The Boyfriend Bet (9 page)

Mum was mad. She reckons I’m immature, selfish and
apparently I’m going off the rails. This does not make sense if you ask me. I
am not. Mum just doesn’t make sense.  Ella acts like a total bitch - she’s
uncaring and selfish and she really does get away with the lot: at school, at
home and even her friends let her get away with it. Come to think of it she is
exactly the way that Jay described Riley. Maybe he was right about him, in the
way that he would never be interested in someone like me. Why does Jay have to
ruin everything? That will teach me to let my guard down, letting myself
believe that he wasn’t so bad after all.

It was a good job I didn’t have any dancing tonight as I
don’t think there was much chance that Mum would be letting me out of the
house.  She just wouldn’t leave it, she kept asking me why. Why would I do
something like that and what the hell was I thinking? All I did was shrug and
mutter ‘dunno’ which seemed to infuriate her even more. I really didn’t know
what to say...that school sucked and I just couldn’t stand it anymore. I don’t
think that would go down very well either.

I couldn’t even get away. Mum sat on the bottom of the stairs
blocking the way when all I wanted to do was run upstairs and flop down on my
bed. “Where were you all day?” Mum asked for the millionth time just as Ella
walked through the door and I shrugged for the millionth time. Ella didn’t look
like she was going anywhere. She stood by the door with a huge grin on her
face. I could hear Peter calling Mum from outside in the garden and I hoped
this was my getaway, as Mum stood up from the stairs that she’d been guarding.

“Tell me where you were or there is no way on this earth
that I am paying for your hair on Thursday!” Mum squared up to me and Ella was
sniggering.

“Ok! I was next door.” I huffed.

Mum shook her head, but Peter was now screaming so she
had no choice but to leave. “I’ll talk to you later,” she said as she left.
Ella was staring at me and she looked a lot more interested at the mention of
next door. Actually I’d say Ella was starting to look a little worried and I
wasn’t going to tell her that it was just Jay I was with and not Riley, was I?

I was in such a bad mood that I hid out in my room all
night. Luckily Ella was nowhere in sight. I half expected Mum to come up at
some point and start having another go at me but she didn’t. I was either
rethinking all of the crap Jay had said, dreading going to school tomorrow or
worrying about how much trouble I was going to be in. And I hoped I wouldn’t
have to face Mrs Davenport or Jay for that matter. I wondered if I could do
another bunk but I didn’t think so because I knew I would have to go back sooner
or later. And there I remained until I finally fell asleep.

I’m sure all this stressing out is draining me. I felt
absolutely exhausted when I’d finally managed to prise my eyes open in the
morning. Of course Ella was already up and the only ‘good morning’ I got was
from Mum bellowing at me to get up.

“Don’t even think about being late for school!” Mum was
banging on the door. I could hardly bother to do my hair - it’s not like I
could make it any better. I hurriedly got ready, not just because I was late but
also because I didn’t want to have to spend any more time at home with this
lot.

I ran down the stairs in my black jeans, Converse, a
shirt half-buttoned up with a black vest top underneath and I waited for Mum to
challenge me about my appearance as usual. But she didn’t, she completely
ignored me.  Mum’s totally fallen out with me, but then to be honest, I
prefer it this way. If she is going to finally give me what I’ve always wanted
and let me get on with it and not add her opinion to absolutely everything,
result! I grabbed my jacket and I left, just like that, no arguing or unwelcome
comments. Brilliant.

I found out I was in so much trouble as soon as I got to
school (well, after Sarah and Bex had dragged me to the toilets and  tried
to make me look ‘better’ by attacking me with various items from their make-up
bags). When I finally escaped the blusher brush attack I discovered Mr Harrison
was waiting for me in our Form Room. Unfortunately for me, he wasn’t going to
deal with the situation himself and he took great delight in informing me that
Mrs Davenport was expecting me in her office. There was nothing for it. I had
no other choice but to make my way (slowly) to the dreaded Davenports lair.

“Tuck that dreadful shirt in and do your buttons up!” was
how Mrs Davenport greeted me as soon as I’d stepped into her office. Jay was
already sat in front of her desk and I had no other choice but to take the seat
next to him. I barely even glanced at him as I sat down. She didn’t speak
immediately, so I sat in an uncomfortable silence, looking everywhere except at
her or Jay. Her office is all pink and I can only sum it up as ‘fluffy’. It’s
absolutely gross. Everything is disgusting, seriously! It’s like every shade of
pink you can possibly think of, as well as the hideously pink floral curtains
and framed embroidery hanging on the walls. Eurgh!

