Chapter Two
"Why has my seat been moved?" Eridan demanded as he towered over Mr. Cusac's desk.
Mr. Cusac shrank back in his chair and blushed profusely. I couldn't help but blush and look down myself, imagining the poor man as Constance persuasively worked her magic.
"E-er…I h-have d-decided that it would b-be most beneficial if y-you were Isabel's l-lab partner from this p-point on," he stuttered desperately.
"And why did you decided this would be a positive thing?" Eridan growled rudely, having no regard for the fact that this was his teacher, and he was the student.
How could he talk to a teacher like that? Sure, I was a bit of a rule breaker sometimes, but talking to a teacher like that! He lacked all respect for others, just because he was a snobby rich kid. Mommy and Daddy could buy him anything. He thought he was such a cool hipster just because he could actually pull off the big glasses and the purple highlights in his black hair. It made me sick.
"Mr. Ampora, just take your seat, alright? I don't want to have to send you to the office, again."
Eridan grumbled something illegible, dropped his annoying hipster bag on the ground beside the table, and flopped down in the seat next to me. I shifted away from him, before remembering that I had to actually please this guy. I shifted back and flashed a grin at him.
In return, he glared before slumping down low and closing his eyes. Great. This was going to be one hell of a ride. What the fuck was I thinking? Oh right, I wasn't thinking. I was feeling. Fucking goddamn shit. If this is what happens after you feel, I don't think I'd like to experience it again.
The class seemed to go on forever, an even longer 'forever' than usual. Every time I glanced at his figure out of the corner of my eye, he was in the same position: Arms crossed, mouth upside down, and eyes closed. Could the fact that he was forced to sit next to me, really be upsetting him this much? Who was his old partner anyway?
My eyes landed upon the verdict. Feferi Peixes. What was so special about her, anyway?
Once the bell finally rang, I called an emergency meeting in our fort. Erin, Constance, strangely Vriska, and I met in the fort three minutes later.
"What the hell is she doing here?" I demanded.
"Oh, play nice kitty-kat," Vriska purred dangerously. "After all, it's my money you're itching to get your paws on, isn't it? You know, I could disqualify you from the running, just like that."
Vriska snapped her fingers and focused her menacing ice eyes on mine.
"You wouldn't!" Constance growled.
"You're right, I wouldn't," Vriska agreed. "You see Isabel, I was actually hoping you'd be the one to step up to my offer. See, I've always believed that you and Eridan would be astounding together. Now, I don't normally play nice, but just because things are going my way at the moment, I'm going to try.
"If you agree to let Eridan fall for you, then sleep with him, and finally break his heart, I will guarantee my money to you, and only you. I will be closing the bet off to anyone else. It's just for you. Understood?"
I gulped. Was she serious? This meant that I wouldn't have any competition, a free playing field.
I nodded. "I'm in."
"Fantastic, I'll be in touch."
With that Vriska swept out of the fort.
"What did I just agree to?" I sighed falling back against the wall and slumping down to the floor.
"You agreed to a one-way ticket to one-thousand dollars! Why are you so convinced that you're a bad person for doing this?" Erin demanded.
"Because I am! Oh, and I have a problem guys. This 'fool proof plan' of ours, has a flaw. Eridan has no interest on me. He's fucking pissed that he isn't Feferi 's lab partner anymore. By the way, why is he so mad? Was he friends with Feferi or something?"
Erin and Constance shared a disbelieving look.
"Do you live under a rock?" Constance exclaimed giggling like an idiot.
I arched an eyebrow. What?
Erin sighed and shook her head at me. "Isabel, Eridan is like, in love with Feferi . How could you not know that?"
"What? You mean, I'm planning to throw myself at some guy who is already in love? Ugh! Guys, this is information that would have been helpful to know before I basically sold my soul to Vriska!" I whined.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're shitty friends. Isabel, don't lose hope. You can do this," Constance persisted, nodding like a confused dolphin.
Erin held out her hand for me and I took it, using her help to pull myself up.
"I have an idea. Constance, since you're a slut, I'm going to need your help. Who's up for turning our girl Isabel, into a sexy goddess?" Erin suggested winking seductively.
"Me, me, me, me!" Constance squealed jumping up and down, making her fire red hair fly everywhere.
Oh, no. I should have seen this coming.
"Er, that might be a problem. See, I've got to haul my ass down to Algebra, like now, so..."
I bolted for the door, but Constance was faster.
"No, you don't. We. Are. Going. Shopping."
"I was afraid you would say that," I sighed cringing at the word 'shopping.'
"We're off to make Isabel a hoe, the wonderful hoe of Hilltop High School!" Erin sang pulling me along.
"Erin, that has no rhythm, rhyme, or practically any relation to The Wizard of Oz," I sneered.
Erin stuck her tongue out at me and skipped ahead down the hall. She slowly crept into the lobby and looked around making sure the secretary desk was empty, and the cost was clear. She bolted for the door with us following dutifully. We ran, not daring to even glance back, until we reached safety at the diner across the street.
Panting, laughing, and sweating we fell into our usual booth. We were extremely luck; Gamzee, the diner owner, would never tell if you skipped class. Being who we were, that was something we needed.
"Hey motherfuckers!" Gamzee yelled coming up to our table. A constant cloud of weed smoke surrounded him at all times.
"Gamzee," I started. "Don't any of the customers ever, like, complain about you smoking? Or call the police?"
Gamzee swatted the air with his hand and scoffed. "Pff, you kidding? They love it!"
The three of us giggled at our favorite crazy high man until he left, and it was time to get back to business.
"Okay, game plan time ladies," Constance announced smacking her palms down on the countertop. "What store do we start at?"
"Hmm," Erin muttered. "Well, honestly, I think Isabel should stay herself in what she wears. You know? Her band t-shirts, jeans, and her lucky jacket. That should stay. What she is seriously lacking in- that I believe will boost your chances of completing this mission- is make-up and hair brushing."
A wide grin slowly spread across Constance's face as she nodded. "That is exactly what you need."
Make-up? No, thank you. I'd prefer not to. Hair brushing I could live with. If I tried, of course.
"Erin, you barely wear any make-up, if you do at all. Why do I suddenly have to?" I complained.
Erin shook her head like I was missing something. "Bitch, you are trying to seduce the biggest douche bag in the history of devices that administer douches! Do you seriously think that he will approve of a girl being her natural self, with no make-up?"
Oh, Duh. "Yes, well I suppose I see your point after all."
Constance was practically wiggling in her seat with excitement. This 'make-up' thing had to be huge for her.
"Eeeeeeh!" she squealed excitedly. "Oh, you have to let me pick out all of the make-up!"
I nodded and gestured to her that she could take full reign. Might as well just get it over with, it was going to happen anyway. How could I agree to this? Yeah, Eridan's a douche, but could I really mess with his feelings? And losing my virginity, for money? That was just sick.
"Oh, no you don't," Erin snapped. "I know that look. You're thinking about backing our of the deal. No! No way! Don't even think about it, girl."
I closed my eyes and replayed the past two days in my head. Had it only been that long? In that short time, I had somehow promised Noelle that I could love Eridan, fuck him, and dump him, all for money. That just wasn't right. Not at all.
Constance bopped me on the head with her fist. "We do not have time for this inner conscience, self-conflicting bullshit. Let's go!"