The Bet (Persaud Girl)

by Mott, Teisha

  “Doing the right thing sucks!”

  “Yeah, it does, but it will feel good at the end of the day.” Micah patted Nathan’s shoulder. “Proud of you, youth. You just jumped up ten points in my book.”

  Nathan smiled. “I assume that’s a good thing.”

  “That’s an excellent thing!” Micah stood to leave. “Ignore Jeremy and go about your business. If Andie a fi yuh, she cannot be ‘un-fi yuh’. And by the way, the haircut suits you. Later!”

  “Micah!”

  “Yeah?”

  “What do I do if he tells Andie?”

  Micah thought for a moment. “Andie won’t be so angry if she hears it from you. I think the best thing to do is to tell her before Jeremy does.”

  Nathan lay on his back and stared at the ceiling for a long time. Micah was right. He had to be the one to tell Andie about the bet. If he could explain to her how it began, and how he had put an end to it, she would not be too angry, especially if he was able to explain to her how much he loved her.

  Nathan rolled over. It was his second big decision in less than twenty-four hours. He would tell Andie about the bet, and he would tell her as soon as possible.

  ***

  When Andie got out of her Accounting class that Monday at noon, she almost did not recognise the guy standing outside waiting for her. She actually did a double take.

  “Nathan?” She questioned. “You cut your hair!”

  “Yeah. What you think?”

  Andie scrutinised him carefully. Instead of a curly mop, the black wisps lay flat on his head like a cap, and the ends curled around his ears. He even looked younger than his twenty years, and, although she did not know it could be possible, he looked even cuter.

  “I like it,” she agreed, wrapping her arms around his middle. She did not care that the other students were around.

  Nathan did not care either. He held her close, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I missed you so much!” He whispered in her hair. “You feel so good!”

  “I missed you, too,” Andie replied.

  “Let’s go off campus for lunch,” Nathan suggested, letting her go. “Do you feel like pizza?”

  “Sure!” Andie agreed. She slipped her hand into Nathan’s. “Did you drive to campus today, or do we have to walk to Preston first?”

  “I drove,” Nathan told her. “I’m parked by Econ. Let’s go.”

  They walked together to the Students’ Parking lot by the Economics department. Nathan listened as Andie told him about the party that the Baghaloos had thrown out in the harbour – the food, and the fireworks, and the boy who had asked Klao for her number.

  “Sounds like you had a ball!” Nathan commented.

  “I did!” Andie confirmed. “It took my mind off missing you. So what did you do all weekend?”

  Nathan was prevented from answering by Dr Andrew Persaud. They were passing his office just as he was emerging.

  “Just the people I wanted to see!” He greeted them. “Do you two have any plans for Thursday evening?”

  “I don’t think so...” Nathan said, thinking. “Why?”

  “I got an invitation to attend some mamby pamby get-together that a bunch of auditors who are dying to get the Persaud Financials account are hosting. One of their Partners is retiring. They’re insisting that someone with the last name Persaud attend – I think they’re trying to butter us up. I leave for Germany on Thursday afternoon, and Janise isn’t going to want to go alone. And I know my parents – this party doesn’t interest them in the least. Would you and Andie like to go? It’s a good way to unwind after the in-course exam on Thursday morning.”

  “Daddy, are you serious?” Andie asked incredulously. “You want me to go to a corporate function?”

  “Only if you want to go,” Dr Persaud said. “It’s at the Ravi P, New Kingston, and it’s dress up.”

  “I wouldn’t mind…” Andie said. “Nathan?”

  “I guess,” Nathan consented.

  “Great!” Dr Persaud said. “I’ll tell my secretary to call in the confirmation. Remind me to give you the invitation later, Andie. You have a suit, Nathan?”

  “I guess…” Nathan repeated.

  “If you don’t, my wife will fix you up with one, so let us know, okay?” He looked at his wristwatch. “I have a class over at the Business School. He gave Andie a quick kiss. “See you later, punkin. Bye, Nathan.”

  “Haven’t we hit the big time?” Andie commented. “We’re representing the Persaud family at a corporate get-together. Daddy must really like you.”

