The Boyfriend Bet (10 page)

“Her face is the colour of her knickers!” Bex
joked.

“I’m not laughing.” I whispered. “She knows
we messed with her shoe.” I pointed shakily in her direction.

Ella threw her good shoe on the floor,
stamped her foot like a child having a tantrum and then looked right up at me.
“CHARLEY!!!!!” She screamed as she threw the shoe at the window as hard as she
could. I instinctively ducked even though it would of course hit the glass and
not me.

“You are so dead!” Ella’s threat echoed
around the street.

“So is she by the looks of it,” Bex was still
looking at the window. I looked up and my heart sank as I saw the fresh crack
that had appeared in our bedroom window. This was going to be bad. I had not
only Ella on the warpath (I would have to watch my back every minute of the
day), but now Mum as well.

I have successfully managed to keep Ella at bay. I’ve
been carefully watching her every move. All week she has been tearing her hair
out because Riley has shown little interest in her. He has been too busy
‘preparing’ for his school trip, apparently. Ella tried her best to get onto
the Year Thirteen Geography trip but even she couldn’t manage that one. Mr Huntley
(Head of Geography) kindly informed her that she wasn’t in Year Thirteen and
no, it actually wouldn’t be a valuable learning experience for her, as she
wasn’t even taking Geography. On the plus side he did congratulate her on her
‘performance’ and said her drama classes were coming along nicely. And I know
all of this because I was standing just around the corner from Mr Huntley’s
office, listening carefully with Bex, praying that Mr Huntley would not give in
to Ella’s very experienced reasoning why it would be beneficial for her to go
on a trip that basically has nothing to do with her.

Ella left the house very early on Monday morning and I
uncharacteristically followed her because I don’t trust her and I had a feeling
I knew why she was going. She wanted one last peek of Riley before he got on
the school coach, one last flirty exchange, a reminder that she was still very
much around (unfortunately). Well, I could play that game too. I was starting
to worry because I had seen little of him over the last week as well, he didn’t
even text me like I expected him too, especially after he’d sneakily got my
number the week before. Whatever game he was playing, it was working because
there in the cold stood Ella (and me), watching everybody board the coach.

Ella saw me and narrowed her eyes. She was about to say
something nasty - when she spotted Riley. She put up her hand to wave.

“Riley, Riley! Wait up.” We both whipped our heads around
to see Amelia Hargreaves half running over to Riley, struggling with a massive
bag on her back.  Ella lowered her hand quickly in embarrassment.

“Don’t worry babe, I was going to save you a seat,” Riley
smiled effortlessly. Ella’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. I even took a
step closer to get a better look. I was almost standing next to Ella, not that
she noticed because she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Amelia.

“It’s going to be so much fun.” Amelia squealed, as she
squeezed past Riley and started to climb the steps of the coach. Riley followed
closely behind, a little too close if you ask me. 

Riley must have been fully aware that we were gawping at
him because he turned around and yelled, “Bye girls!”

“Argh! That bloody Amelia Hargreaves.” Ella muttered and
she looked mad.

Amelia Hargreaves is in Year Thirteen. She’s very clever
I think, not the normal type that Ella has to compete with. What I mean is Ella
is the sort of girl most boys would choose over Amelia Hargreaves (if they go
for the bimbo look that is). Amelia is tall and extremely thin, she is borderline
geeky but too pretty for Riley to care, which I’m sure annoyed Ella greatly.

All in all, I don’t think it was a very good day for
Ella. I saw her later on with her mates and she looked absolutely miserable,
not her overly confident and sure of herself attitude we have all grown used
to. She was just as moody at home, “No Mum, I’ve already told you, I am not
hungry!” She snapped after Mum had suggested for the fourth time that she
really should have something to eat.

I knew exactly what Ella was up to because I’d overheard
her on the phone earlier. She was whinging on about Amelia Hargreaves, “What
has she got that I haven’t got?” I heard when I’d gone up to our room. I had to
stifle a giggle as I hid just the other side of the door. Ella does shamelessly
think a lot of herself. Although by the sounds of it she was starting to feel a
little insecure. Good, let her experience how us mere mortals feel, ha!

