05| THE BET

 Finally we drove to the lake , it was boring as hell. Maybe I truly need a bath.

  We came down and Aiden and the driver stayed close to the car. I was so frustrated, God knows why he's acting like a pussy. 

  Taking a deep breath, I step on the Lakeshore as I look at the clear waters. My mind is still thinking about Lindiwe and how she just dumped me like I meant nothing to her. 

  I removed my shirt, remaining a sport's bra and proceeded to take off my pants.

" She has a great body." I heard the driver say.

  Aiden smacked him right away and walked out.

" I need to be excused." I mutter to the driver as I glare at him from my shoulder.

" Yes ma'am." The driver said and hurried out.

  I sighed and rolled my eyes. I took off my pants, leaving my panties intact and I dive into the water. It was so cold. I stayed inside for a while and swam to the extreme and stayed there swaying my legs inside the water.

  For about an hour Aiden walked in frowning at me.

" We need to leave." He said and I frowned, covering some important parts of my body.

" I'm not ready."

" It is getting dark, miss, and we need to leave." I tried to forget the fact he just addressed me as miss. 

" I said I'm not ready to leave, just go fuck yourself." I said and he growled.

" I'm gonna pull you out if that's what you want." He said.

" What? You dare not bitch, I'm naked." 

" Then come out, I need to leave." He said a bit loudly.

  I ignored him and dived deep into the water.

" Here's 50 dollars, it's enough for your fare to take home when you're ready. I just hope you don't even get lost." I heard him say.

" What!" I asked, bringing my head out of the water.

   He scoffed and walked out.

" Imbecile." I said coming out of the water and putting on my clothes.

" Do I have to fight with every boy I come across?" I thought, wearing my clothes.

" My life's fucked up, but who cares? He's a crazy animal." I said, slipping my feet inside my shoes.

  I wring out water from my hair and head to the car. He was already inside. I opened the door and angrily entered and the driver drove off.

" Hey Ri." Dad said on my arrival at home.

" Hi Dad " I said and forced a smile.

" You're okay?" 

" Yeah."

" Thanks Aiden, you're a good friend." Dad said and shook his hands.

" Friends? Hmm thanks." Aiden said.

" I should be thanking you , you made Riley happy." Dad said and turned to look at me.

  Happy indeed.

  I exchanged angry glances with my dad and sighed.

" I shall take my leave, it's late." 

" Alright take care." Dad said and Aiden left.

" So?" Dad asked turning to me.

" I'm cool , where did you get him from?"

" Aiden? He's a good boy."

" I didn't say he's bad either. He's mean and annoying and grouchy." I said.

" So why are you complaining? You don't care much right?"

" Yeah? But he always makes me do exactly what he wants." I protested.

" You should have declined, it's so easy." 

" You won't understand." I said and groaned, fighting the urge to pull at my hair. 

" I get it." Dad said and smiled.

" Maria prepared dinner." Dad said, leading me to the dining table.

" You didn't answer my question, how's Aiden related to you?"

" His father is a retired knight just like me. Aiden is a projector and he's your private mentor. He's teaching you what you need to know as a future knight and that includes fighting. He is in charge of recruitment for knights, he's training a lot of young women.." Dad explained sitting down to eat.

" How old did you say he is?" I asked and dad grinned.

   I know that grin. He's thinking I like Aiden. I mean he's hot. Probably too good looking but I'm not interested in him. I can't be interested in him. He's got an attitude. A nasty one to be precise. 

" I didn't tell you his age."

" Really?''

" 25 or maybe 26 or even 27." Dad said and chuckled.

" We are definitely gonna beef if he's my mentor. That dude is horrible and irritating."

" Yeah." Dad replied, taking a mouthful of his salad.

" You said something about me not falling in love with him. What prompted you to say that?"

" Nothing, just being a good dad. Aiden has a good spirit which makes women fall in love with him. Reasons why he's single." 

" Why are you telling me all this?"

" Nothing, just felt like sharing useful information." Dad smirked and I rolled my eyes. 

" That wasn't useful anyways. I'm not interested in him. " I said and rolled my eyes.

" You know I can bet you something that you'll eventually fall in love with Aiden without even knowing."

" Dad." I called and groaned.

" You know it's true." Dad laughed as he reached for his glass of water.

" It's not true." I said and sighed. I wish he knows how bad I am not interested in boys and Aiden's version is damn bad.

" You wanna bet on that?" Dad asked, pulling out his pinky finger. My father can be a girl sometimes.

" What will I get if I win?" I asked.

" If you don't fall in love with Aiden I'll do anything you want and that's about sending you to Asia for a vacation."

" Asia?" I asked and winced 

" Yeah, like Japan , Philippines..." 

" No way I want China , Fave."

" Cool. But if you fall in love with Aiden you'll do what I want."

" What?" I asked.

" Begging your mom to come down to New Orleans and possibly stay with us." Dad said and I frowned a bit.

  That's a heaven's task, mom is a typical African lady and she loves her country a lot.

" Deal." I said and brought out my pinky too and we intertwined.

" Dope, that's my black girl." Dad said and I giggled.

" Let's see the winning team soon." Dad said and gave me a high five before he left.

  I know I was definitely gonna win, fuck boys like Aiden. All I wanted was for Lindiwe to come back to my life. Or maybe fall in love with a better pretty girl and not some jerk dude like Aiden. A boy with a forsaken attitude, he's gross.