  Nathan offered only a small smile. He wondered whether Dr Persaud would still like him if he found out about the bet. He had to come clean with Andie, and he had to do so sooner rather than later.”

  ***

  Week eight

  It was twelve thirty on Thursday afternoon, and Nathan concluded that he had gone through what was so far the worst day of his life. It was eight weeks to the day that he had first seen Andie enter the library. It was eight weeks to the day that he had made the bet with Jeremy. It was eight weeks to the day that he had made the biggest mistake of his life.

  Nathan flung his books and backpack on his bed, not caring that they were dirty. His first instinct was to rake his fingers through his hair, but then he remembered that he did not have enough hair to rake his fingers through. It had been a challenging day. He had his second International Economics exam at ten that morning, and was not at all confident that the results would be favourable. He had sat up almost the entire night revising, but nothing stuck. It seemed as though his entire brain space was taken up by the drama with Jeremy and Andie and the stupid bet. Although he refused to admit it, he was truly scared that Jeremy would reveal the bet to Andie. He could not lose her. Andie had become his life. He could not let Jeremy break them up. Three times over the past three days, he had tried to tell Andie about the bet, but it seemed he could not get the chance. He had meant to tell her when they were in Pizza Hut, but Andie had gotten cross with their waitress, because she had succeeded in getting their order wrong two times in a row. The waitress clearly had no idea of what customer service meant, and had raised her voice at Andie, making Andie even more cross. He had never experienced Andie’s wrath before, and there was no way he would be adding to it that day.

  The following afternoon, he had been sitting across from her at the library, as they both tried to study, while she waited for Samantha to finish classes. Andie’s nose was buried in her Sociology text. Sociology was her first final exam, and she had a mountain of notes to go through and concepts to learn. Nathan sat staring at her as she highlighted and made notes, while chewing on the end of her hair.

  “Andie…”

  “Hmm….” She said, not even bothering look up .

  “I have to tell you something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I…” He was at a loss for words.

  Andie finally looked up. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine,” Nathan said. “It’s just that…I – I – I think you’re great, and…”

  “I think you are great, too, Nathan,” Andie said. She smiled and patted his hand, and immediately returned to her textbooks.

  Wednesday morning, he had spent his entire Econometrics lecture formulating what he would say to her. He would tell her while he walked her to Samantha’s car that afternoon. Unfortunately, Fern McNally chose to walk with them. He could not say anything to her in front of Fern!

  “You’re going to have to tell her sometime!” Micah told him on Wednesday night, as they studied for International Economics. “The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be.”

  “I know!” Nathan sighed. “I’m going to tell her.”

  “Just make sure you do it before Jeremy gets to her,” Micah reminded him, turning the page of his text.

  Mic
ah’s words came back to Nathan as he changed out of his school clothes into his swimming trunks. He would go to the swim club for the first time since he had met Andie. They were similar in that respect. Andie often said that swimming helped to relax not only her body but also her mind. Nathan knew she was right. He would stroke his worries away, and then later in the evening, he would pick her up to go to the retirement party. He would tell her about the bet before the night was out. It would be the perfect day to tell her. If, after he told her, she thought it necessary to break up with him, then the day would have perfect symmetry – they would be breaking up on the same day that they met.

  Nathan stopped in the kitchen to grab a bottle of Gatorade from the fridge before heading to the pool. He was trying to decide what flavour he wanted when Jeremy came into the common area.

  “So, tonight is ‘D-Night’!” Jeremy greeted him.

  Nathan did not answer.

  Jeremy went to the fridge and pulled out a power shake. “Ready to make the little maiden a maiden no more?”

  “You must be really stupid!” Nathan said, deciding to take a regular bottle of water with him instead. “I don’t know what’s so difficult in understanding that there is no bet!”

  “Oh,” Jeremy sneered, getting up in Nathan’s face. “I forgot you punked out, pussy!”

  “Get out of my face, Jeremy,” Nathan warned through clenched teeth.

  “Or what?” Jeremy asked. “Eh, punk? What you going to do?” He was inching closer and closer to Nathan.

