THE PRETTY LIE

Christine's heart was racing as she stared at the text message on her phone. "Game on, Christine. Get ready for the ride of your life." Peter's words echoed in her mind, sending a shiver down her spine. She couldn't shake off the ominous feeling that had been lingering in her mind. As she got ready for school, her thoughts drifted back to Peter's game, and the unsettling possibilities that came with it. She had debated it with herself countless times, but the fear of the unknown still lingered. Jessie, her usual confidante, was nowhere to be found, having spent the night at her boyfriend's place. Christine was left to carry the weight of her worries alone, her mind consumed by the what-ifs as she headed to her lectures.

Marvin, who only noticed her silence as they sat together in their lecture room. "You look a little pale," he said, his brow furrowed with concern.

Christine forced a bright smile, trying to reassure him. "I'm totally fine!" she replied, but her voice betrayed a hint of unease.

Marvin's eyes, a deep, rich brown, narrowed with concern as he gazed at Christine. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low and gentle, like a soothing melody that wrapped around her frazzled nerves.

Christine hesitated, her eyes darting around the lecture room as if searching for an escape route. The fluorescent lights overhead cast an unforgiving glare, making her feel like she was under a microscope. She took a deep breath, the stale air filling her lungs, before launching into the story of Peter's game and how she was stuck in it.

Marvin listened intently, his expression growing more and more serious as she spoke. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, as if searching for any hidden truths. The sound of the professor's droning voice and the scratching of pens on paper faded into the background as Christine poured out her heart.

When she finished, Marvin let out a low whistle, the sound echoing through the lecture room like a warning signal. "Wow, that's...quite a situation you're in," he said, his voice laced with concern.

Christine nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her like a warm wave. It was nice to finally have someone to talk to about this. The tension in her shoulders began to ease, and her breathing slowed as she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

Marvin's expression turned thoughtful, his brow furrowed in concentration. "You know, Christine, I think you should be careful around Peter. He sounds like a real player," he said, his voice firm but gentle.

Christine rolled her eyes, a wry smile twisting her lips. "Tell me about it," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Marvin's face turned serious, his eyes burning with intensity. "No, I mean it. You shouldn't go to that party tonight. It's not a good idea," he said, his voice low and urgent.

Christine felt a surge of frustration, her heart racing with anxiety. For the first time Marvin didn't understand—She was stuck in Peter's game, and she had to play along if she wanted to survive. The sound of the professor's voice and the rustling of papers seemed to fade into the background as she felt her anxiety spike.

"I'll be fine, Marvin," she said, trying to sound confident, but her voice trembled slightly.

Marvin's eyes narrowed, his expression skeptical. But he didn't push the issue further. "Okay, if you're sure...Just be careful, okay?" he said, his voice laced with concern.

Christine nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. She had no intention of being careful. She was still going to play Peter's game, no matter what, she knew exactly what to do.

*-*

Despite her internal debate and Marvin's warnings, Christine still found herself succumbing to Peter's game. She knew she had to win him over, to gain her freedom from his grasp. It was another day of dancing with the devil, as he had so aptly put it. He had warned her that he would be unpredictable, and soon enough, she found herself sitting across from him in a quaint diner nearby the campus.

"So, what do you say about our first date so far?" Peter asked, his eyes glinting with amusement.

Christine shrugged, her gaze scanning the diner's menu as if searching for an escape route. Her mind was racing with thoughts of how to escape, of ways to get out of this date. But for now, she was stuck.

"You know how much I hate this, right?" she replied, her voice laced with venom.

Peter leaned in, his face inches from Christine's. "I'm afraid that's not an option," he whispered, his breath sending shivers down Christine's spine.

And with that, the lights in the diner began to flicker, and Christine felt a sense of unease wash over her.

As they sat down at the diner, Christine couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. She had agreed to this date as part of their contract, but she had no intention of enjoying herself.

Peter, on the other hand, seemed to be in high spirits. He chatted amiably with the waitress, ordering for both of them without even asking Christine what she wanted.

She couldn't deny that Peter was charming, but she also sensed that there was more to him than met the eye. Just as their food arrived, a group of rowdy college students burst into the diner, spotting Peter and Christine at their booth.

"Peter, you sneak!" one of them exclaimed, spotting Peter and Christine at their table. "We were supposed to hang out tonight, and you ditched us for a date?"

Peter looked sheepish, but he stood up to greet his friends. "Hey, guys, I can explain..." he began.

But his friends were having none of it. They plopped down at the table, surrounding Christine and Peter.

"I'm Shawn," one of them said, extending a hand to Christine. "And you are...?"

Christine smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "I'm Christine Carson," she replied.

"Nice to finally meet you, Christine" Shawn replied, looking friendly with a bright smile.

The group of friends chatted and joked, drawing Christine into their conversation. She found herself laughing and smiling, despite her initial reluctance.

As the Evening wore on, Christine found herself having more and more fun. Peter's friends were lively and entertaining, and they seemed to accept her as one of their own. Even Peter himself seemed more relaxed and charming in the presence of his friends. Christine couldn't help but notice the way he smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. She felt a flutter in her chest, and suddenly, she wasn't so sure about her initial reluctance to enjoy herself. As the group finished their meals and prepared to leave, Shawn turned to Christine and said, "Hey, we're going to grab some drinks at a bar down the street. Want to come with?" Christine hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then she looked at Peter, who was watching her with a hopeful expression. "Sure," she said finally, smiling at Shawn. "I'd love to." As they walked out of the diner, Peter fell into step beside her. "Thanks for coming tonight," he said, his voice low and sincere. "I know this wasn't exactly what you had in mind." Christine smiled up at him, feeling a sense of surprise at how much she was actually enjoying herself. "It's been okay," she said, trying to sound casual. But Peter just laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. "I'll take that as a compliment," he said, pulling her close.