+1+

You have a destiny

You are going to graduate at the top of your class

You are going to Harvard University

You are going to give Isobel your class ring

You’re going to have a girlfriend!

You’re fucking president after all.

Well---class president. Everyone starts somewhere.

You have a legacy

I nodded to myself and said a little prayer to Hmjeu before turning on my heels and entering the 2nd floor auxiliary art room. I locked eyes with Hippolyta who was sitting backwards in a chair at the front of the group. I nodded amiably to her and carefully place my signature on the sign-in sheet at the door. I gently sifted through the basket of buttons and pin a black and rainbow ally button to my polo, right next to my class pin.

I recognized a few of the students from class, I greeted the ones I knew by name then make nice with the few whose names I either can’t remember or don’t know. Ashe glowered at me in the corner and we exchange a short version of the handshake we’d invented as children in Hmjeu’s yard.

“What are you doing here?” Ashe asked.

I smile and decide to address the entire room.

“I—“

“He wants to be king.”

I looked away from Ashe and follow the sound of the voice to the back of the room. To the students I hadn’t noticed. Helios was sitting on one of the art room rinse stations flanked by his tall girlfriend and his friend Leon. Why hadn’t they dropped out yet?

It was kind of strange that Helios was even here. Helios’s girlfriend, Seraphina, was Hippolyta’s ex. Things had ended very badly and loudly in the middle of my math final—it probably had something with Seraphina running away from their group home and moving in with Helios. Either way they wouldn’t be at this club meeting unless they had to.I liked to focus on the positive, but I did vaguely remember that Helios and a few of his crew had been suspended. They were probably here fulfilling the required post-suspension volunteer requirement.

“Helios”, I said finding an appropriate smile for the situation. It pulled at the unseemly scars on my face. A souvenir from the atrocity that had left so many of us orphans. A tragedy we just don’t talk about. Or think about. Ever, “I am a proud ally and Hippolyta has done such a great job starting our GSA chapter and I want to help her finish senior year out at the top with an aces float! That is why I am here.”

“Really ?”, Helios pushed off the sink, “And it’s not because in order to be nominated for prom king  you have to  be a member of an  organization sponsoring a float in the community parade and this just happens to be the only club still taking members ?”

Hippolyta raised her brows.

“No of course not”, I said , “But, I will admit to not joining an organization sooner. As you all know I am still dealing with the death of my foster father. He was a good man and legacy at this school.”

Hippolyta lowered her brows and rapped on the table to get everyone’s attention.

“Okay, guys”, Hippolyta said, “Thanks for coming. Paris, you are more than welcome. Everyone is welcome. Like we talked about last week we are doing a shooting star themed float. The stuff is out by the loading dock. So Helios you and your crew grab the supplies from the delivery truck. Lorne start getting the details on how to do the electrics and Paris you can—“

“You know”, I said thinking, “I would love to donate a school flag. How about I donate a rainbow flag too. “

Hippolyta sighed as everyone else began to disperse.

 “Paris I like you”, she said

“Thank you.”

“But you are so full of bullshit showing up in that fancy polo shirt and dockers to work on a float You can't use your charm to get out of doing real work. Tomorrow show up in your gym clothes because you’re getting dirty, pretty boy.”

“I actually don’t take gym—“

“Paris”, she said picking up her clipboard.

“Right, yes ma’am.”, I said with a salute, “Say, does this mean I can count on you to vote me for king?”

 She smiled and shook her head.

I took that as a yes.

+++

It was a white gold class ring. It had an emerald stone and a phoenix and e=mc2 engraved on it. It was just like the one Hmjeu had been buried in and this one would look perfect on Isobel’s finger.

I hadn’t thought of Isobel Charter as anything more than a friend until after Hmjeu passed.  She had moved here from Florida of all places, but she fit right in. She, like a lot of students here, had loss to contend with. She was funny and patient. She got me through those awkward holidays as I tried to find normalcy for myself and the other boy’s at the foster home. In my darker days she saw my future for what it was-- bright. She was also beautiful, stylish, relatable and gloriously 5’2 giving me nearly 4 and 1/8 inches over her. She was on the archery team and wanted to be a historian. She was perfect.