  “I said, get out of my face!” Nathan snapped, shoving Jeremy.

  “Hey, know yourself!” Jeremy retaliated, shoving Nathan back.

  “What? You want a piece of me?” Nathan shoved Jeremy even harder, pushing him into the wall. “Is that your only proof that you’re a man – screwing around with girls and fighting?”

  Jeremy recovered quickly, and was on Nathan in a second. “At least I can prove I’m a man, and I can still kick your ass if you want me to!”

  “Hey! Break it up!” Micah snapped coming into the common area. He quickly got between the two angry boys. “What the hell is going on in here?”

  “Your little pal here can’t get any, so he’s releasing his pent up energy other ways!” Jeremy snarled, giving Nathan a dark glare. “Just know that the next time I see your little girlfriend, she is going to know all about who you really are!”

  “You think I’m afraid of you, Jeremy?” Nathan huffed.

  “You better be afraid!” Jeremy shrugged away from Micah. “I wouldn’t even waste my time with you this day!”

  Micah looked at Nathan. He was totally red with rage. “Nathan!”

  “What?” Nathan spat.

  “You better tell her!”

  “I’m going to, yout’!” Nathan said, beginning to feel frustrated. “Jus’ gimme a break, nuh!”

  “Stop ‘going to’ , and just tell her!” Micah advised. “Tell her today!”

  ***

  Andie stifled a yawn and glanced at Nathan. He was looking as distressed as she was. They were in the grand ballroom of the Ravi P hotel in the heart of New Kingston, surrounded by at least three hundred of the top executives in Kingston. They had all come together to bid a good retirement to Gerald Sinclair, one of the premier Accountants in Jamaica. Neither Andie nor Nathan could ever imagine that they could be so bored. The jokes were dry, the speeches long and dull, and all the guests appeared fake and wooden.

  “You okay, baby?” Nathan asked, looking at her. He thought she looked adorable in a slinky black and silver dress. Her hair was pinned back in an elegant chignon, and fastened with tiny silver clips.

  “I’m bored stiff!” Andie admitted with a wry smile. “I may fall asleep on my feet any minute now.”

  “I know what you mean! These people are painful!” Nathan said. He stuffed a spring roll into his mouth. “But at least the food is good.”

  “There is always good food at the Ravi P!” Andie said loyally. “You think anyone would miss us if we left?”

  “You think anyone even notices that we’re here?” Nathan looked around the room. Four executives were standing together engaged in passionate discourse. On a regular day, Nathan would have loved to join them, and give his opinion on whatever topic they were discussing, but he had tried to join a conversation earlier, and was thoroughly ignored. Andie had more of an audience than he did, as she was instantly recognised as Ravi Persaud and James Moreno’s granddaughter. However, being as shy as she was, she was not interested in encouraging decent conversation. It was, overall, turning out to be a very bad party. “C’mon, let me take you home.”

  “I said we should leave, not that we should go home,” Andie clarified. “The night is still young, and so are we. My grandfather owns this place. We could get a room, order up some room service and watch TV…”

  “That’s an idea!” Nathan said with a smile. “Let’s go.”

  It took Andie less than five minutes to acquire the key to her Aunt Phoebe’s suite. She ignored the sly glances she got from the hotel staff, as she led Nathan to the elevator. She could imagine how the staff would gossip about her and Nathan for the next few days, but she did not care. All she cared about was being alone with her boyfriend, in her aunt’s beautiful three bedroom suite. It was located on the hotel’s top floor, and had a wall of windows and a breathtaking view of the city.

  Andie ordered room service before joining Nathan on the balcony. “Isn’t this much better than the stupid old party?” Andie asked.

  “Much!” Nathan said, putting his arm around her. “This room is spectacular.”

  “This is where Aunt Phoebe stays whenever she comes to Jamaica.” Andie said, through another yawn.

  “She doesn’t stay with your grandparents?” Nathan asked.

  “She could,” Andie rubbed her eyes. “But I think she prefers here. And I mean, why not? Grandma and Grandpa's is nice, but this is special!”

