The Blossoming Love

Chapter 5: The Bet

Bella spent her days at school surrounded by her closest friends—Alex, Sarah, and Emily. They bonded over shared classes, inside jokes, and laughter-filled breaks, bringing a comforting sense of normalcy back into her life. With each passing day, her heart grew lighter.

During those weeks, Bella discovered something personal about Alex: he was gay. She was touched by his trust and happy to support him, admiring his courage to be himself. Their friendship only deepened.

Meanwhile, she hadn't seen much of Ethan and his group, which suited her perfectly. Life felt calmer without their chaotic energy. And surprisingly, her feelings for Andrew began to fade—like a fog lifting after a long storm. What once felt like heartbreak now became acceptance. Sophia's presence in Andrew's life no longer stung; instead, it felt like a natural extension of their growing family. Bella had finally begun to cherish their sibling bond for what it truly was—something pure and unshakable.

She refocused her energy on things that mattered: her friendships, her passions, and the little joys she once overlooked.

That afternoon, as Ethan's group slouched into the back of the classroom, Bella tried to ignore the buzz of their rowdy chatter. She turned instead to her friends.

"Hey guys, want to come over for a sleepover this weekend?" she asked, eyes sparkling.

Emily lit up. "That sounds amazing! Can we watch that new rom-com—the one with the fake dating trope?"

Sarah clapped her hands. "Yes! And then gossip about it afterward. It's tradition."

Alex smirked. "As long as I can wear my ridiculously fluffy socks and eat my weight in popcorn, I'm in."

Bella laughed, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Done. I'll make sure we have enough snacks to last the apocalypse."

Their conversation was cut short by the teacher's entrance, prompting everyone to shuffle into focus. But from the corner of her eye, Bella caught Ethan watching her with a crooked smirk. She raised an unimpressed brow and turned back to her notebook.

Still, his gaze lingered. His group leaned in, whispering and snickering behind their hands. Bella tried to shake off the unease crawling over her skin.

The lesson droned on, but Bella's mind kept slipping back to sleepover plans—comfy pajamas, whispered secrets, maybe even a harmless game of truth or dare. Her pen scratched the page with half-hearted notes. She was halfway through jotting something down when another snicker rose from the back row. Ethan was watching her again, his smirk now edged with something sharper.

Bella turned away."He is so weird " She murmured to herself.

The bell rang at last. Students flooded the hallway, laughter and chatter echoing against the lockers.

"I'll send you guys my address tonight," Bella said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "We can finalize the snack list."

"I'll bring horror movies disguised as rom-coms," Emily teased.

"I'll bring juicy school gossip," Sarah added.

"And I," Alex declared, "will bring chaos."

Bella smiled, her heart full. "I'll have drinks and snacks ready. Bring your appetite—and your sass."

As she turned to leave, though, Bella caught Ethan watching her again. This time, his gaze wasn't playful—it was calculating. She held it for a second, then walked away.

Meanwhile, down the hall, Ethan and his friends strolled with lazy swagger.

"Dude, what's going on with you?" Jake asked, nudging him with a grin. "You stared at Bella like five times during class."

Ethan shrugged, attempting nonchalance. "I'm just messing with her. She's always so uptight."

"Uh-huh," Matt said, not buying it. "We've known you too long. You're only like this when you're actually into someone."

"Exactly," Jake added. "Remember Rachel? She followed you around like a lost puppy."

Ethan's jaw clenched. "Rachel was different. She got clingy fast."

"Yeah, because you gave her attention. But Bella—Bella ignores you. That's what's got you hooked."

Ethan snorted. "Please. Bella's not my type. I just want to see how far I can push her before she cracks. She acts like nothing fazes her."

Jake suddenly lit up, eyes gleaming. "Let's make this interesting. A bet."

Ethan raised a brow. "A bet?"

Jake grinned wider. "Yeah. If you can get Bella to fall for you—and kiss you—we'll consider it a win. You'll get my Mustang for a whole month."

Matt whistled. "That's bold."

Ethan crossed his arms, intrigued. "And if I lose?"

"You buy us lunch for a week. No take-backs," Matt added.

A slow smirk spread across Ethan's face. "You really think I can't do it?"

"We know you can," Jake said. "But this is Bella. She's not like the other girls."

Ethan glanced down the hall, where Bella disappeared around a corner with her friends. "That's exactly why it'll be fun."

He paused, the thrill of the challenge sinking in. Bella wouldn't see it coming.

But deep down, in a place Ethan rarely visited, a sliver of doubt whispered—What if she's not the one who ends up falling?

" I don't do love and you know that " Ethan replied.