Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I got my mom’s inheritance last year, a few days after turning eighteen. I should’ve had it years ago, but that didn’t happen because of my dad’s legal troubles. Lawyer stuff that I don’t even try to understand.

The inheritance wasn’t much. A little over six grand that Mom had in a bank account when she passed, and a couple of boxes full of random junk that her parents must’ve been stashing in some attic. Books, CDs, some clothes, stuffed animals, a bit of costume jewelry, a wristwatch—nice, but useless, since it didn’t work anymore—stuff like that.

Out of all that, the thing that caught my eye the most was a leather-bound book with Mom’s name on the spine in gold letters: her diary, handwritten in her round, neat script.

It starts like this:

Dear diary: I’m Lynette. Nice to meet you, and welcome. I’m the only one who’s gonna read you, so don’t feel pressured. You can relax and be yourself.

Yeah, I know that sounds a little goofy, but I’ve started all my diaries with the same line since I began writing them at twelve, and it’s kinda become a tradition.

Another tradition is that I’m not the one who buys these pretty blank books. Marion gives them to me for my birthday every year. Seven so far, counting this one. I hope there’ll be a lot more.

There’s a third tradition with these diaries: staining some of the pages with my tears while I write them. This tradition I really don’t like. This time, I’m hoping not to follow it and keep this diary drama-free. At the very least, I’m gonna try my hardest. Fingers crossed!

I usually can’t get past this point, because it’s me who feels like crying. Mom wrote this diary when she was my age. She hadn’t met Dad yet, and I’m sure she hadn’t even really thought about having a kid someday. And just three years later… she was gone.

I often think about how things could’ve been if Mom hadn’t died. I picture her, for example, giving me one of these blank books with my name on the spine for one of my birthdays when I was a kid.

“Sweetie, when you’re older, you’re gonna love reading the stuff you write here. That’s why you gotta be consistent and write a little every day, even if you’re feeling lazy,” she would’ve told me in that bossy but loving mom tone. “You can start like this: Dear diary…”

I know I shouldn’t feed these kinds of fantasies, because they don’t lead anywhere, but… I can’t help it.

I don’t want to stain anything with my tears either—in my case, my laptop keyboard—so I’m gonna start over.

***

Tomorrow, I start college, which is kinda like the beginning of my adult life, and it seems like the perfect time to start keeping a diary too. The idea came from Mom’s diary, so in a way, it’s like she’s passing this habit on to me. Maybe it’s silly, but it makes me feel closer to her.

My plan is to write about all the new—and hopefully cool—stuff that happens to me, and do it right away, while it’s still fresh in my mind. I’ll add photos too.

For now, I’m gonna write this diary on my laptop, but maybe later, when I have time—maybe on break—I’ll decide to copy it by hand into a blank book like Mom’s—though not as fancy, if I have to buy it myself. The problem is my handwriting looks like a chicken scratched it with its claws. I guess I’d have to work on that first.

Or not. Really, who cares? Like Mom says, I can relax and be myself in this diary, because I’m the only one who’s gonna read it. At least, I hope so.

Though, come to think of it, maybe I shouldn’t “relax” too much. I guess I’m really writing this diary for the Jack Miller who’s forty or fifty, and I want that guy to have a good time with my stuff—maybe get a little nostalgic too—not think, “Man, what an idiot young Jack was!”

Future Jack, I don’t know what you’re like yet, but dude… don’t be too hard on me. I’m doing the best I can.

***

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012

Let’s see… Where do I start?

Okay, got it.

A few weeks ago, I got a letter from Burgmeister & Royce college—or B&R—telling me I’d gotten in, and on top of that—the best part—a full academic scholarship.

Impressive, right?

Of course, when I read the letter with Dad, I was thrilled about the news. Maybe not as much as him—he looked like he was about to float up to the ceiling from pure satisfaction—but a lot. For one thing, it meant all the effort and sacrifices I’d made over the last few years had paid off, and I wasn’t gonna feel like a failure. Huge relief there.

But I also felt a knot of anxiety in my stomach. What if college isn’t what I expect? What if my years there suck, like middle school and high school did?

That feeling’s stuck with me since then, but I try not to dwell on it. I’ve already quit my two jobs, said goodbye to my friends—especially my favorite girls, Nell and Julia, the nurses from the nursing home gig—and my bags are packed. Tomorrow I’m heading to campus, no turning back. Alea iacta est.

Yeah, I know. Latin. I’m a nerd. Well, I can be a little nerdy in my own diary if I want, right?

I’m gonna set the college thing aside for a bit to talk about something else that’s got me anxious, but in a totally different way: the situation with Josy.

I met Josy a couple months ago, when I started working at the mini-mart on Broadway Avenue. We’d both just graduated high school and applied to B&R. Unfortunately, she hasn’t gotten in yet. She’s still stuck on the waitlist.

When they introduced me to her on my first day, I thought she was insanely pretty, with her big, expressive hazel eyes, her easy, friendly smile, and her brown hair pulled back in a cute ponytail. Plus, to be honest, she’s got a great figure, even though she’s on the petite side. Somehow, she manages to look gorgeous, even in the crappy mini-mart uniform.

I would’ve loved if we’d hit it off right away, but it took a little time. For one thing, I could never get a minute alone with her. She always had people around. And when I say “people,” I mostly mean “Sleazy Steve.”

“Sleazy Steve” is this lanky guy with a horse face, who’s even more into her than I am, and he’s been waging this relentless campaign to wear her down. Though I gotta say, she holds her own pretty well, even though the guy’s the boss’s son, which makes him… problematic.

For example, a few weeks ago, the guy got handsy with Josy—he grabbed her ass. We don’t call him “Sleazy” for nothing—and she slapped him across the face without missing a beat. Unfortunately, I was in another part of the store and missed the “show.” I would’ve paid a week’s wages for a front-row seat.

But it wasn’t just Steve. In the moments he left her alone, other people would show up around her like magic—coworkers, even customers—to chat with her. And boy, does she like to chat! At full speed, with everybody, jumping topics randomly. Seriously, in those early days, she sometimes reminded me of Snow White, always surrounded by the seven dwarfs. Though in this case, she’s the short one.

I’m not shy—more the opposite—but I admit her social energy intimidated me a bit. Or maybe it bugged me a little that I had to compete for her attention with other people.

I’d been working at the mini-mart for a couple weeks when, during a break with the crew, Josy mentioned that her dad wasn’t picking her up after her shift like usual, and she was taking the bus home. Of course, I jumped in and said I was taking the bus too, and offered to walk her to the stop. And she said yes.

That was the first chance I had to chat with her alone, and I think I made the most of it. In fact, after that, she started taking the bus home with me regularly. Her dad stopped picking her up. Plus, we started spending breaks together, and basically all the time we could during work. “Sleazy Steve” hates my guts for it, obviously.

One day, a few weeks ago, I overslept. If I’d waited for the bus, I would’ve been late to work, so I rode my bike. I had to pedal like crazy across half the town, but I clocked in on time. When I told Josy about it, she said she wanted me to give her a ride after our shift. It surprised me a little, but I said, “Sure, no problem.”

But there was a problem: she’d thought I meant a motorcycle. When I showed her my bicycle—with the basket on the handlebars and everything—it was a little awkward.

Okay, more than a little. Truth is, she burst out laughing so hard I thought she might pee herself.

Anyway, I’m a guy with few hang-ups, so I laughed along at her jokes about my “girl bike”—her words—and gave her the ride I promised. Actually, I took her home, with her sitting on the seat, hugging my waist so she wouldn’t fall off, and me pedaling standing up. It wasn’t the most comfortable ride ever—honestly, I don’t know how we didn’t crash and end up in the ER—but we cracked up the whole way, and we still do every time we remember it.

All those weeks, I was tempted to ask her out like a thousand times. The problem was, after Zoey took off to California and dumped me like a broken toy, the idea of getting close to a girl again scared me. That simple.

Yeah, I’ve had this thing going with Nell and Julia for like five months now, but with them, it’s always been clear: friends with benefits—nothing more. If either of them wanted a boyfriend—and I figure they do—they’d aim for a guy their age or a bit older, with a steady job. To them, I’m just a kid they’ve known for years and trust, fun, kinda cute, and with a… uh… skill set they appreciate, and decent equipment. I’ve known that from day one, I accept it, and I don’t ask for more.

But with Josy, it was different. Truth is, I had a crush on her the size of Texas.

I overthought it and dragged my feet for weeks until finally, seeing my time running out, last Friday I manned up and asked her out. And she said yes.

