10 ??The Kings? Pfft??

LEIA

"No, I just can't understand how human beings can do this." I angrily spat as we rounded the corner of the fourth floor. Hoor was breathing heavily, trying to match my supernatural pace. "Did you hear it? I will make Leia fall for me so that I can win a stupid bet." I mimicked an exaggerated version of a male's deep voice.

Hoor practically sprinted to catch up with me. Her hand landed on my arm but I refused to slow down for a single second. I had to see for myself. The notice board Hoor had told me about.

"Okay okay, I know that's douchey and I get that you want to rub the whole thing in King Zayn's pretty face but what's my fault here?" She let a long sigh. "I can barely breathe at the moment."

I sharply turned to her. "Did I tell you to follow me?"

I was taken aback by my tone and harsh words but Hoor didn't seem to mind at all. Maybe people were used to talking this way or maybe I didn't sound as harsh as I thought I did. Still, I felt guilty. Guilty enough to slow down a bit.

"No," She walked side-by-side with me. "All you did was run up here as soon as I told you about the bet-board. I had to follow you in case you fainted after seeing the bets."

Were they that bad?

Hah! Who was I kidding? A guy had just betted on a Bugatti to make me fall in love with him. Something was wrong with people these days.

And Zayn was making it really hard for me to continue my no-hating-on-anyone rule. I honestly despised him a little every day.

But there was also something else I felt for him—something that ran deeper than the bones in my body.

"Oi, where are you going?" Hoor whisper-yelled from behind me—there were A-Level students' classes going on. Since I hadn't kept Physics as a subject, I had a free period. I had a feeling Hoor was skipping her class. "Leia!"

"What?" I halted, turning back.

She pointed to the board next to her. The bet-board. "It's here,"

Whatever I had in mind evaporated as I walked back and my eyes fell on the messily scrawled writing on a white chart.

THE KINGS' BETS

1st month of Grade 9: Meant for Zayn

Bet: Sneak into the girls' changing room by the pool, and get at least twenty of their numbers.

Time: One day

Prize: Your dream car

Status: Won

6th month of Grade 9: Meant for Anas

Bet: Skip this year's football finals

Time: One week

Prize: 1 grand

Status: Lost.

1st month of Grade 10: Meant for Zayn

Bet: Set your Dad's house on fire (and the one next to it)

Time: One week

Prize: 5 grand

Status: Won

6th month of Grade 10: Meant for Zeeshan

Bet: Get your girl to fall for you. Then, dump her after.

Time: Till before prom

Prize: Anything you want (At this point, I'll start selling my body organs if only to get you out of your misery)

Status: Lost

1st month of Grade 11: Meant for Zayn

Bet: Private ATM

Time: One month

Prize: Anas's Bugatti

Status: I always win

Hah! Private, my foot.

As if I'd let him win this time.

"Hey," I looked back at Hoor who stood as stiff as a stick. "What's wrong?"

She drew in a shaky breath. "Nothing. I was just . . . Ugh! To hell with it. I can't lie, anyway."

"You can tell me anything," I gave her an encouraging smile.

She nodded, turning her gaze to the bet-board. "You read the bets, right?" She asked and I confirmed with a bob of my head. "Well . . . the fourth one was related to me."

"The fourth one . . .? Wait, you mean you were the girl Zeeshan had to . . . Oh wow. These guys really are jerks."

She snorted. "Yeah, tell me about it."

Silence fell. I wasn't sure whether it was okay to pry into something that private and so I didn't ask anything more.

After a minute of eyeing the bet-board, I faced Hoor. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do. If it were up to me, I'd just ignore them and their stupid ways and hope to get done with this year without any troubles."

Hoor stared at me, an introspective look in her eyes. "You know what? I think I have a plan."