We’d kissed a few times over winter break, but senior year had been so busy that there was no follow up. With her going to Florida State and me going to Harvard we had to move and fast if we wanted to be high school sweethearts.

I cut through the parking lot to get to the archery field so I could catch her after practice. Her friends would be there and they would be so jealous when I gave her my ring.  I really shouldn’t have cut through the parking lot, but I had to get there and give her the ring…and ask her to be my girlfriend.

+2+

I heard a whistle and turned around.

“What you got there?” Helios asked. He and his cronies were hanging out by the black SUV Helios drove. They were probably drinking or trading drugs.

“Helios.” I greeted him. He and his crew were splattered with paint from where they had been working on the GSA float.

“To good to put some actually work in today?” Helios said sizing me up.

“No”, I said amiably, “Of course not. I’ll be dressed properly tomorrow. Maybe I’ll bring some music?”

“The fuck is that?” Helios snatched the class ring out of my hand and inspected it. I was quiet. Like me, Helios and a lot of his friends has been a part of the tragedy that left so many of us in the foster system. I’d gotten lucky finding Hmjeu, but I wasn’t sure about Helios. He’d started running with some shady people and somehow earned enough money for a rundown house big enough to fit his friends.

Helios punched me and I heard his friends laughing. Goading him on. My hands went to my nose and the blood pouring from it. He tossed the ring over to his girlfriend, she caught it and studied it.

“Helios—“, I began but he hit me again.

 “That's enough--”, His friend Leon said. Didn’t think that guy could speak.

“I’m teaching him to fight back.” Helios said, “Everyone knows what a fucking snitch you are, Paris Prince”

“I’m not a troublemaker.”

He parodied my voice back to me. I wasn’t a snitch but as class president I had obligations to live up to. I had to make sure every student was on the right track including Helios and his hellions.  I had to inform the administration about him selling drug paraphernalia during lunch.

“Hey”, he said to the his girlfriend, “Teach him a fucking lesson”

Her blue eyes shifted to me and then back to Helios. She was still holding my ring.

“Fucking do it, Sera”, he said quietly, “Unless you want to lose that private room of yours.”

She rolled her shockingly blue eyes and pushed off the car. The not entirely unattractive muscles under her loose gray t-shirts were clear indicators of why she’d been the only female on the wrestling team, before she got kicked off. Seraphina always stuck out from the other girls in her former foster home. They all dressed nicely in white, popular at school and were very nice to me. It was no wonder she ran away.

Now all she seemed to own oversized faded t-shirts and long shorts. I didn’t know why she tried to hide her body, Helios had all sorts of pictures and videos of her that he would show to anyone, it was nearly impossible to not hear the detailed descriptions of what they did together. I didn’t know if she even really understood what was happening, but it didn’t seem entirely fair for people to call her a slut behind her back.

 Sera grabbed my arm and dragged me back to behind the school. I tried get loose but she had a very tight grip. I bit her hand and she hit me. Fuck I could not hit a pretty girl.

Pretty?

Well, the big blue eyes were nice but then she had to go unclip a pocket knife.

“Helios wants me to break your leg”, she tripped me and leveraged her foot over my leg and grabbed my ankle. One good pull and it would snap.

“Please”, I said, “Please. I need to . . . be able to dance with Isobel at prom. Please this is my moment. Just…”

“Give me all your money and you can keep your leg.”

“Uh, huh…I…”

“I’ll tell Helios you got away—“

“You’re fucking robbing me?”

“You don’t need it.”

“I…have bills.”

I said which a lie wasn’t. I had to keep the home Hmjeu had running. I mean I had no plans to stick around after graduation but still.

