Wanna Bet?

Gracie blushed a little as she walked in to her first day of school. This was all so foreign but so familiar. She moved schools a lot for her father's job and she hated it every time. She was always an outsider - too afraid to make friends because she knew she would leave them all too soon. Luckily her father said they would stay until she graduated. Only two years. She was a junior - so she could settle down... Make some good friends this time and focus on having some fun. She was an innocent girl though, very trusting, but it would be okay.

Carter chuckled a little as they sat out in the front yard before the school day, watching all of the girls who walked by. He was chewing on a Poptart for breakfast and wondering how to make this year - their senior year, the best it could be... He chuckled. "I got it!" He said to the group. "Corruption game!" He smirked and chuckled, shaking his head when all of the boys didn't get it. "You know - take an innocent girl - mess with her head a little... Make her your bad girl. Whoever does it best - in the shortest amount of time... Five thousand bucks."

Sonia walked into the school, school bag slung over her shoulders as she weaved through the sea of bodies that were all entering the one gate. Junior year, two more years of enduring hell, or high school, and she was out on her own. Sonia wasn't one hundred percent sure on what she wanted to be, maybe a fashion designer. She still had a few years to figure it out and she was in no real rush.

As she entered her school she winced when someone shoved into her back. biting her tongue she forced back a profanity and continued walking. Her back was sensitive still from the tattoo she had received only two days ago. A birthday present from her parents.



Arin looked at his friend a smirk spreading across his face. He thought about the game that Carter had suggested. Five thousand was a lot of money, however if he won it would be a hell of a lot easier to pay off the debts he owed.

"Alright, I'm in," he stated before taking a drag of the cigarette that was nestled snuggly between his fingers. The dark haired male hadn't figured out who his target would be yet but he was bound to find one before the day was out.

Gracie felt a little unsure as she walked through the school. She wasn't used to such a big school - and most people already had friends and all of that. She was just the weird new girl right now - and she didn't know what to think about it. It had never bothered her before, but she had never stayed before.

She made some eye contact with people and tried to smile. She was happy to be here of course, so why not show it? And some people waved back and smiled. That's what you got for being innocent - some people did actually accept you in the long run.



Carter smirked as his best friend agreed to it and he took a drag from his own cigarette, nodding his head. He liked this game - it would be a challenge - and that was what made it so much fun! He liked challenges - and five thousand extra bucks in his pocket would be beautiful.

He thought for a moment. "Good," he said when his friends had all agreed. "Gotta have your girl before the end of the week - the innocent the better. This is about getting a girl to really change for you." And he had a perfect target in mind - maybe not completely innocent, but still a good challenge.

Sonia walked through the courtyard towards the lockers her mind set on one thing. Get her bag off her back.. As she walked along her path was cut off causing her to stumble slightly.
"OI!" she cried, looking at the person that had just cut off her path. Seeing the blonde clutching her books close to her chest and the unsettled look on her face she instantly felt sorry for her rudeness. "Sorry," she apologized. The two stood in an awkward silence for a few seconds before Sonia broke it.

"Hi... I'm Sonia, you must be new." she introduced herself a smile spreading across her face as she waited for the blonde to speak.



Arin finished his cigarette before grabbing his bag and getting to his feet. Looking down at his friends he nodded his head before walking away.

As he walked through the bustling sea of students he scanned the crowd looking for a girl he could try and corrupt to win this game. It was hard to find an innocent girl when ninety nine percent of them looked like desperate sluts.

However he saw a flash of blonde weaving through the crowds. A smirk spread across his face as he watched her from a distance.

Jackpot!

Sonia McLean was introducing herself to the girl. This was going to be easy. Sonia was easy to persuade and he was certain the new blonde girl would be the same.

He had his target, and he had locked in.

Arin could feel the wad of cash in the palm of his hand.

Gracie frowned a little and blushed as she made someone stumble behind her and she looked back, catching sight of her and seeing how angry the girl was at her. It was quite unsettling. "I... I'm sorry." She apologized after the other girl.

It was just such a big change... This school was huge and scary - she didn't know what to think about it.

"I'm Gracie... Yeah, I'm new here... Know anyway of how I can find Mr. Mason's English class...? He's my homeroom and I have no idea where I am or how to get there..." She said to the attention this girl was giving her.



