The Boyfriend Bet (8 page)

“Bloody hell Charley! Haven’t you sorted your hair out
yet?” Ella was smirking at me. I narrowed my eyes at her.

“How did Jay know I was home alone, well apart from
Peter?” I carried on questioning him. It just didn’t add up.

“Because your mum told us.” Riley said, as though it
should be totally obvious.

“When did you see my mum?” I was more confused than ever.

“When she came round to get my dad.” Riley explained.

“What?” I shrieked at exactly the same time as Ella.

“Your mum went to the cinema with my dad, on a date.”
Riley shrugged.

Oh dear. So Mum’s back on the dating scene and with the
father of the boy me and my sister are fighting over. Somebody kill me now!

“You actually snogged Riley Jackson?” Sarah was almost
hyperventilating. After our marathon texting session last night, Sarah and Bex
had grabbed me outside the school gates and started the conversation all over
again.

“Yeah, but I’m not sure if it means anything.” I
muttered. I hadn’t been so optimistic about it all since I’d woken up this
morning.

“I can’t believe he snogged you and you have orange hair
and a black eye!” Sarah was still going on.

“It’s not that bad!” I shook my head as I touched my eye.
“It’s just a slight bruise and cut, anyway it was dark.”

“Ah, that explains it.” Bex nodded.

“You know, I’ve got to go,” I snapped. I think even the thought
of isolation was better than the thought of listening to those two continually
insulting me. I was still wearing my hat but without the glasses. It was a bit
too dark yesterday wearing sunglasses inside and trying to read and write.

Just what I needed - I noticed Mr Harrison was sitting at
the desk at the front of the isolation room and worse still, I spotted Molly
Andrews sitting at the back. You’d think someone with the name ‘Molly’ would be
feminine and girly but this isn’t the case. She’s nearly six feet tall, about
fifteen stone and she’s harder than anyone I know, seriously. Nobody messes
with her and why would you? The worst part of it is she hangs around with Zoe
Ryan. She idolises her. She’s not one of Zoe’s usual dumb girl types she has for
friends, but Zoe’s not so stupid and realises that Molly’s obsession with her
can be used to her advantage. And this is why nobody dares to mess with Zoe
Ryan.

Mr Harrison was sorting out loads of his papers and had
strewn them across numerous desks, so the only two left for me to sit at were
either next to Molly or directly in front of her. I foolishly decided to sit in
front of her, the theory being that I wouldn’t have to look at her.

I don’t usually get on the wrong side of Zoe (or Molly)
because I find avoidance is the best strategy. Lately however, since Zoe seems
to have a sudden infatuation with Sam, I seem to be a target for her bitchiness
and receiver of snidey corridor-comments and jibes.

On more than one occasion I felt like screaming at her
that I wasn’t with Sam anymore and in fact he was the one who cheated on me. I
didn’t shout at her of course - I didn’t want Molly Andrews to knock me out or
worse still, sit on me!

I could feel someone (or should I say Molly) lightly
tapping me on the back, over and over again. I think she must have been
throwing something at me, but I just pretended to get on with my work as Mr
Harrison was totally oblivious, sorting through his mountain of books and
papers. I could tell it was going to be a very long day.

You know that feeling you get when you just know that a
bad day isn’t going to get any better? Well that is exactly how I felt and I
was completely right by the looks of it because mid morning we had got another
visitor in isolation.

“Jay Jackson, what are you doing here?” Mr Harrison
looked ever so slightly peeved at the unwanted interruption. “You’ve only been
at this school for five minutes and you just can’t seem to stay out of
trouble.”

“Wasn’t my fault.” Jay shrugged. He was now passing a
note to Mr Harrison, obviously from his previous teacher, explaining what he
had done.

“Take a seat and get on with some work,” Mr Harrison
sighed. “I don’t know, you kids these days have absolutely no respect,” Mr
Harrison was muttering to himself. I stifled a laugh as Mr Harrison is known to
go on a bit.

“Is something amusing you, Charley?”

“No,” I sighed.

“The only thing that is funny is your hair and your
face!” Molly said as she was poking me in the back with a ruler.