Sera pressed the knife to my throat. There were rumors that Helios and his followers were into some deep shit, and everyone said Helios and his crew had killed a few people. Was that true?

I fumbled in my pockets for the twenty I had and held it out to her.

“Can I please have the class ring back? I need it for Isobel”

“Why”, she asked taking the twenty.

“I want to ask her to be my girlfriend and —“

Sera scoffed.

“You can ask her to be your girlfriend without a ring.”

“It wouldn’t be the same. It’s just how things should be done. Can I please have the ring back?”

“No”, she said closing the knife. Maybe I could take her . . . but how would that look? Fighting a girl.

“Please. I’ll…”

“You have nothing I need”, she said putting the knife and cash into her pocket.

“I could . . . tutor you.”

“What?” She folded her arms and took a step closer to tower over me

“Well”, I said standing up straighter, “As class president, student excellency is one of the things I care most about and I’ve overheard some of your teachers saying you won’t graduate. I’m pretty sure you need a diploma to join military.”

She pulled the knife back out and I backed away.

“Are you stalking me?”

“I uh, saw you talking to a recruiter at the college fair.”

Well, I had actually been staring at her at the college fair. It was one of the few times Sera and Leon were without Helios. Since I was already in at Harvard I’d just gone to make an appearance and went to a few tables with Isobel. Earlier that day I’d gone to give coach my weekly note to excuse me from gym. When I entered the locker room I heard noises and at first I thought someone was in pain. I turned the corner and wasn’t surprised to find Helios having sex with her against a locker. Her legs were bare and she had some bruises probably from wrestling. It was so unexpected and I’d never seen a girl showing so much skin, they noticed but I had to make sure everything was okay?

Possibly embarrassed Sera tried to push Helios away. Helios glanced at me and kept going. I realized all the rumors I’d overheard about Helios’s impressive anatomy were true.  She didn’t seem to be in distress so I just I’d ducked out in a panic.

So, yes I had noticed her with the military recruiters but all I could think about was her bare legs.

Sera snapped her fingers in front of my face. Right. I was being mugged.

“Look”, I said, “I bet getting into the military would get you far away from here. Teachers trust me and rumor is you might get held back again.  That’s another year in this town. Give me my ring and I’ll help you pass your finals.”

“Help me first”, she said, “then you get the ring back.”

She pushed me back down to the ground

“Fine. We’ll met on the weekends. Now get the fuck out of my sight.”

+++

I couldn’t let any of the boys at the home see me with Seraphina, there would be to many questions. And I was not going to the cesspit that was Helios’ commune. I’d seen more than enough of it on the prank channel some of his members had. Though it was more like felonies than pranks.

We agreed to meet in Memory Park on Saturday and Sunday mornings while most of the guys in Helios’ house were still sleeping. She was waiting for me in the pavilion, her t-shirt soaked in sweat from her morning run.

 I’d gotten a list of her finals; most of her classes were remediation and special education courses.

“This should be easy”, I said organizing the textbooks.

She was quiet while I started. She apparently liked to read so English was her better subject,  but getting her to write was a nightmare and she couldn’t type to save her life. I’d even taken the liberty of reviewing her old work and it was clear she’d just given up this year

 “So, is this Helios?” I asked, “Is he the reason you’re failing ?”

“No”, she said, “I’m just stupid.”

I wanted to say she wasn’t but her grades ---and the fact that she was dating and living with Helios and having unprotected sex with him--- showed otherwise. I decided to maneuver around her statement and get straight to work, I just needed to help her get a C on her exams. Then I could give Isobel my class ring and Isobel could get a prom dress that matched the emerald on the ring Then I’d get a matching tie--- hmm--or vest to wear to prom.We worked until 11am. that was when her little flip phone kept ring. Helios called her four times before she picked up. She didn’t even say hello she just listened and  hung up

“We’re done for today”, she said picking up her books

“Sera, I know our lives have been troubling but you don’t need to rely on Helios. Maybe you should go back to your foster family. Look, I don’t want to get in the middle of this but Helios doesn’t love you. He got you kicked off the wrestling team, he makes fun of you … he calls you a 'retarded bitch—‘"

I felt the force of her gabbing me by my collar and slamming me back down on the table.

