The Proposition

“Are they for real?” Skye questioned softly in a semi-astonished voice.

The brunette, with blonde highlights, alternated between leaning around the hallway corner and pulling back to shake her head slightly. When Lana first broached the identity of the guy she wanted help with, Skye assumed it would be a joke. Even with Lana’s insistence that she really wanted to bang her cousin, Skye continued to dismiss the idea as a prank. That’s how she ended up waiting in her bedroom in the Diamonds’ penthouse suite.

Cormac’s initial response backed up Skye’s thoughts about Lana’s plan. Then, she started to have increasing doubts as Cormac raised his voice. The mention of Lana attempting to seduce him before in the past raised the eavesdropper’s eyebrows. They stayed raised when her jaw dropped open as the older cousin seemingly gave in to the younger seductress.

“You gotta be shitting me? They are!” Skye gasped before swiftly covering her mouth.

With the unmistakable sounds slipping through the cracked door, the waitress/wannabe model banged her back against the wall. She’d attempted to escape/sneak away from the forbidden couple. Bracing herself against the wall, Skye stayed in that position until she regathered her composure. All the while, the sounds of the illicit coupling increased in volume and frequency.

A round of awkward chuckling ensued as she walked toward the penthouse suite's door. The apparent attempt to laugh off the uncomfortable moment didn't quite work, but it helped somewhat. Still, after the strange things she'd witnessed over the years at Goforth's and amateur model shoots, this week brought some doozies.

“So that’s how it is in their family,” Skye told the hotel hallway in high-pitched bewilderment after the door softly clicked behind her.

Should I be surprised? I’ve only really known Lana for barely a week. She’s definitely open-minded when it comes to sex. And what she’s doing back there is the Grand Canyon of open-mindedness!

Pushing the button to summon the elevator, Skye realized that Cormac's willingness to cross the forbidden line didn't entirely surprise her as much. Although she'd only seen Cormac in the past from across the bar or club, most of their friend group had experienced him in some form. Selina Lucio had spent the most extended amount of time with Cormac during a summer fling a few years back. While Chavelle Cox denied it, a heavy night of drinking had Eve Naylor confirming a wild weekend threesome the year after Selina's summer loving. And with Renee Zirne's slutty competitive ways and penchant for dropping conquest hints, Skye felt pretty sure that her model frenemy had hooked up with the district attorney's nephew. Only Blush Ashby, out of her friends, had scoffed at hooking up with Cormac. She called him a less athletic copy of her old boyfriend, Cash Colcord. Location also mattered as Blush moved to Guzzle Crossing a few years ago.

Damn, I wish the girls were here tonight. We always imagined coming to one of these fancy shindigs together. Too bad Eve and Chavelle had to work tonight at Metropolis. Selina’s out on a date, with Blush returning to Guzzle Crossing after only a short holiday visit. Still, I’m almost surprised that Renee wasn’t arm candy for one of these older rich guys. Oh! I bet she passed, as Dr. Day and his family are all here. Renee probably doesn't want her boss to realize just how slutty she can be.

Suddenly, Skye froze while the elevator descended. Despite all her shit-talking about Renee, the brunette realized that she’d been the arm candy of her group for the ball.

That’s all I meant to Fred, didn’t I? Just a sexy thing to show off to his friends and rivals. Gawd, I’m so embarrassed. How did I not see it? Well, I refuse to be anyone else’s arm candy for tonight. And I sure as hell ain’t going to be another notch on a guy’s bedpost. I’m just going to go downstairs, dance, and have a fun time until it’s safe to head back to the penthouse.

Exiting the elevator, Skye found the lobby half-filled with distressed ball-goers. Overhearing bits and pieces of conversations, the brunette surmised that a dangerous ice storm loomed. Already, driving seemed risky. Hotel staff repeatedly informed visitors that the Witzler was booked solid.

Sinclair Pierce arrived with orders from his uncle. He announced loudly that the staff was in contact with a few of the nearby hotels. Some had vacancies, and the Witzler staff had volunteered to drive any ball-goers to those nearby hotels if they wished. However, vacancies would fill quickly, so Sinclair asked people to line up if they wanted a reservation.

"Wow, this might be a problem," Skye said.

While wondering if she should offer the penthouse’s spare bedroom, Skye also didn’t know if it was her place to do so. Then, she spotted Graham Diamond holding a discussion with a group of people. Although she only had a cursory introduction to Harvey’s younger brother, Skye thought he appeared kind and friendly, besides the good looks that ran in the family.

