There was a stunned silence as Xavier Duston knelt before Jane. Damon stood there, still in the clown costume, with the velvet jewelry box now empty in Jane’s hands. His mind reeled. Months of scraping every dollar, every dime from his website, from every humiliating errand, just to make her happy. He and Jane had been dating for two months now and during this time he’d bought her dinners, paid for her textbooks, and even surprised her with that expensive designer scarf last month. Most of the money he made from his errand website, she took. He lived on the scraps and now she does this to him.“What the hell are you doing, Xavier?!” Damon finally roared as he lunged forward, shoving Xavier’s shoulder. Xavier stumbled back and was surprised but quickly regained his balance.“Hey! Watch it, Newton!” Xavier snapped.Damon ignored him, turning his burning gaze to Jane. Her eyes, usually so warm and inviting, were now cold and distant. “Jane! What is going on? We’re together, you’re my gi

Damon stood still as he walked toward Aria Golden, who was standing in front of the Fendi Custom Glow bag, in her hand taking a little picture of the intricate designs in its leather. This bag, a masterpiece of luxury, just seemed to glow through the soft lights of the store. It was the first grade, the bag that cost $100,000, and every girl on campus wanted one, and yet none of them had it, and most had to settle for the minor version that cost merely $20,000.“Would you like to buy it?” Damon asked, his voice surprisingly unbroken in the tacky striped t-shirt.Aria turned, and with a tinge of surprise in her eyes, she found him, with the slight widening of her pupils. Damon could see that she had a gentle smile on her lips, amused but not laughing.“Oh, I wish,” she agreed with a breathless hum. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? But no, I don’t have that kind of money just lying around for a bag. I’m here for the second-grade bag. It’s still gorgeous, but a little more... practical. This

The club was full of people as they danced to the beat. Jane's birthday party was almost over, and the atmosphere was clearly awesome. There were a lot of students in their class who attended the birthday celebration, plus a bunch of their department and faculty students in there as well.Jane was glowing in a shiny sequin dress, taking in the compliments. “This party is wonderful, Jane,” said a girl in front of the DJ booth. “Best birthday ever!”Xavier smiled as he swooped in to take full credit for this party. “Well, it's all thanks to me, you know.”Jane just smiled a little too widely and then nodded to Xavier, who was standing behind her, the hand at her lower back smacking furtively. “He’s the best?” she whispered and her eyes flicked towards Xavier. “He is truly the one who made it all happen.”Xavier felt himself with a gruff smile and nodded to her with pleasure. “Only the best for my queen,” he said, and even more so because of that little pause in the music, a cheer went u

Jane, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and desperate excitement, practically launched herself at Aria. “Aria! Oh my god, Aria!” She shrieked, her voice high and breathless.Jane’s mind had completely wiped out the earlier conversation with Damon. All that mattered was that Aria Golden was actually here, at her birthday party. She bowed again dramatically, a deep, reverent curtsy that made her sequined dress shimmer. No one judged her, as everyone in the room knew they’d probably do the same if Aria graced their presence.Aria, however, looked at Jane with a polite, almost blank expression. She didn’t know Jane beyond the fact that this was her birthday party. She wouldn't have been here if not for the crazy bet with Damon.“I sent you a DM, Aria!” Jane gushed, straightening up, her face flushed with pride. “I hoped you’d see it and I guess you did. Oh, this is just… amazing.”Ernie Cooper, who had been sweating bullets ever since Aria walked in, saw his chance. He leaned into a gro

Xavier and Ernie stood side by side, with shared smiles and their eyes gazing out at Damon’s VIP lounge. They were enjoying themselves, as they were sure their plan was going to work. From within their circle, they see the small change in Aria’s friends’ looks. Beatrice, Chloe, and Daphne suddenly had an anxious pout, and their earlier self-confidence was replaced by nervousness. Even Aria, who looked so relaxed, deep down could not think straight and wondered if she was weighing her options correctly. She wondered if she had made a mistake, staying or even coming to this party in the first place.By this, Ernie felt a surge of pride taking over his body as he gripped his hands around his drink he had gotten at the bar. He shouted through the constant thumping of the music, his voice as clear as ever. “Hey Newton, why don’t we spice things up, a bit more?”A ripple spread through the audience. They had all been watching, waiting for the next part of this drama to happen. People stopp