Step Three- Try to keep the bet on the down low. Don't let anyone else know about it. If one person finds out two people will find out then two will become four then four will become eight, it will spread like a wild fire so keep your mouth closed. It would be in your best interest.

Chapter Six

"He called you?" Peyton shrieked as we sat at our regular lunch table. Our school was definitely not known for its lunch program. The food was always barely mediocre so we had to talk about something other than the fish sticks.

Nathan continued eating the previously discussed school lunch while I said, "I found it extremely weird." Peyton gave a look of inquiry as she chewed on her peanut butter sandwich. "That he called. I mean it's been two months." I took a bite out of an apple. "It's not like we had a relationship but still..."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Nathan asked picking at the remaining fish sticks. "Is this really fish or is thing something..."

"Unknown?" Peyton interrupted. "I don't know but, we're talking about Daniel Howard."

"That asshole point guard from Pinkerton?" Nathan said.

"Yep. That'd be the one." I said taking another bite of my Granny Smith apple. "Well he and I... after the game two months ago..."

Peyton finished my sentence as she tended to do, "...got it on."

"So why's he calling you now? It was a one night stand. That's weird." Nathan asked me finishing off his fish sticks.

I took a sip from my water bottle which was always at my side. "He wants me to go to his brother's wedding with him."

"Let me interpret that for you. Daniel wants to play grab ass with Brooke at his brother's wedding." Peyton said putting her fingers in her curly mop of blonde hair.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "He wants to tap that ass and maybe grab it," He paused to take a gulp of Gatorade, "but there won't be any playing."

"Nathan!" Peyton and I cried out. Maybe he was right. Maybe Daniel was just calling me because he wanted to get some and he was just playing games with me. He was making me think he really wanted to have a relationship with me when he really just wanted to have "relations" with me.

"What?" Nathan asked with a full mouth. "I'm just trying to help out Brooke. I am a guy, I know how guys think. Guys like Daniel use girls. He is an all star basketball player. He has gotten with all his teams cheerleaders so now he is moving on to our team's."

"Sounds like someone knows what they are talking about." I said nudging Nathan and giving him a smirk.

"I would consider you a guy like Daniel so... you use girls too I guess, right?" Peyton asked him. "I know better than to ask that. I am stating the obvious." She rolled her eyes.

I looked around the cafeteria and finally spotted her. Hailey. "So are you using her?" I asked, pointing to Hailey who was across the lunch room. She slowly started to come over, as if she knew we were talking about her.

He let out a nervous laugh and said, "Why the hell would I use her?" Unbeknownst to Nathan, Hailey was behind him. "She's my tutor. I was using her to piss off Lucas but not to..." He felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Hailey. The color dripped from his face.

"Nathan," She took a deep breath, "I was just going to tell you that, um, I can't tutor today." She gave a fake smile, fighting back tears.

"Okay, thanks for the information but you can go back to your table now. I am sure you are missing out one some very interesting conversations right now, so..." I said, waving my hand in the direction from which she came.

She looked at Nathan who looked back at me. I raised one eyebrow and shrugged my shoulders. "Unbelievable Nathan." Hailey said under her breath.

I waved to her as she walked away. "Bye, bye. Come back soon. It's been fun!" Peyton hit me on the arm. "Ow!"

"Stop." She said. I watched Nathan get up and run after Hailey.

"He's got to be kidding." I scoff at them. "He can't like her. Granted, she is not the most hideous thing in the world, but still." I shook my head.

"Maybe he really likes her. Ya know, there is more to a person than looks." Peyton said standing up to throw her trash away.

I followed her. "You're talking like an ugly girl. Unattractive people say things like that and Peyton, doll, you are a pretty girl." I said placing my hand on her shoulder.

She shoved it away and looked back at me. "Stop being so damn shallow." We sat back down at the same table we had been sitting at out whole high school lives. "God." She let out a long sigh. "You and Daniel deserve each other."

Peyton pushed out of her seat as the table and began to walk away. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I screamed. I would not be caught dead pleading someone to come back and sit with me. I watched her leave the cafeteria. I sat alone for the first time in my life. "Good riddance."

Lucas was outside the cafeteria. I saw the two meet up. Peyton started the conversation. I watched her point to me. My heart cringed. If she was telling him about he bet, it would all be over. Not only the deal, but anything Lucas and I had ever had.