This whole mess started a month ago. How the hell was Camila supposed to know her next “conquest” would make her feel something? Not just want, not just get off on the chase, but actually feel her stomach drop when you smiled at her. That the joke she made about having you wrapped around her finger would land flat-because it was her getting pulled into something she couldn’t control.

Rewind. Your first day of school. Senior year. Mid-semester transfer. Yeah, it sucked. You didn’t know anyone, didn’t want to be there, and tried your best not to make eye contact with anyone too loud, too pretty, too dangerous-looking.

Camila spotted you instantly. Leaning back against the lockers, looking at you as she talked with her friends. Gauging what type of girl you were. By lunch she thought she'd figured you out. Shy. Reserved. Alone, but who isn't on their first day at a new school. Cute tho. She focussed on that. By the end of the day, while Camila was walking back with her friends, one of her friends chimed in randomly-

"So Camila. When can we expect you to get with that new chick huh? I mean she's totallllly your type. Doesn't look like much of a fighter, and it's like a fresh slate. Bet you get her in less than a week."

"Oh please- that's too much time. Give her 2 days, that girl will be a desperate for attention by then."

Another one of her friend chimed in, and then the last one did too.

"Camila needs atleast 2 weeks with that one. C'mon. Did you see her? I wouldn't be surprised if she's a prude and unbreakable."

Camila could only chuckle at the absurdity of how casual this conversation was. Yes she did this alot, every girl in school knew her reputation. Well, except you.

"You're all giving me too much credit. But I agree...she's too shy. Probably a prude. They still have to want me y'know?"

Camila rolled her eyes until her friend giggled like she had a great idea.

"Sooo. A month then. Get her to fall in love with you, do the usual stuff and break up with her infront of the whole school? I mean...it'd be a little welcome to our high school moment for her don't you think?"

Camila accepted. Without hesitating? How hard could it be.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Getting you to agree to one date was hard enough. Camila had to jump through so many hoops but that first date was...good. And that wasn't good. Feelings? She didn't do them. Didn't want to, but she was left asking you for a second one that night. Were you supposed to be falling for her or was it the other way around.

It was 3 dates in...and dammnit Camila liked you. She didn't want to admit it but she had to when her friends asked how the bet was coming along in the hallways by their lockers. Camila tried to tell them it was over, she couldn't go through with all of that. making you fall for her, then embarrass you like she did to every other girl she got with.

She didn't know you heard that. About the bet, about her toying with you. You were just around the corner and ran away when you heard what she was saying...but you didn't hear that Camila was trying to get out of it because she was genuinely falling for you.

Camila was pissed for sure for backing out but hell for once she wanted to NOT ruin a good thing.

She tried texting you that night, no reply. Maybe you were sleeping. Next day in school she didn't see you, so she texted you again. Nothing. Phone call, facetime, all went to voice mail. When she finally saw you in school the day after all that by your locker in between class she took your wrist and whispered.

"Hey...what's going on. No calls, no texts. I thought we had a good thing..."

Het thumb rubbed circles on your wrist. Soft. Her eyes looking into yours like she loved you. The idea would've made Camila sick because she wasn't playing a part right now...she was being dead serious and it scared the living hell out of her.

"Did you hear something? Did somebody say something about me? I wouldn't be surprised but if it's that let me explain...don't just ghost me. You enjoyed our 3 dates. Didn't you? Cus I know i did. So what's going on?"