“Shut the fuck up”, she said, “You don’t know what it’s like. Not everyone got lucky and found a good group home like you did. Some of us don’t fucking belong anywhere. Some of us barley have anything as it is.”

My mouth kind of hung open, this was the most words I’d ever heard her string together and I could tell she’d done it with some effort.

“Look”, I said as she let me go and she awkwardly brushed off my relaxed fit weekend polo shirt. Her eyes were slightly worried, she looked like a lion who hadn’t realized its own strength, “Legally, Hmjeu’s group home is only for boys… but if you ever need to really get away. I’ll find room for you. “

“I leave when I graduate”, she said, “If I graduate.”

+3+

Painting stars I could handle.

I waited until Helios and Leon were on the other side of the parking lot cutting out large stars to begin painting the white smaller stars on the galaxy colored sky that was painted on the float’s platform. Painting was a generous term. I was just making little white marks.

This felt good though. Working with my hands. I hoped someone was getting a picture for the year book.

Sera joined me on the platform, she kept her distance and stood to draw stars in areas I couldn’t reach because I was sitting down. She still hadn’t given me back my class ring and we were three sessions in and I kept hinting to Isobel that I was going to ask her to be my girlfriend, but I could tell Isobel was getting restless.

“Hi”, I whispered loud enough so Sera could hear me.

She looked at me then looked away. Her way of saying hi.

“Hey, it’s getting close to prom. I really need that class ring back. ”

Sera just shook her head and went back to painting. Her stars were more detailed than mine. She took her time with them and she seemed content. I wondered why she didn’t take any art classes. Sera was beginning to come around in our early morning study sessions. She still didn’t really talk much. She was a very angry girl, she missed her foster sisters but her former foster mother wouldn’t let her see them.

There was a lot of silence to fill so I told her about why I wanted to be prom king and gave her a very thorough crash course on all things Paris Prince. She rolled her eyes a lot but I think she got it.  I hadn’t realized that I’d stopped painting and had just been watching her draw stars. She noticed me noticing her.

On cue, Helios called her name. He was heading to his car and cutting out of float duty early.

“Stay”, I said not looking at her so Helios couldn’t tell I was talking to her, “You seemed relaxed just stay, I can drive you back.”

She shook her head. Helios leaned on the horn and she dropped the brush giving me a short wave good-bye.

+++

Seraphina had been staring off into space for a few minutes, she did that lot and it was kind of cute. I mean not cute cute. Like seeing a vicious animal sleeping cute. Harmless. She looked harmless. She was toying with my class ring. Tempting me with it. We had one week until finals and she still hadn’t given me the ring. She just taunted me with it.

“Kiss me”, she said

“What?”

“I want you to kiss me”, she said

“Why?”

“I want to know if I’ll like it”, she said closing her textbook.

“I cannot be a party to cheating.” I said cause Helios would kill me, “Helios is your boyfriend.”

She spun the ring on the table and stared at it.

“Not anymore. The stars on the float were so pretty-- Leon and I sleep under the real ones in his car.”

Fuck. She was homeless.

“Sera”, I said feeling a bit of . . . sympathy? Fuck it. I kissed her and it was pretty okay. We were both sitting, but I still had to lean in. Her lips were surprisingly soft and gentle, she let me put my hands on her hard waist and I felt her weight on my lap which was not awkwardly unpleasant.

I looked around to make sure no one was watching. This would not do. I felt my body go tense when she reached into my pants.

“Hold on”, I said

“I know you’re a virgin”, she said.

“I just prefer to do this with my girlfriend.”

“You have a girlfriend?”

“No. I’m going to ask Isobel to be my girlfriend when you give me back my ring, remember. “

“You still haven’t asked her to be your girlfriend?” Sera asked toying with the ring again.

