The Campus Bad Boy Bet He Could Make the Poor Transfer Student Fall for Him — Then He Fell First
Chapter 2
Jake started appearing everywhere Elena happened to be.
At first, she thought it was coincidence.
Then it became obvious.
Library.
Cafeteria.
Economics lecture.
Student gym.
Even the bakery where she worked.
One evening, Elena was carrying trays of pastries behind the bakery counter when Jake walked in.
She stared.
“What are you doing here?”
“Buying food.”
“You don’t even eat pastries.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve seen you here four times.”
Jake smiled.
“Then you’ve been paying attention.”
Elena rolled her eyes.
“What do you want?”
“Whatever you recommend.”
She pointed toward a shelf.
“Blueberry muffin.”
He took one.
“Anything else?”
“Coffee.”
She poured it.
He paid.
Then left a generous tip.
Elena looked at the receipt.
“That’s too much.”
Jake shrugged.
“Keep it.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t tip me personally.”
He looked surprised.
“It’s part of the job.”
She pushed the money back.
He laughed.
“You’re stubborn.”
“So I’ve been told.”
He left.
Outside, Tyler was waiting.
“How did it go?”
Jake grinned.
“She won’t take my money.”
“That’s good.”
“Why?”
“Because the bet says make her fall for you, not buy her.”
Jake laughed.
But the sentence stayed with him.
The following week, Elena’s schedule became difficult.
Her mother needed another medical appointment.
Her brother had an exam.
Her work hours increased.
She looked exhausted.
Jake noticed.
One afternoon, he saw her carrying three boxes outside the library.
“Need help?”
“No.”
She nearly dropped one.
Jake caught it.
“Clearly.”
“I’ve got it.”
He took the boxes anyway.
“Where?”
“Storage room.”
They walked.
“You know,” he said, “you could let people help sometimes.”
“I don’t need help.”
“Everyone needs help.”
She looked at him.
“Easy for you to say.”
“Why?”
“Because you have money.”
The words weren’t cruel.
Just true.
Jake became quiet.
Elena continued:
“You don’t have to worry about rent.”
“No.”
“You don’t have to work after class.”
“No.”
“You don’t have to choose between textbooks and groceries.”
He looked at her.
“You do?”
She nodded.
“I’ve got two jobs.”
Jake hadn’t known.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why would I?”
He had no answer.
For the first time, he started questioning the bet.
That night, he looked at his friends.
“I don’t think this is funny anymore.”
Tyler laughed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
Mason smiled.
“Don’t tell me you’re already losing.”
Jake shook his head.
“I’m not.”
But he was.
Not the bet.
His certainty.
The next day, Elena sat beside Jake during class.
Not because she liked him.
Because every other seat was taken.
He tried to joke.
“You know, this is starting to look intentional.”
She frowned.
“You’re annoying.”
He smiled.
“You’ve said that before.”
The professor started speaking.
Elena took notes.
Jake watched her.
She worked differently from everyone else.
She didn’t waste movement.
Every sentence went into her notebook.
Every minute mattered.
When class ended, Jake walked beside her.
“Where are you going?”
“Library.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
“Do you ever rest?”
“Sometimes.”
“When?”
“When I’m asleep.”
He laughed.
That was the first time she smiled at him.
Small.
Almost accidental.
Jake stopped walking.
“What?”
She frowned.
“What?”
“You smiled.”
“So?”
“I’ve been trying for weeks.”
She shook her head.
“Don’t get used to it.”
She walked away.
Jake stood there smiling.
He realized something uncomfortable.
He didn’t care about the bet anymore.
He cared about making her smile.
That was different.
