We're getting closer and closer to Alex's house and I find myself bubbling over. Normally, when my friends and I enter a silence, it's comfortable, peaceful even. But right now, it's the complete opposite. I can feel the stress constricting my throat and words begging to leave my mouth, I need to tell them about Juliette.
I don't usually discuss Juliette with them, at least I do it less now that I've started tutoring her. Even when they ask me how it's going with the tutoring, I just give noncommittal one-word answers. However, this is important, I need to tell them.
They need to know about the kiss.
“Juliette and I kissed,” I blurt out quickly, closing my eyes and covering my ears.
I expect to be hit with an onslaught of screaming and confusion, maybe even a few slaps on my head and face. I can't bear to look at the disappointment and shock on their faces.
A few seconds go by and I don't hear or feel anything, so I open my eyes slowly, expecting to see their shocked faces. What I don't expect is to see them looking casual and I certainly don't expect what Aryan says next.
“Pay up.” He smirks, holding his hand to the front toward Victoria.
“For fuck's sake,” she grumbles out just in time, because we reach Alex's mansion and she quickly parks up.
The shock of their casual behaviour has rendered me speechless, so I just sit and watch as she unclips her seatbelt and pulls out her wallet. Before I can even blink, she pulls out a wad of cash and hands it to Aryan.
What the hell?
“What's going on?” I question, undoing my own seatbelt.
Aryan laughs smugly. “We made a bet about when you and Juliette would finally kiss. I knew it would be this year for sure.”
I'm sorry…what?!
“Let me repeat myself,” I say clearing my throat, “what?!”
They look startled at my shriek and exchange glances. What is really going on here? Why are they acting like they saw this coming? My mind is racing right now and honestly, I'm pissed off.
Victoria holds her hands up in defence. “Don’t look at me, I was betting that you would never kiss that devil, but I did see it coming.”
“How?” I don’t mean for the words to come out so angry, but I can’t help it.
Victoria smiles sheepishly. “Sorry, it's just been very obvious that you two are into each other.”
“Since when?”
“Since she broke Stacey's hand for you.” Victoria says, visibly shuddering at the memory. “The girl is literally obsessed with you.”
We haven't even spoken about that since it happened, mostly because I've avoided the fact that she did something like that—and the fact that I might have enjoyed it.
“Come on, why do you think I’ve always stopped Victoria from beating her ass for how she treats you?” Aryan asks, like it’s obvious. “I knew she was only treating you like that because she’s into you.”
“I still want to beat her ass,” Victoria chimes in, “there’s no excuse for treating anyone like that.”
“So, you’re saying she likes me? That’s fine. But I don’t like her, not in a million years,” I grit the words out and once again, they exchange looks with one another.
“Addie, she’s literally all you’ve been able to talk about for five years. No matter how horrible she is. You never let us defend you against her,” Aryan says, his eyes softening.
“That's because I hate her!” I retort loudly running my hands through my hair. “I hate her, but it’s still only between us. I don’t need anyone to fight my battles for me. That doesn’t mean I like her.”
I throw my face into my hands, frustration radiating from each crevice of my body. What is going on? My friends think I'm into Juliette? I've spent years talking about how much I despise her!
These two have been with me every step of the way, even agreeing with me when I talk about how much of a horrible person Juliette is. Now all of a sudden, they think I like her? Is this a joke?
“Sorry,” they hurriedly say in unison.
I open my eyes and they're looking at me with apologetic expressions. Clearly, they didn't expect me to get this annoyed. Tough for them, I didn't expect my best friends to be betting on when I would kiss that Satan's spawn either, but we can't always get what we want.