“She’s just so skinny though...” I heard Ella say as
though it was a good thing. “...I wonder if he thinks I’m fat?” I had to run
downstairs when I heard the last bit because I couldn’t contain my laughter any
longer. So, after hearing all of that and witnessing her snappy refusal of
food, I can only assume that she has put herself on some crazy diet.

“Eat something please.” Mum tried to reason with her,
“You’ll waste away, won’t she?” Mum stupidly prompted me to back her up.

“No chance of that,” I muttered much to Mum’s horror.
This was an outrageous lie on my part as Ella is not fat by any means (actually
I am very jealous of her figure) but I’m not going to tell her that am I!

Mum glared at me, as Ella pushed her plate away in a
grump. I retaliated by scoffing my food down like a pig, right in front of
Ella’s very disgusted face. I even chewed with my mouth open until I got the
result I wanted and Ella stomped off upstairs!

Ella remained on her starvation diet for the rest of the
week. Seriously, there was no logic to it - she was just being a complete
idiot. I’m surprised she hadn’t already lost a stone with worry because she was
constantly stressing about what Riley might and might not be doing on the
school trip with Amelia Hargreaves.

I must admit with Riley being away, it had made this week
very boring. There was no excitement when I left the house – that I might
‘accidently’ bump into him, only the disappointment of bumping into Jay (and
believe me this was totally accidental). I had embarrassingly almost fallen out
of the gate because I was late for dance one night and Jay just happened to be
on his way to football practise. He’d just smirked as usual and I’d just
scowled.

I was so bored that I helped out at dance even more than
normal which worked out well really, as Ella got roped into babysitting Peter
twice this week, so Mum could flounce about with her very own man from next
door. What a depressing thought, that my mother was having more luck next door
than I was and it almost looked like she was beginning to have a better social
life than I was too. The only plus side of it was Mum was so loved up, she
hadn’t even noticed the crack in our bedroom window yet!

When I got back from dance on Saturday, Ella was loudly
dying of starvation on the sofa and Mum was shaking her head as she was picking
up Peter’s Lego that seemed to be everywhere you looked, even though he had
gone to his dad’s hours ago. I sat down as far away from Ella as possible.

“I’m getting on really well with Simon.” Mum said,
breaking the silence. I don’t know where she was going with this random
statement. What was she planning to marry the guy or something? “Isn’t it
great?” Mum forced the issue again. I started to get a bit worried where she
was heading. She’d only known the guy for a matter of weeks, two or three I
think!

“Mmmm....” Was all I managed in response. Ella also
looked totally unimpressed by the conversation. It was quite amusing because
Mum obviously desperately wanted to talk about it and we were both totally
unresponsive and uninterested. I just ignored her and went and made myself a
crisp sandwich, more to annoy Ella I think. I pulled up a stool to the
breakfast bar and crunched noisily.

Mum was still attempting a ‘her and Simon’ conversation
and Ella had started flicking through the TV channels, not even gracing Mum
with a look of acknowledgement. “So, it’s nice to have someone to talk to, who
actually gets ‘me’.” Mum continued her very one-sided conversation, “But it’s
so difficult to actually spend any quality time together...”

Still no reply to Mum, I carried on eating my sandwich and
Mum was desperately looking at me and then at Ella and back at me again. “Well,
Peter is out for the weekend, go out tonight!” I shrugged, feeling I should
make a little effort and actually talk to her.

“We are going out tonight but...” Mum was muttering now,
clearly not satisfied with a date night. I rolled my eyes; ok so we are a
nuisance to her and we get in the way, whatever!

“Simon wants to take me away for a weekend.” Mum
announced. So this is what she was building up to. She could have just come out
with it in the first place. This immediately caught Ella’s attention and she
sat up in interest.

“So, go then?” Ella said. She’d brightened up, obviously
at the thought of a parent free weekend.

“Well, I’m not sure. I could go one weekend when Peter is
at his dad’s house...but I really don’t like to leave you two.”

“We’ll be fine!” Ella desperately tried to reassure Mum.

“I’ve just never had the chance to do anything for
myself, you two never went off at weekends. I suppose you’re old enough now,
Simon said he’s going to leave his two boys... and I suppose you could all look
out for each other?” Mum was trying to convince herself more than anything, out
of desperation of wanting to get out of here I think!