  Nathan looked at her. “You keep yawning and rubbing your eyes,” he observed. “You’re tired.”

  “Yeah,” Andie agreed. “Mommy, Samantha and I sat up all night with Daddy, getting him ready for Germany.”

  “Why don’t we go lie down?” Nathan suggested. “Let’s see what’s on TV. He led her to the master bedroom with the king sized bed, and the thirty-inch plasma screen television.

  Nathan silently watched half hour of cartoons and was able to forget his angst for a few moments and allow himself to be amused by the antics of ‘Garfield’ the cat.

  “Imagine, all alone in a gorgeous suite in an even more gorgeous hotel, and all we can find to do is watch cartoons!” Andie commented, after a huge yawn. “You know the staff is probably downstairs betting that we’re up her getting it on!”

  Nathan flushed. He thought it would be so easy then and there to go through with the bet. But he had made a vow to himself and to God, and as much as he wanted to, he would not be breaking that vow. He shook his head. “Then they would be dead wrong!” He leaned over and kissed Andie’s cheek. “We will not give them anything to talk about!”

  “Why not?” Andie asked. She turned and brushed her lips on his, and removed his tie. “This room is perfect. It’s private – no Christopher to break in…”

  “It’s just not time yet, Andie,” Nathan said. He brushed back a few loose tendrils from her face. “We’ve only been together a couple months, and I want us to take our time.... plus, remember: the longer the wait, the greater the gratification!”

  Andie stroked his face with the back of her hand. “You’re absolutely fabulous, you know that, right?” She murmured sleepily.

  Nathan closed his eyes and kissed her palm. He was not as wonderful as Andie thought.

  “I have something I need to tell you, Andie!”

  “You do?” Andie pulled the hairpins from her hair, and shook out the wavy tresse
s. She eased off her shoes and lay on her side, snuggled up with one of the neck rolls on the bed and looked at Nathan through sleepy eyes. “What is it?”

  Before Nathan could continue, there was a knock on the door.

  “That is probably room service,” Andie said. “Can you get it, please? I don’t want to move.”

  Nathan retrieved the trolley stocked with pastries and fruit, and a bottle of sparkling grape juice on ice from the smiling bellhop, and wheeled it into the bedroom. Andie was still lying on the bed. Her eyelids were drooping.

  Nathan sat next to her on the bed. He pushed her hair back. “Are you falling asleep on me?”

  “Of course not!” Andie said through a smile. “I’m not sleeping. My eyes are just hooded – like Garfield’s. You said you had something to tell me…”

  “Yeah.” He got off the bed and turned towards the huge bay window. He could not tell her what he had to while looking her in the face. “Andie, when I met you, I never thought I was going to like you so much…”

  “Really?” Andie murmured. “Why not?”

  “Well first of all you were a little weird and hard to talk to, but now you’re different, and really special to me.”

  “Mmh!”

  “I don’t know how I’m going to tell you this, but I have to,” Nathan continued. “I’m telling you this because I think it’s the best thing to do. I know you’re going to be mad, but you have to know that I really, really care about you, and would never do anything to hurt you…”

  He paused and turned to look at her, to analyse her reaction so far, and was surprised to see that Andie had fallen asleep. She had fallen asleep flat on her back, her stocking clad legs sticking off the side off the bed like toothpicks. Nathan looked down at her, her red hair spread out across the pillow, her lips soft and relaxed and the dark eyes closed. His hands trembled as he moved her legs, and positioned her properly on the bed. He wondered what she would say when he finally got the chance to tell her about the bet. The thought that she would be hurt disturbed him. He did not want to hurt her. But he had to tell her before Jeremy did. She would be upset, but, as Micah said, at least she would take it better hearing from him. Maybe she would forgive him on the premise that he had no intention of going through with it. How could he have thought to do something like that to her, he wondered. He looked at her again. She looked so incredibly soft and innocent, fast asleep. He tiled her chin up, and bent to kiss her lightly, his mouth closing over hers. She stirred slightly, but did not wake. He looked at the clock. 9.45. He had some time to kill before her eleven o’clock curfew. He did not have to wake her to take her home just yet.