Consequences

“You haven’t asked me to prom yet.”

That Monday, Isaac and Emma had sat in their familiar spot in the library, both hunched over textbooks and notes as they frantically packed in the last of their study. Their final maths exam was on the Thursday, and for them both it could well be the most important assessment in their academic career so far. For Isaac, it presented an opportunity to be the first student in the school’s history to ever go his senior year without losing a single mark on a maths exam, and for Emma, passing this exam could make or break her college opportunities.

Amidst all the study, as well as the latest string of Emma’s “activities”, it was fair to say that Isaac had been a tad distracted. Distracted enough, even, to forget that prom was that Friday. Although, the bright decorations being hung all around the school should probably have been enough of a reminder.

It wasn’t just academics and his love life that were diverting his attentions now though; Mike wasn’t replying to his messages and was actively avoiding Isaac at school. The events on the weekend disturbed his best friend, and Isaac was unsure on how to make things right. Emma, too, had been less talkative than usual, no doubt similarly uncertain on how to address things with Isaac. Getting gangbanged whilst your best friends and boyfriend listen to you in a room upstairs is hardly something they make postcards for. From what Isaac could discern, Sarah and Martha were also avoiding Emma.

As it turned out, Dungeons and Dragons the Saturday prior had been the second of Emma’s big three challenges; the penultimate test of his love of her, and his willingness to accept her as she truly was. However, her exposure of her proclivities to their friends had come with obvious consequences, and not just for him.

Beneath her calculating demeanour, Isaac could tell the raven-haired girl was struggling emotionally. She constantly needed reassurance from Isaac that she hadn’t gone too far, and even after his affirmations, tears were not unlikely. Her friends’, not totally unjustified, abandonment of her would not help matters. And now, her stupid boyfriend had failed to ask her to the prom. Shit.

“Emma, I’m so sorry. It just completely blanked my –”

“You forgot to ask your girlfriend to prom?” Her tone was ice cold, every word like a frozen shot to his heart.

“Will you please be my date for the prom?” Better late than never, he supposed.

Their eyes met, and Isaac could only despair as he waited for her response. Her face was unmoving, like a marble figure, her stern expression entirely unreadable. All he could do was wither under her harsh gaze whilst she decided his fate. He could feel a bead of sweat slowly dripping down his forehead but didn’t dare wipe it away lest Emma think he was unfocused.

“I don’t know Isaac, a nice boy already offered to take me to prom.” Every syllable was a blow to his esteem, as panic rose like magma through his chest.

“Who?”

A smile broke through her previously statuesque exterior, her red lips thinly curved as she knew she once again had him on the ropes.

“Favorite and you are going to play a game. Whoever wins gets to have me on prom night.”