The Smart-Ass and the Bet
I hate the way you talk to me, and the way you cut your hair. I hate the way you drive my car. I hate it when you stare. I hate your big dumb combat boots, and the way you read my mind. I hate you so much it makes me sick; it even makes me rhyme" - Kat Stratford, Ten Things I Hate About You
The school hallways were always loud, buzzing with the usual teenage drama, but Agatha Harkness walked through them like she was on a mission to avoid every single person. Her boots clacked against the floor, and her dark coat billowed behind her like she was casting a permanent “stay away” spell.
People did stay away, mostly. Agatha had a reputation: she didn’t care about fitting in, didn’t care about the cliques, and definitely didn’t care what anyone thought of her. And she wasn’t shy about letting people know that.
“Move,” Agatha snapped at a group of freshmen blocking her path to her locker. They scattered like pigeons, making her smirk just a little. Easy.
She opened her locker, grabbed her books, and slammed it shut in one smooth motion. Everything about her was sharp: her eyes, her words, the way she carried herself. She liked it that way.
Her sister Jen, however, was the exact opposite.
“Hey, Agatha!” Jen called out from a few lockers down, where she was surrounded by a group of her giggling friends. “You’re coming to the party tonight, right?”
Agatha gave her a flat look. “You seriously think that’s a thing I’d do?”
Jen rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on! It’ll be fun. You need to get out of your gloomy cave once in a while.”
“No, thanks,” Agatha said, already turning to leave.
“You’re impossible,” Jen muttered under her breath, but Agatha heard her. She always did. Her sister’s endless attempts to drag her into high school social life were laughable.
Meanwhile, across the courtyard, Alice—a nervous, hopeful freshman—watched Jen with starry eyes. Lilia, her best friend, nudged her.
“Go talk to her,” Lilia said, grinning.
Alice shook her head so fast her glasses almost flew off. “Are you kidding? She doesn’t even know I exist.”
“Well, yeah, but that’s because of her sister,” Lilia said, jerking her head toward Agatha. “No one’s dating Jen unless Agatha does something first.”
Alice frowned, confused. “Why?”
“Because,” Lilia explained, “their dad’s got this weird rule. No one can date Jen unless Agatha dates someone first.”
“That’s... weird,” Alice agreed, though the gears in her head were already turning. “So... someone just needs to convince Agatha to date?”
Lilia snorted. “Good luck with that. Agatha’s, like, allergic to people.”
But Alice’s eyes lit up. “Maybe not everyone…”
The courtyard bustled with students dodging around each other, but Alice kept her eyes on one person: Billy, leaning smugly against a stone fountain in the center of it all, as though he owned the place. Lillia nudged Alice.
“Are you really going through with this?”
Alice adjusted her glasses and took a breath. “Yes. This is my one shot to date Jen. If that means convincing Billy, then… here we go.”
Billy spotted them approaching and gave Alice a bored glance. “Alice,” he said, drawling her name out. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Alice forced a casual smile. “Billy, I’m here to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
He raised an eyebrow. “This oughta be good.”
“You know Jen Harkness, right?”
Billy smirked. “Who doesn’t?”
“Well, I bet you can’t make it happen with her.”
Billy frowned, his confidence slightly wavering. “What are you talking about? Jen would be lucky to date me.”
“Sure,” Alice replied, smiling just enough to let him know she wasn’t impressed. “But there’s this little… obstacle.” She leaned in, lowering her voice. “Her sister, Agatha. From what I hear, Jen’s not allowed to date until Agatha does.”
“Yeah, so?” Billy shrugged. “What’s that got to do with me?”
Alice shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Well, I just figured you didn’t have what it takes to solve that problem. Unless you think you could convince someone to date Agatha. But, really, who’d take on that challenge?”
Billy narrowed his eyes, his competitive nature kicking in. “Please. I could get someone to date Agatha in no time.”
Alice tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. “Really? Because I heard even Rio Vidal wouldn’t be able to handle Agatha.”
Billy scoffed, puffing up slightly. “Rio? She’d do anything for the right amount of cash.”