We set it up for that same afternoon. I was gonna pick her up at her house at seven, and we’d figure out what to do on the fly. Josy lives in a suburban area a few miles from downtown, way nicer than my neighborhood—though that’s not saying much; any part of town is nicer than my neighborhood. Her house looks a lot better than mine too.

When I picked her up, I suggested we take the bus to the movies or hang out at the mall, but Josy had another idea: walk to a park near her house, where she’d show me a “special spot” she’d found while jogging.

It turned out to be an area with benches by a pond with ducks, and no kids raising hell, no overweight folks trying to burn off their half-dozen Krispy Kremes from breakfast, no old people walking their dogs. Deserted—in other words, perfect.

We sat on a bench in the shade of some trees—it was hot, but not too bad—and like always, Josy started chattering at full speed about half a dozen topics at once. I can’t keep up with her verbal energy, so like other times, I just listened with an amused smile— there’s something kinda charming about how chatty she is—trying to slip in a joke or comment here and there.

After a bit, she said she’d brought a surprise, and pulled out a bottle of vodka she’d swiped from her dad’s liquor cabinet. She said if she got caught, she’d blame it on her “asshole stepbrother,” who according to her had been raiding the cabinet all summer.

We didn’t have glasses or mixers, so we just took swigs straight from the bottle. Truth is, warm vodka neat tasted like crap, and judging by the faces Josy made every time she drank, it didn’t taste much better to her, but it did the job— got us feeling looser.

Since I’d already decided to ask her out, I didn’t want to beat around the bush anymore—I hate that—so I went for it and told her I really like her. She said she likes me too, and she’d been super happy when I asked her out, so I went for it again and kissed her. She kissed back, and before we knew it, we were making out like there was no tomorrow, her running her hands over my chest through my shirt, and me on her thighs, sliding my hand up under her miniskirt.

The date was going awesome, couldn’t be better… until it went south. Suddenly Josy tensed up, pulled away blushing, and without even looking me in the eye—just sideways—dropped the bomb: she couldn’t keep making out with me, because she’s already in a relationship.

I asked—almost stuttering from the shock—why she’d said yes to a date with me if she has a boyfriend, and she started spilling her guts. She told me it’s long-distance and is going to bad to worse, she’s been feeling lonely and miserable for a while, and she doesn’t know what she’s gonna do with her life if she doesn’t get into B&R in the end, which is what she’s afraid is gonna happen.

I couldn’t believe my shitty luck. I’d started my date with a single, fun girl, and I was gonna end it with a taken one who seemed on the verge of a breakdown. Suddenly, I seriously considered faking a heart attack or something just to end this disaster of a first date.

Finally, she was the one who asked me to walk her back home. I guess she realized I had no intention of playing the “understanding guy” and offering her a shoulder to cry on. If that’s what she wanted, she should’ve gotten a boyfriend… Oh, wait a minute…

We walked back to her house in pretty awkward silence, I dropped her at the door—no way a goodbye kiss—and took the bus home, feeling fucking miserable. My first real attempt to get close to a girl since Zoey decided to erase herself from my life had crashed and burned.

Or so I thought at the time.

***

Josy and I didn’t see each other again until the following Monday at work, and we didn’t talk about the date. Actually, we barely talked about anything, not that day or the ones after. Plus, her dad started picking her up after work again. Honestly, I was glad. I didn’t have any desire to be alone with her on the bus anymore.

That lasted until yesterday—my last day on the job. To my surprise, at the end of our shift, while I was saying goodbye to Tina and the rest of the crew, she came over and asked me to walk her to the bus stop. For a second, I thought about making up an excuse to bail, but I didn’t want to be rude, so I said okay.

“What are you doing this last weekend before college? Anything fun?” she asked on the way to the stop. Her tone was casual, but it sounded a little forced to me.

“No plans,” I said with a shrug.

“Oh… I ask because my dad and stepmom are going to the lake house for the weekend, and my asshole stepbrother won’t be home either…” she said. Then—classic Josy—she launched into chattering about the lake house. That it’s actually her stepmom’s and she doesn’t like going there, that her asshole stepbrother uses it as a hookup spot for his side chicks, even though he has a girlfriend… By the time the bus came, I still didn’t know why she was telling me all that. What I do know is there’s no point rushing her to get to the point, so I just nodded, with half my brain tuned out.

Finally, when we paid our fares and sat down, she paused, took a breath, and said in a rush, “…so I’m gonna be home alone all weekend. Would you like to come over tomorrow for dinner with me?”

I blinked, confused. “Josy, our last date didn’t go so exactly great…”

“Yeah, I know. Things are kinda weird between us now, and… it sucks. We’re not gonna see each other at work anymore, you’re heading to campus Sunday… and… Jack, I really want us to fix things and get back to how we were.”

“But you said you have a boyfriend…” I insisted.

“Yeah, but things are going worse and worse…” she confided almost in a whisper. “My partner and I had a big fight on the phone, and since then, it’s just the silent treatment.”

“You breaking up?”

“I think so… Maybe… we already have, really.”

I thought about it for a second: boyfriend out of the picture, her taking the initiative… There were still red flags, but it was a yes.

“What’s the plan?” I asked, smiling.

“Want me to make dinner for us?” she said, smiling back.

“Sure, I’d love that.”

“Great! Are you more of a wine guy, or beer?” she asked, and from the way she said it, I got the feeling she’d rehearsed that question.

“Uh… I’m not much of a drinker, but I guess for dinner, wine’s better… though beer’s fine too…” I rambled, still processing. Then I thought, “what the hell” and went full flirt mode. “And you, Josy? You more into flowers, or chocolates?” I asked with my best trademark Miller smile, as Dad calls it.

She let out a flirty giggle. “I think I prefer flowers. They don’t make your butt fat like chocolates!”

“Haha, true. But you can afford a little sweet. You’ve got a really nice figure,” I told her.

“Jack! You’re such a flatterer,” she said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“Just the truth,” I said. Then I had an idea to score some extra points with her. “Hey, if you want, I can try to get the drinks myself. I bet Tina would sell them to me if I ask when no one’s in the store,” I suggested.

“That’s a genius idea! I’m sure she’d sell to you; you’re her favorite.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say ‘favorite,’ but we get along good.”

We kept chatting about how well we both get along with Tina—she’s like thirty-five or so, but she’s really cool—joking about “Sleazy Steve” and other work stuff, and suddenly, all the awkwardness from the week just vanished. When I got off that bus, I was pumped again.

***

End of the “flashback,” back to the present.

For once, I had nothing to do all morning today. I slept in, and I’ve been playing guitar and writing this diary. Dad left early for one of his weekend gigs—in this case, fixing a toilet emergency at a burger joint in the mall—and I offered to go help him, but he said no way was he letting me work on my last day before college.

Anyway, he is coming home for lunch, so I’m gonna cook something for us.

***

Chapter Text

Dad and I ate together, and after, I decided to test if the world-famous—according to Dad—”Miller charm” worked on Tina, and get her to sell me some booze. It was the best time. Between two and four in the afternoon, roughly, there are usually hardly any customers in the store, and since it’s Saturday, I knew neither the boss nor his snitch son would be around.

I found Tina at her register, pretty bored, because like I expected, there wasn’t a single customer in the whole place. I asked for the favor and… she said no.

Actually, she said exactly what I figured she would: that I’m not twenty-one yet, she could get in trouble for selling me alcohol… Then I told her about my date with Josy. I said she was cooking, I was buying her flowers, I’d promised to bring the drinks…

“Miller charm,” or straight-up emotional blackmail? I don’t know, but she got this dreamy look, muttered something like “we’ve all been eighteen,” and gave in.

We quickly came up with a simple plan: I’d wait in the back alley—it’s always empty—by the employee door, and she’d buy the drinks like they were for her, then come out and hand them over. Smooth operation. I’d been smart enough to bring a backpack, so no one would see me with bottles on the street or the bus.

I don’t know squat about drinks, so I gave her sixty bucks and asked her to pick a decent wine and a couple bottles of liquor. My plan was that, besides the wine with dinner, Josy and I could have a drink after without her getting in trouble for raiding her dad’s liquor cabinet. The trick of blaming her “asshole stepbrother” wouldn’t work, since that guy wouldn’t be home all weekend.