“That’s enough! I’m just going to put these books in
their rightful place. Can I trust you three to get on with your work in
silence?”

“Yes Sir,” Molly chirped as Mr Harrison left the room
with a pile of books in his arms that were taller than him.

“Why have you got all chewed up paper stuck to your back?”
Jay asked. He’d obviously taken the other remaining seat next to Molly Andrews.

“Dunno?” I shrugged uncaringly, turning to face Jay,
“Because Molly is chewing paper up and spitting it at me?”  I’ve always
thought that with people like Molly Andrews it’s just best to act like she
completely doesn’t bother me, even though I’d secretly been eyeing the heavy
looking flowerpot in the corner of the room and imagining crushing it over her
thick skull.

Jay shrugged and then lounged back in his seat. He didn’t
look like he was planning on doing any work. “And this doesn’t bother you at
all?” Jay asked.

“And what’s she going to do about it?” I could tell Molly
was grinning even though I refused to look at her. “I could smash her face in.”

“Does that answer your question?” I turned and smiled
sarcastically at Jay. I wondered how many days I would have to tolerate Molly
Andrews in isolation.

“Um....yeah,” Jay said slowly; he was looking at Molly
out of the corners of his eyes, his eyebrows raised. I think maybe she
terrified him too; then I realised she was actually smiling at him!

“You must be new, right?” Molly said. She was staring at
Jay and had totally forgotten her threats at me. “You must be, because I would
remember a cute face like yours.”

I wanted to laugh so much because Jay looked completely
horrified at Molly, twirling a loose piece of hair around her fingers and
acting all girly. Normally Molly is so manly. As much as I wanted to roll
around on the floor in hysterical laughter, I also didn’t want to get my head
kicked in. Instead I turned around and pretended to get on with my work.

I could hear Molly questioning Jay and at one point I had
to fake a cough when Molly asked Jay if he was single. Finally Mr Harrison came
back. I bet Jay was relieved! “Molly, your mum is here. You’ve got an
appointment with your therapist, apparently.” Mr Harrison nodded to Molly as
she stood up and chucked all her stuff into her bag. I could hear Mr Harrison
mumbling, “no one ever tells me anything.”

“Anger management.” Molly informed Jay and he just kind
of nodded. “I’ll be back soon, so don’t go anywhere.” And then as she got to
the door she actually turned around and waved at Jay. I could not contain it
any longer and I let out a loud snigger as the whole mobile classroom shook
while Molly thumped down the steps outside.

“That’s enough, Charley.” Mr Harrison looked up. “Be
quiet, and no talking whilst I’m gone.” He had now laden himself with another
pile of books and was walking carefully out of the classroom.

“I cannot stay in here all day.” Jay was muttering, but I
think it was more to himself than to me. “Everybody in here is nuts.”

“Cheers!”

“I can’t be in here when that psycho comes back.” Jay was
staring at Molly’s empty seat.

“Aw, you were really in there.” I said with a smirk. “And
at least she’s not threatening to kick the crap out of you.”

“It’s what else she is planning to do to me that’s
starting to worry me.” Jay was standing now. “’I’m getting out of here while I
have the chance.”

“I think Harrison might notice.” I shook my head at his
stupidity.

“And...just because you’re too scared...I dare you!” Jay
smirked at the challenge he’d now put in front of me. I must admit I didn’t
fancy the rest of the day stuck in here with Molly Andrews either but then
again, could I really afford to get in any more trouble? And more to the point,
did I actually care?

“Didn’t think so.” Jay laughed and he was already heading
out of the door.

“Wait up!” I called on impulse. I dumped all my stuff in
my bag and followed him out of the door. Well, I couldn’t let Jay Jackson think
I was a wimp, could I? I headed after Jay towards the school gate. I had no
idea where I was going to go but I couldn’t hang around here.

“Oi! Where do you think you two are going?!” I could hear
Mr Harrison shouting. Despite my better judgement I turned around to look. He
was standing at the steps in front of the mobile classroom, balancing yet more
books. I wondered if he had actually gone in to fetch more books and not even
noticed we had gone. Well either way, he’d certainly noticed now.