“Look, I need the ring first. It’s a part of it. I’ve got a whole plan. Okay.”

She rolled her eyes and slipped my class ring over her pink finger

“Now I’m your girlfriend’, she said

“Uh—what?”

“Your ring is for your girlfriend, I’m wearing your ring. I’m your girlfriend.”

“That is a logical fallacy”, I said surprised she could make even that much of a logical leap.

“I don’t care.” She said and I wondered if I took the ring off her finger and ran how far I would get.

“Seraphina”, I said, “Please, give me the ring back. I’m in love with Isobel Charter and I want to give it to her and ask her to be my girlfriend. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I thought I’d feel something special but there were no sparks.”

She stood up and considered this.

“You want it this ring?” she said, “Come get it”

At that she started to run back down the path. I forgot all about my books and ran after her. I made it about a few steps before I nearly passed out. It was so damn hot outside. I was getting that ring back one way or another.

 

+++

The good news was Sera passed all her exams with Cs, though I’m pretty sure some teachers passed her and definitely Helios just so they wouldn’t see them next year. The Gay Straight Alliance float placed third overall and someone had gotten a picture of me painting the stars. Fourth page of the yearbook. Not to bad.

The bad news was when people noticed Sera was wearing my class ring they started thinking it would be funny to call me her boyfriend.  Never mind that she had cruelly stolen the ring from me at knife point. Sera was kind of amused because by having my ring. She managed to piss me off the unpissable Paris Prince. Not that I EVER EVER let it show. Not even when she wore it around her neck for everyone to see.

I let Sera have this one considering she was homeless, and despite how many layers she buried herself in Helios and his friends where always bothering her and it would always end in a hallway brawl. The principal didn’t want to hold any of them back for, so they looked the other way. Sera just stayed in the back of all her classes with Leon. Most of the time she was sleeping. She’d had a nervous breakdown in the middle of homeroom the morning after Helios and his crew had broken into and trashed Leon’s car while they were sleeping in it.

Leon took her to the nurse’s office and I spied the ring on her desk with the other stuff she’d left behind. If the bell hadn’t rung I probably could have gotten it.

+4+

Thanks to my dawdling I’d had to go to prom alone.

I’d tried to order a new class ring to give to Isobel so I could ask her to be my girlfriend and my prom date on the same go, but Lysander had done a stupid promposal first.

It was fine. Really it was fine.

I rented a convertible for prom night and arrived in style. I made rounds and kept myself busy. Doing my best to cut into dances and find some older teachers to dance with. Sera and Leon had come together as friends, but spent most of Prom out back smoking pot. I’d made sure to make small talk with them so everyone could see I was humoring Sera who was still wearing my class ring. I tried to buy the ring off of her but I think she was to high to understand.

Isobel and I shared one dance and it was magical. I begged Lysander to make himself scarce and I very politely asked her for this dance. We somehow landed in the middle of the floor where the lights were the brightest and we looked into each other’s eyes and it wasn’t awkward at all. I hated giving her back to her date. I’d screwed up not asking her sooner.

“Isobel” I said cause I was going to do this with or without the ring. I had two day until graduation to make Isobel Charter my high school sweet heart, “I--

The music cut out and a booming voiced announced they were calling Prom King and Queen. I mouthed “just wait” to Isobel but she didn’t get it. I mouthed it again and she just shrugged. I’d deal with it later. It was time for me to get my crown.

It was quiet at the teachers reached into the envelope and pulled out a card.

“Class Queen is Ms. Aria”

I smiled as the bright cheerleader bounced up the steps.  Good choice. Her hair was dark like mine and we were friendly enough that she’d probably be okay with doing some pose ideas I had.

“Class King is…Helios Thantos”

An audible gasp when up as Helios strutted up to claim his win. Once crowned he surprised Aria by dipping her and kissing her. I couldn’t remember if they’d ever even spoken to each other. Leon helped Aria off stage while Helios cronies gather around him to cheer him on.

