The Bet

The Boy Who Never Had to Try. The lunch courtyard of Westbridge Academy buzzed with noise.

Everywhere was very noisy.

Students filled every table, laughter echoed through the air, and phones flashed as people took pictures and videos.

They were very excited and happy, taking pictures and videos together.vAt the center of it all sat Denzel Alexander.

As usual. A group of girls occupied the table beside him, hanging on every word he said.

One girl twirled her hair Another laughed a little too hard at his jokes.

A third kept finding excuses to touch his arm. Denzel barely noticed. He doesn't notice them.

He leaned back on the chair he was sitting on, looking bored despite the attention.

"You know," his best friend, Jason, said, shaking his head,

"I don't think I have ever seen someone get this much attention and still look miserable."

The table burst into laughter. They were laughing out very loud. Denzel smirked.

"I am not miserable."

"You look like you are attending a funeral."

"Maybe because you keep talking."

"Ouch," Jason said dramatically.

The others laughed again. Denzel grabbed a bottle of water and took a sip.

He carry the bottle of water on the table gently and drink it. His friends exchanged looks.

They were staring at each other. Then Tyler leaned forward. He move forward.

Can I ask you a question?

"Can I ask a serious question?"

"Depends."

"When was the last time you actually liked a girl?"

“When was the last time you fell in love?”

The table went silent. Everywhere was very silent.

Denzel nearly choked on his water.

"Liked?"

"Yeah."

"As in romantically?" Denzel asked.

Tyler nodded.

Denzel laughed.

The others stared.

"What?"

"You don't even remember, do you?" Jason said.

"Because it never happened," Tyler added.

The boys erupted into laughter.

Denzel rolled his eyes.

"You guys are ridiculous."

You are so ridiculous.

"No," Jason said. "You are ridiculous."

What did I do

"What did I do now?"

"You flirt with half the female population of this school."

"That is not true."

"It's completely true."

"Fine," Denzel admitted. "Maybe a quarter."

The group laughed again.

"But that is different."

That is very different.

"How?" Tyler asked.

Denzel shrugged.

"I don't chase girls."

The boys stared at him Then they all burst out laughing Even louder this time.

Denzel frowned.

"What?"

What happened?

Jason wiped tears from his eyes.

"You don't chase girls because you don't have to."

"Exactly."

"They chase you."

"That is different."

"It's literally the same thing."

"No, it isn't."

Tyler pointed at him.

"Name one girl who ever rejected you."

Denzel opened his mouth Then closed it back. The boys immediately noticed.

"Oh my God."

"He can't think of one."

"This is incredible."

Denzel groaned.

"That is not my fault."

Jason leaned back.

He move backward.

"You are proving our point."

"What point?"

"You have never had a challenge."

Denzel scoffed.

"Challenge?"

"Yeah."

Tyler grinned.

"A girl who doesn't care about your money."

"A girl who doesn't care about your looks."

"A girl who doesn't melt when you smile."

Denzel chuckled.

"Those girls exist?"

The table exploded with laughter.

"See?" Jason said.

"That is exactly the problem."

Denzel shook his head.

"You people are obsessed."

"No," Tyler replied.

"We are entertained."

The teasing should have ended there But Jason suddenly snapped his fingers.

"I have an idea."

I think I have an idea.

Everyone looked at him That smile on his face immediately worried Denzel.

"No."

"You don't even know what I am going to say."

"I know that smile."

The boys laughed.

Jason leaned forward.

"What if we found a girl who doesn't fall for your charm?"

Denzel raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

"And you try to make her like you."

Denzel stared.

Then laughed.

"That is stupid."

That is very stupid.

"Why?"

"Because I don't care."

I don't really care.

Tyler smirked.

"Or because you are scared."

You are scared.

Denzel eyes narrowed.

"Scared?"

The boys immediately sensed they had hit a nerve.

Jason grinned.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The ego."

"I don't have an ego."

The entire table shouted at once.

"YES, YOU DO!"

Several nearby students turned to look. They start staring at them. Denzel buried his face in his hands.

"You guys are impossible."

Tyler folded his arms.

He folded his hands together.

"Then prove us wrong."

Denzel sighed.

"You are taking this way too seriously."

"No," Jason said.

"We are making lunch interesting."

“We are making it very much interesting.”