Carter got up soon to follow in Arin's lead. It wasn't hard - he already had the perfect girl in mind... The girl he had always wanted to mess with - and now would be the perfect opportunity for it anyway.

He looked in the direction he saw Arin looking as he caught up to him, a few steps behind, and smirked. Damn, hopefully Arin wasn't looking at the same one... If he was looking at the blonde, that was fine...

But Sonia McLean? She was his...

Always had been a challenge it seemed - and he wanted to test that out... Seemed quite hot...

Sonia looked at the girl noticing how shy she seemed to be. When the blonde asked about Mr. Mason the red head nodded her head. "I sure do, I'm heading that way now." Sonia smiled at the blonde, "Come on I'll take you there." with that she stepped closer to the blonde linking her arm with hers as she began to walk in the direction of her favourite English teachers classroom.

Sonia had only taken a few steps before her path was cut off, swallowing harshly she was about to let fly at whoever had just cut her off until she looked up and saw Arin Quinn and Carter Walker standing there sly smiles on their faces.

"Can I help you?" she asked. Earning a wide Cheshire Cat type grin from Arin exposing his perfectly straight teeth.

"Sure can McLean, who's your friend?" he asked his eyes wandering over to Gracie.

"None of your business Quinn." she spat back.

"Now come on Sonny don't be like that."

"Don't call me that!" she snapped annoyed at how he so easily used her nickname as if they were best friends.

"What are you going to do? Sweet, innocent Sonia?"

"Fuck off!" the words slipped from her lips before she had realised what she was saying. A startled look flashed across both males faces. Sonia didn't hang around long enough for them to say anything.

Pulling Gracie away towards her destination.



Arin had been caught by surprise at the red heads use of vulgar language. He had never known Sonia McLean to curse before. What had happened over school break? He turned his head and watched as the red head and the new blonde disappeared into the sea of students. A smirk spreading across his face.

"Come on Walker better get to Mrs Henderson's class before she castrates us." with that the dark haired male headed in the opposite direction of the two girls

Gracie was a little nervous as two guys came up and nearly surrounded her and her new friend Sonia. It was really weird...

And the way that Sonia was asking, she didn't like it all too much that they were around. She barely had time to process it all before she was pulled away again and she sighed, shaking her head.

"Who were those guys?" She asked, glancing over at Sonia as they walked. "You don't seem to like them all too much." She smiled.



Carter sighed a little as Sonia walked away. Something about the way she seemed to dislike him made her even more sexy to him...

And what the hell had happened to her?! She was acting completely different.

"Does she still count even if she doesn't seem so innocent? I think she's still innocent down deep." He chuckled lightly as they walked out to class and shook his head.

Sonia turned to look at the blonde who was walking beside her, sneaking a quick glance behind her she watched as the two males walked away. Heaving a frustrated sigh she spoke, "They're Arin Quinn and Carter Walker, stay away from them." she warned. "Those two are the school derros, batboys, drop kicks whatever you want to call them. Seriously if you looked up the definition for manwhore there would be a photo of those two smirking at the reader." Once the red head had finished her spiel she turned and looked at Gracie smiling.

"So what about you? Where are you from?" Sonia desperately wanted to change the subject.



Arin shook his head at his friend, "Mate she reeks innocence just because she stumbled across urban dictionary does not mean she isn't innocent." Out of the corner of his eyes the dark haired male watched as the two girls as they got further and further away.

He had to get the new girl alone, show her that he isn't who everyone thinks he is, manipulate her into believing that he is a nice guy and BAM the deal is done.

Gracie blushed a little. Great - why did she have troublemaker guys after her? What did she do to deserve that?! She didn't know and she didn't necessarily want to find out either. She sighed and played with her hair, hoping that Sonia would be around to protect her from stupid guy like that.

"I'm from all over..." She answered. "'From' is a very hard topic. I've lived in multiple places in multiple states and countries because my dad has a job where he moves around a lot... And it sorta sucks sometimes." She said honestly. "No one usually takes an interest in me..." She was always the new girl...

--

Carter chuckled a little and shook his head. "Good - and we need to separate and conquer. Because Sonia isn't letting me anywhere near that perfect blonde - and I need her."

He chuckled lightly and shook his head. He'd convince her that he had changed. There had to be a way to do that... And couldn't be that stubborn, could she? Perhaps she was just looking for someone to love her...

"Well..." Sonia began dragging out the word, "Looks like you have caught the attention of Arin Quinn." the red head giggled playfully. "So what does your dad do?" the two girls began walking down the school hallway.