I kept the rage within me welled up tight. Hippolyta patted my shoulder and I got my first of hundreds of pity looks that evening. I was fuming. Oh my fucking god.  Fuck fuck fuck fuck.

“He rigged it”, I turned to see Leon beside me with Aria hovering around him.

“Huh?” I said.

“Helios rigged it. Helios switched the ballots this afternoon. He stuffed the box with his name”

I looked at Leon and at the last dregs of my legacy and I burst out laughing.

“Dude?” he said.

“Helios switched the votes out”, I said laughing so hard I couldn’t stand, “After I switched them out this morning”

+5+

Ten years later

 I press the key twice on my black Mercedes convertible. It was luxurious yet practical. It didn’t seem like anyone had heard the car lock but the P4R1S PRNC licenses plate should do just fine. It feels good to be back in these hallowed halls. I have a legacy to protect.

I take a few confident steps up to the high school’s remembrance plaza were everyone is gathered under a class reunion sign. I take a moment to study myself in the reflection pool.

“PARIS”, Isobel Charter bounds out the crowd and hugs me, practically jumping in my arms, “Oh my God congratulations, Paris.”

“Thank you”, I say and it feels like no time has passed. My heart starts hammering around her, “You look great Isobel. How is the teaching life?”

“It’s good, but I’m open for a change. Wow, so New York City Councilman Paris Prince. You finally got yourself elected.”

“Well”, I slid off my jacket, “No, not New York City. It’s...uh... North Crest...City?”

“Oh, wow. I guess I heard it wrong What is that? Like New Jersey?” she smiles and grabs me a drink from a waiter.

“Yeah, but I don’t actually live there”, I say honestly, “I have a penthouse in SoHo. I just own a house in North Crest for legal reasons. Although North Crest is really up and coming.”

Her laugh is infectious. It was ten years later and I was going to do this right. I didn’t need a ring to ask Isobel Charter to be my girlfriend. 

“Isobel, I—“

“Oh. My. God.”

I hear the clicking first and soon so did everyone else. All eyes turn to see Seraphina coming up the steps where I was sure everyone could see the silver Tesla convertible she’d stepped out of. She slid off her dark shades showing off her big blue eyes. Her siren red lips stood out on her expertly made face and her extremely taut figure was in a black mini pencil skirt, stilettos and white gauzy halter top that was cropped to show off her abs along with the unconcealed pistol around her waist. The neckline on her blouse was low enough to show where she was still wearing my class ring. The ring she’d stolen from me ten years ago.

Sera smirks at me and Isobel as she walks past fingering the ring. Everyone who knew about her stealing my ring all those years ago thought it was hilarious.  She didn’t even notice the way the crowd just parted for her. She just easily picks up a drink and joins Leon and Aria by the bar. Even the way she stood just had to be sexy. I got it. She wasn’t the troubled frumpy teen anymore.

“Wow”, Isobel says, “She did well considering how rough senior year was. People are still betting on whether she’ll give you your ring back. I know how much you wanted it.”

 “Yeah”, I say, “Sera did well. If getting dishonorably discharged from the Marines, being arrested six times for drunkenly disorderly conduct, working overnights as a bar back while basically living at the gym is doing well—then sure. She’s doing well.”

Isobel quirked an eye, “Oh, wow. You always knew the 411. I can’t believe she’s works in a bar. “

“Oh, that was years ago. She’s a...professional Domme ? Mostly."

Isobel spit out her drink but I stepped back in time.

 “Oh my God, seriously?” She said turning to look at her again.

“I mean”, I try to explain, “Not just a Domme. More like a whole general sex work thing with the videos, and the sex club and the modelling...”

“Holy shit, Paris. How do you know all this?”

“Oh, I well I”, I mumble over my drink, “...she’s you know. My wife. “

“Wha-- ?”

I had to explain. It sounded bad.

