Chapter 7

• **Kyla's POV**
• I strained my eyes since my vision was blurred with tears. Recognition flashed through them as I remembered who he was. It made me feel even worse.
• "Tony,"
• I breathed earning a dashing smile followed by a light chuckle. I had no idea what made him so giggly.
• "I'm glad I'm good enough for you to remember me." He joked, earning an eye roll from me. “I remember everyone currently trying to ruin my life.” My subconscious added for me, I had not the mind to say it to his face.
• "Thank you for Friday night." I swiftly changed the topic. Regardless of who he was, he did help me out of a ditch that night. Therefore, he deserved my thanks.
• "It's no problem, You seem to be really down." I sighed in abject misery. “That obvious?” Questioning myself, I let out another side.
• "My life is a mess," I admitted unknowingly.
• "The bet?" He asked. “What else?” I responded, sounding mean.
• "I just lost my best friend to some sick game I want no part in. Every step I take thinking I'm in the right direction only takes me backwards. I don't want this but I don't know how to make it stop. I'm only making it so much worse."
• I lamented.
• "I told you. Do whatever it takes Kyla, it's been barely twenty-four hours and sees what had happened. My advice remains the same, find a way and get out before it's too late. You don't know Richard and Stein up close but I do, they're not people who you want to mess with. Get out while you still can."
• "I don't know how to. The only thing I'm going to do is make it worse."
• "Do you have any ideas?"
• I asked feeling desperate.
• "I do, You're not going to like it."
• "What's the idea?"
• "Agree to his plans." He stated. I think he must have misheard me, missing the part where I said I want no involvement in this bet.
• "WHAT!"
• I screamed, possibly he blurted out the trash by mistake.
• "Calm down." He chuckled. Once again, I had no idea what was funny.
• "You just said it yourself that I shouldn't agree to it and now you want me to."
• "Yes, for good reason. You have to agree to get out. If you agree and convince them in under one week that you've fallen for Stein, you can get out."
• "One week!" I yelled.
• "Yes. You can't do it in days because it would look suspicious. The best thing would be to act like you're drawn to his charms, that's the only way I see it."
• "But the girls literallly just said I'm playing hard to get. If I accept it'll be like they were saying the truth." It would only make things worse, I can't do it.
• "Kyla, if you want to be great and amazing. Don't give two fucks about what other people think. You know what you want and you know what you're doing so focus on it and fuck the rest of the world." That was meant to be a confidence boost, it worked a little.
• "Are you sure?" I double-checked.
• "Yes. I'm positive."
• "What if it doesn't work?"
• "It will. I'll be with you every step of the way." He assured me, I stared at him intently. This could simply be a trap.
• "What about Riley. If I accept, I loose my best friend for good. I don't want to lose her. I really don't. I can't do it."
• He tugged at my arm.
• "Calm down. Think of it this way, the faster you end the bet the faster you can explain things to her."
• "What if she doesn't forgive me? What if she doesn't even believe it? What do I do then." My voice was breaking at that very thought.
• "One problem at a time Kyla. For now, we can only pray it works."
• "I can't lose my best friend. What if we let her in."
• "You saw what happened this morning. She's hurt, Riley is unpredictable. We can tell what'll happen if she feels threatened or hurt."
• "But," I argued hoping he thought of something better.
• "I know it hurts Kyla. That's the only thing I can offer for now. I promise you it'll get better."
• "Are you sure?"
• I asked in a vulnerable tone.
• "Yes, I am."
• "Why are you helping me by the way? I asked if it's a tactic for you and Ryder. Maybe that's what this is. Why else would you help me... "
• "Because I've been crushing on you, Kyla Malik. Just like Riley was waiting for Stein, I've been waiting for the perfect time to tell you. I can only hope that once my plan works and this end, you'll give me a chance to make you happy."
• I sucked in a sharp breath at his mini confession. Why did I just ask that? How do I respond? I just stared at him, unable to reply.
• ****