"Okay, guys." said Jason. "We have a new student. Her name's Teresa Lisbon."

I exhaled in relief, inaudibly. I was thankful to Jason for not making me introduce myself. I'd probably pant and black out with nervousness.

"Now, you kids treat her right." he continued. "She's new here. Who's gonna give her the unofficial tour?"

All the guys in the class eagerly raised their hands. The girls snorted and rolled their eyes. I smiled inwardly. Today was going to be very interesting.

"Okay, seeing the circumstances, we'll decide by a lottery." Jason concluded. "Write your names on pieces of papers and put it in the lotto box." He pointed to the small wooden box resting on a table at the corner of the room. He turned to me. "Why don't you go and sit in that empty seat, Teresa?"

I saw where he was pointing and scrutinized the guy who was gonna be my table partner. His blue eyes were focused on me. He had blond curls which bounced on the crown of his head. His jawline was little rigid for some reason. There were dimples at the corners of his mouth. He was wearing a black hoodie. There was a neon green backpack with blue stripes by his side.

He was...kinda cute, actually.

I sat on the blue bench beside him and focused on the teacher. That is, until the boy interrupted me.

"So," he asked in a rich voice. "You're the new girl, huh?"

"Please don't start talking to me already. I need to cope up with this." I said apologetically.

He raised his eyebrows in query. "No 'It's nice to meet you!' or "Hi, there!'? You're a tough nut." he acknowledged.

"And I'm proud of it." I told him.

"You're ignorance of me is incomprehensible." he told me. "Nearly all the females over here tell me that I'm utterly irresistible." He winked.

"I can see that." I saw the other girls staring daggers at me and looking lovingly towards my partner. Grace was looking at me with a shocked expression.

"I see you're friends with Grace." he told me wistfully. "I never did have the chance to befriend her."

"Befriend; as in sleeping with her or breaking her heart and running away?" I asked.

"You tend to get on top of things real quick, you know?"

"I noticed that. How come none of those girls have the privilege of sitting with you?" I motioned towards the girls.

"I knew there was a new student coming. I just wanted to check her out. And it looks like you're worth checking out." He grinned, his dimples popping up.

"Excuse me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. "Did you just check out my worth?" My anger was becoming hotter by the minute.

"Well, yeah." he confessed. "If I must befriend someone, I need to check out her worth. I don't befriend worthless people."

He crossed the line with me. He seriously crossed the line with me.

Nobody crosses the line with me.

"Well," I told him. "I don't befriend worthless people either. So thanks but no thanks."

He looked at me with a bewildered expression. "Did you seriously just call me worthless?"

"Why, yes I did."

He looked at me angrily. "Any girl in the school would be lucky to have me. Nobody ever declines me."

"Well, well, do we have a playboy here?" I asked.

"You have a generous man here."

"Well, thank you for your generosity; but I decline." I stubbornly crossed my arms across my chest. "I am not like these stupid girls here who fall in the trap of a worthless man like you." A vein was pulsing in the boy's forehead. "I'm sorry to say this, but you've lost this one. I don't think there is a possibility of anything between us here."

He took a deep breath and calmed himself. "How about a bet, then?"

"Why would you try when you know you'd lose?" I asked lazily.

"Scared you'll lose?" he challenged me.

I didn't know why, but I let the bait get to me. I suppose it would be fun if i get to hold his failure above his head for the rest of my time here.

I sighed. "I'm just trying to have mercy on you, but you're a stubborn one. Just don't cry later on when you lose. I warned you."

He gave me a devilish smirk. "I'm sorry to say that you'll be the one to cry."

"Well, we'll see." I snapped. "If you manage to get me to kiss you within a month, you get to leak my failure to the school and get whatever you want." It was a dangerous bargain, but I had to bet big. His eyes widened.

"If I win, I'll leak your failure and publicly embarrass you. I get to nag you for the rest of my time here."

He had a smug expression on his face. "Many lost in that bet, you know?"

"Well then," I told him, staring him down. "I'll not be one of those fools."

He gave me his hand. "Deal?"

I looked at it with distaste, as if touching his skin would burn mine. I reluctantly shook it. "Deal,"

I turned my attention to the teacher, wondering to myself if I'd made a mistake.

I exhaled in annoyance. What was I thinking? Of course I'll win the bet. I won't be one of his playthings, I won't. His charm will be completely useless on me. He was just like any other playboy I've victoriously dealt with in the past.

I started to do questions one to ten on electrolysis. I rubbed my temples, trying to give my headache relief. I hated this chapter. Half the time it left me rolling on the floor with confusion. Metaphorically, of course.

By the time I was finished, the guys started lining up one by one, putting their named in the wooden box for the lottery. Their expressions were so hopeful, it made me sad that they would be heartbroken soon. Grace winked at me. I knew why she didn't put her name in the lotto box. She wanted me to check out a guy, maybe try and hit it off with him. I smirked. That sneaky little vixen.

I submitted my paper to Mr. Jason and he accepted it with a small smile on his face. Right afterwards the bell rang and I went to my bench to get my red backpack.

As I was exiting the class, the boy caught up with me. "Since we're officially rivals now, the least you could do is try and know my name."

"I told you. I wasn't the least bit interested in knowing anything about you." I impatiently tapped my foot.

"Your attitude amazes me." he said. "I'm Patrick Jane."

I frowned. "That's a trashy name." I retorted; even though I silently admitted that it was kinda adorable.

"Well, Teresa Lisbon is no less trashier." he shot back. As he walked away, he turned his head towards me and called back. "The game begins!"

I rolled my eyes. What a dramatic snob! It would be a total waste to even be in the same room with him. "It sure has." I muttered under my breath.

Grace hurriedly came after me. I felt bad for leaving her alone in there.

She grabbed my arm and looked at me with wide eyes. "What the hell was that all about?" she demanded.

I sighed mournfully. "It's a long story, and I have lots of time to tell you about it."