Tina was surprised I wanted so much alcohol, but I told her whatever liquor we didn’t finish from dinner—which would be most of it—I’d take to campus. Booze is banned there, but it’s not like anyone’s gonna search my bags like I’m boarding a plane or something. My plan is to start off on the right foot with whatever roommate they assign me, by offering him a drink. A roommate who’s a pain in the ass is one of those things that can ruin your semester, so it’s super important we become friends, and alcohol’s always been the best icebreaker, right? I think it’s a solid plan.

When I explained all this to Tina, she muttered something like “in for a dime…” and again, gave in. We agreed she’d get me a bottle of vodka and one of bourbon besides the wine. She went to grab them, and I headed out to the alley to wait.

“Boy, first you leave, now Josy… Aren’t you ashamed of leaving me alone with ‘Sleazy Steve’? Who am I gonna gossip with on breaks now?” Tina teased me while handing over the bottles.

The news caught me totally off guard.

“Josy’s quitting?” I asked.

“Yeah, she came in this morning to tell the boss she’s out,” she replied, getting serious. “She didn’t tell you?”

“No… Wait! That’s good!” I said, thinking I’d connected the dots. “That means she got into B&R! Maybe she knew yesterday, and tonight’s dinner is to tell me and give me a… surprise…”

My voice trailed off as I spoke, because Tina’s expression told me I was spinning a story in my head all by myself.

“Jack, Josy didn’t say anything like that to me,” she said. “Just that she’s tired of this place and thinks she can find something better elsewhere.”

The news bummed me out big time, but I tried to keep the conversation upbeat.

“Well, there’s still hope” I told Tina. “They’re gonna keep calling people from the waitlist for at least another week.”

“I hope they take her. These last few days she’s seemed… down,” she confided. “But I’m sure you’ll cheer her up on this date of yours, right, Jack?” she added with a playful smile.

“I’ll do my best, Tina.”

“I’m sure you will. Josy might get mad if she knew I was telling you this, but… she really likes you, you know?”

“Oh… Did she say something?”

“Yeah, she’s made a few comments. Plus, it’s obvious. Hey, Jack… Josy’s a good girl, you know what I mean…” she said seriously, giving me a knowing look.

“Yeah, I know. Tina, I really like her too. I’m not just… flirting with her,” I confided.

She gave me a warm smile. “Good. Well, Mr. College, you gonna come see me when you’re back in town, or forget all about me?”

“Of course I’ll come see you.”

Her smile turned a little sarcastic. “To get me to buy you more booze, you rascal?”

“Come on, Tina… You know it’s not like that. I’ll come see you because we’re friends,” I defended, though… honestly, I was already thinking about repeating the move once my “stash” ran out.

“Okay, I’ll buy that,” she said with a chuckle. “Good luck in college, Jack, for real,” she added warmly, and gave me a hug and a peck on the cheek. Then she wiped off the lipstick mark she’d left on my cheek with her thumb, mom-style.

***

Despite the success of “operation booze,” I came home with a bad feeling. Why didn’t Josy tell me yesterday she was quitting? I guess I’ll find out in a bit, so no point obsessing, but… I can’t help feeling uneasy.

It’s five-thirty now, and I’m meeting Josy at seven, so I’m gonna start getting ready for the date. What can I expect? No clue. But just in case, I’m putting a couple condoms in my wallet.

***

The date with Josy seemed pretty serious, so I dressed up as sharp as I could—which wasn’t much; my closet looks like a flea market table—and went to buy her some flowers.

I’d never bought flowers for Zoey. At best, she would’ve laughed at me and called me a “pussy” or something like that. Point is, I had no clue what kind of flowers to buy or how much they cost.

Spoiler alert: they’re freakin’ expensive.

After buying the booze, my wallet was a lot lighter than it had been that morning, so I couldn’t go crazy with a dozen red roses or whatever. In the end, I got her a single red rose for the insane price of six bucks. Six bucks for one flower! But hey, it came in a fancy box with a red bow.

Half an hour later, there I was, knocking on Josy’s door with the flower in one hand, the bottle of wine in the other, and my best smile on my face. In my backpack, I had the vodka.

She opened the door, and… Wow! What a sight.

She’d done her makeup for the occasion—at work, she usually wears really subtle stuff, or none at all—and she’d dressed up nice—and sexy. She had on a dark blue top that showed her midriff, and a little plaid skirt. I’d said before she could look hot even in the crappy mini-mart uniform. In this outfit, she was stunning. But what hit me the hardest was the warm, gorgeous smile she greeted me with. Plus, when she thanked me for the flower with a peck on the lips, the scent of her perfume nearly made my knees buckle.

She led me to the living room, where she showed me the table she’d set—linen tablecloth, matching napkins, silverware and dishes, two little candlesticks with candles… she even put the rose I’d given her in a small vase in the center. What unfortunately didn’t look so great was the food she’d made.

“I hope we can actually eat this…” she said apologetically while serving the unappetizing contents of the dish onto our plates. “I followed a recipe from the internet, but on the screen, it all looked way easier and tasted a lot better.”

“Uh… I’m sure it’s good,” I said— a gentlemanly thing, not a flat-out lie… though the difference wasn’t super clear in this case. “Plus, I can tell you put a ton of effort into this, and that counts too,” I added.

Her face lit up with a big smile.

“Yeah, I really did try hard. I’m glad you noticed.”

“I really like your house; it’s super nice,” I said, keeping up the compliments… but I regretted it right away, because her smile vanished.

“Actually, for me, my house is the one my parents had in the city, before they divorced,” she clarified. “This is just Monica’s house, my dad’s new wife.”

“Oh… You don’t get along with your stepmom?”

She shrugged, fiddling with her fork between her fingers.

“Not really. For starters, she’s the reason my parents divorced, though… truth is, I get why Dad divorced Mom. She was always nagging him over stupid stuff, and they ended up fighting all the time,” she said, like to herself, staring at the fork she was still playing with. “I should be happy Dad found someone he gets along with better… And I am, really!” she assured me, looking up and meeting my eyes. “But on the other hand, I just can’t make myself like my stepmom. It’s not like she’s mean to me or anything; I just… can’t stand her. Do you think that makes me a bad person?”

I shook my head. “It’s natural to side with your mom. It just means you love her. And from what you say, I think you love your dad a lot too.”

“Yeah, I’ve always been a daddy’s girl,” she admitted with a giggle.

Josy seemed in the mood to talk—no surprise, she always is—so I kept asking her questions to get to know her better.

“Does your mom live in town too?”

“No, in D.C. She moved a few months ago with her new husband, who works in… something with the government; I don’t know exactly what. She said I could go live with them, but I prefer living with Dad; I don’t even have to think about it. Even if it means putting up with my asshole stepbrother,” she said, shaking her head in disgust, like she does every time she mentions that guy.

“Where’s your stepbrother now?” I asked. “At that lake house?”

“Nah, he’s with his college buddies. I don’t know how he got accepted! He must’ve cheated, ‘cause I’ve never seen him crack a book. All he cares about are parties and frat life.”

“He’s in a frat?”

“Yeah. You thinking about joining one?” she asked me.

“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it,” I replied. “I guess not.”

“Frat guys are idiots. You know what my stepbrother did this summer? He stole my nail polish!”

“For what? Did he wanna dress up as a drag queen?”

“He wanted to sniff it. The idiot thought it’d get him high.”

“Wow… But that stuff—sniffing nail polish, glue, solvent—isn’t that something homeless people, junkies, and that crowd do, or twelve-year-olds who don’t know any better?”

“Actually, I think he’s hooked on weed… and harder stuff,” she confided in a low voice. “I don’t call him ‘my asshole stepbrother’ for nothing. He’s a real pain in the ass.”

She chattered a bit more about her stepbrother—who does sound like a total asshole—and from there, we moved on to other topics: our families, the high schools we’d gone to… stuff like that. Naturally, we ended up talking about the mini-mart. This time, we did a serious, in-depth ranking of the weirdest customers we’d met, cracking up the whole time. It was a good distraction from the food. I think Josy had bought frozen chicken breasts—or maybe fillets of some mystery fish—and cooked them without thawing them first, so they were dry on the outside and kinda mushy and moist on the inside.

Luckily, she bought dessert ready-made.

We finished dinner and cleared everything up. After that, we took a couple photos to remember the night, poured ourselves a couple vodka drinks, and sat on the couch chatting while we sipped them. At some point, the conversation led to hobbies, and I told her I play guitar.

“For real?!” she exclaimed. “I’d love to hear you play sometime.”

“Sure. When we’re both on campus. You heard anything?” I asked, hoping for the best, but… her face said it all even before she started talking.