“It’s not like that, Isobel.  I mean it’s only been 8 years.”

“Eight years? When did you two even date? I thought her taking your ring in high school was a joke? Were you guys together ? “

I laughed, “It was a joke. It was totally a joke. She’s crazy, she stole that ring from me at knife point you know. It’s just she knew I was going to Harvard and one weekend she came to my dorm.  I took her to dinner just to humor her. It was a few times. It was nothing. I didn’t even touch her because she wouldn’t let me and I was seeing a few girls in my future leaders club. It was nothing. Nothing.”

“Nothing? Paris you married her.” Isobel whispered.

“Right, well. . . I mean she was discharged from the military she had a lot of free time and made me take her to dinner . Not that she ever talked to me. I had to do all the talking. Can you imagine what that was like for me? I think she was using me for free food whenever she was in between jobs and motel rooms. I took a summer internship in California just to get away from her. We were never dating. It was nothing.”

“Paris”, Isobel said now folding her arms.

 “Um, Well. While I was interning out in California I flew her down hoping I’d gathered up the strength to tell her to leave me alone.  When she arrived I sat her down told her this had been going on to long and that this was an old joke from high school and that I had to think of my future and then she practically made me drive to Vegas to get married.”

“Paris, are you serious?” She said grabbing another drink from a passing waiter

“Isobel, I know this sound crazy but I was really busy and look—did I want to lose my virginity in a rental car at a dark truck stop in the middle of the night—no-- but I’m pretty sure you have to consummate in the state your married in and I had to be at my internship in the morning. I mean what I was supposed to do ?”

I realize I might not have explained it right to Isobel, it didn’t make a ton of sense when you said it out loud, but she seemed to be processing which was good.

“Paris y---“

“Listen Isobel", I had to explain this to her, "I mean she just moved herself into my off-campus apartment. I was so busy with graduation and the community service projects and volunteering at non-profits that having a housewife wasn’t that bad."

Until the whole BDSM thing—which I mean I only bought up once as mostly a joke after I checked a few informational books out under an assumed name and clicked on a few forums. It was really more of a joke and I guess she was into it because she likes to control things. I’m just one man, I can’t be into everything, and I really need my solid 11 hours of sleep.  I mean I couldn’t stop her from making millions of dollars doing it professionally. “

“Did you say millions?”, Isobel leaned foward.

“I mean managing all that money and  answering client calls is really just practice for when I’m mayor of a small town. Plus it gave me something to do when I was in Law school. And I only helped with the club because it’s a great way to network with other high ranking politicians.”

“Club? Like sex club?” She was back to whispering.

“I mean it’s called New Aeterna, but I have very very little to do with any of it.”

“Paris you were always so poised and straight laced in school.” Isobel said taking another drink.

“I was. I am.  And that’ why I’m here Isobel. I came here for you. Sera and I are separated and we’re getting a divorce. I came here for you Isobel. I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life with the girl I was in love with in high school.”

“Are you sure”, Isobel said smiling that gorgeous smile, “I mean how long you have been separated ?"

“… Give or take 5 hours”

“What?”, She says just a bit to loud.

“I mean-- I want a divorce. I think this whole thing has gone on long enough and I was sure to let her know when she was in the shower this morning at the hotel seconds before I left. What do you say Isobel. You and me."

She was silent

Everyone was silent

I turned to see a white BMW block my car and Helios Thantos and ten of his idiot friends from high school pile out. Seraphina turned to face him, the expression on her face unreadable like when we went to co-op meetings, or that terrible fancy sushi place one of her clients had given her a gift card to, or when we went to that mega-mall in New Jersey so I could find just the right black polo for today or when I tried that thing in bed that I was guessing I couldn’t do again.

Sera knew better than to reach for her gun.  We weren’t going through that again. She just stood there with a drink low in her hand. Her glass was trembling? Was she shaking? Helios turned to make sure everyone was watching then he turned suddenly, so quick I almost missed it. Helios slapped her hard across the face twice, his finger bent to dig into her face. While she was still shocked he shoved her into the reflection pool.

