"And that's all for today, make sure you read the next chapter ahead for discussion in the next class. See you all bright and early on Monday."

The literature teacher for the art students, Mr Sola rounded up the lesson for the day and exits the class.

Damien rushes up from his seat to meet Bianca, who is already packing up her books and getting ready for the next lesson. He takes the seat beside her, putting on his best smile.

"Hello, Bianca."

Bianca looks up from rifling through the books on her desk, and seeing it's Damien, she sighs in frustration, snorting a barely audible reply to his greeting.

"So, did you enjoy the lesson?"

He continues still smiling.

"Yeah, I did."

She replies frowning.

"What do you want, Damien? I need to get set for the next lesson."

Undaunted by her frown and the tone of her voice which evidently shows disdain, he shifts closer to her, the stupid smile still on his face.

"I just need to talk to you for a while. You have been avoiding me for a while, and the only time I'm able to talk to you, your friend is always there to interrupt."

Reading her face, trying to figure out what she's thinking, he swallows and continues.

"You see personally, I think Hannah is the one who has been discouraging you from talking to me cause she's jealous it's you I'm interested in and not her."

Bursting out in uncontrollable laughter, Bianca holds her sides to keep from hurting.

"You don't even know the half of it, you couldn't be farther from the truth. Hannah, jealous of you showing interest in me? Look, Damien, I'm flattered you are interested in me, but I'm sorry, the feeling isn't mutual. I would sincerely appreciate it if you would stop hounding me henceforth. It's like you are everywhere I turn, you are starting to choke me."

"Don't be like that, Bianca. I know you are interested in me too, you are just too stubborn to admit it. I mean, who wouldn't be? I'm the perfect example of perfect. I'm irresistible."

Pulling up his sleeves to flex his muscles,

"just look at that, I exercise regularly and I'm fit. Do you want to deny the fact that I'm also irresistibly handsome? Many girls would die for the opportunity you are taking for granted you know?"

"Then, give them the opportunity."

Raising her voice in near anger,

"I don't give a hoot about how fit or handsome you are, I could care less. We would be done with secondary school in a short while, all I ask is that you let me finish my education here in peace. I have honestly had enough of you, can you just stop?"

The smile on his face slowly disappears, replaced by a frown, he had never had a girl put him through so much stress, every single girl he had ever encountered literally threw themselves at him so, why was she proving to be different? Motivated by the bet he had with his friends, and manly pride, he vowed within himself not to stop till he has had her. She was just being difficult, besides, a little challenge is good once in a while. Life can't be always smooth."

How about we reach a compromise? I would back off as soon as we reach an agreement."

Eager to get rid of him, she nods warily waiting to hear what he has to say.

"Okay, how about I take you out on a date? Just one date, and if you decide after that you are still not interested in me, I promise to back off and never disturb you again. Just give me one chance to show you what you mean to me."

Banging her desk, she raises her voice angrily, now out of control,

"I said I am not interested in you, how hard can it be to get it? Everyone knows you are daft since you always are in the the  bottom of the class, but that shouldn't be too much to comprehend, should it?"

The whole class had now gone silent from her outburst, watching them in amusement.

"I most certainly do not want to go on date with you. Just leave me the hell alone and stay out of my way. How stupid can you be? I have been repeating the same thing for a long time, and you still won't stop, what exactly is your problem? Do you think every girl is going to be silly enough to talk for your annoying boyish charms? Imagine flexing your muscles to impress a girl! Who does that? You really deserve an award for being extraordinarily dumb."

She hisses and stands up from her seat, angrily walking out of the class to look for Hannah who had earlier left the class during the lesson to ease herself, leaving Damien open-mouthed, and hanging his head in shame.

The class soon resumes it's buzzing, changing topics to that of Damien and Bianca.

Damien stands up from his seat dragging his feet shamefully, to meet his bunch of unserious friends, who always sat at the back of the class with him. He almost couldn't believe what just happened to him. He, the Cassanova of the school being humiliated by a girl like that? It was just too much to bear. He heard little giggles and laughter around him and knew it was on his account. The embarrassment was just too much. The word was going to spread around and it was surely going to ruin his carefully crafted image of never failing to have any girl he desired. Something must be done to correct what just happened. He would never admit defeat. He pulls a chair to sit with his friends, Lekan, his best friend and perhaps the most reasonable one of the group, Olamide, one of his friends who had no ambition and plans for his life, Kayode, the chatterbox and dumbest among them, and Adams, the last member of the irresponsible lots.

Trying hard to hide a peal of laughter and failing, Olamide stretches out his hand as soon as Damien takes his seat.