“Jack, if I’d heard from B&R, I’d have told you already, and I’d be jumping for joy. No, I haven’t heard.”

“I asked because Tina told me you went in this morning to quit the job, and I thought maybe they…”

I cut myself off mid-sentence. All through dinner, Josy had been chatty and upbeat, but suddenly, she was blinking like she was about to cry.

“Jack, that’s not gonna happen,” she muttered.

“Well, I’d really like it if it did… Actually, when I asked you out last week, I was hoping we’d both end up on campus and keep dating to… you know, see where it goes,” I confessed.

“I’d like that too, but seriously, it’s not gonna happen.”

“Is it because of… your boyfriend?” I finally dared to ask. We hadn’t talked about that all night, and at least for me, it was like a big elephant sitting right in the middle of the room.

“No…” she replied, but she corrected herself right away. “Well, maybe a little… Actually, things are really complicated between my partner and me…” she said, looking away and leaving me even more confused than I already was.

“Because of the distance?” I asked, trying to fish for info without making it sound like an interrogation.

“Yeah, well… and other stuff,” she admitted. “Actually, the distance isn’t that bad, but… there are other reasons we can’t see each other anymore… Truth is, for months now, I’m not even sure we’re a real couple. All we do is fight on the phone. We get mad, like now, and go days without talking, but then somehow we make up and… back to square one. My partner wants to keep the relationship going, says things will get better, but… honestly, I can’t take it anymore.”

At that point, I had like a million questions, but I didn’t dare ask any. Instead, I decided to lay my cards on the table.

“Josy, when I told you the other day that I really like you, I meant it. So I have to ask… Do you really like me?”

“Jack, of course I like you!” she answered, looking me in the eyes again. “Meeting you… has been pretty much the only good thing that’s happened to me in months. Like… getting excited about something again. That’s why I said yes right away last week when you asked me out, even though… you know, technically I’m already with someone… Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I really wanted that date with you and… I’ve felt awful all week for screwing it up. I was thrilled when you agreed to come over for dinner tonight too. I haven’t thought about anything else since yesterday.”

“So… what’s the problem? Why’d you get so serious all of a sudden?”

“Because… ever since my parents divorced and we moved here, everything’s been shit,” she explained, looking down again. “I’ve felt so alone, and sad, and… scared. And you know how I’ve dealt with all that? By telling myself I didn’t have to worry because I’d get into B&R in the end and everything would be fine.”

“That could still happen.”

“No, Jack, it’s not gonna happen!” she said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “Yesterday, when I got home from work, I called admissions and they told me there are thirteen people ahead of me. Thirteen!”

“That’s not too many…” I muttered, though honestly, I had no clue if that was true.

“It’s a ton! The woman I talked to said they hardly ever call more than seven or eight people per semester. When I hung up, I had a panic attack,” she said, looking at me with an expression that made me worry she might have another one right then. “Seriously, I couldn’t breathe, just thinking about being stuck here another year, with no friends because you’re all off at college, living in Monica’s house and putting up with ‘Sleazy Steve’ and the crap with my partner. I can’t take it anymore. I have to get out of here and do something new,” she said. Then she paused to catch her breath, and like last week, she dropped a bomb—only this time, it was a nuke. “I’ve made up my mind: I’m moving to California.”

The déjà vu hit me like a punch to the gut.

“You too, Josy?” I stammered.

“Me too? What do you mean?”

“Sorry, I said it without thinking… It’s just that my ex-girlfriend moved to California almost a year ago, and it was really hard on me. Josy… I had no idea you were going through such a rough time. At work, you’re always so cheerful.”

“I’ve always been a cheerful girl, but sometimes it’s like a defense mechanism. I try to act cheerful because it’s better than explaining to people how bad I feel inside… Growing up sucks!”

“Is that why you quit the job?”

“Yeah…”

“And when are you leaving?” I asked, feeling the damn chicken—or fish—turn into a ball of bile in my stomach.

“The boss said I have to work all next week if I want him to pay me what he owes for overtime, so probably the week after.”

“Oh… I know they’re still calling people from the waitlist next week, but… it’ll probably take longer… Aren’t you rushing this a bit? Even if the admissions lady said your chances aren’t great, I think…”

“Jack, no,” she cut me off. “I’ve wrapped my head around it. I don’t want to get my hopes up again just to get crushed even harder in a few weeks. If I could leave for California tomorrow, I would. Actually… I’ve been thinking about it for a while. My mom’s sister lives in L.A. She’s single and lives alone. She said I can stay with her if I want. I’ll look for a job there, or go to a community college, or… whatever. Anything but staying here. Actually… this morning I told my partner and we had another huge fight…”

“I see… And where does that leave me, Josy?”

“I… don’t know. I just… I’d already invited you and… I didn’t want to cancel. I really wanted to see you… before I go…”

“So, this dinner is a goodbye… Is that it?”

She hesitated a moment before delivering the verdict. “I… think so.”

Suddenly, I didn’t feel like keeping this up. What was the point?

“I should go…” I muttered. “It’s late, and the bus…”

“No, Jack,” she cut me off. “My dad and stepmom aren’t back till tomorrow… Don’t you want to… spend the night here with me?”

I blinked, surprised. “Josy… are you sure?”

“Yes, Jack, I’m sure,” she said, locking eyes with me. “If I’m leaving, at least I want to take that memory of you with me.”

***

She wanted to do it in her parents’ bed, because hers was too small, she said. At first, we were both nervous, but I think she was more than me—I could tell I have more “flight hours” than her—so I suggested a massage to relax her and ease her into it gradually, and she agreed.

We grabbed some body oil and a big towel from the bathroom, and I got to it, slow and sensual. I massaged her whole body, from her shoulders to the soles of her feet, until I decided she was relaxed and ready for the “happy ending.” Then I started working my way back up her legs, but this time not just caressing, but kissing too, until I reached my final destination, that sweet, warm spot between her legs where I went all in with my lips and tongue—taking my time and putting in the effort—while she ran her fingers through my hair and let out soft sighs and moans.

I admit, toward the end, I was scared for a second that if she said a name, it wouldn’t be mine. But it wasn’t like that. She gasped out, “I’m close, Jack, don’t stop…” and repeated it a few times, then switched to “I’m coming, I’m coming…” That moment was as good, as satisfying for me, as if I’d been the one having the orgasm. Yeah, making a girl come makes me feel like a real man. Nothing wrong with that, right?

After that, she got way more into what we were doing. For starters, she took the initiative and returned the favor with her mouth. Maybe a little clumsy, but I enjoyed it to the max anyway. The best part was that the whole time, she kept looking me in the eyes, with a sexy smile in hers.

When I felt myself getting dangerously close to the edge, I asked her to stop so I wouldn’t finish too soon. Then I had her straddle me in cowgirl position so she could lower herself onto me.

Like I figured, she wasn’t a virgin, but she wasn’t super experienced either, so I thought it’d be better to let her take the lead. She took her sweet time, and when she finally had all of me inside, she stayed really still, barely hiding her discomfort behind a tight smile. I sat up, without pulling out, and started kissing her, only stopping to whisper in her ear all the sweet and sexy things that came to mind right then.

Finally, after a few minutes like that, I felt her relax in my arms, until she decided to start moving. At first, slow and careful, but she gradually picked up the pace. Not long after, she was riding me hard enough to make the bedsprings creak, lost in her sensations with her eyes on the ceiling. When she announced between gasps that she was coming again, I stopped holding back and came with her. For a moment, I forgot we weren’t starting something, but ending it, and I felt happy.

After the sex, we lay there tangled up in bed, just looking at each other with goofy smiles on our faces, happy we’d found this intimacy between us. In that moment, everything that mattered was right there in that bed, and everything seemed possible: Josy would get into B&R and we’d keep seeing each other on campus, with her mysterious boyfriend out of the picture and forgotten. And if a nagging little voice in the back of my mind said I was kidding myself… I just ignored it.

Then we heard a noise: the front door lock. And right away, footsteps and voices inside the house. Josy jumped out of bed, pale as a ghost.

“They came back early! Get out or my dad’s gonna kill you!” she urged in a low voice.

“How?” I asked, whispering too.

“The window!” she said—we were on the ground floor—and started gathering my stuff—the clothes and backpack with the leftover booze—from the armchair by the bed where I’d left them. But instead of handing them to me, she panicked and tossed them out the window, without even giving me time to put on my boxers.

