I watched the process unfold in front of me. A girl would walk up and onto center stage. A bunch of cat calls happen. Dudes start throwing out numbers in the hundreds and low thousands range. Eventually only one bidder is left and he walks off with the girl. The girls mostly seem pleased, but I guess being as drunk as the bidders were only helps things. It wasn't my usual scene, but I could understand the appeal.
"The next girl coming to the stage is going to be," the MC announced, pausing a moment, likely to read a name, "Christine Van Hansen! Come on up Christine?"
I walked forward, trying to put on my best strut like Bea had told me to. The MC put on some ballad from Leo Rose as I walked forward, the crowd hooting and hollering as I progressed. I was wearing a dress that did much in showing off my ample cleavage and didn't go too far down my legs. It was again, Bea's decision. I never had an eye for fashion so I let her pick, and she told me that this highlighted all of my best attributes.
I blushed as I looked around the room, all eyes on me. Bea wasn't lying when she said guys would find me attractive. I never thought I was hot shit or on the other extreme self esteem issues due to my appearance, I thought I was average. For tonight though, it didn't matter how hot I looked. It
mattered how hot the boys thought I looked.
"Christine here is a first here tonight at our auctions, because at age 20, and despite being here for two years," the MC then dropped to a hushed tone, "she's a virgin!"
A chill went down my spine as it was announced. I glanced around and saw Bea waving at me. This was her doing. She probably thought it would get people to bid higher for me and generate more money for the shelter. I thought it might attract the wrong kind of guy, personally.
I shook my head as people hooted and hollered my way, telling me that they would gladly be my first, shouting out immature things like they were going to pop my cherry good or that I was so nice to keep myself pure for them.
"Let's start the bidding at one hundred dollars for Miss Van Hansen's company."
Someone quickly rose their hand at that.
"Two hundred, do we have two hundred?"
Another hand.
"Five hundred!" Someone from the crowd shouted out.
"Eight hundred!"
"I'll take her for a thousand!"
It was all increasing so suddenly and so quickly. Of course, they were college dudes with huge disposable incomes. What else did I expect?
One bold voice echoed out from the crowd. "Five thousand."
The entire room suddenly went silent. No girl was bid on for over fifteen hundred all through the night before me. I looked toward the source of the voice. It was a tall individual, a chiseled jaw, clean cut. He had dark shabby hair just over his eyes. His clothing was black, a black jacket over a black suit, but no tie, and wearing jeans underneath. I had to say if he was paying five thousand for me I would have expected a whole lot worse of results.
"All right, five thousand. Do we have anyone who can beat five thousand?"
"Ten thousand." Another voice said, stepping out beside the dark clothed man. He didn't look too much different aside from blonde hair. Were they related? Brothers?
Dark hair shot him a glare. "So you wanna go to war over this Darren?"
"Yeah, I want her." The supposed Darren nodded.
"This is where we're playing that hand then, aren't we?"
"Yeah. Winner gets her first."
"Twenty thousand," the unnamed darker brother spoke up.
What were they on about? Getting me first? I just looked on in confusion.
"Forty thousand," Darren bid.
"What we're just going to keep doubling each other like that?"
"Keeps it interesting."
"We're not here to practice multiplication tables, Carson. One hundred thousand."