Chapter 9: Fundraiser

HARTLEYDespite the colourful balloons and upbeat chatter, the irony of Hadé's fundraiser for women's equality left a bitter taste in my mouth. That the very man who had spent his college years objectifying women would now position himself as a champion for their rights was deeply infuriating. And yet, here I was, waffling between disbelief and intrigue, as if watching a train wreck I couldn't tear my eyes away from.Although I must admit the carnival looked like a lot of fun.The lively atmosphere of the fundraiser did little to alleviate my concerns. Students bounced from booth to booth, checking out games and activities designed to draw people in, all while Hadé basked in the glow of adoration. His charm was intoxicating; survival of the fittest in a social ecosystem that thrived on charisma. I spotted a booth adorned with slogans about empowerment and equality. Heartfelt messages of solidarity were splashed across the fabric. "Have faith in change," one read. I sighed, then turned on my heel. What a load of rubbish.Needing a distraction, I decided to find Dale. He was usually in the gym, perfecting his shot or practising with the team. As I entered, the familiar sound of sneakers squeaking on the polished court greeted me. Dale was there; it was no surprise. His tall frame moved gracefully, weaving in and out between his teammates with ease, the sun filtering through the high windows casting a golden glow around him.Spotting me, he waved energetically, calling for a timeout from the chaotic practice. "Hey! What are you doing here?" He jogged over, breathless and wiping sweat from his forehead, only to be met by teasing whistles and playful jeers from his teammates."Relax, guys—she's just a friend," he called back, brushing off their mischief with a grin before focusing solely on me. His smile was contagious despite the rest of the gym still echoing with boisterous laughter."I was actually wondering if you wanted to go to the fundraiser with me. And no, it's not a date," I added with a playful nudge, a challenge hidden in my tone."Well, that's brutal," he said, chuckling as he shook his head in mock dismay. A part of me found the banter delightful—our easy back-and-forth always kept things light."Hey, you literally friend-zoned me in front of your entire team. I think we're even now," I shot back, letting a smirk touch my lips.He studied my face, and for a moment, the laughter faded, replaced by something more earnest in his gaze. "I'd love to," he said simply, but I could tell there was a twinge of his awareness about the underlying tension surrounding the event. He hesitated, contemplating his unspoken question."Yes, I believe it's a lie to save the club," I confirmed, replying before he could voice his doubts. Good old Dale—always reading my mind, somehow."Agreed," he replied with a soft nod. "But hey, at least the money is being donated. And who knows, maybe Hadé might become a completely different man once he donates the money," he added, trying to inject a bit of optimism into the dark space hanging over us like a storm cloud.The irony of that thought made me chuckle. "From womanizer to humanitarian—sounds like an inspiring transformation, doesn't it? A leopard doesn't change its spots. Hadé is a notorious womanizer. He struts around campus like he owns it, and now he wants to preach about women's equality. It's laughable."Dale joined in my laughter but quickly turned serious. "Even if he isn't sincere, if this event raises awareness and cash for a good cause, it's still a win, right?""Right," I replied, though my heart wasn't as confident. "But it feels disingenuous the way he's going about it. Disguising his ideals with a smile, pretending to be a champion for change while he carries on as usual.""Look, I know you're not a fan of Hadé," he said, leaning against the gym wall, "but sometimes we need to take what we can get. If he's bringing people together, who knows what kind of conversations might ignite?""Well, conversations or not, I'm still curious about who shows up there. I mean, what's next? A panel on healthy relationships hosted by someone who can't even establish one?"He sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Yeah, I get that. But think about it this way: even if the motivation is all wrong, maybe the result can still be something positive."I shook my head, still filled with frustration. "It's not just the fundraiser; it's everything he stands for. How can he possibly think that he can win over women with a smile and some money? It's superficial, and it sends the wrong message.""You know, sometimes it's not just about what someone believes in but what they can do to help. Like, I've seen you stand up to Hade because he thought they could get away with it. Maybe it's a step in the right direction for Hadé, however misguided."I suppose you have to start somewhere. But still... it didn't make it right.Before I could respond, Dale leaned in, playfully bumping shoulders with me. "Come on, let's go, at least we can make some noise while they're selling overpriced cotton candy and, what was it... 'organic vegan tacos'?"With a reluctant grin, I gestured toward the door, "Fine, but I'm not eating any of that health food nonsense. I'll bring you back some real cotton candy."