"May, your numbers are through the roof." Riley exclaims as I walk into the journalism room a week and a half before the election.

"Really?" I say, my tone surprised. "Why?"

"Well, the debate went much better than expected. Apparently, one of your new tactics work; the poll I sent out got an overwhelming response from the wannabes. They love you and I think they could be the group to swing the election." Riley rambles, his fingers clicking on the keyboard in front of him.

"It's not me." I say and Riley turns to me, his brows knitted together in confusion. "I'm dating Trip, I'm in with the populars and if they vote for me, they think they'll get in too; it's only logical."

"May, like you said: Trip doesn't define your campaign. You got here because of you yourself, not because of Trip." Riley pats my shoulder and then consults his schedule. "Don't forget your round table discussion after school."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." I sigh and sink down in a chair. It's the homestretch; just a few more days of agony.

~~~~~

"Welcome to the annual Mount Forrest Knights of the Round Table Discussion." Alexandra, the school's main news anchor, says as she pulls out some note cards. "On behalf of the students and faculty of Mount Forrest, I'm honored to announce the top three candidates for the prestigious title of student body president." The audience applauds as she announces each of us in turn. I look out from the round table on the stage, my eyes glossing over the tops of everyone's heads as they stare eagerly back at me. I swallow my nerves and turn back to face Alexandra.

"The purpose of this discussion is not to re-state your campaign platform, rather, the purpose is to have everything out in the open so that the public can make an informed decision about who to vote for next Friday." Alexandra explains. "Each question comes from a member of the audience and is intended for a specific candidate. Your job as candidates is to answer honestly and in as much detail as possible. Let's begin." She ruffles through her note cards and picks one at random. A smirk plays on her lips as she looks up, her eyes focused on me.

"Trip McCan," I release a deep breath as she turns to face him.

"Alexandra," He replies, an easy smile spreading slowly across his face.

"What's your response to these rumors of a bet you made about May Parker?" Alexandra looks like a spider who's caught helpless prey in her web. I turn to Trip and dare him to answer. His eyes are wide, the gears of his mind churning as he tries to come up with an appropriate answer.

"I'll admit it: I did make a bet with my friends, but it was stupid..." Trip turns to me, his eyes guilty as Alexandra continues to drill him.

"So, is that why you're dating her? Because of some stupid bet?" Alexandra's voice is sharp, her words cutting him like a knife.

"No," Trip struggles to get his words out; obviously, he wasn't expecting questions such as these. So, naive. "I'm dating her because I want to, not because of some stupid bet." Just keep your mouth shut; our jobs are to be honest, but her job is to twist our words.

"How do you feel knowing that his original plan for dating you was based on winning a bet?" Alexandra asks, turning her piercing gaze towards me. I look up and lick my bottom lip, trying my best to seem calm.

"I choose to believe that the bet was just a stupid joke between friends." I reply calmly, giving Trip a quick glance as I continue my response. "We all say stupid things with our friends and I think everyone deserves a second chance."

"Speaking of second chances, why did you choose to give him one? Why did you start dating Trip McCan, your rival, a few weeks before the election?" Well, I think it's obvious, Alexandra; he is my rival after all.

"It just happened naturally," I say, biting my lip. "The rivalry had nothing to do with it." Lies. I swallow my guilt as she moves on to questioning the third candidate who had been neglected during her interrogation of Trip and I. Trip grabs my hand under the table and rubs it comfortingly, almost as if to say he's sorry about the bet. I nod, confirming that I accept his apology. What I'm doing is worse, Trip, there's no need to be sorry. I turn away from him, taking my hand with me.

Before, it was easy to ignore what I was doing. I could brush it off; I could say that he deserved it for what he said about me in the locker room, but what I'm doing makes me no better than him. What I'm doing is cruel, especially since he seems to sincerely care for me. I can't say that I don't care for him, but I can't shake the guilt that I feel for why I originally started dating him. I don't deserve him because of why I said yes in the first place. In the beginning, saying yes was easy because Riley and I had a plan; we were going to break his heart and win the election, but the longer I stay with him, the more detached I become from the plan. The longer I stay, the more I like the arrangement.

If I didn't like him, I could've dumped him a week ago; he was already invested in me and the plan would've still worked the way I needed it to. I didn't, though, and I think that's because, as much as I hate to admit it, I fell for him. I wasn't supposed to, I never thought I would, but it happened and now I've turned into a contradiction because I can't stay with him without feeling guilty and I can't leave him without feeling broken. I'm completely screwed.

Alexandra unknowingly brought this guilt back up; it was always at the back of my mind, of course, but I could ignore it and I had been doing a pretty good job of it. I gnaw on my bottom lip, trying to get rid of my guilt, but to no avail. Every time I look next to me, I see Trip and his smile, the easy confidence he carries himself with. I see the plan, a dark cloud over his head, a heavy reminder of how I'm no better than the scum-bag politicians I'd grown up resenting. I'm no better than my parents or Mr. Edwards; I've turned into exactly who they raised me to be and everything I never wanted to be. I look up, my eyes darting around the room, trying to avoid Trip. Soon enough, my eyes come back to his and the guilt grips me like a vice. I have to do something and I have a feeling I'm not going to like it.