Alice shrugged again. “Well, it’s your choice. I’m just saying, if you can’t make this happen, I’ll know I was right all along.”
Billy glared at her, clearly irked. “Oh, I’ll make it happen. You just watch.”
Alice smirked, feeling a rush of satisfaction. “Guess I’ll wait and see, then.”
Billy didn’t waste another second, already plotting how he’d find Rio and seal the deal. As he sauntered off, Lillia turned to Alice, shaking her head in amazement.
“You’re diabolical,” Lillia said, grinning. “And you almost made him think it was his idea.”
Alice grinned back, her eyes following Billy. “If this works, Jen will be free to date. And, hopefully, I’ll be the one she notices.”
On the other side of campus, Rio Vidal leaned back against a tree, watching the chaos of school life unfold like it was all a show just for her. She held a cigarette lazily between her fingers, more for effect than anything else, as she surveyed the scene. People kept their distance, eyeing her like she was a lit firecracker waiting to go off. She liked it that way.
A familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Vidal,” Billy called, swaggering over with his signature smug grin.
Rio didn’t move from her comfortable position. She raised an eyebrow as he approached. “Billy,” she said, tone flat. “What do you want?”
Billy leaned against the tree, attempting a casual stance that came off forced. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”
Rio chuckled, flicking ash off her cigarette. “Propositions from you? Sounds dangerous.”
Billy’s grin widened. “Not for you. You like a challenge, right?”
Rio gave him a sidelong glance, mildly curious. “What exactly are you getting at?”
Billy crossed his arms, still smiling. “So, there’s this bet.”
Rio looked at him, unimpressed. “Oh yeah? And why should I care?”
“Because,” he continued, clearly not used to his ego being dismissed so easily, “it involves you. And money.”
Rio raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”
Billy grinned, sensing her interest. “There’s this girl—Jen Harkness. Maybe you know her. Cute, popular, off-limits thanks to her sister Agatha.”
Rio rolled her eyes. “Jen Harkness is so not my problem.”
“But she’s my problem,” Billy said, his tone slick with confidence. “I want to date Jen. Only catch is, no one can date her until her sister, Agatha, starts dating someone first.”
At the mention of Agatha’s name, Rio’s smirk shifted to something more intrigued. “The terrifying, sarcastic one?”
“That’s the one.” Billy’s grin sharpened. “And Alice—you know, the new girl—has this crazy idea that I don’t have what it takes to pull this off. She practically dared me to make it happen.”
Rio chuckled, finally catching on. “So Alice bet you couldn’t get Agatha to date someone? Let me guess—you need someone to prove her wrong.”
“Exactly,” Billy said with a nod, ignoring the obvious manipulation. “She doesn’t think anyone can handle Agatha. Especially not you.”
Rio looked off thoughtfully, her smirk returning. “Agatha Harkness. The girl who probably practices hexes for fun.”
Billy shrugged, playing it cool. “Come on. You’re the only one who could even try to handle her.”
Rio leaned in, eyes narrowing with a dangerous spark. “And what’s in it for me?”
Billy’s grin returned. “I’ll pay you. A solid chunk of cash. Just for getting her to go on a few dates with you.”
Rio paused, weighing the proposition. The money was tempting, but the real thrill lay in the challenge. Agatha Harkness was the last person anyone in their right mind would date. But Rio? She didn’t mind doing the impossible, especially when it came with a payout and a chance to prove everyone else wrong.
She chuckled, finally extending her hand. “You’ve got a deal. But don’t come crying when this doesn’t turn out the way you want.”
Billy shook her hand, confident. “Don’t worry. Just make it happen.”
As Rio watched Billy strut off, a thought crossed her mind: This was going to be interesting. And if she played her cards right, she might even have a little fun messing with Agatha Harkness.
Later that day, Rio found herself watching Agatha from a distance, already forming a plan. Agatha, meanwhile, was oblivious as she breezed through the halls, sarcasm dripping from her every comment.
“You’re not gonna pull this off,” Lilia said from beside Alice, both of them watching Rio watching Agatha.
“Oh, she will,” Alice said confidently. “If anyone can get Agatha Harkness to date, it’s Rio Vidal.”