It took a bit more time then I thought but here you go! Enjoy! :D (don't forget to review afterwards :P)

Chapter 8: More bets and rumours.

Throughout the better part of English class, Janet and Daniel were laughing and talking in the

back of the classroom.

"So, we were running and I tripped and fell on the guy I had a crush on. What I hadn't noticed

was that because I fell on him, the guy's pants were just a little too loose, if you know what I

mean. So he got up really quickly and looked at me like I was crazy. I was so embarrassed that I didn't go to school for a week." Janet finished her story.

Daniel broke out laughing. "Okay, that beats my story hands down."

"Told ya."

"So, who was the guy? Does he still go to this school?"

"Nah, it didn't take long before he moved."

"That's understandable."

"Are you going to talk or do the assignment?" The teacher asked angrily as she passed by.

"Working." Janet said, picking up her pencil and starting to write. Satisfied, the teacher walked

away. "So, you've been here almost a week." Janet started talking again.

"Try three days."

"Still, someone must have caught your eye by now. You interested in someone yet?"

"Um, well, no." Daniel asked, his cheeks turning red.

"The color of your skin tells me otherwise." She teased.

"No, I just... I'm used to sort of keeping my distance. Since I have to move a lot, I try not to get too attached."

"Wow. Seriously?"

Daniel nodded.

"Oh. Afraid of getting hurt or hurting someone else?"

"A little of both, I guess."

Janet let the matter drop and got back to the work the teacher kept telling her to work on.

"You're kidding!" Siler exclaimed. The SJ safeguard was having their weekly meeting in the

teacher's lounge for lunch period.

"I didn't expect that." Freya admitted.

"That's definitely a twist." Walter added.

"Who would have thought that Janet would come and rescue Daniel?" Davis wondered.

"So, what happens now? Nobody won the bet." Desala said.

"Okay. Let's go double or nothing. New bets on the shocking Daniel-Janet relationship." Walter

announced.

"You know, I heard a rumour that they're the ones that got the fight started between Pete and

Martouf." Freya said.

"Interesting timing." Davis remarked.

"Looks like there's a mini SJ safeguard." Walter said.

"Good. We could use the extra help. Especially for the dance on Friday." Davis said.

"You're not considering we ask students to help us I hope." Siler said.

"Well, what else can we do? Maybourne and Makepeace are both in charge of keeping watch at

the dance and only one of us will get the chance to work at the door, which already isn't much."

Davis argued.

"True. But there are ways that we could sneak inside." Desala said.

"Not to mention the fact that the Hammond only allowed us to form the SJ safeguard as long as

the students weren't aware of it." Walter said.

"All right. So we don't team up with them." Davis gave in. "It was just a thought."

"Can we get back on topic now?" Walter asked.

"I thought we were on topic." Siler said.

"We still need to settle the bets."

"All right. I think we all bet that Sam and Jack will kiss at the dance, that Maybourne and his

goon will try something sneaky and that by Monday Sam and Jack will be a couple." Freya said.

"Okay, what about the new kid, Daniel?" Walter asked.

"20 on him going with Janet to the dance." Desala said.

"You're such a hopeless romantic but he's too shy. Put me down for 30 on him going solo."

Freya said.

"Safe bet. I'll go with 25 on him getting beaten up by Martin and company before entering the

school tomorrow night." Davis said.

"How joyful. I say 20 on Daniel leaving early and 10 on him staying in a corner most of the

night." Siler said.

"Well, that's not very joyful either." Davis said.

"But that's what happens to all new kids on their first school dance."

"Teachers stay calm." Walter intervened. "Now really isn't the time for us to be turning against

each other. Now we need to..."

"I thought I would find you all here." Maybourne said as he walked in. "Hope I'm not interrupting

anything."

"Well, actually..." Desala said.

"Great! I'm guessing you're organizing the bets for tomorrow's dance."

"Yes." Walter said annoyed.

"Good, put me and Makepeace down for 25 on Sam and Jack having one dance and then

someone coming between them like, say, Martouf of Anise. Maybe both."

"Well, that's a surprise." Freya said sarcastically.

"Still trying to get the ex's to mess up our plans I see." Walter said.

"I don't do anything except observe." Maybourne replied.

"Yeah right." Davis said. "And what was it you were doing yesterday?"

"Discipline."

"Whatever."

"I would watch it if I were you." He said, getting ready to exit.

"Wait up, Maybourne. I won this morning's bet." Desala said.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me. The flirt bet?" He said, annoyed.

"Yup." She answered happily.

"I can't believe this." He mumbled shoving the money in Desala's hand and storming out.

"That guy seriously needs to get a punching bag." Davis said.

"That or yoga classes." Walter said. Everybody laughed at the thought of Maybourne doing yoga.

After the final bell had rung, Janet and Sam met outside so they could go to the mall together.

It only took a few minutes to get to the mall since it was only half a mile from the school. They

walked into the first clothing store they spotted.

"Oh! Look at this cute little skirt. You know, this would look really nice on you." Janet said

merely seconds after they entered the store.

"When have you ever seen me wear a skirt?" Sam replied.

"There's a first time for everything."

"Not this."

"Fine. In that case we need to find you a really nice pair of jeans."

"You're not looking for something for yourself?"

"I'm not the one with a hot date tomorrow." Janet said, a smile on her face.

"For now." Sam smiled.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I just heard a few stories about you and Daniel."

"Stories?" Janet said, her smile now gone.

"You've been spending a bit of time together the way I hear it. And something about you two

talking all the way through English class."

"So what? We're just friends."

"I think I said the same thing when you questioned me about Jack a few months ago." Sam

teased.

"This is different."

"How so?"

"Well, for one, Daniel and I only met a few days ago. And besides, he told me that since he moves

so often he tries not to get too attached to people." Janet said as she remembered their

conversation in English class.

"He told you that?"

"Yeah... After I asked whether or not he was interested in someone."

"Subtle."

"Thank you."

"Well, like you said, there's a first time for everything, right?"

Janet shrugged. "I don't recall telling you I was interested in him."

"You didn't have too."

"That obvious, huh?"

"Yup."

"This is payback for all the times I teased you about Jack, isn't it?"

"You said it, not me."

Janet rolled her eyes. "Here. Try this pair on." She said and threw a pair of jeans she had just

found. After two hours of shopping, both girls had found a nice outfit for the dance.

Ta da! now you know what to do. My favourite little button is only a click away!