******The first thing I went for was the pink cotton candy. I devoured it in seconds, the sugary sweetness melting on my tongue, and immediately had to order another one."Hartley, slow down," Dale said, his chuckles warming the cool evening air."But it's my favorite candy! Do you want some?" I waved the fluffy pink cloud enticingly in front of his face."I'll pass. I prefer chocolate," he replied, smiling wide. His does-dare-me grin lit up his face and made my heart race with more than just sugar."You must really like Easter time, then," I said, tearing another piece of cotton candy and stuffing it into my mouth."Oh, Easter time has this limited-edition chocolate. Strawberry-filled with raspberry bits and nuts," he said animatedly, his eyes sparkling. "My favourite chocolate, I always stock up on boxes before they sell out.""Way better than this fairy floss," I joked, but I was too busy savouring the next handful of floss into my mouth. "You look like a chipmunk," he teased, a smile dancing on his lips.But then, our bubble was burst. "A chipmunk that should get run over by my bike," Hadé's acrid voice interrupted, cutting through the light of the carnival-like a storm cloud. He sauntered by with his usual posse, Josh, Erik, and Ryan trailing behind him like shadowy minions."So this is where you've been hanging out? With this loser," Hadé sneered, his eyes full of disdain as he glared at Dale."It's that attitude that's the reason I left in the first place," Dale shot back. "And if you feel like picking a fight, move along."Before I could shake off the tension and leave, Hadé seized my cotton candy, flinging it to the ground. "You're my problem, Hartley," he spat. "You're a selfish jerk, you know that? Thanks to you, my club is going to be shut down, and there won't be a safe place for people to learn about motorcycles.""Safe?" I snapped. "If you call treating women like garbage 'safe,' then you deserve every bit of this. You dug your own grave the moment you chose to be a sexist slimedog.""Telling the board this fundraising is a lie. I get it your pissed at me but don't take it out on my members.""I believe this is just an attempt to save your reputation but I did not tell the board that. You dug yourself a hole the moment you decided to be a sexist slimedog." I replied, my glare at Hadé hardening every second this conversation continues.Hadé smirked at me, his friends snickering in the background. "How much are you charging?""Charging? Charging!" I shrieked, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Josh signal to Dale, who stepped instinctively closer."Not again, take her away Dale," Josh said. "We can't afford her losing it again.""Did I stutter?" Hadé pressed, stepping closer. It was as if the air crackled with his defiance. "At this rate, you're lucky I'd pay you fifty bucks."Over the weeks, I'd gotten used to his boldness, but this confrontation stirred something reckless inside me. Instead of backing down, I took a step forward, meeting his icy blue gaze head-on. Something was mesmerizing about his eyes—tiny white specks twinkling like stars in the depths of winter. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach, a mixture of fear and excitement flaring up. My hand reached up, brushing his cheek, feeling the hardness of his jaw beneath my fingertips."Hartley?" His voice cracked, surprise shattering his confident façade.I learned, our lips just about to touch. To my shock, Hadé didn't push me away; he stood there, wide-eyed and frozen. My fingers moved instinctively to the back of his head, and I tangled them in his tousled hair. "I knew they liked each other!" Josh's voice rang out. As if it was right on cue, I yanked his hair with all my might. Dale, rushed forward, trying to separate us. But I held on, determination coursing through my veins. Part of me wanted to scream at Hadé—tell him how infuriating he was—but my emotions twisted into something entirely chaotic. Thumbs fumbled, hands intertwined, everyone watching us like we were a circus act gone awry. It was his own fault, he shouldn't have stood there frozen like a dummy. "Stop! You're making it worse!" he yelped amid the chaos.All the boys stood like sentinels, struggling to pry my fingers from his hair while I kicked and pulled, a wild animal asserting its territory. I couldn't care less how ridiculous we looked; there was an electrifying thrill in the chaos."What is wrong with you?" Hadé yelled, his voice strained."You are!" I screamed back, feeling like a wild animal.Finally, it took three of our friends to free me from Hadé, and he stumbled back, rubbing his head in mild pain. I glared at him, my breath heavy, my face flushed with anger and something else I couldn't quite name."Control yourself, you whore," Hadé growled, rubbing the spot where I'd tugged his hair."You're lucky Dale's holding me back; I'd kick your ass, slimedog," I hissed, my indignation boiling over, the words escaping like steam from a kettle.Hadé let out a chuckle, his expression wavering between anger and amusement. "I'd like to see you try." He turned to leave.I spotted a carnival game nearby, an impulsive idea sparking in my mind. Without thinking, I stepped on I stepped on Dale's foot, breaking free from his grasp. In a swift motion, I snatched a red ball and threw it at Hadé. Bullseye.He whipped around, his eyes ablaze with fury. "My bike!" Dale shouted, but adrenaline surged through my veins, urging me to flee."Ditch it! We're dead meat if we get caught!" I cried, dragging Dale toward my Ute.Dale hopped in as I slammed the door shut, gunning the engine. Hadé was hot on our tail, determination fueling his sprint. The tyres screeched against the pavement as I floored it. The adrenaline pulsed through us like a wild ride, and for just a moment—before the reality sank back in—we laughed until our sides hurt.