sophia

I hate crying, especially beside a person I dislike. I don't want to be weak. I can't let anyone see I'm hurting.

There's a fire burning in my chest, suffocating me, making it hard to breathe. What kind of parents are they, for just leaving me on my own? Where are they now ?! Are they together? What are they doing? Why did they leave me? So many questi ons are left unanswered, making my head want to explode. I should stop thinking about them. In the first place they didn't think of what will happen to me. They are so selfish! Since Matt died, all they think about is their selves. It's like they don't have a child anymore. I put my fist in my mouth to stop the scream starting to build in my throat. The sob and hiccup are waiting for me to breakdown so that I can let them out. Tear s are brimming at the back of my eyes but I do the best I can to hold them. How come I have a lot of liquid in my body? I want to be numb this moment to not exp erience this pain inside me. It's too much to bear. I shake my head to clear my mind off these thoughts. I have to think of just whe re I am now. We've been driving for what feel like hours. I don't know where in the world he' s taking me. This guy I despise, asked me to trust him. How can I when I know th at he's just doing this because of a bet? I'm just a pawn in his sick twisted ga me. And that stupid thought makes a tear from my eye escapes. I wipe it away with a shaking hand. I don't know what to do with my life. The world is crashing down a round me. In the corner of my eye, I see Draky glancing at me every now and then. Maybe he 's waiting for the time I'll freak out again. I won't give him that satisfaction . I don't want him to see me like that again-- vulnerable. I force myself to be brave, but in this kind of situation it's hard. But still, I try. There's no harm in trying. I look at the window of the car but I don't se e anything. My eyes are blurry. I let the guy beside me to take me wherever he wants. And then I remember someth ing. Even though it doesn't count as a goal, it makes my life worth living. I'll graduate in high school, and then go to college. Before that, my abstract goal is to make Drake Swift fall in love with me. It's not a good thing; revenge, but I need it to look forward to the future. Besides, I have a feeling that he's ju st doing this for the bet. What more is there, right? He doesn't know what's happening in my life. He doesn't have a right to mess it! Didn't he listen to the discussion earlier? When will he stop this game of his? If ever he stops, will I forgive him? Maybe. Maybe not. Only time will tell. Pe rhaps when all the wounds in my heart starts to heal. I'm not going to hurt him. I'm just going to make him fall in love with me. As t hey say, you have to play in order to win. Besides, I'm still going to tutor him . He should be thankful because despite what he's doing, I'm helping him. Anyway , I need the time of tutoring to make him fall in love with me. Will we continue this until we destroy the true meaning of love? Will we stop un til one of us is broken? I guess I'll just stick to the main point instead of th inking about what will happen between us. Who knows what my parents are doing? Wait! Aunt V probably have an idea. She's m y mom's best friend. If she doesn't know everything, I'm sure she knows somethin

g. I have to talk to her later when I get home. I'm so paranoid. I even think I hate my parents for leaving me. I didn't even think rationally-that they just we nt somewhere important. The dreading question is: Why didn't they tell me? I glance at the clock in the dashboard and see that it's 4:30 pm. Just a few min utes of driving. We don't start a conversation because we don't have anything to say. He's probably burning with curiosity why I cried earlier. My thoughts are jumbled. It's like I'm not the one thinking them. I feel like a shadow of my own self. Before I know it, we're passing the outskirts of the town. "Where are we going?" I ask. And then I'm startle because I decide not to talk t o him while in the car. My voice is rough because of crying so I clear my throat . Draky looks at me with a surprised expression on his face; maybe he doesn't expe ct me to speak. "You'll see," he says. "What will I see?" I ask. "A little impatient, are we?" he asks teasingly. Give it to Draky to joke in this kind of situation. I swallow the hiccups that a re starting to get out of my mouth. After that, we don't speak again. We settle ourselves with our own preoccupied t houghts. I busy myself on thinking where we are going. In the park? In a restaurant? I im agine different kinds of scenarios in my head. Draky suddenly parks his car on the side of the road and shuts off the engine. T here are no other cars here. This place is like, secluded. "Where are we?" I ask, sliding out of the car. In front of me is a trail. Surrounding it are tall trees and trees and trees. It 's like a green planet. I don't think I know this place. "What are we doing here?" I ask. Draky walks to where I'm standing. "I want you to see something," he says. "Where?" I ask. "In this forest," he says. Goodness! There are a lot of places in my mind where I guess where we will go bu t I never imagined the woods! "We're going to hike," I state. "Yes," he says enthusiastically. I even thought we'll go to a carnival! In the ocean! In a park! But why in a for est? I thought he wants me to fall in love with him? The forest is not a romanti c place. And then I remember that I'm wearing heels. Ugh! I shouldn't have joine d him!

"I'm not wearing the appropriate attire for hiking," I say obviously. Draky tears his gaze away from the trees and looks at me up and down. By the loo k on his face, he forgot that I'm wearing a dress and heels. After a few seconds , he sighs. "What now?" I ask. I have the urge to stomp my feet on the ground and walk away. "Where do you want to go?" he asks. "I think we should stick to the plan." "What do you mean?" he asks, confused. "Take me to the place where you want to go," I say obviously, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. His mouth pulls upward but then turns quickly into a frown. "You're wearing heel s," he says, furrowing his eyebrows. "I can manage," I mutter. I don't know why, but I want to go to his magical place in the forest. It may no t be magical but maybe I'll forget all the problems I am experiencing. "Are you sure?" he asks. "Yes," I say wryly, "Lead the way." He starts walking towards the trail and I follow after him, leaving the old Soph ia Taylor behind. After a few yards, Draky takes the direction away from the trail. "Where are you going?" I ask incredulously. "To the right path," he says. "What about the trail?" It's already hard walking on it, and now he wants to cha nge direction?! His mouth twitches upward. "Are you afraid?" "Of course not," I snap, and walk ahead of him. He grabs my arm and says, "That's not the right direction." I puff out a breath and walks to the other side. I hear his soft chuckle behind me. That's the only time I'm ahead of him because the way is trickier than I've thought. There are a lot of obstacles everywhere. Fallen trees, twigs, anything you can i magine in a forest. We avoid those as much as we can. One time, there's a tree on the way. Draky holds my hand as I jump to its other side. After that, he lets go and continue to wherever we're going. We've been walking around for what feels like hours now. My feet are in pain. I don't want to complain because I don't want him to think that I'm weak. These he

els are so getting in the way! I trip and slide; fortunately, Draky's here to he lp me. He takes off his jacket and puts it on his shoulder. He's wearing a gray shirt u nderneath. His muscles areStop thinking about him that way! I chastise myself. When there are branches on the way, he raises them so that I can go on. He makes the path bearable for me. I almost pause and take off my heels but when I glanc e down at the ground, I can see insects moving around. There are even broken twi gs and sharp roots. I might hurt my feet a little more so I dismiss the idea. I just continue to walk with my heels, trying to move as carefully as I can. If on ly I'm wearing my sneakers, he doesn't have to help me! I have a few scratches on my arms and legs. Mosquitoes are sucking my blood. The re are different kinds of insects lurking everywhere. One time, I almost fall to the ground because of an unseen root; thankfully, Dra ky grabs my hand on time before I ruin the dress Parker brought me. It's just a shame I'm wearing this dress and heels in this place. The trees are so tall; I can barely see the clouds above. It looks dark but it's just five in the afternoon. Where will he take me? A waterfall? A historic cave? A high cliff? There are more times when I almost slide because the path we're taking becomes s lippery. It's a good thing I grab a hold of something before I fall down. "Almost there," Draky says, looking back at me. He's a few feet ahead, clearing the path. "Whatever," I mutter. I'm running out of breath. I want to rest but I have to continue. Sweat pours do wn my face and I wipe it away with the back of my hand. I've always wanted to hi ke. If I'm wearing appropriate clothing, I'll appreciate this even more. He pushes a branch of a tree, and then walks into some kind of a magical place i n the forest. "What is this place?" I ask, looking around me in amazement. There are trees blooming here, unlike the trees I first saw earlier. They look l ike cherry blossoms, with green leaves. It's the first time I see this kind of t ree. The grass here is greener and there are some wild flowers scatter everywher e. "I don't know what it's called," he says thoughtfully. I breathe in the fresh air. It's cold, but it feels good. The wind dries the tea rs in my cheeks. I feel relieve, like the wind takes all my problems away. Befor e I know what I'm doing, I'm sitting on the grass. It's so comfortable and relax ing. Draky sits beside me, but not too close. There are a few feet of space between u s. I'm glad he's not invading my personal space. To my amazement, he lies on the grass. He puts his hands at the back of his head, and stares at the sky above u s.

There are tall trees obscuring the sun from the view. I can just make out the ou tline of the sun. I want to lie on my back too, but unfortunately, I can't becau se I'm wearing a dress. A short dress. So I just stretch my legs in front of me and take off my heels letting the grass tickle my feet. There are different kinds of birds flying above us. Some are singing a melody or two. I close my eyes and let my other senses take action. I want to be a bird"Why?" I open my eyes and see Draky staring straight at me. "What?" I ask. "You said you want to be a bird," he says, tilting his head to the side. His hai r falls to his eyes and he brushes it off with his hand. I can't believe I said that aloud! Heaving a sigh, I say, "I want to be a bird. What about you?" "Why do you want to be a bird?" he asks, ignoring my question. I guess he became tired of me asking the same question that he does, and now he' s making a strategy for it to be fair. "Because they can fly," I answer. "They're free. They can go to wherever they wa nt. I want to fly and soar the sky." He nods thoughtfully and looks at a tree with a bird perch on its trunk. "What about you?" I repeat. "What do you want to become in your second life?" "If I can choose what to become," he says, "I'd like to be a star." Star? I expected him to say bird so that we can be together you know-for the bet . But star? Who would have thought Draky wants to be a star? "Why?" I ask. He smiles slyly. "It's a secret." "A secret?" I ask incredulously. "Yes," he says, nodding. "I told you my reason!" He shakes his head, not wanting to budge. "Maybe I'll tell you someday," he says teasingly. "Whatever," I mutter. We are silent after that but it's comfortable. We're both mesmerized by this enc hanted place. It feels like all my problems are long long gone now. If this is"What you're doing is illegal you know," Draky says amusedly, snapping me out of my thoughts. "What am I doing?" I ask, turning my head to look at him.

He's props on his elbow, and he's staring at my hands. "You're pulling off the g rass. "Oh," I mouth, and stop whatever my hands are doing. I don't know why I'm pullin g off the grass. I open my hands and there are bits of grasses on them. I get a tissue from my bag and wipe the grass away. "Draky," I say. "What, Pie?" he says, raising his eyebrow. "How did you find this place?" I ask curiously. "When I was a kid, a Boy Scout member, we had a camping," he says, lying on his back. "It was an overnight. Here in the forest." "Here?" I say, looking around for emphasis. "Not really here," he says. "If not here. . ." I trail off. "I got lost," he says. "We had a leader to follow but I wander on my own." I'm not surprised with that. Nothing unusual. "Unfortunately," he continues, "I didn't find them right away. I scream and scre am but they didn't hear me." And then I realize why Draky wants to take me here. Because he knows that I want to scream all my frustrations away. Now I know. Now I understand. Taking a deep breath, I scream as loud as I can. And then I scream again. And ag ain. Until I feel my throat protesting. It feels good to scream. I've always wan ted to do this but I'm afraid people will hear me. Before I know it, I'm on my feet, screaming at the top of my lungs. There are te ars flowing at the corner of my eyes but I ignore them. When I don't have energy to scream, I flop down on the grass and laugh. I don't know, maybe I'm crazy. B ut it feels good to laugh after screaming so loud. Somehow, birds fly away because of my scream. No doubt I startle them. Draky smi les because he knows that I know. "How?" I ask, as soon as I stop laughing. "What how?" he asks, still smiling. "How did you know that I want to scream?" "It's written on your face," he says. Is it true? Well, I feel good now. "By the way," I say, "How did you find your way to your camp?" "I saw the smoke they build," he says, "And then I followed it." "I guess they searched for you? I mean, you were lost, right? So they had to fin

d you." I don't know why I'm blabbering. "They did," Dray says amusedly. "They were worried about me. And then they scold ed me for wandering alone." I'm grinning from ear to ear. "You go here whenever you want to scream?" "Something like that," he says, "because I know no one will hear me." "What if someone comes?" "No one knows this place besides me," he says, and then adds, "And you." Oh. I can feel the heat flooding my face, creeping into my cheeks. Stupid blush! I c lear my throat awkwardly and look away. What else is there to say? "Oh no," Draky mutters after a few minutes. "What?" I ask, at the same time I hear the thunder. I look at the sky to see that the blue earlier is gray now. How can we be oblivi ous? "Come on," he says urgently. He stands up quickly and offers his hand to me. I grab it and he helps me to get up. "What now?" I ask, while I quickly put on m y heels. If we run as fast as we can, we can't still go to the in the rain. Besides, we both know that I can't run. do, the clock is ticking faster and faster. The gray matter of seconds, the heavy drops of rain will fall "Let's go," Draky says. "Where?" I ask. He grabs my hand and we walk as fast as we can. I don't let go because he helps me when I trip. It's cold, but the only warm thing is the hand of Draky. Suddenl y, little drops of rain start to fall. Draky looks up and scowls at the sky as if he can stop it by just glaring at it. We stop and then he takes off his jacket and puts it around me. He pulls the ho odie so that I won't get soak. The jacket smells like him. It feels warm too. The good thing is that rain is on ly dripping slowly. I'm sure it will fall on heavy drops later. I can't see wher e we are going so I just let him guide me. Finally, we stop in front of a small cabin. Draky opens the door and then we ent er the threshold. Right on cue, there's a loud thunder coming from outside. He c loses the door and walks to the corner. I can't see how much big this is because it's dark. There's a broken window on t he right corner a few feet beside the door. The only light emanates from the lig htning. Suddenly, there's a flicker of light behind me. I whip around to see that it com car without being drenched As Draky thinks of what to clouds become darker. In a on us.

es from a candle. That's when I see the inside of the cabin. It's the same size as my room in Aunt V's house. There are blankets and pillows on the floor. Draky 's sitting with a bag of groceries beside him. "What is this place?" I ask. "I found this when I came back to the forest a few years ago," he says, "And the n I decided to put some things in it so in case of emergency, I have a place to go to." "A haven," I blurt out. His mouth pulls at the corner. "Yes." There's more to Drake Swift than meets the eye. I'm starting to unravel the real him. "Are you hungry?" he asks. "Yes," I say. He gives me the bags of groceries so that I can choose whatever I want. There ar e junk foods, mineral water bottles, Twinkies, and cookies. I get a mineral wate r, and chocolate chip cookies. Draky organizes the blankets so that we can sit on them while eating. I take off my heels and sit across from him. The soles of my feet are throbbing. I'm so ti red. "I'm sorry," he says after we're done eating. "It's my fault you're stuck here w ith me." "It's okay," I say with a shrug. "Sorry," he says again. "When's the last time you come here?" I ask. "A few days ago," he says. "Aren't you going to ask me what happened earlier?" I ask curiously. "Believe me," he says," I want to know everything that happened but I don't want to interfere. It's better if you want to tell me without me asking about it." I think my mouth is hanging open so I snap it shut. I can't believe this is Drak e Swift talking to me. Before, he used to ask me questions even though he though t I wouldn't answer them. Now, he's willing to wait for me to open up. What's ha ppening here? "When I went to our house," I say, "My parents aren't there." And then I tell hi m that some of my parents' clothes are gone, and that I don't have any idea on w here they are now. He listens to me without interruption. I don't know but why I'm telling him this , but when I finished talking, it feels like something lifts off my shoulders. He leans in close to me and pushes the hair out of my eyes. After that, his hand lingers on my cheek, brushing the tear that escapes from my eyes. My heart is d rumming painfully in my chest. I think it even skips a beat. My mind tells me to

look away from him to break away from his spell but my eyes are captured in his piercing gaze. I know he's waiting for me to stop him but I can't find the right words. I can't even open my mouth. What is this guy doing to me? I want to swallow but it's hard when you're nervou s. Our face is just a few inches away from each other. Slowly, he closes the dis tance between us andIt's a love story baby just yes. Cell phone. Ringing. I know I should be embarrassed about what might happen but to my surprise, I lau gh. Who would have thought Drake Swift likes Taylor Swift? If not for her Love S toryI can't finish that line of thought. Thank God his cell phone rings! "Hello?" Draky says, breaking me from my thoughts. "Who is that?" I murmur. "Driana," he mouths. His face is flushed. I know that he knows what could have happen if his cell phone didn't ring. He cl icks something on his phone-loud speaker because I can now hear Driana's voice. "Where are you?" she asks. "In the woods," Draky answers. "What are you doing there?" Driana demands. "Long story." "Who's with you?" asks Driana. Draky looks at me and raises his eye brow. "Me," I say slowly. "Sophia?!" she exclaims. "Yes," I say. "What are you doing there with my brother?" I can imagine her with wide eyes, mouth hanging open. Draky turns away from me b ut not before I see the smile forming on his mouth. Taking a deep breath, I say, "Long story." I wonder why she's silent. I hear murmurs on the other line. "Where are you?" I ask. "At Andre's," she says.

On cue, Andre says, "Hi guys!" "What are you doing there, Driana?" Draky asks. I can see her rolling her eyes as she says, "I want to talk to Sophia but she's not answering her phone so I decided to come here." "My phone doesn't have a battery," I say. "When are you going home?" Andre asks. "Mom's worried." "I don't know," I say. "It's raining cats and dogs," Draky chimes in. "We're going as soon as the rain stops." "Are you safe there?" Driana asks. There's concern on her voice. "We're fine," Draky reassures her. "Tell mom not to worry." "Okay," she says. "Go home," Draky says, "It's already late." "Whatever," Driana mutters. "Take care, you two," Andre says seriously. Draky's phone is flashing, signaling it will shut down because of a low battery. "Don't worry about us," I say, "We're coming home as soon as we can." "Goodbye," Draky says. "See you!" Driana and Andre say simultaneously. After the phone shuts down, there's an uncomfortable silence between Draky and m e. "Goodnight?" he says. "Night," I murmur. I get a pillow and lie down, putting the blanket up to my nec k. "You're going to sleep now?" he asks, lying down as well, a few inches away from me. I can hear the beat of his heart. "Yes," I say. "Oh," he murmurs. I wait for him to say something but he doesn't, so I ask, "What is it?" "Nothing," he says. It's still raining and even if it's not, we can't go home because it's dark. May be we'll get lost in this forest. The floor is hard, but it's better than being drenched in the rain. It's cold, but Draky's jacket makes me feel warm. "Sweet dreams Pie," he says.

"You too Draky," I murmur. My mind is already shutting down. I think he says something but I don't know wha t it is because my mind is fuzzy. Maybe I'll remember it when I wake up in the m orning. Maybe.

*********** I had the idea on where will Sophia and Drake go when we hiked in a forest trail last February and I was not wearing appropriate clothes xD ******************************************* [31] The Bet *Confusing Thoughts ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 30 *Confusing Thoughts* ~Drake

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. The only sound comes from my watch, the beat of our hearts, and the soft breathi ng of Pie. I glance at my wrist watch and see that it's passed midnight. (I'm gl ad it's water proof. If it's not, there's no doubt it's not working now.) Today's the tenth day. I can't believe it! A lot has happened already. It feels like I've known Pie my whole life. It's not even two weeks yet. It seems impossi ble, but it's true. Who would have thought I'll bring her here? Even Andre doesn't know this place. I don't know when the rain stopped falling from the sky. We can't go home becaus e it's dark. Even though I know this place, I am not that familiar. We might get lost, and I can't let that happen. I roll on my side and face her. She looks innocent, like an angel. She's very di fferent from my nightmare of her. This sleeping girl beside me is Pie. Did she hear what I said to her before she fell asleep? Maybe not. Her eyes were already dropping at the time. Her lips are trembling and she mumbles something quietly. Is she awake? Sleep talking. "Matt," she murmurs. Matt? She's dreaming about her brother?

A tear escapes from the corner of her eyes. Before I know what I'm doing, I raise my hand and wipe it away with my fingers. The tiny drop of tears feels warm to the touch. I let my hand linger on her chee k, softly brushing the scratches she got from hiking and running. Her face is so ft, like a baby. I push the hair that is falling to her eyes. My hand has a mind of its own-- it holds her silk hair and play with it. My forefinger traces the side of her jaw, her nose, and her eyelids. She has lon g eyelashes. I catch myself before I touch her lips. Our faces is so close, it m akes me remember last night. We almost kissed! Can you believe it? I can't! It feels like there's a pull movi ng towards us, wanting us to get close, and that's when my cell phone rings, bre aking the connection between us. I don't want to think what could have happen if it didn't ring. What's the point ? The point is you're thinking about it. Pfft. It will never happen. I'm so confused! I can't even distinguish which is which; my pretend actions fro m my real ones. Pie squirms in her blanket; she's shivering. I take my And then e able to manage. I blanket off me and place it on top of hers carefully, to not wake her. I lie down again, turning my back on her. If I face her, I might not b sleep because I'll just stare at her whole night. It's cold but I can shut the voice inside my head and wait for a sleepless dream to come.

Without opening my eyes, I know that it's morning. The ray of the sun is hot, ev en behind my close eyelids. Is Pie still sleeping? I strain to hear clearly but the only sound comes from he r normal breathing. I assess my position without opening my eyes. In my sleep, I roll over to the side so I'm facing her. My hand is touching some thing warm in this cold place. I peek under my lashes and see that my hand is re sting on her arm. My eyes widen and I remove it quickly before she wakes up. That's when an idea c omes to my head. Just thinking about it makes me laugh. I position myself carefully so we are facing each other, and there are just a fe w inches of space between us. I grab her left hand slowly and put it on my waist , and then lean her head to my chest. Her right hand is on my face. I can't wait to see her expression when she wakes up. While waiting, I feign sle eping. Just imagining her face makes me grin from ear to ear. After a few minutes, my patience pays off. I can feel her stirring beside me. St ill, I don't open my eyes. She's still sleeping! I can't wait any longer so I op

en my eyes at the same time she finally wakes up. At first, she blinks her eyes to clear her vision. When she sees me, her eyes wi den. She rubs the sleep from her eyes, maybe thinking she's just dreaming. She l ooks at our entangled bodies and gasps. Her gaze turns towards her hand that's on my waist. She snatches it with her han d on my face. "Wh . . . Why. . . What did," she stutters, not finishing her sentence. Oh, I miss this Pie. The one stuttering when she's embarrassed. "What did you do?" she asks finally. Her face is red, like she's burning because of a fever. "I didn't do anything," I say innocently. "You're restless when you're sleeping that's why. . ." I trail off, looking at her meaningfully. I control the laughte r that is starting to build inside me. She shakes her head slowly, not believing what she saw. "But I'm not," she says, still not looking at me right in the eye. "Maybe you're scared last night," I say, "That's why you moved close to me and p ut your arm around me." Her mouth hangs open and an unreadable expression crosses her face. She doesn't know what really happened so she thinks I'm telling the truth. She's so stubborn; she doesn't want to budge and doesn't want to admit that I'm right. Unfortunately for her, she doesn't know that I just positioned us togethe r. I feel guilty for teasing her. It's not a smart move but her expression is priceless. I have no doubt I'll reme mber it forever. Besides, nothing really happened. Pie swallows nervously and removes the blanket entangled on her. "Why do I have two blankets?" she asks, confused. "You were shivering last night so I put mine on top of yours," I explain. She narrows her eyes and her brows furrow as she thinks deeply. "What?" I ask, sitting up. "You position us, didn't you?" she says accusingly, sitting up as well. "What?" I ask incredulously. Does she have a third eye or what? How can she gues s right? She scowls at me and her mouth sets into a thin hard line, erasing the memory of our almost kiss last night. "Forget it," she mumbles, looking away. I let out the breath I don't know I'm holding. I almost got caught! Now I know I can't do something like that again. "Want to go home now?" I ask softly. She nods.

I ruin everything. Again. I know; you don't have to rub it on my face! We put the blankets and pillows on their places. After that, I ask Pie if she wa nts to have breakfast. She declines and says that she'll just eat at home. We go outside the cabin and I close the door behind me. No need to lock it. No o ne knows this. As we walk, I notice that she's limping. "What happened?" I ask. "Nothing," she says evasively. "Why are you walking like that then?" We stop beside a big tree, and she leans into it, breathing heavily. What's happ ening to her? We just walked a couple of yards. "Are you okay?" I ask gently, moving towards her. "My right foot," she mumbles. I kneel down and remove her right heels off her foot. She gasps at my actions. H er eyes widen as she looks me examine her foot. "I think this happens because the sprain you had the other night came back," I s ay. She bites her lower lip and looks worried. "Does it hurt?" I ask, holding her ankle carefully. "A little," she admits, "But I can walk." "Really?" I ask dubiously. "You'll see," she says stubbornly getting her heels on my hand and putting it ba ck. She takes a step and then hurt herself even more because there are a lot of stones in this path. "I guess I'll just walk barefoot then," she says with a sig h. I roll my eyes and say, "I'll just carry you." Her eyes are still red from crying yesterday. There are dark shadows behind them . I can see that she's tired but she doesn't want to admit it. She doesn't want people to know her weak side. For me, that makes her brave. Somehow, strong. What will happen when we go home? Where will she find her parents? What's happen ing to them? Why did they leave her? "Okay," she says finally, riding on my back. She wraps her legs on my waist and puts her hands on my neck. I stand up and begin to walk then, holding her legs to stop them from swaying.

"Pie," I say after a minute. "What?" she asks. "What did you dream last night?" I turn my head to look at her but she forces me to look ahead. "What?" "You might walk into a tree," she says warily. "Didn't anyone tell you to look i n front of you while walking?" I roll my eyes, but of course she can't see it. "I don't remember," she says, answering my question earlier. "Really?" I ask curiously. "Yes," she says, "Why are you asking?" "I heard you talking while sleeping," I say. "I'm not talking while I'm sleeping," she says indignantly. "But I heard you," I say obviously. "What did I say?" she asks cautiously. "You dreamed about me," I tease. I feel her stiffen behind me. "You're lying," she mutters. I can't help but laugh at that. "How do you know?" I challenge, "You're sleeping ." "I didn't dream of you," she says firmly. "I think you dreamed of Matt," I say, not teasing her anymore. "You said his nam e a few times." "Oh," she murmurs, "I don't remember it." I don't know what to reply to that so I remain silent. Sometimes words are the c ause of misunderstanding so it's better to be silent. Besides, it's a nice feeli ng. It's not awkward, and we hear the rustling of leaves because of the wind, an d the melody of birds singing above us. Before I can stop myself, I ask, "Do you miss him?" Stupid! Of course she misses him. He's her little brother. Pie's silent, not answering my question. Sometimes I have to stop saying my thou ght aloud. "I miss him," she says finally, "Every single day." "I'm sorry," I murmur. What else is there to say? "It's okay," she says, "Before, I don't want to talk about him because I don't w ant to accept that he's dead. Now it's fine. And it's good to say that I miss hi m aloud."

I can hear the smile on her voice. "Why don't you tell him then?" She takes a deep breath, and before I can cover my ears, she shouts, "I miss you Matt! I really miss you so much! I hope you're happy wherever you are!" My ears stung. She yells near them. After she settles down, she realizes what she had done. "Ow," she mutters, "I'm sorry if that was loud for you." "It's not," I say, even though I can feel the insides of my ears vibrating. It e ven distorts the sound I hear. I hope they're not bleeding. "It's so good to scream at the top of my lungs," she says. "Yes," I agree. "Drake." I'm startled because she called my name; my real name, not her nickname for me. What am I suppose to say: Sophia or Pie? Sometimes I even forgot that Sophia's h er real name. "Draky," Pie says, pulling my hair to get my attention. "That hurts," I protest. Actually, it doesn't hurt. Her hands are so soft, like a feather touch. "You're daydreaming again," she says amusedly. "I am not," I say, "I'm just thinking." She chuckles softly. "What were you going to say earlier?" I ask. "Nothing," she says quickly; a sure sign that she's lying. "If you don't tell me, I'll drop you," I threaten playfully. "Why don't you try it?" she urges. I was just kidding but I can't back out now. I'll just pretend to drop her and s top when she's almost to the ground. I'm about to do my plan when she tightens h er hold on my neck. I'm choking and gasping for breath. "Pie," I croak. "You'll drop me?" she asks mockingly. "I . . . won't." "Good," she says smugly, loosening her hold on my neck. This girl is so utterly impossible! She does things I've never dreamed of a girl doing. "Who has the upper hand then?" she whispers to my ear. Her hair tickles me and h er voice makes me shiver.

"You," I mutter under my breath. What can I do? As if I'll drop her. I know that she knows that I'm just teasing her so she's playing a game with me. She has the upper hand -- just today becaus e hey, she's at my back! She can pull my hair and shout at my ear. As if I'll re ally drop her. I'm not insane! Suddenly, I can feel her hand brushing my hair. What is she doing? "Your hair suits you," she says thoughtfully. I want to see her face but I'm afraid that she'll see the expression I have. "Thank you," I murmur. It's not hard walking in a path where you're familiar with. I can't remember how many times I went here in the past. When I want to think and I don't want anyon e to bother me, I go here, or when I want to smell the fresh air that's coming f rom the trees. The last time I came here was when"Life is so short," Pie says, breaking me from my thoughts. "We must do what we can now because we never know if we'll still be alive tomorrow." "That's a good topic," I say. "Why didn't you suggest it when we were brainstorm ing the other day?" I feel her shrug. "Ideas come at unexpected times," she says. "That means you shouldn't force yourself," I say matter-of -fact. "Yes," she agrees. We're silent after that. The hike this time is faster because it's sloping down . After a few minutes, I can see the road already. I cross it and walk towards my car. I put Pie down and unlock the passenger door. "They didn't tow your car," she says, sliding in. I don't have a reply for that so I just smile. I start the car as soon as I get in. Pie stares outside the window as I drive. She has a faraway look that's why I do n't start a conversation because I don't want to interrupt her. It's passed ten AM when we arrive at Andre's house. Pie and I get out of the car at the same time. We walk side by side and stop in front of the door. "Thank you," she says, "For last night." "It's nothing," I say. I brace myself for another kiss. On the cheek. I'm not expecting. I'm not assumi ng. I'm just. . . Nothing. "That means a lot to me," she says. Her mouth is starting to form into a smile. "Just call me whenever you need someone to talk to," I say.

What? What did I say? I don't know what's coming out of my mouth! "Okay," Pie says, playing with her hands. I hear a laugh inside my head. No doubt that's the voice talking to me. I can't believe it can laugh! "Draky," Pie says, snapping me from my thoughts. "Yes, Pie?" She takes a step towards me and then the front door of the house opens. We both look at the same time. "Parker?" Pie and I say simultaneously.

****** I hope you liked this! (: The song is If Life Is So Short by The Moffats. I love 90's songs :> Banner by antus_girl. Don't forget to Like the Facebook page =) Thank you so much! <3 ******************************************* [32] The Bet *Foolish Heart ******************************************* There are two songs for this chapter. Rangers by A Fine Frenzy, and You Give Lov e A Bad Name by Bon Jovi. Happy Reading! (: Chapter 31 *Foolish Heart* ~Sophia

"What happened?" Parker asks. "What are you doing here?" I ask incredulously, ignoring his question. Parker looks between Draky and me, and he's smiling slyly. "I sent you a message last night," he says, ignoring my question. "I said that we'll hang out today b efore I go back to school tomorrow." "Shoot," I mutter, slapping my hand on my forehead. "My cell phone isn't working . It's low bat." "Why don't you come in and tell us what happened last night?" he says, giving me a meaningful look.

Draky and I enter the threshold and Parker leads us to the living room, like he' s the owner of the house. "Andre explained your absence while we were waiting for you." Andre? I am surprised when I see Chloe, Driana, and Andre sitting together in the livin g room. They are all smiling at us. I glance at Draky but he has a confused expr ession on his face. I can feel the blood rising to my cheeks, flooding my whole face. "What are you staring at?" Draky asks finally. His eyes move to every faces in t he room. His eyes widen when he sees Driana. "What are you doing here?" he deman ds. "I slept here," Driana says, crossing her arms over her chest. "What?" Draky exclaims. Andre, Parker, Chloe and I are staring at the twins. "What about mom?" Draky continues in the same tone. "She slept alone in the hous e?" Andre snickers. Parker tilts his head to the side, looking amused watching the t wins. Chloe glances hesitantly at Draky and Driana, worried that they're going t o argue. Driana rolls her eyes. "I'm just kidding," she says, "I didn't sleep here. Mom's at home. The moment I woke up, I went here. Like I said last night, I wanted to talk to Sophia." I'm so focused on the situation, I forgot I haven't brush my teeth yet. So embar rassing! "Excuse me," I murmur, "I'm just going to the comfort room." "Okay," Parker says. Chloe waves her hand and gives me a smile. I'm like a robot, just going with the motion of making my way upstairs. My feet are heavy. I don't know what's happening around me. It feels like my life is mov ing on while I'm left on the sideline. So, Andre finally meets Parker; the sub that has a creative mind and doing thing s unexpectedly. They have some similarities but Parker is real, unlike Andre who 's acting just because of a bet. Or does he? He isn't the one playing with me. But he was the one who chose me! W hat if it wasn't me? What if it was another girl? Draky will never know me. He'l l never see me. Is it a coincidence or everything happens for a reason? I'm so confused! My mind wants to explode with these thoughts running inside my head. I'm tired too; mind, body, and heart. If the time comes I can't take it anymore, I'll drop the game and then I'll tell them everything I know. WAIT! What am I thinking about? I can't do that! I shou

ldn't forget the pain he caused me. Besides, he's still playing. I can't quit. I will not. Never. If one's to quit, it's him, not me. I yawn involuntarily. I'm still sleepy. Last night was. . . I shake my head, try ing to erase the almost kiss off my mind. I don't even know if Draky really cares for me, or if he's just doing everything to make me fall in love with him. A sigh escapes from my lips without my permis sion. I really hate thinking What If's because you're never sure. Always doubtin g. One thing's for sure, though, I think he will never back off either. Twisting the doorknob, I walk in the bathroom. I grab my toothbrush and put some toothpaste on it. This is the first time I look at myself at the mirror since I went to my parent's house. My eyes are puffy because of crying and there are dark circles under them. No wo nder Parker asked what happened. My hair's in a tangled mess. It's like a bird n est. My cheeks are hollow and my nose is as red as Rudolph's. A knock on the door breaks me from my reverie. "Wait a minute," I say, quickly b rushing my teeth. I wonder who's on the other side of the door. When I'm done, I splash water to my face and then grab a towel in the cabinet. When I open the door, Draky comes into view. "What are you doing here?" I ask, drying my face on the towel. "I'm going to brush my teeth," he says, raising the toothbrush he's holding. "The bathroom is all yours," I say. I take a step to go outside but he moves and blocks my path. "Excuse me," I say, "you're on the way." He brushes the hair that falls to his eyes and ignores my protest. I step again, but he mimics my move. He even puts his arm on the threshold! "What do you want?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him. "Why don't we continue on the part before Parker opened the door?" "I. . . What do you . . .?" I'm stuttering again! A smirk starts to form at the corner of his mouth. No doubt my face is as red as an apple. I can't believe he can make me feel this way! He leans down close to me. His face is just a few inches away from mine. I can hear the synchronize beat of our hearts. What is he doing? This jerk! Is h e trying to kiss me? Is that what he meant when he said that we should continue on the part where Parker opened the door? I have to get out of here. The bathroom is claustrophobic. I can't let him kiss me. Just thinking about it makes the butterfly in my stomach flutter. I can't co mprehend if it's a good thing or not. I have to be away from him to think straig ht. But what will I do? Oh, I have an idea. I close my eyes and pretend to stand on my tiptoes, and then I duck down under his arm and run as fast as I can to my ro om. I quickly close the door behind me before he can enter.

"Sophia." I jump in surprised and then turn around to see Driana sitting on my bed. "What are you doing here?" I ask, swallowing the lump in my throat. My heart is so loud in my chest. It's as if I run in a marathon, like the same t ime when I walked in the bathroom while Draky was having his shower. "What happened?" she asks. "Why are you blushing?" "I am not," I say indignantly. She raises her eyebrow and smiles at me slyly. "What are you doing here?" I repeat. "You're supposed to wait downstairs." "But I have to know what happened last night," she says, "as if you'll tell if t here are a lot of people listening." I sit on the bed beside her because my knees are wobbling beneath me. "Nothing h appened," I say. "What do you want to tell me last night?" "I thought you're not interested?" she asks, ignoring my question. "I am not," I say warily, wiping the sweat pouring down my face. "Why did you spend the night with him then?" "As if I have a choice," I say wearily. "Why did you come with him in the first place?" Driana asks, smiling slowly. I am taken aback by her question. I don't know why I agreed to come with him in his secret place. Maybe because of what happened, my emotions get the best of me . "I don't know," I say honestly. Driana is clearly not satisfied with my answer but she doesn't press the topic. I guess it's my time to question her. "Why were you here last night?" I ask. "Because I wanted to talk to you." "About?" I press. She bites her lip. I raise my eyebrow and smiles at her teasingly. "Nothing," she says evasively. I laugh at her expression and she scolds at me. I let the topic go because I don 't want her to get mad at me for teasing her. "Let's go downstairs," I suggest.

When we come back in the living room, Andre smirks. That idiot, what does he thi nk? He's laughing quietly with his stupid friend Draky. Ugh! They're so annoying ! "Where's Auntie?" I ask, sitting on the couch beside Parker. I can't wait to fin d out where my parents are. "She's at work," Andre says. At work? That means I have to wait until later to talk to her. I guess I have to be patient, but I want to know now! "What's wrong?" Parker asks, studying my face. "My parents are gone," I mutter. There's no point in lying. "What do you mean gone?" Chloe asks softly. And then I explain everything. What I found out when I went home yesterday, the trip with Draky, and then the cabin. I look at Draky hesitantly before I tell th em about the sort of garden and the cabin because it's not my secret (I know I s houldn't care about it, but I do. It's a place where I felt safe). Now they know about Draky's haven. The only good thing about it is they don't know where it i s. They are all silent after I stop talking. I'm waiting for the time they will tea se us for staying together last night, but they are all looking at me worriedly. Even Andre. "You should relax," Parker says finally, "maybe they're having a vacation right now." My parents? Not likely. They won't do that to me; leaving me in a stranger's hou se just to relax. If that's the reason, they will tell me. But Parker has a point. Maybe my parents are somewhere, but they can't take me b ecause I'm studying. Perhaps I'm just over thinking things. "Maybe my mom knows," Andre says thoughtfully. "Yes," I agree. "Let's go," Parker says suddenly. "Where are we going?" I ask. "Anywhere," Chloe says. "I'm not in the mood," I mumble. "You have to come with us," Parker says. "I'm tired." "This is our last day here," Chloe says slowly. "We'll go home tomorrow." Will I ruin Parker's last day? "Please?" Parker pleads, "Phia?"

He's the only one allowed to call me Phia besides Matt, and now he's using it to his advantage. I can see Draky at the corner of my eye, watching me. "You need it," Chloe says, "to free your mind off disturbing thoughts." "They're right," Andre says, nodding eagerly. "You're just being paranoid," Driana chimes in. Now it's one versus four. The only one not voicing his opinion is Draky. Heaving a sigh, I nod. Parker grins. "Anyone who wants to come with us?" he asks them. Andre shakes his head and says, "Got to do something. Oh, and nice meeting you. I hear you're a good professor, I mean a substitute." "But he'll soon be a professor," Driana says, nodding at Parker. "Thank you," Parker says, smiling widely. "Dri?" I ask, looking at her. "Sorry," she says, "I have plans." And then she looks at Parker and Chloe. "I ho pe we'll see you again. It was nice meeting you two." "It was nice meeting you too," Parker says, "And we'll visit every now and then. " "He's right," Chloe says, "I'm glad I meet all of you." Parker looks at Draky. "I'm tired," Draky mutters. And then he says to no one in particular, "I'm going to sleep." "Okay," Parker says. And then to me: "What are you waiting for?" "What?" "Are you ready now?" "Okay," I say dryly, getting up from the couch. "I'm just going to take a bath a nd then dress." "Make it faster," Parker says, "so we can go to a lot of places." "Yes sir," I say, sticking my tongue at him.

"Where did you get this car?" I ask, sliding in the backseat. "I borrowed it to my friend," Parker says, starting the engine. "What about your car?"

"It's in the school," he says, "We're not allowed to bring our car because we ha ve a ride from your school, but my friend brought his car with him." "Did they scold him?" I ask curiously. He grins. "No, not exactly," he says, "They can't do anything about it anymore s o they just let it go." "Oh," I murmur. "Actually," Chloe says, joining in the conversation, "Our friend was late, and h e was left behind. So he used his car to come here." I can't help but laugh at that. Poor guy, he drove on his own for five hours. "The good thing about it is we have a car," he says. "Where are we going?" I ask. "Where do you want?" he asks, looking at me on the rearview mirror. I roll my eyes at him. "You want to hang out but you don't know where to go?" "I have a suggestion," Chloe says, turning on her seat to face me. "What?" Parker and I ask at the same time. Chloe smiles amusedly and then says, "It's my first time to come here, so why no t go to the mall?" "That's a good idea," Parker says, intertwining their fingers. "I want to buy souvenirs," Chloe says, looking at him affectionately. "My friend s will eat me alive if I don't bring them anything." "Mall then," I say. I give directions to Parker on the nearest mall in town. Parker holds Chloe's hand as he drives. He really is romantic! He learned a lot from reading books. Chloe is lucky to have him as her boyfriend. I want to ask i f he's her first boyfriend, but it seems a bit rude so I drop the question. Besi des, the first isn't really important. What matters is the last. I'm so happy for Parker because finally, he hinds his other half. I hope Chloe w ill not hurt him because he deserves to be loved. I hope they will have a good l ife together, surrounding them are their"What's funny?" Parker asks, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Nothing," I say. What's funny? I'm not even laughing. "You're smiling," Chloe says, tilting her head to the side. "What were you thinking?" Parker probes. "It's nothing," I insist. As if I can tell them I'm imagining their future ahead of them. "You were thinking about Drake?" Chloe says teasingly. "Of course not!" I exclaim.

Parker's eyes glitter in delight. "I knew it! You like him!" I should have just told them that I was thinking about them. Now they assumed I was daydreaming about Draky! "Sophia likes-" "Parker," I interject, narrowing my eyes at him, "I don't like Drake." "But in one of your letters," he says, furrowing his eyebrows, "I think you ment ioned him." "Past," I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest. "Sometimes feelings come back," Chloe says, wiggling her eyebrows at me. Really, even their actions are the same! Parker and Chloe are meant for each oth er. They are so perfect for each other! When we arrive at the mall, we decide to eat taco's first, and then walk to ever y store to shop for clothes and anything they like. "This or that?" Chloe asks. The this is a bracelet, and the that is a necklace. "Is it for you?" I ask. She nods, looking longingly at the two accessories in her hands. "I think both of them will look good on you," I say honestly. "But I didn't bring enough money," she says a little sadly, "I still have to buy presents for my friends." I have an idea. "The necklace is perfect," I say. Her face brightens. She puts the bracelet down on its original place and drops t he necklace in the basket. We're in Abubooth, the most famous souvenir shop in the mall. Parker is at the o ther side of the store, looking for boy's accessories. They already brought a lo t of gifts; it's like they're here on a vacation, and now they're buying a lot o f things for their friends back home. While Chloe goes to where Parker is, I get the bracelet and pay it on the counte r. She really likes it and it fits perfectly to her. I will give it to her later before we say goodbye to each other. My gift for Parker is a small skateboard keychain. When we were young, he used t o teach me how to skateboard. Because of my clumsiness, I didn't really learn th at well. But he was a good teacher. Now I know why he's taking Literature. He'll be a good professor. It's in his blood. After they pay their accessories, we decide to eat ice cream. The ice cream parl or is located outside the mall beside the parking lot so we have to go the way w e come in. I'm glad there are just a few people here, even though it's Saturday. We sit out side, on the table near the entrance. My order is chocolate chip with vanilla cr eam on top. Chloe likes peanut butter ice cream while Parker orders strawberry w

ith a cheery on top. "My feet are complaining," Chloe says, stretching on her seat. "Do you want me to massage them?" Parker asks. Chloe looks around at the people around us and then bites her lip. "They can sti ll walk," she says finally. "You're so sweet," I compliment. Both of them blushed on cue. They are so cute! After a few minutes, the waiter arrives, carrying our orders. When the ice cream fills my mouth, I let out a relieve sigh. Ice cream, oh ice c ream. It's so delicious and creamy. No wonder a lot of people love it. Above us, the sky is blue. There are a lot of clouds with different shapes. I'm glad it's not hot because if it is, we have to come inside the store. "Is that Draky's car?" I wonder aloud, scooping the last bit of my ice cream. "That black convertible?" Parker asks. I nod. But I'm not sure. Maybe they just have the same car. It can't be. . . The driver parks his car a few yards away from Parker's friend's car. After a fe w seconds, Draky gets out of the driver's seat. "It's Drake," Parker says obviously. "Did he know we're here?" Chloe asks me. "No," I say, with a shake of my head. Is he following us? But it doesn't look like it. He doesn't even see us. "Drake!" Parker yells. "What are you doing?" I murmur, sending him an incredulous look. Draky stops walking and looks around, trying to find the person who calls him. P arker waves his hand over his head. "Parker!" I say. I have the urge to put my hand on his mouth to stop him from ca lling Draky. Why is he doing this? Chloe smiles as she looks between Parker and me. Finally, Draky spots us, and then without hesitation, he makes his way towards us. "Hi," he says, putting his hands in his pockets. "Where are you going?" Parker asks. Draky glances at me and then says, "Nowhere." It's clear that he doesn't want me to know what he's going to do and wherever he 's going. As if I care! "Why don't you join us?" Parker suggests.

I suck in a sharp breath. I look at Chloe for help, but she's smiling, and she e ven looks happy at the idea of Draky joining us. I wonder if she ever frowns. "That's a good idea!" she says excitedly. "I don't know," Draky says hesitantly, scratching the back of his head. He can't come with us. He'll just ruin our time. My limited time with Parker. Is it rude if I signal to Draky to decline Parker's offer? "We're about to watch a movie," Parker says, standing up from his chair. "We are?" I ask incredulously. "I thought we're going to eat lunch." "But we just ate some snacks," he says. "Are you hungry?" Chloe asks, standing up as well. "No," I say with a sigh. "We'll eat lunch after we watch a movie," Parker says, clearly satisfied. "So ar e you coming with us?" I shake my head a little, praying that Draky knows what it means. He looks at me and the corner of his mouth twitches upward. "Sure," he says, "I' d like to go with you." "Yay!" Chloe says, oblivious to my expression. "It's like a double date!"

A FEW YEARS LATER. . . I'm so sorry for not updating frequently. There are a lot of things to do in sch ool -___- I don't even know what and where to start. Thank you so much for still keeping up with me :) Banner by justactnormal97. Please join the Facebook page. Just click the External link on the side :> Thank you! Here's a little rant from Parker *who some of you forgot on the last chapter*. E njoy! :D I can't believe they forgot me! I'm too awesome for that. I'm so creative and I do unexpected things. I'm the childhood friend of the protagonist! Some readers even hate me because I opened the door at the same time Drake and Sophia will ab out to have their kiss. Are you even sure they will kiss? Unfortunately, only th e writer knows. I promise the next chapter will be funny (because I'm still in the story) and sw eet because . . . Oops. My lips are sealed. You just have to wait and find out y ourself. Don't think I'm full of myself. I'm just like this when I'm talking to myself. I 'm still the down to earth and humble Parker who always wants people to be happy .

I even made a plan where . . . I can't tell you that because it's a spoiler. I think I have to thank you for liking the story more when I come in and the par t where I'm in the story. I'm sure you'll miss me but don't worry; I'll have a c ameo in the future. So I guess I'll see you soon! :) ******************************************* [33] The Bet *Double Trouble ******************************************* About the A FEW YEARS LATER, it's nothing haha :D your comments about that are h ilarious. You guys are so funny! :) I'm not going to fast forward my story. I pl anned a lot of scenarios and there are more scenes that will happen. This is far from finished. Besides, it's just the tenth day. And you haven't even met him y et. I think those who are confused are the ones who are not reading the author's note because I already mentioned a few chapters ago that there are more chapter s to come. Just ask me when you're confused, okay? The song for this chapter is Don't Let Me Fall by Lenka. The banner is my finger s lol :) You can watch the trailer of the ACLTCL on the side. If you want to wat ch the whole movie, it's posted online. Just search it. Don't forget to like the Facebook page :> Happy Reading! (: Chapter 32 *Double Trouble* ~Sophia

"What movie do you want to watch?" Parker asks. Draky shrugs. "Anything," he says, flicking his hair away from his eyes. I don't know why he agreed to come with us; he doesn't even look interested in w atching a movie. Three movies are playing today; It's Kind Of A Funny Story, Life As We Know It, and A Crazy Little Thing Called Love. "I think Life As We Know It is funny," I suggest. "It's Kind Of A Funny Story is funnier," Draky says amusedly. "I like A Crazy Little Thing Called Love," Parker says. Chloe smiles - a sure sign she's agreeing with him. "You're asking what we want but you're the one who gets to choose," I protest, c rossing my arms over my chest. Parker smiles and ruffles my hair. "A movie from Thailand?" I ask incredulously. "We need subtitles," Chloe informs me. "Why watch a movie if you're just going to read what they're talking about?" ask s Draky.

"You'll see," Parker says smugly, "you'll thank me later after we watched it." "I doubt it," I mutter. "I'll buy tickets," he announces. "No," Draky protests, "I'll-" "I'm the one who chose the movie we're going to watch," he interjects. He's right, but I want Draky to spend his money so that Parker can save his. "I'll buy snacks then," he offers. "We just ate," I say. What am I doing? I thought I want him to use his money? And now I'm saying that we just ate snack even though it was a few hours ago. Oh, right, because I want him to feel useless. Unfortunately, Chloe is disagreeing with me because she says, "That's a good ide a!" Is she really this optimistic? "Four popcorns then?" Draky asks. "Just two," Parker comments, "I'll share with Chloe and you share with Sophia." My eyes widen at that. I have to"Anything else?" he asks, raising his eyebrows. "Drinks," Chloe adds. "Okay." As soon as he goes off to the popcorn booth, I turn to Parker. "How could you do that?" I demand. "You invited him already and now I have to share my popcorn wi th him!" "Why are you acting like it's a big deal?" he asks bemusedly. "It's as if there' s something going on." When I don't respond, he repeats, "Is there?" Chloe gives me a meaningful look. "Nothing," I say evasively, shaking my head and dropping the topic. Parker rolls his eyes and goes to the counter to buy tickets for us. We sit on the upper part of the theater. There are a lot of people inside. I did n't expect it, considering it's a movie with a subtitle. Usually people are lazy when it comes to reading so they tend to disregard foreign movies. I mean, fore ign movies with a different language. Chloe is on the first seat because she says that she's not comfortable in sittin g between people. Parker's next and then me. Last but not least is Draky. Yeah, he's sitting beside me. As if I can tell him to choose another seat. Before the

movie starts, they play trailers of incoming movies. "I'll just go to the rest room," Draky says, standing up from his seat. When he's out of sight, Parker starts to get up as well. "Where are you going?" I ask. "Rest room," he says, not looking into my eyes. "Really?" I have a feeling he's going to do something. "Yes." "Why don't I believe you?" I wonder aloud, narrowing my eyes. "You want to come?" he says amusedly. "Jerk," I mutter, loud enough for him to hear it. He grins, not a bit offended at what I call him because he knows I don't mean it . He turns back his head as he walks away and says, "Kakausapin ko lang siya." "What?" But he continues walking without a backward glance. I hate it when he speaks Tagalog! He knows I don't understand it. Parker is half Asian. His mom is from Philippines, that's why he knows how to speak their nati ve language. When we were kids, he used to teach me how to speak Tagalog but now I only remember a few words like Kamusta which means How are you, Mahal Kita is I love you, and. . . Ugh! I don't remember the other words he taught me! Speaking Filipino is so biza rre. My tongue is not used to the language so it's kind of hard speaking it. Par ker's mom doesn't want them to forget her native language so she requires them t o speak it at home. I stop blabbering when I see Chloe looking at me amusedly. "Is there something on my face?" "Nothing," she says, shaking her head. "Are you curious about what Parker said e arlier?" "When he said . . ." I trail off, not remembering the exact words. "Kakausapin ko lang siya," Chloe finishes for me. "You know how to speak Filipino?" I ask excitedly. She grins, her eyes glittering in delight. "When I knew he can speak Filipino, I forced him to teach me." She laughs, and then says, "In return I taught him Fre nch." Whoa. They really do belong to each other. "Do you speak fluently?" "Not really," she says sheepishly, "Just a little. My tongue isn't comfortable w hen I'm speaking Tagalog. I have to practice more." "At least you know something," I encourage. "Yes."

"Can you translate what Parker said?" I ask quickly, glancing behind me to check if they're already coming. "I'm not sure," she says slyly, "maybe the reason why Parker spoke in Tagalog is so that you wouldn't understand." I stare at her, stunned. I don't know why I feel betrayed. Suddenly she starts l aughing. "What's funny?" I ask dryly. "Your face," she says between laughs, "it was priceless!" "Chloe!" I exclaim. And then I understand that she's just teasing me. Heaving a sigh, I say, "What did Parker say?" She bites her lip for a second and then finally tells me, "He'll talk to him." "That's it?" I ask incredulously, "he'll talk to Draky?" "Draky?" I'm so surprised of what I've heard, I forgot to change Draky's name when I talk ed. "You have name for each other," she continues, "that is so sweet!" Name for each other? Pfft. "That's nothing." I won't slip again. She purses her lips, not believing me. "What did Parker want to talk about Drake?" She shrugs. "I don't know." Our conversation ends at that because Parker and Draky enters my line of vision. They both take their seats on either side of me. I look at their face but it's like they didn't have a conversation. Perhaps they just know how to conceal thei r expressions. "Parker," I whisper, turning to my side so my back is to Draky. "What did you do ?" He looks at me innocently. "What did I do?" "Kakausapin ko lang siya." He grins sheepishly. "So you know what that means." "Of course," I say, even though Chloe helped me in figuring it out. Speaking of, she's looking between me and Parker. Maybe she's wondering if she did the right thing. I smile at her reassuringly. Parker snorts. "You just asked Chloe." "At least I know," I say confidently. "So what did you-" "You're so loud," Draky muses. Glancing at the screen, the film starts its opening credits. Parker is obviously

avoiding my questions. He's seriously watching the movie. Maybe he really likes it. "You're going to tell me later," I mutter. His mouth twitches upward. He twists in his seat and gives me a wink. I think I'll like this movie. The actor is so handsome! I can stare at his face all day without getting bored. I may not know what they're talking about but tha nkfully there's a subtitle at the bottom part of the screen. "Want some popcorn?" Draky asks. "Sure," I say putting my hand in the bucket and grabbing a handful. It's getting colder and colder. If I knew I'll watch a movie, I'll bring a jacke t. Thanks to Parker who did last minute thinking. "It's cold," I murmur to Parker. "Want me to take my shirt off?" he asks amusedly. "So you can wear it." "Ha ha," I say dryly, "funny." Twisting in my seat, I face the screen and watch, rubbing my arms to have body h eat. "Here." Looking at Draky, I see him giving me his jacket. "I'm not cold," I lie. "Really?" he asks sarcastically. Parker glances at us and says, "She's shivering." I glare at him and mouth, "Why are you doing this?" He just smiles. That traitor! Suddenly I feel Draky's arms as he puts his jacket around me. I have the urge to slap his hand away but I control myself. I have to act cool. Remember, you're playing with him. "There," he says, nodding his head in satisfaction. His jacket smells like him. It's warm, it's like I'm not even shivering a while ago. "Thank you," I mumble. "No problem." I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I see him smile before he turns to face the screen once again.

A tear escapes from my eyes without my notice. It's the part when Nam and her fr iends sing a song. It's so heart-warming! I'm glad they talk to her again. Their friendship is the kind that lasts long.

I admire Nam. She's strong, true to herself, and beautiful; even before she chan ged. Being beautiful doesn't mean you have to look good, that you have amazing p hysical features. Beauty is sincerity. It means loving what you do and being ins pired of the good things that comes to you. "Sophia's crying," Parker teases me on the part when Nam proclaims her love for P'Shone. It's so heartbreaking! Especially when he tells her that he's already with someo ne else. Isn't that hard? Loving someone for a long time secretly and then when you finally have the courage to tell them, they shut the door to your face. These are good actors; they portray the characters really well. That's why I fee l what they feel. And now I'm sobbing quietly when Nam slides on the pool. When P'Shone asks her if she's alright, she smiles and tells him that everything's fi ne. Albeit she's dying inside; her world just crashed down on her. This is so sad! My tears flow freely from my eyes. Wiping them away with the bac k of my hands, I see Draky extending his hand to me. He takes my hand and gives me a handkerchief. "Thank you," I mumble. Chloe's crying quietly too. "Girls really like this kind of movie," Parker says thoughtfully. "Yes," Draky agrees, smirking. "You guys," Chloe says, scowling at both of them. Parker puts his arms around her and wipes the tears from her eyes. Draky and I l ock gaze accidentally. Awkward. All of us are surprised when the next few scenes kes her too! He's just too sheepish to admit it! photo album all about her. And then he walks to at the doorstep because he'll go to another city . center on P'Shone. Oh my! He li Being a photographer, he made a her house and leaves the album while Nam will study in America

A few years later, they see each other again in a talk show. The host interviews Nam because she's a famous designer. All of a sudden, P'Shone comes and then sh e asks him if he's married. He says he is . . . he is waiting for someone to com e home From America. "Aww," I murmur, "wow." A big smile is plastered on my face. Unfortunately, that 's the ending of the film. The movie is so sweet, romantic and cute. I feel delighted after watching it. I think a lot of teens are inspired because of this. It may sound cheesy but I lov e it! Parker did a great job choosing this movie. The ending; it's perfect, one of a kind. "Is there a sequel?" Chloe asks, smiling from ear to ear. The movie changes the mood of everyone, leaving us with feelings of love, hope a nd inspiration. Like a blast of a cold wind, I realize something. It feels like me, before, when

I had a crush on Draky. He's famous; I'm just a simple girl. He's out of my rea ch and then now, all of a sudden, we know each other. We learned a lot of things from each other. Nam made P'Shone her inspiration to look beautiful. She studied hard because of him. So that he'll notice her. I . . . I can't believe I'm not the only one like this. No wonder they said that 89% of the people who watched the film experienc ed the same situation. It shows that there's hope for everyone. You don't know someone out there is fal ling in love with you because of you. Not because of what you look like, not bec ause of what you do, and not because of what you are. It's simply because of you . Turning my head, I find Draky staring at me. "Why are you smiling?" I ask, looki ng at him suspiciously. "What's wrong with my smile?" he asks, flicking his hair away from his eyes. Tho se blue eyes gaze at me like they can see through my soul. I squirm in my chair uncomfortably, not liking the attention he's giving me. Swa llowing the lump in my throat, I say, "It's sort of a devilishly smile." His mouth pulls upward and then he leans down to brush my hair away from my face . My heart thuds in my chest. How can he be so so so confident in touching me? It' s getting on my nerves! Removing his jacket, I hand it back to him. He accepts i t with a smile on his face. "Let's go," Parker says, "I'm starving." "Ditto," Chloe agrees. We talk about the movie while walking towards McDonald's. Parker and Draky are s o annoying, teasing Chloe and me for crying because of a movie. "Didn't I say you'll like it?" Parker says smugly. "Yeah, yeah," I say, "I like it. Done fishing for compliments?" And then I remem ber that I have to talk to him. Grabbing his arm, I stop him from walking furthe rmore. "What?" he asks. "I need answers." Chloe and Draky stops walking and they look at us questioningly. "We'll follow soon," I say, nodding my head, signaling that they should continue walking. Draky is still standing, his hands inside his pockets. Thankfully, Chloe tugs hi s arm and they both move forward. "So?" I ask when they're out of hearing range. "What did you tell him?" "That you like him." "You . . . you told. . . him. What?" I stutter.

