Last Year of Seventeen

Chapter 4 - Manifesto

"I have another proposition." August looked at me this time. Her eyes are hard, determined. The kind of look that makes it difficult to say no to. It made me curious what she had in mind.

"In my defense–" I started. I was aware that it was very cowardly to throw my friends under the bus like this. But I need her to know I wanted to put a stop to it, "–I was about to back out from the deal. The more I learned about you, the more I think me and friends are twats for even thinking about it. On behalf of us all, I'm sorry."

A faint flush pooled on August's cheeks. Her mouth opened as if to say something. She wasn't expecting me to say anything remotely like that. She recovered quickly though and was once again indifferent.

"What was the deal anyway?" She asked. Her words were tight and careful. August is trying to see if I can be trusted.

I wanted to let her know that I was. So I told her everything. From the unconscious antagonizing she does to Theo caused by her nonchalance and indifference. Entirely not her fault but Theo is one dimensional and is used to getting what he wants. I told her I agreed mainly because I was bored and I thought it would be arduous to try and break her. I told her what the deal was about. How I was supposed to make her fall in love with me so I can break up with her publicly and also make her lose the top spot in the Student Ranking. And then I told her that I changed my mind, because it's not her fault we find her intimidating or annoying for doing things the way she does, that's on us.

It sounds a lot like just saving my own ass but it was the truth.

She was quiet after my confession. And then somehow, a soft, muffled sound rises from her throat. She was trying to hold it in but it became too much and she bursts out laughing.

I tried to quiet her down. We're in the library after all. I didn't expect her to be the one breaking the first rule of a library– which is to be quiet.

"What the hell, August. Someone might hear."

She tried to speak in between her fits but laugh after laugh drowns out her words. I've never seen her smile much before. It was an unsettling sight seeing her be like this, but not unwanted. She should do this more often. I wanted her to laugh more often. Even at my expense.

Her laughter died down gradually and she was able to speak. Although every once in a while, another chuckle will find its way back.

"It's okay." She finally said. "It's very rare that someone comes this far back anyway." She wipes a tear from her eye. She laughed herself to tears.

"Was it that ridiculous?" I asked. I wasn't offended but I wanted to know what she thought of the bet. And maybe a bit more about her thoughts on me.

She calmed down this time and was able to answer more coherently. "It's not only ridiculous. It's impossible."

"Impossible for you to fall in love with me, or impossible for you to lose your top place?"

August laughed again, but gentler. "Both. I'm not going to fall in love with you Hughes, I won't allow myself. And I can't lose my place. That's not even an option."

I wanted to ask her what she meant by that. But I wasn't sure if I really wanted to know the answer so I let it go. I don't think this is what she wanted to talk with me for. I also didn't want to dwell in that longer. I might actually get offended if we continued with that conversation.

"I get it. I'm sorry."

"You should be." There was playfulness with the way she said it. She wasn't as mad as I thought she would be. We could have left it at that and we never have to speak with each other again. And we should have had. It could have spared both of us all the unnecessary pain. But I didn't know. I didn't know then that her next words would change our lives. And not all for the better.

"I want you to still do this bet."

We talked for what felt like hours. She laid down a manifesto. Another deal that would benefit the both of us, she said. I would continue to pursue her. According to her contract– yes, she has written one, she'll reject me three more times. Two in front of my friends and the last one privately, and that will be a story I will relay to them. On the fourth try, she will say yes, finally, but it's supposed to look as if she did it out of exasperation. This way, she won't look easy. Once this is established, we continue on with five dates before the moment she fake-falls in love with me. She wanted to be the one to decide for all our fake-dates but I wagered for two. If she wants me onboard, I told her, then at least give me a say on some of the things we'll do. She was very diplomatic.

And then we'll break up. She said that out of the goodness of her heart–sarcastically of course, that I can decide where we would do it. She doesn't care how embarrassing that situation will be. But that's going to be it. She will never drop her top place.

"So–" I wanted to make sure I was all hearing this right, "–basically, you want us to fake chase, fake date, fake fall in love and then fake break-up?"

"Yes."

"Let me guess the catch– you want to share the prize?"

With a sing-songy voice she replied, "Bingo. What is the prize anyway?"

She looked pleased and I weirdly felt proud of myself. I wanted to believe she was joking though, but her every feature screamed with seriousness. It's not just a want. She needed it.

"A horse. A yacht. And two hundred grand."

Her eyebrows contorted in confusion, "A horse?"

"Not just any other horse. You've got to see him to understand. But I won't get Lancelot if you don't drop a place."

"Then, I guess we can't actually do this."

I couldn't explain what got into me, but I stopped her from getting up and said, "I'm okay with just the yacht."

Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe I really did want to get to know her better. Maybe I'm making a deal with the devil.

She said she only wanted to have half the cash. I said I'll give her everything. But I told her that she was doing me a great service by getting me out of the monotony of my life. She said she didn't need that much. And she wouldn't settle at first. My God, she's so stubborn. Finally we agreed at 60-40, with me getting 40% and a yacht.

"Will you be okay? After I fake-break your heart?" I teased. The air around us has somehow shifted. There was less animosity from her and a friendliness in me.

August looked at me solemnly, a faint smile on her lips. It was as if she wanted to say something entirely different, like a secret boiling over. But instead she replied, "I've had worse" and left without another word.