Don't Give Up, Just Give In
By Isabel Parsons
Chapter One
"You should fuck him, man."
"Thanks for the lovely insight, but I'll pass."
Erin was in the middle of trying, unsuccessfully I might add, to persuade me into sleeping with the school douche bag. Eridan Ampora. Why would I even want to sleep with him? Where did that awful suggestion come from?
"No, just here me out, okay? Vriska, you know her, right? Well, if you know her, you must know how she once dated Eridan. And that she's a raging bitch, but that's beside the point right now…" Erin droned on.
"Is this going anywhere?" I demanded impatiently.
Erin rolled her eyes and continued down the path of insanity. "Shut up. Look, Vriska wants to mess with Eridan, big time. She started a bet. The first girl that can make Eridan legitimately fall in love with her, sleep with her, then breaks his heart, will win one-thousand dollars. She' just giving the money away! Can you believe that?"
"What does this have to do with me?"
"Isabel, are you fucking stupid? You could be that girl! You got a little 'something, something' to flash to him. He'd so fall for you, and you could totally use the money for reasons I won't mention at this precise moment."
"Have you flipped your shit? Jesus, Erin! Eridan Ampora? Bleck! I HATE him. Ugh," I shouted pretending to gag.
We were hanging out in the girls' bathroom while we were supposed to be at eighth period. Erin leaned back against the sink and sighed.
"Isabel. You don't have to actually like him. Come on! It's one-thousand motherfucking dollars, just to give up your v-card to Eridan. And I guess one could argue that you'd be giving up your 'love' card, too. But technically your love wouldn't be real."
"Can't you just get Constance to do it? She's the slut," I suggested while fixing my dark hair in the mirror.
"Come on Isabel, you know she doesn't need the money like you do, and we both know that."
She was right, I needed the money desperately. But sleeping with Eridan to get it? It was exactly like prostitution. Hell, it was prostitution. One-thousand dollars could solve all my problems, relieve every stress I have, make tenth grade remotely fun. Would people then see me as a slut?
"Okay, but how will I even talk to him? I don't sit next to him in any classes," I said trying to dissuade Erin from pushing me any further. If she did, I might not be able to resist the thrill of a bet, a challenge, a big fat check.
Erin flashed an award winning grin as her eyes widened. "Bitch please, I already got that covered. You seriously underestimate my skills when it comes to something I want."
She flipped out her phone and typed something.
"What did you just do?" I asked.
"Oh you know, just called in some help."
Minutes later, Constance came strutting in to the bathroom wearing a mini school girl skirt, and a white crop top.
"Did someone call 1-800-WHORE?" Constance exclaimed flashing into a ta-da pose. "Oh, Isabel, I hope you're going to actually do this. It could be amazing! You'd finally lose the big V and get paid for it."
"You mean, I'm finally fulfilling my destiny and becoming a prostitute." I countered bitterly.
"Don't take it so seriously!" Erin yelped.
"Losing my virginity is serious!" I yelled flailing my arms a bit. "Wait, how is Constance going to help with the problem of me not being anywhere near Eridan during school?"
Constance waggled her eyebrows and sashayed her hips. This could not be good in any way, shape, or form.
"Well, you know third period science class? That's your only class with Eridan. I plan to guarantee that you will be seated next to him this semester," Constance laughed.
"No," I whispered faintly. No. No way. Ew, no. Have some respect.
"Oh hell yes!" Erin yelled, her fist flying towards the ceiling.
"When the eighth and final bell rings today," Constance continued. "I'll go to Mr. Cusac's room, and give him a full fledged lap-dance so he fixes our seat problem."
My face dropped into my hands as I squealed.
"WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?"
Ms. Burton, the school secretary, marched into the bathroom.
"Shit," I muttered. "RUN!"
I dashed out the door, ramming directly into Ms. Burton, and fled down the hall, Erin and Constance on my heels. Luckily, just as we ducted into our abandoned closet, the room we used as our fort, the eighth period bell rang saving us.
"Well ladies, it would appear I have some work to do," Constance announced opening the door to the closet. "Ciao!"
"You guys are really making me do this, aren't you?" I murmured deflated and frankly, just tired.
"Oh, shut up! Don't pretend like you don't get off on the rush and thrill of a sexual, money involved, good old-fashioned bet."
She was right. And I hated the fact that she was right. No matter how much I denied it, I couldn't get enough of that thrill. I decided it was about time to give up.
"I give up!" I shouted.
Erin shook her head and looked at me with her silly, yet wise, brown eyes. "Don't give up, just give in."
Those words had an effect on me. I tried to let it settle in. Before I could say anything, Erin's hand was on the doorknob.
"Well, I should blow this popsicle stand now. See you," she said, and with out a backward glance, she was gone.
Don't give up, just give in. Why did those words mean so much? Give in. Isabel, just give in. I never give in to my dark desires. Why should this time be any different? But wouldn't it be great to let go, for once? Just give in. Give in.
That's when I made my decision. I was going to give in.