“Run!” Jay laughed. Obviously this was a great game to
him. For the first time ever I didn’t argue back and I started to run. I still
couldn’t help looking back behind me. Mr Harrison had now dropped his entire
mountain of books onto the ground and had started to attempt to run after us.
His horrid patterned pink and purple tie (the one I always laugh at) was
flapping over his shoulder behind him.

You’d think this would make me panic. I’m not sure
entirely what had got into me but instead of running faster, I actually just
stopped and stared at Mr Harrison nearing closer. He was huffing, puffing and
almost spluttering now, with his hair that he usually combed over the top of
his head now hanging on the wrong side and exposing a rather bald head,
glistening with sweat. It really was quite hilarious.

“Charley, come on!” Jay was already out of the gates by
now.

“Wait.” I smiled a very devious little smile at Jay. He
was shaking his head but I still stood rooted to the spot.

“Charley!”

I waited until Mr Harrison was no more than about five
metres away. I could see the beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, I could
hear him wheezing with every puff and I could see the pure anger in his eyes and
then just at that moment, I chose to turn and run. I ran as fast as I could and
I knew he had no chance of catching me. I’m a pretty fast runner and Mr
Harrison was clearly not.

I had one last sneaky peek as I got out of the school
gates. Mr Harrison had already accepted defeat because he was doubled over, his
hands on his knees as he gasped for breath. I couldn’t help but let out a
laugh. “You’re in so much trouble Charley Wallis....and you Jay!” Mr Harrison
called after us as he wiped his sleeve across his glistening forehead.

What on earth had I just done?

“That was evil!” Jay was shaking his head at me. “You’re
absolutely mental.” He carried on. I shrugged; it was so worth it though and
such a rush to wait to the very last minute before I legged it, just to see Mr
Harrison‘s face.

“What now?” I shrugged. Once the buzz was over I wondered
where and what the hell I was going to do. And I was with Jay Jackson of all
people! What was I thinking?

“I’m going home.” Jay muttered.

“But my mum might be home,” I sighed. I couldn’t risk
going home when Mum was more than likely to be there.

“My dad’s at work. Suppose you could hang out at mine.”
Jay shrugged. Oh my god, was Jay Jackson attempting to be nice to me? Maybe he
had actually realised that this was all his fault. I would have never have run
off like that if it hadn’t been for his crazy ideas. Not sure if I was entirely
excited at the prospect of being with Jay for the rest of the day, but I didn’t
want to hang around outside either. I only had my tiny leather jacket on and
the weather was getting cooler and ready for some rain by the looks of it. On
the plus side I would be going into Riley’s house. I could have a nosey around!

“I suppose I could,” I said, in a way that I thought was
making it perfectly clear that hanging around with Jay was at the very bottom
of my priorities. “Totally risky don’t you think? My mum might see.”

“So you just totally wound up Mr Harrison by running out
of school right in front of him and you’re already excluded and now you’re
telling me that you’re scared of your mum?”

“No, guess not.” I shrugged. Anyway I’m sure Mum was
going to find out sooner or later. I didn’t say much else to Jay as we walked
back. I don’t think I’d even had a civil conversation with him since I’d first
met him.

I half expected Mum to be having a nose out of the window
as I walked up to Jay’s front door - that would be completely typical of my
luck - but she didn’t. There were still some boxes in Jay’s hallway and the
wallpaper had been half stripped off. The lounge was the only room that looked
respectable, so I sat down on the sofa and Jay sat on the arm of the sofa -
don’t think he wanted to sit too close to me, ha!

“That girl from isolation...she was pretty scary and
nuts.” Jay said, breaking the silence.

“Oh, Molly...yeah she is.” I agreed.

“I take it she doesn’t like you much or is she just like
that with everyone?”

“She’s got it in for me because...” And then I stopped
because I didn’t really want him to know the whole Sam story.

“What?”

“Because....her best friend Zoe doesn’t like me very
much.”

“Why?” Jay was relentless.

“Because she’s suddenly got a ‘thing’ for someone I used
to...to know.” I stuttered.

“Ah, over some guy?” Jay was nearly smirking already. I
shrugged.