"I suppose you would like to pay up the now seeing as you have obviously lost the bet."

"Sorry dude, I tried to warn you,"

Lekan says consoling his best friend.

"No one deserves that kind of embarrassment, certainly not you, with the kind of reputation you have. It's so wrong."

Kayode chips in making fun of Damien.

"Just shut up you all. As for you, Olamide," he says facing him and slapping his outstretched hand.

"I haven't lost the bet yet, I still have a few weeks to make it happen."

Adams groans loudly, shaking his head in pity.

"You just don't know when to stop, do you? We all told you you can't have this girl, but you refused. She's a real ice queen in case you haven't noticed. Do you realise this is not the first time she would blow you off? Why are you being so stubborn? You lost the bet, just give up already. Even if you had years to keep trying, she's never going to be interested in you, that much is as clear as day. Move on dude."

He concludes resting his back on his seat.

Shaking his head stubbornly, Damien seems to have regained some of his lost bravadoes and he smiles wickedly.

"I am not going to pay any of you a dime, the time we agreed upon isn't even exhausted yet. I didn't take the bet cause I expected it to be easy, I took it to prove you all wrong, and I'm going to. This is just a minor challenge, some girls play hard to get at the beginning, but eventually fall hard in the end."

Sitting up confidently in his seat,

"Infact, I would like to double the initial amount agreed on."

They all stare at him like one who has gone mad and Olamide is the first to speak.

"Who am I to say you shouldn't throw your money away especially since it's going to be for my own good? I am in total support of doubling the bet if everyone else is. It's your money to lose after all. You are guaranteed to fail in this quest, I won't tell you again. Just make sure you pay up when the time is up."

Lekan pats his best friend's shoulder in an attempt to disuade him.

"I wish you would just let it go. Imagine how she insulted you just now, you really need to forget about it."

Shaking his head stubbornly,

"You already know I can't. She's going to end up in my arms, just you wait."

"Guys, let's leave Damien, he has made up his mind."

Slapping his thighs, Adams rises to his feet.

"Let's go and play some cards."

The others rise to their feet to follow him, but Lekan hesitates.

"It's almost time for a break, why don't we just wait till then?"

Damien yawns and smoothens his school uniform,

"You can wait if you want to, we are off."

They file off and exit the class cracking lewd jokes along the way.Lekan looks around and reluctantly follows suit.

                              ******B

ianca and Hannah are in the school's girls toilet passionately kissing and smooching themselves.

Whispering hotly in her ears and tugging at her school shirt, 

"I wish I could get this fabric out of the way so I can feel your boobs."

Making quick work of the buttons on her uniform, Bianca begins to undress.Hannah raises a hand to stop her.

"No, don't do that."

Wearing a puzzled frown,

"Why not?"

"We have another lesson in a few minutes and there's also the issue of someone walking in on us, I don't want to risk it."

Sighing, she begins to button up her shirt,

"Just when I was starting to enjoy this moment and get my mind off what happened a while ago."

"What happened?"

"It's that stupid Damien, he came on to me immediately the literature teacher left the class, and succeeded in ruining my mood."

Stamping her feet furiously on the floor,

"The bastard took advantage of the fact that I was out of the class. Something needs to be done about him, it's getting too much."

Drawing her closer,

"Did you at least slap him?"

Forcing herself to smile,

"I didn't. Have you forgotten the penalty for fighting in school? I don't want to be suspended on his account. I gave him a piece of my mind though. I'm sure he would think twice before approaching me next time. I'm even starting to feel I went too hard on him. You should have seen the look on his face when I insulted him. He couldn't close his mouth from shock."

"Serves him right, personally, I still think he should be reported to the principal. I have a feeling he won't stop. He's hell-bent on making you his."

"It hasn't gotten to that, I can handle him.Let's give him one last chance, and if he doesn't stop, I would report him."

Shrugging her shoulders, it's all up to you.

So, are we still on for the sleepover this weekend?"Tucking in her school shirt,

"Sure, we are. I told my parents already and it's all settled."

Smiling brightly at her,

"That's good, I can't wait for you to be in my arms. I got some more toys for us to use, you would love them."

"I can't wait too, it almost feels as if I didn't just spend last weekend at your place. I wish the weekend was longer."

"It's short I know but we would make the best use of it."

Stretching out her arms,

"How about you give me one more kiss before we head on to class? I never seem to get enough of you."

She goes into Hannah's arms and they kiss for a little while, reluctantly breaking the kiss before heading on to class for their next lesson.