His mouth pulls upward. "I didn't tell him anything." "Parker!" "Why are you curious?" he asks. "You like him, don't you?" "How many times do I have to tell you that I don't like him?" I grumble, "I'm no t even interested." "Why do you keep asking what I told him then?" he retorts. "Because it's my business," I mutter. "You'll find out soon enough," he says, tugging at my arm to start walking. "If he takes my advice," he mutters under his breath. "What do you mean?" He playfully zips his lips and throws away the key. Sighing, I let the topic go. Parker can't be budge. I learned it from experience . I just want to know what he told Draky because I have a feeling it's about me. We find Chloe and Draky sitting on a booth beside a window. It's already 4 in th e afternoon. Time sure moves fast when you're having fun. We stayed at McDonald's until six in the evening. We talk about how's college li fe, my high school, and everything in between. At the parking lot, I hug Parker tightly. "I'll miss you so much," I say. "I'll miss you too," he replies, "I'll visit soon." "I'll wait for it." My eyes are starting to water at the corner but I do my best to hold them. Chloe and I hug too. In the limited time we have, it feels like she's my sister. "Thank you," I say. "Thank you too," she returns, smiling at me. Parker gives Draky a meaningful look. "Take care of her." "Parker!" I scold. Draky ignores me and says, "I will." "See you soon," Chloe says, smiling amusedly. "Yeah," I say with a sigh. Before I forgot, I give my gifts to them. They are both surprised and overwhelmed at the same time. "Thank you," they say simultaneously. And then we hug each other again because we're not yet ready to say goodbye. In the end, Draky and I watch them leave in Parker's friend's car. And that's when a thought hit me. "I don't have a ride!"

Draky snickers. "I'm here." "Oh well." As soon as we get in, he starts the engine of his car. It's starting to get dark outside. Stars are slowly showing from the sky. I can't wait to go home and ask Aunt V about my parents. "There's a place I want you to see," Draky says, snapping me out of my reverie. "Where are we going?" I ask curiously. "Don't tell me it's one of your secret pl aces." His mouth twitches upward. "Sort of." I really am curious now. I didn't know he has a lot of secret places. He's very different of what I think about him. Is this his true self, or is he just preten ding? It's hard to fathom especially when I don't really know him. He stops the car on a secluded part of the road, beside a river. "Let's go," he says, unbuckling his seatbelt and sliding out of the car. I follow and stand beside him, looking at the beauty in front of us. Across the river are different colors of lights emanating from the buildings in the city. I can't believe this kind of place exists. "This is amazing," I breathe. "Wait," he says, "it's not even starting yet." "What?" "You'll see," he says slyly. The sky is cloudless so the stars are visible tonight. The moon is shining brigh tly. "Do you want to sit?" he asks. "Where?" "Here," he indicates, tapping the hood of his car. "Come on." He puts his hands on my waist and helps me up. Finally I'm sitting on his car, m y feet outstretch in front of me. Boom! A loud sound makes me startle. Glancing up, I see different kinds and colors of fireworks starts to engulf the sky, giving it with colorful lights beside the st ars and the moon. "Wonderful," I say slowly, staring at the different fireworks above and in front of me. The sound of every fireworks make my heart beat fast. This something precious should be shared with someone special. This is a magical night. There are already lights across the river; the stars are twinkling in th e sky and now the fireworks who add more beauty to it. What more can I ask for? Even the wind is not cold. It goes with the mood tonight. It's like when the end

ing of a fairytale. When the prince and the princess live happily ever after, fi reworks start to show in the sky. What am I thinking? I don't even believe in fairytales. Maybe I did, when I was a kid. Now? I know real world. It's not just about finding your prince charming and then happily ever after. It's so far from that. Nothing stays forever; even the fireworks stops after a few minutes, leaving the sky with fog and cloud smoke. "There are always fireworks here every Saturday, at 7 in the evening," Draky sta tes. "Draky," I start, "why did you bring me here?" "Look!" he exclaims, pointing upward. "There's a shooting star!" Glancing at the sky, I don't see any shooting star anywhere. "You just want to c ha-" He leans down and gives me a peck on the cheek. It takes a second for me to realize what happened. What he'd done. "How de-dare you," I stutter, "You stole a . . . a kiss!" He grins, showing his perfect white teeth. "Let me take it back if you don't wan t it," he says, leaning down again. Before he can kiss me again, I put my hands on my cheeks. "Why did you do that?" I demand. My heart is drumming painfully in my chest. It's so loud, there's a buzzing soun d in my ears. Why doesn't it beat normally? It's as if waiting for another kiss, which is stupid! "You kissed me the other night," he says, "without my permission." "But that's for a thank you!" The blood is rushing to my cheeks in slow motion, making my face scarlet. He raises his eyebrows and takes a sit beside me on the hood of his car. I hope it will break down. Wait! That means I'll be stuck with him again. "Think of it as a thank you then," he says. "For what?" I ask, scowling at him. "For everything," he says softly, leaning down again to smooth my frowning eyebr ows. He is so good at this game. In the meanwhile, I don't make much more progress. U gh! I should make him fall in love with me, not the other way around. Based on w hat I'm doing, I'm clearly ignoring him! I don't know what to do. I don't have an- Aha! Why don't I copy his every move? I feel excited and nervou s at the thought. Let's see if I'm good at acting. Scooting closer to him, I feel his body stiffen beside me. Finally, our arms are touching. If my heart is beating loudly before, it's having a somersault right

now, beating wildly in my chest. I have to do this to win! Swallowing nervously, I move my fingers and trail it d own to his hand. They're kind of shaky but I continue it up to his arm. "What are you doing?" he asks. The sound of his voice is different. Very differe nt. "Don't you like it?" I murmur. "Do you want me to stop?" I make my voice kind of sexy. I bite my lip to stop the smile threatening to form on my lips. Draky shakes his head. That just makes me confused. Tilting my head to the side, I ask, "Stop or not?" "Not," he murmurs, pulling me towards him and putting his arms around me. He bru shes my hair absent mindedly. "Your hair is so soft." A shiver runs down my body. "Thank you," I whisper. Oh goodness! What am I getti ng myself into? I have to be honest. I like the feel of his arms around me. It's strong, reassur ing and warm. I miss this feeling, being in someone's arm, leaning on his should er. . . A thought comes to my mind in that second; I think I'm starting to lull Drake Sw ift into my charm.

***** Finally, I put some Filipino words in the story! I always wanted to do that :) T here'll be more scenes that will happen in the story that's kind of based from P hilippines' culture. ~~~The "Beauty is sincerity" is from Taylor Swift. She said that in Youtube Pres ents. Thank you so much! <3

******************************************* [34] The Bet *Twisted Mind ******************************************* ALL TIME LOW will have a concert here in the Philippines on September 22 *Drake' s birthday*. I want to watch them. Unfortunately, my friends aren't interested : ( This is short but I hope you like it. Click the external link for my interview b y Watty-Writers :) The song is Walls by ATL. Banner by CreativeSideOfLife. <3

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 33 Part 1 *Twisted Mind*

~Drake

"Pie," I whisper, touching her delicate face. "You have to wake up now." Her head is resting on my shoulder. Her hair is soft and silky, it's so good to the touch. Her breathing is so quiet, like a bird singing on the sky. After a few hours of driving, we finally arrive at Andres' house. Pie's tired so she sleeps while I was driving. "Pie," I murmur. Why am I talking quietly if I want to wake her up? Why don't I just nudge her to get it over with? It's because you want to see her face while she's sleeping. She looks like an angel that comes down from heaven. She looks so peaceful and s erene. I can't believe I'm hurting her because of a bet. I don't even know what day is it anymore. Eleven? Ten? I don't know when I stop caring. It's Saturday so that means it's the tenth day. A lot has happened already. It's not even two weeks yet. My conscience is burning inside me. I feel guilty for doing this to her. She doe sn't deserve it. She doesn't deserve someone like me in her life; a guy that jus t go with her because of a stupid game. How can I be so shallow? I'm a horrible person for doing this to her. Why don't you just stop? That makes me pause, putting my mind into a blank sheet of paper. If I stop, wha t then? I don't even know if I'm doing this to win. I'm so confused! A relations hip that starts from a lie will end up"Draky?" Pie mumbles, interrupting me from my reverie. She rubs her eyes and sit s slowly. "Where are we?" "Andre's," I answer, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Oh." She stretches her arms in front of her. "I fell asleep." "Yes." She yawns. "I still want to sleep." Why am I nervous now that she's awake? My mind thinks back of the time I kissed her cheek. Why did I do that? I don't know. What I know is, at that time, I have to do it. Something was urging me to do it. And now, I feel stupid for stealing a kiss. I should just have asked her. But there's a chance that she would decline. Why am I thinking about these thing s? It already happened. There's nothing I can do about it. Anyway, I don't regre t it. Why would I regret kissing a beautiful girl with a golden heart? "What time is it?" she asks, smoothing down her hair. "Ten," I answer.

She sighs. "I'll ask Auntie tomorrow morning. Maybe she's fast asleep now." "Yeah." She takes her seatbelt off. "Thank you," she murmurs. "For what?" "For today. For tonight. For everything." Something tugs at my heartstrings. I am guilty all over again. Why do I feel thi s way? One thing I'm sure of is that I'm not doing everything for the bet. I'm"Daydreaming again." The corner of her mouths pulls upward. A smile makes its way on my face. "When will you tutor me?" "When do you want?" "Tomorrow?" I suggest. "Whoa you really like seeing me huh," she comments teasingly. "No," I deny quickly. "So you're saying that you don't want to see me tomorrow?" She asks, tilting her head to the side. "It's not that," I say, "maybe you'll do something important and I don't want to bother you." "I'll text you then," she says cheekily. "Okay," I agree. "Goodnight Draky," she says. "Sweet dreams Pie." She leans to me slowly. Her breath tickles my cheek. Our faces are just a few in ches apart. When I think she's about to put a kiss on my lips, she opens the doo r and slides out of the car. She looks at me mischievously through the window an d mouths, "Expecting for a kiss?" She sticks her tongue at me and makes her way inside the house, leaving me staring at her retreating figure. That girl has a hold on me. I can't even explain it; the way she makes me feel. It's so bizarre, nothing I experienced before. So what am I going to do now? I'll just probably continue what I'm doing until I get bored and find something interesting. I'll think about it later. Now I have to think of a plan on what am I going to do in Pie's birthday. I start the engine of the car and drive home. It's like a fast forward because t he next thing I know, I'm outside the house and searching for the key in my pock ets. Putting it to the doorknob, I walk inside. There's a noise coming from the kitch en so I go to that direction. Rounding the corner, I see my mom rummaging in the fridge.

"Mom," I say. She jumps and accidentally drops the apple she's holding. Picking it up, she tur ns to me and says, "You scared me." "I didn't mean to," I say amusedly, "why are you still awake?" "I don't want to sleep yet. Have you eaten? Do you want me to prepare something? " "No," I say, with a shake of my head. "I'm not hungry." Even though its a few hours ago since I last ate, my stomach is still full; full of butterflies. "Okay," says my mom, washing the apple on the sink and sits on the stool. "How w as your day?" "Fine," I reply. "That's good," she says, nodding her head. "What about school?" Uh oh. I haven't made a progress yet. I'm glad I asked Pie about the tutorial le sson a while ago. What am I going to"Drake," mom says, snapping me from my thoughts. "Are you really okay?" "Yes," I say quickly. "I'm studying for next month's exam." I'm sorry for lying mom. I really am. Anyway, I'll study after a few days. Mom sighs and pretends to believe me. "I'm tired. I'm going to sleep now." "Goodnight mom." "Goodnight Drake." After mom goes to her bedroom, I decide to sleep as well. This is such a tiring day. I feel exhausted and happy at the same time. Staring at the ceiling, lying on my bed, I wait for sleep to come. I don't know how many minutes or hours have passed but I still can't fall asleep. It's so fru strating when your mind is thinking incomprehensible thoughts while your body wa nts to rest. After a few minutes of contemplating on what to do, I get up from my bed and sit on my desk. Opening my laptop and turning it on, I wait for a couple of seconds before it starts up. The clock shows that it's midnight. Maybe someone is still online. I sign in my skype account and wait for it to process my email and pass word. No one's online! Seriously, what are they doing?! Minimizing my skype, I open an other window, type youtube.com and click enter. Time to listen to music. It helps me forget my problems, and listening to a song can make me sleep. The first band that comes to my mind is All Time Low. When t he Walls play, I put my headphone and sing along with Alex. I'm gonna break down these walls I built around myself. I wanna fall so in love with you and no one else-

Blink! Someone's calling me from skype. Clicking it, I see that it's Andre. "Hey," he says, when I answer it. "What's up?" It's a video call so I can see him. "How was it?" he asks, tilting his head to the side. "It was. . ." I pause, finding the right word. "Great," I say finally. "What did you do?" he asks. "You didn't know they'll go there right?" "Yeah," I say, "I was surprised when I saw them. My plan was to buy a gift for S ophia." "And then you saw them so until now you don't have a gift," he says amusedly. "I still have two days," I mutter, rolling my eyes. "Right. So what did you do?" "Watch a movie, eat, and then. . ." I trail off. "And then?" he probes. "Go home," I lie. "That's it?" he asks dubiously. "Well, Parker told me something," I say slyly. "About?" "Sophia," I answer. "What about her?" he asks curiously. "He told me what I have to do to make her fall in love with me." His eyes widen. "Really?" he asks incredulously. The talk with Parker was . . . I can't find the right words to explain it. He ga ve me a lot of suggestions on how to make Pie fall in love with me. I was shock at first. I didn't know why he was doing it and then he told me that he thinks P ie and I are perfect for each other. I was like, seriously? I couldn't believe it! It e player of the game, was ie. If I continue to play fraid of Parker, but I. . m. was a man to man talk. He was sure about it. And I, th awestruck. He even threatened to come back if I hurt P the game, I will surely cause her pain. Not that I'm a . I learn to respect him in the limited time I know hi

Will I tell Andre all the details? He's my best friend so I think its okay. "He said that-" Knock. Knock. Knock.

******************************************* [35] The Bet *Secret and Lies ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 33 Part 2 *Secret and Lies* ~Drake

"Tsk," I mutter. "What?" Andre asks, furrowing his eyebrows. "Someone's knocking," I answer, "I'll call you later." "I'll just wait," he says quickly, before I can sign out. "Whatever," I say, rolling my eyes. He really wants to know what Parker and I talked about. Taking my headphones off , I get up from my seat and walk hastily towards the door. I wonder who's knocki ng. Who will it be? It's the middle of the night! Opening the door, I see my fat her, still in his suit, standing awkwardly at the other side of the door. "What?" I ask, breaking the silence that forms into a thin ice. "I heard you talking," he says, putting his hands in his pockets. "Is there some one with you in your room?" "I'm alone," I mutter a bit defensively. Does he think that I brought a girl wit h me? I'm not stupid! "So you're talking to yourself?" he asks bemusedly, tilting his head to the side . "I was talking to Andre," I say furiously, walking out of my room and shutting t he door behind me. My respect for him dimmed a little since I learned his secret. The secret that c hanged my life. The secret that puts a hole in me. The secret that"Drake," he says, interrupting my thoughts, "I'm sorry about-" "I don't want to talk about it," I interject, crossing my arms over my chest. He sighs and puts his hand on my shoulder hesitantly. I fight the urge to slap i t away. Gritting my teeth, I try to breathe normally. Why can't he leave me alon e? I don't want to face him because images from the past comes rushing back. I s hove them at the back of my mind. "Drake," he starts again, "I made a lot of mistakes, and now I'm paying for them . Mistakes are experiences to learned from." "They are still mistakes," I mutter scornfully. "I regret them," he admits, looking away from me. Regret them? "That's a shame," I utter, "because you shouldn't have done that in

the first place." "I'm still your father," he says disapprovingly, taking his hand off my shoulder . I bite my tongue before I can say: Then act like it! Do you know the feeling when you want to shout but you can't because you have to control your feelings? It's what I'm experiencing right now. "You should respect me," he continues. "Respect?" I repeat incredulously, widening my eyes for emphasis that I can't be lieve what he said. "Respect is not just something you give easily. Respect is e arned." His eyes that are the color of the ocean, the same shade as mine, are staring at me intently. "I understand why you're acting like this," he replies quietly. "Well thank you," I say sarcastically. I can't control my emotions when I'm anno yed. I'm just like this when he's near. "I learned from my mistakes. I hope you won't repeat them." "I won't," I snap. "I'm sorry," he says quickly, looking worried because of the damage of the words he said, "I didn't mean-" "Stop," I order. My voice is kind of shaky because of the anger I feel inside me . "I'm sick of your sorry. I don't want to hear it again. No matter what you do, I won't forget what you did." He's clearly taken aback by my words. He wipes the sweat on his forehead and say s, "I hope you can forgive me." "Only time will tell," I mutter. "I miss talking to you, son," he whispers. At that, he turns his back to me and walks towards his room he shares with my mo m. I am like a robot, going inside my room without feeling anything. "Who's that?" Andre asks as soon as I put my headphones. "My father," I answer methodically. I can't even call him dad since I knew it. It's incomprehensible. I can't call h im dad anymore. I don't even know if I can. "Is something wrong?" Andre asks, studying my face through the screen. "Nothing." "You haven't talked about your dad like before," he observes. "There's nothing to talk about."

Andre used to spend time with my father and me before I learned my father's secr et. Andre's dad died when he needed him most. It's the start of being a teenager . He visited us every now and then and talked to my father about boy's stuff and other things. Sometimes I joined their conversation but most of the time, I jus t listened. He also talked about business. Andre's already intelligent at a youn g age. He studied more when his dad died because he knows he will be the one to manage their business in the future. My father who was my hero, the person I looked up to, who would have thought he' d do something like that? Not me, his child. Being a sensible man, he has an ima ge to build. Fortunately for him, I'm the only one who knows his secret. Of course, I won't tell. I don't like my family to get hurt as much as I did whe n I found out. Now I'm still having nightmares about it. I don't want them to ex perience those things. "Hey!" I flinch at the shout of Andre. The volume is up, it's so loud, and I almost rip my headphones off my ears. "What?" I ask, shooting him a glare. "You were so deep in thought," he states, staring at me like I'm from another pl anet, "you don't look like you've listen to the words I said in the past few min utes." "I was just thinking," I explain. "About?" "About what Parker told me," I lie. "Uh huh," Andre chants, wiggling his eyebrows. I don't know if he believes me or not. I'm glad we strayed away from the topic o f my father. "So what did Parker say?" "Something about their culture in the Philippines," I answer. "Did you know he's half Asian?" His brows furrow in concentration. "The thought that he's Asian came to my mind, " he says thoughtfully. "How?" I ask dubiously. "Because of the color of his hair." "That's it?" It's just the color of his hair? "The hair colors of Asian are different from the usual dark hair here," he says dryly. "And there's something in his eyes that makes him unique. But I didn't kn ow for sure so I let that thought go. It's a shame I didn't tell him myself. If I know he's Asian, I'll ask him a lot about where he came from." "He's from Philippines," I repeat. "You're not paying attention!" "I know he's from Philippines," he retorts.

With this talk about Parker, I remember our first meeting. When I thought he hur t Pie. And then my imagination ran wild, daydreaming that I fought with him. I l augh at the memory, not believing that I did that. "What's funny?" Andre asks warily, looking at me like I'm crazy. Maybe I am because I'm laughing all by myself, after arguing with my father. "No thing," I say between chuckles, "I just had a nostalgic funny memory." He shakes his head slowly and asks, "What did Parker tell you about their cultur e?" "He taught me some Filipino words," I say smugly. "Whoa!" he exclaims, clearly amazed. "He's really rooting for you to be with Sop hia." "I know, right." "What would he do when he finds out that you're just playing with her emotions," he wonders aloud. I cringe inwardly. When I act and do something, I don't think about the bet anym ore than before. "What else?" he asks curiously. "I don't like talking about it over the internet," I say, not in the mood to tal k. "Why is that?" "I'll just tell you tomorrow," I say evasively, "besides, I want to sleep now." He glowers at me. "You made me wait for nothing!" "I didn't tell you to wait," I say amusedly. "Before you sleep," he says quickly, "you have to answer this question." "Let's see," I reply, smirking slowly. "Will you still con-" Knock. Knock. "Why can't they leave me alone?!" "What?" Andre asks, confused. "Someone's at the door," I grumble, "again." It's kind of ironic and funny because there are a lot of interruptions going on here. "Your dad?" he guesses. "I doubt it," I mutter, remembering his facial expression earlier. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"But you haven't answered my question yet!" "Tomorrow," I repeat, "Got to go." Knock. Knock. So impatient. Signing out my skype, I turn off the laptop and close it. Getting up from the se at, I make my way towards the door and open it. "Hi," Driana says. "What do you want?" I ask. "I heard you talking-" "I'm alone," I tell her, repeating what I said to my father a while ago. "I was talking to Andre earlier." "Oh," she murmurs, twisting her fingers nervously. "Why are you here?" I think it's something important because it's the middle of the night. She's just not here to greet me a goodnight. "I heard you talking to dad," she admits. "You listened?" I accuse. "Of course not," she says indignantly, scowling at me. "I woke up because of you r loud voices." "Sorry about that." I forgot that her room is across from mine. I have to be car eful next time. "That's okay," she says, shrugging it off. "Did you two have a fight?" "No," I say, with a shake of my head. "You're lying," she says matter of fact. "How do you know that?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at her. "I just know," she states, putting her hands on her hips. "Remember, we're twins ?" Why is she asking these things? She can't know! I have to do something to stop t his talk. "Thanks for reminding me," I taunt, "I forgot." "And you're dodging the topic," she says, ignoring the tone of my voice. "I'm not," I insist. I'm getting impatient. If a wrong word comes out of my mout h, I'll be doomed. "If you don't want to tell me, I'll do everything I can to find out about it," s he threatens. You're better off not knowing!

She's your twin; she has a right to know. "Whatever," I say to both of them. "You'll just waste your time because it's not hing." "If it's nothing, you won't hide it." She doesn't want to budge! Maybe because she heard something. She heard what my father and I talked about, that's why she wants to know all the details. "Do whatever you want," I say evasively. "I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight Dria na." "Goodnight!" She storms off to her room and closes the door behind her. Walking inside my room, I hope no one will interrupt me again. I don't have ener gy to open the door anymore. Yesterday I was happy, today. . . I'll start my tod ay when I wake up. It's funny how your life can turn upside down in a matter of minutes. Laying on my bed and closing my eyes, I ask God to frogive me for my sins and to help me bury the secret in a deep pit.

***** I'm so happy ~ The Bet is 100 pages already :D :) :> =] The song is All I Want by A Day To Remember. The sketch on the side was made by Tintinz Awesme Mangsat :) Please like the Facebook page. Thank you! ******************************************* [36] The Bet *Pretender and Believer ******************************************* I'm so happy! :D Thank you so much for all your comments, especially on the last chapter. As in, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart =) The song is Chasing Pavements by Adele. Banner by CreativeSideOfLife :> Follow me on Twitter! My username is KimberlyJoyRV . I follow back :) Let's hope I can update again on Drake's birthday.

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 34 *Pretender and Believer ~Sophia

"Good morning Sophia."

"Good morning Andre," I return. He's giving me a calculating look and studying my face very carefully. Is there something on my face? I don't like it when people stare at me like there's somet hing wrong with me. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask finally. "I'm not staring at you," he denies quickly. Scowling, I try to ignore him. It's quite hard, considering we're sitting across from each other. He's so like Draky! His lips are threatening to form into a sm ile. He has a funny secret only he knows. After a few seconds, my patience pays off. Aunt V walks inside the dining room, carrying a plate with eggs on her hands. She puts it on the table with the bread , bacon and muffins. "Sophia," she says, taking a seat beside Andre, "I haven't seen you yesterday an d last Friday night." I heave a sigh. Of course she wants to know where I've been because she's respon sible for me, now I'm living in their house. And because my parents asked her to look after me. "I'm sorry," I start, "I should have told you right away." "We were worried," she says, frowning, "we didn't know where you were. I'm glad nothing happened to you and Drake." She knows about Draky and me. Perhaps Andre told her so she wouldn't worry that much. "I went to our house last Friday," I say, "my parents weren't there. Some of the ir clothes were gone." Aunt V looks away from me and sips her coffee. Andre is glancing between me and his mom, clearly not know what's going on. "Auntie-" "The food will get cold," she interrupts, "we have to eat now." "Mom," Andre says, looking uneasily at me, "what's happening?" Why is he joining in our conversation? "Auntie, I have a right to know." My voic e is stupidly shaking. I don't want to cry. I don't want to cry. "I'm their daug hter." "Mom," Andre repeats. "Did something happen to them?" I ask, panic rising in my throat. "Calm down," Aunt V says in a soothing voice, "everything's alright." "Why aren't they here then?" "Because they are doing something important," she says evasively.

"Why don't you just tell her?" Andre suggests. Aunt V gives him a pointed look. "They should be the one to tell you Sophia." Maybe my mom forced her not to tell me. "They're not even calling me," I mutter, wiping the sweat on my forehead. "And I've been here for a week already." I want to go home. Even though I don't know where that is anymore. I don't know what's happening here. I don't know where my life is taking me. I hate this feel ing. I want to go back before, when there aren't any complications; even if it m eans going back to the time when my parents are fighting. Aunt V is nice and kind, but she's still stranger. She's not really my family. I shut my mouth tight before I can scream in frustration. "They'll come back after a few days," Aunt V says, concern written on her face. "A few more days?" I repeat dubiously. My head falls to my hands. I can't take this anymore. I feel the sob starting to build; it will suffocate me until I let it out and cry. "Don't you like it here?" Aunt V asks softly. Andre has a pained expression on his face. It's hard to know what he is thinking . Aunt V stretches her hand towards me and takes my hand, squeezing it gently. "I like it here," I say honestly. "You're nice and generous and you make me feel welcome in your home." "But?" Andre prompts. "How do you know there's a but?" I ask curiously. Tears are burning at the back of my eyes, threatening to spill at unexpected tim es. "Because it's obvious," he states, "the way you said it." Swallowing the lump in my throat, I ignore Andre and turn to Aunt V. "I want to see my parents," I continue, "I want to get answers. I want to know what's going on." "You'll know when they come back," she assures me. "Why not know?" Andre asks after chewing his muffin. He's the only one who can e at in a situation like this. Aunt V scowls at him and says, "It's not good to break a promise. Besides, it's right to know the reason from them." It's not good to break a promise. A phrase my mom is always using. Why is Aunt V so stubborn? She's like my mom! When she said something, it's fina l, she can't be budge. No wonder she and Aunt V are best friends. They have a lo t of things in common.

"When they come back," Aunt V continues, "everything will go back to normal." I look at her doubtfully, having a hard time believing her. "No more fighting," she mouths. Unpredictably, a hysterical kind of laugh escapes from my mouth. So she knows th ey're fighting. Of course mom told her. I just can't believe I'm not the only on e who knows. Aunt V smiles, pleased that she makes me laugh in this horrible day. "Let's eat, " she declares, "I'm starving." And so we eat, dropping the topics that are hurtful and unnecessary. "I have a business meeting today," Aunt V says after a minute. "It's Sunday," Andre mutters. She shrugs. "It's important. And you now you can't ignore big deals." "Oh well," Andre murmurs, "I'm going out too." "Where will you go?" she asks, raising her eyebrows. "I have a date." I almost spit the water I'm drinking. Fortunately, I swallow it before it can co me out of my mouth and embarrass me. "Why are you surprise?" Andre asks me. "I don't know," I blurt out without thinking. Of course he has a romantic life. Why did I forget it? Well, it's not as if it's important. And as if I care about him. "Why don't you just cancel your date?" Aunt V suggests. "What?" Andre exclaims, slapping his hand on the table impulsively. "Sophia will be alone in the house-" "Do you want me to stay?" Andre asks, cutting off his mom's next words. "That's okay," I say quickly, "I don't mind." I'd rather be alone than be with Andre, and besides I don't want to ruin his dat e. "Are you sure?" Aunt V asks. "Yes," I answer. "I'm just going to do my homework." Even though I already finis hed it earlier, before coming down for breakfast. "Okay," she says, albeit she's not satisfied. "Just leave the dishes, I'll wash them later." "Auntie," I say, not bothering to roll my eyes, "I'll take care of them."

"No, I-" "I have a lot of time in my hands," I interject. "If you say so," she says, smiling. Aunt V goes to work after that. Andre asks if he can help on washing the dishes but I decline his offer. I think he walks to his room and get ready for his date . Meanwhile, I go to the kitchen and wash the dirty plates and glasses. After th at, I make my way to my room and lay on the bed; trying to think of nothing. "Sophia?" Andre calls, knocking at my door. "Come in," I say, sitting at the edge of my bed. He opens the door and walks inside my room. He's wearing casual clothes, which r eally good looks on him. His green polo shirt emphasizes his green eyes. I wonde r who he's date is. I haven't seen him in school with a girl with him. "I'll go now." "Okay," I say, "enjoy!" "Thanks," he mutters, looking embarrassed. "I'll just lock the door from the out side." He gets out of my room and after a few seconds, I hear the shutting of th e front door and the engine of his car until it fades into nothing. And now I'm all alone in the house. I don't know where to go. I don't know what to do. An idea suddenly pops into my head. Why don't I just text Draky and tell him tha t I'll tutor him? Besides, he asked me yesterday if I'm free today. So that we c an be done with it. And anyway, I might be busy next week. Grabbing my cell phone, I type: Want me to tutor you today? Its a few minutes before he replies: Are you sure you're not busy today? I roll my eyes and type: Will I text you if I am? I'll be there as soon as possible. Bring your books and notes. What else? What else? What else should he bring? I can't think of anything. Nothing. See you then. Okay. I always want to have the last word.

I'm too nice for his own good. Even though I know he's just playing a game on me , I'm still willing to help him. I decide to just wait for him in the library. I bring The Time Traveler's Wife b ecause it's a good book to pass the time. Draky has a key of this house so I tex t him to go here when he arrives. He comes in after ten minutes, carrying a backpack on his hand. "Hi Pie," he says. "Hello Draky," I return. We put all his notebooks and books on top of the table and sit side by side. We start with Literature first. Until now, he's not yet done reading A Midsummer Ni ght's Dream. "What are you doing in your free time?" I scold. "I spend my free time thinking about you," he admits. "I. .. uh," I stutter. Ugh! I hate him! Why is he so good at playing his game?! I put my book closer to my face so that he can't see the blush starting to flood on my cheeks. Is there some kind of medicine to stop the blush from coming in? I hear him snicker which means he can see it. "Just read, don't talk!" "Yes Ma'am," he says playfully, his mouth twitching and forming into a smirk. The loud sound of the doorbell breaks our concentration from studying. Draky and I look at each other at the same time. "Open the door and see who's at the other side," I order. "I'm just a guest," he says amusedly, "and you're living here. I think you're th e one who should open the door." I look at him incredulously. Are there still gentlemen today? Chivalry is slowly fading. To my disbelief, he laughs. He's even clutching his stomach! "What's funny?" I ask dryly. "Your face," he says while laughing. "You should . . haha . .have seen it! It's a shame . . haha I didn't brought a camera haha . . with me." "Fine!" I stand up, but before I can take a step away from him, he grabs my arm. My eyes widen when I see that we're standing so close. How can he move so fast? It's hard to swallow when you're nervous. It's hard to breathe when he's close t o me. My heart is thudding painfully in my chest whenever he's near me. It's lik e its want to get out of me. Taking a step back, he mimics my move until my back connects with a wall. Uh oh.

What now? "What do you want?" I ask. If he's thinking I'm afraid of him and I'll back out, he's wrong. Really wrong. He lets go of my arm and puts his hands on my face. "You shouldn't frown," he sa ys, touching my eyebrows, "you don't know someone is-" Ding. Dong. Draky lets go of me slowly and walks outside the library to open the front door. I let out the breath I don't know I'm holding. My knees are shaking beneath me s o I sit on the floor. Draky is so stupid to make me feel this way! I hate it! I don't know what might happen if the person on the other side of the door didn't push the doorbell. I'm afraid that I'm changing because of Draky. And now I'm curious about what he said earlier. You don't know some isWhat?! I feel so tired, I hug my knees tightly, close to my body. I have to remember that everything he says and do is for the bet. Nothing more, nothing less. If there's someone that will be hurt at the end, it's him; not me. "Pie!" he calls. His voice comes from the living room. "What?" I ask loudly so he can hear me. "You have to come here!" Why do I still have to go there if he already opens the door? "Pie!" "I'm coming!" I yell, getting up from the floor and making my way to the living room. "What?" I ask irritably, and stop suddenly when I see a woman beside him, a few years older than me, carrying a baby boy in her hands. "Hello," she says, smiling at me. The baby boy waves his hand at me. "He's so cute," I murmur, walking towards them. "Oh, and hi," I say to the woman , smiling sheepishly. In the corner of my eyes, I see Draky rolling his eyes. "Sophia," he says, "this is Xyrielle, Auntie's sister. Xyrielle, this is Sophia, a family's friend." He surely doesn't know how to introduce people formally. "Nice meeting you Sophia," Xyrielle says. She looks a young version of Aunt V. M aybe when she's her age, this is what Aunt V looks like. "This is Rain," she con tinues, "my son." "How old is he?" I ask. I like babies. They smell nice after taking a bath. They look like angels to me.

Well, except when they cry. They are unpredictable too. One second you're playi ng with them and then the next they want your full attention. "He's one year and five months old," Xyrielle answers. "Hello Rain," I murmur. He reaches his hands towards me and grabs a hold of my hair. "Ow!" Draky's mouth twitches upward, finding this scene amusing. "Sorry," Xyrielle says, opening Rain's hands. Unfortunately, he's holding too ti ght. It hurts! It's like my scalp will be remove from my head. After a few seconds of torture, Rain finally lets go. "Sorry," Xyrielle repeats, holding Rain's hands before he can hurt me again. "It's okay," I say, even though my head is throbbing painfully when I touch it. Maybe I don't like babies that much after all. Draky stands beside me and puts h is hand on my shoulder. "What are you doing?!" "Are you two together?" Xyrielle asks amusedly, glancing between Draky and me. "Of course not," I say, at the same time Draky says, "Yes." Xyrielle opens her mouth to say something when Rain cries. "Why did you say that?" I mutter, glaring at him. "I want to see how you would react," he replies, tilting his head to the side. "Don't do it again," I chastise. "It's not funny." "It's not funny," he mimics, smiling playfully. "I have a favor to ask," Xyrielle says interrupting Draky and me. Rain stops cry ing because he's now playing with his teether. "What?" Draky asks, raising his eyebrow. "I asked Veronica yesterday if she can take care of Rain while I meet with my bu siness partners," she says, frowning, "and now she's not here." "Maybe she forgot," I guess. "Where's Rain babysitter?" "She asked for a day off," she answers, "I agreed because I thought my sister wo uld take care of Rain." "Oh," I murmur. "It's really important," she says with a sigh, "but because no one is available

to take care of Rain. . ." I want to help her because she seems nice. And she looks a lot like Aunt V. Rain is cute and he reminds me of Matt. I want to take care of him even though he's kind of like playing with my hair. "I'll take care of him," I say before I can think twice. "Really?" Xyrielle asks hopefully. "Yes." Draky is gaping at me, looking alarmed, and not believing what I said. Maybe he doesn't like babies. Unfortunately for him, he has to help me take care of Rain. ******************************************* [37] The Bet *Keep An Eye ******************************************* This is supposed to be long but I have to organize my things for our Field Trip tomorrow, so I decided to cut chapter 35 in two parts. The song is Love Life by He Is We. They're amazing! :) Banners by CreativeSideOf Life.

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 35 Part 1 *Keep An Eye ~Sophia

"Pie." "Draky." "Why did you do that?" he says disapprovingly, as soon as Xyrielle walks out of the house. "What do you want?" I ask, "Leave Rain all by himself?" "It's not that," he says, scowling at the floor. "What is it then?" I challenge. "Never mind," he mutters. Rain pulls my hair to get my attention. "What baby?" I murmur, tightening my hold on him because he might fall from my g rasp. "Ma. . . ma," he says. "He's searching for his mother," Draky says obviously. "What will we do when he starts to cry?" "Give him his milk," I suggest.

"What if he doesn't like it?" "Then we'll do something about it if it happens." He grumbles something under his breath, and then asks, "Why did they name him Ra in?" "Maybe it was raining when he was born," I guess. "What if it was hot at that time, would they name him Sonny?" "I don't have an idea," I say warily, and then I ask him, "What are we going to do now?" "Can you still tutor me?" "Yes," I answer, "Let's go back to the library." Draky carries Rain's things and then we make our way towards the library. He res umes reading A Midsummer Night's Dream as Rain pulls my hair and plays with it. It's not as hard as before so I let him do it. Besides, I don't want him to cry. Rain's speaking baby words that I don't understand. He's so cute. He looks like a baby angel. When my arms start to feel stiff, I put him on my lap. He crawls towards Draky t hen. "Take him off me," he says, pushing Rain to me. "Don't you like him?" I ask, carrying Rain again. "I can't concentrate on this," he mutters, not answering my question. Rolling my eyes, I tell him, "We're not loud, you're just easily distracted." Rain stretches his hand to Draky. "See?" I say, "He likes you, even though you don't like him." "I didn't say I don't like him," he mutters. "It looks like it," I say obviously. Rain frowns at Draky because he doesn't want to get him from me. "Don't worry Rain," I say, "he's just jealous because you're much cuter than him ." Draky barks out a laugh. He's even slapping the table while doing so. Rain joins him, copying Draky's moves. He has a nice laugh; a silvery kind of laugh that r eminds me of Matt. Oh God, I miss him so much. Closing my eyes, I hug Rain tighter, imagining him a s my little brother. Babies are so"You think. . haha. . that Rain . . haha. . is cuter than me?" Draky asks whi le laughing.

"Of course," I reply. "Oh come on," he says, shaking his head, "it's like you're saying he'd rather be your boyfriend than me." "What?" I ask incredulously. "What are you talking about?" Draky quickly snaps his mouth shut. "What?" I repeat. I kind of know what he's thinking and talking about. Perhaps he's acting on his plan on how to make me fall in love with him. Rain glances between Draky and me, clearly not knowing what's going on. "Pl . . Play," he says slowly. "What do you want to play?" I ask, touching his soft and chubby cheeks. "As if he'll tell you what he wants to play," Draky says sarcastically, smirking . "I just want to talk to him," I say evasively. "It's like talking to yourself," he muses. "Whatever," I mutter, "just read." "You know what?" he says, putting his books and notebooks back in his bag, "I'm not in the mood to study anymore." As if you're really studying, I think. What I say is, "So you're just going to l eave me alone?" I'm going to take care of Rain all by myself. That doesn't sound easy, even thou gh Draky's not helping. Yet. He smiles amusedly and says, "If you want me to stay, just say the word and I'll never leave." I control the urge to laugh at him. He's such a good actor! I want to give him a clap. I can't really wait to see his face when he finds out that I know about t he bet. Just thinking about it makes me excited. I clear my throat before speaking. "Draky," I say sweetly. "What honey?" I can't help but laugh at that. There are even tears flowing from my eyes. I rem ember the first time he called me honey; the time when my heart skipped a beat. If I'm right, we were in his car, going to the paint shop to buy things to desig n my room. That was before I knew. "Why did you call me honey?" I ask as soon as I stop laughing. "It just came out my mouth," he says, not a bit embarrassed. My lips twitch upward as I think of my next sentence. "Why do I have a feeling t hat you like-"

"Play!" Rain says. "Okay, okay," I say quickly, "we'll play." "Talking to yourself again," Draky says. "Why don't you just get some toys from Rain's bag and then we'll play with him," I instruct. "You'll play with him," he says, opening Rain's bag. "There's a train, a ball, a -" "Just the ball," I say impatiently. Draky gives me the ball which I hand to Rain. He squirms at my hold on him. "Wha t do you want Rain?" "He wants you to put him on the ground," Draky states. "And now you can understand babies?" He snickers but doesn't reply. Not knowing what to do, I put him on the ground and then sit beside him. He star ts to play the ball by throwing it in the air. Of course, he can't catch it so h e crawls to where the ball lands. Draky is bored while watching us. I'm afraid Rain will get hurt by crawling so I pull him towards me and tell Drak y, "Why don't you just grab the ball instead of doing nothing?" "That's a good idea," he says dryly, but still picks the ball Rain throws his wa y. He gives it back to him and that's when the real game begins. I call it Rain throws the ball and Draky catches it because anywhere the ball la nds, Draky gets it. One time, it stuck below the shelf so Draky have to crawl an d stretch his arm to get it. Rain's enjoying, it really shows on his face. The way he smiles and the way his eyes twinkle in delight whenever Draky gives him back the ball. After a few minutes, Draky says, "That's it!" "What?" I ask, confused. "I'm so tired getting the ball, and now I want to rest." He lies on the floor an d puts his hands under his head as a makeshift pillow. He's not going to get the ball anymore on the other side of the room. "Draky!" "Pie!" "Why don't you get the ball?" "Why don't you play another game?" he retorts. Rain's cry interrupts us. Draky and I are startle at the same time so we just bo

th stare at Rain. After that, I stand up while carrying him and murmur soothing words to make him stop crying. Unfortunately, he just cries harder and louder. What are we going to do? I am not accustomed in taking care of babies. He's cryi ng, so he's probably hungry. "Draky," I say, "get his milk from the bag." He looks at me with a concern written on his face and quickly rummages the bag o f Rain. After a few seconds, he hands the bottle of milk to me. I give it to Rai n but he shakes his head which gives me a hard time putting the bottle in his mo uth. To my surprise, Draky stands beside me and starts to make funny faces. At first , I am confused on what he's doing, and then I understand. It's weird, seeing hi m like this, doing things for a baby. Rain doesn't notice him but when he looks at him, he pauses and stares. There ar e no words for Draky's face right now. I can't even describe it. Rain and I star ts laughing at the same time. I sit on the couch because I might loosen my grip on Rain from laughing too much. When Draky stops making funny faces, Rain's eyes starts to water so Draky resume s making funny faces. I know he's annoyed but I can see that he doesn't want Rain to cry again so he's sacrificing to make him happy. And that's sweet. What?! What did I think? "That's embarrassing," Draky says, slumping on the couch beside me and stretchin g his feet in front of him. Fortunately for him, Rain's not crying anymore. "You're such a clown," I comment, "and you did a good job stopping Rain from cry ing." He looks at me straight in the eyes and tilts his head to the side. "Is that a c ompliment?" I shrug. "If you want it to be, then it is." He grins, showing his perfect white teeth. He's about to say something when Rain crawls to his lap. He looks at me desperately but I just smile at him and stand so he doesn't have a choice but to carry Rain. "Pie!" he exclaims, holding Rain awkwardly. "You have to learn how to carry a baby," I say, "because you'll have to take car e of your own child someday." He rolls his eyes and says, "That's different, because Rain isn't my child." "Practice then," I say amusedly. He sighs. "I didn't come here to babysit Andre's cousin." "It's not that hard taking care of him," I point out.

"Why did you panic when he cried?" he asks, raising his eyebrow. "I did not," I deny. He opens his mouth to say something, but then he pauses. His eyes are round as s aucers when he looks at Rain. "What?" I ask worriedly, taking a step towards them. "Rain peed on me!"

******************************************* [38] The Bet *Skip A Beat ******************************************* I'm so happy whenever readers send me a message saying that they watched A Crazy Little Thing Called Love because of my story. I'm glad TB affects you in some w ay <3 and to all of you saying that I have an awesome taste in music that means you do too ;) The song is No One Will Ever Get Hurt by A Rocket to the Moon =) Banner byTheWan derLuster.

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 35 Part 2 *Skip A Beat* ~Sophia

"I thought he's wearing a diaper!" "He is!" "How did he pee on me then?!" "Maybe it leaked," I say, biting my lip, but still, I can't hold my laughter any more so I laugh. If I'm right, it's the loudest laugh I've had in a long time. It feels good to l augh. Draky's face is priceless! And now he's glaring at me for laughing at him. I can 't help but to laugh harder. Poor Draky, he got peed on. Rain so smart to crawl onto his lap at the right time. "What's that sound?" Draky asks suddenly. I listen for a second and then realize what it is. It comes out slow at first an d then it taps on the roof louder. "It's raining," I say obviously. Draky glances at Rain and mutters something under his breath.

"We should change Rain's diaper," I suggest. "I need to change my clothes," he replies, "but before that, I have to take a ba th." He wrinkles his nose for the foul smell. Rain laughs at him, pulling his hair towards him. "Ow!" Draky snaps. A wicked smile appears on my face. Karma's so fast. He laughed at me earlier whe n Rain pulled my hair and now it's happening to him. Finally, Rain lets go of him. "Rain Rain go away," Draky mutters, smoothing down his hair, "come again another day." "Are you singing?" I ask incredulously. He grins. "It's kind of ironic that it's raining after Rain peed on me." I raise my eyebrow but I don't know what to say. He's right. I didn't expect to rain because a few hours ago, the sun is high up in the sky. The weather is unpr edictable nowadays. The ozone layer is slowly deteriorating because of the peopl e who aren't living right. "Rain Rain go away," Draky sings, breaking me from my reverie, "come again anoth er day." Rain's even clapping his hands. He doesn't know that Draky wants him to leave. I 'm about to stop him when he continues. "Pie and Draky wants to learn, Rain Rain go away." A laugh escapes from my mouth. I can't believe he's doing these things! He's not the Drake Swift I know! Draky glances at me, fighting the urge to smile. He's holding Rain away from him awkwardly. I have to say that he has a nice voice. If he auditions in a singing competition, he'll probably win. With that face, he can"Pie?" "Yes?" I shake my head and blink my eyes to clear my thoughts. "I need to shower now." "Oh, yeah," I mumble. Walking towards them, I get Rain from Draky. I'm careful not to hold him too clo se because I might be wet like him. Draky stands up and that's when I see the stain on his jeans. Another set of laugher comes out of my mouth. He looks like he peed on himself! He scowls at me and then ruffles my hair. I slap his hand impulsively. Suddenly, he leans close to me. I swear my heart skips a beat. When our faces ar e just a few inches away from each other, I stomp his feet.

He yelps in surprise, jumping with one foot. "Why did you do that?!" "Get away from me!" Rain squirms at my hold on him which makes it hard to move away from Draky. "You smell," I blurt out. He pauses and straightens himself. He smells his body self consciously and mutte rs, "I do not." "Yes you do." "I do not," he grumbles, "it's Rain you smell." "It's you." He shrugs. "I'm going to shower now," he says. "Let's see who smells then." He w alks out of the room with a mischievous smile plastered on his face. "Good job Rain," I say quietly. He smiles at me like he knows what I'm talking about. "It's time to change your diaper." Unfortunately, I don't know how to do that. Getting the little blanket from his bag, I put it on the floor. I lay Rain on the middle and start to take off his s horts. I wrinkle my nose. The smell is well, disgusting. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I take off Rain's diaper, and that's when I se e it's full. No wonder it leaked on Draky. A smile tugs at the corner of my mout h because of the memory. I'm sure I won't forget it for the rest of my life. Its image is clearly plastered in my mind. Rummaging in the bag, I find baby wipes so I decide to clean him first. He's res tless, kicking his feet and moving his body side by side. The rain's not stopping yet. I hope the electricity won't die because of it. One time, due to a heavy rain, the electricity went off for a day. Of course, the c lasses were suspended. When I find Rain's diaper, I read the instructions first. The packaging has thre e pictures on how to put it on the baby. Unfortunately, it doesn't make sense to me. I can't just put shorts on Rain without a diaper so I might as well try. On the first attempt, the diaper is loose so it falls off him. On the second, it 's too tight, and Rain gasps for breaths. I take it off quickly before he cries. On the third try, I finally get it right. I breathe a sigh of relief and wipe t he sweat from my forehead. Only Rain can make me sweat in this cold day. While I search for his shorts, he crawls away quickly to the couch. "Rain," I call. He turns his head and smiles at me. "Come here baby," I say, raising his shorts in my hands.

He continues to crawl away from me. I think he wants to play. Standing up, I go after him and scoop him in my arms. He laughs, showing his three upper front tee th and two lower teeth. To my amazement, he squirms away from me, wanting to crawl on the ground. Heavin g a sigh, I kneel down and lay him on the blanket again. Where's Draky when you need him? It's hard to wear Rain's shorts to him all by m yself. Finally, I get hold of his feet and put it on. It's not even an hour yet but I'm already tired. Leaning at the back of the couc h, I stretch my feet in front of me. Rain crawls next to me and starts to sit up. Suddenly he stands slowly, gaining his balance, holding the couch for support. My jaw drops to the ground as I stare at him walk with his hands on the couch. W hy am I surprised? Being one year and five months old, he knows how to walk alre ady. Rain slides on the floor, falling on his knees. I walk quickly to where he is; m aking my self ready for his cry, but nothing comes out. He looks confused as he scratches his knees, "Oh Rain," I murmur, hugging him tight. "You're brave for not crying." He holds my hands and makes it his anchor to stand again. He walks slowly while I hold his upper body so he won't fall again. That's when Draky enters the room. He's wearing shorts and a t-shirt. His hair's still wet from showering and it makes him look good and sexy at the same time. His mouth pulls upward when he catches me staring at him. "See something you like?" he says amusedly, pausing in the threshold. "No," I deny quickly, tearing my gaze off him. I can feel the blood rising to my cheeks. I hate the way he makes me feel! Draky makes his way towards me and looks at Rain approvingly. "I see that you ch anged his diaper," he says, wiggling his eyebrows. Rain moves towards him and Draky quickly raises his hands. "I just took a shower ." Rolling my eyes, I tell him, "Throw his diaper if you don't want to hold him." He makes a face but still follows my order. He gets up, takes the dirty diaper a nd throws it in the trash bin beside the door. "What now?" he asks. "I think we should move to a different place," I suggest. "It's still raining," Draky says obviously, glancing at the window. "I know," I mutter. "What I meant was that we should, like go to the entertainme nt room." "Oh." Realization crosses his face. "Let's go then."

He grabs Rain's bag while I stand up carefully, holding Rain in my arms. In the movie room, I sit on the couch, and put Rain on my lap. Draky's kneeling beside the cabinet, choosing what movie to watch. "It should be a cartoon," I say. "Miss your childhood days?" he asks, tilting his head to the side. Ugh! He knows what I mean so why does he always ask stupid questions? And why does he like teasing me? It's so annoying! He smiles, eyes glittering in delight, like he knows what I'm thinking. Meanwhile, Rain crawls down to the carpeted ground and quickly goes to where Dra ky is. Draky scoops him up to his arms and stands up. He throws Rain in the air and cat ches him after. I stare at him, eyes wide with shock, mouth hanging open as he do it repeatedly. Rain bursts out laughing, enjoying the feeling of flying. "Draky," I snap. He looks at me, startled. "What?" "What are you doing?" I ask furiously. "He might vomit! Do you want that to happ en?!" "No," he whispers. Rain leans on Draky's chest and settles there, making his self comfortable. Drak y touches his hair, gazing at him wonderingly. He's smiling while doing it. In t hat instant, it's hard to know what he's thinking. He's so different from before . He really has a perso"Let's watch SpongeBob," he says, interrupting my thoughts. "Do you like SpongeB ob, Rain?" So that's what we do. Watch marathon show of SpongeBob SquarePants. Rain's sitti ng between Draky and me. He's clapping every now and then as if he understands w hat SpongeBob and Patrick are talking about. "Who do you think is the protagonist of the show?" Draky asks. "SpongeBob," I say obviously. "Are you sure?" he asks, smirking. "What about his best friend Patrick?" "What about him?" "His name is Patrick Star," he points out. "Ha ha," I say warily, "funny."

But I have to give Draky some credit. I wonder why they named Patrick Star even though he's not the protagonist of the show. Really ironic. We're on the fourth show when my stomach growls. Draky certainly hears it because he grins. "Its time to eat," he says cheerfully , "someone's hungry." "I am," I say. I'm not a bit embarrassed to admit it because it's true. Besides, what's the poi nt of lying when he already hears the evidence? "What do you want to eat?" he asks. "You'll cook?" "No," he says sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. I don't know why it disappoints me. "I'll cook then." "What about Chinese food?" "That's a good idea!" I say, not even thinking about it. My parents used to buy take out Chinese food before. I miss eating it and of cou rse, I miss my parents. "It's settled then," Draky says, getting up to dial the telephone number of the Chinese food a few blocks away from here. A couple of minutes later, the doorbell rings. "That's fast," Draky says. "Yes," I agree. I'm really hungry and I want to eat now. My stomach is complaini ng already. Draky stands up and goes to the living room to get our food. Rain suddenly cries, looking at Draky's retreating figure. "Ssshh," I murmur, "he'll come back." He stares at me doubtfully with tears in his eyes. "You really like him, huh?" I smile. What do I expect him to say? As if he can already talk. Draky carries two bags in his hands. He puts them on the table. He gives me a Ch inese bowl and we start to eat in silence while watching SpongeBob. I give Rain his milk but he refuses to take it. Out of nowhere, Draky feeds Rain his food. "What are you doing?" I ask.

"Feeding him," he says. "What if he's allergic to it?" "I doubt it," he says, putting another food in Rain's mouth. "See? He likes it." I sigh, watching Rain grab the spoon from Draky's hand. "He even wants to feed himself," Draky says amusedly. I leave them alone, and just concentrate on my food. After eating, Draky puts the dirty bowls at the plastic and takes them to the k itchen. He comes back, carrying a large comforter in his hands. He moves the fur niture aside and puts the comforter in the center of the room. "What's that for?" I ask curiously. "I want to sleep," he says, grabbing a throw pillow and lying down on his back. I'm about to ask him why don't he just sleep in the guest room when Rain crawls and lies next to him. Draky smiles, and gets another pillow for Rain. "Will you join us?" he asks. "N-no," I murmur. I don't know why my face is heating up! "Are you sure? There's still room for you." "I. . I s-said no," I stutter, looking away from him. "Okay," he says with a shrug. "That means its just Rain and me then." Facing the television, I put my knees on the couch and hug them tight. I try not to look at the guy lying a few feet below me. The images I see from the show are just a blur, I don't really see them. They're just things moving without a particular act. I don't know how many minutes have passed, but when I look at Draky and Rain, I see that they're both sleeping peacefully. They even have the same position. It's my first time to see Draky sleeping and he looks innocent; you won't think he's playing a prank on me. While looking at him, thousand thoughts run in my head. What am I getting myself into? If we spend more times together, we'll hurt much more when this end. Isn' t that what I want - for him to get hurt like what he did to me? Rain stirs from his sleep, and Draky puts his hand on Rain's hand unconsciously, stopping him from waking up. A smile appears on my face without my permission as I look at them sleep like fa ther and son.

******

P.S. If you think this is getting boring, you can stop reading if you want. This is m y writing style and I'm not really good at writing fast-paced stories . . . Than k you for still keeping up with me :)

******************************************* [39] The Bet *Fortuitous Event ******************************************* A reader suggested the song Glad by Tyler Hilton :) I like this song so much! Th ank you for suggesting it :> Banner by peanutFACE. Crazymusicfan12 made a poem a bout The Bet. It was great and I loved it :> Click the external link to read it. I chose Ashley Benson as Sophia Taylor because majority of the readers like her, and I think she can be Pie. BUT you can still imagine your own Sophia :) I want to learn how to play guitar so I had to cut my fingernails. Now they are short. But you know, you have to sacrifice to gain something :) And it's easier and faster to type with short nails. I watched Abduction with my friends earlier -it was great <3 I read The Alchemist -it was an amazing book! :> It helped me to make this chapter longer. I hope Wattpad will have a Meet Up in Philippines = D You might be wondering why I'm saying all these things to you haha XD So here it is. Sorry again for waiting, and thank you so much! <3

Chapter 36 *Fortuitous Event* ~Drake

"What did you do to my baby?" Xyrielle shrieks, lunging towards me. I take a step back automatically and raise my hand in a surrender mode. What is happening here? "What are you talking about?" I ask. Pie tries to calm Xyrielle but she cries hysterically. "What happened?" I ask Pie quietly. Pie shakes her head, stopping me from walking towards them. Xyrielle's cries tur n into sobs. She glares at me while wiping her cheeks from her shaking hands. "What happened to Rain?" I repeat more gently. "He's in the hospital," she murmurs, "he's confined there because of you. You fe d him that food! He is allergic to it! He almost died!" I can feel the world crashing and falling to my shoulders. Many words run throug h my mind in that instant. Rain is in the hospital because of me. He's just a ba by! He doesn't deserve to be there because it's my fault! I can't believe I was reckless! Pie told me not to feed Rain with my food but I didn't listen, so now he's suffering. He might even be dying! And it's really hard to accept that.