Moving close enough to eavesdrop, Skye heard Graham organizing an effort to share any space in suites and regular rooms. Apparently, the steps might include placing cots in the conference rooms on the second floor. That idea didn't go over well with the older ball-goers. The handsome blond executive briefly made eye contact with the gorgeous brunette. A shared smile followed.

The short-lived moment ended as Skye noticed several Goforth regulars walk over to Graham. The condescending kind to the help, Skye preferred they didn’t notice her presence. Deciding that this wasn’t the time or place to mention the extra room, Skye figured she’d wait and see if any of Whitney or Lana’s friends needed a place to sleep.

Recalling the rear entrance to the ballroom, Skye headed toward that maze of hallways. While she walked, her mind wandered over to Graham’s niece. I sure hope that Whitney is doing okay. Sean too. They both seem like wonderful people for their age. They also could make a great couple. Still, I think Sean is better suited for Lacey. Who is another awesome high school senior! It’s hard to believe that Lana and Lacey are sisters. I bet she’d freak out over what’s happening upstairs.

“Alright, let's do this. How much?”

Skye screeched to a halt at the question. About fifteen feet away from the restrooms, she glanced over to find the owner of the voice she recognized. Leaning against the wall stood Lacey’s ex-boyfriend.

“I’m sorry. Are you talking to me?” Skye inquired, glancing around. The only other person she saw was a woman in her fifties exiting the women’s restroom.

“Who else would I be asking?” Austin responded with a question.

Skye noticed at once how the teenager slurred his words slightly. Terrific! He’s drunk.

“I’m not following, Austin.”

“C’mon, Skye. If that’s your real name. I know what you are. I knew from the moment I first saw you,” Austin declared, pushing himself off the wall.

Skye watched as the blond-haired quarterback reached inside his suit to pull out an object. Well, more like fumbled it out as a wallet hit the floor. Struggling to bend over to pick it up, Austin eventually did, leading him to open the wallet. Flashing a wad of cash, Austin wondered aloud if she wanted the money upfront or after.

“Excuse you?” Skye questioned, her voice sounding almost shrill in her disbelief.

“C’mon, babe. I could tell you were a stripper when Mr. Singer showed you off. Stripper, escort, call girl, hooker–”

“I am not a hooker!”

“Fine. Whatever. You’re a ‘model’ if you say so. It’s all the same. How much for the rest of the night?”

Nearly paralyzed in shock that the teenager she’d spent almost a week in the same cabin could think so lowly of her, Skye barely noticed another person exiting a restroom. The onlooker had overheard enough to understand the situation. So he rushed over to shove Austin.

“What the hell, Austin?!”

“Ooh, nice shove,” the star quarterback mocked, barely moving a couple of inches, even in his drunken state. “Too late, loser. I got first dibs on this pussy tonight.”

“Skye’s not a prostitute!” the newcomer screeched.

“Beat it, Denton. I’m not paying extra for you to lose your virginity,” Austin replied dismissively, turning his back to Newt. “So, I hear you’re up in the Diamonds’ suite. Wanna do it up there?”

Before Skye could respond, Newt moved around to face Austin’s side. Then with all his might, the brainy teen threw the hardest punch in his life at his past bully’s jaw.

SPLATT

Newt stared in horror as his punch barely caused Austin to flinch. Even worse, his old grade school tormentor began to laugh.

“Hahaha! Damn, Denton, even your punches are pussies,” Austin mocked. “Now, mind your own business.”

The rough shove slammed Newt into the wall, causing him to slide down to the floor in pain.

"Some things never change," Austin pointed out, returning his attention to his plaything for the night. "Now, stop playing around–"

THUD

The stiff knee to the groin caused Austin to howl in pain. The blow also caused him to bend over in distress.

Clutching a handful of the teen’s messy blond locks, Skye grabbed the head at waist level and slammed it down hard against the knee she raised to meet it.

CRACK

The additional blow sent Austin flying backward and onto the floor.

“Newt, are you okay?” Skye asked, hurrying over to check on the groaning teen. She helped him to his feet.

“Yeah, I think so. I just landed awkwardly.”

Nodding, Skye returned her attention to the other teen sprawled out on the floor. Marching over, the brunette delivered a swift, vicious kick to Austin’s groin.

“That’s for calling me a whore!” Skye yelled while Austin howled in pain. Then as he rolled over in pain, she added, “If you ever set foot in Goforth’s again, you’ll find yourself in the dumpster. Got that?”

