Authors note: Okay…my fantasy stories are depressing me. I’m starting to think I shouldn’t write itanymore. But, I want to give it another try and see if anyone likes this approach. So…tell me you what you think. Please review and enjoy!

Chapter One

My Bet, Her End

Do you ever wonder if everyone is here for a purpose? Like…their life is meant to fulfill something, not just for themselves but for the rest of humanity. Have you ever thought of that before or has you life just been this crazy thing you have to do till you die?

Well, I’ve never thought about it until right now. Before then, my life was just for me and all me. I didn’t even really know what I was doing or why I was living it the way I was. But now, it seems like I need more. I need a reason for living.

A reason for living…now that is a very interesting concept.

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They were somewhere in the back of the school, probably in a janitors closet. She was a stupid a little red head who was being cruelly played. He was the principal’s kid who was the conniving player. He had already swindled the little girl, who had been doing his homework for three months.

“I think you’re beautiful…” the girl whispered, her body lying against his strong arm.

He smiled his devious yet inviting grin as he leaned towards her, placing yet another kiss on her chapped lips. This made her smile nervously as she pushed her huge glasses farther back on her face. He caressed her crimson cheek, brushing his blonde hair out of his face with his other.

“You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he whispered, “I’ll never you.”

The little girl’s eyes widened before she threw her whole body on him. He fell onto his back as her lips pressed up against his own. She closed her eyes, making rather loud noises as she pursued him.

At first he pretended to be interested in making out with this girl. Soon however, he rolled his eyes in irritation. It had gone on long enough. To his delight, the two were abruptly interrupted.

“What are you two doing in here?!” a man in overalls screamed. This was probably his janitor closet.

“I’m sorry…” Jericho said in a soft voice, “We were just…”

“Falling in love,” the girl finished in a far off voice.

Jericho just sighed, glancing at the girl with repugnance in his eyes. That statement had completely blown their “relationship” out of proportion.

“Well can you fall in love somewhere else!” he said, literally pushing the two out of the closet.

The two students just smiled as they quickly walked away from the grumpy, old man. When they made to Concord High School’s main hallway, it was full of students. Third period, which they had skipped, was over. Jericho leered.

“So…” the girl whispered, “maybe you can come to my house late…we’ll be all alone.”

Jericho looked at her as he quickly broke away from her hand hold. She turned to him; a little worry on her face, for Jericho wasn’t smiling anymore. He was smirking, evilly; like the final works to an evil plot had been fulfilled.

“Why would I want to date you?” Jericho murmured, “You aren’t pretty, you’re not popular, and you’re a horrible kisser.”

The little red heads cowered down as her thoughts began to muddle into a huge mess. What was the love her life doing?

“Do you even listen to the rumors about me?” he continued, “I get with nerdy girls…do what I want, and then embarrass them in front of the entire school. And yet the whole time…they actually think I like them.”

Hot tears began to stream down the little girls cheeks as she stared into Jericho’s dark blue eyes. They were laughing at her.

“Let’s see…I’ve gotten with you…I’ve done what I’ve want with you,” he said, counting off each thing with his perfect fingers, “Hmm…seems like the only thing I have left to do is…embarrass you in front of the entire school.”

The girl shook her head a little but could only keep crying. Jericho only smiled at her. He liked seeing her tears. They made him feel happy.

He glanced around the school hallway; a few students were looking his way. They were probably all wondering what he was doing with such a geeky girl. They were about to find out.

Jericho motioned towards one of his cheerleader, on and off girlfriends. Right now, they were together. She, Paige, smiled deviously, walking towards him with her long legs. Grabbing a pudding cup from an unsuspecting nerd, she opened it up before walking over to the two.

“You are so ugly,” Paige said loudly to the little girl before purposely pouring the entire cups content onto her head.

The little girl became to weep loudly now as many students stood around. Some laughed while others just watched on; happy they weren’t the poor victim.

And then, to put the cherry on the cake, Jericho winked at the little girl before grabbing Paige and smashing his lips against hers. Paige didn’t mind this at all.

Then, with what little courage she had left, the little girl fled the scene.

“I love you, baby!” Jericho called to the girl, a thunder of laughing coming from behind him.

Kissing Paige again, Jericho felt accomplished.

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“Dude, you’re like the Picasso of playing girls…it’s just so damn funny.”

Jericho rolled his eyes at his friend, Ben, his main companion. Two other guys he didn’t know where following him also, congratulating him on his victory today. That’s what it was, a victory.

“Yeah, I know…” Jericho mumbled, “But this girl was not a challenge at all…she’s was all over me. I could barely speak. And I had to kiss her rough lips for three months!”

“The homework made it worth it,” one of the guys added.

“True,” Jericho answered.

As they walked towards Mr. Henry’s door, they stopped on the outside. Jericho could already see girls waving at him from a distance, nerds at that. They were smiling with braces filled mouths and faces full of zits. At first it made Jericho want to throw up, then it made him smiled. It was just more girls to rip the hearts out of. It was a game, and he was addicted.