"What are we going to do?" I barely recognize my voice. It's so different from m ine. "We have to wait for the findings of the doctors," Pie says, glancing at Xyriell e nervously. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I walk to where Xyrielle is sitting and say, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen. I will never-"

"Draky." Someone's calling my name and I know I have to open my eyes. But I don't know ho w to. I can feel my breathing speeding up. I am cold inside and out. "Draky." I can feel someone shaking my arms. "You have to wake up now." My mind's in a fuzzy haze. I'm like a lost spirit, lingering outside my body. "Wake up!" Suddenly, I feel something splashed to my face. My hair's dripping with wet wate r. I open my eyes in surprise and sit upright. "Why am I wet?" I ask incredulously, wiping my face with the edge of my shirt. M y heart is thumping loudly in my chest. I remind myself that it was just a dream . But hey, it felt real! I thought it was real! I've never been so glad to be aw ake. Pie goes to my line of vision. She's biting her lower lip and on her hand is a g lass of water, half full. "You splashed water to my face." My voice is sort of accusing. "You won't get up," she says sheepishly, "so I decided to splash water to your f ace. I heard it was effective." "What do you think?" I ask dryly. "I think it's effective," she says amusedly, the corner of her mouth twitching u pward. "Why did you even wake me in the first place?" Pie rolls her eyes and says, "It's ten in the evening." "What?!" Really? I can't believe it! I slept the whole afternoon and half the ni ght. She looks at me smugly and says, "It's just six thirty." I breathe a sigh of relief. "You like teasing me, huh?" "No," she says slyly, "I just want to see if you trust me." I raise my eyebrow and ask, "What's the verdict?" She turns away from me and make a point of organizing the pillows and putting th

em back on their original place. Okay, no need to wait. I know Pie won't answer my rhetorical question. Looking a round, I notice something. "Where's Rain?" I ask. Pie looks at me as if I said something stupid. "What?" "Rain's gone." "Gone?" I exclaim. The word has a different meaning because of my creepy-dream-s lash-nightmare. "What do you mean gone?" "Xyrielle came here while you were sleeping," Pie answers, studying my face care fully. "She wanted to thank you for babysitting Rain, but didn't want to wake yo u up. She said they have to go home because no one's at their house and its gett ing dark." She pauses and then continues, "As if you helped." "Excuse me?" She grins, her dimple coming into view. "Nothing," she says, shaking her head. " Xyrielle said that she'll call us and then she'll have something for us." "What?" I ask curiously. "I don't know," she replies, "she didn't tell." I feel disappointed because I havent say goodbye to Rain. For the few hours we s pent together, I care for him. Even though I didn't admit it at first. Truth is, I like babies. I just pretended at the beginning that I don't like him because, well, I wanted to see Pie's reaction. Now I'm going to miss Rain. I wonder when I will see him again. I hope soon. On the other hand, maybe I can ask Xyrielle if she wants Pie and me to babysit Rain again. "What comes first, the egg or the chicken?" I ask Pie. "That's not a question," she says wryly. I can see that she's fighting off a smile that wants to form on her lips. "What do you think?" I probe, just to have a conversation with her. I feel like an idiot, wanting to hear her voice, wanting to have a conversation with her, wanting to. . . Okay, I have to stop now. I really don't like where my thoughts are headed. I he ar the stupid voice smirking. Am I crazy? Do crazy people ask theirselves if the ir crazy? No! No! I don't think I'm crazy. Crazy people don't think they're craz y. Why are you talking back to me then? Shut up! "Draky? Draky?" I have a feeling it's not the first time she's calling my name. This stupid voic e is-

"Why do you look so annoyed?" she asks curiously. "Do I?" I ask, trying to put on my poker face to no avail. "What were you thinking about?" she asks, nudging me on the elbow. "The voice," I blurt out without thinking. Pie's eyes widen, and then she grins. "You're still talking to it?" I don't know why I speak honestly with her; not that I always lie, but I talk wi thout thinking when it comes to her. I speak without filtering my thoughts. "Draky?" "Yes?" "Are you hungry?" she asks. "Do you want something?" Pie will cook a food for me? Now, that's interesting. "Yes, I'm hungry," I say. My voice is too cheerful. Why am I so excited? "There's a food in the fridge," she says obviously, "you just have to cook it." This girl! It's hard to make nly I know how to I'll prepare for mouth as I think her fall in love with me! It's not easier than I thought. If o cook, I can make her fall in love with me because of the meals her. If only it is that easy. A smile tugs at the corner of my of that.

"First, talking to yourself," Pie says, breaking me from my reverie, "and now, s miling for no apparent reason at all." "I catch myself smiling when I think about you." Heat rushes to her cheeks. I like to see her blush. She's so shy, she fidgets on her seat nervously. "Stop staring at me!" She scowls and turns away from me. "Why are you blushing when I say things like that?" I ask curiously. "I'm not blushing," she lies. "Staring at someone is rude," she quotes me. I smirk. "So you're just-" "Shut up," she interjects. She stands up and starts to head towards the door. "Wait," I say quickly, standing up as well. "I was just kidding!" "Whatever." She stops from walking away but she still doesn't meet my gaze. "Okay," I say with a sigh. "I'll cook something for you to make it up." Her mouth forms a wry smile. I'm glad I can make her smile. "You said you can't cook," she says bemusedly, putting her hands on her hips.

"I said that," I admit, "but for you, I'll cook something." "That's so sweet," she mutters. "You don't believe me," I say matter-of-factly. "It's because you said so yourself." "But didn't you hear me? I said I'll cook something for you." "I'm not deaf!" I move closer to her and brush the hair that's falling to her eyes, obscuring ha lf of her face from my view. Her eyes widen at my action and I swear I hear her catch her breath. Her mouth forms into a little O as we stare at each other for a few heartbeats. I wait for her to speak but she seems frozen in place. "Are you hungry?" she whispers, taking small steps away from me. "I'll just eat later," I mutter. I'm still hungry, but not the same as before. S omething weird happened to my appetite. "Okay," she says, "I'll make a sandwhich." "I think I'd like to eat a sandwhich too." She smirks and leads the way to the kitchen. Pie prepares two peanut butter sand which while I take two glasses and fill them with juice. "I want to breathe fresh air," Pie says. "Let's go outside," I suggest. Therefore, we make our way towards the back porch and sit beside the pool with o ur feet dangling in the water. We eat our food in a comfortable silence. It's like dejavu is visiting me because I remember the last time I'm here with P ie beside me. That was the time she wanted to tutor me. That was a few days ago, and until now, she hasn't really teach me yet because there are always fortuiti ous events occuring. And then I remember that that was the night I had a creepy nightmare. I shiver i nwardly, visualizing the scenes in my mind. I shake my head furiously to clear m y"You know," she says, interrupting my thoughts. "I've been here for a couple of days but I haven't swum yet." "Are you afraid of the water?" I ask teasingly. "No." She scolds. "You want to swim now?" She shakes her head. "Maybe tomorrow. I don't know. I just like watching the wat er in the pool." "Why?" I wonder. "The water calms me," she says, "it's like going on forever. It doesn't have an

ending. It always goes back to where it came from." I don't know how and what to respond to that so I just keep quiet. Now I'm regre tting not reading a lot of books. Maybe when I read something interesting, I can share it with her. Something memorable. Something I treasure. And then I rememb er something that she likes. Not that I know she likes it but I notice her gazin g at them when we're together. "You like stars, right?" She looks at me, a funny expression on her face. "I like heavenly bodies," she r eplies. "Why do you like them?" "Do I always have a reason why I like something?" she asks amusedly. "Because if you don't have a reason, that means love." "When did you become so poetic?" she asks, smiling slyly. "I'm not poetic," I say. I don't know why I feel embrassed. As if there's someth ing to be ashamed of. "The moon and the stars are my light when it's dark," she says, looking upward. "They give me hope. I'm facsinated with what they really are. They appear to be blinking, but they are not. They are always there but you can't see them because of the sun." I am speechless again. I forgot how many times she already makes me speechless b y what she says and what she does. So unpredictable. "Do you know where Andre is?" I ask curiosly. I wonder where he is. I called him a few times earlier but he's not answering his phone. "Aren't you his best friend?" "Aren't you living with him?" I retort. "Well, I'm not his best friend so I don't know where he is," she says dryly. "Just because we're best friends doesn't mean we know everything about each othe r," I return. She turns, so she's facing me. "I thought best friends doesn't have secrets fro m each other," she says thoughtfully. "Sometimes you have to keep a single secret to yourself," I mutter. "Andre's on a date," Pie says after a minute. "With whom?" I ask, surprise. Andre has a date? Andre Lavigne, my best friend? He told Pie, but not me? Are we talking about the same Andre here? Suddenly, I feel an overwhelming surge of be trayal. "I didn't ask him." "Why didn't you?"

"If he wants me to know, he'll tell me," she says evasively. "And I think it's r ude to ask him a personal question." She gives me a pointed look. "Didn't he tel l you?" she acquires. "No." "Why?" Now it's her asking the why question. "I don't know," I answer. "Andre's been se cretive lately. Especially about his love life." I didn't mean to tell Pie about that. It just came off my mouth. Again. It's eas y to talk to her. Words are flowing from my mouth without me thinking about them . "You don't know much about his love life," she states, tilting her head to the s ide. "Yes," I say, "because I don't want to intrude." In addition, because he's keepi ng it a secret from me. "Maybe there's a reason why he didn't tell you." "What are you trying to imply?" I ask, a bit annoyed. I know Andre doesn't want me to know, and now Pie's rubbing it to my face. I feel like an outsider in my o wn world. "Nothing," she mutters. "Tell me about yourself?" I ask, changing the topic. I want to get to know her p ersonally but she seems. . . I don't know, I can't expalin it. "What do you want to know?" I shrug. "Anything about you." She rolls her eyes and says, "Why don't you just ask me a question and then I'll answer it." "That's a good idea," I say. However, I'm afraid you're not going to answer my questions. I still remember th e day when she said, "Just because I gave you a perimission to ask me a question doesn't mean I'm going to answer it." I smile at the memory. It feels like a li fetime ago. "So?" she asks, raising her eyebrow. "How's your love life?" The instant the words are out of my mouth, I want to reclaim them. Their effect on Pie is immediate-- she stiffens, and that's when I realize that her love life is a taboo subject. Maybe something happened. Something bad, that's why she doe sn't want to talk about it. I'm so stupid for asking that question! There are a lot of questions out there, why did I ask that? Why am I not thinking?! We have an uncomfortable silence after that. I chastise myself again and again.

Unfortunately, you can't change the past. That's why it's called past because it already happened. I know! "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve i t.," she says thoughtfully, ignoring my question. "That's deep," I say, after clearing my dry throat. "That's from The Alchemist." "I've heard of it," I reply. It's a popular work of fiction. I heard a lot peop le talking about it and saying it's their favorite book. "Maybe you should read it," she suggests. "We'll study it after A Midsummer Nigh t's Dream." "I haven't even finished it yet," I say sheepishly, scratching the back of my he ad. "That's because you're a slow reader," she mutters. "I'm not slow," I say indignantly. "It's just I'm not interested with it." "Uh huh." "You'll see," I say smugly, "I can finish it with just one sitting." She raises her eyebrow, like she's daring me. "Let's see." I'm still curious about her past, but she's right. You just can't ask a person a bout her personal life because it's rude. I just have to be patient for her to o pen up to me. Somehow, because of this, I have an idea on what will I surprise her for her bir thday.

***** How did you find Wattpad? What made you read The Bet? I'd love to know :)

******************************************* [40] The Bet *Misguided Actions ******************************************* Thank you for telling me the reason why you read TB and how you found Wattpad :) I think it's my turn then, eh? I found Wattpad last 2009. I was a member of Twi light Saga discussion group in Friendster and people there were talking about fr ee online reading site. The first story I read was "A HOT GUY SAVED MY LIFE AND NOW I HAVE TO MARRY HIM?!" *That was the time when arrange marriage stories were popular*. I decided to join when one of the stories I was reading required a nu mber of votes before uploading the next chapter. So, that's it :) katrocks247 made a trailer for The Bet. It was amazing Watch the video on the side =)

The song for the chapter is Half Of My Heart by John Mayer ft. Taylor Swift. Ban ner by LittleMissIronic :) Thank you!

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 37 *Misguided Actions* ~Drake

"Why didn't you come to the party last night?" Jake demands as soon as I sit at our usual table in the cafeteria. "We waited for you," Dwayne chimes in. "I didn't say I'll go, did I?" I say, taking a bite of my pizza. "Cassidy was fuming with rage," Brian says, fighting off a smile. "Cassidy?" I repeat incredulously. "Why?" My friends look at me like I said something stupid. "Come on, you know she's interested," Troy says, wiggling his eyebrows. "Is she?" I ask. Cassidy's always getting my attention any chance she gets. However, I'm busy thi nking of plans to make Pie fall in love with me to notice her. "What did you do?" Brian asks. "Stuff," I say evasively. As soon as I went home last night, I organized all the things needed for Pie's s urprise birthday party tomorrow. I bought all the necessary materials and the o nly thing I need to do after school is to design the place and put some decorati ons. I already ordered my gift for her. I really think it fits her perfectly. Ju st thinking about her wearing it puts a smile on my face. I do these things because I want to, not because I have to. I want her birthday to be memorable for her. I want her to remember it for the rest of her life. To put it simply, I want her to be happy. I did everything; the planning, and the buying, all by myself. I'm not in the mo od to ask Andre's help because I'm quite angry at him for keeping a secret to me . Besides, I haven't seen him yet. He's probably busy with school work and colle ge applications. I haven't sent any college application yet. There's still time for that. Anyway, the other reason is that when Pie asks about her surprise birthday party , I can tell her honestly and confidently that I did everything on my own. With no one's help. I'm glad Parker told me everything I have to know.

Just thinking about the ideas in my head makes me excited to start with the prep aration. I'm even tempted to skip school so that I can be sure that I'm going to finish everything before tomorrow. But I remember that I have to catch up with my studies because I'm trailing behind. Like usual. At least I'm trying! And thank heavens Pie tutored me last night. It was for Cal culus. I have a difficult time with numbers and it's the hardest subject for me. I'm glad Pie is patient, she taught me basic things about the subject and how I can make it easy for me. "Since you hang out with her. . ." "What?" I ask, snapping out of my reverie. "Since you hang out with that Sophia," Brian finishes. "What about her? I ask irritably. I don't like the tone Brian used when he said Sophia's name. "You always hang out with her." Dwayne mutters. "Are you two dating?" Jake asks curiously. "We're not," I say dryly. "Why are you always with her then?" Rolling my eyes, I decide not to answer their questions because as long as I ans wer them, they'll just ask again and again until they know everything about me. About us. And I might slip and tell them about the bet. "You seldom talk to us," Troy says disapprovingly. "I'm talking to you now," I say. "You know what Troy meant," Dwayne says. "First you quit basketball without tell ing us the reason why, and now you're not hanging with us anymore." "We're still your friends," Jake says. "And we," Dwayne pauses, not finishing his sentence. "What?" I ask. He frowns and says, "We miss hanging out with you and Dre." I feel guilty for ignoring my friends. Not that I ignore them, but my time with them become limited because I spend most of my time with Pie. It's just my life is kind of roller coaster right now. It's the first time I fee l things I haven't felt before. It's so weird because I'm learning new things ab out myself and it's good to leave your comfort zone every now and then. "I'm quite busy," I explain. "Busy with her?" Jake asks. "Just leave it, okay?"

Dwayne punches my arm lightly. "We know there's something going on with you two. We're not blind." "And I think even if we are- I mean, blind," Brian says, "we can still feel that you like her." It's hard to swallow the lump in my throat. I want to deny what they're saying b ut I can't speak. "I wonder what Cassidy will do when she finds out," Jake says amusedly. "We're not together," I say. "But you know what Cassidy is like," Dwayne says. "I know," I mutter. And that is a problem.

~Sophia

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I don't remember listening to the discussi on of our professors. I don't even know how I came home after school. My mind is busy thinking of thoughts I can't comprehend. I'm always like this the day before my birthday, and I hate it. Tomorrow- I mean, a few hours from now, I'm going to be seventeen. Another year . Getting older by day. And my parents are still missing in action. They probably forgot that they still have a child. When will they come back? I hope tomorrow. It will be the best pr esent I'll have. I don't think anyone remembers my birthday. I don't even want to celebrate it. I just want to go home with my family. I think no one feels lonely on his or her birthday except me. Ugh! I don't want to pity myself. However, I can't stop these horrible thoughts from coming in my head. I'm about to bang my head on the wall of my room out of frustration when I see t he pool in the corner of my eye. The pool. Getting wet. Night Swimming. That's a good idea. I change into shorts and a tank top and then I grab a towel before heading downs tairs. The house is silent because Aunt V and Andre aren't here yet. Fortunately I'm no t scared of being alone. It's a little bit cold tonight but I still decide to continue my plan. I test th e water; it's warm and cold at the same time, and then I put my towel on the lou nge chair.

I do backstroke, letting my mind think of nothing and concentrate on what I'm do ing. Then I try freestyle. I'm not that good but it helps my body and my mind to relax. When I get tired, I do float. Then breastroke. Time is not existing for me. I'm in my own little world here in the water. When I come up for air, I see a shadow at the edge of the pool. I'm so shocked, I gulp a few drops of water. I choke up for air and then someone grabs me and he lps me sit on the lounge chair. My lung is burning, my heart is drumming, and I try to let out the water I drunk . When my breathing returns to normal, I look up to see Draky with a concern exp ression on his face. Draky! "Wh- what are you doing here?" I gasp. "You shouldn't swim when you're alone," he says disapprovingly, scowling at me. I realize that I'm wet and I'm wearing short shorts and he's just a few inches a way from me. I feel self-conscious; I want to hide my body in my towel. Fortunat ely, he grabs it from the place where I put it and then he hands it to me. "Thanks," I mutter, wrapping the towel around me. My teeth are chattering and I just feel that it's really cold tonight. "Why are you-" "Sophia!" Looking around, I spot Driana walking towards us. "What are you doing here?" I ask. "Are you okay?" she asks worriedly, hurrying to my side. "I'm fine," I say. "I've been calling you for a few times but you were not answering your phone so I decided to come here," she says. I glance at the twins in front of me. They have the same expression on their fac es as they look at me. "My cell phone's upstairs," I murmur. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asks. "You look pale." "What time did you start to swim?" Draky interjects. "Six fifteen?" I say. "I'm not sure." "No wonder you're pale," he mutters. "Why?" I ask. "What time is it?" "Eight," Driana says, shaking her head at me. I've been swimming for almost two hours? I can't believe it! "Dinner's ready!" Andre yells from the house.

Suddenly, I'm confused. What's happening here? "Good," Driana says with a sigh, "I'm starving." "Me too," I say. Swimming can make you hungry. "But you have to change your clothes first," Draky says, "you might get cold." - - - - "Let's play spin the bottle," Driana suggests. "That's a lame game," Andre says dryly. "No, it's not," Driana argues. We're in the game room and we just finished playing Scrabble; a game suggested b y Andre. I won, followed by Andre, and then Driana. Last and the least is Draky. "Are you afraid of spilling your secrets?" Draky asks wickedly. "I don't have a secret," he snaps, glaring at the twins. "I'll go get the bottle then," Driana says, standing up from her chair. "I'll help you," Andre offers. "No need," Driana says, "I can do it by myself. "Okay," Andre says with a shrug. "What's wrong with her?" he asks as soon as Dri ana gets out of the room. "You know her," Draky says, "she's easily pissed off." "Yeah," Andre mutters, staring at the door. "Why are you quiet?" Draky asks me. "Am I?" "Yes you are," he says obviously. "You haven't said anything since we started ta lking about the spin the bottle. Don't you want to play?" "I'm just thinking," I say. "About?" he asks curiously. "Nothing in particular." Actually, I'm thinking of the questions I'll ask him. I want to know every doubt I have. If ever he'll choose dare, I also make a list of what I want him to do. When Driana comes back, we arrange ourselves and sit on the floor. "Rule number one," she says, "it's only truth or dare. Number two: No lying, and you can't change dare if you don't like the question someone asks. And if it's a dare, you have to do it."

I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Driana spins the bottle and all of us wait until it stops and the cork points in front of Andre. I breathe a sigh of relief. I'm glad it's not me. "Truth or dare?" Driana asks. "Truth," Andre answers. "Are you a virgin?" Driana asks curiously. A complete, awkward and uncomfortable silence envelops us. It's thick like a mos s and eating us inside and out. We're in complete silence. I don't even know if they're breathing because I feel like the breath suck out of me even though I'm not the one who's going to answer. It's just the question is so embarassing and I don't know what's gotten at Drian a to ask that question. We avoid eye contact because the question still hangs in the air. Finally, Andre lets out a breath. It must be a signal because all of us starts to breathe again. "What kind of question is that?" Andre asks furiously. "It's a truth or dare and you chose truth so I can ask you anything I want," Dri ana says, crossing her arms over her chest. Andre is blushing like there's no tomorrow. A giggle escapes from my mouth and I bite my lip to stop them from coming. Driana stares at Andre with a satisfied smile on her face. "We're waiting," she says. Andre grumbles something under his breath and looks at Draky for help. Draky looks like a ripe tomato and he's controlling his self not to laugh. "The time is passing by," Driana says impatiently. "Fine!" Andre says, taking a deep breath. "I'm still a virgin." Oh. "Whoa," Driana gushes. Andre turns away from us so that we can't see his facial expression. "Why are you ashamed?" Driana asks. "I'm not ashamed," Andre mutters. "You should be proud because not all high school graduates are virgin." "I knew it was not a good idea to play this game," Andre says. "Who would have thought," Driana says, a smirk forming on her lips.

"Drake and I promised each other-" "No telling!" Draky interjects. "What is that?" I ask curiously. "Don't tell them," he says, shaking his head. Driana glares at her twin. "If he wants to tell us, let him." Draky scowls at no one in particular and turns his back to us. "So?" Driana prompts Andre. "Drake and I promised each other," he repeats, "when we were in middle school, t hat we won't sleep with a girl we don't love." "Oh," I murmur. "That's nice," Driana says with a nod of her head. Draky rolls his eyes. "A lame promise, huh?" he asks me. "No," I say. "I think that's good, that you're keeping your promise. Besides, wh y would you sleep with someone you don't love, right?" "Right," Driana agrees, "because some people do it just for fun." And some people do it to express their selves. I know someone like that. She agr eed to do it with her boy friend to make him believe that she's a virgin. Stupid mistake. You don't have to prove anyone anything if they really love you. "If you love someone, you can wait," Andre says thoughtfully. "I agree," Draky says. Who would have thought? There's more to Draky and Andre than meets the eye. And I'm just starting to know them now. "I guess it's my turn to spin the bottle," Andre says smugly. He takes it and the bottle spins slowly. It stops in front of Driana. Andre's ey es glitter in delight. "You can't ask me because I asked you," Driana protests. Andre tilts his head. "You didn't say it was a rule." Driana scowls at him and says, "Fine! Truth!" "Blonde, dark, or brunette?" "That's it?" Driana asks incredulously. "You want me to change it?" Andre asks. "No," Driana says quickly, "Blonde." Draky looks at the two of them with a confused expression on his face.

When Driana spins the bottle, it stops in front of Draky. Phew! I'm glad it's not stopping in front of me. Yet. "Dare," Draky says before Driana can ask him. "Afraid?" Driana asks amusedly. "No." "Sing for us," she orders. "Sing?!" "Are you deaf?" Driana asks bemusedly. Draky takes a deep breath and then starts to sing, "Baby baby blue eyes stay wit h me by my side, till the morning through the night. Oh baby, stand here holding my sides . . ." He's still singing but I stop listening to the words because I'm mesmerized with his voice. He has a great voice! He can sing, like, a professional singer. Who would have thought Drake Swift could serenade someone with his voice? He stops when he finishes the chorus and then he takes the bottle and spins it. I'm just starting to come back to my senses and hope that it will not point to m e when it stops in front of Andre. Again. Draky's mouth tugs at the corner. He looks like he's planning something. "Truth or dare?" he asks. "Truth," Andre answers. "Who do you like?" I have a feeling he's saving this question for his best friend. Poor him, he doe sn't know who the girl is. Not that I know her. . . Andre is silent for a moment, contemplating if he'll tell us or not. "Rememeber the rules," Draky says impatiently, "no lying and no sec-." "I like you." ******************************************* [41] The Bet *Truth and Dares ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 38 *Truth and Dares* ~Sophia

"Wh-What?" Draky asks, a confused expression on his face. "I said I like you," Andre says slowly, as if he's talking to a child.

Andre likes Draky? Since when? Pfft. As if I believe him. I have to admit though, that I believed him for a sec ond. I'm too shocked to speak at first because we're all speechless at what Andr e said. He's so serious! He starts to move towards Draky and puts his arms around him. Draky squrims away from him quickly and pushes him away. Meanwhile, Driana and I are laughing our heads off as we stare at the two of the m: Draky elbowing Andre while the latter does everything he can to be near the f ormer. "Oh Drake," Andre gushes, "I've waited a long time to tell you that I like you." Draky looks at his best friend with disgust. "Get away from me!" "You're the love of my life," Andre continues, grabbing Draky's hand and putting it on his chest. "My heart screams your name everytime you're near. Will you ma rry me?" I'm clutching my stomach because I can't stop my laughter from coming. They are so funny! If you don't know Andre, you might think that he really likes Draky. Draky looks annoyed and disappointed because he knows that Andre is just doing t his because he doesn't want to tell who he really likes. And that's just make us more curious. "Okay, okay," Andre says between laughs. "You have to let me explain." Draky stops punching Andre's shoulder and glares at him. "You have twenty second s." "Twenty only?" Andre asks, looking horrified. "Nineteen, eighteen." "Fine," he grunts. "Seventeen, sixteen. . ." "You have to stop now!" Driana and I look at the two of them with huge grin on our faces. "Fifteen, fourteen." "I answered your question correctly," Andre says quickly. "You asked me who do I like." "And?" Draky prompts. "And I like you," Andre says obviously, "you said like, and I like you. As a fri end. And you're always the one saying that like is different from love." He's so smart to think of that. He followed the rules. He didn't lie. Very cleve

r. Now Draky's throwing daggers at his way. It's his problem to generalize his ques tion. "What if I were a girl?" Andre asks amusedly, nudging Draky on the side. "Would you like me Drake?" He smiles at him seductively, which makes me want to vomit. Just the mere thought makes me want to puke. Draky hits Andre's head lightly. "Don't be stupid." "That hurts!" he says, feigning he's broken hearted. "I thought you would like m e." Draky rolls his eyes and about to say something when Driana interjects, "I'm cur ious. Imagine Andre as a girl." She turns to her twin. "Would you like her?" "Of course not," Draky says indignantly. "I'm not into guys." "I said if he was a girl,"Driana says impatiently. "Still no." "Why?" Driana asks. "She's not my type." "What is your type then?" she asks, tilting her head to the side. Draky glances at me and smiles slowly. Driana and Andre catch that and they both turn their heads at me. Driana smiles slyly while Andre smiles mischievously. Good job Draky, to put the spotlight on me! When they stop bickering, I suggest, "Maybe we should stop playing now." "Not fair," Andre disagrees, "it's my turn." "And besides," Draky chimes in, "you haven't been pointed yet." Busted! "No wonder you want to stop the game," Andre says wryly. He gets the bottle and spins it slowly. I'm just about to pray not to make the bottle point at me when it stops in front of me. See? That's why I don't want to play anymore! I have a feeling it will stop at m e, and it does! Draky chuckles softly. "And that is interesting." "Truth or dare?" asks Andre. There's amusement flickering in his green eyes. Ugh! If I say truth, he might ask me something I can't answer, and if it's dare, he might make me do something I'll regret later.

In the end, I tell him, "Truth." He pretends to think for a moment. If I know, he already makes a couple of quest ions ready for me. Finally, he asks, "Do you think Drake is attractive?" That's it? What kind of question is that? "No," I answer. Draky looks like he has been slapped on the face. Andre snorts. Driana laughs uncontrollably. She's even slapping the floor. "Your face!" she sa ys to her twin. "It's priceless," Andre finishes for her. Draky ignores them and looks at me instead. "Why?" he demands. Pursing my lips, I say, "I don't know. I just don't find you attractive." "At all?" he asks dubiously. "At all," I lie. No need for him to know that I find him attractive. His ego will just get big, a nd it's already huge as it is. Moreover, he will get the idea that I'm falling b ecause of his physical features. Not that I am. "I don't believe you," he mutters. "That's not my problem," I say smugly. "You can't accept someone is immune to your charm?" Andre says, feigning he's su rprised. "Shut up," Draky snaps. "Bro, not everyone thinks you're handsome," Driana chimes in. "Not talking to you," he says furiously. "So full of himself," Andre mutters to Driana. They both laugh and then Draky hits Andre's head. "Hey, why are you always hitting me?" Andre asks, checking his head with his han ds. "He's offensive," Driana says, "because it's true." "Why are you teaming up against me? You're my best friend," he says to Andre, an d to Driana, "You're my twin." "That doesn't change the fact that you're wrong," they say simultaneously.

"Why do I have a feeling there's something going on between you two", he says su spiciously, narrowing his eyes at them. "You both act weird when you're together ." "We're not acting," they say at the same time. "See?" Draky asks. That shut them up. Before it becomes an uncomfortable silence, I mumble, "It's my turn." When I spin the bottle, it stops in front of Draky. Just my luck. I bite my lip to stop the smile threatening to form on my mouth. "Truth or dare?" I ask not too eagerly. "Truth," he answers. Now it's my turn, I forgot what to ask him. All the questions I save for this mo ment vanished from my mind. Therefore, I ask the first thing that comes to my mi nd. "How many girlfrieds have you had?" "Zero," he says, his mouth twisting at the corner, forming onto a smirk. "Seriously?" "Yup." "How do we know you're telling the truth?" Driana asks suspiciously. "Why would I lie?" Draky returns. "I don't know," she retorts, "that's why I'm asking." "It's true," Andre says, backing Draky. "He's a member of NGSB." "NGSB?" "No Girlfriend Since Birth," he explains. "It's a society for group of people." I know he just makes that up. There's no such thing as NGSB. But I'm confused. Draky's a playboy. He's popular. Why did he never have a girlf riend? Before I can ask him, Driana asks, "Why?" "Because I've never fall in love yet," he answers, as if it is the most obvious thing in the world. "What about those girls?" "They're just flings," he says, shrugging his shoulders. Who would have thought? Hah. I never expected it. Perhaps it's a good thing I as ked him that question. WAIT.

Why do I care? As if the news is important. I don't care about him. I don't. Rea lly. And so, our game continues. When Draky spins the bottle, it stops in front of Andre. He chooses dare. He rea lly doesn't want us to know who the mystery girl is. Draky commands him to dance for us. It's entertaining to watch because Andre isn 't good in dancing department. No wonder that's what Draky impose him to do. May be he's doing it to provoke him. Poor Draky. When Andre spins the bottle, it stops in front of Driana. Like him, she picks da re. Andre orders her to hug her brother. She complains at first, but because she 's the one who make the rules, she have no choice but to follow. She goes to where Draky is and puts her arm around him. Draky does the same. Som etimes it's easy to forget that their twins because they have a lot of differenc es and I don't know, I can't explain it. And in this instant, looking at the two of them, I can't help but miss my little brother. People don't know what they have until it's gone. Many people take things for gr anted. They don't know that some things can't be replaced. When Driana spins the bottle, it stops in front of Andre. He chooses dare and Dr iana asks him to bring us drinks. "Slave?" Draky says amusedly. Andre ignores him and goes to the kitchen to get some drinks. He comes back with four coke in can. I gulp mine and that's when I realize I'm thirsty. This game makes me nervous! Draky's next, and he picks dare. Hah. It's as if we're playing dare or dare. No one wants to say truth anymore. M aybe afraid of spilling their secrets. Andre orders him to sing Love Story by Taylor Swift. I can't believe it. I want to strangle Andre in this instant! Why is he doing this to me? Draky scowls at him and then he takes a deep breath and sings the chorus of Love Story. I know, he has a good voice. Great, even. But I'm furious with Andre. He 's even glancing between Draky and me as if he's seeing something entertaining. Ugh! Why can't he leave that name alone?! When Draky stops singing, Driana yawns suddenly. I don't know why but when someone yawns, someone will do too. Like me. It's like a chain of events. Soon enough, Andre and Draky does the same.

Then we all laugh while looking at each other. "Let's just stop this game," Driana says, putting the bottle away. You can practically hear our sigh of relief. "I want to sleep now," she continues, lying on the floor. "Me too," I agree, glancing at the clock. It's 11:30 in the evening already. Tim e moves fast when you're having fun. "You two can sleep here if you want," Andre says to the twins. Draky shakes his head. "Mom's alone in the house," he says, "and besides, there' s school tomorrow." "You can wake up early," Andre suggests. Driana rolls her eyes and says, "Thanks for the offer but I doubt I can sleep on a bed besides my own." "Okay," Andre says with a sigh. We're all silent for a moment. I wonder if Driana remembers that tomorrow's my b irthday. I wonder if Draky knows my birthday is tomorrow. He and Andre seem curi ous about it. I wonder what will happen if they know-"Time to go home," Draky says, snapping me out of my reverie. Stopping me from wondering. Driana sighs. "Okay," she murmurs. "I'll walk you to the door," Andre offers. "Me too," I say. Outside, Driana and I hug each other and then she slides in Draky's car. I don't know what he's doing because he's waiting and looking at me expectantly. "What?" I ask finally. "Aren't you going to give me a goodnight kiss?" he asks. The thing that bugs me is he looks serious. As if I'll just kiss him when he wan ts! "In your dreams," I say, putting my hands on my hips. He smirks. "That's okay; you're always in my dreams. And you know, there are mor e things you do there than in real life." I can feel the heat rushing to my cheeks. Stupid Draky! He's so cocky! "Good night," I say, walking away from him and standing beside the door. "Good night Honey," he says sweetly. Honey yourself, I think.

When he starts his car, I turn around to see Andre studying me carefully. "Do I have dirt on my face?" I ask. "No," he says, shaking his head. We both enter the house and then he locks the door behind us. "You didn't answer Draky's question earlier," I point out. "Who knows, it could be anyone," he says, with a sly smile on his mouth. And the n he walks away without a backward glance. When he rounds the corner to his room , he turns his head and winks at me. I've never been confused in my life. What does he mean by that? I make my way to my room and lay on my bed. Unfortunately, my mind doesn't want to shut up. Because my birthday is tomorrow, it's excited. More than me. Weird. This is such an interesting night. I think I will not forget it for the rest of my life. It's unsettling to find that a single event can change your life and can make yo u think about things you didn't mind before. The loud ringing of my cell phone startles me. Looking at it, the words: Happy B irthday flashed on the screen. The time shows that it's 12:01 AM, October 19, 2010. I'm officially seventeen ye ar old. I'll be a legal adult next year. I don't even know that I saved my birthday on my cell phone. I probably forgot a bout it. I wonder what will happen tomorrow. I want to think of different scenar ios in my head but my eyes are slowly drooping in and out of focus. Before I fall asleep, I greet myself, "Happy Birthday."

***** I hope you liked this! Comments on the last chapter = Epic :D The song is Sweet and Low by Augustana. Banner by EXTREMEmusiclover :) Kindly c lick the External link and like the Facebook page. Thank you!

******************************************* [42] The Bet *Thirteen and Seventeen ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 39 Part 1 *Thirteen and Seventeen ~Sophia

The moment I wake up, the first thought that comes to my mind is today's the thi rteenth day of the bet. The second thought I have is today's my birthday. 13th Day. 17th Birthday. Hah. Ironic? I think so. Other people will be excited to open their cell phone and read all the birthday wishes they received. Me, in the meantime is lazy even to get up and start the d ay. They say that your birthday is very different from other (ordinary) days because , hey, today's your day! You, and just only you. Well, except for the people sha ring the same day of your birth. But still, you can pretend it's your own day be cause after waiting for three hundred sixty four days, your one and only day fin ally arrived. That's why you need to celebrate. . . Right? I'm still sleepy. I don't even want to go to school. I can imagine what would my face look like when my friends greet me a happy birthday. It's hard to think of something to do when they sing a happy birthday to you. It's embarassing and no t, at the same time. I think I'm the only one who's not excited on my birthday. But I don't know why I feel nervous, and there's this feeling I have that can foresee something that might happen. It's just another day for me. I doubt something unexpected will happen. What's w ith the blabbering? I know, I'm just procrastinating. Sighing, I get my phone and open it. Nothing. Is this possible? Is my network not working? Why don't I have a new message? The re's probably some error because. . . Don't tell me my parents forget it? What about Parker, and Driana? The people close to me sure know that today's my birthday. Parker! He gave me a present but he forgot that today's the day! I know, it's st ill my birthday until later but he usually greets me at midnight. And this is th e first time he doesn't. Maybe he gets tired, because he knows that I don't like it. Maybe, finally, he listens to me. And then Driana. I was just with her last night. She used to call me at exactly 5:17 in the morning. In the corner of my eyes, I see the time in my alarm clock. 6:49AM. My parents. When will I see them? It looks like I'm on my own. Is my mom not th inking about the day she gave birth to me? She's probably busy with her own thin gs.

Why do I feel disappointed if I don't want to celebrate my birthday? It's just that, they are the people close to me, and then they don't even rememb er this day. Don't you hate it when you don't want something but it keeps coming and when you want it, it doesn't happen? Ugh! I hate this feeling! Something tugs at my chest. Why do I feel like crying? It's so childish to cry w hen no one greets you on your birthday. Especially when you yourself don't care about it. The day is just starting but I want it to end already. I don't want to be lonely today. It's hard to be lonely than alone. Yes, the two are very different from each other. Why do these thoughts haunt me today? I don't want to be depressed! Shaking my h ead, I try to think of nothing. I want my mind to be a blank sheet of paper, eve n just for a few minutes. I want a piece of mind! You're the sky that I fell through. I remember the view whenever I'm holding you . It takes a second for me to realize that that's my phone ringing. Someone's call ing! Finally. Taking a deep breath, I grab my phone and answer it. "Hello?" "Hi." That sounds like. . . I look at the caller ID and not that surprised to see it's Draky. "What do you want?" I ask. I'm not that disappointed because it's him who calls. He doesn't know it's my bi rthday today and I don't expect that he'll greet me. "Why so grouchy?" he asks. "I'm not," I deny. "So, um, how are you today?" "You're calling to ask how I am?" I ask incredulously. "What's wrong with my question?" he asks. I can imagine him raising his eyebrow. Oh my. I can't believe I can see him in my mind while I'm talking to him. "Nothing," I say evasively.

I have to admit, I'm quite grumpy today. And I don't want to accept that it's be cause no one remembers my birthday. Such a shallow reason. "How was your sleep?" "Fine." "Did you dream about me?" he asks amusedly. "A nightmare," I say. Actually, I don't remember my dream last night. It even feels that I just close my eyes for a couple of minutes than hours. "Sweet," he says. "That means your thinking about me." "Huh?" I ask brilliantly. He sighs. "Didn't you know, when you dream about a person, that means you're thi nking about him too much. And see, I'm with you even in your dreams." I shouldn't have lied. He'll just think that I really dreamed of him. But isn't a great idea to make him fall in love with me? I'll let him think I'm falling, w hen in the first place it's him who falls. "They say that when you dream about a person, it's the one on the dream thinking about the person dreaming, not the other way around," I say, "and that means yo u're thinking about me too much." I can't believe I said that. It's like someone is talking, not myself. Draky's speechless. I breathe a sigh of relief. At least I make him speechless. Again. "I wish you a happy-." He stops talking suddenly. "What?" I ask not too eagerly. It's a few seconds before he answers, "A happy day ahead." "Oh." I hate how my voice sounds disappointed with that single word. Is Oh even a word ? What I know is it's a sound of expression. "Expecting me to say something else?" he asks curiously. "No," I say quickly. Too quickly. "Okay," he says, "I have to go now." "Goodbye," I reply. "See you later." "See you." I always want to have the last word.

When I'm about to hung up, he says something. Unfortunately, I haven't heard it! Well, since it's Draky, I don't think it's important but I'm curious on what it is. Letting it go, I arrange my clothes and get ready for school. Aunt V is already at work so it's just Andre and me in the dining room. We're bo th preoccupied with our own thoughts while eating. I'm still confused at his act ions last night. Why would he keep his dating life a secret? Even with his best friend? He's so unpredictable! No wonder he and Draky are best friends, they bal ance each other. When Andre asks me if I'll ride with him today, I take his offer. I'm not in the mood to ride a bus. I'll make an exception because today's my birthday. Like Draky, he doesn't know that today's my birthday. If he knows, I'm sure he'l l greet me. Again, the thought of my birthday makes me sad. I'll just forget that today's Oc tober 19, 2010. I'm sure, before I know it, it's the twentieth already. After eating, we put our dirty plates on the kitchen counter. Andre says that th ey hire a temporary house cleaner. They always do that when he and Aunt V are bu sy. While walking to his car, Andre hums quietly to his self. He's even smiling whil e doing so. I can't help but feel suspicious towards him. He's so cheerful, it's like his bi rthday is today. Not that he's not cheerful, but today, it's different. I can't explain it, but I feel something is wrong. Well, considering there's the game, when it is ever right? When we get in his car, he drives to the school without saying anything. What is happening? He's smiling while he drives and it makes me think that he's making a plan. A pl an of . . I have an idea of what exactly it is. But you know, it's not good to a ssume. Before, he doesn't stop talking. Now, why so quiet? It's creepy. "Andre," I start. "Yes?" he asks, glancing at me. "Who do you like?" He smiles playfully. "We're not playing." "I know," I say dryly, "I'm just asking." "Why do you want to know?" "Because I'm curious," I answer.

He tilts his head to the side, making his hair falls to his eyes. "Did Drake tel l you to ask me?" "What?" He smirks. "I know you two are teaming up to know who the girl is. Tell him to f orget it." "What are you talking about?" I ask incredulously. "I think the reason why he wants to know is because he'll kill the girl. Because you know," he lowers his voice as if he's afraid someone will hear us, "he's je alous of people, especially girls when they're with me. He wants me all to himse lf." I stare at him, wide eyes with shock. Andre is"I have an idea," he says, breaking my thoughts, "tell him it's you I like." Andre is insane. He really is.

***** Happy Birthday to all the Octoberians out there! :D May all your wishes come tru e :) This is just a teaser for the next part. I haven't been able to sleep yet since last night so it's short. I uploaded this because I want to keep my promise =) The song is Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie. Banners by Aspen77. Thank y ou! :> I went to Owl City: Live in Manila 2011 concert last night. It was one of the be st nights of my life :D *If not for Taylor Swift, I think yesternight was the be st* I got a meet and greet pass (unexpectedly) when they (the management) asked anyone to sing a line of his (Adam) song from his new album. I sang : I've been longing for, daisies to push through the floor (Plant Life). I was not even shy at that time: me, singing in front of a crowd. Who would have thought? XD Then t hey told me that I could meet Adam Young. I was so shocked. Like, really? OMG! H aha I couldn't stop laughing! I couldn't even believe it :> When I saw him, I al most cried because of the overwhelming happiness I felt. He hold my hands while we talked. I told him about my dream (:In my dream four nights ago, I saw him be cause of a meet and greet. A dream came true;) I told him "Thank you" many times . He was so sweet and nice. After that, when the show was about to start, a VJ f rom MYX (a music channel) interviewed me. If ever they air it, I'll be on TV aga in. It was, like my friends said, my night. I feel so blessed and lucky Turn your dreams into reality! Wow, you read the whole thing? This was long and you probably have other stuff y ou could've done in the last two minutes but you chose to read this :> Thank you so much! For reading my story/stories and for keeping up with me. You don't kno w have an idea how happy and lucky I am. I wish I can see your face while readin g *.* Thank you again! I hope and pray we can see each other someday :)

******************************************* [43] The Bet *Real or Fake ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 39 Part 2 *Real or Fake* ~Sophia

A note falls from my locker when I open it. Grabbing the piece of paper, I smoot h it and read the words written on it. Meet me at the parking lot. ASAP. -D D? It's from Draky, no doubt. What does he want? Why does he want me to meet him at the parking lot? Why not wait for me here? If he wants to talk to me, he should be the one to come, not the other way aroun d. He is the one who needs something. Besides, if I go outside, I'll be late in my first class. However, there's a voice in the back of my head that whispers, "He'll wait for y ou there." I just ignore it and try not to think about it too much. It's just my subconscio us mind trying to guilt me. The ringing of the bell startles me. And that's make my decision final. I hurry and go to my first class, the little note folded in my hand.

It's in my second class when I receive a message from Draky. "Where are you?" "In class," I type quickly. I don't want to get caught using my cellphone while there is a discussion going on. "I waited for you. Why didn't you show up?" "I was late. I forgot to text you." I don't want to say sorry to him even though I feel guilty for making him wait. "Please keep your cell phone," our professor says, looking pointedly at me, "if you don't want me to take it to the principal's office." My classmates turn their heads to look and smile at me sheepishly. Embarassed at getting caught, I quickly put my phone in my bag, not reading Draky's new messa

ge. I try to concentrate but I end up thinking what he wants from me. So far, he's t he only one who texted me and called me. Yes, no one greets me a happy birthday yet. I pretend not to care but in reality it hurts. I want to cut class and go home. Which home, I don't know. I feel bored. I don't even bother trying to listen to the discussion because I a lready understand it and I can read the lesson back home. Fortunately, time passes quickly. Before I know it, I'm sitting on our usual table in the cafeteria across from Dr iana. She's happily eating her lasagna as she tells me about the first half of her day . I stare at her as she talks, thinking, Really? How come you forget it? And then I feel guilty for thinking about that because Driana has a life and she 's not responsible to greet me a happy birthday. "Hey," she says after a moment, "anything wrong? Why aren't you eating your food ?" "I'm not hungry," I say. I don't have an appetite. I want to go to the clinic and ask permission if I can go home now. A silly excuse, I know. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asks, a concern expression on her face. She thinks I have a problem. I heave a sigh. "I'm okay," I mumble. She looks at me doubtfully. "Really," I assure her, even taking a bit of my spaghetti to make her believe me . Driana doesn't have to suffer with me. I know this kind of loneliness will go aw ay after a few minutes. When I enter the Literature room, I'm surprise to see Draky sitting on his seat. He's earlier than usual. "Hey," he says, as I sit on my chair in front of him. "Hi," I say, "about earlier-" "No need to apologize," he interjects. As if I'm going to say sorry to him. In his dreams! "I just want to ask if you're free later, after school?" he asks hopefully. "Why?" I ask curiously, raising my eyebrow.

He shrugs. "I just want to have alone time with you." Alone time? Hah. Nice choice of words. "Are you free?" he asks. I don't have plan later. If I go home after school, I'll just mope in my room un til its dinner time. Dinner time! For sure, Aunt V remembers that today's my birthday. Just thinking about it brin gs me hope. "Pie?" "Okay," I say. He smiles, and says, "I'll wait for you at the parking lot after school." "That's fine," I say. "Make sure you'll come," he says amusedly. That brings smile to my face. "I won't make you wait this time," I tell him. "Good." ----"Where are we going?" I ask, as soon as I slide in his car. "And don't tell me i t's a secret." The corner of his mouth twitches upward. "You know me well." My heart skips a beat. Is that a compliment? I think so. I can feel the blush st arting to flood my cheeks. If only I can stop them! "You have to do something, though," he says. "What is it?" I ask suspiciously. "You have to wear this blindfold." He raises the green bandana on his hand. "Why?" I ask incredulously. "It's a secret," he tells me. "What if I don't want to?" I say stubbornly, crossing my arms over my chest. "Pie," he says, glancing at me. "Fine," I say, "just this once." "Thank you." When Draky stops the car, he puts the blindfold so that I can't see where we are going. He helps me walk and guides me so I won't walk in the wrong direction. I bite my lip to stop the complaints I want to utter. He's silent too and I have a feeling he's nervous.

After a while, he stops me from walking. "We're here?" I ask. My mouth is dry! It's the first time I speak after the long drive in the car. "Yes," he replies, taking the blindfold off. A gasp escapes from my lips when I open my eyes. I don't know what to say! I'm j ust standing, staring wide eye in the beauty surrounding me. We're in a small clearing. There are hundreds of Christmas lights above us. On t he trunks and branches of the trees, on the fountain, there are lights everywher e. The incoming twilight only makes them more shine brightly. There's a soft vio lin playing somewhere. I know it's not live music but hey, it's perfect for this scene. No matter where I look, I see different kinds of colors and it makes me happy. I breathe the fresh air coming from the trees and spin once to look all around me . On my right, I can clearly see the beach that is popular because of its white sand. We're probably in a valley somewhere outside the town. To my left, there's a table set up for two. Wow! He did all of these for me? Don't tell me it's a plan to make me fall in love wi th him. The thought makes me sad, and then I tell myself that I won't think of t he bet for now. Besides, it's my birthday and I want to be happy. So, everything he did and still do is to make me happy. No more, no less. "Do you want to sit down?" Draky asks quietly. His voice is different. I nod and he moves the chair slightly so that I can sit down. Hmm, a gentleman. "I love your eyes," he says when he takes the seat across from me. "Um, thank you," I mumble. What is this about? He smiles. "But I love mine more. 'Cause without them, I won't see yours." I wonder where he got that. He probably searched it on the net. A tiny voice whispers in the back of my mind, "Maybe he meant it. That he loves your eyes." My subconscious mind makes this more confusing! "By the way," he says, "I have something for you." He's nervous as I am. It's so obvious with the way he moves and the way he talks . He hands me a box wrapped with star and curling abstract designs. "What's this for?" I ask curiously, taking the box from him. He takes a deep breath and says, "Happy Birthday Pie." I think I stop breathing in that instant. Draky greets me! He's the first one to greet me!

"Tha-thanks," I murmur when I find my voice. "My pleasure," he says, smiling. "How did you know?" "It's a secret," he says slyly. "Hmp." I can't believe it. Drake Swift greeted me! "Just open it," he says eagerly. "Okay." When I open the box, I'm shock at what I find inside. It's a necklace of green p earls with a silver cross on the center. It's like a rosary. I'm speechless. I don't know what to say. "Do you like it?" Draky asks slowly, looking at me hesitantly. "It's beautiful," I whisper, stunned and mesmerize as I look at the necklace in my hands. "Thank you so much!" He sighs in relief. "Let me put it on you," he says. "Okay," I agree. He stands from his seat and walks to where I am. I stand so he won't have a hard time putting it on my neck. The brush of his hands send shiver down my body. I stop breathing because of the proximity between us. "Thank you," I say, turning around to face him. The necklace feels warm, and I can't help but think it belongs to me. "You make me feel at peace, easy, and complete," he says, pushing my hair away f rom my eyes. "There's no denying that with you, my life is wonderfully sweet." "Why. . . Why are y-you saying this to me?" I stutter. My voice is shaking, it's so embarrassing! My heart is doing a somersault inside me. I'm afraid it will burst! Sweat starts to form on my forehead as I try to a nalyze our current situation. "Pie," he says, never taking his eyes away from me, "there comes a time when you won't be able to hide your feelings for someone no matter how much you want the m to keep it to yourself." Wake me! I know I'm just dreaming. Please, I want to open my eyes, I can't take this anymore. What is he doing to me? Why can he make me feel things I haven't f elt before? "Please don't think that I'm rushing you," he murmurs, taking both of my hands i n his. "I can't just hide my feelings for you forever. And don't you hate it? No

t saying what you feel?" I'm just staring at him, reminding myself to breathe. I can't even tear my eyes away from his piercing gaze. "I have to tell you this because I. . ." he pauses and takes a deep breath. "I c an't bear the thought of you with another guy. Just thinking about it..." he tra ils off, shaking his head. A pained expression crosses his face. Is this real? Maybe I am dreaming. What is happening here?! Butterflies start to flutter in my stomach. I'm afraid they'll lift me up from t he ground and fly me above the clouds. "Pie," he says, putting his hand on my cheek. I freeze. His touch sends a chill and electric shock to my body. His hand though , is soft; I find my head leaning towards it. "Tell me if you want me to stop," he says. To my surprise, he leans to my neck a nd trails it down with soft kisses. I think he is speaking but I don't hear him because of the loud beating of my he art. It's so loud, it's the only sound I hear. I wonder if he hears it too. Do I want him to stop? My brain says I have to slap him hard on the face but my heart tells otherwise. My mouth is dry. It's hard to swallow the lump in my thro at. "You want me to stop?" he asks again, moving to my jaw. Oh God, I'm going to faint! My mind is in a fuzzy haze. I don't know what to do! Draky puts his hands on my shoulders and he trails kisses on my cheek. It's movi ng closer and closer and closer to my lips. What am I doing, just standing here while he do all the kissing? I don't know who start it but when our lips meet, everything around me stops rev olving at once. it's just me and him, nothing else exists besides us. It's like a fire that can't be stopped. Maybe this is from the times when our almost kiss has been interrupted. How many times have I look at his lips? I never expected it to be on mine. It ta kes a second for me to realize that I'm kissing Drake Swift. After that thought, I let instinct take over me. My hands, as if they have a mind of their own, travel and make their way to his hair. His soft and silky hair that I want to touch from the very first day. Fina lly! And then I touch his face, his chest, his hair again. it's like a pattern. When Draky pauses to breathe, he murmurs my name. And then we're kissing again. I feel hot and cold at the same time. I get tingly all over my body. Draky's hands move around my body. His left hand is on my waist while his right hand is memorizing my face, my hair, and my arms. A shiver runs down my body. It's not from the wind, but from the feelings I'm ex periencing.

I open my eyes experimentally and see his eyes are closed. I want to touch his l ong eyelashes. Now I know why people close their eyes when they kiss. It's so di stracting! Million thoughts run in my head in this instant but I can't really think about t hem because I'm focused on kissing Draky. We stop after what feels like hours. I thought he'll give me space to collect my thoughts when he suddenly pulls me to him. And then he puts his arms around me tightly, but not to the point that I can't breathe. Thud. Thud. Thud. I can feel the beat of his heart. No doubt, he can hear mine too. Two hearts beating as one. My hands find their way to Draky's neck and my head leans to his chest. Really, it's like someone is controlling my body. We just stand for a couple of minutes, wrapped in each other's embrace, contente d by the silence. I've never felt more at home than I am now. Here, in the arms of the person I despise, I feel happy. After a few minutes, he leans down and plants a kiss my forehead. I can't help b ut think that's sweet. I know that the kiss on the forehead means more than the kiss on the lips. It ha s many meanings and I have a feeling Draky knows them. "Pie," he says softly, looking into my eyes, "I think I'm falling in love with y ou."

***** Happy Halloween! Happy All Saints' Day! :) The song is Today was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift Banner by You4Real :> I hope the kiss was okay. It was just pure imagination. I didn't have a basis th at's why it was sort of like in AIL. By the way, I read all your comments and messages. They are so funny, especially those: I really think Andre likes Driana. And Draky is falling in love with Pie . You make me happy when you give me feedback :D Thank you so much! *.*

******************************************* [44] The Bet *Darkness and Light ******************************************* The loud ringing of my alarm clock wakes me up. My breathing is faster, as if I ran in a marathon. My mind is fuzzy, it's hard to think straight.

Something is not right. My muscles are sore from being in a cramp position. Confused, I look around me in bewilderment. I remember I was with Draky and we w ereImpossible. I thought it was real. It looked real. It felt real. How could I dream of something like that?! Surely, my subconscious mind did the trick because I thought of Draky before I f ell asleep. I'm even ashamed to admit it. I reassure myself that everything is going according to plan. No one will ever g et hurt. Well, I won't get hurt. I don't know about him. I don't know if I should be disappointed or what, in finding out that the kiss w as just a dream. Of course, I'm not disappointed! I even let out a sigh of relie f. I can't imagine kissing the person I despise so much. Just thinking about it- ug h!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Okay, that didn't really happen. I don't even know why I want to post that XD The gift of Draky to Pie is the same rosary necklace on the cover :) Finally, th ey kissed, right? I wrote that scene a few months ago but I waited until the rig ht time to post it. Don't get confused by their feelings for each other. You nev er know if what Drake did/said was real or fake. A lot of readers are asking for Andre's POV. I'll probably make one when the story is complete. The song is Terrified by Katharine McPhee ft. Zachary Levi :> Banner by BookAndM usicGeek. Thank you!

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 39 Part 3 *Darkness and Light* ~Sophia

"Pie, I think I'm falling in love with you." The words are bizarre; they play repeatedly in my head, non-stop. I have a feeling he's doing and saying all this because of theNo.

I have to remember what I promised to myself earlier. I won't think about that, even for just my birthday. I want to be happy. I'll just face the consequences t omorrow, or the next day. What I want is to forget everything and pretend that h e wants to make my birthday memorable for me. Something I will not forget for th e rest of my life. What would I feel if it's true? I'm probably the luckiest girl on the planet. Th e person I've been dreaming of for as long as I can remember finally admits that he's starting to fall in love with me. Somehow, I don't feel as happy as before because something taints in my mind, al ways knowing, always judging everything Draky does. I can't blame it though, bec ause it has a point. It doesn't want me to get hurt. My brain and my heart are frenemies. Tonight, I'll pretend that Drake Swift really is falling in love with me. Hooray, I think sadly. I don't want to think about sad thoughts so I decide to make illusion in my head about happy things from the past. It's short lived though, because he starts to talk again. "I just want you to know my feelings," Draky says, brushing my hair away from my face, "you don't need to respond if you don't feel like it." So I don't, because I don't know what to say. I might just say something I'll re gret later. "I find myself daydreaming about you," Draky admits shyly. "Sometimes I'm smilin g for no apparent reason at all, and then I realize I'm thinking about you." It's easy to fall for him if I don't really know what he's up to. You can fall i n love with a guy like him even for just a few days of meeting him. With his goo d looks, charisma, and unexpected surprises, he can capture your heart in an ins tant. I lean to his chest, thinking of nothing, just this moment, not the past, not th e future. I have to take one day at a time. This is present so it means that it should be the one you're living; not something that already happened, and not so mething that might happen. "Pie," Draky murmurs, close to my ears, sending shiver and warmth in my body. "T hank you for making me happy." "I make you happy?" I ask, leaning back to look at his eyes. His eyes that can s ee right through my soul. He touches my nose lightly with his forefinger and says, "You're the only one wh o can make me feel this way." I don't know how to respond to that so I just smile and tighten my hands on his neck. To my surprise, he starts to move slowly, bringing me with him. "What are you doing?" I murmur.

"Dancing." Even though my eyes are close, I can imagine his expression. The corner of his m outh twitches upward, smiling his trademark smile. "I'm not a good dancer," I point out. "Me neither." He chuckles. I don't think what we're doing is called dancing because we're just swaying back and forth again and again. The soft music from a radio, I think it's a radio, i s our guide. It plays instrumental music. Before it's violin, now it's piano. After a minute, he breaks the silence. "Are you hungry?" he asks. If you could see that I'm the one who understands you, been here all along Suddenly, a giggle escapes from my mouth. "Seriously?" I ask between laughs. First Love Story, now You Belong With Me. What's next? Draky smiles sheepishly and says, "Taylor Swift is amazing." "I know," I agree, chuckling. Draky answers his cell phone, cutting Taylor Swift's song. "What?" he asks, afte r looking at the caller I.D. "Yes," he says after a moment, glancing at me. "Who is it?" I mouth. "Andre," he mouths back. It's hard to guess what they are talking about. Andre must be saying something i mportant because Draky listens to him attentively, nodding his head as if Andre can see him. "Really?" he asks. "Why didn't you tell me?!" While he listens, his expression i s changing. "Ha ha," he says sarcastically, "funny." I really want to know what they are talking about! "Okay, we're going. Bye." "We're going where?" I ask curiously. "I think you have to go home now," he says slowly, "they are getting worried." "Okay," I murmur, disappointed. It's not even late yet. "Let's go." "What about the lights?" I ask, glancing at them hesitantly. "I'll take care of them," he says evasively. "You sure?"

