A Deal For Popularity

THE DEAL

...

"Let's assume that I could make you popular."

Its lips curled into a smile, one I did not practically want to see. It's toothless yet somehow devilish smile, would forever be engraved in my memory and it would not be a good one either, it had chills running down my spine.

My heart jumped at the word. Popular. That was my dream, to be known around the school, much like my best friend, Diamond Patel, simply being the popular girl's best friend wasn't enough especially since my popularity stemmed from hers. Thats not what i wanted, I wanted my own popularity, my own social standing.

"How could you make me popular?" I finally ask.

It nodded, a bit too enthusiastically, its entire being pulsed as its head bobbed to and from looking as if its head was a second away from falling of its neck.

"Enlighten me," its voice a mixture of gruff and raspy, sounding slightly torn and fading the longer the sentence went on, "who has the most influence at your school."

That was easy, "Diamond," her name slips from my lips with no hesitation or thought at all.

She had everything, tall, petite, blonde but her major flaw was her kindness and softness, which is why it came as a huge surprise that she was a cheerleader. She was the opposite of the slim blondes and sparkly brunettes who made up most of the cheer squad of Felton High, why everyone liked her was way beyond me.

"Do you," it paused, "think you would do anything, regardless of what it takes, even if Diamond was to get harmed, to get her popularity?"

I was silent for a moment. Did i really want, Diamond to get hurt for my own selfish whims? An image of Diamond flashing me that big cheesy smile of hers as she called my name flicked through my mind before it was lost in my sea of thoughts. I didn't need to think much, Diamond and I were friends in name only, of course we had the occasional hang outs besides school, but we were both busy with our own thing and any true friendship had long dried and died a natural death. So technically speaking I was only friends with her for the mere recognition it gave me.

Therefore the answer to that was a yes, a big fat Yes.

"Perhaps," it continued, "Diamond's popularity could be yours."

My entire being reacted to those words, my mouth watered as if a scrumptious meal had been placed before me, as my heart began to pound like crazy against my chest threatening to escape what confined it there.

But still I held back. It had given me all sort of entices and temptations but no assurance, how did I would I know if it could for sure deliver on these promises, that I could believe in these promises. Under these circumstances, I'm not sure I'd be up for disappointment in the case that all this was false hope or a figment of my imagination.

"You're already her friend right?" it continued, first in a lazy manner, before its tone changed to an inquiring sort, "If Diamond wasn't as loved, as popular, wouldn't it be easier for you to just step in and take her place."

I couldn't help but nod along, I knew all there was to being popular after all it was all just an intricately well put show that silly highschoolers believed in.

But then again I was not the only one eyeing popularity, the high school was packed with girls who all wanted to be just as popular as I wanted to be.

" There would be a lot of competition," my mind was immediately running through the possible list of suspects.

"Perhaps..." it said, as it dragged out the word with such slowness it had faded long before it uttered the last syllable, "I could arrange for said competition to drop out."

I was already in, I didn't have to ponder anymore on the idea. It had me swimming in its suggestions and my mind already bought.

I could imagine it, taste it even, the fame, the power. Walking down the halls with the cheer girls all fanned around me, my very own entourage. I would be the most interesting person, the parties, the sports cars and all the sexy boys of the football team. Especially one boy in particular Gareth Wisbourne.

"Perhaps even Gareth will notice me." I whispered.

"Perhaps so"

"And he'd be just as crazy for me as i am for him." I was beginning to envision it all, him waiting at my locker every day with a bouquet of roses, black in color just the way liked them. Him walking me to each and every class as soon as the siren rang, how cute that would be, eating lunch whilst enjoying each other's presence.

"I'll be crowned the Spring formal princess." I said softly, so softly as it was a precious thought, my mother had been crowned a fairy for her Spring formal back in her high school years and it was only natural that I bring honor to her memory by surpassing her and becoming the spring formal princess.

"Yes, you are just fit to be a princess." it agreed.

I sigh, pulling myself out of my thoughts and facing it once more.

"What would you do to Diamond?"

It smiled again, its two upper molars revealed glinting in the moonlight and showing off just how sharp they were, I couldn't help but shudder.

" It won't hurt for her at all, at least not physically. Shell just be really tired if there was ever a way to put it out."

I frowned, not understanding at all what it meant. What did Diamond being tired having to do with her losing her popularity.

"She'll be tired, she'll want some time off school, her grades will be affected and in turn her reputation will be at stake especially if she is at odds with teachers." I could now see where it was going and this was indeed a good idea, and that if it could pull it off.

"What do I need to do?"

"Bring Diamond to me," its voice turned softer which just made it creepier, "I will do the rest. I give you my promise to make you popular."