As I lie on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, I started to think about why exactly I was feeling all of those emotions earlier. Why had I been so mad at Allison? Why did I kiss Jake? I started to remember everything that had happened today. This is why.

Our relationship was the best. Everyone was talking about us and I was envied by many girls. I thought my life was perfect at that moment. Scott loved me and I loved him. Nothing could go wrong.

Or so I thought.

It happened on a winter evening. We were all in the Gryffindor common room; me, Scott, Allison, and Jake sitting by the fire. We were relieved that there was a surprisingly low amount of homework today and wanted to relax for a bit. We were talking about Allison's problems with Colton when a fourth year came up to us. 

"Are you Danielle Hale?" he asked me.

"Uh, yeah I am," I replied, feeling a little confused.

"And you're Scott McCall?" he said as he looked at Scott. Scott nodded at the fourth year. I wasn't sure, but I saw a little look of panic in his eyes and it made me uneasy.

Another boy that must have been the fourth year's friend came up to us and said, "Hey Liam! Isn't that the girl from the bet? I didn't know you knew her!"

"He doesn't," I said "and what bet?"

"Oh!" Liam's friend said as his face suddenly turned white. "You didn't tell her yet?" he said to Scott.

"Mason, you idiot! Why would you say that? Let's go," Liam said as he grabbed Mason by the arm and pulled him away.

"What were they talking about?" I asked Scott. He was shaking and looking really nervous. I looked at Allison, who was looking the same way Scott was. She was avoiding eye contact with me and shaking her foot. Jake alone looked like he was feeling the same thing I was. He too looked puzzled and curious.

"No idea," Scott said as he looked into my eyes. I wanted to believe him, but I knew something was off.

"You obviously know. Tell me," I said firmly.

"It's nothing just forget about it," he said as he wiped his face on his sleeve.

Allison spoke this time. "Maybe we should just tell her, Scott."

"Tell me what?" I asked, getting impatient now.

"No," Scott said, so suddenly I jumped a little.

"I'm going to. It's been terrible keeping it from her," Allison said and looked at me. "So you know how you were telling me that Scott and you had an actual conversation in Potions for the first time?"

"Yeah..." I said, not knowing where she was going with this.

"That's because we made a bet with him. Me, Colton, Jackson, and Lydia. We told him that if he somehow convinced you to hook up with him, we would give him ten galleons," she finished looking scared at my reaction.

It was in that moment when everything came crashing down at me. I finally understood why everything happened the way it did. All of my doubts about Scott were confirmed. He didn't chose me. They did. I was a bet over a mere ten galleons. Not even a decent amount. I really was the nerdy girl no one wanted to be with. 

How could Allison have done this to me? I thought she was my best friend. Did she have to rub it in my face that she could get a boyfriend by herself and I couldn't?

I must have sat there thinking for a minute because Allison said, "Danielle?"

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I stood up and I noticed that my face was wet. I had been crying and didn't even realize it. I ran out of the common room, not looking back and ran into my dormitory. I fell onto my bed and stuffed my face into the pillow. I let myself sob into it for a few minutes until Allison walked in.

"Danielle, I'm really sorry. I don't know what to say, I can't believe I actually did that. Will you forgive me?" she asked me and I noticed that she too had tears on her face.

"No!" I said with rage and sadness.

"I'm so sorry Danielle."