"Absolutely." To my amazement, he grabs my hand and we walk hand in hand towards his car. What am I getting myself into? Draky opens the passenger door for me, and then I get in and buckle my seat belt . After he slides in, he starts the car and then we're moving. "You know," I say, "Andre told me who he likes." Draky glances at me and asks eagerly, "Who?" "Me." His expression wiped from his face. "Funny," he says dryly. "He really told me that he likes me," I insist, although I know Andre was just t easing me. "You're really funny," he says amusedly, grabbing my hand and then intertwining our fingers. - - - - The house is unusually quiet when we arrive. There are no lights, even in the po rch. "Why is it dark?" I ask, getting out of the car. "Maybe there's no electricity," Draky guesses. That's possible. They cut the electricity before when there were snowstorms and bad climate. Now, the weather is nice. Calm, even. Draky sees my reaction and says, "Let's go and see." Getting the spare key in my pocket, I put it in the doorknob and twist it. Draky opens the door and then we enter the house, closing the door behind us. It's more darker inside, than outside. When I find the switch button, I press th e light, but it just click. Uh oh. There really is no electricity. I wonder why I didn't notice the other houses wh en we were on the road earlier. Suddenly, there's a little light coming from Draky's direction. "I have a flashl ight," he says, smiling. "A boyscout," I say. "I was," he admits, "a few years ago." Well, that's news. "What are we going to do now?" I ask, making my way towards him.

He shrugs. "What do you want?" "I'm not sure," I say. Because there's no electricity, our choices are limited. "What is that?" Draky asks, pointing the flashlight on the couch. We walk towards it and find two boxes on top of the couch. There's a note above the box. The words written on it are: Sophia Taylor, wear these tonight. I look at Draky, not believing what I'm seeing. "Who do you think left these her e?" I ask. "No idea," he replies. "Why don't you open these boxes so that we can see what a re the things inside?" When I open the first box, I'm surprise to see a dress. It's pink, sleeveless, a nd I'm sure it will reach just above my knees. Embroidered on its hems are littl e flowers. There are ruffles that make it flow when you walk. Simple and classy, but elegant at the same time. "Nice," Draky says, nodding his head in approval. The other box contains a pair of high heels. When you fasten it, a glittery ribb on will come into view. Now, I'm confused. Why would they give something like this to me? Are these a bi rthday gift? From who? "What am I going to do with these?" I wonder aloud. "Wear them," Draky suggests. "For what?" I ask dryly. "And besides, it's dark." He rolls his eyes and raises the flashlight on his hand. "Come on, I want to see you in that dress." "Why don't you just imagine it?" "Imagination is not the same with reality," he says disapprovingly. "I'll help y ou upstairs if you're scared to go there alone." "I'm not scared," I mutter. "And okay, I'll try this dress." "The shoes too," he adds. "Whatever." He carries the two boxes while I hold the flashlight for us to see where we are walking. We make our way upstairs and then stops in front of my room. "Wait for me here," I instruct and get the boxes from him. "Are you sure?" he asks, raising his eyebrows. "Maybe I can help you get dress."

For the first time, I'm glad with the darkness because it conceals the blush sta rting to flood my cheeks. "No need," I mutter, shoving his flashlight to him and walking inside my room, s hutting the door behind me. Giving the flashlight to him is not a good idea because now I can't see. I use m y instinct and other senses as I strip down my clothes. And then I wear the dres s, careful not to put my arm on the wrong hole. Finally, when I'm finish, I put on the heels and lock them in place. Unfortunately, I can't see what I look like now. I brush my tangled hair away fr om my face and search for my pouch bag to apply some lip-gloss on my dry lips. W hen I'm contented, I decided to"Pie!" The sound of Draky's voice is coming from downstairs. I open the door of my room and not that surprised to find that he's gone, along with the flashlight. "What?" I ask loudly and irritably. I can't believe he left me here. Alone. "You have to come here and see this!" "What is it?!" "Just go here and see for yourself," he shouts back. How can I walk without a light?! Heaving a sigh, I try to remember the place of the staircase. I might fall off a nd break my neck, or worse. I don't even want to think about that. When I find the banister, I hold on to it as if my life depended on it, as I mak e my way downstairs, one-step at a time. Why am I even wearing heels? I might just slip on them. Not wanting to come back again in my room, I just continue walking. I'm like a blind person. I can't eve n see anything. It's as if my eyes are not open. Don't take your eyes for granted. They are very important to you. Well, people n ever really know what they have 'till it's gone. I breathe a sigh of relief when my feet lands on the last step. "Where are you?" I ask. There's a rustling coming outside. Don't tell me. . . "I'm in the back porch." "Seriously?!" I bite my tongue to stop the complaints I want to say. I raise my arms in front of me. The left one is outstretch beside me, while the right one is guiding me not to run straight into a wall. In my head, I imagine the house so that I can go directly outside. It's hard to

walk without a light and what makes it worse is that I'm wearing heels. Draky should have a good reason why he wants me to go here. I feel the cold touc h of the glass door leading outside. I almost trip on the steps; thank God, I qu ickly regain my balance. "Draky?" I ask, walking towards the pool. "Where are you?" I wait quietly for hi m to answer me, but he doesn't. "You want me to come here for what?" I ask impat iently. Suddenly, I feel cold. The wind touches my bare arms, sending chills to my body. How many more days are there before Christmas? Soon, snow will fall from the sk y. I glance upward and then feel disappointed because the moon is hidden from the c louds. There are no stars to light the dark sky. All of a sudden, all I want is to go to my room and to change into my pajamas. I try once again, though. "If you want to play hide and seek," I say, "play with yourself. I'm going to sl eep." When I'm about to turn around, something flickers in my peripheral vision. I loo k at the pool and find a candlelight floating on it. I stare, wonder-struck, as another and another fills the pool with light. There are probably dozens of them , floating, illuminating the darkness that once engulfs this place. How the candle lights up is beyond me. I don't have a good explanation for that. What is happening here? I look around me but I don't see anyone. But I have a fe eling I'm not alone in this place. My breathing comes faster and faster, as I stare at the candle lights on the poo l. A gasp escapes from my mouth as different colors of Christmas lights starts t o brighten Auntie's garden. They are on the vines of the roses, on the small bus hes of the flowers, everywhere in the garden. There are even Christmas lights on the tables and lounge chairs beside the pool. They look like the same lights on the clearing. To my surprise, a soft music begins to play. Then shadows starts to come out of the darkness. ******************************************* [45] The Bet *Cloud 9 ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 39 Part 4 *Cloud 9* ~Sophia

"Happy birthday to you." What? "Happy birthday to you."

Where are they? "Happy birthday happy birthday." Oh my God. "Happy birthday Sophia." They continue to sing while I stand, my feet planted on the ground, as something moves from my peripheral vision. A surprise sound comes out of my mouth when Driana walks to where I am. "Happy birthday Sophia," she says, giving me a hug. "T-th-thanks," I stutter. "You really thought I forgot your birthday?" she asks incredulously. "I'm not a horrible best friend!" I smile sheepishly because that possibility came to my mind. "What is happening ?" She playfully zips her lips and throws the key away. "Driana," I say. The hidden people continue to sing a happy birthday while I pressure Driana to t ell me what's going on. She shakes her head and bites her lip to stop the smile forming on her mouth. Andre comes next. "Happy birthday Sophia," he says, giving me a hug as well. "Andre?" I say, hugging him back. He grins. "I wish you a happy birthday!" "Thank you," I murmur. Like Driana, I know Andre won't tell me so I just wait and keep my mouth shut. I 'm not the type of person that will just stand while the people around her moves . The suspense is killing me! I'm so curious, I want to know everything! The next person to come out of the shadow is Aunt V. I'm surprised to see her be cause I thought it's just Driana, Andre, and Draky. I can't imagine Aunt V agree d to do this. "Happy birthday Sophia," she says, kissing me on the cheek. "Thanks Auntie," I say gratefully. I'm about to just go to where they're coming from when Andre grabs my arm and sh akes his head at me. "A little impatient, are we?" he asks. I frown and give him a pleading look. "Please?" "Sorry, you have to wait here." I can see that he is enjoying this.

The next people to walk towards me are unexpected. Very unexpected. "Parker?" I ask, surprised. "Chloe? What are you doing here?" He grins, liking my facial expression. "I'm here to greet you a happy birthday!" "I-" "Since I didn't send you a message earlier," he says amusedly. They walk to where I am and then Parker puts his arms around me. "I'm not stupid to forget your birthday," he says. I put my arms around him as well, and say, "Thank you," many times. "You're surprised, right?" Chloe asks eagerly. "We thought if we just greet you a happy birthday, it'll be just like everyone else so we decided to come up with plans." "And I'm tired of people jumping to surprise the celebrant when he or she arrive s," Parker adds. I'm grinning from ear to ear, staring at the people that matters to me. "What yo u did was perfect. Very creative!" Well, considering it's Parker, he will not do something that is less than one hundred percent. My parents are the only ones missing. If they're here, everything is complete. B ut maybe you can't get everything you want for a day. Even if it's your birthday . "I know," Parker says smugly. "We want you to be happy. Remember your birthday s even years ago? When we dressed as magicians and clowns? We thought of things th at will make you really surprised, so this is it. We're genius." "You're lacking modesty you know," I tease. He ruffles my hair and grins. "I know you like me this way." "You came all the way here for my birthday?" I murmur. "Of course." He winks at me. "But you have school tomorrow. . ." "So?" "When will you go back?" I ask. "After the party." My tears are threatening to spill because of the emotions I feel inside me. "Par ker!" "Oh, don't cry now," he says softly. "I really want to do this for you." "Yes," Chloe agrees. "We want you to be happy. So we decided to go here after sc hool. Thank God we didn't have class in the afternoon." "Chloe. . ."

"It's your birthday, you shouldn't cry," Parker says, trying to make me laugh. "These are tears of joy," I mumble, wiping the now falling tears from my eyes wi th the back of my hands. He smiles and takes his handkerchief to wipe my tears away. "It's worth it to dr ive five hours to see you. Besides, it's your special day. Smile, it will make y ou look good." "As if I don't look good already," I say. He laughs along with my friends. "So who's lacking modesty now?" I grin. "Your lack of modesty is contagious." "Oh well, because I'm a good teacher." "Yes you are," I affirm. To my astonishment, Draky comes next. Why did they make him last? Are they tryin g to imply something?! He makes his way towards us and gives a bouquet of pink roses to me. "Happy birt hday Sophia," he says. "Thank you," I reply shyly. I don't know why, but I remember the kiss earlier. The way his lips move to meet mine, the way his hands hold me close to him, the sound of his voice while murm uring my name. Why am I repeating that scene in my head? My friends, even Aunt V whoops at Draky and me. it's so embarrassing! I can feel my cheeks heating up. I wish I can control this blush from coming to my face. I wonder why they're still singing. Are there more people who will come? "Thank you everyone," I say, smiling from ear to ear. "I appreciate all-" "Wait," Parker interjects. "There's more." He points to the shadow and that's wh en I see them. "M-mom?" I ask, my voice is shaking, and I can't control it. "Happy Birthday Sophia," she says, walking towards me. When she opens her arms, I run into them and hug her as tightly as I can. I've never been so happy in the arms of my mother. I bury my face on her shoulde r, and that's when I notice the uncontrollable tears flowing from my eyes, stain ing her dress. "I'm so sorry for leaving you," she murmurs, brushing my hair away from my face and then kissing me on the cheek. "Mom, I missed you so much," I whisper, not letting go. I can hear the smile in her voice when she says, "Someone wants to see you too."

I lean away slowly and gasp when I see someone behind her. "Dad!" "My girl," he says, pulling me to him. "Happy Birthday Sophia!" I hug my dad as tightly as I can. Oh God, I missed my parents so much. I won't b e here in this world without them. Suddenly I feel guilty for thinking bad thing s about them. I shove the thought away because I don't want past mistakes to rui n this enchanted moment. It's not yet the time to ask them why did they leave me . Tomorrow I will get the answers I need. And I'm sure they will tell me everyth ing I need to know. I feel light; I can feel myself floating with happiness and glowing like there's some light surrounding me. To put it simply, I'm on a cloud 9. I've never been happy like this before. This is the best day and night of my life yet. And it wi ll forever be in my mind as long as I live. "Thank you so much," I repeat, blinking back the tears that are spilling from my eyes without control. "I'm so happy. I thought you forgot my birthday," I say s heepishly, "I'm glad- so glad to be here tonight. Thank you so much!Thank you so much to all of you! You don't have any idea how. . . words can't express this f eeling I have." Fortunately, I'm not embarrassed to cry in front of them because of the overwhel ming euphoria I have inside my body. What I know is I'm fully contented on every thing that is happening. "You're welcome," Parker says. "I think it's eating time, right? I'm hungry!" Laughter fills the air. Parker is so good with words; he can move a crowd in an instant. So we go to the spot beside the garden where they arrange tables and chairs. Thi s is an enchanting night. I wonder how they planned all of this, without me know ing anything about it. While eating, we talk and converse with each other. I can see in the faces of ev eryone that they're having fun. The happiness we're feeling is contagious. I can even taste it in the air surrounding us. Matt is the only one missing today. I know that wherever he is, he's happy for me. These people are my family. And thi s is what home feels like. When the cake arrives, they sing me a happy birthday again. At first, it feels a wkward because I don't know what to do while they're singing so I decide to just sing with them instead. The cake is simple, yet elegant. It's a two layer vanilla chocolate cake with sw irling designs on the side. There are seventeen candles in different colors. "Make a wish, make a wish," they chant excitedly. Closing my eyes, I lean down and wish with all my heart. After that, I take a de ep breath and blow all the candles in one breath. They said that when you do tha t, there's a big chance that your wish will come true. But of course, you have t o take action too if you really want your wish to happen. To my surprise, they start to give their gifts to me. All of them- well, except for Draky because I'm already wearing his gift for me. Even Parker and Chloe, a lthough they told me a few days ago that the dress and the shoes were their gift

s for me. I should have known! My mom tells me to open the gifts after my birthd ay for a good luck. That's okay, so I agree. I'll open them tomorrow morning. "Sophia is getting older," Parker teases. "She's still my lovely daughter," says my mom affectionately. "Who's the lucky guy?" asks my dad. Lucky guy? I don't know how and why, but everyone except from my parents look at Draky. "Dad," I say quickly before he can notice what's happening, "I don't have a boyf riend." "Is that true?" he asks, looking pointedly at Draky. I almost laugh when I see Draky's adam's apple bobbles when he swallows. I think he's nervous. "Sophia doesn't have a boyfriend sir," he says. "Studies first," says my dad, smiling. I know he's just giving Draky a hard time because he can feel that there's somet hing going on between us. A father radar. We continue to update what's happening in our life, occasionally laughing when t hey say something funny. After some time, the adults talk about something that doesn't interest us so Dri ana and I decide to walk to the swimming pool and look at the candle lights. Bef ore I can ask her about them, she speaks first. "Where did you get that necklace?" she asks, a knowing smile is on her face. "I. . um." Why is it so hard to tell her that it's from her twin? "A birthday gift from your boyfriend?" Andre chimes in, wiggling his eyebrows. "I don't have a boyfriend!" I say indignantly, glancing at my parents to make su re they're out of hearing range. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see them busy talking to Parker, Chloe, and Aunt V. I don't know when Andre appears beside us . "Really?" he asks, feigning he's surprised. "What is Drake to you then?" "What?" I ask, taken aback. "I heard you talking about me," Draky says, walking towards us. "I heard my beau tiful name." Driana rolls her eyes. "Always full of himself." "I didn't hear you sister," he says, putting his arm around her shoulder. Driana squirms away from him, and in the end, she ends up standing beside Andre. They are even standing close to each other. I wonder why Draky doesn't notice i t. I have a feeling on who Andre likes, but I'm not really sure about it so I just

keep quiet. If I tell the name now and find out I'm wrong, er, it's embarrassing . I'll just wait for Andre when he's ready to tell us. A smirk makes its way onto my mouth as I think: If he'll ever be ready. In the corner of my eye, I see my mom making her way towards us. "Hi mom," I say . "Hello there," she says. "Andre, Driana, and . . . you're Drake right?" "Yes ma'am," Draky says. "You're Andre's best friend and Driana's twin brother," she states. Oh no. Where is my mom taking this conversation? I hope she won't notice the way Draky and I act with each other. My mom has an amazing instinct when it comes t o me. I have a feeling her radar is working full force now. "Are you sure you're just friends with my daughter?" asks my mom. "Mom!" Draky struggles to fight off the smirk forming on his mouth. "We're friends," he says, but his voice is implying that there's something more between us. "You're not her boyfriend?" she asks, ignoring my pleading look at her to stop a sking questions. "No," Draky says. Because he's beside me, I hear the words: Not yet when he mutters them under his breath. I'm glad my mom doesn't hear it because I'm sure she will ask a lot of questions to him. Before she can say something more, I ask, "Are you going inside?" "Yes," she replies, "I'm going to get the lasagna." "I'll do it," I volunteer. "No, I can." "It's okay mom," I insist. "Fine," she says, smiling. "I'll help her," Draky says. "Good," says my mom approvingly. One minute Draky and I are walking side by side and then all of a sudden we're h olding each other's hand. I don't know how that happened. Our hands just find ea ch other and then our fingers intertwine. When I'm alone I'll try to think about the situation I am in. I can't think stra ight because he's beside me. I'm sure my decision will be affected by his presen ce. I'll try to distinguish my feelings for him and his feelings for me. And wel l, the thing between us. It's still my birthday so I don't have to think about t hat yet. It's creeping in the back of my mind though, waiting eagerly for my bir

thday to be done so that it can torture me with haunting thoughts. All of a sudden, Draky stops walking bringing me to a halt. "What?" I ask. "Nothing," he says, smiling slyly. "Tell me." He raises our hands and says, "I'm just happy.Perfectly happy to be with you." H e takes my other hand and kisses it. I swear my heart skips a beat. More butterflies flutter in my stomach. There are more now than before. They probably multiply three times. I can feel their wing s inside me. Oh Draky, it's hard to distinguish your feelings for me. I wish it's just easy f or both of us but you make it difficult with your actions that I can't even comp rehend which is real from unreal. I know that tomorrow we'll go back to normal. "Is there something wrong?" he asks gently. I shake my head and smile. "It's my birthday. Everything is perfect. Or, well, c lose to perfect anyway." "That's good," he replies, "I want you to be happy." "You make me happy." "That's just-" he pauses and looks at me like he's seeing me for the first time. "What?" he asks. "Can you repeat what you just said?" I don't . . . oh my. I can't believe I said that. How did it come out of my mouth? Did I mean that? W hy did I even think of that in the first place? "I make you happy," Draky says slowly. "I make you happy." I lost count on how m any times he says that. Finally, he looks at me with a huge grin on his face. "I 'm glad I can make you happy!" I smile at his enthusiasm. His smile is contagious! When he smiles, it's hard no t to smile with him. "Let's go," I say tugging at his hand. "They're probably wondering why it takes us a long time to get the lasagna." "Wait a second." "Why?" I ask curiously. "I want to this first." "What-" He kisses me on the cheek, making me stop from talking. "D-Draky," I stutter.

"What?" he asks innocently. "You can't just kiss me without asking permission," I say disapprovingly. I can' t believe he's confident enough to do that! "Okay," he agrees. "Next time I'll ask your permission." Next time? Oh well. You never know what will happen tomorrow. Or in the future for that mat ter.

***** Hi! ^.^ I hope you like this! I found something interesting. Click the External link to read it. You'll be inspired :) The song is These Are The Nights by Making April. I love this song! :) Banner by mwaaah_kisses95 The original title of the chapter was supposed to be Kisses and Butterflies but I thought Cloud 9 would be better :) Thank you for reading my story ******************************************* [46] The Bet *Right Minus Wrong ******************************************* OMG! 4,000,000 READS! Thank you so much! The song is All That I Am by Parachute - a wonderful song and a great band! Bann ers by CreativeSideOfLife :> I watched Breaking Dawn Part 1 earlier. It was Amazing! The best of all Twilight films ;) I hope you'll like this chapter. Thank you so much! :D Happy Reading! Chapter 40 *Right Minus Wrong* ~ Sophia

"Wake up!" "Wake up!" "Why don't you let her sleep? She can open your gifts later." Muffled voices. I can hear them but I can't really make out the meaning of what they are saying. Whispers.

Soft conversations. I'm in a dreamless sleep where my body is wide awake, conscious of what's happen ing around me. I try to assess my current situation. I'm lying on my bed, in between two people who are sitting on either side of me. Someone from my right side shifts, making the bed stir. I want to open my eyes but it seems a hard thing to do. I feel trapped. Someone is shaking my arm, probably waking me. I hear a snap but I can't get the words exchange between two people. Someone is whispering, and then nothing. . . I peek behind my eyelashes and then I see Driana and Andre sitting on my bed. Th ey both look impatient. Draky is leaning on the wall, tapping his foot in beat t o the music he only hears. I'm about to feign sleep when Draky catches me staring at him. "Sleeping Beauty is finally awake," he says. "Good morning." "Morning," I say sheepishly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. A yawn involuntaril y escapes from my lips and then I stretch my arms in front of me because they fe el stiff. "Good morning Sophia," Driana says, grinning. "Morning," I reply. "What are you doing here? You went home last night, right?" "Yes," she answers. "But I wanted to see your face when you open my present so-" "So she decided to wake me in the middle of my sleep to drive her here," Draky f inishes for her. Glancing at my alarm clock, I see it's just quarter to six. "Dri, you should jus t call me. I can open the gifts when you're around. You didn't have to wake up e arly." "You said you're going to open them when you wake up," she replies, "I don't wan t to take chances." "Thank you," I say, clearly touched for everything she's doing for me. I feel bl essed to be her friend. "Open this!" Driana says eagerly, giving her present to me. "No, open mine first!" Andre quickly puts Driana's gift away, replacing his own present for me. "But I'm the first one who came here." "That's because you wanted to be here first," Andre says dryly. "Guys," I say, rolling my eyes at them. "I'll open all the gifts. No need to fig ht." "We're not fighting," they say simultaneously.

Andre and Driana are amusing to watch when they argue. They're like two children asking for a playmate. That means they were the people who wanted to wake me. D raky was the one who stopped them. It was not a dream. . . Something in my peripheral vision gets my attention. It's a box with heavenly bo dies cover: stars, milky-way, and galaxy. I wonder why I didn't notice it last n ight when we carried the gifts to my room. Opening the lid of the box, I find pi eces of puzzles inside. Furrowing my eyebrows, I ask, "What's this?" "It's a game where you put all the pieces of puzzle together to complete a pictu re or a message," Draky answers. "Really?" I ask sarcastically. "I did not know that. Is this from you?" "Yes." He grins. "And I was just giving you some definition." "But you already gave a gift to me," I say, glancing at the rosary necklace on t op of my drawer. "So?" he asks. "Okay Mr. Generous, thank you." "My pleasure Ms. Seventeen." Rolling my eyes, I get a single piece from the box. It's proportions are not equ al, and the background is dark with little dots. There's a letter, I think it's P, but I'm not sure. Maybe the puzzle has a message. Or it is a message itself. I don't know. "What's the message?" I ask curiously. "Why don't you start putting them together to find out?" "Thanks," I mutter. "Aren't you going to do it now?" "She has to open our gifts first," Andre interjects. I shrug. "Okay. I'll just put the puzzles together later." "Open mine now," Driana says. I get Driana's present and unwrap it. A sound of appreciation comes out of my mouth when I see that it's a charm brace let. "Do you like it?" Driana asks hesitantly. "I love it," I say enthusiastically. The charm bracelet has a star, a heart (that's actually two dolphins combined), butterfly, horse, and a flower. In between are shiny purple pearls. "Thank you so much!" I say, giving her a hug.

"I'm so glad you like it," she replies, smiling hugely. "Mine's next," Andre says, handing me a paper bag. When I pull the ribbon, I get the presents inside. Not only one, but there are t hree cd's in my hands. You guess it right; they are the albums of Taylor Swift. Andre gave me Taylor Sw ift, Fearless, and Speak Now albums. Andre Lavigne! "Thank you," I mutter. "Oh," Andre says, frowning, "don't tell me you don't like them. I had hard time thinking about my gifts for you." Not wanting to be rude, I say, "I like them. I always listen to Taylor's songs." "That's cool," he says, smiling from ear to ear. "Thank you," I repeat. In the corner of my eye, I see Draky smirking. Maybe he planned this with Andre. Who knows? The next gift is from Parker and Chloe. They both went home after the party. We told them to stay for the night but unfortunately, they couldn't. They have morn ing classes today. When I open the little black box, Driana asks what it is. "It's a locket," I answer, touching the silver chain. Unclasping it, I find a picture inside. It's me and Draky, smiling at each other . How did Parker get this? If I'm not mistaken, it was the time when we watched a movie. But how did he take it without me knowing? Parker! If he's here, I'll shoot him with a lot of questions. "Who's inside?" Andre asks eagerly. "Nothing," I say quickly. "Why don't you let us see it then?" he probes. "Um, because there's nothing to see," I say evasively. "Really?" he asks, smiling slyly. "Maybe you're hiding something from us." "Why would I hide something from you?" I ask, faking a laugh. I quickly put the locket in my pocket before he can snatch it from my hands. Aunt V's present is a diamond necklace. I'm sure it costs a lot. I don't know wh en's the right time to wear it. I put it safely in my bag before I can misplace it.

My parents' gift for me is at our house. I'll take a look at it later when I get home from school. "That's it," I say, "Finished." "Is that your bag?" Andre asks suddenly, looking at my get away bag on the corne r. "Yes," I answer. "So you're going home now," he states. "That's the plan." "Oh." "You're going to miss Sophia aren't you?" Driana teases, wiggling her eyebrows. "Of course I'm going to miss her," Andre says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "How can you not miss the love of your life? I don't want to be a way from her. Just thinking about it gives me a heart break." "That's funny," Draky says wryly. Andre tilts his head to the side and sniffs. "I smell some jealousy here." That's when I remember everything that happened yesterday. The blindfold. The clearing. The kiss. The surprise. Everything comes rushing back to my mind, invading my thoughts of the most dread ful question I have. Was it real? My plan was to think about that when I wake up but I can't do it right now, cons idering I'm not alone. It's not my birthday anymore so the sick thought is slowly creeping in my head, poisoning the happy thoughts I had yesterday and last night. I wish I could capt ure it again without the malice thought of Draky playing with me. I wish last ni ght was real, not just scenes my imagination built. I shake my head furiously. This is not the time for that. I can think about them later at home, when I'm sure no one will be there except for my parents. Beside s, I need to talk to my parents about what happened to them in the past few week s. "I guess we need to leave you alone to get ready for school," Draky says breakin g me from my reverie. "That's a good idea," I mutter. After taking a bath and putting comfortable clothes, I walk downstairs to meet t he others. What I see is my Mom, probably waiting for me. "Good morning Mom," I say, giving her a hug. "Good morning Sophia," she says. "How was your sleep?"

"It was fine," I reply. I didn't add the part where Driana and Andre woke me up. "Are we going home later?" "Yes. You can come home if you want." "Really?" I ask eagerly. "Of course," she answers, smiling. "You can come back here after school-" "Can you just bring my bag with you so that after school I can go home directly? " I ask hopefully. "So, you already organized your things?" she asks. "Yes, last night." "Okay then," she says. "See you later. Take care!" "See you," I say. I can't wait to go home. I missed my room so much and of course, I miss the hous e. I've been living there for four years. Just thinking about being there makes me happy. Still, a part of me is going to miss this house. I never thought I would be sad in leaving this place. I don't have to feel blue though, because I know I will c ome back again. When I walk outside, I find Draky, Driana, and Andre at the driveway, talking to each other. "We're going to school together," Andre says excitedly. "There are two cars," Dray reminds him. "So?" "That means we can't really go to school together," he replies, rolling his eyes at his best friend. "That's a shame," Andre says, frowning. "I have an idea," Driana says. "Let's hear it," Draky replies. "Why don't you ride with Andre," she says, "while Sophia and I will go to school with your car." "No way!" Draky argues. "Why not?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm the only one who can drive my car," he says. "Even me?" I challenge. "Well. . . " Andre and Driana exchange a look. I have a feeling they're thinking something's

going on between Draky and me. I notice that we act quite weirdly when we're tog ether. "I have a suggestion," Andre says, "I'll ride with Driana, while Drake and Sophi a will go together. Okay?" Driana raises her eyebrow, asking if that's okay with me. "Fine," I say with a shrug. "Sure," Draky agrees. "That's settled then," Andre says smugly. "All you need is a smart guy like me." The ride with Draky to school is silent. We're both preoccupied with our own tho ughts. I wonder what he's thinking. Does he replay the scenes in his mind from y esterday? Maybe. I keep thinking everything that happened last night. Did he mean what he said? W hat he did? It's hard to distinguish what's real from what's pretend. Before I know it, we're in the school parking lot. "Do you want me to drive you to your house later?" he asks as he shuts off the e ngine of his car. "Sure," I say without thinking. He smiles. "Good. Just text me what time we'll meet." "Okay." I slide out of his car and am about to head to my first class when someone block s my way. "You're Sophia, right?" Cassidy asks. "Yes," I answer. I wonder why she's talking to me. We were schoolmates since freshman year, and i t's the first time we speak to each other. "I just want to say something," she says, putting her hands on her hips. "Drake is mine." Whoa. Wait. Did I miss something? "Since when did not Drake belong to his self?" I ask. She glares at me and says, "I'm not joking." "I'm not laughing," I say obviously. Seriously, if she wants Draky, why is she doing this? Why me? As if it's officia l that Draky and me are together. People start looking at us; perhaps they are curious about what we are talking. "Don't mess with me," Cassidy says in a threatening voice, "you don't want to be on my bad side."

The old Sophia will walk away and forget what happen. But because of what I'm ex periencing-- knowing that someone is playing with me, and planning my revenge-I don't want to back out. The only advantage I get from this game is I become braver than before. Stronger . I can't let anyone, especially someone like Cassidy, to mess with my life. "If you like him," I say, "why are you talking to me?" "Because you're on the way!" Cassidy reminds me of the movie Mean Girls. She does things for selfish reasons, only thinking about herself. She'll do anything to get what she wants, even hur ting people in the process. "Look," I say, "just leave me alone." Time is precious, and I'm wasting mine by this nonsense conversation. I have a l ot more things to do than this. "I don't want you to be near him," she hisses. "Well, that's not my problem," I say, starting to walk away. Before I can take a few more steps away from her, she grabs my arm. Her hold is firm; pain immediately shoots through my arm. "That hurts!" I push her away from me until finally, she lets go. Looking at my arm, I see red marks on the spot where she hold me. I'll surely ha ve a bruise later. "That's just the start of your pain when you steal him away from me," she says. Steal? Is she this cheap to hurt me just because of a guy she likes? I thought that kin d of thing only happen in books. It's quite creepy how she can do that just beca use of Draky. After a few seconds of glaring at me, she walks away with a satisfied look on he r face. Heaving a sigh, a single thought forms in my mind: I have a new enemy. ******************************************* [47] The Bet *U-turn ******************************************* PLEASE READ! Cassidy is not a last minute effort to make the story longer -___- I planned thi s before. Remember in Chapter 20, I told you to pay attention to every detail? I t's because it's a starting point in introducing Cassidy to the story. She was m entioned a couple of times by Drake's friends in the previous chapters. So now, you know who wrote "Drake is mine" on Sophia's paper. My Internet connection is much slower than a turtle :O If you'd like to know how I came up with ideas of my stories, or anything about writing, you can read my interviews. Just click the "Dedicated to me" on my profile to view them.

The song is Someone Like You by The Summer Set. Pic of Sophia on the side by Cre ativeSideOfLife. Facebook page on the External link :) I hope you'll like this chapter! Thank you! <3

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 41 *U-turn* ~Sophia

"She hurt you?!" "Yes," I murmur. I'm about to finish my story to Driana but she interrupts me- for the first time -when I tell her about the part where Cassidy grabbed my arm. "Why didn't you fight back?" demands Driana, staring intently at my bruised arm. I look at her oddly and then glance around me because we're surrounded with stud ents eating their lunch in the crowded cafeteria. They might hear her and then s he'll get in trouble because of me. She sighs. "I forgot- you're not going to hurt someone even they hurt you." I think of Draky, Andre, and my plan. "It's not that-" "Sophia," she interjects, rolling her eyes. "I should have been there. I so want to slap her face. I want to kick her butt too!" "Of course you do," I reply, grinning. In my mind, I can see Driana slapping Cas sidy's face repeatedly. It's not even hard to imagine. "She's not even pretty," she continues. "She's just a spoiled brat who hides beh ind her squad." "I know," I mutter, taking a bite of my sandwich. "Aren't you allergic to mayonnaise?" she asks, furrowing her eyebrows. "What?" I ask, surprised at the sudden change of our conversation. "You're allergic, right?" "Yes." I look down at my sandwich and my eyes widen when they see the mayo stick ing on the bread. Shoot! How can I be oblivious to not notice, or even taste the mayonnaise? "Are you okay?" Driana asks worriedly. "I'm fine," I tell her. "You look like you're going to be sick."

Just thinking about I accidentally ate ntil all the food I y body as I realize Oh no.

the after effect of eating mayo makes me sick. The last time mayonnaise was when I was thirteen. I didn't stop vomiting u ate that day went out of my system. A shudder runs through m that that scene will happen again.

It's my fault for being careless. Disgust, I put the sandwich away from me and gulp as much water my body can hold . I glance up and see Driana with a concerned look on her face. "Really, I'm okay," I lie. No need for her to be worried. "You can go to the clinic-" "I'd rather go to class and learn," I interrupt. Like hospitals, I don't like cl inics. Just thinking about being there makes me sick. Driana sighs. "You're so stubborn." That just put a smile on my face. ----When I go to the school parking lot, I easily spot Draky ood of his car; arms cross over his chest. He looks like ds from heaven. I find myself fixated on him, staring at dark hair shines more because of the rays of the sun. He looks like he's thinking about something important. With w. who is leaning on the h a bad angel that descen him in a distance. His has a faraway gaze; it Draky, it's hard to kno

Because of not looking where I'm going, I accidentally trip into a rock. I almos t slide on the ground! Fortunately, I gain my balance. Looking up, I see Draky w ith an amused expression on his face. "That's what you get when you stare at me," he says, a smirk tugging at the corn er of his mouth. "I'm not staring!" I deny, even though my face surely gives me away. This stupid blush is getting on my nerves! He tilts his head to the side and says, "Really? I thought I saw you looking at my face, like studying every inch of me." "I'm not!" He laughs, clearly enjoying what he's doing. "Fine! If you continue to tease me, I'm just going to ride a bus," I say, and st art to turn away. "Wait!" He runs to where I am, and in a second, he's blocking my way. "What?" I ask, scowling at him. Do I have to remind him that his plan is to make me fall in love with him? Why is he doing this then?! "I was just kidding," he says, controlling his smile. "But I really thought-" "What?" I scold. "You thought?"

"Maybe my vision is not good after all," he says, grinning. "I didn't saw you st aring at me." A smile appears on my face as I say, "Maybe you have to go to the optometrist an d have your eyes check." "That's a good idea," he says. Well, it's good to know who has the upper hand. To my surprise, he grabs my hands and plants a kiss on them. I stare at him, eye s wide with shock. He's so spontaneous, it's hard to guess what his next moves a re. One second he's teasing me, and the next he's being romantic. "What are you doing?" I whisper, too shock to take my hands away from him. There are some students getting in their cars while others are walking around. N ow they watch us with curious eyes. If they doubt that Draky and I are dating, t hey are sure now. I have a feeling it will be on the news tomorrow. School news, I mean. He smiles slyly and says, "You forgot?" "Forgot what?" He squeezes my hands and says, "That I think I'm falling in love with you." My heart skips a beat. I want to scream at it not to do anything stupid because Draky is just lying. My heart and my brain are arguing and it makes my mind fuzz y, it's hard to think straight. "You can't fall in love in just a couple of days knowing a person," I say tiredl y. He tucks a loose hair behind my ear and says, "What about Romeo and Juliet? They fell in love at first sight." "But they are fictional characters," I argue. The famous star-crossed lovers. Wi lliam Shakespeare wrote their love story. "Aren't we?" he asks bemusedly. "We're people," I say obviously, rolling my eyes. "My point is, we can't just stop our feelings, no matter how hard we try," he sa ys with a sigh. "Believe me, I tried. However, the more I bury it, the more it b looms. Remember what we told in front of the class- what our topic was?" He does n't wait for me to respond, he says, "We can't help who we fall in love with. It 's even surprising when you find out that everything you want is not going accor ding to plan. Love comes in least expected places and situations." Why is he proclaiming his love for me now? What day is it anyway? Oh yeah, the f ourteenth day. What's the rush? Does he want to be free off the bet? Why not sto p it then? I forgot. He doesn't want to back out. No doubt, he'll continue this until the end. "Pie?" "Yes?"

"I'm sorry," he says, letting go of my hands. "For what?" My hands fall limply at my side. "For telling you this. I shouldn't rush you. I'm sorry." You have a lot of things to be sorry about, I think. Instead, I just say, "That' s okay." He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Let's go? Your mom is probably waitin g for you." When we're both in his car, he starts the engine and off we go. I roll my window s even though it's starting to rain. I need fresh air, especially now that I fee l suffocated. We're both silent, contemplating with our own thoughts. The only t ime he speaks is when he asks if I want to listen to music. I shake my head and he stops asking questions. My mind is swirling with information I can't organize . After a few minutes, he says, "You talked to Cassidy earlier?" "Why are you asking?" He shrugs. "How did you even know?" I can't remember him standing near the crime scene. My eyes involuntarily glance at my arm. It has a yellowy bruise. I hope it won't le ave a scar to make me remember of that unfortunate scene. "Someone told me," he answers. Gossip travels fast in a high school hall. "What did you talk about?" "Why would I tell you?" I ask wryly. "Why wouldn't you tell me?" he asks, mimicking the tone of my voice. "It's not your business." I don't know why, but I don't want Draky to be involve d in my problem with Cassidy. If he finds out, I don't want to be the one to tel l him. I'm not a tattletale. "Please?" he pleads. "Nope." "Please?" He looks at me under his eyelashes, using his charm on me. I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. "If you want to know, ask Cassidy. Y ou're friends, right?" He rolls his eyes and says, "I want it to come from you. If not, I'd rather not know." "You know though that it will be the talk of students tomorrow," I state. "Yes. But I'm sure they will alter some of it." "High school," I say with a shrug. Before I know it, he's parking his car on our driveway. And that's when I rememb

er I have to play my role, so I ask him, "Do you want to come inside?" He looks surprised at my offer. "Sure." We walk side by side on the path leading to the house. It feels like the last ti me I came here, but I know I won't be alone. I decide not to use my key; instead , I push the doorbell. After a few minutes, my mom opens the door. "Hi Mom," I say, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Is dad home?" "No, he's at the office," she replies. "But he'll be on time for dinner." She gl ances at Draky, a knowing smile forming on her lips. "He wanted to say Hi," I explain, "And he offered to give me a ride." "Hello Drake," my Mom says. "Hi Mrs. Taylor," Draky says politely. "It's so nice of you to take care of my daughter." "I'd like to make sure she gets home safe," he replies. "How are you?" "I'm good, thank you." "Sophia is tutoring you, right?" asks my mom. "Yes, Mrs. Taylor," he says. "Sophia is doing a great job. I wonder where she ge ts that- being smart." Mom laughs, clearly touched by Draky's words. Wait. Is he trying to become close to my mom? I narrow my eyes at him, but he's purposely not looking at me. "Don't call me Mrs. Taylor," says my mom, "You can call me Auntie. Besides, you' re Sophia's friend." She said the word friend as if there's something more! Draky smirks, and then looks hesitantly outside. "I'm sorry, but I think I have to go now." Mom frowns. "Are you busy?" "No, not really," Draky replies, "I'll just-" "Join us for dinner then." My eyes nearly bulge from their socket. What is my mom thinking? How can I talk to my parents if Draky is here as well? "Sure," he agrees, oblivious to my expression. A sigh comes out of my lips in that instant. "What?" My mom asks. "Nothing," I mutter. "I'm going to change."

"Okay," she replies. Then she guides Draky to our living room. I have a feeling they'll have a chat. About me, no doubt. I don't know why mom w ants Draky here when in the first place, we're going to talk. In the bathroom, I strip down my clothes and splashes water to my face. When I d on't feel contented, I decide to take a shower. The cold water refreshes my mind , clearing it with haunting and disturbing thoughts. After drying my body in a towel, I put a bathrobe and head to my room. Opening m y closet, I grab a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I don't plan to go downstairs an d be with Draky while my mom ask him questions so I decide to just stay here in my room. Unfortunately, I don't know what to do with my spare time, while waitin g for dinner to be served. My getaway bag is sitting at the edge of my bed. I have no clothes left at Andre 's house. The thought makes me sad. A lot of things happened in that house that I won't forget for the rest of my life. I get City of Glass from the shelf and start to read at a random page. I can't focus because the scenes from yesterday invades my mind. Why not analyze what ha ppened then, and distinguish what's real from pretend? I start from the time when we were in the clearing; the enchanted lights and the fairytale-like place. Pie, I think I'm falling in love with you. As if I believe him. If I don't know about the bet, I'll probably be jumping up and down, celebrating the fact that my old crush is in love with me. But I do kn ow. And that is a problem -for his part. Unfortunately for him, making Sophia Ta ylor fall in love is not as easy as he thought. A shiver runs my body when I remember the time our lips met. The feeling of his arms around me. The taste of his lips. Ugh, we kissed! I'm stupid for making it possible! I have to admit, he got me there. Why did I rise to his bait? I was not thinking then. And of course, I told myself that I would forget about the bet, even for a day. My heart leaps in my throat when someone knocks at the door. Its a few seconds b efore I say, "Come in." When the door opens, I find Draky standing outside, hands in his pockets. "Your mom told me to go here," he says, "because she'll cook in the kitchen. And she c an't concentrate if I stand beside her." So typical of my mom to do something like this. And so cocky of Draky to say som ething like that. "Come in then." I'm not rude to let him wait in the hall. "Nice room," he says, looking around. "Thank you," I say. "Have a seat." I nod at the little couch on the far side of the wall. He takes a seat and then just stares at me. "What?" I ask.

He smiles. "I'm just happy because as days go by, I'm learning new things about you." "Oh." He really knows how to make me speechless. "I did it again, didn't I?" "Its' fine," I assure him. He's so quiet, not like his usual self, so I ask him, "Do you want me to tutor y ou?" "Sure," he says, "it's the perfect time to study." I know he's being sarcastic but I ignore it. Getting my school bag, I take a sea t across from him. Then we arrange his things and begin to study. I teach him tr icks to make Calculus easy for him. He's easily bored with History, but I can se e him trying to appreciate the important scenes from the past. We study for about an hour when mom knocks at my door. "Dinner's ready," she say s. "We're coming," I reply. I help Draky organize his things in his bag. When we walk out of my room, I'm su rprised to see my mom standing in the hallway. It looks like she's spying on us, but I don't want to say it aloud. "Nice necklace," my mom compliments. "Thank you," I murmur. I don't remember putting it back after I showered. Please don't ask. Please don't"Who gave it to you?" Shoot! Before I can stop myself, I glance at Draky hesitantly. He raises his eyebrows s lightly, waiting for me to utter his name. Heaving a sigh, I say, "Drake gave it to me yesterday." Mom's lips twitches upward. I'm sure she guessed right. "That looks expensive fo r a birthday present." "Well. . ." "Sophia's birthday only comes once a year," Draky says. "And it's not expensive. " He's just being humble, not wanting to admit that it really is expensive. All Ti ffany Jewelry have gold price! I shouldn't have accepted this. Mom smirks. I hate it when she does that. It's as if she knows everything! "Let' s go downstairs," she says, "It's bad to make the food wait." I can already smell mom's steak even though we're still upstairs. In the dining room, I see my dad sitting at his usual chair. He smiles as he sees me and nods at Draky's direction.

We start to eat in silence, while I wait for the opportunity to ask my parents a bout their vacation. "This is great," Draky says suddenly. My mom beams, and that's the start of their conversation. They talk about things , like what are their interest, and whatnot. Soon after, my dad joins in. Asking Draky what's his plans for future are, where he will study in college. Many thi ngs. I tune most of the time and just focus in eating my food. Draky is right. M om's steak is great. It even has mashed potatoes that go with it. I don't know if I should feel shy because I have a guy friend sitting with us in the dining table but it's just normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe becau se Draky is easy to like, and well. . . I have to admit, he's not that bad. Trut h be told, the only thing I don't like about him is the bet. When the conversation begins to ebbs, I decide that this is my chance. "Mom," I begin. "Yes?" she says. Taking a deep breath, I say, "Why did you leave me in Aunt Veronica's house? Whe re did you go?" My parents are both silent. They just stare at me with concerned expression on t heir faces. I wait for them to be ready to speak while I swallow the steak I'm e ating. I don't even remember chewing it. I just take a bite and swallow. Out of nowhere, my mom says, "Your dad was sick." What? "S-sick?" I stutter. "What do you mean sick?" "Remember what happened to Matt?" she whispers. Of course, I remember. You just can't forget something like that. "Matt had inte rnal brain damage," I say numbly. I don't have an idea where this conversation i s headed. I'm asking why they went away, I didn't ask for the past to come back. In the corner of my eye, I can see Draky feeling uncomfortable. I know he's wait ing for the perfect time to excuse himself. Suddenly, I feel something burning inside my stomach, and it wants to come up. M y eyelids are drooping. I can hear my mom asking if I'm alright but I don't want to open my mouth because I'm sure something awful will come out. Hands clamp in my mouth, I run as fast as I can to the bathroom down the hall. J ust as I crouch down the toilet, my dinner comes out of my mouth. I feel sick. S tupid mayonnaise, I think bitterly. To my horror, the bathroom door opens, and Draky comes in, a worried expression on his face. "Get out," I try to say, but only an awful sound comes from my mouth. "Get out," I say again, and this time I must be clearer because he walks to where I am. He ignores my weak attempt at making him leave; instead, he kneels down beside m

e and keeps my hair out of my face. When I'm certain nothing will follow, I try to stand up with Draky's help. My kn ees are shaking, so I lean to him for support. I rinse my mouth in the sink unti l I can't taste anything. When we come back in the dining room, my parents look perplexed. What now? I didn't do something wrong! "Are you pregnant?" asks my dad sternly. The question is obviously directed at m e, but he's glaring at Draky. If looks could kill. ******************************************* [48] The Bet *Hand Me Down ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 42 *Hand Me Down* ~Sophia

P-pre-pregnant? The sound of the word is foreign to my mouth. The thought of being pregnant have n't even visited my mind. Where did my dad get that? Oh, I'm not stupid to be pr egnant while I'm still in high school. I have a lot of dreams, I can't see mysel f with a child. Just visualizing it sends a shudder through my body. Such a cree py thought. Beside me, Draky is as red as a strawberry. I don't know if he's controlling his self not to laugh or what. It looks like he's not breathing. Staring at him, that's when I realize what my dad is implying. The heat starts t o flood my cheeks, making me feel hot - inside and out. No wonder Draky is being like this - my dad accused him that he's the father of my imaginary child. I have a child - and Draky is the father. Oh God. Oh God. I'm hyperventilating. Never, I repeat, never in my mind I dreamed of Draky being a father to my child. It's as if I daydream about things like that. How can my father even think of that? Me, a mother at seventeen? Never! "Dad!" "What?" he asks angrily. I can see the veins protruding, and that's when I notice how mad he is. I can't believe he's really serious about this. "Austin," says my mom, trying to calm my dad. I'm afraid his blood pressure will rise. Then I remember what my mom told me. My dad was sick. I can't bear the thought of losing him. "I.Am.Not.Pregnant." All pair of eyes looks at me. "Iamnotpregnant," I say, now

more quickly, so it sounds like it's just a single word. "Why did you vomit then?" asks my dad. "I ate mayonnaise," I explain. "But you're allergic with mayo," says my mom obviously. "I know," I mutter. "I accidentally ate it. That's why I was sick." "Oh." "I didn't know you can be allergic with mayo," Draky says thoughtfully. "Well, I am. As a matter of fact, I think everyone have allergy with a specific food or a season, or anything. I don't know." "It was a misunderstanding then," my mom says, smiling sheepishly. "That's why you should have ask first," I say disapprovingly. "What?" asks my dad defensively. "Pregnant women tend to be sick when they smell something they don't like, and eat something that will make them vomit." I feel embarrassed, sitting in the table with my parents and Draky while talking about something like this! I so want to vanish in this instant! I want to be in visible. Teenagers dreaded this part of their life when parents talk about these kinds of things. Talk about an awkward situation. My dad gives me a small smile. "Sorry about that. It's just teenagers nowadays a re unpredictable. I'm not saying that you're like them. It's -- I'm worried, bec ause you're my daughter. And I only want what is the best for you." "I know what my priorities are," I mumble. "I won't alter my life with wrong cho ices. And I know what's the consequences of that." Why, o why, can't we talk about this when Draky leaves? I have to change the topic, and the first thought that comes to my mind is what our current situation is. "You said. . .You said that Dad was sick," I say to my mom. "It was in the past , right? Now he's okay." I look at my dad; to my disbelief, stupid tears are blu rring my vision. Still, I do everything I can to hold them back. "You're okay, r ight?" Waiting for my dad's response is one of the most painful moments of my life. I c an't take it if he says he's going to leave me. I don't even want to think of a life without my dad. I love him with all my heart. Just the thought of him being gone sends arrows of pain in my heart. I clutch my stomach to lessen the pain b ut it does no good. Finally, finally, my dad nods once. That's when I exhale the breath I didn't kno w I was holding. Relief washes through me. My dad doesn't like lying so I can br eathe now, knowing he's fine. Thank God he's okay. When I find my voice, I ask, "What happened?" My mom looks at me with a concerned expression on her face. Before she can say s omething, Draky beats her.

"I'm sorry, uh, do you want me to go now?" he asks awkwardly. "Or maybe I can go to the living room and come back later." I almost forget that he's here with us. How unfortunate for him to witness somet hing like this. Is his conscience burning him, now that he knows I'm suffering e ven without knowing the bet? Is he planning to cancel it? "It's okay," my mom says. "You can stay. It's better if you know too. You're Sop hia's friend. She might want to talk this with her friend after she learned what happened. And I know you care for her." Thanks for talking about me as if I'm not sitting in front of you. My mom is assuming. If she knows what Draky's real motives are, she'll do the op posite of what she's doing now. I have a feeling she's going to strangle him. "Sophia," says my mom, snapping me out of my reverie. "You thought your dad and I were fighting because of a broken marriage." "Yes," I admit. What's the point of lying? It's better if they know what I think . "Truth is, we were fighting because your dad didn't want to go to the hospital." "What?" I ask. "What hospital?" "Your dad had an internal brain damage. It wasn't really the same with Matt. It wasn't strong, so he survived. But to live, he had to go to the hospital thrice a month for the therapy and diagnosis," she continues. It's hard to process this information. My own brain is slowly grasping what my m om is talking about. "We were doing this for the past four years. The reason we were fighting was tha t your dad was hard headed. I had to fight with him first, or well, reasoned wit h him before he agreed to come." "For the past four years?" I ask numbly. "Why didn't you tell me?" "Because we didn't want you to be worried about me," answers my dad. "And we kno w you don't like going to hospitals. So we decided it's best if you don't know." It's like my spirit gets our of my body. I watch myself staring at my parents wi thout blinking my eyes. Draky gets my hand and squeeze it. But I don't feel it b ecause as I mentioned a while ago, my spirit left my body. Everything I thought about my parents was a lie. I feel stupid, guilty, mean, fo r having bad thoughts about them. I didn't know what was really happening so I a ssumed they were fighting for no apparent reason at all. I should have asked the m. I should have probed for information. Instead, I just went with the flow, not a least bit caring about what's really happening. I'm a horrible child. I'm a h orrible daughter. A tear escapes from my eyes without permission. That's when I realize I'm back i n my body. As if I really went away. . . Maybe. . . maybe if I'm not a coward, maybe if I'm not afraid of hospitals, they would have told me. Maybe.

I want to scream in frustration! My head is pounding hard, like someone is hamme ring it inside out. I can hear them talking but I can't make out their words. I can't even understan d them. Am I losing my mind? I have to hold on to my sanity. I can't be crazy. I have to be strong for my parents. They already lost a child, they can't lose me too. Closing my eyes, I breathe through my mouth until my heart beats normally. Well, as normal it can get. When I open my eyes, I see my dad sigh in relief. "Sorry," he says. "That was a lot to take in." "No," I say. My voice is rough so I clear my throat before I speak again. "I wan t to know everything." "We went to the hospital out of town because your dad's doctor said that the hos pitals there have more necessary equipments to make the recovery of your dad fas ter," says my mom. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you. it must be hard for you, both of us leaving you without telling you anything." I'm about to tell them what Andre told me about the car crash that killed his fa ther and my brother, but I stop myself because what we're talking is already dep ressing as it is. Instead, I ask, "What now?" "Now I don't have to go to the hospital every month," my dad says. "The doctor t here fixed me. They said I just have to visit my doctor at least twice a year. O r if the pain is starting again." "Starting again?" "If," my dad says. "I'm sure it won't happen again though." "How sure are you?" I ask. "One hundred percent sure," he assures me. I don't want to let my hopes up, but I don't want to think about the complicatio ns. "I'm okay," he repeats. "You'll see, I'm like before; healthy." "Okay is an understatement," I mutter. "I'm strong as a horse." He grins, as if it's funny. I role my eyes at his choice of idiomatic expression. The only time I realize Draky is holding my hand is when my dad stops talking. "We have something for you," my mom says suddenly, trying to change the topic. Heaving a sigh, I ask, "What is it?" She smiles and then gets up from her chair. "I'll go get it." When she comes back, she hands me a wooden box. I can't help but stare at the de signs engrave on the box. Its hand made, for sure. No machine can do something a s intricate as this.

"Open it," my mom urges. I look at my dad and see him with a smile on his face. "Go on." I don't have to glance beside me because I have a feeling Draky is smiling as we ll. It scares me that I can imagine what he's doing. Opening the case, my jaw almost hit the floor when I see the thing inside. This. . . this is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen in my life. I'm afraid to touch it because I might put damage to its beauty. I make myself contented b y simply looking at it. In the middle of its chain is a diamond-shaped blue topa z inside a heart. Surrounding it are tiny diamonds that sparkles when they hit t he light. I'm star-strucked. Something like this . . . something precious like this can't be categorized as a birthday present. "Mom," I begin. "That's a hand me down," she says, "My great grandmother passed it to my grandmo ther, who gave it to my mother. My mom passed it to me." She pauses and smiles a t me. "And now I'm giving it to you. It's our family heirloom." "Thank you," I say. I can't even express my gratitude. No words can describe how overwhelmed I am. I never really have something like this before. I didn't even know we have a family heirloom. I promise to myself that I'll take care of it"And of course," says my mom, interrupting my thoughts. "You'll pass it to your daughter someday." Oh no, please tell me I'm wrong - that when my mother said the word daughter, sh e didn't look at Draky. Please tell me I'm wrong because I don't know what she m ean about that. It's just - ugh! Stop thinking about that! "Emily," my dad says, "Sophia is still a teenager. Please refrain from saying th ings like that." Says my father who thought I was pregnant. "Dad," I mutter, "I thought we're don e with that?" "I'm not saying she should have a daughter right now," says my mom, rolling her eyes. "I know she's young, and she has more to learn. I'm just telling her about the tradition. Although it's not as if she's not going to marry someday and con ceive a child." "Mom!" I interrupt, cheeks flaming. My parents sure know how to embarrassed me. "What?" she asks innocently. "Let's talk about something else," I say abruptly. "What do you want to talk about?" "Anything, except that." "Okay, okay," says my dad. "Let's not make Sophia uncomfortable. "Thanks Dad," I mutter. -- -- -- -- --

"Sophia," says my mom, "why don't you walk Draky to the door?" "Fine," I say grumpily. It's almost eleven in the evening. We talk about things, and fortunately, it's e very different from our topic before. I'm glad we're done now. It's been a long day. "It's okay, I know the way," Draky says. "I'm already standing. I might as well walk you outside." "If that's what you want," he replies, smiling. As soon as we're out of sight of the dining room, Draky grabs my hand. Is he try ing to give me a heart attack? Didn't he know that when he does something like t his, my heart is ripping its way out of my chest? He sways our arms while we walk. Ugh. Why is he so good at this? What am I going to do now? It's so hard, putting in my head that he's doing this to win. My hea rt and my mind agree to disagree with a lot of things. I'm itching to tell him t hat I know what he's up to, but I remind myself that it's not the right time yet . In the meantime, I try to play with him by bumping his hips. He looks surprised, and underneath that, I can see that he likes it. "You know, I think you like me too." "What?!" I stop walking and face him. "You just don't know it, but I feel that you like me too," he says matter-of-fac tly. "Don't assume things you don't know," I say. He smirks - that trademark smile of him. His lips - I swear, one day, something will happen to that. "You might even like me as much as I like you," he continue s, as if I didn't contradict him. "But wait, I'm falling in love with you, but y ou just like me now. And I doubt you can love me as much as I love you." This jerk! How can he assume that I like him? Wait. That means my plan is working. That means he thinks that I'm falling in love wit h him. I should be cheerful and happy because of it, but instead, I don't feel l ike celebrating. I don't feel anything at all. "Draky," I say. "Yes, Pie?" "You said you're falling in love with me," I state. "When did that start?" "I don't know," he says, doing a one-shoulder shrug. "It just happened, and the next thing I know, I can't bear the thought of living without you. You're the be st thing that ever happen to me. The best part of my life is the time I spend wi

th you. Just thinking about you not reciprocating my love for you sends sharp kn ives through my heart. But I can live with it, as long as you're happy. I don't want to be the reason of your loneliness." Nice speech there. How many days did you plan it? Were you the one who prepared it, or was it Andre? "Why me?" I ask. "Why not you?" he asks, surprised. "Of course it's you. It's always been you." I shut my mouth before I say something I'll regret later. Before I know it, I'm standing outside my house beside Draky. I don't even know when I started walking. "Thank you for the dinner," he says, bringing me back to reality. "It was amazin g talking to your parents." "Even when my dad thought you were the father of my imaginary child?" I tease. "Well, it was awkward," he admits sheepishly. "But I would love to be the father of your child someday." "Draky," I snap. "What?" he asks innocently. "Please don't say things like that," I mutter, blushing like there's no tomorrow . "I'm just telling you about our future." He takes a step towards me and brushes the hair away from my eyes. "Our future?" I repeat, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. He smiles. "You'll see -- you'll fall in love with me." Huh. That sounds familiar. Of course it is. He wants me to fall in love with him ever since he laid his eyes on me. That's t heir deal. "Let's see," I say smugly. He leans down and plants a kiss on my cheek, a few centimeters from my lips.

***** I hope you liked it! :) The song is Oh, Darling by Plug in Stereo ~ amazing song, and a great artist. Ba nner by.Nathasya Thio.