“Paris”, Isobel whispers in the silence, “I loved you in high school. I kept waiting and waiting for you to ask me to be your girlfriend. I loved how loyal and sweet you were. But I can’t be your high school sweetheart.”

“Yes, you can. I don’t need a ring. I just need to be a man—“

“Paris”, she says, “You already married your high school sweetheart and you love her.”

“I do?” I say watching Helios turn away from her. What the hell had he done to her? Why wasn’t she fighting back?

“Don’t you?”

Damn it.

I considered my options for what to do next, everyone was just staring as Helios walked back to his car. He strode easily knowing no one was going to call the police on him. Helios got into his car and I realized he was getting away. Like he got away with everything.

I ran down the steps to my leased Mercedes and started the car. Helios was pulling out and I slammed onto the gas and rammed my car right into his. The airbags went up and I backed out and rammed into his fancy car again. It felt kind of good. Really good. So I did it again. Sera was yelling something at me and coming down the stairs.

My head began ringing but I stumble out of the car.

“Helios”, I said, “I’m so sorry I didn’t see you there.”

“Do I fucking know you?” He asked spitting on my car. God, had he gotten taller?

“Very funny”, I said

“Oh, Paris Prince.”, he said taking off his shades and jacket.

“You are going to apologize to my… to my wife”, Why was that still so hard to say.

“I’ll give you a five second head start”, Helios said

“A what—“

 “You better run you fucking bitch—“

Then he was coming for me, I must have lost control of my body because I was running and all I could think about it how I wish I could go back and change everything. If I had chosen Isobel I wouldn’t be running for my life at my high school fucking reunion. If I had taken gym I probably wouldn’t feel l like passing out after the first block. I was out of pure adrenaline and more than ready to get my ass kicked for fucking up his car. The people of North Crest would never respect me again.

I didn’t hear Sera’s convertible behind me but I saw the flash of silver. She slowed the car down to match my pace.

“Paris”, she says, “Get in the car.”

“I can’t”, I say surprised how much I was gaining on Helios.

“He is going to kill you. Leon tried to hold him back.”

“I don’t care Sera. This is not the life I was meant to live. I was supposed to be a great leader and inspiration and honor Hmjeu’s memory. Not work as a meaningless councilman and married to the school slut. No offense.”

“You’re an asshole Paris”, She says

“What?”

“You’re a pretentious selfish arrogant stuck up asshole, you have been your whole fucking life. Your ego is so fucking big you can’t even see it and. . . I love that about you.”

“wha—huh  everyone loves me.”

“Everyone hates you, but you never shut up long enough to listen. I am the only one in the world who is ever going to love you.  Which is why you should get in this fucking car.”

How could she say that ? People voted for me. 3 more people voted for me than whoever my predecessor was before he died.

“…did you ever hate me, Sera”

“I did for the first two years, but now I’m all in.”

“Wait—what?”

“Fine”, she said, “Let Helios catch you. Fuck this reunion. I’m going home. Helios can mail the pieces of you back to me.”

“Damn it”, I slowed down and threw myself into the backseat of her car. Sera hit the gas and sped off.

 “I’m sorry, Sera”, I climb awkwardly into the front seat

“Sorry ?”

“You are right. I was a jerk in high school. I’m sorry I was to self-involved and I wasn’t there for you. I wanted to be but . . . fuck, I was afraid of what everyone would think. I was an asshole.”

“You're there for me now."

"Always"

She slips my class ring off her her finger and tosses it to me. It was the first time I’d touched it since she stole it from me ten years ago. I know the right thing to do it give it back to her and tell her it was hers the whole time, instead I throw it out the speeding car.

“Paris. What the hell ?”

“Fuck high school. Fuck what everyone thinks. I love you.”

“Where to ?”, she asks

“On second thought. .. I’m going to need you to turn around. I kind of need to get that ring back.”