Read The Boyfriend Bet for Free Online Page B

anymore?” I snapped.
    “Still bitter about Sam? Get over it Charley!”  Ella
flicked her hair over her shoulder, refusing to look at me. “And for your
information I dumped him.”
    I wanted to just throttle her there and then. She was
just so casual about the whole thing, like she had stolen some shoes from me
and not my boyfriend. There was no way I could let her take Riley away from me
as well. Ok, so he’s not mine yet but I sure as hell am not letting Ella have
him.
    “So, trying to get your claws into someone else already?”
I said. I could kick myself. I was being way too obvious. I hadn’t spoken this
much to her for ages.
    “Yeah actually, that boy next door.” Ella smiled at me.
It was totally obvious that she knew I liked him and she was smiling in that
I-don’t-give-a-shit way.
    “I saw him first, don’t even go there!” I snapped. You
would think that maybe she had one moral bone in her body and would let me have
him, after feeling ever so slightly guilty for what she had previously done to her
sister. No, she clearly hadn’t.
    “Charley, do you really think you even stand a chance?
He’s like eighteen, if not he will be soon and not to mention he’s well fit.”
Ella said as she had sat up to gloat at me now. “Haven’t you got to go dance
with some little kids or something?”
    “Whatever,” I muttered. There was absolutely no point in
arguing with Ella, not if I didn’t want to feel insecure and totally crap. Ella
has the power to make anyone feel inadequate or just damn right awful. She
actually has a really harsh mouth on her.
    “Ok, Charley bring it on, you think you can get him do
you? Why don’t we make a little bet out of it, you know to add to the fun?”
Ella was now propped up on her elbows staring at me and her eyes were sparkling
with the idea of it.
    “How much?” I narrowed my eyes.
    “Not money Charley. Say I win and I bag him as my new
boyfriend, then you have to dye your hair pink.” Ella grinned.
    “I hate pink,” I muttered. Ella’s side of the room had
always been painted this gross pale, sugary pink colour. She loves pink and all
her stuff has to be this vile shade, I think this has always helped my hatred
of the damn colour.
    “Well yeah.” Ella said as though I was so dumb, “That’s
the point!”
    “Well what about if I win?”
    “Well in the unlikely event of that happening, you had
better think of something now before we agree. No going back then.” Ella was
grinning one of her evil smiles. She was such a bitch, she thought she had this
in the bag.
    “You go to school for one month with no make-up, no fake
tan, no hair extensions, no heels and the uniform I pick for you.” I said, I
was trying to think of all the things she cared about most and I’m afraid, yes
she is that shallow.
    “Whatever Charley, because there is no way you are going
to win.”
    “Let’s get the rules clear. It’s not over until one of us
is officially Riley’s girlfriend.” I said ignoring her last comment. 
    “What do you mean officially?” Ella was looking more
intrigued.
    “Nothing else counts, you’ve got to be his actual
girlfriend. Just ‘seeing’ him doesn’t count, kissing or however far you want to take it, it doesn’t count until you’re a proper couple.” I smiled. I
knew what Ella was like.
    “Very clever Charley,” Ella smiled back but she didn’t
look as cocky as before. “But I still don’t think you stand a chance.” She did
a pathetic spitting sound into her hand and held it out. Well if that’s how she
wanted to shake on it, I spat as much saliva into my hand and quickly shook
hers.
    “That’s disgusting Charley!” Ella shrieked as I stood
there grinning at her, watching her make a very quick dash to the bathroom to
wash her hands.
    There are only twelve months between me and Ella - I was
sixteen in September, two days after Ella turned seventeen. Ella always loves
to remind me that I must of course have been a mistake