As if the pinkness wasn’t bad enough, it was roasting in
here and there was a very overpowering lavender smell, made worse by the heat.
It was really getting up my nose. I wanted to gag! When I finally got the
courage to look her in the eyes, she smiled, all too sweetly. I knew just from
that smile that we were in a heap of trouble. There is nothing Mrs Davenport
enjoys more than dishing out the punishments.

I was in that hideous office for well over an hour. I
swear it was getting hotter and hotter and that smell was overpowering. I felt
bile rise in the back of my throat and an overwhelming urge to just chuck up,
right there and then on her desk. I was too busy concentrating on breathing to
help keep the sick down, when Mrs Davenport suddenly banged on the desk in
front of me, as apparently I wasn’t listening. She obviously didn’t realise how
hard it was to listen to her lecturing (all I could hear was blah-blah-blah), while
trying not to be sick and avoiding any sort of eye contact what-so-ever with
Jay.

I’m still excluded (obviously) and now next week too and
if that’s not bad enough, Jay is as well. Apparently these exclusions are going
on our permanent records, whatever they are. I really do think they speak utter
crap to us and expect us to believe it all. Oh and we’ve also got to do litter
picking duties every lunchtime of our exclusion period. Just how much time did
she want to force me to spend with Jay Jackson? I might as well just move in
with him. Arghhhh!

“Do I have to walk you to isolation as well, to make sure
you get there?” Mrs Davenport stood up and gestured that at long last this
telling-off was over.

“No!” I said, much too suspiciously. All I really wanted
to do was to run to the loo before I puked all over the pink office. Although
in my opinion it would improve its decor greatly.

“Yes, I think I shall.” Mrs Davenport opened the door and
waved us out into the corridor.

“I feel sick,” I muttered. I think this must have been
the moment that I no longer believed I had any control over it.

“Pardon?” Mrs Davenport said theatrically as she
continued to usher us down the corridor.

“I need to go to the toilet.” I mumbled a little bit
louder than before.

“Well, as soon as you sign into isolation, you can ask
the covering teacher for a toilet pass.” She carried on walking. Obviously she
didn’t sense the urgency of how much I wanted to run into the loo. Incidentally
that is another one of Mrs Davenport’s dumb ideas ‘The toilet pass’. You have
to take it with you, so that if another teacher sees you wandering around
school in lesson time, you can present them with the lovely laminated card with
a picture of a toilet on and the words ‘Toilet Pass’!

I was lagging behind now, my head was pounding and Mrs
Davenport’s heels were clopping along. “Charley!”  She finally stopped and
stared at me. “Move!”

“I feel sick.” I mumbled, as she started to walk back
towards me. I felt like a five year old but what else could I do? She was
treating me like a kid, she wouldn’t let me go to the loo and there was nothing
for it but to just tell her. I really wanted to tell her that if she didn‘t
bloody listen to me I wasn’t going to be able to control it.

“You are going to isolation whether you like it or not.
Stop with the lame excuses Charley. You’re in enough trouble as it is.” She was
getting right in my face and I could smell her perfume - you’ve guessed it, it
was lavender. And it was strong and when I say strong, I mean in that way where
you wonder if someone has literally sprayed half a bottle on.

 My head throbbed and my stomach churned. I could
feel the vomit rising and I knew there would be no holding this down. It was
like a volcano that was due an almighty eruption and the more I tried to stop
it, the bigger it would be. And out it came like a never ending waterfall of
the contents of my stomach. You wouldn’t have thought there would have been a
lot, seeing as I skipped breakfast but of course there was. My throat stung and
my eyes watered as I coughed the last of it up all over Mrs Davenport’s
previously burgundy shoes. They were now a rather unattractive yellowy-orange
colour and the smell had successfully masked her lavender perfume.

There was then one of those calm-before-the-storm moments
as everybody just stood in a stunned silence. Then Mrs Davenport started
shrieking and dancing around as though she could just shake off the sick in an
instant. I guess I’d found her weak spot - she wasn’t very good with vomit!
Actually she was freaking out.

“I told you I felt sick,” I whispered.

“Charley!” Mrs Davenport screeched hysterically while
retching herself.  “Don’t even think about not turning up to isolation, I
will check!” She started to trot back down the corridor muttering to herself
about getting someone to clean up the mess.

