THE OXFORD BET *VirginityGames*

Chapter 5 The Party (and feeling like some sort of sacrifice)

Francesca

"What's your name again? Brandon mentioned you? Jessica was it?"

"No. It's Francesca." I said dryly.

"Terribly sorry... so..." Adam's lips slipped slowly into a sickening smile. "Where is it you summer?" He added in a mocking tone. Sometimes I just hated rich people.

I sighed. Then a hand appeared on Adam's shoulder and he turned a little startled, but he rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink, he seemed a little drunk already. I could smell the fumes of alcohol from his cup. "Great to see you again." Adam smirked.

"Oh Darling it's been so long," I heard Adam exchange pleasantries and niceties while my eyes searched around the room to find some escape. I soon came to realise I was frowning. Frowning at everything I saw. The snobbery washed over me like a tidal wave. The guest of the party hardly cared for one another, they pretended to be polite, like it was a chore. But their hearts had grown colder during the pretence, I assumed. At sixteen I came to the realisation money never breeds happiness, it breeds discontent. I know this, because my family have not had money and have had money and it certainly never brought any happiness.

"Is English your first language?"

I turned back round to him and watched a girl kiss his cheek and strut away with her stunningly long legs.

I frowned unsure of his line of questioning. "Yes." I gave him a look as though he had just declared himself to be a flying green cow. 

"Well then let me get a few more syllables out of you before you scurry off." He seemed quite peeved at my curtness. Well good. I was glad. I wasn't going to be fake to fit in. "Aren't you particularly interested in where I summer, or how the woodwork of my parents house is to such a refined and elegant finish? The architecture of the house? Or who I vote for? Or what I major in?"

"Not particularly."

"Oh."

"That sounds far too contrived. Besides, you sound like those questions would bore you almost as much as they would bore me to death." 

He laughed at that and took another swig of his drink.

"Walk with me," He said striding away through the crowd. "You know you're quite alright. I would be crucified if anyone heard me admit it but I rather enjoyed you giving Daniel a bollocking the other day."

I swallowed. "You were there."

He nodded.

"I wasn't trying to be nasty. I just hate it when people are arrogant." I tried my best to sound sincere over the music. "Or ignorant." I added quickly. "And especially when I come across a person who is both." I cleared my throat. Adam immediately began to smile at the sound of it, before he looked at me again. "I think maybe it's best he and I apologise to each-other. When we get the chance. If I ever see him again." 

"Oh." His brow raised, his mouth opened and swiftly turned into a grin. "Then I hope to be there to see that encounter as well then!" He chuckled.

I let out a small sliver of laughter too.

"It was rather inappropriate wasn't it?"

"What to battle it out with a third year, on your first day at university?"

I hide my face behind my hands.

"You could have done worse, you could have had a go at the the whole rugby team."

"Well if I do see him here tonight I will try my best to apologise. I've only just started at Oxford and I don't want to have any enemies."

"Oh Daniel is definitely here tonight. I'm sure you'll find him." He glanced around and a dangerous smile slowly spread across his face, " looks like we're all here now."