~~~~~

It's Thursday, the eight day marker of the election. In a little over a week, my fate will be decided and all the work I've put in will be rewarded or completely forgotten. I sigh as I park my car and walk into the school, snaking my way through the crowds of people down to the journalism room. I find Riley and the rest of my team standing outside the door, huddled together and deep in conversation. They all look up as I approach them, my face painted with confusion. Riley looks at Anna who nods and then he opens the door, letting me through. I walk in to a dark room, all the shades drawn and the lights turned off. A few seconds later, a pair of hands cover my eyes and I'm led forward. I hear a few shuffling footsteps behind me and then light floods in through the cracks between the person's fingers.

A grin spreads across my face when I see what my Trip board has turned into. It's still painted black, but there's a large picture of Trip on it and the words "May-be you'd like to go to homecoming with me". Reminds me of his first batch of campaign posters. I turn around and find Trip standing behind me with a bouquet of roses and a smile, prompting me to answer. I'm about to say 'yes' when I the feeling of guilt washes over me again. The voice of my conscience bites in my ear, reminding me of what I've been doing to Trip all along. This has to end; I have to start making my amends.

Riley senses a change in the winds and leads the rest of my campaign team out, closing the door behind him. Trip looks confused and a little hurt as he leans against one of the tables, the roses sitting next to him, their vibrant red taunting me. I exhale a deep breath, praying I'll somehow figure out how to let him down gently. He locks eyes with me, his gaze begging me not to say the words he knows are coming.

"So, you really were playing me for votes the whole time?" He says forlornly, his gaze moving slowly to the ground beneath my feet.

"It's not like that," I begin, but quickly curse myself for lying to him again. "Well, it was in the beginning, but it's not anymore."

"I want some honesty here, May, why did you start dating me?" He looks at me, his eyes cutting me like a knife.

"I overheard the bet you made with your friends. I was disgusted and hurt that you thought I was nothing more than a conquest, that you didn't see me as an equal. I released the attack ad, but that did nothing, so when it became clear that you liked me, Riley and I decided to get even. I would date you, distract you and dump you which would almost ensure my victory." I screw my eyes shut in shame; the plan sounds even more cruel now that I'm saying it out loud. I open my eyes and find Trip staring back at me, his green eyes sunken with sadness.

"Did you ever actually like me?" He snaps, his tone stinging me, my eyes burning with guilt and shame.

"I made a mistake," I say, fighting to get the words out.

"What mistake?" Trip shouts and stands up, his face only a few inches from mine.

"Yes, Trip, I do like you and that was my mistake." I reply, a lone tear tracing my cheek.

"Who says that's a mistake?" Trip whispers, his eyes still locked with mine.

"The first rule of this game is to not let your emotions get in the way; I broke it and look at me now." I say, my voice cracking as I break eye contact with him.

"What game, May? If you're talking about politics, then I don't want to play it; I just want you, I want to get past this..." Trip pleads, reaching out for my hand.

"I can't do this to you." I say, pieces of my heart chipping away with every word. "Not anymore."

"Is this how you really feel?" Trip says aggressively, forcing me to answer.

"It doesn't matter how I feel, Trip; the reasons I started dating you were wrong and the only way I can make amends is to walk away." I reason, even though it sounds hollow in my ears.

"Is this all part of the plan?" He says, locking eyes with me once again.

"There hasn't been a plan, not for weeks, Trip; this is me, trying to make amends for what I've done. You deserve better and I'm giving you a chance at that." I say and begin to walk away.

"May," I turn around at the sound of my name. "Plan or no plan, you still succeeded; you have successfully broken Trip McCan's heart of steel. Congrats." He mutters and brushes past me, the bouquet of roses still on the table. I bite my lip as I walk over to the table and read the card he slipped inside the bouquet. For more than just political gain. I look down at the bouquet, tears running hot on my cheeks. I was supposed to feel better after this, not worse.