The Bet || l.h.

- 3 -

The last boy claims a spot in the other armchair, a cigarette dangling between his teeth. I guess that's where all the smoke is coming from. His blond hair is styled in a careful way I'm sure he knows is hot.

It takes me a second to realize that I know who all of these three boys are.

Michael Clifford. Ashton Irwin.

Luke Hemmings.

They're all seniors, good-looking enough that half of the school is after them. So why am I here?

"Who's this, Calum?" Ashton asks, raising an eyebrow as he looks me up and down, his eyes lingering on my subtle curves. I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

Calum leans back in his seat, throwing a casual arm around my shoulders. "This is Emmy. Emmy, these are my friends Ashton, Michael and Luke." They all nod silently at me and I smile back weakly, still unsure of why I'm even here.

"You guys want to play a game?" Ashton says, setting the bottle of vodka down beside him.

"God, you're such a five year old," Michael says, rolling his eyes.

Calum shoots him a glare as he says, "Sure, Ash, I'll play." Calum looks over at me, his brown eyes full of mischief as he nudges my shoulder gently with his hand. "You want to play, Emmy?"

"Sure," I say in a small voice.

We all turn to Luke, waiting for him to speak up. He takes his cigarette out of his mouth, blowing a puff of smoke into the air. I fight the urge to cough at the fumes. Shrugging one shoulder as if he were bored, he says, "Fine, I'm in."

"What the hell," Michael says, caving. He leans forward on the couch, ignoring the girl who's still all up on him. She frowns as he changes position before going back to leaving marks up and down his neck.

"So what are we playing?" Calum asks Ashton. His arm is still slung around my shoulders, his warmth seeping into my skin.

A slow grin spreads across Ashton's face as he says, "Let's play truth or dare." He makes a big show of looking around at all of us before settling on Calum. "Cal. Truth or dare?"

"Dare," Calum says, tilting his head to the side in challenge.

"I dare you to lick Luke's abs. From top to bottom."

"Pshh that's an easy one," Calum says, taking his arm from around my shoulders as he gets to his feet. "I'd lick Luke's abs any day."

Luke puts out his cigarette with his foot, smirking at Calum as his fingers grip the hem of his shirt. "Don't get too attached, Cal," he jokes as he removes his shirt and throws it on the chair as he stands up.

I feel a blush creeping up my neck and try to avert my eyes from Luke's toned muscles. Easier said than done. I've never seen a better set of abs.

He catches me looking and shoots me crooked grin. I blush even harder.

Calum leans down to press his tongue to Luke's skin just above his belt, licking all the way up his stomach. He steps away, pretending to gag. Luke swats at him playfully as he pulls back on his shirt. Calum runs back over to me, fighting a smile.

"Alright, Cal, you're turn to ask someone," Michael says, nudging the girl on his lap over a little so she's not as close.

Calum takes his seat again, smirking when his eyes lock on mine. "Emmy, truth or dare?"

"Truth," I say automatically.

"Out of the people in this room, who would you hook up with?" Calum asks, gesturing toward him and his friends.

My cheeks heat up as I look at the four boys in the room. These are some of the biggest fuckboys in the school, of course they're all hot. They've hooked up with so many girls that they're used to people drooling over them. Hell, Calum just licked Luke's stomach and he didn't even react.

Which of them would I hook up with?

"Aww look at that, she's blushing," Michael teases and I blush even harder, which makes him laugh.

"We're waiting, Emmy," Calum says with a smile, poking me teasingly in the side. "We want to know which of us you would bang."

I roll my eyes at them, crossing my arms over my chest. "None of you."

"You have to pick someone, it's the rules," Ashton whines, sticking his lower lip out in a pout.

I shrug, shaking my head. "I'm not interested in any of you."

Luke drapes his arm across the back of his chair. "You're just denying your feelings, Emmy," he says, a sly smirk curving his lips. "If you only had the chance to preview what you're missing, you'd change your mind. I know you want me."

"In your dreams," I scoff. "I'd rather make out with the bathroom floor."

"Ooh, harsh," Michael says with a laugh.

Luke shoots a sharp glare at him, turning his piercing blue gaze back to me. "You wouldn't be saying that if you knew how I kiss, Em."

"You're not nearly as irresistible as you believe, Hemmings," I throw back. Ashton disguises his laugh as a cough when he sees Luke's scowl.

"Seven minutes alone with me and I can change your mind," Luke counters, swiping his tongue across his bottom lip. He raises his eyebrows at me when I don't respond. "We can do it right now, I promise I'll make it quick."

"I think I'll pass," I say, getting to my feet. "As fun as this has been, I better get back to my friends."

I start towards the door, but Calum calls after me. "Don't you want to stay a little longer? I'm way better at kissing than Luke. Plus better-looking."

"I'm good," I say, slowly backing up. "Have fun with your little game, boys."

As I walk down the hall, I hear Michael's voice say, "Well, damn, isn't she something?"

A/N: Ok now we're finally getting into the story! Any predictions you'd like to get off your chest? ;)

I'll update asap for you guys, thank you so much for reading!! 

- A