I don’t think this counts as a short story, but here is….The Pact.
The Pact- Margot
Of course, it would be up to me to chronicle this moment. I’m the writer of the group, and it’s up to me to capture this sliver in time. As the graduates of 2025, we were hopeful for our emergence into the fray of optimistic students becoming qualified.
So welcome to my friend group. There was Hayley, the artist shackled to the art gallery, who was the oldest and yet the least sensible. We had Sophia, the explorer of fashion business and the psychology of what she called, “the buy.” She liked to focus on the “why of the buy” rather than what was purchased. (This drove her employers to distraction.) Then every group needs the glue that holds the group together, Tonya was aiming to be a digital editor and was happy to work on any platform. Then there was me, Margot. Did I mention, I’m a writer? The scribe of our failings and destiny as we explored a hopeless job market.
So maybe I should start with where it all began. The moment we decided on the pact. A pact which you will see had nothing to do with our degrees or purpose.
“The first person to have sex has to buy us all a drink,” Hayley had said, before collapsing back in her chair. Her long black hair had fallen across her face, and one earring dangled precariously out of one ear. Who even knew where the other earring had fallen?
Let me rewind up to just before the collapse of Hayley.
“I want to be known for my mind,” Sophia had said, as she sipped delicately at her shot. She regarded us all, one after the other. Her blonde hair was cropped back to her ears, and her large blue eyes were surrounded by huge eyelashes enhanced by mascara. Our fashionista was dressed in a white halter and gold shorts, which glittered under the light.
“And I feel as though giving in too early is having the opposite effect for me.”
“Ladies, may I present… our grandmother,” Tonya said in her deadpan way. Her skin was dark and without blemish. Smooth skin, full afro and miles of cocoa butter moisturised legs.
Sophia stuck her tongue out, and Tonya chuckled.
“You can’t compare her to my grandmother,” I said. “She’s quite the…entertainer.”
“What?” Tonya asked.
“I’m serious,” Sophia continued as Tonya rolled her eyes. “I want love in all of its truth. I want the guy to be head over heels. They say the man should love the woman more; it lays the foundation.”
“How about a pact?” I suggested. “Each of us will hold off on sex. The person who gives in first…well…that person…”
And that’s when Hayley had piped up. “The first person to have sex buys us all a drink.”
Then drunken collapse.
“I see no point to this,” Tonya said.
“What the sex or the drink?” I asked.
“Any of it,” Tonya said.
“What?” You afraid you won’t remember how it all works?” Sophia asked, smugly.
“It’s not that…” Tonya said, narrowing her eyes.
“Ha,” Sophia said. “
It’s not that…” Tonya said, narrowing her eyes. “What are we hoping to achieve?”
“Not everything needs measurements and KPIs,” Sophia said. “This could be a fun little exercise in… self-control. Which is something I have a lot of. This will be easy for me.”
“Aha, a challenge,” Tonya said. I almost saw her ears prick up. “Even easier for me. I’m in.”
“Maybe we should clean her up,” I said, gesturing to Hayley.
We jumped up and proceeded to try and lift Hayley. She opened her eyes and looked blearily at us. She put a thumbs up and then promptly fell forward. We helped her up, and Sophia and I took her arms. Tonya got a taxi through the app.
We made our way outside and climbed into the back of the taxi. Sophia loved giving her views to the drivers, which meant I could rest back.
“Are we seriously going to do this?” Tonya asked me. “I have a date tomorrow night.”
“Ah, your first test,” I said, grinning.
“You sound like Sophia,” Tonya said, relaxing back on the plush seat of the taxi, as Sophia talked happily to Daniel, our driver.
We hurtled around Birmingham and finally made it to our flat. Oh, and by the way, we’re housemates. We stumbled into the house, and Ellie eyed us from far off in the lounge. Our other housemate preferred to bury herself in books and move about the house in a blanket. By the time we had settled Hayley onto the sofa, Ellie had disappeared.
“Cider, anyone?” Sophia asked, coming out of the kitchen with a bottle.
“We’ve learnt nothing,” Tonya said, shaking her head.
“So, you don’t want any?” Sophia asked.
“I didn’t say that”, Tonya said before bursting into one of her traffic-stopping laughs.
Suddenly, my phone started buzzing. I looked down at the screen, “Do Not Answer.”
“Jason,” I said warily.
“I’m outside,” he said.
“Coming,” I said.
“And then there were three,” Tonya giggled and nudged Sophia, who looked at me, grinning.
“Oh, whatever,” I said, as cleverly as I could manage.
A sort of ending. I cannot remember how this novel was meant to end. Yes, it was to be a novel. Oh well!