“It’s so dumb, I’m not even with him anymore. I don’t
even know why she’s started this.”

“Who is he?” I just knew Jay was going to ask this and I
could tell he was dying to know.

“Erm...” I started to think, as Jay watched me, waiting
for my answer. He just wants to judge me, I could tell. “It was William,” I
said, trying to hide a laugh. It was my turn to wind Jay up. He thinks he’s so
damn clever.

“William who?” Jay raised his eyebrows.

“William Sheldon-Harvey.” I nearly had to look away
because I could tell from Jay’s reaction he had indeed met William
Sheldon-Harvey. You would remember him, believe me. I could hardly keep a
straight face.

“Really? All this arguing over
him
?”

“Uh huh.” This was all I managed in reply. Jay was lost
in thought.

William Sheldon-Harvey is probably the strangest boy ever
to go to our school. He is so posh and extremely clever (academically) but
without an ounce of actual common sense. I think he used to go to a public
school before he came to our school. Apparently his dad’s money had all run out
and things weren’t exactly legit (as the rumours go) and he was then forced to
come to our school. He is absolutely hilarious though. Sometimes it’s like he’s
speaking a different language or from a different planet and that’s just from
the weird clothes he wears. He definitely has never had a girlfriend. I don’t
think he’s even realised that girls exist yet.

“So you know him then?” I asked.

“Yeah, he’s in my form.” Jay nodded slowly. He was still
staring at me, probably wondering what a crazy person like me and William
Sheldon-Harvey would ever have to talk about.

“So you two had a lot in common, did you?”  Jay
hadn’t taken his eyes off me.

“Um...it was purely physical.” I barely managed to keep a
straight face. That was a good one!

“Oh.” Jay said and then we sat in silence for a couple of
minutes. Jay still had that strange expression on his face...bet he was wishing
he’d never asked about my ex now, ha! I was trying to stop myself from just
bursting into uncontrollable fits of giggles. William Sheldon Harvey! As if
that would ever be possible! When William actually discovers the opposite sex
(in least ten years from now, I should imagine) I don’t think his mummykins
would be too impressed with me and vice versa. I don’t think he’s really my
type.

“So...um...”

“Yes?” I faced Jay. I knew he wanted to know about the
William Sheldon-Harvey ‘relationship’. Oh, this was so much fun. Jay thinks he
is so much cleverer than me and here he was totally confused by me.

“Um...how did you get together?”

“Oh, William invited me to his manor house one Sunday.”

“His
manor
house?” Jay frowned, “What, round this
way?”

“Well, the other side of town...the posh side,
obviously.”

“Obviously.” Jay said slowly.

“And then we had afternoon tea and I met Mummy
Sheldon-Harvey...”

“
Mummy
?” Jay interrupted.

“Yes,” I huffed, pretending to be annoyed by his
interruption, “Posh people always call their mum’s ‘Mummy’ even when they are
like forty or something.”

“I thought you said it was purely physical?” Jay
interrupted again.

“Yeah wait, that was after...”

“After what?” Jay had now interrupted for the third time.
He was intrigued!

“I’m really thirsty. Can I have a drink?” I asked. Jay
who was listening intently looked disappointed at the interruption. This was so
funny! “And then I’ll tell you more.” I smiled.

Jay went off to the kitchen pretty sharpish, “Wanna
Coke?”       

“Yeah, sure,” I called. No sooner than I had said it, Jay
was back. He threw the can of Coke at me and then sat himself back down on the
arm of the sofa, eagerly awaiting the rest of my ‘story’.

“So you actually went to his house and...” Jay prompted
me. This was the first time that Jay had ever wanted to actually hear what I
had to say and I was speaking complete and utter bullshit.

“Oh yeah, so after afternoon tea with ‘Mummy’ I was given
a tour of the grounds. I tried out the indoor pool, met his butler and then we
had a ride.” Jay spat out a huge mouthful of Coke all down his front and it
spilled onto the carpet. I looked at the carpet and then at Jay who appeared to
have a lot of Coke down his front. I gave him ‘that’ look, you know the one he
always gives me when he’s caught me spying on Riley or shouting at teachers or
just doing something damn well stupid, but now it was my turn.