I can’t blame her, because the footsteps were already in the hallway, and it was clear her parents were about to come into the room any second. I was pretty scared too, and did the only thing I could: jump out the window after my stuff. So, like some dumb character from a crappy sitcom, I ended up buck naked on the street. All that was missing were the canned laughs.

I grabbed my things and went to get dressed behind some trash cans. Luckily, at that hour, the street was empty, and no one saw me and called the cops. But my luck ran out when I got to the bus stop, because the last one had already gone. I didn’t want to spend money on a cab, so I had to walk like forty-five minutes home through the empty, dimly lit streets, trying to make some sense of what had happened that night.

I snuck into the house trying not to make noise so I wouldn’t wake Dad, but I heard him get up to go to the bathroom. He definitely heard me come in, so tomorrow I’m gonna have to answer some awkward questions.

Once in my room, and despite the walk and being wiped out, I realized I was too wired to sleep, so I started writing this diary to try and sort out my thoughts.

I can’t wrap my head around this being the last time I’ll see Josy. My gut tells me it won’t be. That tonight was too beautiful, too special. That it wasn’t a “goodbye,” but a “see you soon.”

But… what the hell does my gut know? Josy has it all figured out: in a few days, she’s off to California.

As much as it hurts, I have to accept that tonight, Josy just wanted to treat herself to a wild night with me—probably because she hasn’t done this stuff with her boyfriend in months—before bailing for good and never seeing him or me again.

Not a “see you soon.” A goodbye.

I’m gonna try to sleep.

Chapter Text

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2012.

Last night I forgot to set my phone alarm, and by the time I finally fell asleep it was pretty late, so I overslept. Dad woke me up after nine, telling me I had just enough time to wash up and grab some breakfast before we headed to campus.

Like I figured, he heard me come in last night, so I had to answer his questions about my date while scarfing down a bowl of cereal. Obviously, I didn't get into the... intimate details, but I did tell him Josy had decided to move to California—of all places—and that our date had basically been a goodbye.

Dad's a really great guy. He got the message right away, said, "Sorry, son. I know you really liked that girl," and didn't push for more info.

***

Truth is, I could've gone to campus on my own. It's about a thirty- or forty-minute train ride, and there are commuter trains running pretty much all day. There's also a bus line that goes straight to campus from the train station. But Dad insisted on driving me in the pickup so he could help with my bags and say goodbye there. I appreciated it, of course.

We did say goodbye with a hug in the campus parking lot, and I watched him drive off. That's when it hit me: that was the exact moment my adult life was starting.

The problem is, so far, my "adult life" isn't anything like what I expected—not even close.

For starters, it kicked off over an hour late. On the road, the pickup started making weird noises and overheating—no surprise, it was so hot you could've fried eggs on the asphalt—so we had to pull over and wait for the engine to cool down. After that, Dad didn't dare go over fifty mph, afraid it'd overheat again. By the time we got to campus, the orientation tour was already over.

Honestly, that didn't bug me too much. I did some online research on B&R this summer, so I already know the basics about the campus.

B&R's actually a pretty small college with a pocket-sized campus.

The first thing you see when you pull up, right of the parking lot, is the hulking football stadium. It's like they want to make it clear that, as the unofficial motto goes, "B&R isn't a college with a football team. It's a football team with a college." In fact, classes start here two weeks earlier than at most colleges so the team guys don't have finals clashing with their division playoffs.

Next to the football field is the "Sports Area," which includes the School of Sports and Health Sciences—a modern, pretty big building where they offer several bachelor's and associate degrees in that stuff—some basketball and baseball courts, and what interests me most: a gym, with pretty reasonable prices for students.

Past the parking lot is the "Academic Plaza." That's where the main campus building is, known among students—according to online forums—as "the Labyrinth," or more like "the freakin' Labyrinth."

This was probably the first building built on campus when B&R was founded, and people call it that because over the decades, they've tacked on wings and additions here and there in a pretty chaotic way, until it formed a sort of "U" shape around the Academic Plaza.

In the central part of the building is the School of Business. That's where they offer several bachelor's and associate degrees in business management and marketing. From what I gather, those are the most popular majors around here, along with sports and health sciences.

The left wing of the Labyrinth is the School of Humanities. There, among others, they have bachelor's in English and Spanish. In an annex to that wing is the School of Arts and Sciences. The most popular major there is Communications, and with sports being such a big deal here, I bet most of those students wanna be the next Adam Schefter. There's also a music major, though it seems like an excuse to have a band that cheers on the team at games.

Finally, in the right wing, is the School of Engineering, where I'm gonna study. The labs are in an annex.

From what I've researched online, it's a small school but pretty decent. The best-reputed major is Aeronautical Engineering, which is what I picked. B&R has a deal with the USAF, and upperclassmen can do internships at the Air Force base near the city. I guess the Air Force's plan is to try and recruit as many grads as they can.

Nothing wrong with that, but in my case, they're out of luck. Dad would kick my ass if I told him I wanted to go military. He wouldn't even like it if I joined the Marines like he did. He doesn't want me ending up in some war zone in the ass-end of nowhere, like he did at my age."

Of course, the Labyrinth also has the admin offices, faculty offices, and campus services like the library, auditorium, and a lecture hall.

To the right of the Labyrinth as you come from the parking lot is the "Residence Hall." This building also dates back to when the college was founded. It's only two stories, but it's huge, and that's where the student dorm is. Like the Labyrinth, they've added on bits over the years for the cafeteria, laundry, convenience store, and stuff like that. There's also a big study lounge. Like the library, but without books or librarians.

Following a path to the right of the Residence Hall is Greek Row, where the frat houses are. I'll talk about that later. All the buildings are connected by paved or gravel paths, and surrounded by a big park with grass and trees. Pretty nice and well-kept, honestly. There, us students can walk around, work out—the whole campus is ringed by a running trail, and there's a calisthenics area too—or just chill and hang out.

That's basically the B&R campus. Enough—I guess—for the just under two thousand students here.

***

As I mentioned, I hugged Dad goodbye in the parking lot, then lugged my bags to the info desk in the Labyrinth lobby. After waiting in line for a bit, the lady I talked to assigned me a room in the dorms and said my roommate's name is Troy, and he's a junior.

"I gotta make friends with this guy so he can show me the ropes around campus," I thought. So, hauling my bags again, I headed to the Residence Hall and found my room. It's number 66, but someone had Sharpied an extra 6 on the door, making it 666. I thought it was a joke, but nope. Turned out to be a warning.

"What the fuck do you want?" was Troy's greeting when he opened the door. Turned out to be a surly guy, taller than me and pretty buff. He was wearing the team jersey, so I figured he's one of the players.

Not exactly the most encouraging start, but I decided to ignore the "greeting" and play it cool.

"Hey. You Troy? I'm Jack, your roommate," I said with my best smile, holding out my hand.

"This room's single occupancy," he growled, looking at me like I was a bug. "Tell the idiots in admin to stick you somewhere else."

I figured the guy was pulling the classic hazing prank, so I stuck with not getting pissed.

"Okay, dude, you almost got me," I said, keeping the smile. "Look, I know there are no single rooms in this dorm. Let me in, please; I gotta drop my bags."

"Fuck off, freshman. Beat it," he insisted, still blocking the doorway with his bulk.

"Come on, man, drop the hazing already; it's not funny," I pushed back, trying hard not to lose my cool, because honestly, I was starting to get freakin’ nervous.

He didn't answer. He just tried to slam the door in my face, but I was quick and stopped it with my shoulder, jamming my foot in the gap.

"Enough of this shit!" I snapped. "Let me the fuck in already, or I'm going back for the security guy."

"Fucking scrub..." he muttered venomously, stepping aside just enough to let me through. "Deal's this: you can sleep there... for now," he said, pointing at the empty bed. "But during the day, I don't wanna see you. You fuck off wherever and don't bug me. And both closets are mine, so don't unpack your shit from the bag. Got it?"

"But... who the fuck do you think you are?! This is my room too, and..."

Before I could finish, he shoved me out of the room and slammed the door in my face, leaving me in the hallway looking like an idiot, with no clue how to handle it.

I thought about it for a second and figured I had two options: bang on the door till he opened, make a scene, and maybe get into a fight in my first half-hour on campus—not the smartest—or let it slide and try to sort it out later.

I went with the second... maybe because it was easier. After all, I'd managed to drop my bags, which is what I wanted. Plus, it was lunchtime, so I headed to the cafeteria.

***

I was sitting at a table in a corner of the cafeteria by the door, eating a burger, when the most stunning girl I'd ever seen—literally—sat down across from me.