I saw my name on the list of the Candidates for 2012 Graduation. Yay! Three mont hs to go! :D Thank you for reading my story! ******************************************* [49] The Bet *Spur of the Moment ******************************************* The song for the chapter is If The Moon Fell Down Tonight by Dear Juliet *Chase Coy*. Banner by miranda1995 :> OMG! I just noticed I have 6000+ fans! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! WOW! THANK YOU SO MUC H! :) :) :) I'M SO GRATEFUL <3 THANK YOU EVERYONE! =D Happy Reading! (: Chapter 43 *Spur of the Moment* ~Drake It feels so good to be in love. Cheesy as it may sound, I love the feel of her a rms around my neck. She snuggles close, and it makes my hold on her tighter. I b ury my face on her hair, inhaling her scent. Being in this position, I want to s top the time and just freeze everything else. I want to be with her as long as I live. The stupid bet is so far from us now. Everything is perfect. It's like li ving in a fairy tale, and I'm just waiting for my happily ever after. "Drake," she murmurs. She called me by my real name. I don't know why that makes me nervous. "Yes?" I whisper back. I can hear the smile on her voice as she says, "Nothing. I just like the sound o f your name on my lips." A smile makes its way onto my mouth, lighting my whole face. "Listen to my heart ," I say, pulling her to my chest, as if there's still space between us, "It bea ts for you, chanting your name again and again. Sophia, Sophia. Sophia." She chuckles, her eyes twinkling in amusement. They're as enchanting as the star s above us. That makes me think back of the time when she asked me what I wanted to be and I told her, star. This is the perfect time to give her the explanation behind tha t. "Drake," she says, before I can open my mouth. "I lo-" "Wake up!" Startled, I bolt up right. Taking in my surroundings, I feel disappointed and sa d at the same time. That was all a dream. That didn't happen. It did. Well, only in my dream. I wonder why my subconscious mind is not its usual snarky self. I can hear him s mirking after that. Weird, how can I hear myself smirk?

It's because you're a goner. You mean we. Hallelujah! Finally, he admits to himself that he's a goner for Sophia. I don't know what to respond to that. Again, my subconscious mind makes me speec hless. "I see you're having your inner conversation." "What?" I ask, whipping around to see Driana with an amused look on her face. "W hat are you doing here?" She rolls her eyes as she says, "If you forgot, the first period starts at eight . And if you haven't noticed, it's seven thirty." "What?" I ask incredulously. How can I be oblivious? "Why didn't you wake me?!" "I guess you overslept even with your alarm clock waking the whole town. It must have been a good dream." She pauses and smiles playfully. "You're even drooling ." "I'm not," I say. I don't know why I don't like to deny that it was a good dream indeed. "And as for your question," she continues, "If you haven't realized, perhaps bec ause you're still dazed with your fantasy, I just woke you up." "Thank you," I mutter. You even woke me at the wrong time. And now I'm left wond ering what could Pie possibly say. My beloved twin sister interrupted it. I loWell, was it hard to guess? Shut up, I need to get ready for school. Don't you want to ponder what she almost said? Why feed my mind with what if's? Besides, it's just a dream. So you may as well stop talking now. For once, it listened to me. I'm surprised. Turning to Driana, I say, "Now I'm wide awake. You can leave now so I can get re ady for school." "Drake," she replies, "Just make it faster. I don't want to be late." You can ride a bus, I thought, like before. But I'm glad that she decided to wak e me. I smile as grab my cell phone, thinking that we can really be like before. Closer, even. Opening it, I type a message: Good morning Pie! See you later :) And then I send it to her.

To my disappointment, even a few minutes later, she doesn't reply back. I'm stil l going to see her later though. With that thought, something bubbles up in my c hest. The inside of my body is melting. I don't know what's wrong with me. After I get ready, which takes fifteen minutes, I walk to the living room to see Driana sprawled on the couch. "I'm going to school," I say amusedly, "Have a nice dream." "I'm coming," she mutters, standing up and brushing her hair. "Let's go!" "Where's Mom?" "In the kitchen," my mom shouts. I shake my head. Sooner or later, the neighbors will complain because of my mom' s loud voice. Still, I love her the way she is. She frowns at me when I enter the kitchen. "Early to bed early to rise," she say s. "Look, you haven't even eaten your breakfast yet." I can't help but smile. "I'm not hungry," I reply. "I'll just grab a bite at the cafeteria before the class starts." She purses her lips and finally says, "Fine." "Drake," Driana says, walking in the kitchen with a scowl on her face. "What are you waiting for? We're going to be late if you don't start walking now!" I roll my eyes at her, as my mom says, "Drive carefully." "Okay, okay," I tell her. "Good bye mom," Driana chimes in. "Take care, you two," my mom says, "See you later!" Driana pushes me out of the house and into my car. "What's the rush?" I ask amusedly. "I just don't want to be late," she complains. "We're not," I say smugly, starting the car, and off we go. ----I'm on my way to my locker when I first hear it. If I'm not distracted about thi nking of Pie, I'll know something's wrong. First, the stares, and then the soft murmurs. You know, when you walk inside a r oom and everybody stop talking? They even avert their gaze away from you. You kn ow it's you they are talking about. That's what's happening now. I stop one of the familiar faces while she's walking and ask her what the commot ion is all about. And this is what she tells me.

Pie and Cassidy fought yesterday because of me. ME. Cassiy made a big scene, att racting people's attention. No one really heard what they were talking about but it was intense. And when the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, people sa w Pie and I walking to my car. They thought we were together. That's it. Before I know what I'm doing, I'm walking to Cassidy's locker. I don't even know how I know it. Instinct, maybe. It takes over when I'm like this. People move a way from me, maybe afraid of what will I do to them when I find out they're talk ing about me. But I don't even know what to feel! Finally, after what feels like hours, I spot her, leaning towards her closed loc ker, seemingly waiting for me. "You threatened her?" I ask incredulously. "Good morning to you too," she says. "You threatened her?" I repeat, running out of patience. She rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her hips. "Why, did she tattle to you?" "No," I reply. "I heard. And you know it'll be the talk of the school today." "Yes. And I know that it will be the scene when she rode with you yesterday," sh e snaps. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. I almost forgot how high school is. It feels l ike my world is suddenly revolving around Pie. And I know I have to do everything I can to protect her. "Don't talk to her agai n." Cassidy narrows her eyes at me. She's perfectly known for the girl who doesn't w ant to be told of what she can or cannot do. "Are you threatening me?" she asks. "No," I mutter. "I'm just telling you to leave her alone." Her lips form into a thin hard line. "I don't like being what told to do!" I close my eyes to minimize the pain in my head. Talking to Cassidy gives me a h eadache. "Look," I start, trying to persuade her, "I don't know why you want to make her life miserable." She scoffs but I continue, ignoring her, "So why don't you just forget your anger at her and act as if nothing happened? I will forget it too." "Please," she mutters, flicking her long hair on her shoulder. Taking a deep breath, I say, "What's wrong with you?" "What's wrong with me?! Do you even hear yourself?" she asks, as if I lost my mi nd. "Since you talked to that girl, you changed. What is wrong with you?!" "I don't know what you're talking about," I reply. "She's taking you away from me!" Now I'm confused. "She's taking me away from you?" I ask doubtfully. "But we wer e never together."

Fury sparkles in her green eyes. I can imagine her dark hair rising slowly. Befo re I know what she's doing, she raises her right hand and about to slap me when someone stops her. Surprised, I find Driana beside me holding Cassidy's hand a few inches away from my face. "Let go of my hand," Cassidy whines while glaring at Driana. "Don't you ever hurt Sophia again," she says slowly, "If I found out your plotti ng against her, you'll get what you deserve." Whoa! Driana. My twin. I can't believe it! And then I remember what she said. Cassidy hurt Pie? "Understand?" Driana continues. Cassidy nods slightly and then Driana lets her go. She walks away but not before shooting Driana a deathly glare. "Wow," I breathe. "I know," she says smugly. I open my mouth to ask her if she knew all about it but before I can, the bell r ings, signaling the start of the first period. "See you later," she says, hurrying to her first class with the students looming in the hallway. I make my way to my first class in a daze. The only thing on my mind is Pie. I h ave to talk to her. I need to talk to her and ask her all about it. While the teacher is writing on the board, I get my cell phone and dial Pie's nu mber. After a few rings, it goes to voice mail. What is she doing? She's probably in class, listening to the discussion of the teacher. I'm not asking you! Based from yesterday, I think she's okay. There was nothing unusual about her. I send her a message asking where she is. I know all her classes but as of now, my mind is fuzzy. I can't think properly. What is Pie doing to me? I always look at my phone but she hasn't replied to my message yet. Now I'm getting worried. Paranoid, even. I can't wait to see her. Her blue eyes that shine so bright, it make the rays of the sun a candlelight. Sophia, Sophia, Sophia. Oh, what am I getting myself into?

The ringing of the bell breaks me from my reverie. I can't believe an hour passe d already. I check my phone and finally, I have a new message. Excitedly, I open it to find that it's from Pie. A huge smile appears on my face and it quickly turns into frown as I read the message. Hi Drake. This is Emily. Sophia is sleeping, and is sick. She can't go to school today. Without thinking, I make my way towards the school parking lot. I'm going to cut class just to see her. I know I'll be in trouble when the Principal finds out w hat I'm doing but for now, I don't care. The only thing I want is to see Pie. Wi th that thought, my pace begins to quicken. Sliding in my car, I start it quickly and drive to her house. In the limited time I knew Pie, we form a bond that cannot be broken. We have a spark that lead to overwhelming feelings when we are together. The more I tell m yself to ignore it, the more it blooms, engulfing me with emotions I haven't fel t before. Who knew a simple bet can change my boring life? Who knew a sealed deal can make my life exciting? I'm always looking forward to tomorrow's because of her. I ne ver want and need anyone as much as her. My insides turn into squishy jellies wh en I'm with her. And it's the best feeling in the world. She's enough for forever. Even the day a fter that. After a few minutes of horn blaring because I overtake other cars, I finally arr ive at Pie's house. I park my car a few yards away from their driveway. Taking m y seatbelt off me, I take deep calming breaths. What am I going to do now that I 'm here? What if she freaks out when she sees me? SNAP OUT OF IT! Okay, okay. No need to yell! I get out of my car and straighten my crumpled shirt. I feel like hyperventilati ng. I thought you want to see Sophia? Why aren't you walking yet? What's the rush? I thought back, irritated. I'm just calming my nerves! I walk to their front porch and knock at the door. I count under my breath while waiting for someone to open it. I'm on seventy seven when Emily opens the door. "Drake," she says, surprised to see me. Maybe I'm the least person she expects t o be on the other side of the door. "Good morning," I say. My voice comes out real soft. It must be the nerves! "Come in," she says, opening the door wider. I follow her into the house and sits on the couch she indicates. She occupies th e chair across from me. "I'm glad to see you," Emily begins, "But don't you have classes right now?"

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I say, "I was worried about Sophia so I decide d to visit her." Emily's eyes twinkle. "That's so sweet of you," she says, smiling. "But you didn 't have to cut class." I scratch the back of my head, smiling sheepishly. "I was so impulsive," I mutte r, embarassed. "Love can do that to you." "I'm sorry?" I say. Did I mishear her? "Nothing," she says, shaking her. "Aren't you coming back to school?" "No," I answer. I'm already in trouble so I might as well enjoy what I'm about t o do. "Is it okay if I stay here?" I ask boldly. "Of course it's fine," she says reassuringly. "But won't you be in trouble?" "That's okay," I say, grinning. "If you say so," she replies. But I can see that she's concern for me and the co nsequences I will face. "Don't you have work?" I ask curiously. I just notice that she's wearing her off ice attire. "I have work today," she says, frowning. "But Sophia is sick so I decided to sta y." "You can still go if you want," I say. "I'll keep an eye on her." "Are you sure?" she asks hopefully. I can't help but imagine that Sophia will look like her when the time comes. "Ab solutely." "Thank you," she says. "You're welcome," I reply, smiling. She stands up and says, "Call me when you need something. I haven't cooked food for lunch yet. There's food in the fridge." "Okay, I'll cook something for her." "Thank you," she says gratefully, grabbing her bag from the couch. "Sophia is in her room. Tell her I'm off to work." "Sure," I respond with a nod. "Goodbye!" "Bye." What am I getting myself into? Now Pie and I are alone in their house. What am I thinking? I came here to take care of her!

Stopping in front of Pie's bedroom upstairs, I take a deep breath to calm my ner ves. Opening the door slowly, I find her sleeping peacefully. Before I know what I'm doing, I'm walking further into her room and sitting on t he chair beside her bed. Her room is blue. From the walls, the curtains, the bed. Everything. It's like l iving in the ocean. The bookshelf took most part of the far wall. There are cabi nets and drawers at the corner. When I turn my head to look at her, I see Shea. A smile makes its way onto my mo uth as I remember the time we talked about our teddy bears. It felt like a long time ago. "Drake?" I look at Pie and see that she's awake. "Hi," I say. She rubs her eyes with her hands, maybe thinking that she's dreaming. "I'm real," I say amusedly. "You're not dreaming." "What are you doing here?" she asks, sitting up. I help her and when I touch her arms, I'm surprised that they're hot. I move my hand to her forehead and blurt out, "You're hot." Her eyes widen, and that's when I realize what I said. It has a double meaning! "I, I mean, you have a- a fever." Why am I stuttering?! "Yes, I have a fever," she says, "that's why I'm not in school. What about you?" She tilts her head to the side, and her hair falls to her eyes. My fingers are itching to touch her soft hair. And then I remember that she aske d me a question. "I'm here because I found out that you're sick." "So?" "So I decided to visit you," I say obviously. She's silent for a moment, she's not even looking at me in the eyes. "Thank you, " she says finally. "Pie?" "Yes?" she says, gazing at me. "Let me take care of you." "Um, okay," she agrees, blushing. "Thank you," I say. "Drake?" "Yes?" I ask, surprised that she called me by my real name. "Why do you keep calling me Pie when my real name is Sophia?" she asks, her curi osity creeping into her voice.

"Don't you like it?" She hesitates, probably wondering if I deserve to hear the truth. "Well, you see , people call me by my name, and . . . and you keep calling me Pie. Why?" Taking a deep breath, I decide to tell her what I feel. "If I call you Sophia, I 'll be one of those people. I'll be like them. Ordinary, plain- just calling you by your name. I call you Pie because it makes me close to you. I have the oppor tunity to call you by the nickname I gave you. And it's a privilege I value." Looking at her, I see that she's blushing. Her rosy cheeks became redder. I'm not usually telling people what I feel, but when it comes to her, I can't st op myself. In the corner of my eyes, I see the box of puzzle I gave her for her birthday.. "You haven't put the puzzles pieces together yet," I say, taking a single piece from the box. "Sick here," she mumbles, even coughing to emphasize her point. I wonder what her reaction will be when she sees what the puzzle really is, and when she reads the message. A smile appears on my face as I visualize it. "Daydreaming again," she muses amusedly. I just widen my smile, not in the mood to contradict her. She looks confused for a second, and then she shakes her head - probably to clear her thoughts. "When will you take your medicine?" I ask her. There's no point in telling her t o go to the hospital because I know she will not approve. "Later," she answers. "I just took one a few hours ago," she finished with a yaw n. She puts her hand on her mouth, embarassed. "Still sleepy?" I ask. "I was awake last night, and I think I had just three hours of sleep," she says, yawning again. "Why didn't you say so?" I ask, frowning at her. I help her lie down again even though she says she can do it. "I'll be here when you wake up," I say. "Make sure I have something to eat for lunch," she says. "I'll cook something delicious for you." She grins. "I was just kidding!" "You'll fall in love with me even more when you taste my specialty." "And what is it?" she murmurs. "You'll see," I say. I just notice that she didn't contradict me when I told her that she's falling in love with me. I'm about to ask her why, and about her arg

ument with Cassidy when I see that she's already sleeping. Oh, my sweet Pie. I can't bear the thought of hurting her. The thought of her finding about the be t makes me want to die. How can I be stupid not to realize how much I love her? Why did I just wake up now to snap out of it? I brush her hair away from her eyes and give her a kiss on the forehead. What are you waiting for? What? Call Andre now! Oh, yeah. Right. Fishing my phone from my pocket, I quickly dial Andre's number. "What?" he asks after the third ring. "You're finally calling me after you ignor ed my thirty phone calls? Where are you? Didn't you know I was worried-" "Andre," I cut in, rolling my eyes. He's having his antics again. I can hear his laughter at the other end of the phone. "Drake," he replies, "Really, where are you? You just disappeared without explan ation! Are the aliens abducting you now?" Ignoring him, I say, "I'm at Sophia's house." "Oh," he says in a knowing voice. "I see." It's as if he really sees what I'm do ing. And I have a feeling he knows what I'm about to say. "We need to talk." "Aren't we talking now?" "I mean face to face," I say obviously, not bothering to roll my eyes this time. "Just admit that you miss me!" I can hear him laughing now. I wonder where he is . "I'll go to your house later, okay?" "Sure," he replies cheerfully. "Bye!" "Can't wait to see you!" I hung up after that. Being friends with Andre, there's no boring day with him. Not that I'll admit it to him. I just appreciate our friendship. They say once i n your life, you'll meet a person who will be your friend"I know," Pie suddenly murmurs, breaking me from my thoughts. I turn to her, confused, and ask her, "What do you know?" But she's already sleeping again, her breath comes in and out peacefully. And I'

m left wondering what could she possibly know. ******************************************* [50] The Bet *Conflict of Interest ******************************************* Yay! 7000+ fans! :D There are two songs for this chapter. Take Me To Your Heart by Michael Learns To Rock and Summer Paradise by Simple Plan. There's a trailer on the side. SelenaEmrey made it :) Banner by redpeace9. Thank you for reading my story! :)

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 44 *Conflict of Interest ~Sophia

I'm in the stage where a few minutes to go, I will wake up. It's the stage where you are there, and not, at the same time. I can feel my body slowly returning t o consciousness. I can hear the silent buzz of the air condition and the quiet m ovement of someone beside me. "Sleeping beauty, it's time to wake up . . ." A velvet voice murmurs, followed b y a soft touch on my lips. Slowly, I open my eyes. My body is aching. I want to crawl into a ball to minimi ze the pain. I grit my teeth so as not to make a sound of frustration. This is just a fever, but why does my body feel sore? To top it all off, my head wants to explode; it's throbbing, like someone is ham mering it from inside and out. And I feel cold outside and warm inside. Ironic. To my embarrassment, my stomach growls. "Is that a lion roaring?" Draky asks amusedly. "No," I mutter, my cheeks burning hotly, "it's a cheetah contemplating if he'll eat you." "I didn't expect you to be furious when you're hungry," he says, wrapping his ar ms around me. Surprised, I wriggle out of him. He looks taken aback at my action. If I'm not s taring at his eyes, I won't see the flash of hurt in them. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, letting me go. "No, it's not that," I explain, steadying myself because I didn't know I was lea ning to him that much. "You might get contaminated because you're close to me. T his fever is contagious you know." He grins, showing all his perfect white teeth. Then he wraps his arms around me, shoving me to his muscled chest. Playing basketball has its perks. Even though

he stopped playing for a while, I think he continues to go to the gym to maintai n his body. I wonder what his chest look like without his shirt. Why am I thinking of him bare-chested?! "It's okay," he says, laughing, "That way, you can take care of me too." Before I can stop myself, I smile at him. He tightens his arms around me and bur ies his face in my hair. I feel embarrassed because I haven't taken a bath yet. I almost want to die when he suddenly pushes me lightly away from him. Am I stin ky? Oh God. I hope"I forgot," he says, cutting me off my horrible thoughts, "you haven't eaten yet . That was why your stomach growled a while ago." "It did not," I deny, forgetting my previous horror. I smell myself inconspicuou sly and sigh in relief when I didn't smell something bad. "Wait for me here," he says, getting up from the bed. "I'll heat the food I cook ed for you." "Your specialty?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. "Yes," he replies, his mouth tugging at the corners. "You said you'll just heat it," I say. "Yep," he answers with a nod. "I cooked it earlier while you were sleeping." "Oh." "I'll go and get it," he says, walking away. I hear his footsteps on the stairwa y until they fade away from the distance. Drake Swift concerned with Sophia Taylor. Who would have thought this day would come? Even though I did daydream when I had a crush on him before that he would take c are of me, I didn't believe that it will happen. A dream can turn into a reality. It's impossible, but here we are, almost the same as my imagination. A wash of dj vu washed through me. It feels weird to see your fantasy coming true. Well, it was a long long time ago. He comes back, carrying a tray with a bowl in it. "What's that?" I ask. "My specialty," he answers, setting the tray on the bedside table and sitting on the bed beside me. "And your specialty is . . .?" He takes the bowl and let me see it. "It's a soup," I say obviously. Of course.

"Yes, it's a soup," he says, "but don't think it's the same with others. It does n't taste like them." "Uh huh." I should have known that he prepared me a soup. "Give it to me so I ca n taste it." "No," he says. "I'll feed you." "What?" I ask incredulously. He shrugs, and ignores my weak attempt at getting the bowl of soup from him. "I can eat it all by myself," I say, shaking my head to the spoon he's holding a few inches from my mouth. "But I already said I'll take care of you," he says disapprovingly. "But-" As soon as I open my mouth, he puts the food inside. I have no choice but to swa llow it. "Draky!" Thank God it's not that hot! "What?" he asks innocently, mixing the soup and not looking into my eyes. "Nothing," I mutter, because I know he got me there. I did say that he can take care of me. "What does it taste?" he asks. I can imagine him crossing his fingers. "Just like any other soup," I mumble, sticking my tongue out at him. To be fair, I have to say that this soup is delicious. I haven't taste like this before. I wonder how he made it. He smirks and looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to open my mouth. He makes a buzzing sound and makes a circular motion on his hand. "Here's the airplane," he says, "Open your mouth." I can't help but laugh at his childishness. "Come on," he says, trying hard not to laugh and to look serious. "Open your mou th now. The airplane's running out of engine." Smiling, I open my mouth and accept the food. "Good," he says approvingly. "What are you going to eat?" I ask. "I'm not hungry," he says, "just by looking at you eating what I prepared makes me full." "Uh huh," I mutter. "You just don't know how to cook." "I do." A smirk makes its way onto my mouth. "I can cook you know, I won't let you starv e."

"Good, because when I get home from work, I want to eat what you prepared." I look at him, confused at his words. After a second, realization dawned on me. He meant when we're old. Why? Why is he saying these things to me? "I know," he says suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. "I can order a pizza if you want? Or a Chinese food?" "Pizza sounds good," I agree. I'm suddenly craving for a cheesy pizza. "Okay," he says, "I'll call the pizza hotline. Anything else you want?" "Pizza's okay." He gets up from the bed and dials something on his phone. He talks for a minute, telling the receiver his orders. Looking at him in this angle, I can't help but think what his motives are. You c an't blame me for having these thoughts. I'm kind of putting a wall so as not to get hurt. When will I tell him that I know about the bet is out of the question for now. Maybe a few days I can have the courage to ask him about it. "What do you want to do while waiting for the pizza?" he asks. I shrug. "Anything. Do you want to watch television?" "Nope," he says, sitting again on the space he evacuated earlier. He starts feed ing me again, and this time I don't fight him because I really am hungry and I h ave to admit, I want to be taken care of. "You're going to be in serious trouble because of this, you know," I say. "It's worth it," he says, doing a one-shoulder shrug. "If you say so." After a few minutes, our pizza arrives. Draky goes downstairs to get and pay for it. When I give him the money, he refused, saying that this is a date. A date, seriously? I just shake my head at him and let it go. I haven't really realized how hungry I am. To my surprise, I ate three slices of pizza. Can you believe it? I was starved. Now I am full! My stomach even wants to explode. Draky laughs when he sees my expression. "What?" I ask, annoyed. "Girls usually eat a little when they are with guys," he tells me. "I'm not a usual girl," I snap. "Exactly," he says softly, "And that's a compliment. I don't know what's wrong w ith those girls. They can't even be true to themselves." "Well, maybe because they are not proud with themselves," I blurt out. "Or maybe they are shy," he guesses. "Perhaps they are afraid that when the guys really see how the girls eat, they will be horrified," he finishes, chuckling.

"I'm not," I state. "You are not," he agrees, giving me a sweet smile; a smile that can melt a cold chocolate. "Draky." "What?" he asks. "Have you pass application forms for college?" "Not yet," he answers. "Why?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. "I have no time for that," he says evasively, in a tone that clearly indicates t hat it's closed for further discussion. I just don't know why I should care. In the first place, I'm just playing my rol e. Maybe because I grow attached to him in the time we are together. That makes me remember the quote, "We are with each other everyday, but not together." I can't help but feel a little bit sad so I vanish that thought away. "You're going to be accepted when you apply," I say, trying to cheer him up. "They won't accept me," he mutters. "They will." Why is he so pessimistic? "You think?" he asks, gazing at me with his blue eyes. It's like swimming in the vast ocean. I feel like drowning! "I know," I say, when I finally find my voice. I get his hand and squeeze it. "Y ou haven't even tried yet and you're already discouraging yourself." He grins. "You're optimistic lately," he observes, tightening his hold on my han d. Thanks to you, I thought. "I realized that life is too short to worry about things that are not happening yet. You have to focus about now," I say. "There is tomorrow - for the future. J ust put your best foot forward. More importantly, you have to believe in yoursel f, and you should have faith." "Faith in what?" he teases. That makes me smile because I remember Serendipity, the first movie we watched t ogether. Ignoring him, I continue, "Everything will fall back into their right p laces after that." He stares at me like he's seeing me for the first time. "What?" I ask, suddenly feeling self conscious. "Er, sorry about that . . . Some times my mouth talks without my permission." "That's . . . that's the most epic conversation I've ever had," he says, puttin g my hand on his lips and planting a kiss on it.

"Um." "Where do you get those things?" he asks, looking at me behind his eye lashes. "I don't know," I murmur, "they just come to my mind." "Pie?" "Yes?" "Can I ask you something?" "Shoot." But he's silent, and not voicing his question. "Hey, I thought you're going to ask something?" I say, poking him on the side. "Well," he starts, and then pauses to clear his throat, "How many. . . How many boyfriends have you had?" "Haven't you asked that before?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows. He shrugs and says, "I don't think so." "Okay." I'm quite sure that he asked me this question before. Weird. "So. . .?" "What do you think?" "I don't know- that's why I'm asking." "One," I mutter. "Oh," he murmurs. "Why?" "Nothing," he says ruefully, "You won't ask that just for nothing," I say matter-of-factly. "It was just mere curiosity." I open my mouth to say something when his phone rings. He grins and picks it up. "Hey." His smile grows wide as he listens to the other line. I feel like intruding to his conversation. Ugh. "Chill. I'm at Sophia's." He listens again and says, "Because I'm taking care of her. . . Yeah. I think she's okay now." "Who's that?" I ask curiously. "Driana," he answers. "I'll tell her," he says to his twin. "See you later." And then he puts his phone down.

"Well?" I say, looking at him meaningfully. "Well what?" "What will you tell me?" "Oh, that," he says, smiling sheepishly, "She said that she'll call you later wh en she gets home from school." "Okay," I say, nodding my head. We talk about nothing in particular then. Anything you can imagine. Truth be tol d, Draky's not so bad. He's one of the few guys who have a good sense of humor. We're just sitting on my bed, side by side and not uncomfortable when we're lack ing of new topics to talk about. Who would have thought we would enjoy each othe r's silence? We didn't even notice the time. When I look at my alarm clock, I'm surprised to see that it's quarter to five. Time sure flies by when you're havin g fun. "Drake?" "Yes?" he asks, brushing the hair away from my eyes. His hands linger on my chee k, rubbing it with his thumb. "Thank you for taking care of me." "No." "No?" I ask, confused. "I should be the one thanking you because you let me take care of you," he expla ins, putting his forefinger on my nose. I turn away quickly, muttering, "That tickles!" "Ohh, Pie can be tickled on the nose," he says amusedly. "Stop it," I protest, moving away from him. He grabs my arm and pulls me towards him. "Okay, I will stop. Just don't move aw ay from me." "Hmm." In the end, I lean back on his chest, both of us ignoring the pizzas on the beds ide table. Well, the box was almost empty. After a while, he starts to touch my hair, playing it with his fingers. I relax more comfortably in his arms. "Why do you like to twirl my hair on your fingers?" I ask curiously. He pauses and looks at me for a moment, perhaps contemplating if he'll tell me o r not. Finally, he says, "You have hair like Taylor Swift." "Pfft." "It's true," he says, nodding. "You're just teasing me," I accuse.

"I'm not. You really have hair like Taylor Swift." "You think?" "I know." "How do you know?" I ask doubtfully. "You haven't even seen her in person" He shifts in his place so we are looking eye to eye. "I saw her lots of times on television." "You're just changing the topic," I mutter. "I'm not," he says, shaking his head. "Yes you are." "No I don't." "Yes!" "No." "Yes." "No - okay," he says, getting impatient. "Let's continue this argument when you' re not sick anymore." "I'm not sick," I deny. "Yes you are," he retorts, rolling his eyes. "No I'm not." "Yes - Hey! Why do you like to argue with me?" he asks, narrowing his eyes a lit tle. "Do I?" I ask innocently, a smile slipping on my mouth. He sighs. "You can still be sarcastic even though you are sick." "That rhymes," I say amusedly. He returns my smile with one of his trademark grin. When he looks at me like tha t, I am lost in his eyes. His blue eyes that is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. And in a time like this, a horrible thought strikes at my head. What if he's jus t doing this for the bet? "Pie?" he says, his smile turning into a frown. "Are you okay?" I can hear the worry in his voice. Is he just a good actor? Somewhere in the back of my mind, there's a voice whispering that he cares for m e. Mom said to trust my instinct and that's the voice in my head. Am I doing th e right thing by trusting it when I can't even fully trust the person beside me who's so bent in making me fall in love with him? "Pie?"

"Yes?" I shake my head to have a clear mind. This day is so I can't even find the right word to describe it. Human language is limited with words. That's why words without actions are senseless. "You were daydreaming a while ago weren't you?" he asks bemusedly. "I was not," I mutter. "I was just thinking if boys have an unspoken agreement n ot to tell girls about these kinds of things." "What things?" he asks, raising his eyebrow. "You know, things like, twirling the girl's hair, and whatnot," I explain. "Well," he says hesitantly, his lips curving at the corner. "What?" I probe. He shakes his head and says, "I can't tell you." "Why not?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. "Because. . . " "Because . . .?" "Because when I tell you, I have to kill you," he finishes. "Ha ha," I mutter, "That's not funny!" "Yes it is," he argues, "you should have seen your face! It was priceless!" I roll my eyes at him. "You believed me for a second didn't you?" he asks, wiggling his eyebrows. "I did not." He grins, not letting it go. "Whatever." ******************************************* [51] The Bet *Slumber Party ******************************************* I hope you'll like this. Enjoy! ;) Chapter 45 *Slumber Party ~Sophia

Tap. Tap. Tap. I grit my teeth as the cold water touches my bare skin. They're like ice that se nds pinpricks to my body. My mom said that if I want my fever to be completely g one, I have to take a cold shower.

So here I am, enduring this nightmare. I'm feeling fine by the second though, an d I can't help but think it's worth it. I'm already absent yesterday so I need t o go to school today because I don't want to be late with the discussions in cla ss. I'm grateful Driana came by last night and explained to me what they did. She ev en went to my classrooms and asked my classmates about what they tackled so she can inform me. Before she went home with Draky, I narrated what happened to my p arents. She looked worried, and made me promise to call her when I need somethin g- anything. The twins made my recovery fast. Now I can feel my body returning t o normal. When I'm refreshed, I walk out of my bathroom and into my bedroom to rummage my closet. After a few seconds, I find what I'm looking for. A smile appears on my face whe n I look at the mirror- I'm wearing a floral blouse that emphasizes my blue eyes , a jeans that that's not too tight or too loose, and my favorite sandals. Before I forgot, I clasp the necklace and the charm bracelet Draky and Driana ga ve me for my birthday. Grabbing my bag, I head downstairs and when I smell somet hing delicious, I decide to go to the kitchen. "Morning," I say to my mom who's preparing a breakfast. "Morning Sophia," she replies. "Where's Dad?" I ask. "Still sleeping," she answers. "Here's your food, I'll drive you to school when you're done eating." "No, I can ride a bus." "I insist," she states, a smile on her face. "Okay." And then I start eating bacon, eggs, and sausages. Being sick made me hu ngry. When I finished eating, I brush my teeth again and meet my mom in her car. "I almost forgot to tell you," my mom says, starting the engine of her car, "yo ur dad and I are going to the hospital out of town later." "What?" I ask. "I thought he's fine? There's no need to go to the hospital." "Yes." She sighs. "Remember, he has to go twice a year, and tomorrow will be his first check up after the operation." "But he already went there last week," I mumble. "That doesn't count." "Oh." "I don't want you to stay in the house alone," she tells me. "Mom!" "You can sleep at Driana's place," she suggests.

"I'm seventeen," I complain. "Precisely." "I can take care of myself," I say, frowning. "I know." She smiles sadly. "It's the people today I don't trust." "How many days do I have to stay there?" She shrugs. "Probably two? It depends on the findings of the doctor." "They won't find anything," I state stubbornly. "I know," she says, smiling. I grumble my complaints under my breath. "Besides, don't you want a slumber party?" Oh, I do. I'd love to have a slumber party in the house of Draky. I wonder what it would feel like, sleeping in the same roof as him. Not that I haven't experie nced that before; when we were in Andre's house. But tonight will be different b ecause it's their house where I'm staying.

The now our ng.

time passed by in a rush. It's just the same, like any other day. Before I k it, the first half of it is already done and I find myself making my way to table in the cafeteria, a tray of food in hand. I don't even remember orderi Weird.

Driana is already sitting on her chair, waiting for me. "Hey," she says when I t ake the chair across from her. I can see that she's in a good mood. "Hi," I reply. And then I ask her if I can stay in their house tonight because my parents are going out of town. "Of course," Driana says excitedly, "it's more than fine!" I smile at her enthusiasm. "Thank you," I say gratefully. "I always wanted a slumber party," she says, grinning cheekily. "Hey, is that a slumber party I heard?" Andre asks, sitting beside Driana. Draky follows after him and takes the chair beside me. "Isn't that your table over there?" Driana asks, pointing to the center table. "Is it bad to sit with my twin?" Draky asks bemusedly. Driana rolls her eyes and mutters something under her breath. "So, a slumber party huh?" Andre asks, tilting his head to the side. "Oh, um, I asked Driana if I can stay in their house tonight," I say. "Why?"

"My mom and dad will go out of town, and they don't want me to be alone in the h ouse," I explain. "Why not sleep in our house?" Andre suggests. "Because she'll stay in our house," Driana states. Andre nudges her on the side. "You can stay in our house too you know." In the corner of my eye, I glance at Draky. He's unusually quiet today. "No thanks," Driana says wryly. "Ow!" Andre pouts, and looks at her with puppy dog eyes. Driana laughs and says, "That doesn't work on me." Andre groans. "We'll have a party!" "I don't like parties," she replies, wrinkling her nose. "Me too," I chime in. Andre looks at me disapprovingly and about to say something when Driana beats hi m to it. "She hasn't slept in our house yet." He smiles sheepishly and says, "There's still next time." "You can stay in the house too if you want," Draky offers. "Besides, it's just u s; my mom will go out of town with my dad." There's something about the way he said dad"Really?" Andre asks, his whole face lighting up. "Yeah. I assume Sophia will stay in Driana's room. . ." Driana nods. "You can sleep in the guest room then," Draky finishes. "Can I sleep in your room?" Andre asks, wiggling his eyebrows. "No. it's the guest room or not." "You're no fun," he complains, scowling at his best friend. Draky smirks at him and resumes eating his food. "So what do you propose we'll do later?" Andre asks after a few minutes. "I don't know to you two, but Sophia and I will stay in my room," Driana says, g rinning at the two boys. Before they can respond, the bell rings, signaling that lunch time is over. Time for Literature. "Let's go?" Draky says.

"See you later," I tell Driana and Andre. "See you," they both say at the same time. And then they both look at each other , wide grin on their faces. "Jinx!" I follow Draky to our room, a small smile on my face. Driana and Andre really ha ve something"Want me to drive you later?" he asks, interrupting my thoughts. "I'll go to our house first," I say, "to get clothes and stuff." He shrugs. "That's okay, I can wait for you." "If you say so," I reply, entering the classroom. The discussion of Mrs. Coelho revolves around A Midsummer's Night Dream. I wonde r when we will finished it and start to read a new book. A tap on my shoulder makes me turn back. "What?" I ask Draky. I know it's him. N o one will bother me while the professor is discussing her lesson. "I forgot to ask you yesterday," he starts, "what happened between you and Cassi dy?" "It was nothing," I answer evasively. "Did she hurt you?" Involuntarily, my gaze moves to my arm where she hold it tightly. Fortunately no bruises showed. Draky follows my gaze until his eyes land on the red marks done by Cassidy's nai ls. "It's nothing," I mutter, turning back in front of the room. I can feel his eyes on my back, burning holes but I'm afraid to see his reaction. I know that if ey es can change color according to your mood, his will be as black as coal. -~-~-~After school, Driana, Draky, Andre, and I went to my house to get clothes. When we were done, we drove to Driana and Draky's house. We just finished eating our dinner - Chinese food. None of us was in the mood to cook so we settled with tak eout food. We're in the family room and we already watched two movies, nonstop. We even played Monopoly. No wonder my eyes are drooping; it's almost eleven in t he evening already. "Let's play would you rather," Andre suggests. "Sure," Driana agrees. "I haven't played that in a long time." Why do I have a feeling that it's like the Truth or Dare we played a few days ag o? "Cool," he says, grinning. "Me first. Would you rather die in sizzling lava or b e cut and eaten by cannibals?" "Creepy," I mutter, remembering the movie Wrong Turn.

"So?" Andre asks, raising his eyebrow. "I'd rather die in the lava," Draky answers. "Me too," I say. "Me three," Driana chimes in. "At least I'd die whole." "You'll melt in the hot lava," Andre says obviously. "Still." "Okay, my turn," Draky says, "Would you rather choose the one you love or the on e who loves you?" "Does the one I love return my feelings?" Andre asks. "Nope," Draky says, "It's one way. Same with the one who loves you. You don't lo ve her." "What kind of question is that?" "A hypothetical one." "Ugh! I know." Andre groans. "I'd choose the one who loves me." "Even though you don't love her?" Driana asks incredulously. "Yes," he answers, "because the one I love might love someone else and I know th e one who loves me loves only me and no one else." We're all silent for a minute, and then Draky turns to me. "I'd choose the one I love," I answer slowly. "Why?" Draky asks. "Because . . . Because even though there's a chance that he doesn't return my lo ve for him, my heart belongs to him. And I won't compromise it with someone I do n't have feelings with." "Ouch," Andre says, putting a hand over his heart. "That makes me feel bad about my choice." I smile sheepishly and brush the loose strand of hair behind my ear. "What about you little sister?" Draky asks. "I. . . I'm sleepy," Driana says, standing up. "Answer the question first," Andre complains. She sticks out her tongue and says, "Good night." "You know, that's a good idea," I agree, standing up as well. "Good night." The boys sigh as Driana and I make our way to her room. We lay on the bed, both of us wears silly smile on our faces. "Thank you," she says.

"No problem," I reply. The minutes turn to hours as I wait for sleep to come. What's wrong with me? Why can't I sleep? This makes me remember of the time when I was in Andre's - I tho ught I forgot how to sleep. Heaving a sigh, I get up slowly and decide to walk around the house. "Can't sleep?" My heart leaps in my throat when I hear a voice behind me. "Sorry," Draky mutters, shutting his door behind him, "Didn't mean to scare you. " I wait for my heart to beat normally. "Can't sleep?" he repeats. I nod. "Homesick?" he asks amusedly. "No," I murmur. "I don't know what's wrong with my brain, it don't want to shut up." He suddenly grins, like he thought of a really good idea. "Let's go." "Where?" Don't tell me it's one of his havens again. He grabs my hand without answering my question and leads me to their back porch. As soon as he opens the door, the October wind rushes to my face. A shiver runs down my spine and I automatically rub my arm with my free hand. Draky's still ho lding the other one and he'll not let go any sooner. When I see the veranda I thought we're going there but we still continue. Their back lawn is spacious. "Draky?" "Yeah?" "Where are we going?" "Here," he says, stopping beside a tree. I stare at him, confused. He points upward with his forefinger and my gaze follows it. A surprise gasp escapes from my lips when I see what he's pointing at. "You have a tree house!" I say excitedly. On the thick branches of the tree is a little w ooden house, one side wide open, without a wall. I almost jump and down with gle e. Thankfully, I control myself at the last second. I don't want to appear immat ure to him. "You like it?" he asks, suppressing a smile.

"Absolutely! I always wanted a tree house since I was young," I say, grinning fr om ear to ear. He laughs at my enthusiasm, and then probably remembers that we're outside. He s hrugs his jacket off and hands it to me. I take it gratefully and wear it. It's quite long but it's okay, as long as it e nvelops me in its warmth. It smells like him. When boys smell nice, they automat ically become attractive. Not that Draky is not already attractive as it is. I shake my head furiously. I don't like where my thoughts are headed. I wonder why Driana didn't mention that they have a tree house. Yeah, think about the tree house. "That's good because we're going to climb it," Draky says, a huge grin on his fa ce. "Really?" I ask my eyes widening as I glance at the ladder attached to the trunk of the tree. "Afraid?" he asks, his mouth twitching at the corners. "Of course not," I scoff. "Let's climb then." "You go first," I say. "You sure?" he asks, a concern expression crossing his face. "I can catch you if you-" "I won't fall," I interject, letting go of his hand to cross my arms over my che st. "Be careful," he says, and then starts to ascend the ladders while I watch his b ack, printing in my mind the steps he takes so that I can copy them when it's my turn. A few seconds later, he's sitting on the bench in the tree house. He smiles down at me and urges me to climb. Taking a deep breath, I hold the ladder tightly and take my first step. I don't have to worry because although the ladder was made of wood, it's attached to the tree. I continue slowly but surely and before I know it, I'm on the last step. Draky offers his hand and I gratefully take it. He pulls me to him and we walk s teadily to the bench he was sitting a while ago. "I made it," I say when I find my voice. "Yes you did," he replies, his eyes twinkling in delight. I look down and wish I hadn't because I see the ground that is thirty feet below us. Don't be afraid! I chastise myself. You won't fall down. "Want to hold my hand?" Draky asks.

I nod and take it. We're both silent, and it's not awkward because we're contented in just looking at the stars in the sky. And there are a lot. Wherever I look, I see them. It's so enchanting. To my surprise, Draky opens his mouth and beautiful words come tumbling after. " And I'd give up forever to touch you 'cause I know that you feel me somehow," he sings. "You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be and I don't want you to go home right now. ." I forgot how amazing his voice is. I notice that he altered a word from the real lyrics. Of course I recognize the song. It's Iris by Goo Goo Dolls. I can't bel ieve he's singing it for me. No one, ever, sang a song for me before. Not even h im. "And all I can taste is this moment," he continues, "And all I can breathe is yo ur life. 'Cause sooner or later it's over. I just don't want to miss you tonight ." He stops and looks at me. Really looks at me, like he's seeing the first sunr ise of his life. "Pie, I have to tell you something." Why does my instinct screams that he'll confess about the bet now? Oh God, I don 't know what to react. He sang a song for me, and now he's going to admit someth ing that will change both of our lives. My heart beats faster than usual, trying 's cold, my hands start to sweat. Can he im. But I hope and pray that he will not nd I'm tongue tied. I'm not yet ready. . to burst out of my ribs. Even though it read my face? I know its open book to h profess now. My thoughts are jumbled, a .

"Not yet ready for your fantasy to end," a soft voice whispers in my mind. I cringe inwardly because it's one of the darkest secrets I have. How did it lea k out of its box? "Pie, I. . ." Sighing, he pulls his hair, frustrated. I don't know why I am relieved. I should be the one urging him to confess everyt hing. But why am I assuming that he will tell me about it? Maybe it's another th ing? "Forget it," he mutters, breaking away from my gaze. Suddenly I feel brave, so I ask, "What is it?" "I. . . I like you," he stutters, a little bit of blush coloring his cheeks. Surprised, I say, "Haven't you told me that before?" Something flickers in his eyes, but it's gone as soon as it arrives. "It's diffe rent," he mutters. "What are you two doing there?" a voice asks. I turn my head to where the sound came from and am surprised when I see Driana a nd Andre walking towards us. "Sophia and Drake, kissing on a tree," Andre sings, "K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

"Stop it," I say, glad for the darkness for it hides the blush creeping on my ch eeks. But I'm not so sure that it hides my blush because I saw Draky blushing a while ago. Draky fakes a cough, embarrassed. "What are you two doing here?" "I woke up and did not see Sophia beside me," Driana tells us, "I thought she ju st went to the bathroom or the kitchen but when she didn't return after a few mi nutes, I became worried so I came after her. When I didn't find her, I figured to look for her in your room." "You entered my room without my permission?" Draky asks, feign horrified. "Don't tell me you haven't barged in my room without my permission," she retorts . Drake scratches his head, smiling sheepishly. Driana continues, "When I didn't saw either of you in your room, I decided to-" "Wake me," Andre finishes for her. "And then we searched for you two and find yo u here, kissing on a tree." "We're not kissing," I snap. "Almost," he mutters. "I heard that," Draky scolds. He grins, both Driana and him staring at Draky and me with meaningful look. "Time to sleep," I say to no one in particular, and start to make my way to the ladder, going down carefully until my feet lands on the ground. I can hear Draky scrambling after me. "Are you sure you want to sleep?" Andre asks, raising his eyebrows. "I am sure," I murmur. "Let's go inside now," Draky says, "It's unusually cold tonight." "I notice." Andre smirks, glancing at the jacket I'm wearing. I flushed and take the jacket off, giving it back to Draky. "Thanks," I mumble. "You're welcome," he replies, starting to walk towards their house. We follow after him. We're all quiet until we stop on the second floor landing o f their house. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I say, "Good night." "Night," Draky replies. "Sweet dreams," Driana says, smiling cheekily. "Sleep tight," Andre says amusedly. "Don't let the bed bugs bite." And so Driana and I enter her room and lie on her bed.

"Sorry about earlier," I whisper. "That's okay," she says, "I was just worried so I looked for you." "Thank you," I say gratefully. "What are friends are for?" "Yeah. Let's sleep?" "Okay." Yet no matter how I force myself to sleep, I can't. Adrenaline is still coursing through my veins, replaying the scene in my mind from earlier. "Soph?" Startled, I say, "Yeah?" I thought she's already sleeping. I can't see her face though, because we're lying back to back. "Do you like Drake?" "I. . . um. . . I. . ." "You don't have to say anything." I can hear the smile on her voice as she says, "I already know the answer. Good night." Does she? Because I don't know it myself.

The ringing of my phone wakes me from my dreamless sleep. How many hours have I been sleeping? It felt like I just closed my eyes a few minutes ago. When I open them, the alarm clock's light on the bedside table blinks back at me. It's just 3 AM in the morning! Who would call in the middle of the night? The person on t he other side of the line should have a good reason for waking me up! Grabbing my phone, I flip it open and murmur, "Hello." I make my voice really so ft so as not to wake Driana. "Hello Sophia," the voice says. My mind is still cloud with sleep so I can't recognize the person's voice. What I know is it's a male. "Who is this?" I mumble. "I'm back."

***** Hi! :) The song is Falling by Keahiwai. Banner by John Paul Yao. Facebook page o n the External link. Don't forget to join and post/leave a message :") Thank you!

******************************************* [52] The Bet *Against All Odds ******************************************* I realized something. The Bet is almost coming to an end. . . Just a few more ch apters to go, and then the Epilogue/s. Probably less than 10 chapters? Or maybe more? Haha I'm not sure. It depends when I think of a good scene. At least you h ave a heads up ;) The song is Absolutely (Story of a Girl) by Nine Days. Thank you to AnotherUnkow nPerson for suggesting it! :> Banner by Nathasya Thio. Facebook page on the Exte rnal link! :)

*** In 1991 a 21 month old boy called Ben Needham was kidnapped on this Greek Island of Kos, without much help from the Greek or British Governments and the Greek p olice his mum Kerry has had to do her own investigations ever since... There is no evidence to prove that Ben has been killed, all leads point to him being kidn apped by gypsys and sold to childless couples. The family and us supporters trul y believe 2012 is the year to find Ben and even Tom Cruise has retweeted his sup port on twitter. Everyone believes as Ben will now be 22 years old and with peop les help via social networking websites that Ben can finally be reunited with hi s Mum. You can help by going to these websites: www.helpfindben.co.uk www.facebook.com/helpfindben Follow @findbenneedham on Twitter If you need more details, you can ask ME2011. ***

Happy Reading! Chapter 46 *Against All Odds* ~Sophia

A few days have passed since I got the call. Although my mind was fuzzy at that time, I'm not stupid to not recognize the voice when I woke up. It only belonged to him - the one that can't be named. What did he mean when he said he's back? He's back- where? In this town? In my l ife? For the past few days, I became paranoid; always looking behind my back, afraid that someone is following me. I hate him for making me feel this way! Why can't he just leave me alone? I'm starting to have a normal life. Why now? Why ruin ev erything? He already broke my dreams a few years ago! Isn't he already tired of it? Ugh!

My mind wants to explode because of the problems surrounding it. Him, the bet, m y parents still keeping a secret to me. I can solve the problems one at a time. And I can start with my parents.

I almost forgot what I found out ld me about our families and how to ask them about it. There's no possibility that they won't tell "Mom," I start.

when I stayed at Andre's place. The thing he to my parents keep it a secret from me. It's time need to prolong the moment. Besides, there's a me.

My mom and I are in the living room, while my dad is in his room, resting. He ea sily gets tired after his operation. When they came back after his check up, the doctor didn't find anything wrong. At least that went well. "Yes?" "Remember the accident that killed Matt?" She glances at me and stops doing her work. "Yes," she says in a strain voice. " Why?" "Do you know the man on the other car?" I ask, fighting the urge to stay calm. "Sophia," she begins, realization clouding her eyes. "I . . . I'm sorry we didn' t tell you. It's just; we didn't want to hurt your feelings by reminding you of that accident." "Mom," I murmur, tears brimming at the back of my eyes. "I'm not a child anymore . You don't have to keep secrets for my own sake! I'm seventeen, I'm not afraid of big news. I can handle them." Even news that can change my life. Circumstance s and situations help me to be brave. She stares at me like she's seeing me for the first time. "I'm sorry for not tel ling you about it." "Promise me you won't keep a secret to me anymore," I mumble, wiping at the tear s flowing from my eyes. "I promise." She stands up and goes to where I am. She pulls me towards her and gives me a hug. "Who told you?" she asks, brushing my tangled hair away from my face. "A-Andre," I stutter. My voice comes out raspy so I clear my throat. "When?" "A few days after you left me in their house," I answer. "He thought I knew." "He's a good person," she says thoughtfully. I don't reply because I don't what to say. As if I can tell her that the person he thought good is playing with his best friend to destroy her daughter's heart. Instead, I hug her back, thinking of good happy memories when my mom hugs me, te lling me everything will be alright.

I lost track of the day, the date, and the time. My life becomes repetitive. Go to school, tutor Draky, go back home. And in between, I am worrying. Never stop worrying that I might see him on the street. Or anywhere I go. My life is alread y complicated as it is, and then he adds more to it! He even visits my dreams. Because of him, I can't sleep. I have these haunting n ightmares every night. And so I have these dark circles under my eyes. I feel ho rrible, hollow, and empty. Due to my lost of appetite, I'm slowly loosening my w eight. After all these months, he can still get to me. I hate him for it! It scares me how much I hate him. I can't believe I can muster this kind of hate in my body.

I'm in the school when I feel something bad will happen. I ignore it and focused on my upcoming test instead. But you know what they say, you can't run from fat e. From destiny. "Sophia." Turning around, I find Elizabeth, my old friend, catching up to me. "Hello," I greet her; surprised that she's talking to me. "Can I have a minute with you?" she asks, glancing around us. "Sure," I say slowly. "He is looking for you." "What?" I almost shout. Fortunately, there are no people in the hallway besides us. He. . . The one that can't be named. Even my old friends know it. It's best not to say it. It's a forbidden curse. "Why?" I murmur, my knees buckling underneath me. Elizabeth starts to raise her hands as if to help me, but she thinks better of i t. Instead, I lean on the wall for support. "I. . . I don't know," she says, a frown appearing on her face. "I'm sorry to sa y this, but he's back. I don't know if he's back for good or just visiting. But still." "Thank you for telling me," I choke. I'm afraid of breaking into tiny pieces. I can feel myself crumbling apart. Just one more push I will explode and no part of me will remain. "Sophia," she says. In that word, my name, she conveys a long message. "He. Is. Out. Hunting. You." After that, she walks away, leaving me gasping for breaths. My worst nightmare i s coming true and I can't do anything to stop it from happening.

I don't remember much what happened after I talked to Elizabeth. Before I know i t, the bell rings signaling the end of the last class. Fortunately, I survived t he day. Almost. "Pie?" I stop in my tracks and whip around to see Draky. "Are you okay?" he asks, concern written all over his face. "Yes, I am," I lie. "Why?" His brows furrow, sensing the lie."I just noticed that you have been paranoid fo r the past couple of days." "It's nothing," I say evasively. It's not Draky's fault that I'm in a sour mood lately. Actually, it's no one's f ault, except him. Him. Him. His name is evicted from my mind ever since he hurt me. Just thinking about it makes me cringe. His name is a curse- a poison- that will envelop you until you burn. "Earth to Pie?" Draky says, snapping his fingers a few inches from my face. "I'm fine," I say sharply than I intended. "Sorry," he mutters, glancing down. Heaving a sigh, I say, "No, I'm sorry for snapping at you. I was just in a bad m ood." "I discern," he says quietly. "I heard that," I scold.

-*-*-*~*-*-*~Drake~

I can't help but notice the way Pie act for the past couple of days. She always has this faraway look, like she's haunted or something (I can sense and see it w henever she tutors me). I'm worried about her. Every time I ask her what's wron g, she always says that she's okay. I'm not stupid not to distinguish the truth from the lie. And I have a feeling I annoy her every time I ask. Right. And I wonder when this voice will leave me alone. Never. I thought when I stop the bet? I already cancelled it! Besides, I don't even rec

all what day it is anymore! But Sophia doesn't know it, it retorts. Of course, I snap. Sophia doesn't have an idea about what I did. To my surprise, it shut up. Nothing- just vanished into a thin air. "Let's go out," I suggest, before the voice can start talking again. "Out?" Pie asks. There's this constant frown on her face lately. And I want to remove it. I want to make her happy. I want to see the smile that's shine her whole face - her smi le that brightens even my darkest day. When did I become melodramatic? Ever since you admit that you're falling for her. Thanks, I thought dryly. You're welcome, it says sarcastically. Am I really the only one who has a voice inside the head? It's weird and creepyAnd convenient, it chimes in. Yeah, I admit, Sometimes. "Yes, out," I reply. "I have an idea to turn your mood upside down." "Like a date?" "If you want it to be," I say, a smirk forming on my lips. She shakes her head quickly. "That's not what I meant!" "Ah, a date then?" I tease. "It's not a date!" The blush starts to color her cheeks. Her rosy cheeks. She's so adorable and cute whenever she blushed. Not that she's already pretty. Well, she's more than pretty. She's beautiful, elegantAnd you're falling head over heels more and more every second. Yes, I admit. What's the point of lying to myself? It's kind of ironic how everything turns up side down. My goal was to make her fall in love with me. Now it's the other way around. I can't help but smile at the thought. I'm not into singing despite people telling me I have a good voice. But for Pie, I will do anything. Parker suggested that I should sing for her. He said it's c alled Harana in the Philippines and it's a form of wooing a girl. i don't even k now why I chose Iris. How can you explain something you don't even understand? A t that moment, I sang what I felt; what my heart would say if it can talk. It's hard not to fall for Pie. She's attractive, beautiful, nice, clever, beauti

fulOh, I already said beautiful, didn't I? Silly me. Well, I can think of a lot of adjectives to describe her. I can even make a novel about the things I love abo ut her. I like her. I like her so much it hurts. You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach that suddenly gives you emotion al adrenaline you haven't experienced before? You know the feeling of riding a r ollercoaster dropping down on its final wave? Pie is like a drug to me. I find m yself addicted to her, drawn to her"Drake-y!" "What?" Startled, I shake my head to clear my thoughts. "I've been talking to you for the past minute but I see you're stuck talking to the voice inside your head," she says bemusedly. "I'm sorry," I say sheepishly, scratching my hair. "Let's go." "Where?" she asks. "A date, remember?" "It's not a date!" "Whatever you say," I say slyly. We slide in my car, and after a few minutes of driving, we arrive at Frosty Land . "I didn't know you like ice cream," Pie says amusedly, walking inside the store. "I scream for ice cream," I joke. We take the table at the far end, beside the window. When we're already settled, a waitress walks to our place and gives us the menu. "What do you want?" I ask Pie. "Um, banana split," she says, looking at the waitress weirdly. "What else?" "Banana split's fine." "Two banana splits then," I tell the waitress. When she goes out to retrieve our orders, Pie turns to me, a wide grin on her fa ce. "What?" I ask. I'm glad her aura is starting to change. I know ice cream can alt er your mood. I learned it by experience. "The waitress was checking you out," she says amusedly.

"She was not," I say doubtfully. I don't know for sure because I just glanced at her for a second to give our orders. "She was," she states. "She was not." "How would you know, you didn't even see the way she looked at you," she says ma tter-of-factly. "Precisely," I mutter. "I was busy staring at you." "Oh," she murmurs, her cheeks reddening at the compliment. We're both silent for a moment, until the waitress arrives. She sets the banana splits in front of us and winks at me before walking away. Pie smiles. "See?" She starts eating her banana split, her face full of wonder. "This is delicious. I scream for ice cream!" I ignore her teasing remark. Instead, I ask her, "Where are you going to study i n college?" This is a good start for a conversation. I take a spoonful of vanill a ice cream and start to eat as well. "I'm not sure," she answers. "I passed application forms to Yale, Brown, and Pri nceton." I sigh inwardly. Of course, the Ivy League. I'm not surprised that she picked th ose universities. With her grades, she wouldn't have a problem studying to any o f them. "What about your major?" I ask quickly, before she can ask me where I plan to st udy. Truth is, I haven't thought of my life after high school. I guess I'll be s tuck here"I don't know," she says, a frown appearing on her face. "I haven't made up my m ind yet. What about you?" Uh oh. I guess I can't really escape this question forever. "I don't know," I say, repe ating her words from earlier. "I haven't made up my mind yet." She rolls her eyes and says, "Seriously." "I am serious," I say, biting my lip to stop myself from laughing. "You have to plan your future now," she says thoughtfully. "Where you are studyi ng will affect your life. You know the saying: You can't change your past, but y ou can let go and start your future? College is where real life really takes act ion. It's a once in a lifetime experience." "Like high school." "Yeah," she says, "but in a very different level." "You're saying that like you're not a high school student," I observe. "Well. . ."