Sonia looked at the blonde a gentle smile spreading across her face. "So which is you're locker?"



Arin laughed at his friend, "I got a feeling Sonia will be watching the new girl like a hawk and won't let me near her. Somehow I need to distract her so I can get closer to the blonde." The dark haired male stated in his mind he was thinking of ways to distract the red head.

Gracie blushed a little and shook her head. "I would hardly think so! How would I catch the attention of some bad boy like that?" She asked and then sighed as they continued to walk.

"Nothing too special. He does a lot of research on different types of laboratory stuff... His commissions always take us to different places - which is great in a way, but sucky to socialize. My locker's right here."

She smiled up at Sonia. It was nice to have a friend.



Carter chuckled a little and nodded his head. "That's my girl." He said with a chuckle and nodded. "Well, maybe I'll work on getting with Sonia and you can have time with her friend then."

He winked at him lightly. Sonia was definitely a challenge - but this was going to be fun. This innocent one who acted like a total bad girl? That was so hot to him right now...

"It's not hard, you're new and your pretty..." Sonia stated a smile spreading across her face as she looked at the blonde as the two walked beside each other a little longer. "Wow you're dad sounds really smart. Does it get annoying constantly travelling?"

Turning her head the red head saw that the new girl was right beside her locker. "Oh snap! We're right next to each other." Laughter rippled from her lips as she turned to unlock it slipping her bag off her back, the pain instantly easing.

Grabbing her books she turned to the blonde, "So what do you have first?" Sonia had English Lit so she decided that if Gracie was walking in her direction she would walk with her.

~

Arin walked into the hallway girls his path instantly being cut off by a rail thin, bleach blonde haired girl.

"Hey babe, I missed you. How come you didn't call me?" she asked in a seductive tone pressing her body against the dark haired males. Arin sighed rolling his eyes as her cheap perfume filled his sense of smell.

"Let me think... because I don't want to have anything to do with you Carrie," he sighed looking down at the blonde. She pouted a whimper leaving her lips.

"Are you sure?" she asked as her hands snaked to his belt buckle.

"Fuck off!" he growled ripping her hands off of him and walking away. Carrie was a psycho, sure he hooked up with her and she was great but that was all it was. No relationship nothing.

A smirk spread across his face when he saw a flash of blonde over near the lockers. His eyes locked on her as he walked toward her.

"Well hello again..." he began.

Gracie smiled a little and shrugged. "I don't know - I guess he is. I don't mind traveling, getting to know new places, I just wish i had an actual place that was called "home" for more than a year... Two years at most." She had had lots of fun traveling, but it was a lonely sport too.

"I have math..." She started to say before she was caught up in the male's voice again and she looked over at him, blushing. No guy had ever approached her like that - so she honestly didn't know what to do.

"Um... Hi..." She said softly, feeling total amounts of confusion currently. She didn't know what to say.



Carter chuckled a little as he saw Arin approach the new girl. He didn't know how he was going to approach Sonia. She was more difficult - because she already knew about him. At least Arin would get to make his own reputation with the girl.

Sonia already knew he was a major player, but this was a different game. For now he was going to have to play it safe and show her he could be honest... Or - fakely honest.

"Hey there cutie - is there something different about you?" He asked, walking up to Sonia, checking out all of her assets as he circled her for a moment. "Did you have a nice summer?" Small talk... That was how he would try to woo her.. He had to act casual - like he was just interested in what she had to say, not in undressing her.

Sonia was about to tell the dark haired teen to piss off but she was rudely interrupted by Carter who had walked up to her. Her dark eyes locked on him as he circled her, scanning over her like she was a piece of meat.

"I actually had a great summer, because you weren't in it." she snapped sassily placing one of her hands on her hips. "What is you're deal? What do you and Arin want?" the red heads suspicion was on high alert. She knew the boys were up to something she just wasn't sure what. Carter had never taken this much interest in her before, sure he used to pay her out every now and again but this was different. The twinkle in his eye signalled that he and his mate were planning something.



A half smile spread across Arin's face as he looked at the blonde, the way her cheeks flushed when she spoke. Her eyes flicked down at her shoes to show her shyness. She was adorable, innocent and totally easy to win over. "You need help getting to first period, I have math as well... I could walk you if you would like." he kept his tone friendly not wanting to give her the wrong impression.