I took the plates to the kitchen and left for my room to catch a nap. Aria called and I picked up.

" Sup sweetheart." she said on the phone.

" Hey." I said. I was sleepy.

" How was your tour?"

" I think you are bored." I said and yawned.

" Maybe I missed you a lot." She said and I smiled. 

  I could feel her blush in her silly bed.

" Thanks Ria, I missed you more." 

" Thanks baby. How's your tour? You didn't answer."

" It was fab even if I didn't get to do what I wanted."

" You're funny. So what do you want that you didn't get to do?"

" A lot. That crazy fella Aiden is a dirty cock sucker. He's mean and annoying." 

" Yeah and you will fall in love with him soonest." Aria said and giggled.

" Shut up and that's enough. I've gone through a lot of shit today and I would be glad if you don't make it worse."

" I'm sorry." She said and laughed on the phone.

" Sorry about your misfortune." She added and continued to laugh.

  I sighed and kept quiet till she stopped laughing.

" Franklin is about falling sick , he's missing you a lot." 

" Congrats to him." 

" It's not fair." Aria said and scoffed.

" Yeah I'm not fair either." I said and yawned again.

" Okay, just go to bed. You've been bathing me with your boring saliva, your yawning is annoying." Aria said and I laughed this time.

" Okay bitch you're crazy , good night from this side." 

" Good night sunshine." Aria said and ended the call.

  I threw my phone aside and slept off. What a dreadful day. I woke up late the following morning , and my dad's maid Maria woke me up. I got up and yawned endlessly. I took my bath and rushed downstairs to meet dad.

" Morning Dad." 

" Morning Ri , you're not dressed, why ?"

" Dressed? Are we going out?" I asked unaware.

" Yeah, practice starts today." 

" Oh fuck I totally forgot." I said and sighed.

" I'm going back to my room, lemme get dressed." I said turning to leave.

" Take your time and look super sexy." Dad shouted.

I shake my head and put on jeans and my black hoodie. Black has always been my favorite color. I carried my bag and rushed down with my earbuds gently placed inside my ears.

" Oh you look good." Dad said.

" Thanks " 

  Dad took my hand and we walked outside to his car. The yesterday's driver took the wheel and drove off.

" Chris, you're dropping Riley at Aiden's." Dad said to the driver.

" Okay sir."

    After a few minutes of riding he stopped and I proceeded to come down.

" Don't forget our bet." Dad said and smiled and I came down smiling back. I shut the door of his car and the car drove off. 

  Crazy bet. I entered this place and it looked pretty cool. A lot of girls , whites precisely. Aiden wasn't there , I guess I was the only available biracial and another dark slim girl just the two of us. The total number of girls was ten.

  I was so bored , I sat down and hummed to the music coming out of my ear buds. I didn't notice Aiden was standing upstairs passing a message. I ignorantly stood up and smirked. I lowered the music and rolled my eyes looking around. He was standing close to an older lady who was pretty busty with perfect curves and all that lusty properties.

" Weirdo." I said in my thoughts.

" We are glad to welcome you all. This gathering is held to train you all to be a knight. A guardian and a protector of royal blood.." The lady began.

" My name's Lauren and I'll be a co mentor. His name's Aiden and he's in charge here. First of all one thing you need to know in being a knightess you must be courageous, brave and ready for any attack and that includes attacks from paranormal creatures..." 

" Like vampires?" A girl asked. She has dark hair.

" Yeah and witches, including lycanthropes." Lauren said.

" You mean werewolves?" Same dark haired girl asked.

" Exactly. You need to be ready for such creatures as long as you are volunteering to protect the royal family."

" Fuck, boring lectures." I muttered underneath my breath and sighed as I look around.

" Hey..." Lauren called and I stopped my music.

" Yeah?"

" Who brought you here?" She asked and I bit my bottom lip.

" Please, look for another person to bother." I said in my mind and sighed.

" I don't know." I said and rolled my eyes.

" We don't allow indiscipline here. If you can't acquire morals you can get the fuck outta here. Earbuds out now ." She yelled.

  I sighed and removed my ear buds and threw them inside my bag. Aiden is making me angry, cause each time I think about yesterday I just wanna pounce on him hard.

" Thank you. Gather around everyone, training is beginning asap." Lauren said and entered an inner room. 

  Aiden came down and pulled me to a corner. His hand is cold against my skin and I try to ignore it. For some reason I like how it feels against my skin. 

" You lack manners." I burst out snatching my arm from his hand.

" Shut up, you're just one annoying...." He said, but paused. I noticed he blew out his breath. He's pissed and I'm glad I'm behind it. 

" What?"

  He nodded and looked around.

" You need to be serious, I won't tolerate nuisance and annoying attitudes from you. I'm being serious." 

" Oh fuck you." I said and proceeded to leave.

  He pulled me back and pressed me to the wall.

" Let me go." I yelled.

" Don't get me angry , your attitude irritates me just like your face. I won't take any form of disrespect from you because you're fucking crazy. If you don't wanna be here, get your ass and fuck off." He said and pushed me a bit hard against the wall.

   He frowned at me and walked out. 

    Fuck, I'm so angry right now. We can't cope. What made dad make such an expensive bet with me? He's a crazy asshole. 

  I don't even see myself falling for a jerk like Aiden. Obviously, I'm always winning this damn bet.