"How do you study by the way?" "Let's see," she starts, putting her spoon down and staring at me. "Make it a ha bit of reading your notes everyday, even though you don't have a quiz or test th e next day. So when the time comes that you'll have an exam, the words will come easily to you- because you already read them repeatedly. It'll be a piece of ca ke." She grins. "And you know," she adds as an after thought, "Cramming is not g ood for yourself. You'll end up draining your mind. Besides that, the words will be jumbled, leaving you confused and. . . ." she trails off, frowning at me. "W hy are you looking at me like that?" "Like what?" I ask curiously, tilting my head to the side. "Like I'm a bizarre creature," she mutters. "I'm just surprised-" "It's not wrong that I like to study when I have free time," she cuts me off. "I-" "And I like reading my notes again and again," she interjects, scowling at me. "You didn't let me finish," I say. "I was surprised because you gave me good tip s. I should have expected it though, because it's you we are talking about. And what you said really makes sense." Of course if I read my notes repeatedly, they'll be stuck in my head. And that's a good thing. "Oh," she mumbles, smiling sheepishly. She's smiling! I'm happy I can make her smile. Something bubbles up in my stomac h, I can't explain this feeling. Suddenly, I have the urge to ask her a question . "Pie?" "Yeah?" "Do I have a chance?" "Chance for what?" she asks, confused. "You know. . ." "No, I don't know," she says amusedly, smiling slowly. I clear my throat and shift in my seat uncomfortably. Give it to me to be nervou s in this kind of situation. "Do we. . . Do we have a chance of being together?" "Oh," she murmurs, tearing her gaze away from me. "I. . . I don't know. I haven' t thought about it." My heart is thumping loudly in my chest. I have a feeling she can hear it. I try to calm my nerves to no avail. "Will you?" I probe. She's about to open her mouth when someone says, "Long time no see." I watch as a familiar dark haired guy saunters to us. I glance at Pie to check i f she knows him but what I find changed my life.

Her face drains all color, leaving her pale white. A single word escapes from he r lips. If I'm not sitting close to her, I wouldn't hear it. "Skye." She continues to stare at the guy, like she's seeing a ghost - a dead man rising from his tomb.

******************************************* [53] The Bet *Tug-Of-War ******************************************* I watched The Vow yesterday. It was amazing and heart-warming :) Oh, and the MV of Safe and Sound was one of a kind. TS The song is Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri. Banner by SkinnyLizzy. Here's a li ttle treat for you. I made this last year (02-14-11) Today is Valentine's Day People are either lonely or gay "I love you" are the words they say But if it's not from the heart, there'll be karma to pay Yay! I have an entry pass for the LIV5 concert! :D *A Rocket To The Moon, The Re ady Set, The Summer Set, A+ Dropouts, Forever the Sickest Kids* I'm so excited t o see them! Esp. ARTTM :)) IF YOU FORGOT "HIM" YOU CAN REREAD CHAPTERS 10, 13, and 27. You can imagine SKYE as Darren Kagasoff :)

ENJOY! :) Chapter 47 Part 1 *Tug-Of-War* ~Sophia

"Skye." I can feel the blood draining from my face. I feel cold all of a sudden, like a strong wind rushes to my face. How can I even utter a curse? I swore a year ago that I won't ever, ever, say his name. Now I broke a promise to myself. My worst nightmare is happening in front of me, while I'm awestruck to do anythi ng about it. Every part of me screams that the enemy is here to get me. I'm doom ed. I stand up from my chair as soon as I can control the muscles of my body. I'm ab out to walk away unnoticed but of course, faith is not in my favor. So when I'm about to sidestepped him, he blocked my path. He's not even contented with that because the next thing I know, I'm in his arms, wrapped in his embrace.

Tears are stinging at the back of my eyes as his hands rest on my waist. Oh, he' s still the same as before. And now I'm about to fall back in his trap for the s econd time. At that, my subconscious takes me back to what happened a year ago. The last day I saw him.

"Images burn in the back of my mind - you kissing her and doing God knows what w ith her! Don't you know how much that hurts me?" A lump is stuck in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe, but still, I continue. "You know what hurts mo re? You didn't care about me, about my feelings, about us. You are a selfish bas tard! You even did it in the school where all the students watched your little p arade!" Skye seems at a loss of words because of my outburst. Poor me, trusting willingl y. I should have known. I should have known. Why? Why does it always have to be me? Why does it have to end like this? Happiness will come, but when it departs, it will leave you nothing to hold on t o- an anchor that will help you to survive this kind of nightmare. He's my first love. I gave my first kiss to him. I told him everything about me. And now here he is, crushing my hopes and dreams. He changed my life and now I' m lost. Lost in the little fantasy I created for both of us. Life, unfortunately, doesn't care about what we want. Fairy tales are not true. They were never real. This will be the last time I will fall in love. My heart will be frozen and no o ne can make the cold go away. I'd rather be alone than to feel this heartache ag ain. "I'm sorry," he starts, looking at me pleadingly. "No, you're not," I cut him off, "Because if you are, you wouldn't do that in th e first place." "I'm sorry," he repeats. "You made me a pawn in your sick twisted game!" I want to slap him. Hurt him mor e than he hurt me. But I can't. Because I don't want to touch him and be near hi m again. He drops to his knees, begging me to forgive him. How dare he? As if I'll give m y sympathy to him. "Get out!" I yell. "Get out of here! I don't ever want to see you again!" This doesn't get a reaction from him. He's still on his knees, sobbing. I'm abou t to feel sorry for him, but then I remember, he's an actor. As much as I want t o say I hate him, I can't. Because no matter what he did, my stupid heart still belongs to him. "That. . . that was a mistake," he says, tears falling from his eyes. "I never i ntended to hurt you." "But you did," I whisper, my anger subsiding. I feel so tired. All I want to do

is cry myself to sleep while crawled into a tiny ball. And hopefully, to forget this happened. Skye, I now evict you from my heart.

"Pie." Draky? That brings me back to my senses. It's like a light switched on my body. I just realize that he's standing in front of us, throwing daggers at Skye's way . I inwardly flinch as his name registers in my mind. Stupid name! I wriggle out o f him, pushing him away from me. But he's stronger than me. The harder I push, t he harder he tightens his hold on me. "What is going on here?" Draky asks. "I'm hugging my girl friend," Skye says smoothly. "I'm not your girl friend," I snap. It's my first time to speak ever since I lai d my eyes on him. I'm relieved it didn't shake. "Oh, babe, you forgot something," he says, tucking a loose hair behind my ear. I cringe at his touch. My mind is flashing back memories of what happened between us. "We didn't break up." "Yes we did," I mutter, "Let me go." "Don't you missed me?" he asks, giving me his puppy eyes look. "No," I hiss. "I made an effort to ask people where you are. I'm so happy to finally see you. A year of waiting is worth it just to have a glimpse of you." "I said let me go!" Draky closes the gap between us and gets me away from Skye. No matter how much I needed his presence - his strong arms that can comfort me, his words so soothin g, calming my nerves, I don't like him to interfere here. Skye, on the other hand, grabs my other arm. So I am in between them. They both pull me towards them, as if they're playing a tug-of- war, while I'm the rope. "Stop it," I say furiously, shaking Skye's hands off me. Draky puts his arms on my shoulder protectively. Looking around me, I notice tha t the other customers are not paying attention to us, of which I am grateful. I don't need more people learning about my life. "Who are you?" Skye asks, narrowing his eyes at Draky while crossing his arms ov er his chest. "I'm her boy friend," Draky states. I open my mouth to contradict him but he cut s me off. "And you need to back off!"

Skye smirks, knowing something is going on between Draky and me. "Are you sure y ou're together?" "It's not your business," Draky snaps. I squirm away from him uncomfortably, but he holds my hand and gives it a squeez e. Skye ignores him and looks at me instead. His brown eyes stare at me like he can see right through my soul. Suddenly, I'm captivated in his hypnotizing gaze. "Pie," Draky murmurs in my ears. Fortunately, Draky is here to guide me against Skye. If not for him, I might but lulled again on Skye's charms. He has a way of turning tables. "I've waited for months to talk to you again," Skye says, taking a step towards us. "Haven't you missed me? Because for the past year, it's you all I can think about." "Yeah, right," I retort. "Soph," he says pleadingly. "I know you still love me. I can see it in your eyes and the way you look at me. You know you want me." "You're wrong," I whisper. "I did love you in the past, but not anymore." "You're lying." "I'm not." "Yes you are," he states stubbornly. "I already love someone else." Sort of. "Who do you love then?" he demands, glaring at Draky. "It's none of your business," I mutter. Suddenly, I feel exhausted. All the ener gy depleted from my body. "Draky," I say softly, "I want to go home now." He nods and unwrap his arms around me. But he still holds my hand, our fingers e ntwining in their own accord. We're about to walk away when Skye's voice stops u s. "Where are you going?" "None of your business," Draky says, his body shaking. If we're not going any sooner, these two will punch each other on the face. "Draky," I murmur, tugging at his hand. "Afraid to fight me?" Skye asks cockily, a smirk forming on his face. "Don't fall for his bait," I say. "He's not worth it." "I know," Draky mutters. "Let's go." "I'll come back and get you," Skye threatens. But he's not looking at me while h

e said it. Instead, he was glaring at Draky, as if provoking him. "Whatever," I mutter, turning my back on him. Draky and I walk to his car without saying anything. He opens the passenger door and waits for me to come in. But before I do, I turn back one last time to see Skye watching us, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. I slide in quickly before he catches me staring at him. Draky soon starts the engine of his car. His knuckles are so white, his hold on the steering wheel is so tight, as if his life depends on it. I wonder if he rea lizes that he's passed the speed limit. Even though he's mad, he still remember to wear his seatbelt. "I know it's not my business," he says in a strain voice, not tearing his gaze a way from the windshield, "But I want to know who he was in your life." I swallow the lump in my throat, forcing the sobs to stay where they are because they are starting to come out. "He was my ex boyfriend," I whisper. "I figured that out," he mutters, glancing at me briefly. "By the way, are you o kay?" He sighs. "Of course you're not okay. Why am I even asking," he says to hi mself. "I'll be." If I say it, I have to believe in it. I'm going to be okay. "Don't be afraid of him," he says, narrowing his eyes, as if Skye is in front of him. "I'm not-" "Don't let him ruin what we have," he says softly. Is Draky threatened with Skye? Does he think it's a competition between them? "Drake-" "Please?" he says, looking at me longingly. There's real sadness in his eyes. An d behind that, the anger he has for Skye. How can he hate him if he doesn't even know him? "I can't bare the thought of you being with him. He's not a good pers on." "I know." I'm stupid for trusting him. Why do I always fall for the wrong person ? "I'm here if you want to talk," he says after a minute. "You can count on me." "Thank you," I reply gratefully. Involuntarily, I lean towards him, resting my body against his side. Surprised, his right foot lands on the brake pedal which makes the car stop from moving. "Sorry," I begin, "I didn't-" He takes his seatbelt off and turns to me. Startled by our closeness, I start to lean back on the passenger door but he stops me. "Pie. . . I . . ." He pulls me towards him and wraps his arms around my waist.

"Drak-" "Let me hug you for a minute okay?" he murmurs. Needing comfort, I put my hand on his neck and close the little distance between us. He tightens his hold on me and buries his face on my hair. I think I like Drake Swift. Who am I kidding? I'm starting to fall, which is stupid because that's never bee n my plan from the very start. But for what it's worth, we can't start a relatio nship based on lies. Well, it all started with a deal. A bet I don't know. Every thing is complicated, and I can't accept that. I think the time is coming up for the revelation. Besides, who want a relationship? Why did I even think about it in the first place? As soon as I graduate from high school, I'll move far away from here. The story we have is coming to an end. A good ending or not, I don't know. First , we need to settle everything and find answers to our unanswered questions. It may not be now, but soon. Very soon. ******************************************* [54] The Bet *Unfortunate Event ******************************************* I hope you'll like this :> The songs are Fifteen by Taylor Swift and Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum. Banner by Abby Arnold. Awesome trailer on the side by Forev erNAlwaysILY. Please join the Facebook page! Thank you! =D

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 47 Part 2 *Unfortunate Event* ~Sophia

"How many months?" "What months?" "How many months were you two together?" "Um, seven," I answer. "Do you know him?" The question just pop in my head. When I calmed down after my outburst earlier, Draky asked me if I wanted to go h ome. I said no because I can't bare the thought of my parents seeing me like thi s. They'll realize something bad has happened, and I don't want them to be worri ed about me. So here we are, in the park, seated on a wooden bench beside a big oak tree. "Something like that," he says, a faraway look on his face. I'm confused. When Skye and I were together, he didn't mention Draky. If he did, I'll surely remember.

"Care to elaborate?" I urge. "Well, I don't really know him," he starts. "His face is just familiar. It's lik e I've seen him a couple of times before." "He was a student in our school." "Oh," he mutters. "Maybe that was why he was familiar." "Remember what happened with a senior and a junior?" I ask quietly. His brows furrow at my question. "Yeah. Why?" His eyes slowly widens as realizat ion takes in. "That was him?!" "Yes," I whisper, lowering my head, and wishing I can hide in the curtain of my hair. "That happened a year ago, right?" "Right," I confirm. Draky looks at me sideways, and then he sighs. "Pie." I find the ground really interesting. "What?" I mumble. "Look at me." I can't. Because I'm ashamed that my ex boy friend is a jerk. And is a stupid gu y. And he didn't even love me. And I'm an idiot for fallingSuddenly, Draky closes the little space between us. He puts his hand on my chin and tilts my head up. I'm surprised because he has a gentle touch. "Wha - what are y-you doing?" I stutter. His eyes, his blue eyes gaze at me as if he can see to the depths of my soul. Hi s stare is unwavering, his beautiful eyes stayed focus on my eyes, searching my face for the question he only know. "Sophia. . ." I'm afraid he can see my deepest darkest secrets so I close my eyes. "Pie." I don't want to see his reaction because I know it will cause me pain. He's stil l holding my face and I know he's not going to let go any minute now. "Open your eyes." "No," I whisper. I can feel every part of my body tingling at his touch. I know our faces are jus t a few inches away from each other. What am I doing, thinking about these thing s, when I have a bigger problem in hand? "Pie, open your eyes now." "No."

"Why are you so stubborn?" he mumbles. That puts a smile on my face. I realize that he can make me smile even in the wo rst situation I am in. And if I'm right, it's not the first time he did it. "Smiling looks good on you," he states. I don't reply because I don't know what to say. He sighs, and I can feel his breath tickling my cheeks. "Pie, if you will not op en your eyes. . ." he starts in a threatening voice. "What?" I ask, intrigue. "I will kiss you." He's just bluffing, I repeat in my mind repeatedly. After a few seconds, he says, "You don't believe me?" And then he moves his face close to mine until our noses touch. Oh no. He's not bluffing after all. Instinct makes me open my eyes. I'm surprised at our closeness. I can see his eyes now more than before. There a re tiny flecks of silver around the edge of his iris, making his blue eyes more prominent. I've never seen blue eyes as clear as his. "See something you like?" he asks amusedly. At that, I realize what I'm doing. I'm checking him out! Tearing my gaze away fr om him, I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. When I turn after a minute to look at him, I find him smiling but. . . "I thought you want me to open my eyes?" I ask, "Why do you look disappointed?" His face is clear with emotion, leaving it blank. "I don't." "You want to kiss me don't you?" I tease. When did I become so bold to ask this question? To him, of all people? He grins. "What if I tell you yes?" "Forget it," I mutter. His hand finds mine, and he gives it a squeeze. I expect him to let go but he ho lds on to it, our fingers entwining in their own accord. "Pie?" "What?" "They were kicked out of school," he says. I know fully well who he's talking ab out. "What is he doing here?" "I don't know," I murmur. Of course I know. He's here to get me. To finish what

he started. "Do you know what happened to the senior girl?" My vision suddenly blurs as I remember the face of that girl. The girl Skye kiss ed. I'm about to be drawn when I recall Draky asked me a question. "She was expelled," I answer. Both of them. Inappropriate behavior in the school is a huge offense. "She didn't graduate." "Of course she didn't. I doubt if she's accepted in other schools," he replies. "Want me to tell you the whole story?" "Yes," he says, staring straight into my eyes. "I was fifteen when I met him," I begin. The memory is fresh from my mind; it's as if it just happened yesterday, when in reality it happened almost two years a go. "I was in the library, reading a book when all of a sudden, he walked by and stopped beside me. He told me he recognized the cover of the book I was reading ." "What is that book?" Draky interrupts. "The Giver." "Oh." It's familiar to him because all second year students were required to stu dy it. "And then," I continue, "he introduced himself. We became acquaintances. And the n friends. After a few months of getting to know each other, he asked me if I wa nted to be his girl friend." I pause because the memory is visiting my mind, rep laying the scenes that happened in the past. "I was ecstatic and overjoyed becau se I liked him. I treasured every minute when I was with him. So I said yes." I realized too late that Skye didn't introduce me to even one of his friends. I should have known then, but I didn't. And that was my mistake. I observe Draky as I talk. He has his poker face on, and ace. "My friends were surprised. They didn't expect that ouple. They told me bad things about him, how I couldn't listen to my friends." Instead I chose Skye. "So in the hip with them." it's hard to read his f Skye and I would be a c trust him. But I didn't end, I broke my friends

I don't even know why I'm telling this to Draky. I should just get to the point to get it over with. "Do you mind if I fast forward my story?" "Go ahead. I don't mind at all," he says. It's as if he's grateful that I sugges ted it. Perhaps he doesn't want to know what I had with Skye. Of course. "Skye is part of the theatre group in school. He was- I mean, he is a good actor . I wanted to surprise him by being there while they were practicing for their n ew play the next month. Fortunately, it was not forbidden to go to the auditoriu m and watch the drama club perform. As a matter of fact, there were a lot of vie wers that day. The auditorium was half full." I pause and take a deep breath. Th is is the tricky part. "Students did not know that I was dating Skye. They thought he was single. Only my friends and I knew that he's in a relationship. Suddenly, while two students were performing a scene, the background curtain fell off." My breath is coming f

aster and faster but I force myself to continue. "To my surprise, actually, to o ur surprise- me, the other students, and the theatre artists, two students were making out behind the curtain." "It must be intense," he mutters. "Tell me about it," I choke out. "They surely couldn't get their hands off each other because both of them were topless. We even saw them kissing before the ent ire curtain dropped to the ground." "Pie. . ." "So instead of surprising him, he surprised me in the end," I finish, blinking b ack the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I won't cry for something that h appened in the past. Because no matter how much I want it to vanish from my memo ry, I can't. And there's nothing I can do about it. Because of Skye, I agreed to the saying that you can't forget your first love. W hat people don't know is that you can move on. It's a hard process. If you know what to do and what to focus your time, you'll live. Despite everything that hap pened to you, you'll find yourself falling in love for the second time. And then you'll realize that it's not the same as before. No matter how much you want it to stop; you can't because it's a force that can't be reckon with. I survived that dreadful incident and it shaped me as a person. Now I think thin gs through before taking action. Most of the time. "I'm sorry to hear that," Draky says after a minute, squeezing my hand. "I. . . I don't want to experience that pain again," I say. "I'd rather be alone than have my heart broken for the second time. It was an experience I don't wan t to happen again." "But don't you think it was meant to happen for you to become who you are now?" he asks slowly, concern written all over his face. "Yeah," I admit. "I've thought of that. Because of that unfortunate event, I bec ame stronger than before. I learned to love myself even more." "But what he did was wrong," he says through gritted teeth. "I know," I agree. And what you are doing is not so good either. I hope you realize that. "I have two tickets," he says, as if he just remembers it. I can hear the excite ment in his voice. Very different from the tones he used earlier. "Tickets for what?" I ask curiously. "Taylor Swift will have a concert." "Really?" I ask incredulously. "Yes," he answers, a huge smile plastered on his handsome face. Because of my paranoia to Skye's reappearance, I forgot what's happening around me. "When did you get it?" "A few days ago," he replies. "Driana and Andre are going too."

"Really?" I ask amusedly. "How come?" Something is really going on between them. "I asked Andre if he wanted to join us, and he said yes. So I decided to ask Dri ana as well. She's my twin, and she's your friend. Besides, the more the merrier ." Oh, well. I thought Andre invited Driana in his own accord. Draky gets something from his wallet. He raises the ticket in his hand. "Do you want to come?" "Of course," I say gratefully, taking the ticket from him. "Great!" "By the way, when's the concert?" "December 13." I laugh as I remember, "That's her birthday!" "It's a birthday concert," he says amusedly. My mind suddenly wonders if we're still speaking to each other after, when I tel l him that I know about the bet. What will happen to the concert then? To our ti ckets? Wait. Why am I even thinking in advance? I have to live one day at a time . When the time comes, whatever happens happens. The ringing of my phone breaks me from my thoughts. "It's my mom," I say. "She's probably wondering where I am." I didn't even notic e that it's getting dark. Stars are starting to showing in the sky. "It's getting late," Draky agrees. "Let's go." We stand from our bench and make our way to his car. He is quiet as he drives an d that's okay because I'm comfortable with the silence. That's one of the things I like about us. We don't have to talk to fill the awkwardness with conversatio ns. My mind is drifting around the events that happened today. Surely, my life is ch anging. I'm not even in college yet! After a few minutes, we arrive at my house. Draky opens the passenger door for m e. I really am glad that chivalry is still alive. I walk to the porch while he f ollows behind. "For you," he says, handing me a paper bag. I take it from him and ask, "What is this?" "Why don't you open it?" he says, a silly smile forming on his lips. "I see that you're back in your usual self." He shrugs. "I have a positive outlook in life. I don't let the past ruin my futu re." "Thanks," I mutter dryly.

"For my gift?" he says amusedly. "You're welcome!" Rolling my eyes, I open the bag. A surprise squeal escapes from my lips when I f ind what's inside. "Peanut brittle!" He grins, liking my expression. "This is one of my favorite foods," I say, forgetting the fact that I was moping earlier. "I used to eat it everyday when I was a kid!" Really, just staring at the container, I'm starting to forget about my problems. Peanut brittle can do t hat to you. Whenever Parker and his family visited their home country, Philippin es, they always brought Peanut brittles with them because they knew I liked it a lot. "I know," he says slyly, still smiling. "How?" "Parker told me." Realization hits me. "You talked a lot about me didn't you?" "A little," he answers evasively, tearing his gaze away from me. "He gave me tha t bag on your birthday and told me to give it to you when you're feeling down." "How come you have it now?" "I carry it all the time," he admits sheepishly, his cheeks starting to turn sca rlet. I can't help but think it's adorable and cute. "Thank you so much," I say. "For this." "You should thank Parker," he says, still not looking at me. He's embarrassed! "I know," I say. I wonder what they really talked about. "Draky?" "Yeah?" "Why don't you look at me?" "I. . ." "If you don't look at me, I'll kiss you." He slowly raises his eyes until they meet mine. "Thank you so much," I say gratefully. "For listening to me, and for everything. Thank you." "Y-you're welcome," he stutters. I can't help myself so I stand on my tiptoes and give him a kiss on the lips. I know I take him by surprise because when I stop after a few seconds, he's still frozen, still not moving. His eyes though are as clear as crystal. Meanwhile, my heart is doing a somersault, trying to burst out of my chest. Suddenly, a memory flashed in my mind. A few days ago, I kissed Draky on the che ek after we made our project in Literature. That was when I stayed at Andre's pl ace and Parker was our substitute. It feels like a long time ago. If I'm right,

Draky has the same reaction as before. My cheeks blooming with red, I whisper, "Good night Drake." And then I enter the house and shut the door behind me. I can't believe I kissed Drake Swift on his lips! Now I made things more complicated. But even though Draky and I have games of ou r own, I'm glad I can count on him. I have a feeling it's just the calm before t he storm.

***** I'll grab this opportunity to THANK YOU for your support :D You are the best!!! I'm so blessed, grateful and lucky to have awesome readers around the world. Tha nk you so much :) ******************************************* [55] The Bet *Party Crasher ******************************************* Happy Leap Day! :"> There are three songs for this chapter. Into Your Arms, Listen To Your Heart, an d I Must Be Dreaming by The Maine. I super like their songs :D I don't know why I just found their Music now. Well, better late than never ;) Banner by NaughtyAuti. Join the Facebook page on the External Link! :) All the banners that are not posted yet are on my laptop. And it's not working .- Can you please send the link again? Thank you!

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 48 *Party Crasher* ~Drake

A few r. It a why ready

days have passed since Pie kissed me on the lips. Until now I can taste he doesn't want to vanish from my own lips. And until now I don't have an ide she did it. When I returned to my senses, I was shocked because she was al inside their house.

Is she starting to fall in love with me? The thought is appealing and scary at t he same time. Should I tell her about the bet? Of course. She doesn't need to know, I return. She'll be hurt. And I already cancelled my d eal with Andre a week ago. There's no point.

Don't you think its better when it comes out from your own mouth? She'll hate me, I think sadly. You're so pessimist. We. How can you start a relationship with lies? I . . . Does Pie want to be with me? What does it feel like to have your loved one to re turn your feelings? It's hard to imagine, even when you are creative and have go od imagination. If you will not tell her, your conscience will eat you inside and out, my voice says. And you will not be completely happy because you're hiding something from her. I can't live knowing that she will not want to see me again. Just thinking about it makes my chest constrict in pain. What more if it happens in real life? If you don't ask and tell her about it, you'll always wonder. . . I know, I snap. And the answer will always be a No. Can you shut up? I need to think, and you're not helping at all! Just leave me a lone! As you wish. . . And then I'm left alone in my head. I breathe a sigh of relief. I'm starting to get crazy talking with this voice. When I'm hungry I can't think straight. I have to eat first. Walking inside the kitchen, my eyes involuntarily glance at the Calendar posted on the wall. October 31. Sunday. Tomorrow is All Saints' Day. Today is the day for Trick or Treat. But that doesn't what pull me up short. I count the days and surprised when I re alize that this is the twenty fifth day. But of course it's not working anymore. Maybe this is a sign. That I really should tell Pie. I almost jump from where I am when my phone rings. Getting it from my pocket, I answer, "Who's this?" "Me," Andre says amusedly.

"What do you want?" "Just to remind you about the party." Party? "I thought we're trick or treating?" I ask incredulously. "Change of plans. Party is much more fun." "What party?!" "A Halloween party," he says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "N o costume, no entry." "What?" I almost shout at him. "That hurts," he mutters. And I can imagine him shaking his head. "Where in the world is the venue of your party?" "My place." "What about Auntie?" I ask doubtfully, "She's fine with it," he answers bemusedly. "Besides, she has a business meeting out of town." I groan. Ever since I became friends with Pie, I've never been to parties anymor e. "Can you come by and help me with the preparation?" he asks. "Preparation?" "Yeah. You know," he says exasperatedly, "you can't really call it a party witho ut decorations because it will be boring and plain." "And when did you get those?" I inquire, raising my eyebrow even though he can't see me. "A few days ago." "Why are you just telling me now?" "It slipped from my mind," he says sheepishly. Andre! "What about the food?" "I hired a catering service," he says proudly. "And alcohol is forbidden. I don' t want the house to smell of vomit." "When do you need me?" "Now." Sighing, I say, "Okay. See you in a few." "Thanks bro!" "Yeah, yeah." And then I hung up, planning to get ready.

What am I going to wear? An idea suddenly pops into my head. Why didn't I think of that earlier? After searching for my costume and putting all the necessary things in my bag, I head downstairs to find my mom. She's in the kitchen, cooking what I smell like beef steak. My stomach grumbles at the sight of food. "Mom," I say, "I'm going out." "Where?" she inquires, looking up from chopping onions. "At Andre's. He needs help." She smiles affectionately and says, "You're a good friend." "I try to be," I murmur, too low for her to hear. "Are you sleeping here tonight?" "I'm not sure," I answer. "I'll just call you." "Okay," she replies, concern written all over her face. "Goodbye Mom." "Take care!" "Thanks!" Then I walk outside the house and get inside my car. After a few minutes, I arri ve at Andre's. Without bothering to knock, I enter the open doorway. I find him sitting on the couch, arranging things. "Hey," I greet. "Thanks for coming," Andre says gratefully. There are fake spider cob webs, crazy pumpkins, creepy insects, and other Hallow een paraphernalia on the floor. "Where are the other helpers?" I ask, looking around the house. "What helpers?" he asks, furrowing his eyebrows. "You don't mean. . ." "Of course it's just us!" I groan. Andre is stupid sometimes. "What time is the party again?" "Eight," he answers, a silly smile forming on his mouth. "But it's already two! I don't have a costume yet." Well, I have, but I don't re ally like it that much. Andre rolls his eyes. "If you stop complaining and start working, we'll finish e arly. And about the costume, why waste money when you can make one?"

"Says the one who spent his money with Halloween things," I say dryly. He grins sheepishly. "But I already said that-" "Yeah, they are needed to make your party more fun and exciting," I interject. "We really are best friends. We can finish each other's sentences." Rolling my eyes, I say, "I couldn't agree more."

*-*-*-*-* ~Sophia~

Fantastic, who ever designed this place. There's a feeling of being haunted, eve n though the decorations are quite simple: tombstones on the front yard, cobwebs on every corner, glowing pumpkins in the hallway, bats on the ceiling, and skel etons that greet you in the doorway. The music is kind of creepy; it's like craw ling into your skin. The lights are darker, making the house look like a gothic mansion. I have to give Andre thumbs up for preparing something like this. He sh ould be an event organizer! This is like a costume party. I notice that when people enter the house, they ar rive with groups. They wear different types of clothes. Some even dyed their hai r, while others use what I think is wig. They are really into this party. It's e ntertaining to watch them. Not everyday of your life you can see something like this. There are fairies with colorful wings. Some are shaped like butterflies while ot hers are more complicated than that. They even get tangled with other people as they walk. They sprinkled glitters in their body so they sparkle when they move. Some are vampires that wear cape and have real white face. I wonder how many fou ndations they used. Their lips are blood red, and there are bite marks on their necks. Others are even wearing fake plastic fangs. They look uncomfortable. I feel not properly dressed in this Halloween party. Like, I don't belong. I don 't even know why I agreed to come. "Sophia!" Turning around, I see my friend walking towards me. "Driana," I greet her excite dly. "Hey, cowgirl," she says, a huge smile on her face. "Where's Hercules?" I tease. Driana is Megara - the love interest of Hercules. She's wearing a purple dress t hat hugs her body. Her hair is even up like Meg's. It really suits her, especial ly her personality. She ignores my question and says, "You should wear that outfit more often. You'r e glamorous!"

My dress is perfectly normal. It falls just below my thighs. I wear knee length boots and a cowboy hat. At the last second, my mom decided to curl my hair. Weird, I know. A cowgirl wearing a glittery dress. But I like it and I'm comfort able with it. "Look who's talking," I say, "You're the pretty one here." "Meh." She rolls her eyes and says, "I like your sparkly dress! Makes me remembe r of Taylor Swift." She wiggles her eyebrows teasingly. "Ha ha," I say wryly. "Look at these people and their weird costumes," she says, looking around with a silly grin on her face. I'm about to reply when someone interrupts us. "Driana!" "Hey!" It's someone from our Arts class. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asks. Driana looks at me questioningly. I give her a nod. "I'll go get a drink." "Okay." And then I walk around the house, occasionally bumping someone in the way. "Sophia!" Whipping around, I find Andre gliding towards me. "Hi Hercules," I say meaningfully. "Hey cowgirl, where's your horse?" he says, not affected by the tone of my voice . A smile forms on my lips as I survey Andre's costume. He is wearing a yellow sle eveless shirt and a kilt with a belt. He has gold bands on his wrists. There's a blue cape on his back. Even his blonde hair is styled as Hercules. I won't let him off the hook easily. "I left my horse on the stable," I say. "Wh ere's Megara?" "Meg? I . . . I don't know," he mumbles. The blush on his cheeks confirmed what I'm thinking. "Why so speechless?" I tease. "I-I'm n-not," he stutters, looking anywhere but me. Not everyday you'll hear Andre stuttering. Grinning from ear to ear, I tap his shoulder and say, "You know, sometime later, people will notice too."

And then I leave him staring blankly after me. I want to go out and breathe some fresh air. More than that, I want to gaze at the stars in the sky. There are a lot of people in the back porch. Some are lying on the chairs while others are on the pool- their costumes on the tables. I decide not to continue because someone might accidentally push me and I might end up falling on the pool. And with my luck, that's not impossible. I'm about t o go to Aunt V's garden when I see that there's an intense making out session go ing on. I don't want to interfere with that. The only choice I have is to go back inside. Besides, Driana is probably looking for me. In my peripheral vision, I see Draky (in his basketball jersey) talking to a ske leton, a wolf, an elf, a princess, a cheerleader, and a witch. I almost forgot t hat he's popular. It makes me remember the first day I laid my eyes on him. It feels like dj vu, watch ing him like this. Like what I did years ago. He's used to interacting with diff erent kinds of people. He is boosting with self confidence. He enjoys parties. A nd I'm the opposite of that. Before he can catch me staring at him, I turn my back to him. My eyes almost pop out of their sockets when I see Skye lounging on one of the chairs. Skye! I blink my eyes repeatedly. Maybe my vision is just doing a trick on me. But rea lly, it's him. My feet automatically walk inside the house. I can't believe he's here! What in the world is he doing?! Isn't he studying to another place? Or maybe no other sc hool accepted him? How did he even know about the party? It makes me frustrated that I have a lot of question but I don't have a single a nswer! For sure Draky has not seen him yet because if he does, he'll make him leave. Of course Draky has not noticed him yet. He's surrounded with people. Tons of them . Skye is here to ruin Andre's party! Isn't he ashamed to be seen by students in h is previous school? The hairs on my arms are rising"Watch it!" I see a girl wearing a queen of heart's costume, glaring at me. "I'm sorry?" Gla ncing down, I realize that because of not looking where I'm going, I bump into h er, making the coke in her hand splashed to her costume. "Sorry," I say sincerel y. Fuming with rage, she stalks out of my sight. Oh, well. That went well. The loud music is blasting from the stereos. When before it was creepy and haunt ed, now it's irritating to the ears. I'm not used to it. And there are a lot of

weird costumes wherever I look. If I enjoyed looking at them earlier, now it mak es my head throb. The house is almost packed! It's hard to breathe. I need to ge t out of here. Trying to dodge people and their silly costumes, I make my way to the library. When I twist the doorknob, it just clicked. I try it a couple of times more. Of course it's locked. That's good because when careless people go here, the precious books of Auntie w ill be ruined. Good job, Andre. You don't fail to amaze me with your forward thi nking. What now? Game room? No. Entertainment room? No. Family Room? No. That leaves me with. . . Right. To my surprise, there's a stop sign on the way to the stairs, saying that no one is allowed upstairs. There's even a caution tape - the one the police use in th e scene of a crime or accident. This gets me thinking. Maybe I shouldn't continu e because I'm not living here anymore. What I'm planning to do is trespassing. But I have this urge inside me, telling me to go on. Besides, I used to live her e and I really miss my room. The comfort it gave me when I stayed here was relax ing. And I need that. Looking behind me and deciding that the coast is clear, I duck under the yellow tape and make my way upstairs. My heart drums loudly in my chest, probably antic ipating that someone might see me and follow me. I'm afraid someone will hear th e beat of my heart. But the music is louder than that. When my feet lands on the second floor landing, I breathe a sigh of relief. Phew ! I made it! Easier than I thought. It's quiet here, unlike the rest of the house and I realize that I'm the only on e who doesn't follow Andre's rules. A smile slowly forms on my lips as I think, some rules are meant to be broken. Fortunately, my room is not locked. Opening it, I enter and look around. Nothing 's changed. The walls, the bed, and the cabinet are still the same. I didn't know I'll miss this place. This room has a special place in my heart. Walking near the window, I watch the party outside. I can't see Skye anymore. Go od. Maybe he decided to go home.

To my horror, I can feel a presence behind me. Before I can turn around and find out who it is, he wraps his arms around me. My first impulse is to scream but w hen I get to my senses, I realize who is hugging me. Draky. How do I know? Instinct, maybe. But I know it's more than that. Ever since I kissed him, I don't want to be alone in a room with him. I feel shy for kissing him like that! And thankfully, for the past few days, we were never alone again. We're always with Andre, or Driana. And when there's a chance for us to be alone, I'll grab someone in the hallway just to not be left alone with him. I'm being a coward, I know. But I don't know what to say to him when he asks me about the kiss. Because even I don't know why I did it; I just followed my . . . heart? And yeah, our relationship became more complicated after that. Now, we're finally alone. My thoughts are swirling. It's hard to focus on what is real from fake. I don't want to fall in his trap! Knees shaking, I turn around slowly to face him. "What are you doing?" I whisper . Draky puts both of his hands on either side of my waist. "Hugging you," he murmu rs, tucking my loose hair behind my ear. A shiver runs down my spine involuntarily. "Why?" His eyes are twinkling like the stars outside as he stares at me. "You can kiss me without my permission," he says. And at his words, my cheeks start to turn sc arlet. "So I think I can hug you." I find myself tongue-tied. I can't contradict him because what he said is true. "What are you doing here? The party's downstairs," he says. "I. . . uh. . ." Should I say that Skye is here and I'm hiding from him? No. I can't ruin Draky's night. I can see that he's having fun. Mentioning Skye will remove the happines s from his eyes. "I'm not really comfortable with parties," I say instead, which is true. "What a re you doing here?" "I saw you earlier so I followed you." He pauses to look at me up and down. "Wha t are you trying to be?" he asks amusedly. Rolling my eyes, I answer, "I'm a cowgirl." "A beautiful cowgirl," he says, twirling his fingers on my curly hair. "Nice boo ts by the way." "Creative costume," I say slyly.

"Thanks." "It fits you." He grins. "I missed wearing this." "Why aren't you playing basketball again?" I blurt out. He stays silent and I know I hit a nerve. I continue, "Why did you even quit in the first place? You were the captain and all your team mates look inspiration to you." "It's a long story," he replies after what feels like hours. "I have time," I say, smiling. He sighs. "I guess I can't keep this forever." "What?" I ask curiously. "Are you ready to listen to my story?" he says, ignoring my question. "I have to warn you, it's pretty gruesome."

***** I wrote new poems! :) Check them out, especially when you're feeling down. Hmm I feel silly for telling you this XD I'll upload on Friday or Sunday. We'll have an Educational Tour on Saturday. The same tour as last semester -__Have a good day, and thank you for reading my story! :) ******************************************* [56] The Bet *Storyteller ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 49 *Storytelling* ~Sophia

"Do you really want to know?" "How many times do I have to say yes?" "Until you forget the reason why you're asking," Draky says amusedly. Rolling my eyes, I sit on the edge of my bed. "You already said you're going to tell me, and now you're backing down." He gets the chair beside the desk and sits across from me. "Where will I begin?"

Smiling, I suggest, "Why not from the start?" I realize that I'm the one who's a lways telling stories. Now it's the other way around. He returns my smile with a wry one. "Okay." He pauses and takes a deep breath. " My father cheated on my mom." "What?" "My dad had an affair." "I-I'm s-sorry," I stutter, looking everywhere but him. He sighs. "I'll never know why people say sorry for the bad things that happened even though they didn't do anything wrong." "I-it's called sympathy," I murmur, finding the floral blanket really interestin g. "He had an affair with my mom's friend," he continues, ignoring my explanation. "I saw him a year ago. He was with her." "How do you know they were together?" I whisper, looking at him behind my eyelas hes. It's hard to fathom he carries a huge burden. I feel guilty for hurting him with a game. His blue eyes pierce through mine. "I just know. I even followed him before. The nights he didn't stay in our house, he went to his mistress." "Oh my," I breathe. My hands involuntarily clamps over my mouth. I'm sure my exp ression is filled with shock. I can't believe his dad can do something like that . "I was astonished to see him with another woman," Draky says through gritted te eth. "I thought he loved my mom! I looked up to him. He was my role model, and w hen I saw him. . ." His voice is full of disdain and venom. His words are distin ct from one another. Just by listening to him, you'll know he kept this for long . I put my hands on top of his, to comfort him. It's hard to see Draky hurting lik e this. "When I was sure he was cheating on my mom," he continues, "I confronted him and told him that I knew. He was shocked. He said a lot of things to me but I didn' t listen. As if I'll believe him again after what he did!" His mouth sets into a thin hard line. "Are they still seeing each other now?" I whisper. "When I talked to me he said he broke it off," he says ruefully. "What about basketball?" I ask, because I don't know the reason why he quit. And I still can't form sentences in my head regarding his dad. "I didn't like basketball at first," he replies. "My father likes it. It's a spo rt and a hobby he enjoys. And I want to make him proud of me so I joined. But wh en I found out about his affair, I lost interest. Its like: What's the point of playing anymore? So I quit." His hands are balled into a tight fists. Opening th em slowly, I interlace my fingers with his. "I think it's not just your dad," I say. "You grow to like basketball as well. W

ithout knowing it." "I don't know." "And why do you keep saying father instead of dad?" He looks up at me and says, "Because I don't think of him as a dad anymore." The way he said it, his voice is emotionless, his face blanks. The damage his da d gave him is bigger than I thought. "Does your mom know?" Driana sure doesn't know that her dad cheated on her mom. "No," he says after a minute. "No one knows but you and me." "Don't you think they deserve to know?" I ask slowly. "They're your family." I c an't believe I'm the only one who knows all about it. Why did he hide it for so long? "I don't want them to get hurt," he whispers, burying his head in his hands. "I don't want them to experience what I've been through." "I understand your point." I pause and think for a moment on what should I advic e him. "Do you want to know what I would do if I'm in your position?" He looks up and hesitates for a second. "Yes," he says finally. Taking a deep breath, I say, "I think they'll be hurt even more when they found out you knew and didn't tell them. They will feel betrayed." "Driana. . ." "Yes, she's your twin," I say. "She'll be hurt more." "But I don't . . ." I can see that he's hurting too. It's a burden he kept for a year, and now it's taking its toll on him. "If you're not ready now," I start, but he cuts me off. "I don't think-" "You will be," I state firmly. "But. . ." "I thought you're the optimist here?" I remind him, "You said that you have a po sitive outlook in life." "Thank you for believing in me," he says gratefully. "No problem," I say, waving it off. "I should be the one thanking you for trusti ng your secret with me." I can't believe he's hiding something like this. Suddenly, I feel bad for doing this to him. And I can't help but think if he ever feels bad for playing a game. . . It's hard, with these confusing emotions!

"Sometimes it's nice to have a bit less pride," I blurt out. "You never know whe n a person will be gone. And remember, regrets come at the end. Don't wait until it's too late." "I'll keep that in mind." "I know the meaning of that sentence based from my own experience," I say. "And what is it?" "It's like contemplating if you're really going to think about it or not." A sad smile appears on his face. "We really have a lot of things in common." I smile wryly. "I just want to help." "You're already helping by listening to me. I know I can trust you," he says, sq ueezing my hand. "Thank you," I murmur. He leans down and kisses me on my forehead. So we can kiss each other now without permission? "Have you seen Andre?" I ask, changing the topic and ignoring the wild beat of m y heart. "Yes. He is Hercules," he says, startled at the sudden turn of our conversation. "What about Driana?" "I haven't seen her yet," he replies. "Why?" "She's Megara." "Who is Megara?" he asks, confused. "She's a fictional character," I say slyly. "Cartoon?" "You'll find out soon enough," I say, my lips involuntarily forming onto a small smile. I can't believe he doesn't know her. "Let's go downstairs and join the party," he suggests. "Are you sure?" I ask hesitantly. "Yes," he replies. "I'm okay. More than fine. Actually, I feel relieved because I told you my secret. It's like something big lifted off from my shoulders." "I'm glad," I say, smiling slowly. "Let's go now?" I put my hand on his outstretch arm and together we make our way to the loudest party you can ever imagined. The living room is crowded so we go to the front porch. Fortunately, there are j

ust few people loitering here. "I was looking for you!" Whipping around, I see Driana with a worried expression on her face. "I'm sorry," I start. "I got-" "Distracted?" she finishes for me, a silly smile on her face. Looking at Driana, I can't help but remember what Draky and I talked about earli er. I should wipe my face with emotion; someone might know something is going on . "Your costume is familiar," Draky says to his twin. Driana blushes on cue, and she looks embarrassed. "Who are you again?" "Megara," she mutters. Draky frowns while thinking who the character Megara is. "Aren't you supposed to have snakes instead of hair?" "That's Medusa," I say, laughing. Draky purses his lips and looks again at Driana. "You're not from Pocahontas, ar e you?" "Nope," she replies, popping the P sound. Nice, he knows Pocahontas but not Hercules. "What about Aladdin? Oh, wait. That's Jasmine, right?" he says, glancing at me. "Yeah, Jasmine is from Aladdin," I say. It's fun to watch Draky guessing where M eg is. The look on his face? Amusing. It's very different from the guy I saw ear lier. He was full of pain then. Now it's almost as if he didn't pour his heart o ut. Suddenly, Andre comes, sauntering to where we are. "Hercules," Draky greets him. Like a light bulb switches in his head, his eyes n arrowed. Realization finally dawns in. Turning to Driana, he asks, "Why are you dressed as Hercules' love interest?" All color leaves Andre's face. "I-it's just a-a coincidence," Andre stutters, lo oking panicked. Two for a night? "Is it?" Draky asks, glaring at his best friend. "Why do you care so much?" Driana scolds, crossing her arms across her chest. "Because I want to know if there's something I should know about my sister and m y best friend!" Several pairs of eyes glance at us. They all look hastily away when Draky shoots

them a glare. I'm afraid his emotions earlier are resurfacing. It's hard to see Driana, a strong girl, biting her lower lip and about to cry. I can see that she's controlling her tears from falling. To the rescue, I say, "It's probably a coincidence." Draky glances at me. I can't help but notice his hard look softens when his gaze lands on my face. I don't know the meaning of that. Suddenly I feel bad for lyi ng to him. But wait. I'm not really lying because I'm not sure what's going on. I'm just making guesses. And so far I think I'm right. Driana gives me a grateful smile. "Maybe you need a drink," Andre suggests. "Yeah," Draky mutters, "Sorry about that." "No problem," Driana murmurs. "See you later," Andre says, steering Draky away from us. When they are out of earshot, Driana slumps to the nearest chair. "Thank you so much for saving me from the wrath of my brother," she says, sighing in relief. "That's nothing," I reply. "That's everything. If you didn't interrupt him, who knows what would happen?" S he shudders at the thought. Taking the seat beside her, I get her hand and give it a squeeze. "What are frie nds are for?" She grins. "You're right." "So . . ." "So?" she says, cocking her eyebrow. How can I start this conversation? "Uh, about you and . . ." "And?" Clearing my throat awkwardly, I say, "Andre." "Oh." To my surprise, her cheeks start to redden. "Oh my," I breathe, "don't tell me-" "No, no," she says quickly, shaking her head. "It's not what you think!" Gotcha! "What do you think am I thinking?" I ask innocently. "You little-" "What?" "Detective," she mumbles, tearing her gaze away from me.

"Was it good?" I ask slyly. "Yeah." "I'm glad." I grin. "I planned to be a private investigator someday." "You're kidding," she says dubiously, giving me a funny look. "Yup," I admit, laughing. Rolling her eyes, she asks, "How did you know?" "I'm not sure," I answer. "Maybe because you're my friend and because I feel tha t there's something going on between you and Andre. The way you act when you're together. Something like that." "You're really intuitive," she comments. "Haha thank you!" "How come Drake didn't figure it out?" she wonders aloud. "Um, maybe the thought visited his mind before but he chose to ignore it," I say thoughtfully. "He probably thinks it's close to impossible." "Maybe," she says, but I know she doesn't think so. "Since when?" I ask. She knows what I mean. "A few weeks ago." "A few weeks ago?" I repeat incredulously. "Yes," she says sheepishly. "Why didn't you tell me?" "Um, it's not official," she answers, biting her lip. "We're just dating, and um , we decided not to tell anyone." "Even your best friends," I say accusingly. "Yeah. Sorry about that," she says, a sad look crossing her face. "But we're pla nning to tell you." "When?" "When it's official." She grins. "When we're finally together." "And when is that?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. "I don't know. And we didn't tell you because we're afraid of your reactions," s he admits. "Especially Drake," I say. "Because you're his sister and Andre is his best frie nd." "Yes. Are you mad?" she asks slowly.

"Of course not!" I say, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm ha ppy as long as you're happy." She gives me a hug. "Thank you so much!" She leans back, a huge smile on her fa ce. "I even imagined that you'll be angry at me for keeping a secret to you." "That's okay," I assure her. "Everybody has their own secrets." And I'm sorry b ecause I can't tell you mine. "Do you want to go to the library?" she asks, glancing around us. More people s tart to come outside, and the air becomes too warm for my taste. "We can't reall y stay here and talk." "Agree! My head is pounding in beat with the music," I complain. She laughs and links her arms with mine. Together, we make our way to the libra ry, not in the least bit interested with the people inside the house. When we st op outside the door of the library, I remember that it's locked. "Dri, we don't have a key." "We have," she says, producing a single key from her pocket. "Where did you get that?" I ask curiously. "Andre." The way she said his name, I know that she cares about him. "He gave i t to me because he thought I might like to have a quiet time," she says defensiv ely. "I didn't say anything," I say bemusedly. She puts the key and twists the doorknob. We enter and then closed the door behi nd. The smell of the books greets us. I missed going to this place! The peace an d the comfort of books that will envelope you in a warm hug - it's haven to me. Driana and I sit on the couch across from each other. "Tell me about you and Andre," I say. Well, it's more like an order. "What?" she asks, nervously fidgeting on her seat. "What do you do when you're together," I suggest. "We watch movies, eat out of town-" "Out of town?" I repeat, surprised. "Yeah," she says somewhat shyly, "Because someone might see us if we eat here." I'm pretty sure that one time Andre told me he had a date, he went with Driana. "That makes sense. And?" For the third time, she blushed. "Oh my! Dri, I can't-" "Hey! What are you thinking?!" she exclaims. "We didn't do it!" "What it?"

"I'm not stupid." She scolds. "I'll wait after marriage, and so will Andre." "Aww, that's sweet," I say, smiling. "And I know you won't do it. You're too sm art for that." "So you. . ." she narrows her eyes at me. "What?" I ask innocently. She stomps her foot on the ground. "Ugh! You're making me embarrassed!" she gro ans. Leaning casually on the couch, I ask, "How?" "You asked that question but you already know the answer," she accuses. "The look on your face was priceless," I say amusedly. She grumbles something under her breath. "And you blushed and in that instant I know that something happened," I continu e. "It's nothing," she says evasively. "Hmm I think it's something that starts with a letter K," I tease. "Sophia!" "What?" "I won't tell you the details anymore," she says, scowling at me. I pout. "That's not fair!" She sticks her tongue out. "I'll tell you someday." "Someday?" "Okay, tomorrow. Now, let's talk about you." "What about me?" I ask, confused. "So . . ." "So?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. Is it turning table's time? "What about you and Drake?" she asks, a silly grin on her face. "There's nothing to talk about Drake and me," I say wryly. She just smiles mischievously and studies my face. "You don't believe me?" "Not a bit." "But I'm telling the truth." Sort of. "Have you two kissed?"

"W-what?" I stutter, my cheeks reddening at the memory of our last kiss. "You know, when two lips meet and-" "I know!" Driana looks at me excitedly. "So?" Sighing, I say, "Yes." "Yay!" Amusement and delight glitters in her eyes. "When?" "My birthday," I reply. Her jaw drops open. "He kissed you on your birthday? That's so romantic!" "Yes," I agree with a nod of my head. "Yes?" she giggles. "And you forgot to mention it to me?" "What about you and-" "Okay, okay," she says quickly. "Can you tell me what happened then? On your bi rthday?" Relaxing on my seat, I tell her everything that happened that day - the note fr om my locker, the drive on the outskirts of town, the small clearing full of lig hts, and the dance. "I can't imagine Drake doing all that," Driana says after listening to me, "Dra ke, my twin, seriously?" I laugh. "I couldn't believe it either!" "He must really love you." Love? No, he can't love me. He probably did it to make me fall for him. Which I am do ing now. And I feel stupid! I don't want to be lulled in his charm and get hurt in the end. "I'm thirsty," I say, needing so desperately to change the topic. "Me too," Dri says, putting her hand on her throat. "Let's go get a drink." We locked the door behind us so that unwanted passersby could not enter. Driana and I sit on the bar stools in the kitchen while drinking our bottled co kes. Suddenly, I have the urge to tell her about her dad but I know it's not my plac e. Draky has to do that. Not me. "How can these people listen to this loud sound?" she says after a moment. "I c an't even understand the lyrics. It's pure screaming!"

She said sound instead of music. Typical Driana. "No wonder a lot of people have poor hearing," I chime in. "Yeah." And then, like she thinks of a bad memory, she frowns. "Hey, what's wrong?" Her eyes, the same color as her twin, stares straight to my eyes. "I'm afraid o f Drake's reaction." "I heard my name," Draky says, walking towards us, Andre beside him. "You want us to leave so you can talk about me?" Oh, well. At least he's back on his usual self. I can't stand to see him hurtin g like before. I just can't.

***** I know I don't ask this often. But can you PLEASE VOTE? Thank you! The song is A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope. I found it because of TVD :) I pref er Damon over Stefan Banner by Fallingleaves18. Thank you for reading my story! :)

******************************************* [57] The Bet *Metanoia ******************************************* Whoop! 6,000,000+ reads :D thank you everyone! There are two songs for this chapter. Love of A Lifetime by Firehouse (suggested by xczyve) and Passenger Seat by Stephen Speaks. Have you checked the One-Shot Contest yet? If not, click the External link to re ad the details. I'm watching City Hunter (a Korean drama) on youtube. I can't stop. It's so addi cting xD I hope you'll like this. Enjoy! ;)

Hooray for the 50th chapter! *Metanoia* ~Drake

"Mom, Driana, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"About what?" Driana inquires. Rolling my eyes, I say, "Impatient as usual." For the past few days, I thought about what Pie advised me- that I should tell my family about my secret. Actually, it's not really mine to tell. I can't belie ve until now that Pie is the first one I told about it. I don't know why I did i t. At that time, all I wanted was to give everything she asked for. Is this love? Maybe, maybe not. I don't have a basis so I'm lost"Hey!" Blinking my eyes, I see Driana scowling at me. "What?" Pursing her lips, she says, "I thought you wanted to talk to us? Why are you da ydreaming?" My mom smiles at us, seeming amused to watch her twins tease each other. She do esn't know what I'm about to tell her will change her life. Our lives. "Let's go to the family room, shall we?" I say. I already planned everything . . . What will I say, where, and when. Even Pie k nows that today is the day. I have to keep my life on track. Focus on what's imp ortant and leave the things that don't matter. Driana and my mom seats on the couch, and I take the chair across from them. Th e coffee table is in between us, holding sandwiches and tea my mom prepared. This is the right time. I practiced it a few times already. But why am I forget ting everything I have to tell them? It must be the nerves. I can do it! "Father cheated on mom," I say slowly, looking at both of them. At first, that gets no reaction. After a few seconds, questions are asked. Well , Driana is the only one asking. My mom is so surprised, she can't even talk. So I tell them everything I know. Everything I told Pie. While I'm recalling to them what I know, my body slowly feels light. Maybe beca use finally, I'm letting go of the heavy burden I'm carrying. Driana has an unreadable expression on her face. Now I'm regrettingNo, don't regret it, my voice says, it needs to be done. I just don't want to see her get hurt. She's a Daddy's girl - close to my father than my mom. And now I know that her relationship with him will change. Don't blame yourself! Well, thank you, I think sarcastically. "Why did you just tell me now?" she asks in an eerie voice. "Because I'm afraid this is how you'll react," I say. "I don't-" "But you should have told me earlier," she exclaims. "I thought we're a team?"

she starts to sob. My heart clenches painfully in my chest. Seeing my twin cry is hard for me. Esp ecially I'm the reason why she's crying. It's not your fault, my voice says impatiently. Yeah, yeah. "Driana, I'm sorry. If only I can-" "But you can't," she interjects, wiping her cheeks with shaking hands. "I can't believe dad could do something like that." We both turn to our mom in that instant. I'm so stupid for forgetting her prese nce. She has not uttered a single word ever since I told them what I knew. Suddenly, I feel nervous. You know that gut wrenching feeling in your stomach? - The feeling that something bad will happen. I feel sick, my lunch wants to hav e reappearance but I force it back. I have to be strong for my mother and my sis ter. I can do this. We can restore our family again. "Mom," I say. She doesn't respond. She has a faraway gaze on her face. Stretching my arm on the table, I get my mom's hand and give it a squeeze. "Mom ," I repeat. I notice that my voice is somewhat rough and shaky. My mom is scaring me with being a human statue. Driana starts to have this hyst erical cry, starting to be panicked because my mom is not moving. "Mom," I repeat, tugging her hand. Still, there's no reaction. Even her eyes aren't blinking. Getting mixed emotions, I let go of my mom's hand and then I slap my hand on th e table as hard as I can. The tea cups clattered, but none of them shattered. My mom jumps on her seat, looking startled. "W-what is g-going on?" she asks, g lancing between me and Driana. "Mom, father cheated on you." Driana twists on her seat and glares at me. She's probably afraid my mom will b e surprised again. "Drake, I already know that," my mom says sadly. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets. I just stare at her, not believing the words she uttered a second ago. I don't know why I feel betrayed. Driana is silently crying, probably wishing that this is all a nightmare. That she will wake up to find her family unscathed. "What?" I ask when I finally find my voice. My mom wipes her cheeks with the back of her hands. "Your dad admitted to me th

at he had an affair," she says."But I didn't know you knew." She puts her hand o n my cheek, caressing my face. That's when I realize I'm crying. When's the last time my tear fell down? I don 't even remember it. "Mom," I say, clearing my dry throat. "Why didn't you leave him? How could you stay with a man who hurt you?" "Because he's my husband, and he's your father," she answers simply. "That's all?" I ask incredulously. "Of course not." "What then?" I ask through gritted teeth, getting impatient. "I didn't leave because I love him," she states, as if it's the most obvious th ing in the world. "Love?" "Yes, I love your father. I never stopped loving him, even when the time I lear ned what he did." "Why?" I choke. "Because we promised to love each other no matter what," she says, folding her hands on her lap. "We made a vow at our wedding. We make mistakes but we can't d well in them. We'll just get hurt. So I decided to forget what he did." When she sees my expression, she adds, "When you fall in love, you'll understand. That n o matter what the person did, you'll still forgive her. Because the only choice you have is to love her until your last breath." Is it that easy? Is it that easy to forgive and forget? Why is it when I need my subconscious mind, it's not talking? "He made up for that," Mom continues. "And I'm sure he didn't and will not do i t again. People messed up, that's life. Sooner or later your perception of thing s will change." "I'll still know the wrong from right," I mutter. "I'm sorry you had to keep that secret," she says. "I know it took a lot of you r energy not to spill it. You're a brave man. I know your dad is proud of you." "Yeah, right." I scoff. "I hope your relationship with him will restore," she says hopefully. "Only time will tell," I say, standing up from the chair and walking out of the room. "Drake?" Whipping around, I see Driana following me. "Yeah?" "I. . ." She looks nervous all of a sudden.