Arin could do this and he would have this done before the deadline. He turned his head and looked at Sonia who stood with a hand on her hip her dark eyes narrowed as she looked at Carter. Her mind was working in overtime to figure out what was going on. Arin chuckled lowly before turning his attention to the blonde.

Carter frowned a little and placed a hand over his heart. "Now now Sonia - that just hurts!" He said seriously to her with a slight chuckle and shook his head. If nothing else, she was fun to mess with... Especially because she wanted so badly to know what they were up to.

"Why does there have to be something that we're up to in order for me to talk to? Maybe you're just cute and I like seeing you." He smiled and then shook his head. "Never thought of it that way - did you? I've been meaning to say so for awhile. You're cute."

New approach - but maybe it would open her up some.

--

Gracie still blushed. He was really asking her to walk her to her class? Shit... What if she completely blanked out on what to say when he walked her and she made a fool of herself?! No... She wasn't going to let her insecurities get to her. This would be okay.

"Uh, yeah, id like that." She said, noticing his glance over to Sonia and then glancing over for herself. What was with that? Maybe this was his terrible plot to conquer getting with Sonia, going through her new friend? No... She was only being insecure.

She grabbed her book and then smiled up at him nervously, liking that she had caught someone's attention for once in her life.

"Hmmm... I'm sure," Sonia stated. Sonia didn't trust Carter as far as she could throw him but front the looks of it she wasn't going to get what she wanted out of him. The red head was about to speak to the blonde but when she saw her being led off by Arin she bit her tongue. As much as she wanted to yell after her she also didn't want to cause a scene. Spinning she pushed past Carter and headed in the direction of her first class.

Her mind was racing with thoughts and theories about what Arin could want with Gracie and why Carter was all of a sudden being nice to her.



Arin smiled at the blonde waiting patiently as she grabbed her books. Out of his peripheral vision he could see Carter striking up a conversation with Sonia. A smile stretched across his face when the blonde looked at him.

Extending his arm, "my lady," damn... even he had to admit he could be so smooth. The two walked off together.

Carter rolled his eyes lightly at Sonia. Of course she didn't trust him - but she was going to have to get used to it. He wasn't letting go so easily - especially not when Arin was already walking off with his girl. An innocent one like that - he would probably have her in no time. It wasn't an easy match - but Carter was going to win this bet.

He followed her hen she pushed him away. "Now - what class do you have?" He asked her seriously, pushing it just a little as he draped an arm over her shoulders, trying to pull her closer. "I think I should walk you there."

--

Gracie blushed a little as he extended his arm out for her and she took it. She couldn't believe she took it. She wasn't the overtly flirty type and she dint know how to handle this. He seemed like a guy who shouldn't have any interest in her.

"Uh, thank you..." She said softly and blushed, not looking up at him. What was she supposed to do? She wasn't used to having a guy wanting her.

"Argh!" Sonia sighed annoyed at the persistency of Carter, turning she looked at the raven haired boy her green eyes locking with his. She had a feeling she might regret what she says next but it might get rid him for the rest of the day and hopefully the rest of the year. "If I let you walk me to class will you leave me alone?" she arched one of her brows waiting for the males reply.

---

Arin chuckled at the blonde, she was so startled by his actions, clearly all the guys at her old school guy were either gay or just stupid because from her reactions it's as if she had never been flirted with. Never been dated even. When she thanked him he leaned close and whispered in her ear.

"You're welcome," the scent of vanilla and jasmine filled his sense of smell and he almost became light head. When her petite hand gripped his forearm he lead her toward her class a broad smile spread across his face at the looks he received from some of the guys that wandered through the school.

Carter smiled a little at her as their eyes locked for a second and he shook his head. "I make no promises really. I guess you'll just have to see about that now, won't you?" He asked with a wink.

Of course he wasn't letting her get away that easily, but she was fun to mess with - and the look of hope on her face was just oh so pleasant. He grabbed her books. "Here, let me take these from you, my precious." He teased.

~

Gracie smiled a little at him and shook her head lightly, looking away. She felt like she would get lost staring if she let herself - and she didn't want to get herself in trouble like that.

"Sonia says you're no good." She said. But he was cute - and he seemed like a gentleman... What could be wrong with a guy like that? She saw nothing wrong - she enjoyed it actually. She liked the feeling of being wanted for once. It was new and exciting.