“But surely I should go to the sick room?” I called after
her. “I mean, if I’ve got a sickness bug I shouldn’t be in school...”

“You haven’t got a bug, Charley!” Mrs Davenport snapped
as she stopped and looked around at me. She then gagged again and I seriously
started to think she was about to be sick herself at any second. “You did it on
purpose, you horrible girl!” and then she practically ran off in the direction
of her office, holding out her skirt as if it contained a deadly disease. I
suppose Charley Wallis sick-splatter was just as bad.

How could she think that anyone could do that on purpose?
I admit, I probably didn’t have a sickness bug, it was almost certainly down to
the combination of heat and that putrid lavender smell that was wafting all
around her equally putrid office. But how did Mrs Davenport know I didn’t have
a bug? I suppose she thinks she’s a medical professional now. She thinks she’s
a bloody expert at everything else!

“Brilliant.” Jay was shaking his head in shock, but
equally he looked amused. “That was brilliant!”

“How on earth is this brilliant? I just chucked my guts
up all over Mrs Davenport’s shoes. She thinks I somehow did it on purpose, I’ll
probably be isolated for the rest of the year and I feel rough, thanks for
asking!”

“Wow, I see your mood has improved since yesterday.” Jay
muttered.

“Just shut up!” I yelled at him and then I marched to the
nearest toilets to sort myself out. “Just shut up!”

Well, school has been so much fun this week. I wish!
Spent the whole time in isolation with Jay and typically nobody else turned up
for the rest of the week. I was for once glad that we were supposed to work in
silence, but there was always that awkward moment when the covering teacher
left the room for a few minutes. I just kept my head down and completely
ignored Jay. I think it must have been a real shock when the teacher came back
and we were actually still working in silence like we were told.

I was much happier by the end of the week though because
my hair is fixed! Well when I say ‘fixed’ I mean it isn’t orange and streaky
anymore. I didn’t actually seem to have much choice in the hair matter. Mum was
definitely still in a mood with me - she’d hardly strung more than two words
together in conversation with me and she just left the money for Yvonne and
went out. Sarah and Bex had come over and they were very vocal about how blonde
I should go and the next thing I knew I was being well and truly bleached! The
worrying thing is Sarah and Bex seem to have all sorts of ideas how they can
make me totally hot and attract Riley.

So, that’s how I ended up with a hair colour that
wouldn’t look out of place on Barbie. It’s so blonde! Every time I look in the
mirror I let out a ‘woah’ as I am reminded that I have new hair. I’m not sure
it’s entirely ‘me’, but I’ll settle for anything that’s going to replace
Sarah’s botched up job. I shouldn’t complain too much, as I did get my way with
the cut and I’ve now got a full fringe.

I haven’t seen Riley or Sam or anybody much for that
matter; being stuck in isolation is one lonely punishment. I did get one
comment (a very sarcastic one) from Jay of course. “Nice hair,” he’d said as
soon as I’d walked in on Friday morning.

All I muttered in reply was a short sharp “Shut up!” And
those were the only words we have spoken. I suppose that got the message
through to him that I really was not in the mood for him and that set the tone
for the rest of the day.

“Oooh, blondie now, eh?” Was all I got out of Stella when
I turned up to dance on Friday night.  All through classes that night and
Saturday morning I couldn’t stop looking in the mirrors at my hair, even though
I was supposed to be teaching the kids their dance from The Jungle Book that
they are going to be performing at their dance show in a couple of weeks.

That’s another thing, I’ve got to perform
this dance with them. They need to copy me if (or more like when) they get lost
with the dance. They have monkey masks, complete with tails and all and I’m
just praying the masks cover the entire face because that’s right, I have to
wear one! I’m not too worried though because I’m sure I won’t see anyone I know
at our dance school mini show, which is just for the younger pupils.

“We are going to make you look so good!”
Sarah practically jumped out on me as soon as I’d left dance on Saturday.”

“Great,” I muttered, wondering what on earth
they were planning on doing to me this time.

“We’re going to make you look even more
gorgeous,” Sarah was buzzing. Was I going to be like her experiment or
something? It was almost like letting a five year old loose on your hair,
make-up and clothing, not sure if this was entirely a good idea after all.

“Are you saying I don’t look good like this?”
I laughed as I wiped my clammy head on the back of my jacket sleeve. It was so
hot in the studio and I had to work extra hard after Stella pulled me up on
being constantly distracted and lost in the Advanced Girls practise. It was all
because my hair was distracting me in the mirrors. God, am I getting as vain as
Zoe Ryan...now that would be a tragedy!