“You can totally trust us.” Ella prompted Mum.

“Mmmm....maybe I will go. I should be able to trust you
two by now.” Mum mumbled, I think she was trying to seek more reassurance.

“You can!” Ella nodded, “And if I were you, I’d organise
it soon or before you know it, it will be Christmas. Everything gets way more
expensive at Christmas.”

“Oh god, don’t remind me of Christmas.” Mum shuddered at
the supposedly ‘best’ celebration of the year.

“It’s not that close to Christmas?” I rolled my eyes at
Ella being so dramatic, the way she always is when she’s trying to get her own
way.

“Don’t be so dumb, Charley. Peter only goes away once a
fortnight and we’re already in the middle of November.” Ella glared at me. She
was absolutely desperate for a ‘Mum free’ weekend. I dreaded to think what she
might already be planning.

Mum was humming to herself, in a complete daydream whilst
she carried on cleaning the lounge. It looked like she had made up her mind.
She was probably thinking about her weekend away with Simon (yuk).

“Maybe we can have a house party,” I jokingly said. “You
know, like the ones you hear about, where it gets put on Facebook and hundreds
of ‘friends of friends’ turn up.”  I stood up and walked across the room
past Mum who was looking completely horrified and past Ella who looked bloody
furious. Hahaha I laughed to myself as I ran up the stairs. Don’t get me wrong,
Mum gone for a whole weekend would be good but I just couldn’t resist that last
comment. Both Ella and Mum looked as desperate as each other, ha!

The smile was soon wiped off of my face though. No sooner
had I flopped down on my bed, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I assumed it was
either Bex or Sarah. I was supposed to be meeting up with them in a while. It
wasn’t Sarah or Bex. I had a very short message from Sam Smith: ‘how r u?’

 I couldn’t believe that he had sent me a very
random message just asking how I was. I felt totally sick and annoyed because
once again, Sam Smith was at the forefront of my mind. Ok, I know what I should
really do is totally ignore him. I don’t want him to think he can click his
fingers and then I will come running. But I know I won’t be able to ignore him
forever because the curiosity of wanting to know what he really wants was
killing me. I didn’t have to think of a smart witty reply because my phone
vibrated again: ‘I want us 2 b friends’.

So, here I am again lying on my bed. It’s Saturday. I
should be out doing something fun and I all I can do is think about Sam. My
thoughts all over the place. We’ve been here before and now it’s happening all
over again.

Half of me felt angry, angry because he had the power to
do this to me. I’d done a good job of ignoring him at school but I’m not going
to be able to avoid him forever, and he wants to be friends. I don’t think I
can be that to him, ever.

Ella burst into the room and I quickly slid my phone
under my pillow. It wouldn’t be good if she had any idea Sam had been texting
me.  “Don’t you dare put Mum off of this weekend away, you freak!” Ella
hissed at me. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I dunno, it was just a joke.” I shrugged.

“We could throw a huge party,” Ella whispered. “Although,
I’ve just been reassuring Mum that we would never do anything like that, thanks
to your stupid comment.”

“Great,” I muttered.

“Or even better, we could persuade Riley to have the
party next door. They haven’t even decorated properly yet, so a bit of mess
wouldn’t matter. Or better still a joint party! I mean, we are next door....”
Ella was running away with herself and her party plans.

“Is Amelia invited?” I asked, spoiling Ella’s excited
babble.

“I’ll think of something to get rid of her, no problem.
And then Riley will be a free agent.” Ella smiled slowly, “And as for you, you
won’t even stand a chance!”

“What makes you so sure he’s going to pick you?” I
questioned her. She had that funny look in her eye.

“Well none of us will stand a chance unless you get your
butt downstairs and tell Mum we can both be trusted here alone for a weekend.”
Ella demanded and I suppose she had a point.

So, it was all arranged - in a fortnight Mum was going
away with Simon. Ella was already planning a party, completely unknown to Riley
at this point. I was already starting to regret agreeing to this crazy idea,
especially as Ella had waited until I was about to drop off to sleep that night
when she turned to me and said, “I still haven’t forgotten about what you did
to my shoes.”