Tall for a girl—barely shorter than me—and slim, but with curves, all in the right places. Fair, freckled skin, straight nose slightly upturned, full lips, high cheekbones, gorgeous aquamarine eyes, and maybe the most striking: an amazing mane of natural red hair, worn loose in a slightly lion-like effect. Plus, she was dressed super sexy. A real redheaded goddess, walking among mortals.

Of course, I wanted to seize the chance to get to know her. I admit, at first, the girl intimidated me a bit, but I thought, "Bah, what's the worst that can happen? She ignores me?" and went for it.

"Hey, I'm Jack," I said with my best smile. "What's your name?"

She didn't answer. Actually, she barely paid attention to me, because she was staring at something over my shoulder, which turned out to be a huge blond guy with a Neanderthal face that looked like it'd been hacked out of a log with an axe. Naturally, he was wearing the football team jersey. The dude planted himself next to us like he owned the cafeteria and grabbed the girl's arm, yanking her up.

"Don't you walk away from me mid-sentence again! You hear me?! I wasn't done talking!" he snapped at her.

"I've had enough talking with you! Leave me the fuck alone!" she shot back, not backing down.

Then the guy tried to drag her to the door like a fucking caveman, and she resisted, struggling.

The cafeteria was full of people watching the scene, and I guess feeling as disgusted as I was, but nobody did anything. "Is nobody gonna have the balls to put this asshole in his place?" I thought, looking around. Then it hit me: this was all going down right in front of me. It was on me.

Without really thinking it through, I stood up and faced the guy.

"Enough, man!" I snapped. "The girl told you to leave her alone!"

"Beat it, dickhead," he muttered, giving me a contemptuous look from his over-six-foot height, not letting go of the girl.

"I'll leave when you leave her alone," I insisted.

"This ain't your business, you freshman piece of shit! Don't you know who I am?" he barked, glaring daggers at me.

"No, I don't know who the fuck you are," I replied. "'Koko, the talking gorilla'?"

With an asshole like that in front of me, the nickname just slipped out, like a reflex. Everyone around heard it and cracked up.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" he yelled, finally letting go of the girl to square up to me, getting right in my face, clearly trying to intimidate me with his size.

"I said I don't give a shit who you are. Beat it and leave the girl alone, clown!" I shot back.

I knew the smart thing would've been to de-escalate, not ramp it up, but... I decided a long time ago not to take crap from any bully.

A lot of people around were still laughing their asses off, and the guy didn't seem like the type to take that kinda thing with a sense of humor. It was clear he wasn't gonna let it slide, so I thought, "What the hell, what's done is done," and stepped back a couple paces, bracing for whatever came next.

The guy lunged at me like he was gonna tackle me—being so bulky, I guess he figured he'd bulldoze me and knock me on my ass, then laugh and humiliate me—but I saw it coming and dodged, shoving him away and tripping him with my foot at the same time. He lost his balance, and to avoid falling, he tried to brace on the nearest table, but what he did was accidentally stick his hand in some guy's plate of spaghetti.

The look he gave me while wiping the tomato sauce off his hand on the table edge said it all: from that point, it wasn't about intimidation and shoving anymore—it was a real fight. I squared my shoulders, spread my legs, and raised my guard, while people around yelled, "Fight, fight!"

Right then—and just in time—a middle-aged woman showed up, who from her look and attitude was obviously a professor. And hot, by the way. Tall—with heels, taller than me—slim, with a really beautiful face.

"What's going on here?" the prof asked, all pissed off.

"This freshman's sticking his nose where it doesn't belong!" the guy said.

The prof ignored him. Instead, she looked at the redhead.

"Sage, what happened?" she asked. You could tell they knew each other pretty well.

"Nothing, Cathy," the girl replied, sounding uncomfortable and irritated. "Chad's leaving now." She turned to the guy. "Chad, get out of here. You've done enough," she said, pointing at the door.

The guy did bail, but not without giving me a “I’ve got your number” look first.

"Okay, what happened?" the professor insisted, turning to this Sage.

"My boyfriend and I were having a couple's argument. It's not a big deal," she answered.

"What happened?" she asked me.

"That guy was harassing this girl, and I figured I had to do something," I replied.

"Was he harassing you?" she asked Sage.

"Yeah, well... Like I said, it was an argument. We'll sort it out in private. It's not a big deal," she said.

"What was he doing?" she pushed.

"It's not a big deal," Sage repeated.

Again, the prof turned to me. "What was he doing?"

The question put me in a tough spot. It was clear the girl didn't want to air her dirty laundry with the professor, so it wasn't my place to spill. But I didn't want to lie to a professor either, and on top of that, come off like an asshole who, like that Chad said, had stuck his nose into a simple couple's argument.

"That guy wasn't exactly being nice," I replied, trying not to get myself in hot water.

The prof turned her attention back to the girl.

"Just because Chad's your boyfriend doesn't give him the right to..." she started to say.

"Seriously, Cathy, it's not a big deal," she cut her off. "It's just that sometimes Chad gets too loud."

From the look the prof gave Sage, she didn't buy it for a second. "Do you want me to talk to your...?"

"No!" Sage cut her off a second time. Truth is, I was surprised she talked to a professor like that. "Cathy, you don't have to talk to anybody; this is private. Let's just drop it, please," she added firmly.

This Cathy let out a sigh. "If that's what you want," she said. Then she turned her attention to me. "What's your name?" she asked.

"Jack Miller."

"Are you a freshman?" I nodded. "In that case, you're in my class," she said, staring at me hard and dead serious, raising an eyebrow. "I hope you're not a troublemaker," she added.

"Uh... No, of course not," I said, intimidated. "I just wanted to help."

The hot prof said goodbye to both Sage and me with a stern look for each of us and a shake of her head.

I sat back down to finish my food, and to my surprise, the redhead sat across from me again, giving me a curious look from her gorgeous green eyes.

"You didn't have to get involved in this, but... thanks," she said, though her tone didn't sound super grateful.

It was clear she was just killing time so she wouldn't run into the guy outside the cafeteria, but I took it as a second chance to get to know her.

"You're welcome," I replied. "So, your name's Sage..."

"Yeah. And you said yours is Jack." I nodded. "So, first day..."

"Yeah. Hey... is that guy really your boyfriend? Why date a guy who treats you that bad?" I said, without really thinking.

She got defensive right away. Or more like, she got pissed.

"Hey, dude! Mind your fucking business!" she snapped.

It was clear the girl had a strong personality and an attitude, but as it happens, so do I.

"Listen," I said, leaning in to talk low—our conversation wasn't anybody else's business—"you told that professor nothing happened, but we both know that's a lie. That caveman was shaking you and yelling at you. Sorry for thinking that was my business. If you want, next time I'll let him keep going. After all, that's what everybody else was doing."

And with that, I grabbed my tray and started to get up to go sit somewhere else, but the girl stopped me, putting a hand on my forearm.

"Come on, dude, don't be like that. Sorry, okay? It's not that I don't appreciate it; it's just... I'm in a shitty mood."

Honestly, I wasn't expecting an apology. I'd pegged her as a stuck-up spoiled girl, but I guess I was wrong. Of course, I changed my attitude toward her.

"Well, I’m sorry too," I said, sitting back down. "It's not that I wanna butt into your life; it's just weird to me that a girl like you is with a... guy like that."

"Chad doesn't act like that all the time."

"Honestly, I hope not. But if he acts like that even sometimes, that's bad enough in my book."

"Uh... So, it's your first day..." she pushed, clearly to change the subject. "You sitting alone 'cause you don't know anybody yet?"

"Well, now I know you, right?" I said with my best trademark Miller smile... which had zero effect on her. She just kept talking without paying much attention to my lame flirt attempt.

"If you wanna make friends quick, you should join a fraternity," she advised. "You thought about it?"

"Truth is, no. Though... now that I think about it, if I did, I could move into one of those frat houses, right?"

"Not always, but yeah, that's usual."

"In that case, maybe I'm interested. I just met my roommate, and he turned out to be a total asshole. He shoved me out of my own room! I think he's one of those jock jerks from the football team..."

"A team guy? What's his name?" she asked, sounding curious.

"Troy."

She let out a scoff. "I know him. Tall, dark hair, shoulder-length..."

"That's the one."

"You got zero luck. He's pulling 'the trick' on you," she informed me.

"The trick? What trick?"

"He's gonna make your life hell till you move somewhere else. If he's lucky and they don't assign him another roommate, he'll have the room to himself all semester."

