The Date Auction

Chapter 2: Disaster Incoming

By the time Courtney pronounced me ready, I barely had time to dress up before we all shuffled over to Bradlington Hall, donated to campus by Eleanor's great-something-grandfather under the condition that every year it be used to "shew off the finest of the female forms for gentlemen of means". My anxiety was eating me up inside. Eleanor even had the home field advantage. I was going to be humiliated twice tonight, once when only Jake bid on me, and twice when Eleanor got so much more money than I did.

"Can't I just crawl off into the corner and die?" I groaned to Courtney.

"You'll be fine. You were the perfect canvas for my finest work," she grinned devilishly, "All the boys will remember you tonight."

I bit my lip and wished for the ability to turn myself invisible.

Eleanor had successfully negotiated her way into going last, while I was a mere fourth, so I wouldn't face the horror of going directly next to her. In fact, as terrible as things seemed, tonight would be over soon, and Jake and I could go about our normal lives.

My phone rang. Jake.

"Hey baby!" I said.

"Hey. so." he seemed uncharacteristically frazzled. "My car. It, um, broke down when I was picking up my tux from the dry cleaner."

"Okay..."

"I had to wait for a tow, and I might be a little late?" he said.

"Oh. How late?"

"An hour, tops." he said.

An hour? That's how long this usually lasted! I wouldn't get bid on at all! I gave Courtney my "This is an emergency!" look and whispered to her, "Jake's car broke down! He's going to be an hour late!" Her mouth opened in an O of surprise and shock.

"I'll push you later onto the list." She promised before darting off.

Okay, Madison, I told myself, No one's going to vote on you and your best friend just ran away. Nothing will ever be worse than tonight so you just have to survive the next few hours.

"Um," said Jake, "I don't want to add to any stress, but how much do the dates usually go for?"

Oh no no no no.

"The highest anyone has ever gone is three hundred." I told him, barely able to hide the quaver in my voice.

"Oh." he breathed a sigh of relief. How can you be relieved, Jake, when the worst night of my life is upon me? "I have a hundred more than that, so you're in good hands, Maddy," he continued.

My legs nearly sank out from under me in relief.

Just then, Courtney came rushing back, practically skipping. "I talked to the organizers. Since Jake is going to be late, we've bumped you to last."

I nearly breathed a huge sigh of relief. Until it hit me. I was going to follow Eleanor, the current record holder for the most money ever spent on a date.

Just kill me now!