"What?" "Uh, it's nothing," she says hastily. "Are you sure?" I ask, concern. She still looks a little shaken. "Yup. Oh, wait," she says. "Now I know why you became distant with dad." "So, you understand me?" I ask. She hesitates. "I agree with Mom. People make mistakes, and sooner or later, we have to forget what happened and forgive the person who hurt us." "Sooner or later," I mutter, turning around and starting to walk away. "He's still our dad," she says in a loud voice. "I know," I say, too soft for her to hear. I need to be away from this for a while. To think things through. I need fresh air and. . . And? My voice probes, Why don't you admit it? Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I quickly dial Pie's number. "Hello?" she answers. "Hey, are you free today?" I ask, direct to the point. "Why?" "I want to tell you something." "Um, what time?" she asks, a bit hesitant. "Right now," I answer, "If it's okay with you." "Sure." "I'll pick you after an hour so you can get ready." "Do I have to wear something particular?" she asks. A smile forms on my mouth as I say, "Wear a sweater. It'll be cold tonight." "Okay," she says. "See you," I respond, and then hung up. An hour later, I arrive at Pie's house. Sliding out of the car, I walk to the p ath leading to their house and knock at the door. "Come in," Pie yells from inside. Twisting the doorknob, I enter their house. Pie's walking around, wearing a lig ht blue gray cashmere sweater that compliments her eyes and a pair of jeans that "Hey," she greets.

I clear my throat awkwardly. Nice one Drake, checking her out, my voice says amusedly. "Do you leave your door unlocked?" I ask, ignoring my voice. "What if a robber barged in-" "I can take care of myself," Pie says, rolling her eyes. When she sees my expre ssion, she adds, "Besides, it's my first time to leave the door unlocked because I know you'll come in after a few minutes." "Sophia." She glances up, giving me a funny look. "What?" "Nothing," she replies. "What were you going to say?" There's no point in arguing with her. So I drop the topic. Instead, I say, "I t old my family about my secret." "What did they say? How did they react? Is Driana-" "Wait, hang on," I say, raising my hand, "One question at a time." She smiles sheepishly. "Okay, tell me what happened." I decide to start with my twin sister. "Driana was surprised. She couldn't beli eve our father could do something like that." I'm sure she feels betrayed too. Pie frowns. "I have to talk to her soon." "Yeah," I agree. "She needs a friend." She smiles at me, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "My mom already knew," I say. "My father admitted his sin to her." Her mouth shapes into an O. "Then why . . .?" Recalling what my mom told me, I'm having a hard time wiping the grimace off my face. "She said she didn't leave him because of love." "Love?" she asks her forehead furrowing. "It's hard to believe, right?" I say, "I'll never know why people do that for l ove." Something flashes in her eyes, but when I look again, it vanished. It must be a figment of my imagination. "Perhaps you'll get it when you fall in love," she says matter-of-factly. "Don't tell me you know what she means." "I think your mom has a point," she says, tearing her gaze away from me. "Like what?" I probe.

She sighs. "People do stupid things because of love. But as long as you follow your heart, you will be at peace." "Yeah, right," I retort. "If your mom left your dad, what will happen to your family?" she asks hypothet ically. She got you there, my voice says. I groan. "Let's not talk about it, alright?" She shrugs. "Okay." "By the way, where are your parents?" I ask, looking around the house. "At work." "Oh." I didn't know her dad is still working despite his condition. Well, if th at's the case, he's probably healthy now. Are you ready?" I ask. "Yeah," she replies. "Let's go." Pie locked the door behind us and we both walk to where my car is parked. I ope n the passenger door for her and then I slide in the driver's seat. "Where are we going?" she asks curiously, "One of your secret places?" Only Pie can get a smile out of me these days. "Nothing particular. I just want to drive and. . ." "And?" she asks, raising her eyebrow. Tell her! "And be with you," I say, a little bit shyly. Her mouth twitches upwards, no doubt pleased at what I said. "Sweet," she says, her eyes twinkling. "T-thanks," I stutter. I feel like an idiot, stuttering in front of her. I find it a little bit hard to drive because I can't focus on the road when Pie is sit ting a few inches from me. I can't help but glance at her every few seconds. Oh! Why am I feeling this way? I'm such a goner. I don't really have a destination in mind. I just want to drive and hear the fa miliar engine of my car that gives me comfort. My hands rest on the steering whe el, doing what they have to, as if they have a mind of their own. I decide to go to the outskirts of town, away from the pollution of the city. B esides, it will offer us peace and quiet. Just what I wanted. Pie is looking outside the open window of my car. She's probably waiting for th e stars to show up. It's almost 6 in the evening. The wind is blowing through he r hair. My hands are itching to tuck the loose hair behind her ear. Her face is unreadable, yet there's something about her expression that makes my heart beat

fast. "Why do you leave the window open?" I ask curiously. "Because I love to breathe fresh air," she says, smiling. "It calms my nerves. And I just feel like it." Unusual. Of course. She's Sophia Taylor. Girls usually locked their windows so that their hair won't get tangled in the wind but she doesn't. She doesn't even care about her appearance. Everything she does, it makes me fall in love even more. What can I ask for? The love of my life is here on the passenger seat beside me . She's all I need. God is good for making my dream come true. I just wish that what we have right now will remain forever. Not a single thing can change the wa y we feel about each other. "Sing," she says suddenly, in an almost commanding tone. "Sing?" "Yes." "What will I sing?" I ask, scratching the back of my head. She shrugs. "Anything you feel at the moment." I'm not into singing in front of people, but because Pie requested it, why not? Besides, my voice can make her fall in love with me. I smile at the thought. Clearing my throat, I choose the song that first comes to my mind. "I look at her and have to smile," I sing, "As we go driving for a while/ Looki ng nowhere in the open window of my car/ And as we go the traffic lights/ Watch them glimmer in her eyes/ In the darkness of the evening." It's hard to drive, sing, and look at Pie the same time so I stop the car besid e the road so that I can fully gaze at her while singing. When I finished the song, I see Sophia silently staring at me. Her eyes are a l ittle bit wet. Tears are probably waiting for the opportunity to fall down. "Hey, I thought you wanted me to sing?" I say softly. "Why do you look sad?" "I look sad? I . . . I feel happy." She pauses and takes a deep breath. "You re ally have a beautiful voice. The way you sing - it's from the heart. I felt it." Of course it's from the heart, my voice says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Let's go," I say, unbuckling my seatbelt and sliding out of the car. Pie soon follows after, looking confused. There are no cars passing by. This pl ace looks secluded, as if Pie and I are the only two people on earth. "Come here," I say. When she's a few feet in front of me, I pull her towards me and bury my face on her hair. I put my arms around her, holding her tight, not letting go.

She seems taken aback at my action because her arms just lie simply on her side . "Sophia," I murmur. That probably brings her back to her senses because the next thing I know, she' s hugging me as well. We remain in that position for a couple of minutes. And then I take a step back , still not letting go. "You know when I look at your eyes and see that smile on your face, I can't hel p but stare," I blurt out. She blushed on cue. I can never get tired of seeing her rosy cheeks; it's just so perfect on her. "W-why?" she stutters. "Because you seldom smile." "Are you telling me I'm always frowning?" She scolds. "Sorry," I say quickly, "that went out wrong. What I meant was the smile on you r face adds more beauty to you." As if you still need it. "You're making me embarrassed," she says, tearing her gaze away from me. "There's no reason for you to be embarrassed," I point out. "Still." "Sophia?" "Hmm?" she glances up at me. Slowly, I move my face closer to her. Her eyes widen, looking anywhere but me. I can hear the beating of my heart. Or maybe it's hers? I can't tell. All I want to do is to kiss her andAnd then my phone rings. Ugh! Why do I have to put it in my pocket? Next time I won't bring a cell phone when I'm with Pie. Grumbling under my breath, I get my phone and answer it. "What?" I ask. Pie looks amused while watching me talk with Andre. "Hey, I talked to Driana," he starts. "And?" I probe. "She told me about your dad," he says. There's something about his voice that m akes me guilty. "Why didn't you tell me?" Heaving a sigh, I say, "Sorry about that. I'll explain to you later." He scoffs. "Yeah, right. If I know, you're busy with Sophia." "Are you jealous?" I say amusedly.

"Of course I am," he grumbles. "You know that I want your time to be mine!" "Whatever," I say, chuckling softly. "Talk to you soon." "Enjoy!" And then he hung up. That's when I realize what he said. Driana told him. But why? I have to find ou t what's going on between the two of them. Soon. "Is that Andre?" Pie asks, smiling. "Yeah." I'm sure she heard some parts of our conversation. "Hey, Sophia, rememb er when you told me you wanted to be a bird on your second life?" "Yes," she says, surprised at the sudden turn of our conversation. "You said yo u wanted to be a star. But you didn't explain." "I want to be a star because of you," I admit, glancing at the sky. Stars are s lowly showing and the crescent moon is shining brightly. "Because of me?" she says dubiously. "Yes, because of you." "Why?" "You like gazing at the stars at night. They're one of the best things for you. . ." "And?" she probes. "And I want you to look at me that way." "I . . . Drake-" "Sophia, I'm telling you the truth," I say, swallowing the lump in my throat. " I like you. A lot. And I think I'm starting to fall in love with you." A lot of emotions pass on her face in that instant. Confusion. Surprised. Suspi cion. And some others I can't named. It's your fault for telling her you love her on her birthday, my voice chastise s, even though it's not true. I liked her then, I snap, and I still do. But like and love are not the same, it retorts. Shut up! "It's getting late," Pie says, not looking in my eyes. "We have class tomorrow. " Now I've ruined everything! The drive home is very different from before. Now, the silence is awkward and u ncomfortable. Why am I not thinking? As if I can turn back the time and -

What's done is done. Thanks for reminding me, I think dryly. When we arrive at their house, I open the passenger door for her. I walk her ba ck to the house and we both stop in front of the door. Now she's going to tell m e she doesn't want to see me again. "Drake." I close my eyes and wait for the words that would change my life. See? I'm alre ady dreading for this moment to end. But she doesn't say anything so I open my e yes, confused. To my surprise, she stands on her tiptoes and kisses me on my cheek, a few cent imeters from my lips. "Thank you," she says softly. How many times have I become speechless because of her? I'm tongue tied; I can' t even say a single word to her. How can she make me feel this way? It's so sile nt, she probably left me here because I'm an idiot. "Draky?" "Yeah?" I glance up, startled. I thought she's already inside. "Call me Pie." "What?" I ask, confused. "Pie, not Sophia," she says, a hint of her irresistible smile is showing on her face. A smile forms on my mouth as I realize that I found the right one. And she's st anding in front of me. ******************************************* [58] The Bet *Payback Time ******************************************* Hello! There are two songs for this chapter: Killer by The Ready Set and Break Y our Little Heart by All Time Low. Please read the A/N at the end of the chapter. Thanks! Happy Reading! (: Chapter 51 *Payback* ~Sophia

I twirl the necklace in my hands, contemplating if I'll wear it today or not. Th e green beads sparkle when I tilt it towards the sun. Rubbing the cross between my fingers, I feel its cold and hard texture. I know this necklace cost a fortun e. And I still don't have an idea why Draky bought it for me. For the past few days, I wore it wherever I went. Actually, it started on my bir thday. I can't go out of the house if I'm not wearing it. That's why I'm confuse d with myself why am I deliberating if I'll wear it or not. Eh, such a silly que

stion. I fasten it around my neck and walk out of the house and continue my way to the mall to meet Driana and Andre.

"What is she doing here?" Andre asks as soon as he laid his eyes on me. He looks nervous as he stares at me. Driana gives me a smile and then she turns to Andre. "I already told you that S ophia knew about us," she says exasperatedly, as if tired of repeating that line again and again. "But still," Andre mumbles. "I can go if you want," I suggest. It's no big deal, and I understand why Andre is acting weird. "That's not what I meant," he says quickly. "I'm happy you're here! The more th e merrier." "Really?" I ask doubtfully. I don't want to ruin their time together. "Sophia, of course it's fine," Driana says, as if it's the most obvious thing i n the world. She links her arm to mine and continues, "I'm already excited! I kn ow we'll have a great day ahead of us." I smile at her enthusiasm. Like her twin, she has a positive outlook in life. T he good thing is it's contagious. In a matter of seconds, I'm excited as well. "Call Drake so that it'll be a double date," Andre suggests, wiggling his eyebr ows. Pursing my lips, I ponder for a second if I'll call him or not. It will be more fun"What are you waiting for?" he asks, cutting off my thoughts. "Okay, okay, I'll call him," I say. Getting my phone from my bag, I dial Draky's number. "Hi," he answers at the third right. Driana and Andre look at me expectantly. "Are you fee today?" I ask. "No." "No?" I repeat, surprised. "Why?" "I have to do something important," he says. "Oh." I don't know why I feel disappointed. "Why?" he asks. "Nothing." There's no point in telling him that I'm with Driana and Andre becau se he already said that he's busy. "If you say so," he responds.

And then I end the call. I can't believe he didn't grab the opportunity to be w ith me. It really must be something important. "What did he say?" Driana inquires. "He said he have to do something important," I answer. "What?" Andre asks, wearing a confused expression on his face. "I don't know," I mutter, "He didn't mention it." Andre frowns. "It's just us then." Driana elbows him playfully. "I'm here, you know." "It wouldn't be the same without Drake." He pouts. "It's Drake I want!" "What?" Driana says, a silly grin forming on her mouth. "I only date you so that I can get close to your twin brother," he teases. Driana laughs. "I really like your sense of humor." "I know." Andre smirks. Driana rolls her eyes but I know she's having fun. These two lovebirds are real ly perfect together. They balanced each other and I can't imagine them with anot her people. "What's the itinerary for the day?" I ask curiously. "No worries, I already planned everything," Andre says, smiling from ear to ear . "Our first stop is the Ocean Planet." "Cool!" Driana says excitedly. "I've never been there. I can't wait!" If I remember correctly, Driana likes almost anything under the sea. It's sweet of Andre to plan something that Driana enjoys. We all get inside the car. I'm on the back while Driana sits on the passenger s eat. Passenger seat - makes me remember of Draky. The way he sang that song for me. . . I can still recall his facial expressions, the sound of his voice, every thing. Why does he have to be charming? "Hey!" That snaps me out of my trance. "What?" I ask, startled. "You're daydreaming," Andre says amusedly, glancing at the rearview mirror to l ook at me. "I'm not," I deny. He smirks. "Now I know where Drake got that habit." "S-shut up!" I stutter, tearing my gaze away from him. I lean my head on the window and stare outside - at the passing cars and pedest rians. My hand involuntarily goes to the pendant of my necklace, stroking the cr oss, wondering what the giver is doing right now. I hope he will finish soon so

that he can join us. We arrive in our destination an hour later. My back hurts from being in the sam e position for too long, so when I slide out of the car, I stretch my arms in fr ont of me. "Feel sore?" Driana asks amusedly. "Sort of," I respond. "Where's Andre?" "He said we have to wait for him here while he buys the tickets," she says. "He'll treat me too?" I ask. "Yup." "Oh," I murmur. "He shouldn't have." She winks. "Just save your money for your date with my twin." I laugh. "You really are funny." "I know right," she says cheekily. Andre strides towards us and gives us the tickets. "Thank you," I say gratefully. "No problem," he replies. We walk to the entrance and hand the tickets to the woman that's on duty. We en ter a sort of tunnel surrounded with large crystal glass. It's like walking bare foot in the ocean. Different types of fishes are visible. Coral reefs, sea urchi ns, starfish, shells, sea horse, pearl inside a clam and sea weeds are scattered everywhere. You can see the amazement on Driana's face as she looks at them. It's like watc hing a child unwrap her present on Christmas Eve. In the corner of my eye I can see Andre staring at Driana, probably mesmerized by her beauty. A smile makes its way on my face as I think that all those months of teasing lead to this moment. A horrible thought suddenly envelopes my mind. What if the time comes that I co nfront Draky because of the bet? I'm pretty sure Driana will discover our secret s. And her relationship with Andre"Look!" she says excitedly, interrupting me from my reverie. I glance sideways and see a man wearing a scuba diving outfit inside the oceana rium. He waves at us while feeding the fishes. Beside him is a great white shark . I almost scream for him to move away when he puts his hand and caress the shar k's side. I think my jaw almost dropped on the floor. It's such an amazing sight that we can't help not to take a picture of it. Driana and I move closer to the glass as Andre counts to three and take a picture of us. After that, I take the camera from him so that he can have a picture with Drian a. He puts his arm around her and she leans comfortably to him. Such a cute happ y couple.

I'm afraid I'll destroy their relationship when the time comes. I don't want to be the reason of their break up (even though they continue to tell me that they 're both single). But I can't continue to pretend that I don't know what Draky i s doing to me. I just hope Driana will not find out. Because if ever, there will be a World War III waiting to happen. Several kids who are jumping up and down grab my attention. They are probably h ere because of a school trip. A whale stops in front of them. I can hear their g asp as they move closer to the glass. Suddenly, I remember my little brother. And this piercing ache starts to engulf heart, giving me a feeling of sadness. I miss you so much Matt, it hurts. To my relief, Andre and Driana decide that it's time to continue moving forward . I follow behind, pulling myself together. I have to be strong! I can't let thi s ruin me. And I'm sure Matt doesn't want to see me moping around because I miss him. Every now and then we take pictures of each other. On this part of the oceanari um there are seagulls, turtles, angel fish, clown fish, and other sea creatures I can't name. Hundreds of pictures later, we finally round the last corner. My feet are killi ng me. I want to sit on a soft couch and stretch my legs in front of me. We end up outside - a place that looks like a courtyard. There are benches surrounding the site but they are occupied. I glance at my watch and see that it's three in the afternoon. No wonder why my stomach is growling. "I'm hungry," Andre says, rubbing his stomach while staring longingly at the fo od stands in the center of the courtyard. "Why don't we eat?" I suggest. "I'm famished too." "Good idea," Driana says. We walk to the nearest food cart. All they sell are sandwiches and sodas. We ar e all tired to check the other stores so we silently agree that this is our only choice. "I'd like to eat a hotdog sandwich," Andre says. "Me too!" Driana and I say simultaneously. And then we both laugh while the gir l behind the counter shoots us a weird look. "Make it a three sandwich and three cokes," Andre says, getting his wallet from his back pocket. I stop him and say, "It's my treat." "Huh?" he asks, confused. "You paid my ticket so I'll pay for the food." "You don't have to-" "I want to," I interject. "Besides, it's not expensive." He shrugs. "If you say so." I turn to Driana and say, "Save a table and chairs so that we'll have a place t

o eat." "Aye, aye," she responds, grinning. She grabs Andre's hand and they both walk t ogether to the tables with huge umbrellas. I'm glad there aren't many people here today. Because if ever, the waiting line for the food will be long. Suddenly, I feel like there's someone staring at me. Frowning, I turn back and look around. Aside from Driana and Andre, I don't rec ognize the people in the vicinity. My paranoia is starting again because I remem ber Skye. But of course he's not here. When our order is complete, I carry the tray and sit on the table Driana and An dre chose. We're all silent as we eat our food. "Do you want to watch the Sea Lion show?" Andre says after a few minutes. "There's a Sea Lion Show?" Driana asks, her eyes widening in surprise. "Yes." "Where can we watch it?" "On the back part of the oceanarium," he answers. We go to the Sea Lion show as soon as we finished our food. Actually, Driana is still eating while we're walking, but she insists because she's thrilled to see it. Fortunately, we're the first ones to arrive so we have the privilege to sit in front. Soon after, people start to come and sit on the available bleachers. A man in a white polo shirt and black pants tells us about the rules and regula tions. And then the show begins as the sea lion appears. The man introduced himself as Jonathan while the Sea Lion's name is Leo. We clap our hands whenever Leo performs a trick such as catch the ball (which m akes me remember of the time when we took care of Rain), swimming on the pool an d mimicking whatever Jonathan is doing. He even knows how to shoot a ball on its basket. I can't stop laughing when he starts to dance. I'm amazed, like the oth er audience, watching his performance. Unfortunately, the show only lasts for about forty minutes. The crowd slowly di spersed, and when it's our turn to go out, Andre stops us. He walks towards Leo, and I'm confused because Jonathan seems fine by Andre's a ctions. "What is he doing?" I whisper to Driana. "I don't know," she murmurs. "Let's follow him." We take each step very carefully because the floor is slippery. We might end up sliding on the pool. And with my luck, that's not impossible to happen. To my surprise, Jonathan and Andre start to have a conversation, like they knew each other for years. And I'm right as he introduces him to us. They are cousin s! Jonathan shows us a few tricks they didn't perform before. Leo even gives me a

high five. Andre really is a good photographer because he captures it at the rig ht time. He takes several shots with Leo until they tell us it's time for him to rest. Andre and Jonathan exchange a few words and then we depart the Ocean Plan et. Driana is still glowing with happiness. You can literally feel that she's full of euphoria. She gets inside Andre's car with a dreamy look on her face. "That w as amazing," she says, as Andre starts to drive. He smiles at her and says, "It's just the first part." "Really?" "Yup. There are more surprises for this day." Aww, they are so sweet! It's just ashamed that they can't be together in public because they're afraid of Draky's reaction. I hope they will tell him soon so t hat they don't have to hide their feelings in front of other people. We converse about our experiences and tell each other our favorite parts. This is one of the best days of my life, and it isn't over yet. I'm so happy I know n othing can go wrong in this beautiful day. I tell them that I won't be around for the next part of the journey because it' s time for them to be alone. They both persuade me in going with them but I refu se repeatedly. "Just stop the car on that side of the road," I instruct Andre. "Are you sure? We can-" "Yeah." I smile. "I had so much fun. Thank you!" "Me too!" Driana says. "Me three," Andre chimes in. "Goodbye," I say, sliding out of the car. Before I close the door, I wink and s ay, "Enjoy!" Driana blushes while Andre looks uncomfortable. A matter of seconds later, he p uts his car on reverse and drives away. Where am I going to go now? It's starting to get dark but I'm not yet in the mo od to go home so I figure I'll just walk around the shops in town. Being alone g ives me a sense of peace. And just after it arrives, I feel a presence behind me . Whipping around, I see the person I despised. "Did you put tracker on me or something? Why are you following me?" I say suspi ciously. He smirks. "Maybe you are following me." "Leave me alone, okay?" Skye grabs my arm and pulls me to him. I push him with all my might but he is stronger than me. "Let me go!" "I will leave you after you come with me."

"I will not go anywhere alone with you," I say furiously, elbowing him. But it has no effect because he just tightens his hold on me. "Let me go or I will scre am!" He chuckles. "You won't do that. You never liked to be the center of attention. " He's still the same obnoxious person I knew. Ugh! Why are there no people walki ng nearby?! "Sophia, you have to see something important!" I look at him doubtfully, not believing the guy who broke my heart. "If you come with me, I swear you'll never see me again," he continues. That makes me pause. Is he telling the truth? Why am I even wavering? Of course he's lying! Remember, he cheated on you? "I promise," he says, gazing deeply into my eyes. I want to say that he broke all his promises before but I stop myself. There's no point in doing that. Instead, I say, "Okay," to get it over with. He still holds my arm as he leads me to the nearest coffee shop in town. We jus t walk a few stores from where we were before. "What are we doing here?" I ask as he stops in front of the glass window beside the door. He points his forefinger and I follow it with my eyes. What I see shocked me. I blink my eyes repeatedly, but the image doesn't change. Draky is inside. Alone. Questions pop into my head. What is he doing here? I thoughtTo my astonishment, Cassidy takes the seat across from him. There are already f oods on the table but they look untouched. Cassidy stretches her hand and caress Draky's face. He puts his hand over hers, probably to keep it in place. I turn my back on them because I can't bear to see them like a happy couple. Now I know why he said he's busy. He is with Cassidy! Why doesn't he get conten ted with me? Instinctively, I remove the necklace he gave me. I crumple it with my clenched fist, feeling the hard cross slashed at my palm. "W-why did you b-bring me here?" I stutter, facing Skye. "I want you to see that Drake is not what he looks like," he explains. "See? He 's dating that girl while pretending he's in love with you!" "Why?" I ask numbly. My knees are shaking beneath me. The only thing that keeps me upright is the wall I'm leaning on. "Because you deserve better than him," he states, trying to put sense to me. "L ook, he just hurt you!" "Like you did."

He seems surprised, out of words. I'm not stupid to forget what he did. After a ll, it was my first heartbreak. "My biggest mistake was kissing that girl," he whispers. "Really?" I say incredulously. "The pain you gave me was not enough? Now you wa nt me to experience it again?!" This is the first time I'm alone with Skye after he came back. Emotions are bur sting through me. My heart is slowly crumbling apart, like before. Was I born to be played? I just want to be happy, but I guess that's close to impossible. "You achieved what you want," I say, "You can leave now. And make sure I'll nev er see you again." "Sophia . . ." That stupid Draky! I thought he at least cares for me! He even admitted that he liked me! Why is he talking with Cassidy? They even looked like a couple having a date. I shouldn't have let myself get attached to him. I guess he was just acting eve ry time he was around me. And I'm so stupid for believing him. I'm such an idiot for falling in his trap. Now I know he did all that for the sake of winning the bet. Why does my world feel like falling apart? I tell myself repeatedly that I shou ldn't be hurt. I shouldn't be jealous because there's nothing going on between u s. We're not together. I don't have the right to imagine clawing my fingers on C assidy's eyes. My heart is slowly tearing into tiny pieces. My chest is heaving, it's hard to breathe. I start to have this hysterical sob - the same kind when I found out ab out their secret. Fresh tears are spilling from my eyes without my permission. I told myself before not to break down because of him but now I can't even stop c rying. These precious tears are not worth for someone like him. I swear I'll make him pay for doing this to me. Tomorrow I will reveal everythi ng I know. I want him to get hurt as much he hurt me. Let's see how he can take that. It's payback time.

***** Sorry for the late update! I guess we all know what will happen on the next chap ter XD I don't remember who sent me the banner -.I WILL GO TO THE MEETUP! I'm so excited! Sino pupunta? See you! :) Oh, another thing. I have additional prizes for the winners of the One-Shot cont est: First chapter with Sophia's POV. A secret date of Andre and Driana. Read the ent

ries. I'm sure you'll like them :) *Go to my library and click "One-Shot for the Bet"*. I will upload next week because on Fri&Sun we'll have our Final Exam. Thank God I don't have exam on Saturday :D Thank you for reading The Bet!

******************************************* [59] The Bet *Falling Apart ******************************************* Are you ready? This is one of the first scenes I wrote when I started The Bet. T he songs are Breakeven by The Script, Save Your Heart by Mayday Parade, and That 's What You Get by Paramore (Suggested by Rayray540). Enjoy! (:

Chapter 52 *Falling Apart* ~Sophia

I scrutinize the gauze on my hand, tilting it on every angle until I'm satisfied that it's properly done. My right hand is wrapped in a bandage because of my outburst yesterday. When I c lenched my fist, I didn't realize blood was dripping on the wound made by the cr oss that slashed to my palm. I must have held it tightly. My mom took care of it. Putting disinfectant and wrapping it with a bandage to h eal the gaping wound. When she inquired why it was bleeding, I lied and told her I tripped and my palm slashed on a rock. Fortunately she believed me. It's not as if I can tell her how I really got it. Looking up, I stare at myself on the mirror and see the prominent dark circles u nder my eyes. I haven't slept last night no matter how I tried. I did not have a piece of mind. Haunting thoughts did not leave me alone, feeding me with distur bing possibilities. "Phia!" Mom calls from downstairs. "Drake is here." My heart flutters in my chest and I force my lungs to breathe properly. When I'm sure I can function normally again, I arrange my things in my bag and make my w ay to the living room. Draky and my mom are having a chat. I thought when I see him today I'll yell at him. But now I just feel numb. All I want is to get it over with and continue to live my boring yet painless life. "Hey," he says, standing up from the couch. Is it me, or his eyes light up when he sees me?

"Hi," I choke out. My voice is raspy so I clear my throat inconspicuously. A feeling of uneasiness washes over me. I can do it, I chant in my mind. It's no w or never! "Are you ready?" "Yeah." He raises his hand and I take it. "Good bye Mrs. Taylor," he says. "Take care of Sophia," she replies amusedly. My heart suddenly feels heavy - it's full of burdens. "See you later Mom," I say . Draky and I walk outside and then get in his car. Last night he called and asked me if I'm free today. I said yes. It's a good thi ng because I have to talk to him. Now I realize how it is. He meets up with Cass idy whenever I'm not around. And when he gets tired with one of us, he will go b ack to the other. Such a player. "What happened to your hand?" he asks, a concern expression written on his face. "I fell," I lie. He sighs. "You know, you have to be careful. Remember that I'm worried about you ." Nice, you're a really good actor. We don't talk after that, and I can't stop fidgeting on my seat. It's like knowi ng something bad will happen. I dreaded this moment for weeks, now I have to fac e it. He glances cautiously at my neck, probably wondering why I'm not wearing the nec klace he gave me. Little did he know that I almost threw it away last night. I d on't know what's gotten into me to keep it. Now it's on the top shelf of my cabi net. "Stop the car," I say suddenly. "Huh?" He turns to me, confused. "I want to walk," I explain. Its better this way; I can't really confess in a ca r, we have limited space and I feel claustrophobic. "Oh. Okay." He parks the car on the side of the road and then we both get out. We're in one of the less used parks in town. Fortunately, there are just few peo ple idling by. We walk quietly side by side while I fill the courage to confront him. It's a ni ce day, the sun is already hiding from the clouds and the wind is just perfect f or my taste. But nothing lasts forever because a few minutes from now, everythin g will tumble down.

"Pie." I continue walking until he grabs my arm and stops me. Whipping around, I face h im. "What?" He smiles slowly and says, "I've been talking to you but I noticed that your hea d was in the clouds." "What are you saying?" I ask impatiently. Am I ready to tell him now? My heart b eats in my chest and my stomach is flipping, I have the urge to vomit. He raises his hand and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. I force myself not to flinch away with his touch. "Pie, falling in love with you is something I had not expected," he tells me. "B eing in love with you is something I could not stop even if I tried." Why? Why is he proclaiming his love for me now? Is itOh my God. I quickly do the math in my head and realize that I am right. Today's the thirty first day. That's why he's telling me he loves me. And now he expects me to be his girl friend. No, no, no. This can't be happening. He's not that awful, right? I will myself to calm down, there's no need to freak out. Compose yourself, I think firmly, you have to finish what you started. "Pie?" He's waiting for my reply. "I hate you," I say, my voice cracking at the end. "I hate everything about you. " Especially about the way you make me feel. "What?" he asks incredulously. "Don't be stupid! How can I not hate you for doing this to me?!" "W-what are y-you saying?" "I know about your bet with Andre," I confess. I take a deep breath to steady my self. I can feel the ground disintegrating beneath me. Draky is staring at me, eyes wide with shocked. I don't know if he's breathing. "You did not expect it, right?" I continue. "You thought I didn't know you assum ed I was weak. Stupid." He opens his mouth, no doubt to contradict me, but no sound comes from him. "Unfortunately for you, I knew what you were doing." It's hard to swallow the lu mp in my throat. My mouth is dry, it's like sandpaper is rubbing on my tongue. "So what if I tell you I can be your girl friend?" I blurt out. "And then you'll

tell me it was all a big joke? That I was a piece in your game?" Hysterical sob s are starting to form in my throat but I force them down. I can't appear weak i n front of him. I have to stand my ground. "W-what are y-you talking about?" he asks finally. "I'm not stupid!" I snap. "I know your bet with Andre," I repeat. "No, no, it was all a misunderstanding," he says quickly, not keeping in my mind that I know his secret. "I. . . I already cancelled it." I want to punch him on his face so he will have idea how much he's hurting me. " Do you think I believe you?" I say furiously. "You already lied to me multiple t imes, and guess what, you're playing my heart! So how can I believe you?!" "Pie," he says, running his hand through his hair, and looking miserable. "Pleas e let me explain-" "No," I interject, "You listen to me. I knew your secret for a couple of weeks n ow. I heard you talking to Andre about it. So I made a game of my own. To revers e it and make you fall in love with me. I pretended that I didn't know. I preten ded that I was falling in love with you." He shakes his head slowly, avoiding looking into my eyes. "No," he repeats again and again. "I don't believe you." He puts his hands on his ear to distort the s ound, to not hear me talk. "That's not my problem," I respond. To my surprise, tears spill down from his eyes. I look away, not wanting to see him like this. I didn't know it will hurt me toNo! I can't buckle just like that. I can't back down just because he's crying. "I was not pretending," he continues. I doubt if he even knows that he's crying. "Everything I did- it was real." "I don't believe you," I mumble. "I did not mean to hurt you." His shoulders are shaking and his face is full of pain and sadness. Because I'm heartless, I continue, "Everything I did in the past was to make you fall in love with me. I want to take revenge for-" "Revenge?" he stammers. I wanted him to fall in love with me, not the other way around! Revenge is not g ood. It never was but I still continued it. Now I'm paying for it. A stupid tear falls from my eye and I wipe it away quickly with the back of my s haking hand. "I heard you talking to Andre about your dream -nightmare- when you dreamed of me knowing about your dirty little secret." "Impossible," he mutters. His eyes become glassy, hard, and distant. His hands f all to his side, lifeless. "I played with your heart like you played mine. Now we're quits."

"But I didn't," he whispers. He moves closer to me and wraps his arms around me. I push him away with all the energy I have. I don't know which one of us is shak ing. Maybe it's the two of us but I'm not planning to wait and find out. "Take your hands off me!" I yell, shoving him away. He tightens his hold on me so I decide to kick his shin. He lets go of me and I turn around quickly to run but he grabs my arm in that instant. "I never want to see you again," I say, my voice full of venom, pain, and sadnes s. He takes a step back like I've slapped him, and stares at me blankly. "I love yo u," he states. I can't take it anymore so I run. Run with all my might as if my life depends on it. I don't have to turn back to see that he's not following me. He's still sho cked at what I told him. At what I accused him. Of course. Who would have thought I knew their secret all along? Who would have thought I'm not shallow as they assumed? My tears are blurring my vision but I still continue running even though my knee s are flailing beneath me. I have to get away from him. Far, far away from him. I can't bear to see him again. After all we've been through; he still chose to break my heart. He still had the nerve to tell me he cancelled the bet. I'm not stupid to believe him when in th e first place he chose to play around. I never planned to fall in love. But I did. Love u least expect it and when it goes away, it will rn apart. How did this happen? All the happiness way. They are like bubbles that popped into thin n the first place. is unexpected. It comes when yo leave you hollow, empty, and to I felt are now slowly washing a air, as if they never existed i

I'm like a blind person running - running without seeing anything. My life turne d upside down in a month. I'm starting to have hysterical sobs that make me slow. If only I can run away f rom my problems. . . Soon enough, people start to notice me. They shoot me weird glances but I don't care. I continue to run, run to nowhere, not having a destination in mind. All I know is that I have to get away. Time loses its meaning. I don't know how many minutes or hours have passed. My feet start to trip each other and I end up almost falling on the ground. It's hard to see clearly because my tears are spilling simultaneously from my eyes. I look around and blink my eyes and realize that I'm in a secluded place in town . This is more or less three miles from the park. There are still ruins left fro m the fire that took most of the houses a few years ago. Now all the habitants m ove to another village, forgetting the ghastly past behind.

I want to stop running but my feet don't want to cooperate. I panic because my m otor movements don't do what I want. To my astonishment, I trip on a piece of wood, my knees buckling underneath me a nd I stumble to the ground, hip first. The only choice I have is to sit on the d usty pavement. And cry. Because that's the only thing I can do. My lungs are hav ing difficulty in breathing. It hurts so much- every part of me. Even my heart l iterally feels breaking into tiny pieces. All I want is my mom who can comfort me. I long for her arms to wrap around me, telling me that everything will be alright, even though it seems impossible at t he moment. Fishing my phone from my pocket, I dial her number with shaking hands. She picks it up after the third ring. "Mom," I choke, gasping for breaths, "I need you. Please help me."

***** So sorry for waiting! A lot of fortuitous events happened that led me to post th is later than planned. I hope you liked this chapter :) It's short, but I have to end it here. I'll upl oad the next one as soon as I can. Thank you so much for keeping up with me! I a ppreciate it Banner by Anne Bagsic. For those who are interested in joining the One-Shot Contest, you still have a f ew more days to submit your entry :) I went to the Wattpad MeetUp and had a great time interacting with Filipino Watt padders :) Louisse *fallenbabybubu* and Gaile *purple-ish* were there, and it wa s fun talking to them :) Thank you for reading The Bet! =)

******************************************* [60] The Bet *Losing Hope ******************************************* Oh my! 7,000,000+ reads! Thank you so much everyone! :) If you're confused about something (on the story / anything), or if you have a q uestion, or you need a reply, POST A MESSAGE on the Facebook page/Message Board. Thanks! The songs for this chapter are With Me by Sum 41, Too Much by All Time Low, and Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons (suggested by AriaRaines). Banner on the sid e by IamaRyHard. Happy Easter! Thank you! Happy Reading! (:

Chapter 53 *Losing Hope* ~ Drake

My stomach is twisting into knots, and my heart pounds on every step I take. Sti ll, I continue to walk. I'm like a lost spirit- a lost ghost. My life is just a piece of crap now. I don't have a direction anymore. It's my entire fault. It's my entire fault. Self pity- the worst enemy. Everything I worked hard for came crashing down in just a single day. My mind replays the scene from yesterday again and again. As if I still need a r eminder of my worst day. I hate you. I hate everything about you. I'm not stupid! I know your bet with Andre! I pretended that I was falling in love with you. My head wants to explode! Someone is hammering it, and I can't think clearly! I never want to see you again! I want to bang my head on a wall to stop these thoughts from haunting me. I can' t take it anymore! I'm going to be crazy!

I went home last night after I talked to Pie. I wanted to run after her but I kn ew she needed to be alone. She would just be angry at me if I followed her. I didn't eat and sleep. I didn't even have a piece of mind. I haven't talked to a single person for the past few hours. As soon as the sun came up, I walked out of the house and got inside my car. I drove to the places where I had a great time with Pie. Every little thing remi nds me of her. The Paint Shop. Coffee Academy. The Dark Alley. The Mall. The river where we wat ched the fireworks display. The Park. One time, my tears blurred my vision I almost crashed on the streetlights. Fortu nately, I spun the wheel at the last second.

So here I am, walking on a secluded place in town. My tears are too many to hand le. I don't even recall the last time I cried. Well, exceptt for last night. I c an't die without seeing Pie for one last time. A bird perched on a tree snaps me out of my trance. It's chirping a simple sound

. Suddenly it makes me think of Pie. I still remember the day when I heard her singing a song. It's one of those days when she was still living in Andre's house. I was about to knock and ask her ab out our homework in Literature but a muffled sound made me stop.

Inconspicuously, I open the door without knocking. What I see surprised me. Her hair's up in a messy bun, but it looks good on her. Like, she styled it. Her eyes are closed and she's singing. She really feels the song. Her fingers are s napping to the tune of the music only she can hear. I think her headphones are b lasting in their full volume. A brush is on her hand, and she's using it like a microphone. Her voice is so sw eet, like cotton candy that melts on your tongue. Her head is nodding, banging l ike a rockstar. She's carefree, like she owns the world. A smile makes its way on my face as I stare at her. I wish I brought my cell pho ne with me so that I can take a picture of her. She looks so young and happy. She reminds me of Taylor Swift's music video of Yo u Belong With Me. I'm glad her eyes are closed because for sure, she'll be mad if she finds me wat ching her little show. To my astonishment, she whips around. Before I know what I'm doing, I quickly shut the door and run to my room. I clos e it behind me and lean on it. I'm sure she saw me. I can't believe my heart can beat like this. Am I having a heart attack? Suddenly there are footsteps on the hallway. And then Pie's voice as she says, " Is anyone out there?" After a few seconds of silence, she decides that it's nothing and goes back to h er room. Phew! That was close. A silly grin is still on my face as I recall her face as she's singing Avril Lav igne's Girlfriend. I'm sure I'll have this memory for a long time.

All those times we were together, they're just memories now. There's a huge poss ibility that they won't happen again. Even memories fade away. In the end, I'll be left with nothing. After telling her that I love her, this is what I got. It's like a slap on the f ace, but a hundred times more painful than that. I don't know if I am being melo dramatic but I think my heart is broken. I used to laugh at my friends when they told me that their heart shattered becau se of an unrequited love.

Now I realize that it's not something to be laughed at. It's my first time to fall in love and it feels like a joke, taunting me. It's n ever good to play with anyone's emotions. I should have known that. I should hav e listened to my father. But I did not. I flinch as I remember what he told me. I learned from my mistakes. I hope you won't repeat them. I guess history is repeating itself. Sophia, Sophia, Sophia Why doesn't she believe that I love her? Is it impossible? Perhaps she thinks I' m incapable of loving. But I can't blame her for her accusations. After what she learned, how can she trust me again? A sigh escapes from my lips as I ponder all my mistakes. Mistakes after mistakes. She thinks that after the horrible things that happened to her, I'd still hurt h er. I'm not heartless. When I found out about her family, it hurt me too. I coul dn't fathom she already experienced that kind of pain for such a young age. I did not for a second think that she's shallow and stupid. I did not even think that she's weak. I was so careless; I did not know she heard us that night. Tha t dream. That nightmare. It was a sign. That's not the point. The point is I played her heart. Even though I cancelled t he bet, what I did was a mistake. I shouldn't have done that in the first place. She knew the bet a long time ago, so everything she did was to hurt me. I thought she was falling in love with me too. I'm wrong! Karma is eating me now, swallowing me whole. I have a feeling I'm becoming nothi ng. Pie, Pie, Pie What do I have to do to make you believe that I really love you? I can still reminisce the day when I realized that I love her. It's the day when I found out that she's sick and I skipped school just to see her and make sure that she's okay. Wait. Who am I kidding? I already love her even before then. I wouldn't make an effort just to surprise her for her birthday if I don't love her. If it's just a game. In my heart I know that what I feel for her is real, even though my stubborn hea d doesn't want to admit it.

The day when I called Andre to cancel the bet is still fresh from my mind, like it happened yesterday.

After taking care of Pie, I go directly to their house. He's waiting for me in h is room. "What do you want to say?" he says as soon as I come in. How can I tell him that I want to cancel the bet without implying that I love Pi e? "Why do you look so nervous?" Andre says bemusedly. "I'm not," I deny quickly. He rolls his eyes and says, "Spill it already! Your nervousness is contagious; I can feel it crawling on my arms." He shudders and rubs his arms as if what he's saying is real. "Listen," I start. "I think we should stop the bet." "What?" "I said we should-" "I heard you," he says sarcastically, not bothering to roll his eyes this time. "Then why did you say 'What?'?" I ask, annoyed. He sits on the edge of his bed and says, "What I meant was why?" "I don't know," I lie. "You know, our deal was never good in the first place. Yo u're really stupid for thinking about it." "Now it's my fault?" he says, throwing me one of his pillows. I easily dodge it and throw it back at him. "So, what do you think?" He shrugs. "That's fine. I already asked you a couple of times before if you wan ted to forget it but you said you never back down." I cringe. "So what made you decide to cancel it?" he inquires, cocking his eyebrow. "I just don't want to do it anymore," I say indifferently, acting like I don't c are. "Really?" he looks like he doesn't believe me. "Yeah. We're okay now?" "Yeah." "Good." "Drake?"

"What?" I ask. There's something about his voice"Are you falling in love with Sophia?" "WHAT?" I choke out. And then I cough because I have hard time breathing. "Easy," he says, getting up and tapping me on the back. I think my lungs are malfunctioning. Andre's question knocks the best out of me! After a few seconds of utter embarrassment, I'm finally able to breathe normally . Andre gives me a calculating look, like he's studying me. I hate it when he does that. It's as if he's trying to know what I'm thinking. It's the same with Dria na- when she wants to know my secrets. Those two have creepy similarities. "What happened?" he asks, crossing his arms over his chest. "What happened?" I ask wryly. "Drake, I'm your best friend," he says matter-of-factly. "You can tell me if you love Sophia." I don't know why I can't admit to him that I love Sophia. "You love her, right?" he continues, as if he's stating a fact. "Is that why you want to stop our deal?" "Of course not," I mutter. "I just don't want to see her get hurt." That's true though. He narrows his eyes but doesn't budge in anymore. "Why did you even choose that dare in the first place?" I ask curiously. "And wh y Sophia Taylor?" He looks at me thoughtfully and says, "Perhaps I'll tell you someday." "Someday?" I say incredulously. "Why not now?" "Because I don't want to," he says, smirking. "Besides, you don't want to tell m e what's really happening between Sophia and you." "Andre!" As if I can tell him that I've been in love with Pie for a couple of days now. H e'll just annoy me. And he might spill it to Pie without a second thought. "Drake!" he mimics the tone of my voice. He's back with his irritating self. There are times when I really wonder why we're best friends.

Call me crazy or an idiot but I'm thankful for the bet. Without it, I wouldn't m eet Pie. I wouldn't be friends with her. I wouldn't fall in love. I had the right love at the wrong reason.

Maybe I deserve this. I don't deserve her. Maybe it's our destiny. We are not me ant to be. When did you become so pessimistic? I'm startled to hear the voice in my head, I stop walking. Instead of moping around, why don't you make a plan to win her back? Win her back? I think ruefully. Win her back? I never thought of that! Maybe. Maybe I can. Maybe we can even be friends? Friends? That's not even close to what I want, but it's better than nothing. Stop thinking about Maybe's! Think positive! You still have a chance to be toget her! Right! I'd do anything to make it up to her. All I want is for us to be together again. Though literally we were never together. I can't just let her go. After all we've been through; I can't turn my back on m y feelings for her. I have to fight for her. I can't lose her. She taught me a lot of things. I learned a lot because of her. Not just about sc hool, but about life. The best part of my existence is when I was with her. With out her, I'm nothing. There's no doubt I change into a good person because of he r. So how can I live without her? I want to see her eyes that can brighten me even in my darkest day. I want to se e her contagious smile that can lighten my mood. I want to see her soft lips. An d yeah, I want to kiss her. I want to be on her side for the rest of my life. I already found the right one for me, and I won't let anything, even fate, decid e what's best for me. Now, I'm going to make Sophia Taylor realize that I love her, and she loves me t oo. ******************************************* [61] The Bet *Futile Chance ******************************************* Happy Reading! (:

Chapter 54 *Futile Chance* ~Drake

"Did you two have a fight?"

"What are you talking about?" I ask. I'm on my way to my first afternoon class, Literature, when Driana pops out of nowhere and blocks my path. "Sophia's been acting weird lately," she replies, biting her lower lip and look ing worried. Pie didn't tell my twin sister about what happened between us. I don't know if I should be glad or not. Like Pie, I haven't told Andre about us. "Did you two have a fight?" she repeats. "I don't know what's wrong. I don't ha ve an idea. We were eating and then-" "Calm down," I say, putting my hands on her shoulders. She speaks really fast w hen she's furious. "I don't understand you." It's unusual to see my sister like this. Suddenly, I'm afraid. I look at her fr om head to toe to make sure she's okay. I don't find anything out of the ordinar y. Don't tell me"It's Sophia," she says slowly. "What happened?" I ask, unconsciously gripping her shoulders. But she doesn't notice. Now I'm the one freaking out. "She cut her afternoon classes." "What?" I don't understand. I let my sister out of my grip and wait for her to explain. "See, Sophia never, as in never, in her life she cut class. Not even a single o ne," she says, a concern expression on her face. "Maybe something came up so she decided to go home or. . ." I trail off, thinki ng positive thoughts. "I don't know." "Didn't she tell you anything?" I inquire. "No," Driana mumbles, playing with the hem of her shirt. "Have you tried calling her phone?" "Yes. But it's out of coverage area." "What about her mom?" I ask hopefully. "Yes. She was even surprised that I called her," she says. "Did she say anything about Sophia?" "No. . . She's at home, same with her husband. She even asked me what Sophia is doing. And when she asked me why I was calling, I said that I dialed the wrong number." She smiles sheepishly and continues, "I don't want them to worry about their daughter." I guess I know what this is all about. Maybe she doesn't want to see me. Especi

ally we're classmates in Literature. I close my eyes and imagine the places where she would go. And there are many. I don't even know where to start. What are you going to do? My voice wonders. What do you think? I retort. Would I ask if I know the answer? You'll see. I walk to the direction leading to the parking lof of the school. "Where are you going?" Driana calls after me. "I'm coming after Sophia," I answer.

*~*_*~*_*~* ~Sophia

This is the most ridiculous idea I've ever had. Note: If you don't want to be seen, go to an unexpected place. A place where on ly a few people know about. So why am I here in this place? Aside from me, there 's only one person who knows about where I'm about to go. And I cut class because of him. Because I don't want to see him. I'm afraid my emotions will get mixed again and they will confuse me. So why am I going to his haven? Sometimes I don't understand myself. But still, there's a huge probability that he'll not follow me here. Who am I kidding? After our fight, he wouldn't talk to me again. Much less find me in his secret place. Well, it's not as if I'm missing. Sophia Taylor, admit it already! There's no point in lying to myself. Truth is, I don't even know if I'm going t o the right direction. The first and only time I came here, I did not really loo k around because I was assured that he knew the way. I continue my path, tripping every now and then because of the scattered branch es, fallen trees, twigs, and slippery path. Now I realize how much he helped me on our way to his secret place. It's hard when you're alone hiking. No one will guide me when I fall and when there are branches on the way. If it's tiring on the first time, this time it's unbearable. Still, I continue my way. I'm not going to turn around and go home. Besides, I doubt I'll know the way back to the road. Luck isn't even on my side because my

phone is not working. Hooray! Good thing I'm not wearing heels. My clothes are more comfortable than the last time I came here. To my credit, I remember some familiar sights while I'm walking. This is a sign that I'm not lost, right? Yeah, keep thinking positive thoughts. Nothing will h appen when I just stand here and wait for someone to save me. Because no one wil l. Sweat pours down my face and my hair is sticking at the back of my neck. My fee t are complaining from too much hiking. I pause and tie my hair using a ponytail . My mouth is dry, it's as if a sandpaper is rubbing on my toungue. I'm thirsty! The sun is not helping either. The air is hot, although I'm surrounded by trees . After resting for a couple of minutes, I continue my way. I think I'm near beca use I see the huge tree. I remember him pushing its branch to reveal the other side- the magical place.

*~*_*~*_*~* ~Drake

Where is she? I've been into the places where I think she would go: Library, Mall, Bookstores , and I even drive around town. But of course when a person is hiding, she won' t go to the obvious place. Pie! Why are you doing this? I feel guilty for making her cut class. If only I didn't enter her life, she wo n't do this. She won't be miserable. I'm so worried, my hands are trembling on t he steering wheel. But I don't want to ask help from my friends. Much less the p olice. They will sure tell Pie's parents and everything will tumble down. The ringing of my phone snaps me out of my thoughts. "Hey," I answer, not bothering to look at the caller id. "Where are you?" Andre asks. Glancing at the dashboard, the clock's light blinks back at me. 3:00 in the aft ernoon. I've been searching for her for almost three hours now. I'm sure I'll get in trouble for cutting classes. First when Pie was sick, now when Pie is missing. "Downtown," I say. Actually, I'm in the park where"Have you seen her?" he inquires, interrupting my thoughts. He knows? Driana told him, my voice says obviously.

Why? Ask him. Ignoring the voice inside my head, I reply to Andre, "No, not yet." "I'll help you find her as soon as I can." "Thanks." "No problem," he says. "Don't worry, I'm sure she's okay." "I hope," I mutter. I can't forgive myself if something bad happens to her. "Dude, you're the optimist here," he reminds me. "I'll try to remember that," I say wryly. "Bye-" "Wait!" he says quickly. "What?" I ask, frowning. I have to continue my search now. "Try to find Sophia on places that she'll less likely go," he advices. She'll less likely go? I don't haveThere's one place I haven't checked yet. And Sophia might be there, my voice agrees. "Thanks," I say. "I'll go there now." "Good luck!" Starting my car, I steer the wheel to the road leading to the outskirts of town . There's a huge chance that she's not there. But I might as well try because th at's the only place I can think of right now.

*~*_*~*_*~* ~Sophia

It's getting late. My stomach is growling while my mouth is drought. This is the perks of not preparing to hike. Suddenly, an idea pops into my mind. Why didn't I think of that earlier?! But wait. I don't even know the way to his little cottage! And if there's a pla ce where I would stay the night, I'd rather be here. Oh God, just thinking abou t sleeping here sends shiver through my spine. How can I stay here, alone? In the middle of the forest?

My mom will be worried if I won't go home. And what about dad's condition? I should start going back now while there's still light. The clouds are turning gray"Pie?" Whipping around, I see him. I don't know why I can't say his name. I can't even think about it. I guess he's the one that can't be named then. "W-what are y-you doing h-here?" I stutter. I didn't hear his footsteps. I must be really focused on my plan to go home, or he can walk quietly in the forest. This is the first time I see him since our fight. There are dark circles under his eyes- a sign that he's not getting proper sleep. His cheeks became hollow, a nd if it's possible, I think he loss weight. Well, at least it's not just me. I'm not the only one suffering. But my eyes start to water. I don't know why I don't want to see him like this, so I tear my gaze away from him. God, he looks sick. Is it possible that he's miserable as I am? Revenge is really not good. I should have listened to my intincts when it told me that playing his heart will not give me satisfaction. Now we're both broken. We're both paying for the consequences we made. "I. . . I was looking for you," he says, walking slowly towards me and stopping a few yards away, maybe afraid to be near me because I might snap at any second . Why is he looking for me? Did they think that I was missing? My throat is dry, it's hard to talk! "Driana told me that you decided to cut class without explaining the reason why ," he continues. "She asked me if we're fighting. . ." I haven't informed Dri about what happened to her twin and me. Because as of no w, I can't even understand it myself. "What about you?" he asks. "What are you doing here?" To get away from you, I want to yell, but instead I say, "Why woul I tell you?" He sighs and glances up at the sky. He's so different from the Drake I know - t he one who's always smiling, who can make everyone around him happy. This Drake is full of sadness and it's like he's carrying the weight of the world on his sh oulders. "What happened?" he asks, kicking a rock in front of him. "I saw you with Cassidy," I blurt out. "What?!"

"You were having a good time dating her!" "No, no," he says quickly, vehemently shaking his head. "It's. . . we didn't. . . I mean, we were just talking." "Really?" I say sarcastically. It's obvious that he's lying! He's stuttering! A nd then I compose myself and say, "As if I care!" "So this is what it's all about?" he asks, realization finally dawning in. "You saw me with her and you assumed that there's something going on between us?" "No!" I scold, "The point is you played my heart!" I don't even know why I'm ta lking to him. "Pie, Cassidy and I didn't have a date," he starts, "The only time I was alone with her was a few days ago. We were in a coffee shop. She apologized for the th ings she did. She said she didn't know what happen to her to be rude to you. She even told me that she'll speak with you today. Maybe apologize or something. No thing's going on between us." "Yeah," I say dryly. "Nothing's going on between you two." I have a feeling that he's telling the truth though, that perhaps what they did that day was just talk. But what happened because of that can't be changed. "Pie, I'm sorry," he whispers. "It doesn't change anything," I murmur. "I may not cancel the bet as early as I should but everything I did for you was from the heart," he states. "I did not mean to hurt you. I'm sorry." "Right," I say sarcastically. I don't know what to do anymore! I'm confused and lost. "Why can't you believe?" he asks softly. "Ask Andre." I scoff. "He's your best friend. Of course he'll lie too." "Sophia Taylor!" Startled, I look at him. "Tell me," he says pleadingly, "What do I have to do make you believe that what I feel for you is real?" He captures me in his gaze, now I can't tear my eyes away from him. "Nothing." In that single word, it's as if his world came crashing down. Color drains fro m his face, and he just stands there, looking at me without saying anything for a while. Perhaps he had enough of me. Now he's going to stop from proclaiming his love f or me. "Please, let me take you home," he says tiredly. "I promise I wont talk to you

for the whole ride." "I don't believe you." I doubt if I can ever trust him again. "Your parents are worried about you," he continues. "And Driana is probably con templating to call the police or not." I can't be budge. I'd rather stay herethan be with him. To my surprise, he hands his car key to me. "If you don't want me to take you h ome, at least use my car so you can go out of this place." "What?" I say incredulously. He keeps dangling the key in front of me but I don't bother to take it from him . "Go home," he says. "Why don't you go home?" I snap. "Just leave me alone!" "I can't just leave you here," he says, running his hand through his hair. "Aren't you listening to me?" I say furiously. "I said I don't want to see you again! Ever!" And then I turn my back and walk away from him. He catches up after a few yards and to my utter disbelief, he grabs my arm to s top me. "Let me go!" I push him and he raises both his hands. "Okay, if you let me take you home," he says, "I won't talk to you again. I won 't bother you anymore." I look at him doubtfully. Is he telling the truth? "I swear," he says, as if reading my thoughts. "I won't even glance at your way . How's that? A life free off Drake Swift?" A life without Drake Swift? Something tugs at my heartstrings but I ignore it. He's my only chance of going home so I might as well grab the opportunity. "Okay." I can't tell if he's disappointed or not. He easily changed his expression and wear an indifferent mask. "Let's go," he says finally, and starts walking back to the path leading to the road. I follow after him, my heart pounding in my chest. Maybe this is good. If I won't talk to him and won't see him like before, my fe elings for him will vanish. Evaporate.

Gone. I'd rather die than admit that I love him.

***** I hope you liked it :) I already know some of the winners of the One-Shot Contest. Read the entries and vote for your favorite because one of the stories will win because of the numbe r of votes. Go to "My Library" and click "One-Shot for The Bet". I'm not satisfied with this chapter. This is the outcome when I force myself to write -___- I'll probably change and add some parts later. . . The song is Somewhere Only We Know by Keane (I forgot who suggested this) Banner by Kimy Sanchez. Thank you! ******************************************* [62] The Bet *Confidant ******************************************* Happy Reading! (: Chapter 55 Part 1 *Confidant* ~Drake

"It's time for the revelation, don't you think?" I'm not sure if this is the right moment to tell Andre what happened between Pie and I. There are a lot of things going on, and although Andre is my best friend , there's a part of me that can't spill my problems. Tell him, my voice suggests. Why? Because he can help you be with Sophia. I ponder that possibility for a minute. My voice has a point. Andre is intellige nt"Drake!" Andre yells near my ear. "What?" I scold. "I was talking and you suddenly stared into space." "I was just thinking," I mutter.