"Brilliant..." I sighed. "Is this 'trick' thing something upperclassmen usually pull on freshmen around here?"

"Only the asshole upperclassmen. And Troy is one. Last year he got kicked out of his frat for fighting with the other guys."

"My day's just getting better..." I muttered, discouraged. "So what can I do? Should I ask admin to switch my room?"

"They won't do it just 'cause you don't get along with your roommate. What you should do is what I said: join a frat," she insisted.

"What frats are on campus?" I asked, more out of curiosity and to keep the conversation going than anything.

"There are a few, but not all of 'em are gonna want you. For starters, don't even bother with the Tri-Alphas. That's the jocks' frat, and..."

"Hey! I work out a lot..." I cut in—joking.

"Yeah, you look… pretty built" she said, giving me a quick appreciative look, "but what I mean is they only take team players. And besides... well, better you know: Chad's the president, and also the team captain."

I rolled my eyes. "Talk about making friends... I guess once word gets out about what happened earlier, all the guys in that frat are gonna hate me..."

"Probably yeah. Better avoid 'em, at least for a while. They can get pretty... nasty."

"I'll take your advice," I said casually, trying not to let this insanely hot girl see that I was actually starting to get pretty worried. "What other options?"

"You loaded? Your family got pull at B&R, make donations..." she asked with a sarcastic half-smile.

I let out a kinda laugh-snort. "Loaded? I'm a thousand miles from loaded."

"In that case, don't try the Alpha-Nu-Omegas either. That's the rich kids' club. Just to get in as a pledge, you'd have to donate a few grand to the frat."

"Too rich for my blood... Wait! Alpha-Nu-Omega? ANO?"

"I guess..." she said, shrugging. "Why?"

I cracked up. "Whoever named that frat doesn't know Spanish, I can tell you that."

"Why?"

"ANO means 'anus' in Spanish," I explained.

She burst out laughing. "For real? Fucking perfect. They're all assholes. I gotta tell... somebody. Anyway, nobody calls 'em that. Around here, they're just the 'preppies.' Bunch of stuck-up jerks. I wouldn't recommend joining that frat even if you were loaded."

"Okay... More frats?"

"Actually, your only realistic option is the Delta-Iota-Kappa."

I cracked up again. "DIK? So we got the 'anuses' and the 'dicks'... Are they? Dicks, I mean."

"I'd say yeah, but at least they throw good parties," she replied with a shrug. "They've only been on campus a couple years, but they've already got a rep for that."

"Well, I like parties as much as the next guy, but I came to college mainly to study and graduate."

She looked at me surprised. "You a nerd?"

"Well, I got good grades in high school, and I plan to keep it up."

"Ugh, then you should join the Beta-Iota-Pi. They spend all their time studying in the library. That's all they do. Well, that and play 'Dungeons & Dragons,' or whatever that is."

"So, I gotta choose between parties and 'Dungeons & Dragons'... Hmm, tough call, let me think... Fuck it, I pick parties!"

"Haha, yeah, figured. Look, I don't hold back on parties, but I get good grades too. It's about balance. I've bombed a test here and there from partying, but I've skipped a few parties to hole up in my room cramming books."

"Good strategy," I said, though in my case, with my scholarship, bombing tests—even "here and there"—isn't an option. "Any more frats?"

"The sorority. Eta-Omicron-Tau—or HOTs, as everybody calls us around here," she answered. "And yeah, we are," she added with a playful smile.

"Haha, no doubt. Actually, I was already figuring you're in a sorority, the way you talk about 'Greek life' or whatever you call it."

"Not just 'in' the sorority. I'm the president," she clarified.

"Wow, the president. And here I am, talking to you like it's nothing. What an honor, Madam President!"

"Dude, that joke sucks," she teased, though a half-smile slipped out.

"I guess my sense of humor's an acquired taste," I said with a shrug. "Do the HOTs throw parties too?"

"Of course."

"Can I come to those parties?"

"Nope," she said, dead serious.

"Wow... For real? No?"

"Nope. We never invite freshmen, so no... Unless you were a DIK," she added, smiling again. "Our tradition is partying with the Alphas, but last year we threw some really good joint parties with the DIKs," she explained.

"Well, those DIKs are starting to sound interesting for real."

"You bet. Seriously, you should go check 'em out today. Listen, I feel kinda bad for you. Chad's not the type to let stuff like earlier slide," she said, sounding genuinely worried. "I'll... try talking to him, but still... If you joined the DIKs, you wouldn't be alone on campus. Those guys would have your back."

"I'm an easy target... huh?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Just to be sure: those DIKs have a frat house, and I could move in there if they took me, right?"

"They've got an awesome frat house, and all the brothers live there, so I don't see why not. But to be totally sure, you'd have to ask them."

"I see... And what exactly would I have to do to get in?"

"Dude, you're so green..." she said in a "what rock has this freshman been living under?" tone.

"You're right. Until right now, I hadn't seriously thought about joining a frat, so I haven't bothered to look it up. Anything you can tell me, I'm interested."

"Okay. Actually, being Chad's girlfriend, I'm not super tight with the DIKs, so I don't know everything about those guys' traditions, but really, all frats work pretty similar. First, you gotta pass an initial screening to get a bid and get in as a pledge. The HOTs do interviews with rushees, but the DIKs do some kinda test, hazing... something like that. Once you get in as a pledge, there's a trial period of a few days, and that's where you prove you're committed to joining the frat and you've got what those guys want in a brother."

"Okay. How do I do that?"

"By passing more tests and more hazings. That's what I can tell you. For more, you'd have to ask them."

"Alright... Anything else that could help? Any advice?"

"Yeah. Don't make a big deal out of the hazings, and take 'em with a sense of humor. We've all had to go through it; it's nothing personal."

"Good advice. And is it hard to get into that frat? I mean, would I have a lot of competition?"

"From what I know, they only take two pledges per semester, and I bet there'll be more freshmen interested, so yeah, maybe some competition. But you don't seem like the typical clueless freshman. I'd say you've got a good shot."

"Thanks... What year are you?"

"Junior. This is my second year as HOTs president."

I would've liked to keep stretching things out with Sage. First impression wasn't great, but right then she was coming off as a really cool girl. Problem is, I couldn't think of what else to ask her, and she used that pause to get up. I guess she figured by then she could leave without risking running into that Chad.

"Dude, I got stuff to do. See you around. Bye," she said, and I stayed put, staring like an idiot at her fantastic ass in those super-short Daisy Dukes and her super-long legs as she walked away.

"Dude, that redhead's got an amazing pair of tits..." I heard.

"I was checking out her ass..." I replied, distracted. "Hey! Who are you?"

Suddenly, in the spot where the redheaded goddess had been sitting five seconds ago, this messy-haired, shirtless guy had appeared out of nowhere, looking at me with a friendly smile.

"Derek, at your service," he answered, holding out his hand—which I shook, of course. "I'm a freshman too. Hey! So you're more of an ass guy than a tits guy... I got your nickname!" he added, pointing at me. "Ass-man! Sounds like a superhero name."

"Hey! Don't call me that," I protested. "I'm Jack."

"Yeah, I heard when you were talking to the redhead."

"Were you spying on our conversation?"

"Nah, dude, just listening."

"And what's the difference between 'spying' and 'listening in someone else's conversation'?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh... So, you're gonna join the DIKs..." he said, totally ignoring my question.

I shrugged. "Maybe. Haven't decided yet."

"Dude, you gotta!" he urged, leaning over the table and putting his grinning face inches from mine. "After standing up to that Chad, you're practically in. The DIKs hate the Alphas. Everybody on campus knows it. And vice versa."

"And why's that?"

"Because of something the redhead told you: the HOTs used to be 'Alpha girls.' They only partied with those guys, only dated 'em or... hooked up, or whatever," he explained, leaning back in the chair. "But since the DIKs hit campus, that's changing."

"So the Alphas and DIKs are fighting over the HOTs... Is that it?"

"Something like that," he replied.

"Honestly, that doesn't interest me," I said, going back to my forgotten burger from the chat with Sage. "I came here to study and graduate, not get into stupid frat wars."

"Dude, the DIKs throw the best parties on campus! They're legendary; everybody says so. And now the HOTs go to those parties almost always, and they're the hottest chicks on campus. Ass-man, trust me: hot chicks attract more hot chicks, who attract more hot chicks..."

"A real pearl of wisdom I'll treasure for the rest of my life," I said solemnly, looking at him dead serious.