“Ummm, the hair looks good though,” Bex
smiled. And then Sarah just wouldn’t stop talking all the way back to mine.
Anyone would think that she has missed me all week. I suppose with me being in
isolation, Sarah had missed her hours of gossip every day.

“Oh, look who is outside! Shame we haven’t
given you a makeover yet!” Bex nodded towards my house and I could see Riley,
Jay and their dad out the front next to their car. I guessed they had been
shopping, as there was a massive box wedged in the back of the car.

“What have you got in there?” Bex signalled
towards the car. God, she’s so nosey. I guessed it was some mahoosive T.V. that
was going to entirely fill their living room. It’s got to be. I mean three
males living together - I can imagine a giant T.V. was at the top of their
agenda.

I was right. Riley went on and on to Bex
about how wonderful and great their T.V. was. I think I started to switch off
as soon as I’d heard the first technical term. I am just not all that
interested in that sort of stuff - as long as the damn T.V. works, then that’s
enough for me. Who cares how and why it’s supposed to be top of the range and
all that blah-blah-blah.

“Wow, that’s amazing,” Sarah gushed at him.
“Don’t you think Charley?” Sarah nudged me in the ribs.

Huh?” I woke up from my inner thoughts (I
think a quick elbow in the ribs can suddenly make you pay attention) and
immediately looked up. I saw Jay smirking in the background, but he quickly
looked away when he caught my eye.

“You can come over and check it out if you
want, when it’s all set up.” Riley offered the three of us.

“Really?” Sarah’s eyes lit up. I’m not sure
if she was more excited at the thought of going over to Riley’s or the bloody
T.V.!

“See you later.” Bex called as she started to
push me towards my front door.

“Charley?” Riley called after me.

“Yeah?”

“Can I borrow your phone?” Riley smiled one of
those dazzling smiles, obviously that’s the smile for getting everything he
wants and I didn’t argue, even if I thought it was a bit of a strange request.
I could tell Jay was watching us, even if he was trying to watch out of the
corner of his eye.

I handed him the phone and I watched as he
typed in a phone number, and then pressed dial, then he stood there until his
own phone started to ring loudly from his pocket and then he hung up, retrieved
his phone and stored my number in it!

“Cheers,” Riley said as he handed me back my
phone, “I’ll text you later.”

I could see Jay shaking his head now as he
was struggling with one side of the huge box, his dad with the other. And the
best part of it was when I looked up at my bedroom window Ella was staring out with
her mouth wide open. Ha, that had shocked her.

When we got inside it wasn’t long before I
wished that Ella hadn’t seen the flirty number exchange because she looked very
determined and that always makes me feel nervous. I suppose ever since we were
kids, I have known that when Ella puts her mind to wanting something, she very
rarely fails. Actually come to think of it, I can’t remember a time that she
hasn’t got her own way in the end.

Ella left our room with a pile of clothes,
make-up and hair appliances, all dangling from her arms. I stared at her as she
walked to Mum’s room and slammed the door. Don’t think Mum would be too pleased
as it looked like Ella was about to make some kind of Barbie wardrobe explosion
in there, but Mum had taken Peter out, so it looked like it was going to happen
whatever! Anyway I wasn’t going to complain: we’d got rid of Ella, perfect!

I didn’t have too much of a chance to worry
about what Ella might be planning, as Sarah and Bex went into full makeover
mode. I soon saw where this makeover was going. They seemed to think that I had
to look exactly like Ella by the look of things. This did slightly pee me off
because I see this as them basically saying I’m not good enough the way I am.
They’ve already changed my hair and now they are saying I should ditch my
Converse and walk around in six inch heels all day.

“Just practise walking in them, you’ll soon
get used to it.” Sarah was trying to reassure me, as I wobbled around my
bedroom.

“Doesn’t look very sexy to me,” Bex said flatly
as I held my arms out, trying to balance and strut sexily at the same time.

Bang! “Ow!” I yelped as I rubbed my head. I’d
just toppled over and hit my head on the corner of my bed. I’m not sure if I
could ever get used to walking around in these all day. How would I be able to
run away from teachers? My heart sank as I realised the heel was dangling from
the sole of the shoe. “Oh my god! They’re Ella’s brand new heels!” I hissed. I
didn’t want Ella to hear. “She will kill me!”