Although Skye asked for a confirmation about her warning, she didn’t wait for it. Instead, she hurried over to where Newt slumped against the wall with a groan. With a worried expression, the brunette asked again if he was okay.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”

“Thank you so much, Newt.”

“For what?” Newt questioned. “I didn’t do anything.”

"For what? For stepping in to help me. That's not nothing. You came to my rescue. You're a hero," Skye added, kissing the teen's cheek.

"I'm no hero. My punch is probably weaker than your slap. Austin felt nothing. I'm more a gnat than a newt," the nerdy teen stated, somewhat flummoxed by the kiss and Skye calling him a hero.

“Don’t talk down about yourself ever. Do you hear me? Not only did you step in to help a woman against a stronger man, but I also know what you did at the lake. You risked your life on the ice to save Fred. In my book, that’s the same as what Sean did for Whitney,” Skye listed.

“I’m not a hero like Sean. He probably should’ve died jumping into a lake at those temperatures. I checked the probability of an incident under those conditions, and Sean’s odds were–” Newt halted his recounting about Sean and Whitney’s chances of survival. A finger to his lips would do that to the teen terrified by beautiful women.

“Denton’s not a hero,” Austin managed to say through his pain.

“Shut up!” Skye ordered with barely a glance at the teen still on the floor.

A moan came as a reply.

“Newt, you’re a hero in my book,” Skye proclaimed, making sure that Newt looked at her. Maintaining eye contact, the brunette recalled another thing about heroes she’d said prior in the evening. “And a hero deserves a reward.”

“That’s really not necessary. I know you don’t make much as a waitress, and I don’t think Mr. Singer is in the proper state of mind to give me any money as–”

"Oh, kiddo. You can be a bit naive, can't you?" Skye said, patting Newt's cheek warmly. "I'm talking about the type of rewards Whitney is lining up for Sean."

“I don’t think Whitney is…wait, huh?”

“You have a room, right?” Skye asked.

“Um, yeah, I’m sharing one with my mom. Why? Do you need a room? I don’t know when she’ll be back from the hospital, but I guess she’d be fine if I let you have my bed,” Newt said, confused by the conversation.

“Don’t worry. I have a room. Come on, let’s go up there.”

“No fucking way! You can’t be–”

“Shut the fuck up, Austin! Or do you want me to use the heel this time?” Skye warned, taking a few steps toward the teen while raising a foot.

A quick shake of the head gave his response.

“Uh, I think I’m supposed to stay down here. Whitney, JoJo, and the others said I couldn’t go upstairs to hide from people. I think I’m supposed to have fun or something,” Newt admitted.

“Oh, don’t worry. You’re about to have fun in the best way,” Skye teased, reaching down to grab his hand.

Although Newt allowed himself to be led away, he struggled to understand Skye’s comment. Are we going to play a two-player game?

Still suffering in intense discomfort, Austin watched that loser walk down the hall with the stripper. He couldn't believe it. How could tonight get any worse? First, Lacey broke up with him. Then, Bianca acted cruelly toward him for no reason. And now…

“She’s giving Denton a freebie? Shit! I should’ve sent him for help instead that night. I could’ve easily saved Mr. Singer.”

Wallowing in his misery, Austin laid his head back on the floor. At this point, he'd given up. He just needed to wake up tomorrow morning to find everything that happened had been part of a nightmare.

Slowly the women’s restroom door opened fully. The woman who’d slyly watched the whole event go down walked out and over to the prone teenager. Her gray eyes surveyed the athletic quarterback’s body, picturing the muscles she knew to be underneath his dress attire.

“Did she ruin the equipment, or are they still properly working?” the woman asked, staring down at Austin.

“Huh?”

“Your dick, your balls. Are they still functioning?”

“Uh, I think so,” Austin responded in confusion.

Then a hand appeared, offering him help to get up.

“Come on, kid. I doubt Rachel’s little buttercup taught you anything.”

“Uh, Lacey’s nickname is Cupcake,” Austin corrected, taking the hand.

“Do you think I give a fuck what it is?” the woman scoffed in annoyance. “Let’s go. I’m bored and somebody needs to make you into a man.”

“Wait…what?”

“Gawd, he’s young and dumb, but better be full of cum,” the platinum blonde mumbled to herself. “Kid, it’s time you learn the best **** is fucking.”

"Oh!" Austin finally understood when she walked away and turned her head to see if he had followed.

Though a bit weirded out about potentially having sex with a woman his mother's age, Austin scurried after the woman. Strangely, his biggest concern came from what name to call her. She seemed picky about it, and he couldn't remember her preference.