The group laughed again. They all laughed together at once But Jason wasn't finished.

He looked around the crowded courtyard Then his eyes landed on someone. Slowly, his grin widened.

"Oh."

Tyler followed his gaze.

Then he grinned too.

"Oh."

Denzel instantly became suspicious.

"What?"

Neither answered Instead, they pointed. Denzel turned.

His eyes followed the direction of their fingers.

And landed on a girl sitting alone beneath a tree. Amara Collins. She was reading a notebook while eating a simple lunch.

She was reading a novel while eating her snacks for lunch. No makeup. No designer clothes.

No group of friends surrounding her. Just only her. She seemed completely disconnected from the chaos around her. Almost invisible.

Denzel frowned.

"What about her?"

Jason smirked.

"Perfect."

"For what?"

"The challenge."

Denzel laughed.

"You have lost your minds."

But his friends ignored him. They ignored him completely. Tyler watched Amara carefully.

"You know something?"

"What?"

"I don't think she looked at you once."

Denzel glanced over.

“She hadn't.”

Not even for a second Which was unusual because Most students at least recognized him.

Amara looked completely uninterested. Jason noticed Denzel expression.

"Oh, that is bothering you."

"No, it isn't."

"It definitely is."

Denzel looked away.

"I don't care."

"Then why are you still looking?"

The table exploded with laughter again, Jason suddenly stood up.

"Alright."

Denzel sighed.

"Here we go."

Jason extended his hand dramatically.

"I officially challenge Denzel Alexander."

Several students nearby began watching.

Tyler joined in.

"So do I."

Denzel rubbed his forehead.

"This is embarrassing."

This is very embarrassing.

"Accept the challenge."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it's childish."

Tyler smirked.

"You are scared."

That word Scared, Denzel hated it. Jason knew it. Tyler knew it. The entire table knew it.

Denzel stared at them. He keep staring at them for a very long time Then sighed.

"What exactly is this challenge?"

The boys cheered.

Jason sat down.

"The goal is simple."

It's very simple.

Denzel already regretted asking.

"You have one month."

"One month for what?"

"To get Amara Collins to fall for you."

Denzel blinked Then laughed. A real laugh. A genuine laugh. When he finally stopped, he shook his head.

"You people are insane."

You are very insane.

Tyler grinned.

"Is that a yes?"

"No."

"Sounds like a yes."

Jason extended his hand again.

"Come on."

Denzel looked toward Amara. She was still reading.

Completely unaware. Completely uninterested.

For some reason, that bothered him more than it should. Jason noticed.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"You accepted the moment you looked at her."

Denzel groaned.

"I hate all of you."

I hate you all.

"That is not a no."

The table erupted.

Finally, Denzel shook his head and stood.

He shook his head and stood up.

"Fine."

The boys instantly fell silent.

"Wait."

"Seriously?"

Denzel pointed at them.

"One month."

Jason grinned.

"One month."

"And when I win, you idiots stop bothering me."

Tyler laughed.

"Deal."

The boys shook hands. Cheers erupted around the table. The bet was official.

The lunch bell rang. Students began returning to class.

They start heading back to their various classes.

The crowd slowly dispersed. Jason and Tyler continued celebrating as they walked away.

But Denzel stayed behind for a moment. His eyes drifted toward the tree. Toward Amara.

She was packing her books into her worn backpack.

A strand of hair fell across her face.

She brushed it away without looking up. There was nothing extraordinary about her. Nothing flashy.

Nothing that demanded attention Yet she seemed different from everyone else.

She seemed very different And somehow That intrigued him.

For the first time all day, Denzel found himself wondering about someone Not because she liked him But because she didn't.

As Amara stood and walked toward the school building, one of her notebooks slipped from her bag.

It landed on the ground behind her. She did not notice that her book fall down she was just heading back to her class.

Denzel saw it For a moment, he considered ignoring it.

Later he picked it up.

His eyes accidentally landed on the first page. A handwritten sentence was scribbled across the top.

"No matter how hard life gets, I won't give up on Mom."

Denzel froze. The playful smile vanished from his face.

Something about those words hit him unexpectedly.

The words landed on his heart heavily.

Before he could think about why, Amara disappeared into the crowded hallway.

Still unaware that her notebook and perhaps the beginning of something much bigger was now in Denzel hands.