17 Truth - Part 4 (2/2)
I take a deep breath to calm myself before I ask.
”… Why'd you step over Ryan like you're some kind of sick dominatrix?”
She stops to think for a moment before she looks back up to me.
”Well, I don't mind answering that at the moment, but… dominatrix? I don't understand what you're trying to imply here Chase. Are you calling me a hopeless pervert who enjoys torturing defenseless men?”
I don't think anyone would disagree with that if they saw what you did this morning.
She sighs and leans back into her chair.
”I'm not entirely sure if you know this, but... that Ryan person has been hitting on me for quite a while now.”
”A while?”
”This incident was not isolated. Ever since the school year began last month, I'd always 'coincidentally' meet up with him while walking through the hallways and he'd use it as a chance to attempt to get on my good side.”
”Hmm, I guess it could be a bit annoying if you aren't into him, but… I'm surprised that you aren't. He's popular and pretty good looking, isn't he?”
”If that's all you think girls look for in men then I feel sorry for Scarlet for being stuck with such a dense guy.”
That's exactly what Scarlet looks for in guys, though…
”Well, I'm not confident that I should give my reason. I'd rather not gossip about people after all. But in any case, despite constantly ignoring him, he still found himself bumping into me by ”chance” quite often. He was rather persistent for someone who could have his pick of the cheerleading squad. It's almost like he's never been rejected in his life before and refused to accept it.”
She pauses.
”Come to think of it, that makes him the opposite of you doesn't it? Mr. Spineless Chicken.”
”I'm spineless too, huh?”
”Anyway, that's how it is. I think my frustration reached a boiling point when I saw the way he held my book earlier. He was acting like it was something dirty to him.”
”You really love your books huh?”
If her love for books is as great as she lets on, then she probably took great offense to that. I can kind of understand her frustrations, I guess.
”Hmmm… Well we can leave it at that for now. In any case–”
She tucks her hair behind her ear once more and grins at me.
”It's almost time for lunch so let's hurry this up.”
”Huh? Hurry what up?”
”What are you talking about? We're going to play Chess again.”
Wait, chess? But didn't she…
”Oh, and don't even think about playing half-heartedly this time. I'll walk over there and smack you myself if you do.”
”A-ah sure…”
I guess I managed to get on her good side again.
I move the chessboard back to the middle of the table and begin setting my pieces up on my side of the board.
”By the way Chase, did you know? In Chess, the person who uses the white pieces overall has a better chance of winning.”
”Wha- wait, why are you using them then?!”
”Why? Isn't it obvious? It's because I hate losing.”
This arrogant little…
”No, I'm definitely using white this time. You can't make me not use white. I'd rather die than not use white.”
It might be a bit forward, but I have to aim for the win. I won't repeat the same mistake as last time.
”Fine, how about this then? We'll play rock paper scissors for the white pieces.”
”Heh, sure. Bring it on. I'll make you regret that decision.”
”There's the determination I was looking for. I'm somewhat excited to play with you now.”
She makes a fist with her hand.
”By the way Chase, did you know? In rock paper scissors, if you pick rock then you have the opportunity to react to paper if you stick your fingers out at the last possible moment.”
”No one has those kinds of reactions!!”
”Oh, are you testing me?”
She grins as if to challenge me.
As if to say her reactions truly are that good.
Well that's fine. Because I'm definitely going to prove her wrong.
The two of us move our fists forward, eyeing each other down.
”Bring it then. I'll test those reactions of yours.”
She smiles.
”Let's make this more interesting then, shall we? How about this: if I win then not only do you have to forfeit your rights to white, but you're also going to have to protect me from that annoying senior. Even if it kills you.”
”Upping the stakes, huh? Sure, but if I win then…”
You'll go on a date with Sig.
Surely that's what I had intended to say.
No, there's nothing ”surely” about it. Without a doubt, those were the words that should have escaped my lips.
So then, what was with this?
Why did I utter those words?
Was it the fact that we'd been alone together for about two hours now?
Was it because I felt a connection with her after she'd opened herself up to me a bit more?
Or was it simply that I hadn't gotten the image out of my mind all this time?
Either way, my tongue somehow slipped and I ended up saying something disgraceful.
”Let me touch your boobs.”
The image of her breasts from when she stared down at me.
If I'm allowed to be honest, they're all I've been thinking about since then. But please! Let me explain! A fourteen year old going through puberty can't be expected to have complete control of his hormones yet! Of course I'm thinking about her tits! What else would I be thinking about right now?! I mean, they were so…
… No, I shouldn't be trying to justify this. But I promise you, it really was a slip of the tongue. I naturally have no intention of actually going through with…
”How revolting. I had no idea you were this much of a breast-loving pervert. Well, it's not like I'll lose here so I don't mind.”
Eh? Seriously? It's that easy?
Wait wait. What exactly is simple about that? We're talking about your breasts here, you know?
”I'm sorry, I wasn't being serious. Here, let me think of something else.”
”No, it really doesn't matter what you'd get when you win. My victory is all but decided with this strategy.”
Eh? She has that much confidence in it?
”We're going on shoot. Ready?”
”…”
No no, focus. All I have to do is sink that confidence of hers. All I have to do is challenge her reactions. All I have to do is win. Win and those boobs will be yours, Chase!
Sorry for betraying you Sig. But I'm aiming to win.
There's something extremely important on the line here.
And with that, we begin our countdown to the golden land.
”Rock. Paper. Scissors. Shoot!”
We unveil our weapons of choice the second the countdown ends.
And… Silence.
”…”
I had chosen paper, determined to test her reactions til the bitter end.
And she…
Picked scissors.
”I lost…”
Dammit!
I should have believed it!
I should have believed in her perfect coverage. There was something more important on the line than my pride! Goddammit!
Was this karma for losing myself to my hormones? I feel so dirty for even thinking about that now. I'm sorry Sig. When this is over I promise to tell you the truth over some ice cream. You don't deserve a horrible friend like me.
But still, that was amazing. She somehow managed to pull it off.
”God dude, who knew there was such a cheap strategy in RPS.”
If you don't see paper, then rock won't lose. If you see paper, then scissors guarantees your win. It's the perfect strategy for never losing at rock paper scissors every single time. Why has no one thought of it before now?!
”No, it was a bluff.”
Huh?
”I only deceived you into believing that nonsense and forced you to pick paper.”
I was tricked?!
”Honestly, you made it too easy for me by tunnel-visioning your prize instead of the actual game. Is Scarlet going to be okay when her boyfriend is such a lust-filled beast?”
”S-shutup! Tricking me into picking scissors like that is cheating! Let's play again!”
”Again, huh? You know, I understand that you're frustrated at how I played you like that, but it's also important to show humility in defeat. We don't have much time until lunch so hurry and set your second place pieces up.”
I roll my eyes.
Humility? Just what part of that loss deserves any form of humility?!
It seems like all three of these girls have got it out for me in their own ways.