Logan didn't care. "You said you'd get him to stop!"
"I mean, I texted him," Noah replied, holding up his phone so Logan could see the wall of 'STOP BIDDING!'texts filling the screen. "How could I have known he'd take a call in the middle of this thing?"
"Seven hundred going twice — "
"Seven seventy five!" Logan shouted, going for broke.
Literally
But the idea of letting Noah make Oz's life hell, even for a day?
It's steep but… I was given those sneakers. I didn't spend my own cash. And I made Oz's life suck forfour years.I owe him. And if —
"DAMN IT!"Logan and Noah both shouted, as Noah's dad balanced his phone between his shoulder and ear to hold up an eight.
"We have eight hundred dollars, folks!" the auctioneer crowed, getting into it now. "What a wonderful gesture, ladies and gentlemen. Of course, the San Morado Children's Hospital will be the true winner tonight. Is there anyone willing to help them out to the tune of nine — that'sninehundred dollars for a date with this — this very popular young man!"
Noah gave a disgusted noise as his distracted dad gave him a double thumbs up. Past him, up on the block, Oz looked somewhere between pleased and terrified.
"Nine hundred," the auctioneer asked, his expression polite as he waited expectantly for Logan's bid.
But Logan was tapped out. There'd be no time to make it to an ATM and back. He couldn't even go digging into the couch cushions on the sofas in the den, as these days everyone relied on plastic. Even the laundry machines down in the Mu Tau Rho basement were tap-to-pay now; Logan hadn't carried around physical money in years.
He shook his head no, anger and shame burning red hot across his skin.
"Alright then, ladies and gentlemen! It looks like eight hundred is the number to beat. That puts this young man tied with the record tonight. I believe this will be the first time ever in Minotaur House history that we could have not only one, buttwoBull Ribbon Bulls!"
Next to him, he could practically hear Noah's teeth grinding as he seethed, so…that was something, right?
He'll just take it out on Oz, a small voice whispered. By trying to help, did you just actually make this whole thing worse?
…Ohcrap
"Eight hundred going once — "
Noah's dad pulled his phone away from his ear, apparently finally finished with his call. He peered down at his screen —
Then he did a double-take, before turning to Noah with an apologetic shrug.
"Idiot," Noah huffed.
Logan glanced at him, shocked.
"Eight hundred going twice — "
"I'll bid nine hundred," came a familiar voice over the chattering crowd.
His sweater vest was a deep blue this time, and his bow tie was teal with white polka-dots, but it was —
"Walter!" the auctioneer beamed. "Glad you could make it this year! And what an entrance — wow! That's going to be a hard one to top, folks, but I bet we can do it. Can we get a full thousand for the Children's Hospital tonight?"
The auctioneer's attention landed on Noah's father, and Logan breathed a sigh of relief when he sheepishly shook his head no. It was his turn next, apparently; Logan also shaking his head at the auctioneer's inquiring expression.
No one met the auctioneer's gaze as it swept the room, until his eyes fell back on Walter.
"Well, Walter, it seems the bid is to you. That's nine hundred to you, sir. Going once —"
Logan swallowed, his eyes locked on Oz's wide-eyed face.
