The Rules of Playing The Game

The Makings Of A Monster ( prolouge pt. 3 )

   

Its funny how one single variable, can affect the entire equation. If you're doing a math problem and forget the negative, your answer will be completely wrong.

This was kinda like that, except this was real life. It wasn't dependable like math. There are too many variables.

The independent variable, the one the never changes no matter what, is that I'm fucked.

The dependent variable, the one that isn't definitive and can change, is whether or not I fucked William.

"Pick up. Pick up. Pick up." I muttered as the phone rang continuously.

I leapt as the he picked up, "Uh...hello?"

"William! Meet me at my house, 10:30, don't let anyone see you."

I sat, silently processing the information I had just been told.

"We didn't have sex. You passed out drunk and I fell asleep. Nothing happened."

I jumped up, "Yes! We can go and formally tell the school tomorrow and clear up this whole mess." I smiled, laughing.

He pulled his lips into a thin line and rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, Samantha, I can't do that."

My celebration ended as quickly as it had begun.

"What do you mean, 'you can't do that' ?"

He sighed looking uncomfortable.

"H-Haven't you ever wanted to be someone else? To reinvent yourself? Start new? Listen, this is our last year of high school and I just- I just don't wanna be "The Nice Guy" or "Jessica Ferra's arm candy" anymore. I've played that role and I'm done with it." He rambled passionately.

"You can't do this, you cannot let your identity crisis tarnish my name and reputation, you can't let the entire school feed onto this-this huge lie!"

He only looked at the ground, twiddling his thumbs.

"Please, William, that's what college is for, you can reinvent yourself after you graduate and leave me out of it."

Still he said nothing.

I ripped my phone out my pocket and turned the screen towards him.

"Look, look, 'Easy S' is #1 trending on the school blog. You can't do this, please."

Still he said nothing.

"Fine, I'll just tell everyone myself. I don't need you."

He gave me a skeptical look. "Hate to break it to you but you don't have the most honest rep anymore."

"So you're just going to sit by while my life gets ruined, because you don't wanna be with your girlfriend anymore?" I stared at him, exasperated.

William gazed at me, a mildly apologetic look on his face but I could tell he wasn't going to budge.

He was right. Without him backing me, no one would ever believe a word I had to say.

He got up and strode towards the door. In that moment I knew nobody would be finding out the truth anytime soon. I felt tears rush to my eyes as he closed it behind him.

Crumbling on to the ground I begun to sob.

How could this happen to me? I had everything, everything going for me. I was going to be somebody. I was going to glide through my senior year and live the life I had always imagined.

High school. I thought bitterly. How I hated the place. Education was the last thing it was meant for. The entire institution was a place based on social hierarchy. To teach you that you are who you are and you can't advance without hurting everyone below you. It was all a powerplay. A big game.

A game.

Soon the pure helplessness I felt morphed into something else, something uglier. Rage.

Peeling myself off the ground I hurried to my bedroom, slamming my door shut and locking it. I grabbed out my stationary and my 12k gold pen.

"The Game" , I scrawled across the page in cursive.

What is the first thing every game needs?
I thought pensively before it struck me.
Rules.

Numbering down the page 1-10 I begun to write down each of the rules.

1. Never forget it's all fake.
2. Never drink the parties punch.
3. Never let them see you sweat.
4. Never be unprepared.
5. Never lose yourself.
6. Never reveal the rules to the enemy.
7. Never actually mean it.
8. Never crack under pressure.
9. Never fall for their lies.
10. Never fall for their love.

Satisfied with my rules I flipped over the page and wrote down the players.

Players : Mina Tompkin, William Hapsburg, Terri Knowlton, Jake McNally, Jessica Ferra, Francesca Love

Objective : Ruin each players reputation and/or high school career over the course of several months, finishing the game on graduation day.

I smiled down at the paper before folding it as small as possible. I walked towards what appeared to everyone else as a painting. In reality it was a hidden wall safe.

Digging the key out of my bra I glided my fingers under the frame until I found the hole. It unlocked with a satisfying 'click' and opened. 

Carefully, place the paper down I closed the safe once again and tucked the key back away.

I smirked to myself as I padded to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I decided to change up my look.

They all thought I was ice, but now they're gonna get burned.