Chapter 5: The Proposal

 “Well, hurry up, tough guy. I don’t have very much patience.” The other girls tightened their grips on Jace and Jessie as Skye twisted her hand, tightening his shirt collar around his throat. His shirt was cutting into his skin, as her grip tightened, he could feel himself slipping out of consciousness. He shook her hand free and knocked the knife away and regained his composure.

                “Why the hell can’t she pick someone else?” he tore her hands off his shirt and tossed her aside. She rolled and jumped back on her feet.

                “Don’t change the subject, boy! Answer me!” she demanded, as she jabbed her elbow into his ribs, knocking the wind out of him and slamming him back into the lockers.

                “Don’t do it, Eli, she’s a witch!” Jace protested. Gina proceeded to repeatedly slam his face into the nearest locker.

                “Jace!” he cried. Ji Yeon tried to go to him, but she was knocked back by a sharp pain in her head, where Yasmin had just viciously pulled her hair and dragged her backwards.

                “Stop it!” Eli tried to escape from her grip, but Skye kept him pinned.

                “Answer now or I won’t stop them,” she threatened, clicking her knife as she awaited his answer.

                “What do you want me to do?” he asked, giving in at the sight of Jace on the floor, shaking with blood pouring out his nose, and a bleeding gash on his forehead. She signaled for them to let go, and his friends were thrown to the side.

                “You need to come with us,” she explained, pulling him off the wall. “Lizzy is waiting.” As she began pulling him, he stopped.

                “What about my friends?” he asked, motioning over to Jessie, who was bent over Jace, cleaning off his face with her handkerchief. Skye signaled for Yasmin and Gina to go back and grab them. Yasmin grabbed Ji Yeon by her hair, forcefully dragging her away from Jace as she protested. Gina went over to Jace and propped him on her shoulder.

                “Their coming with us, you step out of line, and they get it, understand?” Eli nodded.

                They headed outside to Skye’s black Lamborghini. They shoved Eli and his friends in the back; Gina joined them as Yasmin and Skye sat in the front seats. She turned around to face Heejun.

                “If you hurt Lizzy, or make her cry, I will beat the fuck out of you, understand?” Eli nodded silently. She turned around, and began driving.

                Eli looked over and examined Jace.

                ‘Poor guy,’ he thought as he took out his handkerchief and began dabbing the gash on his head as Jessie took care of his nose.

                As they passed the businesses, condos, and mansions, his hatred for them increased.

                ‘Why does she want me?’ he wondered as they passed mansion after mansion. ‘What does she want with me?’ he thought for a moment. ‘Was it because I made eye contact with her? Maybe that pissed her off?’ but then he remembered, Skye had said that she had “taken and interest” in him. He scoffed at the idea. ‘Why would she want someone like me?’ he asked himself. ‘I’m not a jock, or musician, and I’m by no means rich, wait a minute!’ he paused for a moment. He didn’t remember telling anyone about his status other than Jace and Jessie. He laughed to himself. ‘Well if that’s the case, she’s in for a rude awakening.’ They pulled up to a monumental estate. The mansion itself was of epic proportions. It was made out of brick, framed in white marble. There was a fountain in the middle of what Eli could only assume was the driveway. They pulled up to the front of the house. Skye opened the door of the car, and dragged Eli out as the other took his friends.

                “Take them around back and then bring them up, he’s more presentable, so he’ll do.” Yasmin and Gina nodded, and did as they were told. “Come with me, don’t pull away and don’t make eye contact, most of all, don’t talk to anyone ok? Let me do all the talking, understand?” she turned to him for confirmation. He nodded as they headed inside.

                The inside of the estate was just as spectacular as the outside. The walls were a gleaming white, which perfectly matched the polished staircase, with a burgundy rug cascading down the stairs, and dark mahogany doors with gold door handles finished the room. There was a fancy tapestry and vase here and there, but he was too busy looking at the crystal chandelier to notice such things. Skye pulled him upstairs, yanking his arm to pull him forward at first, jerking him out of his state of awe.

                As they reached the far end of the west hall, she turned to him.

                “Remember, what I said-“she began.

                “Yea, yea I know, be polite keep my mouth shut, etc. I got it. Don’t worry about it.” She rolled her eyes and knocked on the door.

                “Come in!” Lizzy called from the inside. Skye opened up the doors to reveal a room draped in soft yellow, lace covering almost ever surface. The look of the room alone made him want to vomit. Skye walked forward and whispered in her ear for a moment. Lizzie nodded in agreement.

                “So, you’re here,” she got up off the bed, and walked over to him. She was as beautiful as he had seen her at school, her long brunette curls flouncing behind her, her pearly white teeth perfecting her smile. Her eyes glistened in the sunlight. He shook these thoughts off as she approached him. She began to circle him. As he tried to follow her, she turned him back. She came back to her original position. “Ok, Skye, go get Mindy. His hair needs to be cut.”

                “Whoa, what?” he began to protest but Skye gave him a look, and Hee Sun held up her hand. “I can’t have my boyfriend looking like a shaggy dog, now can I?” she asked as she pinched his cheeks.

                “Your what?” he asked as she went over to Gina.

                “Go get Jorge, he needs to be fashionable. Yasmin, go make sure his friends are taken care of. Skye, you come with me.” She smiled and grabbed Eli by his hand. “Don’t worry, Skye already ran a background check on you, I know you’re not that wealthy, but if my mother finds out, you will be living in hell, understand?” Eli nodded and thought it best to keep his mouth shut. “We are going to change your look; my boyfriend can’t go around looking like a ragamuffin.” Eli rolled his eyes. She was just as stuck up as he thought she would be. She was either naïve enough to think that he went along with this, or confident enough with Skye’s abilities that she didn’t have to worry about him protesting. Either way, he was forced to go along with her shenanigans.

                Just then, Yasmin came back with two people, a short red headed woman, and a tall blonde man. They were both sharply dressed. The woman held a salon bag and the man wore a tape measure and held a sewing kit in one arm, and fabric in the other.

                “Okay you two,” Lizzy began. “Get to work!” she moved out of the way as they both came at him. Jorge was measuring him as Mindy began planning out his haircut. First, he was sat in front of her mirror, and watched as Mindy began to cut his shaggy hair. It now came about two inches under his chin, and was given a side swept bang. He looked at himself questioningly before he was hurled backwards by Mindy, moving the chair so she could better wax his eyebrows. Skye came over and firmly pressed her hand over his mouth.

                “Don’t be such a baby about it.” She said as Mindy poured hot wax on his skin, smoothed a strip over it, and ripped it out of his skin. He twitched violently throughout the whole process. As she finished, Jorge began measuring his feet and legs. Mindy and Skye shoved him off the chair, and Jorge then began measuring his waist, torso, shoulders, chest and arms. He ran over to a corner and signaled for him to follow.

                After what seemed like hours, he came out of the corner following Jorge.

                “Voila! He is perfecto, Miss!” he revealed Eli with much gusto.

                “Wonderful!” she exclaimed as she clapped her hands. “Thank you, you two may leave.” They bowed, and left. She walked over to him and straightened his tie. Jorge had outfitted him in a navy blazer with matching slacks, and Italian loafers. His tie was made of black satin, which matched the handkerchief placed in his pocket. “Well, I think you’re ready!” she exclaimed excitedly, patting his face.

                “For what?” he asked.

                “For my birthday party of course, silly! I am going to reveal you as my boyfriend in front of the entire school, my mother and her associates.” Eli swallowed nervously. He did not have a good feeling about this plan.

END OF CHAPTER 5