When I drove Pie to their house earlier, we didn't talk. She didn't even acknowl edge my presence. It's as if I was not in the car with her. We were so quiet, th e air around the car was suffocating, it was hard to breathe. I didn't want to g o home after that so I decided to stay at Andre's. I already told him and Driana that I found Pie, and that she's okay. I'm glad they didn't ask a lot of questi ons about that. "Sophia really got a hold on you," Andre says matter-of-factly. "What do you mean?" "You acquired some of her. . ." He pauses and frowns. "I don't know. . . Are th ey traits? Behavior? Something like that." "I did?" I ask incredulously. "Yup. Like, for example, daydreaming." "Shut up!" He grins. "Drake, you can tell me. We've been best friends for years. I know in just a matter of weeks we'll fall in love and be called lovers-" "Andre!" I say, hitting him at the back of his head. It's not the time to joke a round. "Really," he says, changing into his serious mode. "I know there's something goi ng on between you two. What is it? Before, you were always together. When I was looking for you, you were with Sophia. Now I haven't seen you with her lately. S o don't tell me everything's okay!" "Pie knows about the bet," I admit. "Excuse me?" he says, frowning. "I did not hear you." "Sophia knows about the bet," I say slowly, as if I'm talking to a child. He looks confused for a second and then like a bulb lights in his head, his eyes slowly widens until they almost pop out of their sockets. To my disbelief, he punches me on the shoulder. I grunt under my breath, surpris ed at the sudden contact. That hurts! "What was that for?" I ask, glaring at him. "Why are you lying?" he asks, ignoring my expression. "I hope I'm lying," I mutter, "But I'm not." His mouth drops open in shock. "So it's true?" "Yeah." "How?" he wonders aloud. "Remember my nightmare about her finding out about our deal?" I say. "She heard us talking about it." "Impossible."

I wait for Andre to process the whole information. "She knew that long?" he says after a few minutes. "Wow! I can't believe it!" "Me neither." I sigh, and push my hair away from my face. I've been hollow lately, not getting enough sleep, and I don't have appetite to eat. No wonder I'm loosing weight. "So how did you find out that she knows?" he asks finally. I'm sure it's the mos t important question of all. Then I tell Andre everything. That Pie wanted revenge so she reversed our bet. T hat she wanted me to fall in love with her. Finding out that what she did and sa id to me was heart shattering. Fortunately, my voice continually assures me that Pie have feelings for me as we ll. She's just a good actress for hiding it. I also tell Andre about our fight. How Pie accused me of playing her heart, and that she didn't believe that I can celled the bet. I start to choke when I'm talking about the part where she said she didn't want to see me again, so I stop. Andre is silent. He's staring at something only he can see. "You really love her ," he states, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. I don't answer because what else is there to say? I screwed up and now karma is doing its thing. "If I were you, I won't give up," he says, a glint in his eyes. "I'm not planning to," I say automatically. "Good," he replies, rubbing his palms together, "Because I have an idea to make Sophia realize that what you feel for her is real. That you really love her." A grin makes its way onto my face. "Let's hear it," I say, excited to know his p lan.

I can't wait to be with Pie again. If she thinks that I'm giving up, she's wrong . And I'll prove to her how much she means to me. What I told her in the woods w as true- that I won't talk to her, but that doesn't mean I won't do anything to change her heart and mind. I feel clever for thinking that plan. Well, it's Andre's idea but I changed some of it. I hope her anger for me will vanish when I take it into action. Falling in love with Pie is the best thing I've ever done. If only she'll return it, I'll be the luckiest guy on earth.

***** Hello! I hope you liked it (Even though it's very short. This is just a teaser). A nd I'm sorry for the lack of updates. . . I was supposed to post this last week but I didn't have time to type. I've been really busy for the past couple of da

ys. I'll upload the next part as soon as I can. I will announce the winners of t he contest as well. The song is I Won't Give Up On Us by Jason Mraz. Banner by TheSuperGirl. I graduated last Friday! :) Whoop! I finally got my College diploma after fiftee n years of studying :D Thank you so much everyone! I hope you'll wait patiently for the next part. Than k you! :) ******************************************* [63] The Bet *Poignant Confession ******************************************* The winners of the One Shot Contest are: First place: AnotherUnknownPerson AND CrazyChocoholic Second place: Fallingleaves18 AND _peacegirl_ Highest number of votes: AnnaxLove Please give me your email address so that I can send the Outtakes/Deleted Scenes to you. Congratulations! :) AND because I am grateful to everyone who joined, I'll dedicate a chapter to all of you. Thank you so much! I had a great time reading your entries =) I'm so sorry for not uploading for weeks. I've been really busy, and a lot has h appened lately. Thank you so much for waiting! I appreciate your patience :) And thank you for congratulating me :D The songs are It's All Coming Back To Me Now by Celine Dion and Sweet Serendipit y by Lee DeWyze. Banner by crazyfulcrazy . Thank you so much for reading my story

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 55 Part 2 *Poignant Confession ~ Sophia

Peach looks good on you. That's written on a little piece of paper, and I found it inside my locker. Ironically, I'm wearing a peach blouse today. And there's only one person who will leave a note in my locker. I remember he s aid that to me after I accidentally enter the bathroom while he was taking a bat h. A really awkward moment.

Wait. I thought Drake will leave me alone? Why is he doing this then? A voice in the back of my head whispers, "It's not against the rule. He said no talking." But I thought. . . I guess he generalized it so that he can still make a move. Hah! As if I'm goin g to fall on his trap. The first few classes passed by quickly, and I have no idea what the teachers d iscussed. I'm on my way to the cafeteria when a voice says, "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" I stop walking and turn around to see Cassidy staring at me. "Are you talking t o me?" "No, at the person beside you," she says, rolling her eyes. I'm not in the mood to play her games so I ignore her comment and continue my w ay. "Sophia!" she says, loud enough to be heard in a hallway full of students. "What do you want?" I snap. She takes a step closer to me and to my surprise, grabs my hands. I stare at he r, contemplating if this is the real Cassidy in front of me. What is going on he re? Is she playing a prank on me? I look around me to check if there's someone t aking a video of this moment. She chuckles and says, "Silly Sophia. You think I'm making fun of you, right?" I don't respond, I just look at her and wait for her to transform into a differ ent person. "I don't know what happened to me to be rude to you," she continues. "I'm not u sually that mean. It's just, I had a crush on Drake for months, and it killed me to see him with you all the time. I'm the popular head cheerleader, and he chos e to be with you. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you're not pretty. But stil l. . ." Cassidy thinks I'm pretty? I thought in her world, she's the only one allowed t o be called pretty. Or beautiful. Or whatever. "Let's forget the past and move forward, alright?" she says, finally letting go of my hands with a final squeeze. "Besides, we're seniors, and we should rule t he school instead of fighting. I guess it's her way of saying sorry then. "Okay," I agree. I don't like having enemies, and she's right. It's our last year in high school and we might as wel l live with it. "Sophia, I see how Drake looks at you, especially when you're not aware of it," Cassidy says thoughtfully. "I know it's not just infatuation, but the real thin g. I wanted him to gaze at me the same way, but I'm wishing for the impossible. You already captured his heart. I found out about that when I asked him to meet me. The way he talked about you, the way his eyes lit up when he said your name, I knew then that he truly loves you. And there's nothing I can do to change tha t."

What is she talking about? Cassidy waits for me to respond, but my lips are locked, I can't even utter a s ingle syllable. She frowns, and then sighs, like a true cheerleader. "See you around," she says , walking away, leaving me staring at her retreating figure. ~*~*~*~*~ Every morning, when I open my locker, I always get a note. They are reminders o f the past. I wonder how Drake remember the things we talked about. And how did he get this idea? If two people are meant to be together, it doesn't mean they have to be togethe r right now. I said that when we watched Serendipity. That was one of the first times we wer e alone. After that, he helped me paint my room in Andre's house. The next day: Life is ironic. It flows the way we don't plan it. Unexpected things happen. On e move can change your life forever. That's from our topic in Literature, when Parker became our substitute teacher. It feels like a long time ago. . . And then: We can't help who we fall in love with. It's even surprising when you find out that everything you want is not going according to plan.

Days passed, but Drake and I still don't talk. Even when I see Andre in school, I quickly walk out of the way before he can corner me. I know that I'll find Drake's little notes when I open my locker but I can't he lp myself to read them. They make me remember of what happened between us. Falling in love with you is something I had not expected. Being in love with yo u is something I could not stop, even if I tried. He said that to me on my birthday. A sudden thought comes to my mind. What if ev erything he said were all true? He did a lot of unexpected things for me. To mak e me happy. Wait. Don't think about that, I remind myself. Don't buckle because of those notes! I'm getting tired of talking to myself, but I don't want to appear weak. I need renewed strength to be brave to face each day without him on my side. "You know you look like a walking Zombie, don't you?" "Don't remind me," I mutter.

Driana sighs. "I know you're still mad at my twin, but don't let it get to you. " She holds my arm and raises it. "Look, you're loosing weight! You have to be s trong, and you can lean on me when you can't take it anymore." "Thank you," I say gratefully. Until now, I can't believe I told Driana everyth ing. "How are you and Andre?" "We haven't talked, and I keep ignoring him." She shrugs, like she doesn't care , but she can't fool me. I feel bad for ruining their relationship. "I'm sorry," I say, squeezing her ha nd. "Don't be," she says. "It's not your fault. They're both jerks for playing a ga me on you. I can't believe Drake can be that heartless. And Andre. . ." she trai ls off, a longing on her voice. "Hey," I say, smiling sadly. "It feels wrong being happy when you're suffering." She sobs, and wipes the fre sh tears from her eyes. "I'm not being biased or anything, but I know Draky care s about you." "Don't cry," I say instead, while giving her a hug. I hope the saying, 'Time he als wound will apply to me.'

Unfortunately, I can't help but wonder what's happening in Drake's life right no w. Do you think of me like I think of you? I sigh and read the new notes I found in my locker. We can't just stop our feelings, no matter how hard we try. The best part of my life is the time I spend with you. Really, Drake? Whenever I see him in the hallway, he moves. It's as if I do not exist rst place. I'm lying if I say I don't care because I do. And it breaks when he ignores me. But I have to remind myself that it's what I want. y choice. We can't just act like nothing happened. Aside from that, we t forget. in the fi my heart This is m can't jus

One day, while arranging my things on my drawer, I see Parker's gift for me on m y birthday. Until now, I don't know how he took this picture in the locket. Drak e and I looked happy here, as if we were a couple having our best date. Our double date with Parker and Chloe was one of the best days of my life. I had so much fun, especially when we watched the fireworks display. I shake my head slowly. There's no point reminiscing the happy moments. They wo n't happen again. Out of nowhere, I remember Drake's present for me. I get the pieces of puzzle from the box and stare at them doubtfully. What will

I do now? Why don't you put them together to find out the message that he has for you? A tiny voice whispers at the back of my mind. What's the point? He doesn't care about me anymore. He can't even glance at my wayThere's no harm in trying. Kneeling down on the edge of my bed, I start to put the pieces of puzzle togeth er. It's kind of hard because they look the same. After a few minutes, I can get words like you, and an image. But I still can't figure out what they're all abo ut. Before I complete the puzzle, I get its meaning. And without my permission, tears flow from my eyes, blurring my vision. I . . . I can't believe he did something like this. Something so precious and u nique. So how can I not trust him? After all we've been through, everything he did for me; I thought they were all a lie. Little did I know that they came from the he art. I'm so stupid for letting him go. He loved me, and I hurt him. I should have completed this puzzle when he gave it to me! I might have prevent ed our fight. And we'll still be together. The puzzle is the key all along! No w onder he wanted me to know its message. Everything falls back to its place now. It made me realize what I have- had. It made my eyes clearer; leaving the decept ion and lies behind. Glancing at the puzzle one more time, I complete its missing parts and marvel a t its beauty. The sky is dark and full of stars. They even have the illusion of twinkling. I know that they will glow in the darkness. There are two figures side by side, ga zing at the stars. The man's arms are wrapped around the woman's. On the lower p art are the words: Pie, I'm sorry, please forgive me. I love you. What will I do? I have mixed feelings and most of the time, I don't understand myself. I hug Shea close to my chest and sob. I am hurting. He is hurting. This is the price for our little game. I have to admit that it was partly my fault to o. How can I make it right? I want to live peacefully, and I miss him so much. I miss his eyes that can sta re right through my soul, his voice that can serenade me, his touch that promise everything will be alright. I miss everything about him! How can I be such an idiot for pushing him away when he said sorry a lot of tim es and proved how much he loved me? I hope his feelings have not changed yet. I think it's time to restore our relationship. Just then, I remember something I said to him weeks ago. People do stupid things for love. But as long as you follow your heart, you will be at peace. I have to see him now, and talk to him. I pray he'll still accept me after I ca used him pain. God, please help me. Please put sense into his heart and mind so that he'll love me again. I've never loved anyone as much as I love him. Grabbing my phone, I quickly dial his number. My fingers are shaking badly, but

after a few tries, I get it correctly. To my disappointment, it goes directly t o voice mail. Not wanting to wait until tomorrow, I decide to call Driana. She picks up after the second ring. "Hello," she greets. "Hey, are you with Drake?" I ask nervously. "No, he's not in the house," she answers. "Why?" "I have to talk to him." Even my voice is shaking! "He said he'll walk to the park," Driana says. I can see her in my mind with a concern expression on her face. "Oh, thanks!" "Are you okay?" she asks hesitantly. "I will be," I respond, and I know it's true. Not bothering to change, I quickly walk out of the house and run to the nearest park in town. I know there are a lot of parks, but I might as well start here. I hope he'll not decide to change his destination. When I arrive in the park, I'm surprised to find it full of people. What's the occasion? Is there some kind of event today? I look around and search for Draky, but it's hard when people are swarming my vision. Where is he? I choose to walk all over the park and scan for any sign of him. What feels lik e hours later, my feet start to trip each other. Aside from that, my head pounds as people accidentally shove me as they hurriedly catch up with their friends. Sweat pours down my face as I round the last curve of the park. Draky? Where are you? Maybe he already went home. This is a futile search. We're probably not meant t o talk today. I'll just meet him tomorrow. Besides, I'm already tired. All I wan t to do is crawl on my bed and wait for sleep to come. And then, when I'm starting to lose hope, I see him. I'm afraid my vision is just playing tricks on me because I'm tired and I wish to see him so he materialized. But I blink and rub my eyes. And I almost shout f or joy when I still see him, only a few yards away from me. He's standing beside an oak tree, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes fixed on something faraway. He's wearing a black shirt that illuminates his blue eyes. He looks like he doesn't know what he's doing here, much less care about the pe ople walking beside him. A smile starts to form on my mouth as I think of what I'm about to do. "Hey, you! The guy with the black shirt!"

Every guy who's wearing a black shirt stares at me. Everyone looks at me like I 'm crazy. But for the first time, I don't care. It's like everything lead to thi s moment. Right here, right now. And I know this is one of the best decisions I' ve ever made. Draky is gazing at me like he's seeing me for the first time. Actually, it's li ke he's seeing a ghost, as if he can't believe I'm really here in front of him. "I forgive you!" I continue, "I'm sorry for hurting you. Even though I thought what you did was fake, I did not pretend. It was all real. And I never stopped l oving you." When I finished talking and he doesn't say anything, I thought he already moved on. My tears brim at the back of my eyes, and I feel humiliated, standing here in front of everyone after pouring my heart out to the person I love the most an d not getting a reply. I'm about to turn around and run when his lips twitch, and I see the most breat h taking smile I've ever seen in my life. Draky easily closes the gap between us and he envelopes me in a warm hug. In th e distance, I hear people clapping and shouting, congratulating us. And then Dra ky tightens his arms around me, and all I can think is I won't get used to this feeling. To my amazement, he lifts me off the ground and twirls me. It's as if we're the only two people here. When we stop, he doesn't let go, but still wraps his arms around me. "Oh my Sweet, Honey Pie," Draky murmurs. My heartbeat quickens, and butterflies flutter furiously in my stomach. My hear t is filled with happiness and joy. I feel like glowing, and floating on Cloud 9 . "Sophia Taylor?" he says, pulling away so he can look at me in the eyes. "Y-yes, Drake Swift?" I whisper. I'm so nervous, I stutter! He smiles, that irresistibly good, that makes my knees wobble. Thank God, Draky is holding me. "I can live without you," he says, his gaze piercing into mine. "But my life wo uldn't have meaning if it weren't for you. You're my everything. Thank you for t aking me back." "Thank you for accepting me," I respond. He smiles, his eyes twinkling like the stars on the puzzle he gave me. "I love you." "I love you." He puts his lips on mine and it takes me a second to realize that we're kissing . And then all I can think about is that I missed him so much, even though I'm a lready in his arms. Why does it feel like this is my first kiss? I can't get enough of him! We wasted a lot of days because of our mistakes, but

those our beyond us now. Nothing can keep us apart. I'm not planning on letting him go. I've never been so in love! No words can describe what I'm feeling right now. After we're both running out of breath, we stop. My hands on his neck and his, on my waist. His eyes are still closed and I'm staring at him when he plants a k iss on my forehead. "By the way," I say, trying to calm my heart that's trying to rip its way out o f my chest, "I completed the puzzle." He grins. "Figures." And then he winks at me, and I know that I won't ever stop being in love with him. Drake and I are not perfect. We have our flaws. But that's alright. As long as we're together, I know that everything will be fine. More than fine. ******************************************* [64] The Bet *Inseparable ******************************************* Sorry for waiting! I hope you'll like this chapter. One more to go, and then the Epilogue. Don't worry, all your questions will be answered :) And for those who are confused, Veronica Lavigne is Aunt V - Andre's mother. There are two songs for this chapter: Wonderland by Natalia Kills and What Mak es You Beautiful by One Direction. Banner by TheaDuenas13 . Thank you so much for reading my story :)

Happy Reading! (: Chapter 56 *Inseparable ~Sophia

"Can I do it tomorrow?" "No." "Please?" Draky says, giving me a puppy look. Ugh! He knows that I can't resist him when he do that. "Drake Swift!" He sighs. "I'll only talk to him when you're with me." "You're so stubborn, you know?" "I know." He grins sheepishly. "But you still love me." I bite my inner cheeks to stop them from blushing. Draky elbows me playfully. "You love me, right?"

"Of course I love you," I murmur. He smiles and wraps his arms around me. "So, can we just hang out here in your room instead of-" "No," I say firmly. "You have to talk to your dad now." "Fine," he mumbles, a frown creasing his brow. I rub his arm, and he relaxes at my touch. "I'm going with you." "Thanks." "Let's go," I say, grabbing his hand and leading him out of the house. I've been persuading Draky to talk to his dad and restore their relationship. F inally, he agreed. We're on our way to their house when I ask, "Can you tell me what you wrote on my paper?" "What paper?" he asks, glancing at me in the corner of his eyes. "The paper where all of our classmates wrote something about us." "Why?" Draky asks, panic rising in his eyes. "Because I want to know," I say obviously. He sighs. "Fine. But tell me what you wrote on my paper first." "But I asked you first!" "Please?" he says, battling his eyelashes at me. Ugh! He's so hard to resist! "You are my first crush." He looks taken aback at my answer. "That was you?" he asks incredulously. "Yeah," I admit, smiling. "That was me." "Wow," he breathes. "I can't believe it!" And then he starts to smile slowly, u ntil he's grinning like Ronald McDonald. "I'm your first crush! Wow!" His actions make me squirm uncomfortably on my chair. I don't why I still feel nervous even though we're already together now. It's just I can't wrap it around my head because it's so unreal! "I'm your first crush," he repeats. "That's a privilege!" "Don't change the topic," I mumble. "It's your turn to spill the beans now." He clears his throat and then says, "I wrote two things on your paper." "And?" I probe. The anticipation is killing me! He purses his lips, studying me carefully while he says, "The first one is: I l ike you."

"You like me?" I repeat dubiously. My heart starts to beat fast and the blood s lowly rises to my face, giving my cheeks a pink tint. I didn't even think that h e would write"I like you," Draky says, interrupting my thoughts. "Even though I didn't reall y know you well, I start to admire you in the limited time we were together. You have a way of brightening someone's day. What makes it more special is you don 't know it." "Oh," I murmur, speechless. I clear my throat inconspicuously and play with my fingers as I wait for him to continue. When he doesn't, I probe, "What's the sec ond one?" "I'm sorry." Oh. That's for the bet, no doubt about that. "We're here," I say wryly, when he stops his car in their driveway. He opens the passenger door for me and then we walk hand in hand to their house . "Your dad is here, right?" I ask. "Yeah," he replies. "He's probably at his office." "You can do it," I encourage him. He smiles. "Do you want to go to my room or-" "I'll just wait for you here," I interrupt. I don't know why I'm nervous to be alone in his room. It's not like we're not dating, but it's so intimate, I can f eel the blood rising to my cheeks. Draky smirks, as if reading my thoughts. "If you say so." He kisses me on the f orehead and says, "I'll be right back." "Okay." I'm about to call Driana, and then I remember that she have a date with Andre. A fter I confessed my love to Draky, Driana began to talk to Andre. But they still keep their relationship, or whatever they call it, a secret to Draky. So while I wait for him, I move around the living room, looking at the pictures hanging on the wall. Most of them are photos of Draky and Driana when they were kids. They're so cute! Especially on the frame where they have ice cream on bot h of their hands, and Draky's face is full of chocolate while Driana is laughing at him. Suddenly, it makes me think of Matt and our childhood memories. I miss you so m uch little brother. I know that wherever you are, you're at peace, and you're ha ppy for me. I love you, and I know that you'll always be my angel. "Sophia." I jump in surprise at the sound of my name being called. Turning around, I see Draky's mom walking towards me. "Hi Auntie," I say.

"Are you looking for Drake?" she asks amusedly. "Um, no," I murmur, embarassed. "He's talking to his dad." Her mouth shapes into an 'O'. "He's talking to his dad?" she repeats after a fe w seconds. "Yes," I reply. "I think they're in his office." "That's great!" she beams. "Did you make him?" she says, raising her eyebrow an d giving me a silly smile. "I, uh, just told him to make everything alright." Aunt Laura takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. "Thank you so much. For unitin g my family again." "I didn't do-" "Because of you, they're speaking to each other." She smiles at me affectionate ly. "And that means a lot to me." "Um, you're welcome," I murmur. I don't know what else to say! Why does the Swi ft family make me speechless?! "And thank you for loving my son." "W-what?" Did Draky tell them that we're together now? "I know that he loves you," she says, eyes twinkling. "He's talking about you a lot. Actually, you're the only one he talks about. I'm glad I can see that you feel the same way for him." I bite my lip to stop the grin from slipping off my face. "Take care of each other," she continues. I'm so happy, my heart wants to burst out of my chest. "Thank you," I say grate fully. To my surprise, she hugs me. "Looks like someone is having a good time with her daughter-in-law." We pull away from each other and see Draky and his father side by side. Aunt La ura looks so happy to see them, she cries and quickly goes to where they are to give them a hug. Draky smiles at me as he wraps his arm around his mother. "Ma, there's no need to cry." Aunt Laura sniffs. "I'm just overwhelmed because you're speaking to your father again. Mr. Adriel, Draky's dad, wipes the tears of his wife and clasp the shoulder of his son. Then he glances at me and I almost gasp because he looks like Draky. An older version of him. "Thank you Sophia," he says.

"No problem," I say shyly. Draky walks to where I am and puts his hand on my shoulder. "Mom, Dad, I want y ou to officially meet my girlfriend," he says proudly, "Sophia Taylor." "Welcome to the family," Uncle Adriel says. I almost cry out for joy, thankfully, Draky pulls me to him and hugs me tight.

After a little chat with Draky's parents, we decide to go to the nearest mall an d celebrate. "Do you know what I wished for in my birthday?" I say, when he starts his car. "No. . ." "Do you want to know?" He takes my hand and says, "I want to know everything about you." "Well, I wished I can go skinny-dipping with you." "What?" he asks incredulously. Thank God we're on a stoplight because if not"You want to see me naked?" He gapes at me, his eyes are wide and as round as s aucers. I laugh so hard I'm even slapping my knee. "You're kidding," Draky observes. "Of course I'm kidding!" When I remember the look on his face, I have another r ound of laughter. "You should have seen you face! It was priceless!" He rolls his eyes, but his lips is twitching in amusement. "Maybe you really wa nt to see me naked," he says, his eyes lighting in delight. "Remember the time w hen you went to the bathroom while I was taking a shower? There are times when I wonder if you really"Shut up!" I say, slapping him on the shoulder. He chuckles. "Why are you defensive?" "I-it's b-because you're teasing m-me," I stutter. "You know that I didn't know you were inside." He shakes his head and thinks for a moment. "Really? I recall that-" "Draky!" He grins and wraps his free hand on my shoulder. "I was just kidding." I cross my arms over my chest and pretend to be angry at him. "Pie," he says softly, tracing down my cheek with his forefinger. "What did you wish for?"

"I wished that everything that happened between us were real," I confess. "Wishes do come true," he says. "Yeah," I agree. "When I got broken hearted, I refused to believe in Fairy tale s. I put in mind that they are just fake, a trickery of the mind. And then you c ame. You broke the chains that locked my heart. You changed my perception of lif e. You made me try a lot of things I wouldn't do if it weren't for you. I took r isks that made my life exciting. I can't believe someone like you-" "Of course I-" "I can't believe you noticed me. So somehow, I'm grateful for the bet. Because it made us closer. You know, even our relationship did not start good, I know it will not end. Our love for each other is the kind that will win over death." Draky is silent for a minute. He just stares at me and it takes me a second to realize that we're already in the parking lot of the mall. "That's the best speech I've ever heard," he says finally. I smile as he tucks the lock of hair behind my ear. "I'll sum up everything you said in three words," he says. "I love you." "I'll add another word to that," I reply. "I love you too." He kisses me on the cheek and then we slide out of the car. We're on our way in side the mall when Draky suddenly stops walking. I pause too because he's holdin g my hand. "What?" I ask. He's looking towards one of the outers shops and I almost choke when I see Andr e and Driana holding hands. "Uh oh," I mutter. Draky didn't seem to hear me because he chooses to go to where they are. I'm planning to give them a signal when Andre turns around and sees us. The lo ok on his face is comical. His face turns pale and his mouth drops open in shock . Driana turns as well and her eyes widen when she notices us. "What is going on here?" Draky demands. "I. . We. . I mean," Andre stutters, sweat pouring down his face. "It's not what it looks like," Driana adds. "Drake, I need to tell you something," Andre says nervously. "What?" he asks, scowling at him. I put my hand on his shoulder and smile at Driana. "Sorry," I mouth. "That's okay," she mouths back.

"Driana is my girlfriend," Andre says. We're all silent after Andre told Draky the truth. I hold his hand so that I ca n quickly pull him away when he decides to punch Andre. Finally, we get a reaction from him. Draky shifts his right foot and sighs. "Th at's all?" he says finally. "That's all?" I repeat. "Aren't you mad?" Andre asks dubiously. "Or angry?" Driana asks. "Why would I be?" Draky says, squeezing my hand. Andre groans. "We thought your first reaction would be to punch me. We were sca red for nothing! We didn't have to keep it a secret. What's the point?!" He grum bles under his breath. Draky chuckles. "Why would I be mad or angry? It's as if I can stop your feelin gs for each other. And it's your problem for assuming that I would be furious." His lips twitches upward. "Besides, I discern that you like each other." "You did?" Andre says incerdulously. "Why didn't you say anything?" "Because I want it to come from you." Driana scoffs. "He's just saying that so he won't look-" "Maybe you want me to be angry," Draky interjects, scowling at his twin. Driana looks at him innocently. "Nope. You're a really good twin brother." "I know," he says smugly. Andre rolls his eyes. "Here we go again."

We decide to eat together then, all four of us. I'm glad Draky is not angry at A ndre and Driana for keeping their relationship a secret to him. He tells them th at he reunites with his dad again. I'm grateful that everyone is happy.

"Hey, we'll leave you two alone," Draky says, glancing at his watch. "I heard th at it's your date, and we don't want to ruin it." I smile to myself. It's already 5:30 in the afternoon and I know that Andre has more plans for his date with Driana. "He just want Sophia all to himself," Andre says amusedly. "What do you mean?" I ask, frowning at him. "You know, he wants to take you in a secluded place and do-" "Andre!" Driana chastises him.

And then I get what he means. Andre is really"Have fun," Draky says. "Andre, take care of my sister." "Aye, aye," he replies. And then we go our separate ways. After a few minutes of walking around, Draky says, "Let's go." "Where are we going?" I ask. "Is it one of your secret places?" He grins. "It's not secret anymore." "I wonder why." We settle in a comfortable silence, both of us contented with each other's pres ence. I didn't know I can love someone as much as I love Draky. God, thank you s o much for giving him to me.

"Pie." "Hmm?" "Wake up, Love, we're here." I didn't know I fell asleep. Slowly, I open my eyes and see Draky's face a few inches from my own. "Where are we?" I ask, sitting up straight. In my sleep, I l eaned on him unconsciously. The clock on the dashboard blinks at me. 6:57PM. We were on the road for an hou r. Draky smiles slyly and says, "You have to get out of the car to find out." He s lides out and then opens the passenger door for me. When I step out, the first thing I notice is the water. And then the different colors of light from the buildings on the other side of the river. A smile makes its way on my face as I recall the last time I came here. It's th e day when Parker, Chloe, Draky and I went on a double date. After Parker and Ch loe left, Draky brought me here to watch the"Do you want to sit?" Draky asks, snapping me out of my reverie. "Where?" I ask. Then I remember that was the exact conversation we had. Nostalg ia is visiting me, and it envelops me in a warm embrace. A gasp escapes from my lips when he puts his hands on my waist and puts me on t he hood of his car. After that, he pulls his self up and sits beside me. A few seconds later, different types and colors of fireworks start to engulf th e sky. The sound of every firework goes with the beat of my heart. "I won't get tired of this," I murmur when the show ends. I lean my head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around me. "You never failed to surprise me." He chuckles. "I want you to be happy."

"You make me happy." He takes my face and stares deeply into my eyes. "You said that to me on your b irthday. You don't know how much . . . how much that made me rejoice." He swallo ws, his adams apple bobbing. "I want you to know that I'll always be here for yo u." "And I'll always be here for you too," I say, grabbing his free hand and intert wining our fingers. "I love you today, tomorrow, and forever," Draky tells me. "Everyday, every sec ond, and every minute of it." "Forever is a long time, you know," I tease. "But I'm willing to spend it with you." "I want to spend the rest of my life with you," I state. "Even when we move to eternal life?" he asks, a silly smile slipping off his mo uth. "Of course!" "That's good, because my life would suck without you." I smirk. "I didn't know you listen to Kelly Clarkson." "I do not!" he says. "Yes you do." "Not!" "Yes!" "Okay, you win." He sighs, and then squezzes my hand. "You know, you don't know everything about me." Usually, people get angry when they hear statements like that. But I understand him. "That's the point of being in a relationship," I say. "Learning everything abou t your partner. Even when you think you know every little thing." He smiles and says, "We really are made in Heaven."

******************************************* [65] The Bet *Forever and After ******************************************* There are two songs for this: Mine by Taylor Swift *Pie* and Look After You by T he Fray *Draky*. Happy Reading! (: Chapter 57 *Forever and After

~ Sophia Speak Now World Tour December 13, 2010 Grand Coliseum Today is the day! I'm thrilled to see Taylor Swift perform live. I've been waiti ng for weeks! Finally, in just a matter of hours, we'll watch her sing in front of us. Thank God Draky got VIP tickets. I check my things one last time and make sure I have everything I need. The sound of the doorbell startles me. I grab my bag and quickly walk downstairs . They're probably here. My friends and I decided to go to the venue a few hours before the show starts so we'll be in front of the stage. The anticipation of seeing Draky is indescribable. Ever since we became official as a couple, everything fits together like a puzzle. Taking a deep breath, I pause in front of the door. When I open it, I'm surprise d to see the person I least expect. "Hi," he says. "What are you doing here?" I ask incredulously. My mood suddenly changed when I look at him. "Can I come in?" "No." Skye sighs. "I guess I'll just talk to you here." "There's nothing to talk about," I say. I'm not angry at him anymore. All the bitterness I felt has vanished. I don't wa nt any bad emotions inside me. Besides, you have to forgive and forget in order to have a good life. Perhaps I forgave Skye the same time I confessed to Draky. But that doesn't mean I want to do anything with him. "Sophia," Skye says, as if I didn't say I don't want to talk to him. "I'm leavin g. For good." Unfortunately, curiosity gets the best of me. "What do you mean?" "I won't come back here anymore." He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble. But I heard you and Drake are back toget her. I know you'll be happy with him." I just stare at him while he talks. I don't know why he's saying these things no w. "I will treasure the times we were together," he continues. "You'll always have a special place in my heart. I just want you to know that. Maybe someday we'll c ross paths again. Be safe, okay?"

Then he smiles one last time, turns, and walks away. Skye. Gone. A huge possibility that I won't ever see him again. I don't know why I'm sad. Ma ybe because despite of what he did, there's still some part of me that cares for him. You can't just erase your affection for someone. I'm not sure how many minutes I stayed outside. What makes me move is the sound of footsteps coming towards me. "Missed me?" Draky says. "Yeah," I mumble, hugging him. His arms make me safe and secured. This is what h ome feels like. Draky is my home now. "Time to go!" Andre yells from inside the car. "We'll be late." Draky rolls his eyes. "He's just excited to see his favorite singer." "Aren't you?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. "Of course I am." He grins. "Are you ready?" "Yeah. Just let me lock the door." I make sure everything's alright inside the house, and then I locked the door be hind me and follow Draky in his car. I sit on the passenger seat. Andre and Driana are on the back. We talk for a whi le, and become silent when left to our own devices. Well, except for Andre and D riana. They're speaking in low voices. "Hey," Draky says, concern coloring his voice, "you're unbelievably quiet. What happened?" I don't think twice in telling him. What's the point of having a relationship if you will keep secrets to each other? "I saw Skye earlier," I say. His hands clenched on the steering wheel. "Why? What did he want?" "He said he's sorry for everything he did," I answer. "And that he's leaving. Pr obably never coming back again." Draky takes my hand. "Are you okay?" he asks softly. "Yeah," I murmur. "I was just shocked to see him. You know I don't do well with goodbyes. And even though he hurt me, once upon a time, he loved me." Draky mutters something under his breath. Frowning, I turn to him. "What?" "Nothing." Talk about not keeping secrets. "What?" I repeat. "Don't tell me you're jealous.

" He pretends to be busy driving. "Of course not." "Yes, you are." "Fine," he mutters. "You had history together." I don't know why I find it adorable that he's jealous. "There's nothing to be worried about," I say, squeezing his hand. "Skye is my pa st. You are my present. And your future, if you want. . ." "Of course," he says, interlacing our fingers. "I only want you. I need you in m y life. Forever-" Andre coughs suddenly. "These two love birds are starting." "What?" I ask. "We're not doing anything!" "You're confessing your love to each other. Again," he says amusedly, "As if I d idn't already hear it for a hundred times." "Do you want me to tell them how you planned your dates with my twin?" Draky say s, glancing at Andre through the rearview mirror. "No!" Andre shouts a look of horror on his face. "Tell us," Driana chimes in. "No, Drake!" Andre says, making wild gestures with his hands. "Don't tell them!" "Why not?" Driana asks, pouting. Draky smirks. "Yeah, why not?" "Because we're best friends!" Andre states, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "And you're allowed to tease us?" Draky says dryly. "Please! No!" Driana purses her lips. "That's make us more curious, you know." "It's a boy thing," Andre whispers loudly, which makes me laugh. "Don't tell me you don't have secret girl things." "We don't," I say, grinning. "Yes you do," Andre says. "For example, maybe you two fantasize Drake and me-" "Shut up!" Driana and I say at the same time. This blush makes the situation mor e awkward. "See?" Andre says, his lips twitching in delight. "That just proves my point." And we continue like that for the rest of the drive. I appreciate my friends. I really do. Especially they're trying to help me be ha

ppy after what occured earlier. And I know I'm okay. I'm already healed, and tha t's because of Draky. Who knew someone who broke your heart can help you fix it again? Now I'm living my life one day at a time. Because I don't know how much time I'l l have. In this world full of irony, you have to make your own path to follow. W hile you're at it, you won't realize you're making your own story. When we arrive on the venue, I'm not that surprised to see a lot of people. Tayl or Swift is famous after all. Andre and Driana decides to buy some drinks while Draky and I follow the line. "Hey, are you a fan of Taylor Swift?" "Nice one Sherlock," Draky murmurs in my ears. "Is it hard to guess?" Turning to the person who spoke, I see a redheaded girl with green eyes. The hug e smile on her face makes me think she's a bubbly person. "Yes, we're a fan," I reply, smiling as well. She grins. "That's cool! I've been a fan for years." In the corner of my eyes, I see Draky shaking his head. I have an idea what he's thinking about. "By the way," the girl says, "I'm Jhacki." "Hello Jhacki," I say. "I'm Sophia, and this is Drake." I gesture to him. "Nice meeting you," Draky says politely. "You too!" she chirps. "Are you alone?" I ask. "No," she responds. "I came with my friends. They just went to the restroom." Sh e glances over my shoulder and waves her hand in the air. "There they are!" Twisting around, I find three girls and two boys coming towards us. Draky takes his hands off me to tie his shoe. "Guys," Jhacki says, greeting her friends, "This is Sophia." "Hello," I say. The new arrivals smile at me, and Jhacki starts to introduce them. "These are my friends; Roby, Jhaymar, Francine, Joneem, and Allie." "Are you alone?" the dark haired guy asks. I think he's Roby. He's wearing a ner d glasses that hides his sea-green eyes. "Actually--" Draky's chuckle interrupts me. Clearing my throat, I say, "This is Drake." "Her boyfriend," he adds.

Roby looks away quickly. And it becomes an awkward silence. Thankfully, Andre and Driana arrives. I introduce them to Jhacki's friends. And then the organizer's open the gates an d we go to our separate ways, telling our goodbyes. My friends and I walk inside the Grand Coliseum, more thrilled than ever. We give our tickets to the lady in charge and she directed us to our place. Excited chatters fill the place, while waiting for the concert to start. A few minutes later, I discern that Draky is awfully quiet. And with the way he acts, he's irritated. "Hey. Are you annoyed?" I ask softly. He scolds. "That guy." "Who?" I ask, confused. "Your new friend." I heave a sigh. "Roby?" "Yeah." "What about him?" "He thinks you're pretty." "No, he doesn't," I say incredulously. "Yes, he does." I can't help but laugh. "You're a mindreader now?" "No," he replies. "But I saw the way he was staring at you." "Your imagination is running wild." He rolls his eyes. "If someone likes you, you'd be the last one to know." Crossing my arms over my chest, I stare at him ruefully. "What's the meaning of that?" He sighs and puts the lock of hair behind my ears. "You don't know when someone is attracted to you." "It's not. . I mean. ." Ugh. Why am I stuttering again? "See?" he says, smiling. "That's not true," I say stubbornly. "You didn't even notice I was starting to like you." He shakes his head. "And th at I was falling in love with you."

"Right," Andre chimes in. "Dri?" I say, "A little help?" She laughs softly. "Sorry Soph, but what they're saying is true." "Aww, why are you all ganging up on me?" "Let's gang up on Drake!" Andre suggests. "Do you know what he did when you foun d out about the bet?" Draky stiffens. "You wouldn't." Andre ignores him. "He was moping around, depressed--" "Stop!" "Thinking about what he did-- Ow!" Andre touches the arm where Draky smacked. Draky is blushing- red like a tomato! It's such a bizarre thing, I want to take a picture of him. "You're so cute!" Driana gushes. "Shut up," he mutters, embarassed. "You did a lot of things to win me back, didn't you?" I whisper. He smiles softly and takes my hand. "It was worth it. Being with you. . . I can' t even explain it." I nod. "I understand." My heart is beating loud from the anticipation of seeing one of my favorite arti sts. The atmosphere is"Are you excited?" Draky asks after a moment, a huge smile on his face. There are times when I feel like dreaming. Until now, I can't believe he's mine. How in the world did he fall in love with me? It's surreal! What if he vanish a nd all of this will be gone like a puff of smoke? "Hey," he says, squeezing my hand, "you're daydreaming again. What's the point o f thinking when I'm here?" "You're so-" "So handsome?" he interjects. "So irresistibly good? So perfect?" "So full of yourself," I say, laughing at his priceless expression. His eyes smile mischievously, and before I know what he's up to, he plants a kis s on my lips. "Drak-" "Stop, you two," Andre says, pretending to be annoyed, "You're starting again! W hy are you making me jealous?" Andre is really funny. He's the joker in our group, never failing to make us lau

gh. A thought suddenly fills my mind, and I ask it without thinking twice. "Andre, why me?" "What?" he asks, confused. "Why did you choose me?" I ask, giving him a meaningful look. "Oh. That." His expression becomes thoughtful. He's like, processing the words i n his head, trying to find a good way to tell us. I look at Draky. "Do you know his reason?" "No," he answers. "He said he'll tell me sometime." "This is the right time," Driana says softly. "I love my best friend," Andre says, while looking at me. "And I know you're the only one who can love him the way he deserves. But I'm sorry. Because of my pla n, a lot of people got hurt. I guess I should have said everything in the first place." He shakes his head and gives me a sad smile. "It's just, the moment I sa w you on the first day of freshmen year, I knew that you and Drake are perfect f or each other. I'm sorry, yet I'm glad I'm right. Unfortunately, it took me so l ong to take my plan into action. But you know what they say; the beginning doesn 't matter. What matters is the ending." So, that's his reason. Straight to the point. We are all silent as we think it t hrough. "What's the bet?" I ask after a while. Draky glances at Andre, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "What?" I ask suspiciously. "I don't think it's important," he replies. "Still," I insist. He sighs. "It was just a game, let's forget it." He seems embarrassed, and that makes me more curious. "Besides, some questions are better left unanswered," he says smoothly. "And a little mystery is good for the heart," Andre adds. I open my mouth to ask him again when Andre says, "Look, the concert is about to start." My eyes turn to the stage where the lights start to change colors and smoke come s from the center. Andre is distracting me, but I'm not giving up. I may not know their bet now but I know I will. I glance at Driana from the corner of my eyes and see her starin g at me. We probably have the same line of thoughts"Drop everything now!" Taylor Swift comes out of the stage, singing Sparks Fly; the first song in her setlist. And so the show begins, and so is the singing, or should I say screaming crowd. This will be a long night.

After two hours, the most awaited concert of the year has ended. My ears are rin ging, there's a buzzing sound from somewhere inside my eardrums. My legs are sha king beneath me. My voice is raspy. But I'm so happy! This is the first concert I've watched and I'm glad it was Taylor Swift's concert. We're all buzzing with excitement as we go home. We chatter, as if we're not tir ed. This is definitely one of the best days of my life. ~*~*~*~ And so, life continues normally. It goes on like before. Days, weeks, months passed. It's almost graduation, and all the students are thr illed for the school year to end. There are a lot of preparations, exams, and activities for senior students. Still, Draky and I make time for each other. We plan dates together, sometimes w ith Andre and Driana. The thought of being separated from him is too much to bea r so I don't think about it. Besides, I'm sure nothing will ever come between us . Today is one of the days when we like to stroll to the park and just be together . "I got in!" "What?" I ask, confused. I've never seen Draky excited like this. "I got in the college I applied to!" "You did?" I say, almost jumping up and down in happiness. "What university? Con gratulations! I know you can do it!" He smiles softly, his eyes staring straight into mine. "That's because of you. Y ou have a lot of faith in me." "It's nothing," I mumble. He takes both of my hands and says, "It's everything! You're my driving force. I studied really hard, did a lot of extracurricular activities, everything, just to get my grades up. Even the school administrators saw my effort, and they help ed me as well." "Why didn't I know this?" I ask, frowning. "Because I wanted to surprise you!" He grins widely. He's so full of energy, it' s contagious. "Which University?" I ask, sharing his enthusiasm. "Yale." "Yale?" "Yes!" "Oh my!" I start to laugh, and then I can't stop. "Wow! Yale!"

"I know," Draky says, as if he can't believe it himself. "I passed the entrance exam, and I got the acceptance letter a while ago." "Whoa!" I'm so overwhelmed I don't know what to say! So I go ahead and kiss him. He's surprised, but he recovers quickly after a second. He puts his hand on my f ace while the other hand is holding my waist, pulling me closer to him. No matter how many times we've kissed, it still feels like the first time. And I 'm glad Draky can make me feel this way. After a breathtaking moment, we pause t o breathe. "See," I murmur, a huge smile forming on my face, "I told you that you can do it !" He puts his hands on my face. "Thank you," he whispers. "You're so patient, teac hing me with lessons I don't understand." "That's-" He puts his forefinger on my lips. "Let me finish," he says, smiling. "You belie ved in me when I didn't even believe in myself. You are always there for me. You 're more than everything I've ever dreamed of." "Drake," I murmur. What he's saying makes my heart burst with joy. "Before I met you," he continues, "I didn't have a goal. I didn't care about lif e after high school. And then you came." He wipes the tears that are now flowing from my eyes. "You're the light in my darkest night. Because of you, I aspired to be a better person. All the bad habits are now replaced by good values. My fa mily is restored because of you." Is this real? "I love you Sophia Taylor," Draky says. "What makes it unbelievable is you love me as well. I must be dreaming! If so, I don't want to wake up. I want to live i n this fantasy forever." "You're not dreaming," I murmur, happiness seeping through my bones, filling my body. He smiles and kisses my forehead. This is the real deal. Now I know why people can't define love. There are no wor ds for what I'm experiencing right now. "I know what I want to be," Draky says suddenly. "What?" "I want to be a writer." "A what?" "A writer," he says, smiling softly. "Why?" I ask, surprised at his chosen field. "I want to tell the world our love story."

"Our love story?" "You really like repeating what I say, don't you?" he says amusedly. I scratch my head and smile sheepishly. "I'll bet our love story will get the attention of readers around the world." Thinking about how we met, what we've been through, I think it will catch the at tention of the readers. I know I said this before: that we don't know what will happen in the future. (Y ou just have to take care of the present, and the future will follow as well.) B ut I can guarantee that our love for each other is enough for us. Despite our di fferences, I believe that no storm can destroy our relationship. And we'll face every challenge head on as long as we're together. Draky wraps his arms around me and says, "Our love story will be popular." "I'll bet." ******************************************* [66] The Bet *Epilogue: Infinity ******************************************* Here is the Epilogue. I hope you'll like it :) There are two songs for this: Mar ry Me by Train, and I Do by Colbie Caillat. Banner by HellzxAngel. Facebook page on the External Link! Thank you so much for reading The Bet <3 Happy Reading! (:

Infinity ~ Sophia

After four years of studying across the country and living in a dorm, it feels g ood to be back home. Home. To some, it is a place. To others, it is a person. To a few, it is a feeli ng. A feeling that wherever you are, whomever you are with, you are home. But re member, home is where the heart is. Through the years, Draky is my home. Just thinking about him makes the butterfly in my stomach flutter. We've survive d college together. Draky, Andre, Driana and I went to Yale. My friends who are there for good times and in bad. . . Who would have thought we'll attend the sam e university? It was a great experience. We made every moment count. And we beco me closer than ever. Now I'll find a job that will help me grow as an individual and as a young profe ssional. I will finally live in their so called real world. The ringing of my phone snaps me from my reverie. "Hello," I say, answering it.

"Let's go out," Draky responds. His voice sends electric shock through my body. "Sure," I say breathlessly. It's exactly a week now that we came home, after gra duation. And we almost spend our days together. "I'll come by at five." "Okay. See you!" And then we hung up. I wonder where we will go today. Draky has a lot of secret places. I'm unfolding them one by one, but I know there are more that I haven't seen. While we were s tudying, we traveled to different places, finding new roads, making new memories . And yes, talking to strangers when we got lost. While waiting for the time, I grab A Midsummer Night's Dream from my bookshelf a nd read. A smile forms on my lips as I remember the times when Draky and I had o ur tutoring session. It's been years! And look at us now, more intact than ever .

Two hours prior the appointed time, I get ready. I'm not sure what we'll do so I wear a dress. It's pale blue, with a fitted bodice. Its skirt is full, the kind that sways when you twirl. Before the clock strikes five, there's a knock on the front door. Opening it, I see Draky. He still looks the same seventeen year old boy I fell in love with bu t he has matured as well. He's so handsome I can't believe I can call him mine. "Staring at someone is rude," he says amusedly. "There are exceptions to every rule." He laughs, and it's the best sound in the world. "Fine, you can stare at me as l ong as you want." I open my mouth to reply and he kisses me. It's soft and slow, like we're savori ng every second. I'm in cloud nine again, floating happily. We pull away after a minute, and he leans his forehead to mine. "Time to go," he murmurs. We're both reluctant but we know we have to keep moving. Draky takes one of my hands as I locked the door behind me. My parents aren't he re. They told me that they have to go somewhere. Hand in hand, we walk to Draky's car. He opens the door for me, and I slide in, buckling my seatbelt. I thought now that we're together, he'll stop being gallant, but it's so natural to him, like he's born with it. And it's so nice because he engages in chivalro us behavior. "Where are we going?" I ask curiously. He smiles but doesn't respond. Even with all these years, his smile still makes my heart skip a beat. I thought being in love with him was enough. But every single day, I'm falling more in lo

ve with him. It's surreal! "Can you do something for me?" he asks. "What is it?" He raises a handkerchief. "Blindfold?" I say incredulously. "Why?" His lips twitch, forming a crooked smile. "It will ruin the surprise, don't you think?" "Fine," I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest. He grins. "I know you can't resist me." I roll my eyes and stay quiet. What will I say? We both know that it's true. Draky twists the handkerchief and ties it at the back of my head. I sigh. I'm now enclosed with blackness, and I don't have any idea what he's up to. He doesn't run away with surprises. He always has something in mind. We're both silent for the rest of the drive, but every now and then I ask, "Are we there yet?" His answer is always, "Not yet." With the way he talks, I get a feeling that he's nervous. Questions want to spil l out of my mouth but I control myself. A matter of minutes later, the car slows down and stops. If I'm right, we were o n the road for an hour. "Ready?" Draky asks. It sounds like he's asking himself. But I answer anyway. "Yes." He helps me unbuckle my seat belt and get out of the car. Taking a deep breath, I smell fresh air and trees. We're probably out of town. Draky holds my hands as we walk along the path. A distant memory wants to resurf ace, like, I've been here before. I can't be sure though, because my eyes are st ill covered. Several steps later, Draky stops. "We're here?" "Yeah," he chokes the word out as he unties the blindfold. I blink my eyes repeatedly as they adjust. There are a lot of lights surrounding us. Christmas lights are all over the place- trees, ground, on the fountain- ev erywhere. They are decorated in a fascinating pattern and they change color afte r a few seconds. It's almost dark, and stars are slowly showing in the sky. It's beautiful, I fee l like I'm in a fairytale.

The last time I came here was almost five years ago. On my seventeenth birthday. This is the place where we first kissed. Where he gave me the necklace I am wea ring right now. Where he first told me that he was falling in love with me. Clearing my throat, I ask, "What's the occasion?" This place brings back so many memories. Before he can answer, I hear footsteps coming towards us. Instinctively, I move and lean towards Draky and he wraps his arms around me. He's not that troubled t hough. And it calms my thundering heart. Then the faces of the people come into view and I squeal in delight. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Swift, Andre, Driana, Aunt V, Rain, Parker, Chloe, and their three year old daughter Eunice, stops a few yards from us. "What are you doing here?" I ask excitedly. I'm about to go to them when Andre s hakes his head and starts talking. "First day: tutoring session. Second day: Drake stayed in our house." Frowning, I ask, "What are you talking about?" He grins and ignores my question. "Third day: the bathroom scene." My eyes widen as I discover what's happening. The bathroom scene. . . Andre is t alking about the days revolving around the bet. Did that mean Draky was keeping tab back then? "Fourth day," Driana says, continuing where Andre left off, "I visited you. Fift h day: they figured out when's your birthday." On and on it goes. Every one of them speaks about the days Draky and I shared to gether. Did our parents know about the bet now? I'm too overwhelmed to respond. I just stare at them and try to figure out what's going on. I should know what's unfolding in front of me, but my muddled mind can't grasp i t. To make matters difficult, I'm about to cry. And then all of a sudden, they stop. The last day Parker said was when Draky and I reconciled. Draky takes both of my hands, and to my surprise, he drops down on one knee. Drops down on one knee. . . How many times have I seen a man do this in a movie? How many books have I read about this kind of scene? My mouth opens in shock as I realize the meaning of this. Never in my mind had I thought I'll be in this kind of situation. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I glance at everyone around me. All my loved ones are here, sharing this enchanted moment with Draky and me. My mom is crying and smiling at the same time. My dad's arms are wrapped around her , a look of happiness on his face. Draky's parents are smiling proudly at us. Ou r friends- Driana, Andre, Parker, Chloe, and Aunt V are beaming at us.

They know this will happen. And they kept is a secret. Just like what they did o n my birthday. I blink my eyes to see clearly, but tears continue to spill from my eyes. Little Eunice runs towards us, holding Shea and Bobby, Draky's stuffed bear, on both hands. Draky gets a small box from Bobby's little pocket. "Thank you," he tells her, ba lancing the box on his knee. Eunice gives us a toothy smile and runs back to her parents. "Sophia Taylor," Draky begins, squeezing my hands, "Meeting you was fate. I trea sure every second I spent with you. They are implanted in my heart. Memories tha t will last a lifetime. I don't know if it sounds too quick to you but I'm not h urrying you. I just want to say what my heart needs to let out. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have family with you. I want to go home and look at you with our kids. I want to wake up and see you lying beside me. So phia, you are my future. Will you let me take care of you, love you, for the res t of our lives? Are you willing to be Sophia Taylor Swift?" A few years ago, this was all a dream. This was impossible. But miracles do happ en. It started as a game. And we end up falling in love with each other instead. We didn't plan it, but we can't really control our hearts. I smile through the tears and say, "Deal." A confused expression crosses Draky's face. "Deal?" "I do," I say, laughing. "I mean, yes, I will marry you." Cheers, laughter, and clapping of hands erupted from my family and friends. They say Congratulations simultaneously. If Matt is here, I'll bet he's smiling huge ly at me, watching me with the man I love. Draky stands and I make a startle sound. There are tears in his eyes, and he is glowing with happiness. I've never seen him like this before. "I love you Pie," he says, brushing my cheek with his thumb. "I love you Draky," I say with all my heart. He gets a heart-shaped diamond ring from the box and slips it on my finger where it will stay for infinity. ******************************************* [67] Acknowledgements ******************************************* WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE SIDE ---->> ***** I don't know where to begin my lists of "Thank you's". I'm so grateful! No words can describe what I'm feeling right now. I'm so happy! =D Thank you, thank you so much for reading The Bet! Especially for those who were there from the beginning- when it was just two pages. I didn't expect to gain a lot of readers, and for my story to be known. My life

is continuously changing because of Wattpad. I can't express how grateful I am t o all of you. For waiting patiently to every update, for your comments that insp ire me, and for your messages that motivate me. A reader commented: I hope someone will love you as much as Drake loves Sophia. It makes me smile whenever I think about it. I hope all the girls will find thei r Draky, and the guys will find their Pie. And if you already did, don't let him /her go. I know one way or the other; we all have stories to tell :) Writing was just a hobby- an escape from reality. Then it became a part of me :) Special thanks to Pam (my supportive cousin), Lori, Kim, Zelrant, and iends for being my first readers. Thank you to Emmi and Vicky, two of rst Wattpad friends, Josie and Daniella for being my message buddies, for her uplifting messages. There are a lot of names in my head, but able to stop if I list all of them. my best fr my very fi and Joneem I won't be

If you're reading this, yes, YOU, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. It was such a great experience sharing Drake and Sophia's love story with you. I will miss the characters so much! Watching them grow, fall in love, and have a life. . . I'm glad they exist, even in just a make-up world. It has been a wond erful ride, and thank you for joining me Most of all, I want to thank God. He was the One who gave me all the ideas. With out Him, The Bet would be nothing. Thank you Lord for all the blessings :) I hope you have good days ahead of you. Thank you so much! :) Maraming Salamat! Glory to God! Love, Kim / ilurvbooks (: ******************************************* [68] The Bet Playlist ******************************************* Soundtrack of The Bet Stop and Stare - One Republic What becomes of a Broken Hearted - Didi Benami If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet - Mayday Parade Sweet Dreams - Emily Browning Fireflies - Owl City Into the Ocean - Blue October Thick as Thieves - Dashboard Confessional In Christ Alone - Owl City Sparks Fly - Taylor Swift Fallin For You - Colbie Caillat

Vindicated - Dashboard Confessional Count On Me - Bruno Mars Big Yellow Taxi - Counting Crows ft. Vanessa Carlton 'Round the World - Boys Like Girls Terrible Things - Mayday Parade What the hell - Avril Lavigne You Should Have Killed Me When You Had The Chance - A Day To Remember All Around Me - Flyleaf Fidelity - Regina Spektor Liar, Liar - NeverShoutNever Asleep - Emily Browning Secrets - One Republic Boy Meets Girl - FM Static Sentimental Heart - She & Him It Ends Tonight - The All American Rejects Nine in the Afternoon - Panic! At the Disco What is Love? - NeverShoutNever Statue - Lil Eddie So Far Away - Mayday Parade Welcome To My Life - Simple Plan Shakespeare in Love - Layla Kaylif Forever and Day - Jem If Life is so Short - The Moffats Rangers - A Fine Frenzy You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi Don't Let Me Fall - Lenka Walls - All Time Low All I Want - ADTR Chasing Pavements - Adele Love Life - He is We

No One Will Ever Get Hurt - A Rocket to the Moon Glad - Tyler Hilton Half Of My Heart - John Mayer ft. Taylor Swift Sweet and Low - Augustana Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie Today Was A Fairytale - Taylor Swift Terrified - Katherine McPhee These are the Nights - Making April All that I Am - Parachute Someone Like You - The Summer Set Oh Darling - Plug in Stereo If the Moon Fell Down Tonight - Chase Coy Take Me To Your Heart - MLTR Summer Paradise - Simple Plan Fallin' - Keahiwai Absolutely (Story of A Girl) - Nine Days Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri Fifteen - Taylor Swift Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum Into Your Arms, Listen To Your Heart, I Must Be Dreaming - The Maine A Drop in the Ocean - Ron Pope Passenger Seat - Stephen Speaks Love of A Lifetime - Firehouse Killer - The Ready Set Break Your Little Heart - ATL Breakeven - The Script Save Your Heart - Mayday Parade That's What You Get - Paramore With Me - Sum 41 Too Much - ATL

Lion Man - Mumford and Sons Somewhere Only We Know - Keane I Won't Give Up On Us - Jason Mraz It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Celine Dion Sweet Serendipity - Lee DeWyze Wonderland - Natalia Kills What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction Mine - Taylor Swift Look After You - The Fray Marry Me - Train I Do - Colbie Caillat The songs that inspired me to write scenes for The Bet All of Yours Baby Blue Eyes Back for Good Beautiful Eyes Collide Everytime We Touch Fall For You Fix You Girl of the Year Happy Iris Little House My Paper Heart Roses and Butterflies Stolen Summer Nights (Glee Version) The Other Side of the Door The Scientist

Thunder Vanilla Twilight You Got Me Your Call You're free to add your lists as well :) <3 ************************************************ STORY END ************************************************ ******************************************* Downloaded by Wattpad2Any Online Alrights Reserved by their respective owners ------------------------------------------+ PLEASE SHARE, DONT LEECH, PLEASE SHARE + ------------------------------------------http://w2a.l6.org ******************************************* *******************************************