She took her drink into her left hand, eyeing the man over the lip of her cup.
"I don't think you understand."
"Then make me," the man taunts, tongue popping out over his top lip. The party around them is at an all time high, but no sound enters their tense space. Not even the rowdy crowd can penetrate the silence.
"Then we should make the deal." He's smug now; smiling.
When Michael had first approached Elanor with the proposal - marrying him in exchange for her college debts to be handled - she had vehemently refused. She didn't take handouts, nor did she want to be legally attached to such an arrogant prick. But after losing her savings?
It was like the world was completely against her. She had debt collectors at all sides, all pushing for such and such amount, pulling her down into an endless spiral of 'Give me a few more weeks' and 'I'll get it done, I promise'. It was a bleak existence of ramen noodles and near desperation. Getting mugged had to be the cherry on top of it all. The scar still runs jagged across her forearm, pulling with every lift of her arm.
At this point in her life she truly believes that she has nothing left to lose.
"Deal."
And pretty soon, she'll learn that maybe every step doesn't have to be a bad one, no matter how nasty that gift horse looks.
