THE OXFORD BET *VirginityGames*

Chapter 11 Kissing! Too much Kissing!!!

Francesca

I inhaled as I typed the last sentence of my essay. All that was left was to complete the Harvard referencing, my fingertips battering the keyboard viciously. Desperate to reach the finish line. I glanced down at the word count and breathed out deeply as I did so. I asked my Lecturer Mrs Cole, who insisted we call her Jackie, to give me any notes or any additional feedback if she could. Then I just had to turnitin online and I could relax. Unfortunately, I received more feedback than I would have liked, but I knew it would help my grade in the long run. I just wanted it to be submitted into the ether out of my mind. Instead she ended up discussing Jeremy Bentham and how he developed Utilitarianism and his not so smart idea to stop people going into bad conditions in poorhouses and get them into factories. He thought that they should make the conditions worse in the poorhouses than outside of them, instead of just making factory systems better. What a dickhead. Were all men able to recreate such buffoonery in every era of time?

So, I took the time which remained of the rest of my Lecture to re work it. I placed my hand against my chin, re-reading the paragraph on my screen I had managed to re-write while my free hand softly tapped against my desk during class.

Sitting down for lunch, was a magnificent reward. It felt like an accomplishment. The whole day I had felt out of sorts, I was clumsier than usual. I was forgetful and I was yawning all through my lectures. My other Lecturer Mr Briggs wasn't too pleased about that either. A whoosh of air brushed past my shoulder. A refreshingly sweet scent of  labdanum, combined with light hints of vanilla. I recognised the aftershave as it his my nostrils and as if it had planted a bug in my brain, the memory of a wooden desk warm against my palm, his lips on my jawline, then quickly finding my mouth. I turned around to catch a glimpse of Brandon. He looked smart in his navy blazer and blue Ralph Lauren shirt. Brandon reminded me of a young Hugh Grant from Notting Hill.

 "Hey Vicky," he greeted her, in what I took to be superficial earnest. Charming as ever, his voice sent a jolt of serotonin zapping through my brain. Especially with the memory of our kiss last night in his room.

"Piss off." Victoria replied firmly.

"What, why?" Brandon actually looked at her, completely shocked.

Uh a little 'Hello Francesca wouldn't go a miss.' Why was Brandon ignoring me?

As soon as we had left that night I told Victoria and spilled my guts all about my kiss with Brandon. I told her straight away to make sure there was no awkwardness between us. It obviously had affected her more than she had let on. The guilt made my shoulder's sag involuntarily. She hadn't seemed bothered at the time, she'd asked questions calmly, but she hadn't probed. She had been interested but only briefly. The consequences of her real feelings were playing out. Vicky was taking it out on Brandon. It made me happy she was cutting down Brandon's advances, even if it was a little callous for Victoria.

"Because I'm not interested," she glanced back at me for support and validation. Like she didn't know if that was the right answer or not. She was trying her hardest to stay away from Brandon and The Bet. I could see that clear as day. But Vicky was such a sensitive person, and people found it very easy to push her around. When it happened in front of me, it always made my blood boil, when I saw Brandon playing the innocent act. I knew then he was trying to pit us against each other in order for his chances in winning the Bet.

Vicky stormed out of the cafeteria and through the corridors. Disheartened, I watched Brandon race after her. I knew what would happen. He would convince her somehow and in some way and she'd listen to him and then like poison his words would spread through her veins and take control of her brain. Zombifying her that he was what she wanted, what she needed. And to be honest who could blame her? Brandon Pierre was intoxicating to be around. He was fun, exciting and delicious. He made people feel special and he was a social butterfly so it was hard to dislike him. I knew if we wanted out of the Bet and away from Brandon and his secret boys club, I needed to find my friend. I needed to get her away from him. Finding where she had disappeared too was my only priority.