I Was His Bet, I Become Their Surprise Chapter 03
Tristan and I met in a ranked lobby.
I was a senior in high school. 220 pounds.
One time in gym class, we had to run the mile.
The girls never said it to my face. They just went quiet when I
walked by, then laughed the second I passed.
One time in gym class, we had to run the half–mile.
I came in dead last, gasping so hard my vision blurred.
The boy I used to like was standing at the finish line. He
stepped back like I was contagious.
“Don’t fall on me.”
“You’re like a whole earthquake. Nobody’s catching that.”
The entire class burst into laughter.
That night, I buried myself in the game and didn’t want to
talk to anyone.
That was when Tristan added me.
He heard my voice, and he couldn’t let it go.
“Your voice is insane. You should be doing voiceovers or something.”
After that, we queued up together almost every night.
Whenever teammates raged at me, he’d unmute and shut them down.
“It’s a game, bro. Why are you going off on a girl?”
On bad days, he always knew what to say.
“Who says you have to be skinny to be hot? Guys love curves.”
For the first time in my life, I thought maybe I deserved love.
Because someone said he’d want me no matter what.
I believed him.
For the first time in my life, I thought maybe I deserved to be
loved. Because someone said he’d want me no matter what.
Then, six months ago, he stumbled on the old social media
profile linked to my gaming account.
It listed my high school and my real name.
After that, he pulled away.
He said it was finals week stress. Nothing personal.
I asked him what was wrong.
He said it was exam stress. Nothing personal.
Looking back now, the pressure had never been the problem.
He had clearly found my photos.
But he didn’t break up with me.
So he strung me along until the night before school, then
casually handed me off through a dice game.
He wasn’t going to throw away a perfectly good emotional
dumping ground.
So he strung me along until the night before school, then
gracefully handed me off through a dice game.
My phone rang again.
“What was that little stunt with Nolan in the group chat?”
“He said one thing. How is that a stunt?”
“What was that little show with Nolan in the group chat?”
Tristan scoffed.
“You really think a guy like him sticks his neck out for nothing?”
Tristan sneered.
“Just because your voice is cute doesn’t mean you can pull a
guy like Nolan. His standards are even higher than mine. You
show up, you’re just embarrassing yourself.”
I let the silence sit for two seconds.
“So I’m not good enough for you. That’s what you’re saying.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then why’d you bet $1,400 I wouldn’t show?”
He had nothing.
A second passed. Then his voice turned sharp.
“Fine. You really want me to say it?”
“Sabrina, I already know what you look like.”
“Online was one thing, but in person? We don’t work.”
“Don’t blame me. Every guy wants a girl he’s proud to be seen with.”
“I haven’t even blocked you. That’s me being nice.”
I held the phone. The last dull ache in my chest went cold.
“Thank you. You’re such a gentleman.”
The sarcasm went right over his head. His voice actually softened.
I paused. “You and Sienna… is there something going on
between you two?”
“Sienna’s going to be there. You really want to stand next to her?”
I paused. “You and Sienna… is something going on there?”
Dead air.
“Don’t read into it. There’s nothing going on.”
I smiled.
On the day of the mixer, I slept until noon.