Chapter 5 Losing to my nemesis.

“Bethel.” My eyes looked up at Felix's face, he was smiling at me as he gave me his hands. I glanced at my surroundings, I was under the bench of the school's athletic field with my note on my lap.

“Just give me a few minutes." I said. “I'm almost done with Professor Thiel’s assignment.”

“You can always do it after.” He said, squatting down to close my books despite my arguments. He stood up with my backpack hung over his shoulder and my books in his hands, then he stretched his hands again and smiled.

I took his hands.

Leaving the bench area, and walking by his side across the athletic field. He was saying something and I was laughing while adding comments here and there. When we got to where his car was parked, he put my stuff in the backseat before opening the front for me to get in.

After we settled in, he turned on the ignition and the car roared to life before he drove off. My favorite book had gotten an adaptation and we were on our way to the cinema to watch it. He had my favourite song playing on his stereo and I was singing along to it.

He would glance at me every interval and my heart would leap at that. We were young and in love, mostly me. I was in love with Felix and I didn't know if he felt the same way but for that moment, I let myself believe that he did love me.

He held my hands as we made our way to the cinema, despite the stares and subtle comments from people. Felix was popular and he was open about his relationship with me. I was grateful for that and whenever his fans would come over for autographs and pictures, he always included me in them.

He would wipe my tears whenever the credits of the movie started rolling, then kiss me while holding my hands.

On Saturdays, we would stay in and play games on his console then during the evenings we would go for late night drives, we would stop for ice creams then walk while holding hands in the park. Then on Sundays we would make out till we're both exhausted then lazy around, while preparing for a new week.

We had each other,

We loved each other,

Where did it all go wrong?

It had also snowed that day, heavily I think. I went to surprise Felix after one of his games, chocolates that I had baked in my hands and my phone in the other while trying to call his number after I couldn't seem to find him in the locker room. I spotted him in the car parking lot and started heading towards him, then halted on my steps when I saw him with two of his male friends and a girl who I recognized as his ex-girlfriend.

“You and Lemaire look like a real couple.” She said, leaning against Felix’s body.

“Nobody would pass you as straight with all the stuff you've been doing with him.” One of his male friends, I think his name was Brandon said.

“I'm jealous of how close you two are.” Her voice came with that fake hurt and her mouth was pulled in a pout. I should've turned my back and left, I shouldn't have eavesdropped on their conversation, I should've gone back to the house but my legs stood there, I wanted to hear what he would say, I wanted to see what he would do.

He pulled her back into his arms when she made that attempt to leave his side. “Don't act like you didn't know what this was, and besides you asked for it.”

“I know, but I can't stand seeing him all close to you.” She asked, Brandon had said something that I didn't hear which made them laugh.

“Are you jealous Stella?” Felix had lifted her chin with his hand giving him a clear access to her lips as he kissed her hard like he was trying to reassure her, then he pulled away and gazed at her sweetly before setting my world ablaze. “Besides the whole thing with Bethel Lemaire was a bet you started in the first place.”

“Does he even know that he's being used as a bet between the both of you?” Brandon's voice came out. “You both are the most toxic couples I've ever met.”

“I wonder the look on his face when he finds out that none of it was real, you were just pretending.” Stella squeaked. “I must give it to you, your acting is flawless.”

I should've walked to him and slapped him right there, but my legs were rooted. Tears slipping down my eyes slowly as I watched them laugh, they were all laughing at me, at my foolishness.

I was only a bet.

I blinked hard, I was no longer in the parking lot but back at the ice arena with the scoreboard showing that the Ravenberg had won. Felix had won, despite all my efforts, he had won.

I felt a sting of tears threatening to pour out as I stared at him, celebrating with his teammates as they all praised him for his quick precision, calling him the unbeatable on the ice rink. Julian tugged at my arms, I glanced at him and saw his worried face then his lips moving like he was saying something to me.

“Are you okay?” I heard him clearly, but I didn't know what to answer. Not with the whole arena chanting Felix's name, not with them singing his praises.

The announcer's voice echoes once more on the ice rink, hyping the Ravenberg and saying that once again they have proven why they're the champions of hockey. Felix looked at me and smiled before saying that I should remember the bet we made earlier.

“I am fine.” I said to Julian. I wasn't sure if I was fine, I was far from being fine, how could I be fine?

How could I–

I had just lost to my nemesis, Felix Sawyer.