“Hey girls,” he said, his voice deep yet strangely gentle.

They waved anxiously, their breathing becoming heavy. The guys behind him just chuckled lowly as Jericho flipped his hair. This made all the naïve girls die.

It wasn’t that Jericho was the quarterback of the football team or the center of the basketball team. He wasn’t. But there was something about Jericho that made every girl in his bath melt. All he did was smile and he was theirs. It wasn’t that he was perfect in school or just, perfect. He wasn’t.

But he made them feel perfect. And who…could ignore that?

Other boys in the school envied him however also enjoyed seeing his game play out. He could break hearts without a care. That power made them happy. But seeing the principal’s kid take that power and use it against others, that was a thrill.

“Well then…if nerdy girls bore you, then dump a popular girl,” Ben said, “That would be some major shit.”

Jericho shook his head, “Already did it. Not worth it…”

“Yeah, they can’t do your homework,” the other guy answered.

The group laughed, thinking of all the school’s dumb girls. As Ben and the other two continued to make further puns, Jericho glanced around the empty room. Mr. Henry was always late. So the students just followed his example.

That was everyone one but the girl in the back of the room, on far right side. Jericho had now locked her into his view. She was a rather unkempt girl, a goth. She was reading a black book, as her messy black hair covered her face. Her eyes were engulfed by black eye shadow while her small lips were covered in and overwhelming amount of black lipstick. Black was her thing.

Jericho had now been staring at her for awhile. And when he smiled, his plan was complete.

“How about her?” he said aloud, “I’ll make her fall for me.”

Ben and the other two suddenly stopped as they all turned their gaze to the back of the room. They glimpsed at the goth before turned back to Jericho with estranged looks.

“No…that’s not a good idea,” Ben said slowly.

“Why not?” Jericho said, still staring at the girl.

“She’s a goth,” one guy said, “What if she takes you home and rips out your intestines…then dissects in lab.”

“Goth’s don’t do that,” Jericho whispered, “Besides…she’ll be a different kind a challenge…a fun challenge. And when she finally falls for me…I’m going to make her pay, indefinitely.”

“Look, I’d just be impressed if you made her smile. I’d give you twenty bucks.”

Ben pushed one of the guys out of the way as he leaned on Jericho’s back. Jericho was just beaming, finding him self not able to lift his gaze off the girl.

“You make her smile…” Ben whispered, “And I’ll give you a hundred bucks...”

“And if I don’t?” Jericho replied.

“Hmm…I’ll think on that one.”

Jericho just smiled as he slowly sauntered towards her. The two other guys squealed with pleasure while Ben just watched with a smug look on his face.

Sitting backward in the desk in front of hers, Jericho flipped back his hair again.

“Hey…” he said in a soft voice.

The girl didn’t move. She didn’t even flinch. Her eyes just kept scanning the page of the book. Jericho was certain she hadn’t heard him. That had to be it.

“What’s up?” he added, leaning closer to her.

The girl just continued to read, only moving to flip the page.

This made Jericho’s eyes widen in disbelief. He could tell that the guys behind him had stopped laughing. He also knew that Ben was probably smiling with triumph.

“Okay,” Jericho said with a defeated sigh, “I know I might not seem like your first choice but darling, if you get to-”

“Go away,” she said.

Jericho looked up. He had been pretending to be downcast but this made him wake up from his false misery.

“I’m sorry?” he said with shock.

“I said go away,” the girl said, now looking up.

This made Jericho lean back. Her eyes almost seemed to be without pupils they were so white. Now he almost wished she had more make up. But even more, he wished he could just run away from her.

But he couldn’t lose, he just couldn’t.

“Look, I don’t know what your problem is or why you want me to leave but-” he started.

“What?” the girl interrupted again, “Was the sadistic, nauseating expression on my face not enough for you? Get…the hell…away from me.”

Before long, the color of gray began to come into the girl’s eyes and Jericho was able to relax. Soon his enticing smile had returned to his face.

“Look…I have to make smile. I need to make you smile. Usually girls would just smile if I looked your way. Seems like I have to beg you. So…will you please smile for you? A hundred bucks is on the line.”

The girl slowly placed her book down as she straightened her back. Jericho raised an eyebrow as she leaned his way. He cringed, the smell of burnt wood on the girl’s clothing. She looked up at him as her pallid hands gripped her desk.

“I think you’re despicable…” her delicate voice said, “You are cruel to poor little girls who don’t know any better than to fall in love with the first bastard they see…and sadly, it’s you. You’re disgrace to your own kind. How do you even live with yourself? But in a way, I’m sure hurting those poor creatures is the only way you can. You’re so hurt inside all you can do to escape that ever so constant pain is by unleashing it on others. It’s sick and ugly…and when you do it, that’s what you are. I’ll have nothing to do with you and I will not smile. Now as I said before, go away.”