“You what?” Jay finally managed.

“Then we rode some of the
horses
.” I explained.

“Oh,” Jay mouthed.

“And then he showed me his cute little summer house and
we totally made out for the rest of the day.” I said. Jay’s face was an
absolute picture and my straight face was starting to slip.

“You’re totally messing with me right?” Jay grinned.

“How could you tell? I said sarcastically.

“You don’t strike me as that sort of girl.” Jay shrugged.

“Oh, I’m not sure if that’s an insult or a compliment but
I’m going to take it as a compliment.” I huffed but Jay was laughing at my
outrageous story.

Jay was sitting next to me now. I couldn’t quite believe
that I was actually sitting here laughing my head off with Jay Jackson. I was
nearly in tears when Jay started doing impressions of William. It had been ages
since I’d laughed properly, you know like a proper laugh that makes your sides
ache? My stomach hurt and even my throat was sore through the unstoppable
giggling. Maybe Jay wasn’t so bad after all.

We laughed and chatted about school for ages (I was
filling Jay in about school, since he was new) and I was starting to think I
had a new mate, until Jay said “Who was your ex, anyway?”

“Sam, Sam Smith,” My smile dropped immediately as I
mentioned his name.

“Really?” Jay looked shocked.

“You know him?”

“Yep. I’ve met him.”

“Thought he was out of my league, did you?” I snapped
defensively. Jay pulled a shocked face at me, suggesting I was being
unreasonable.

“No, I didn’t say that.”

Was I being unreasonable? I don’t know but I’m sure he
thinks the same as everybody else. Why else would he be so surprised that Sam
Smith was my ex? Everybody else thought he was way out of my league, so why
wouldn’t Jay think so too?

“I actually think he’s a complete idiot.” Jay muttered.

“Oh?”

“Well I guess that figures why you like Riley.” Jay was
smirking. He’d gone back to being old Jay: the one that thought he was better
than me, the one who seemed to judge me. I felt a bit huffy now. Did he even know
Sam? Did he even know me? “You know, you and Riley are totally not suited.”

“And why’s that?” I snapped, “Because he’s clearly out of
my league as well?” I was getting really pissed off now. Jay snorted. I don’t
think he thinks a lot of Riley but then he obviously doesn’t think a lot of me
either.

“Riley says and does all the right things at the right
time.” Jay shrugged.

“What and I don’t?” 

“What I mean is...everybody loves Riley. Teachers,
parents, girls...because he says the things they want to hear.”

“And?” I huffed.

“It doesn’t make it true or that he means it.” Jay was
looking at the floor. I couldn’t work out whether he was trying to put me off
Riley or just slag him off because he was jealous of him or if what he was
saying was completely true.

“Is that what you think Sam is like?” I questioned him.
“You don’t even know us, but you think you know everything there is to know
about us all.” I was half shouting now as I stood up. There is something about
Jay that winds me up so much, I can’t explain it.

“No wonder things didn’t work out with you and Sam!
You’re so goddamn moody and stubborn as well as annoying.”

“Things didn’t work out because he cheated on me...with
my sister!” I was yelling now. “And if that wasn’t bad enough, the whole of Year
Eleven saw. So, excuse me if I’m not exactly ecstatic about school or my life
at the minute!” I picked up my bag and marched to the front door. I didn’t want
Jay to see I had tears in my eyes because he’d probably only come out with some
smart arse comment about that.

“Charley!” Jay called after me.

“What?” I turned round just as I’d pulled the front door
open.

“I told you Sam was an idiot.” Jay was looking at me
right in the eyes. He actually looked apologetic but I wasn’t in the right mind
to be able to tell...maybe he was mocking me, who knows. I could see Riley in
the corner of my eye because he was walking up the garden path. I seriously
couldn’t deal with all of this right now, so I ran. I ran past a very surprised
looking Riley until I reached my front door.

“Where have you been Charley?” Mum yelled at me as soon
as I’d slammed the door shut. She was fuming! She was sitting on the bottom of
the stairs, just waiting. I wondered how long she had been sat there just
waiting to have a go at me, to make me even more miserable if that was
possible.