We all sort of froze and looked around at
each other. I think we were all too aware that Ella was only in the next room.
“Give it here.” Bex held out her hand and I passed her the shoe. She removed
the chewing gum from her mouth, placed it on the sole and pressed the heel into
place. “There you go, sorted!” Bex smiled as if the whole problem was now
fixed. I just stared at her, as she placed them back in the bottom of Ella’s
wardrobe and smiled. I was horrified because realistically just how long was
that gum going to stick? I was equally horrified at the thought of telling Ella
I had broken her new heels, so I guess this would have to do.

Right on cue Ella strutted into our room. She
was dressed up as if she was going clubbing or to a glam party! She had a tiny
little black skirt on and a very low cut top, a full face of make-up and her
hair was massive. All that was missing was her shoes, I watched in horror as
Ella opened her wardrobe and retrieved the heels that Bex had just put back in
there.

“I’m now going to call round for Riley.” Ella
smirked at me.

“He just gave Charley his number,” Sarah
butted in as if she was helping me. I shot her a dirty look.

“Really? Keep up Charley! I got his number
practically the day after he moved in.” Ella slipped on her shoes as I held my
breath. “Watch and learn girls, watch and learn.”

We ran to the window to watch. I was more
concerned whether her shoes were still intact. We all crowded around the window
as Ella flounced down our garden path and then to Riley’s house. I was stunned
that the shoes hadn’t fallen apart yet. Maybe Bex’s idea wasn’t as useless as
I’d first thought.

We waited forever (probably more like five
minutes) until Ella came out of Riley’s house, with Riley as well! I can’t
believe this! It wasn’t long ago that he’d given me his number and practically
told us we were going over to his later. He didn’t take much persuading to
change his mind. Obviously a short skirt and a low cut top was the way to go. I
hated her even more than ever!

Ella linked her arm into Riley’s and she
tottered out onto the street. She gave a very quick but smug glance up at us -
we all stood silently watching her. Mrs Jones, one of our crazy neighbours, was
walking her yappy little Yorkshire terrier. She actually looked up and waved at
us! Cringe! Now Riley had noticed that we were indeed watching the pair of them
and there was nothing else for it but for me to wave back.

“Bloody hell, that dog is wearing more than
Ella.” Bex muttered whilst stifling a laugh, as she pointed at the pink padded
coat Tinkerbell (the dog) was wearing.

“Well, obviously Ella’s approach works,
doesn’t it?” I sighed. I was about to move, as I couldn’t bear to see anymore
when Ella took a step away to avoid the very yappy and persistent Tinkerbell
and the next thing I knew, Ella had toppled over into the road! Her bum was in
the air and her red knickers were on display to absolutely anyone that might
decide to walk past right now. As hilarious as the moment was, it lasted much
longer than just a ‘moment’. Ella seemed to have her ‘good’ shoe wedged in the
drain in the road and the other shoe (the gum shoe) was no longer stuck
together with gum and was the obvious reason for her embarrassing fall.

Mrs Jones looked horrified as Tinkerbell
continued to jump and bark at Ella as she desperately tried to free her shoe
from the drain and yes, we could all still see her pants! A passing car slowed
and through constant beeping of the horn the car full of boys started shouting
all sorts of comments and gestures!

“Oh my god, that’s Jake Watson from Year
Thirteen!” Sarah shrieked and pointed. She was right - the driver of the car
that had now practically come to a stop was being driven by Jake (who is very
popular at our school). I recognised the passengers as well: a couple of his
mates from Year Thirteen and I think the other two are in Year Twelve.

Ella was now trying to straighten up and was
pulling down at her skirt, desperately trying to make it longer. “Bet she
wished she didn’t have a micro skirt on now.” Bex commentated in a dead pan
voice which made it all the more entertaining.

“Nice pants!” I could hear the boy in the
front passenger seat now calling out. After a bit more leering the car
screeched off and we could still hear the laughter when they stopped at the end
of the street.

Ella finally figured out that she only had to
take her foot from her shoe to avoid exposing her knickers to the world. She
looked red with embarrassment when she realised how stupid she must have
looked. She crouched down, this time carefully (no pants on show) and wriggled
her shoe free from the drain. Her face changed when she picked up the other
shoe and realised that not only was the heel broken but it was dangling from
the shoe only attached by a piece of stretched chewing gum. Now instead of
looking red with embarrassment, she looked flushed with pure rage.