Jericho could only think of how happy he was that she had whispered. If the guys had heard, he would have been utterly disgraced.

But what she had said, what little he had decided to listen to, had completely evaded him.

Instead, it had only made him more angry and determined to make this girl his.

“You are,” he stared in a shaky voice, “So peculiar. So different. So delicious…”

The girls eyes enlarged as she quickly moved from Jericho’s face. She had just noticed how close she was to him and now wished to be a world apart. He looked as if he was about to pounce on weak prey as he slowly sat up and inched towards her.

“I think…kissing you should do it…I think then you’ll see it my way. Then, perhaps you’ll smile.”

The girl was now completely terrified. She tried to stand up but Jericho hurriedly blocked her way out. She tried to pick up her book in effort to push him away. It only ended up fallen on the ground.

“I’ll smile for you,” she said hastily, “I will!”

“Forget it,” Jericho responded slyly, “I just want to kiss you now.”

Jericho found the words not even to be his own. They had just come out. He didn’t even know why he was moving in this girl’s direction. He already had the bet locked up and sealed. And yet, he wanted to kiss her. He had to.

The girl was now pushing at him and trying to shove his arms. But he was too strong, and too quick. Before she could even scream, they were kissing.

Ben and the other two were just staring in astonishment. That was before they broke out in laughter. Even Ben could not stand firm.

For there he was, making out with goth. Her body was trembling and her eyes were wide but she couldn’t do anything. All she could do was sit and wait for Jericho and his warm, tender lips to depart. Jericho however, was enjoying the entire situation. He closed his eyes, biding his time. After lightly touching her cold cheek, Jericho moved away. He was almost thinking of leaning in for more, but resisted the urge.

He breathed deeply as her gray stared into his blue. He smiled a toothy grin and was about to speak when her hard hand whipped across his face. Then next thing he knew, he was lying on her desk.

“How dare you!” she screamed, standing up, “You…you ignorant, fool! How could you be so stupid?! You’ve ruined me…and your so, damn stupid! You…fool!”

As she said the words, the girl began to sob. All Jericho could do was gaze on as she covered her face, running out of the classroom. It was right then that Mr. Henry ran into the room, followed by many late students. But Jericho didn’t even notice them; he was still staring at the place where the girl had been standing.

“What the hell was that?” Ben said, sitting next to him.

“I…don’t know,” Jericho could barely make out.

“She didn’t smile, that’s for sure,” another guy added.

Then the three laughed. But not Jericho, not now.

“She slapped you so hard…man, she was pissed. That had to be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. And now, I’ve won the bet.”

Ben was not very happy that Jericho had not even acknowledged it. The fair haired teenager was still just staring.

“Man...that was messed up,” one guy added before they all walked away from Jericho.

He hadn’t even noticed they were gone. All he could think about was her; that girl, the goth.

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“What have you done?”

“I don’t want to talk to about it, Fen.”

“What you have done?! He kissed you…Nirvana, he kissed you…”

“It wasn’t my fault…”

“What is father going to say?”

“It wasn’t my fault!”

“But it’s your fate…it’s your end.

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“Dear, your father and I are going out tonight…are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“And your father told me you missed third period today, what happened?”

Jericho could scarcely recall. Then he remembered the nerdy little red head with pudding on her head and smiled.

“I was helping someone out,” he whispered.

His mother raised a curious eyebrow as she applied some ruby red lipstick. As her pink ball dress billowed behind her, she shoved Jericho’s foot off the coffee table.

“Now you behave yourself,” she said, “Get some homework done…and no more parties. If your father comes home to one more out of control bonanza he’ll kill you, and I won’t stop him.”

Jericho rolled his eyes as he heard his father come down the stairs. This was just a man, not a father. Jericho couldn’t even remember the last time they had spoken. It felt like years.

“Come on,” he said to his wife, Miranda.

“Alright, now goodbye Jericho…have fun.”

“Yeah, fun…that’s just what doing homework and no parties is all about!” he screamed as his parents closed the door on their mini mansion.

He scuffed, standing up. For being the most wanted boy in school, he was certainly alone.

“I’ll just crash early,” he said, heading for the stairs.

But as his feet grew close and closer, his steps began to falter. Soon the room began to spin, like a broken merry-go-round. He could feel himself falling as he landed on the stairs. He grabbed his head. He couldn’t feel it. It wasn’t there.

“What’s…what’s…happen…happening to me?”

And as he began to black out, all he could see was her face. That strange little goth’s face. And she was smiling at him, laughing at him. He was hurt and she was taking pleasure.

He was supposed to just make her smile. It was supposed to be just some stupid, little kiss.

But that kiss would prove to be not so little and stupid in the very near, dangerous events that followed.

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Authors note: Okay…so please, please, please review. I really need to know if this is going anywhere. It’s really scaring me so…just tell me if you like it or not. Sorry about any typos, I was seriously rushed. Okay…thanks!