Challenge Accepted

Chapter 1

Hello fellow Wattpad readers, 

I am so glad you decided to click on this story because, truthfully, I'm quite nervous about publishing it online. I've never written something for an audience before and it took me months to convince myself it would be worth it. So if it wouldn't be too much effort, I would really appreciate any constructive feedback or comments. But anyway, enjoy the story. 

Disclaimer: The writing in bold is copied word for word from a story prompt that I really loved and couldn't get off my mind... so I wrote a book concerning it. 

That's it, I thought furiously. If this excuse of a man didn't stop talking right now I would make him stop somehow, forcefully if necessary. Probably by doing something stupid. 

His cronies surrounded him and were chuckling along senselessly with his 'super exciting' stories that consisted of unbelievably unlikely events that happened during his latest relationship. It couldn't have been enough to have just one annoying child at this school, the universe had to give me a group of eight. I snapped at that thought, doing the first, and probably most stupid, thing that came to mind. "Hey, Marek. I've got a challenge for you. Let's play a game. Let's sweet talk. Let's play fight. Let's talk 24/7. Let's tell each other good morning and good night every day. Let's take walks together. Let's give each other nicknames. Let's hang out with each other's friends. Let's go on dates. Let's talk on the phone all night long. Let's hold each other's hand. Let's kiss and hug.

And whoever falls in love first? Loses."

His face was that of pure wonder, maybe even awe. He glanced around the unofficial circle we were sat in, and they too looked incredibly excited at my proposal. A suggestion like this didn't occur everyday, even at a school as uncontrollable as ours. Off the basement walls echoed grunts of agreement, and so, the deal was sealed. Marek, the unofficial captain of the soccer team, would never oppose the people's opinion. Another trait of his that annoyed me to no avail.

You see, I am a loner. Not some closed off weirdo who fades into the background, but rather someone who doesn't unnecessarily associate themselves with idiots. And since our school consists mostly of idiots, I had barely any close friends. That doesn't mean I am at the bottom of the food chain, I am quite near the top in fact. Not in the way a queen bee rules over the rest of the school population, but in a way that intrigued  people enough to appreciate me. 

All in all, that meant me and Marek didn't ever cross paths naturally. No mutual friends or sharing lunch tables. If anything, I intentionally avoided him. That, I guessed, must be why he looks like I suggested jumping off a cliff. Nonetheless, he grunted his agreement and as a mischievous smile spread across my face, he responded cunningly, "Challenge accepted. But what happens when you loses?"

Although his implication of my destined failure was blatantly obvious, I chose to ignore it and answered his genuine question instead. "You pick. You get to pick what happens when either of us lose. Make it good," I challenged. I could hear the clogs in his mind turning furiously, trying to make the most of this opportunity and pick an unbelievably good punishment for me.

"Alright. If I lose, which I won't, I have to give up my football captainship. But when you lose, you have to tell everyone what happened when we were kids." Murmurs of agreement passed through the room while many looked interested at the mention of my past. Something I intended to keep quiet. That may be the actual reason I intentionally avoid Marek. He is the only one that knows what really happened, or just the fact that something happened. His mother and mine are quite close, and so we used to be the closest of friends. But as soon as we were both old enough to stay home alone, we each chose to skip those pre-planned playdates.

So, although it was incredible stupid of me to put something so dear to me on the line, I agreed. Not even because I was sure I would win, but because I wanted Marek to suffer and learn what a real relationship was. He needed to understand that loyalty didn't only apply to high school football. That something as important as love shouldn't be so easily wiped off the table. 

With that, I stood up to leave the party. It was getting quite late and there was next to nothing interesting going on here. But just before I got to the door frame I remembered I had a duty, to both embarrass and tease Marek, I turned to blow him a mocking kiss. I strut out of sight, calling, "Meet me behind the bleachers tomorrow morning." And then without too much thought I added "darling" to embarrass him, which, from the groan I got in response, worked. 

I hoped you liked the first chapter. I am in the process of crafting the second chapter and hope to update soon. But in the meantime, feel free to leave some comments :) I want to know everything you think so far.