"Thanks," he said with a big grin. "I know a lot about hot chicks, and a ton of awesome tricks for picking 'em up. I can teach you some, if you want."

"That was sarcasm..."

"Oh... Haha, okay dude. Hey, if we both go check out the DIKs together, I'm sure they'll take us as pledges."

I chuckled. "That's your angle? Dude, you should stand up to an Alpha yourself, not mooch off other people's fights."

"Me? No way. I'm not a fighter; I'm a gentleman and a lover... And don't say it like I'm trying to use you! I just wanna be friends and both get into the frat that throws the sickest parties on campus."

"Okay, man. But like I told you, I came here mainly to study."

"Yeah, me too."

"For real?"

"Hell no. I came here to get pussy."

I burst out laughing. "At least you're honest. Dude, I like you; if you wanna be friends, cool with me, but about joining the DIKs... I don't know. I'm not saying no, but I need more info on those guys before I commit."

"Ass-man, parties and pussy... What more do you need to know?" he said, shaking his head like "this guy doesn't get it."

"Haha, fair points... but seriously, I need a bit more. How do you know all this if you're a freshman too?"

"You know: stuff I picked up on forums and Rooster. Plus, I'm local. I've been to campus a few times and talked to people around here," he explained.

"I see. What're you studying?"

"Marketing. You?"

"Engineering. We'll probably have all the gen-ed classes together, so we'll see each other. I'll let you know what I decide."

"Okay dude, but you gotta decide soon. I heard they're only taking pledges today and tomorrow."

"Only two days? Doesn't rush usually last longer?"

"The DIKs are a weird frat. It was founded just a couple years ago and they're still small, so they don't have a ton of traditions or rules. From what I hear, they like doing things their way," he informed me.

"Solid philosophy. Hey... what happened to your shirt?" I asked. I'd been wanting to since the conversation started.

"I don't know; I think I lost it," he said, all casual.

"Uh... How do you lose a shirt while wearing it?"

"Right? It's a big mystery, dude," he said with a big mocking grin, shrugging exaggeratedly.

Right then, a couple girls got up from the next table. One was a blondie shorter than me, slim, with a cute face where her gorgeous light blue eyes stood out. The other was a redhead and pretty cute too, though nowhere near as stunning as Sage.

"Derek, we're heading out," the blondie said.

"I'm coming with," Derek replied, standing up. "Ass-man, I'm keeping an eye on you. We're both gonna be DIKs and it's gonna be awesome, you'll see," he said, and just as suddenly as he'd appeared, my new shirtless friend vanished with those two beauties.

Clearly, he's not lying about coming to campus to hunt pussy, and he doesn't waste time.

***

My plan after lunch was to head to the lecture hall, where there was gonna be a welcome event for freshmen. The problem is, before I got to the Labyrinth, I ran into the blond gorilla, but this time he had five other guys from his pack with him. Coincidence? I don't think so. Those bastards had ambushed me.

“You fuckin’ freshman!” the guy yelled at me. “No professor around now to save your cute little ass!”

“My… cute little ass?” I said, genuinely weirded out by his word choice. “Dude… are you hitting on me? You gay?”

Again, I knew it wasn't smart to poke the bear, but I couldn't help it.

“That sounded pretty gay, Chad,” one of his buddies said, laughing.

“Fuck you, Anthony!” the gorilla yelled at his pal, and turning on him, he gave him a brutal shove that almost knocked him on his ass.

I was about to say something, but right then a guy I hadn't seen grabbed me from behind, and that Chad and the other guys surrounded me and started beating on me. Actually, all of 'em except that Anthony, who stayed a bit back, watching us like a deer in headlights.

Of course, I struggled and fought back as best I could, and at least I had the satisfaction of seeing one of those guys—an asshole with his hair dyed white—writhing in pain from the kick in the balls I gave him.

My situation was seriously fucked, but then I heard a girl yelling. “Stop it, you animals; you're going to kill him! Security, security!” and the guys let me go. Well, actually, the guy holding me—a black dude with a shaved head that the others called Darius—threw me to the ground with a shove. But I saw his nose was bleeding. I guess I headbutted him during the struggle.

“We'll get you again, freshman piece of shit,” that Chad told me before taking off.

From the ground, a bit dazed, I saw my savior: an incredibly hot girl, with an extraordinary raven-black mane, green cat-like eyes, and a figure that one of those Kardashians would envy. Plus, she was wearing an elegant emerald green dress—matching her eyes—that looked amazing on her, and high-heeled sandals that made a really sexy effect on her perfectly pedicured feet—I had a great view of them, lying there on the ground.

“You okay? Want me to take you to the infirmary?” the girl asked, crouching down next to me.

“I think… no need,” I replied, getting up. “They didn't have time to do anything serious. Truth is, you saved my ass. Thanks a lot.”

“You're welcome… Are you sure you're okay?” she insisted, worried. “You look rough.”

“At least they didn't hit my face… Yeah, I'm fine,” I said.

Truth is, I was playing tough guy for the girl. They'd landed a few blows on my body that hurt, and I was sure they'd leave bruises.

“You're a freshman?” she asked, and I nodded. “Your first day, and this happens! You must be getting a really bad impression of B&R…”

I shrugged, resigned. “I guess there are bullies everywhere…”

“Those are the football team guys. Every year, they take the hazing further. Admin should do something about it.”

“Yeah, I've noticed they think they own the campus. By the way, I'm Jack.”

“I'm Jill. Nice to meet you,” she said with a friendly smile, holding out her hand with an elegant, feminine gesture.

“Likewise. What year are you in?”

“Junior.”

Like with the redheaded goddess, I wanted to turn lemons into lemonade by getting to know this brunette goddess, but… it couldn't be. Right then, this blond, tanned preppy-looking dude interrupted us. He was wearing a Lacoste polo that must've cost more than my whole wardrobe put together.

“Jill, we're going to be late,” he told her.

“One second, Tybalt,” the girl replied, and turned back to me. “Jack, you should report this to the disciplinary committee. If you need it, I can testify that I saw them assault you,” she offered.

When I heard “disciplinary committee,” I flinched. The last thing I wanted was to make things even more complicated by getting admin involved.

“I appreciate it, but… I don't know if that's a good idea,” I told her. “Maybe that'll make things worse… With a bit of luck, they'll forget about me and this'll be the end of it…”

“I think those guys should be punished,” she insisted.

“Well… Thanks again for your help, really,” I said, dodging.

“It was nothing. I just can't stand bullies.”

“Jill…” Tybalt muttered beside her, impatient.

“You should change your mind about reporting,” the girl said, giving him a sideways glance. “I have to go now, but seriously, think about it,” she said as goodbye.

***

Chapter Text

The brunette goddess left with the preppy guy, and I headed back to the residence hall to hit the bathroom to splash some water on my face and fix my clothes and hair. That's when I saw those bastards had torn the collar of my shirt—plus it was stained with blood from that Darius's nose—so I had to go back to my room to change. I was hoping not to find Troy there, but no such luck.

“What the fuck are you doing here again?!” he said as a “greeting.” The guy was lounging on his bed in his boxers—the fucking room felt like an oven—flipping through a sports newspaper.

“This is my room too!” I shot back, digging for another shirt in my bag. “If you think hassling me is gonna make me leave and give you the room to yourself, you're dead fuckin’ wrong.”

I heard him muttering insults and threats, but I ignored him. I changed my shirt and ran to the lecture hall for the welcome event. Of course I was late, so to not bug anyone looking for an empty seat, I stayed standing at the back. A few rows ahead, I saw that Derek sitting between the blondie and the redhead, chatting animatedly with both. As soon as the event ended, I went over to say hi, hoping he'd introduce me.

“Hey, Derek!” I greeted.

“Ass-man! Just the guy I wanted to see,” he replied with a big grin. “You know Maya?” he said, meaning the blondie.

“Nope. Hey, how's it going?” I greeted her with my best smile.

“Ass-man? Your parents hate you or something?” she joked.

“Uh… Nah, I think it's ‘Top-less Derek’ who hates me. He's the one who ‘christened’ me that,” I played along.

She laughed hard at the joke.

“Top-less Derek! That's gold! Nah, just kidding; I know your name's Jack. We were at the table next to yours in the cafeteria and heard it.”

“Yeah, I saw you guys too, when you were leaving. I guess you saw the scene with that Chad…”

“Yeah, front row,” the redhead chimed in—dyed, as I noticed from her eyebrow color. “Hey… that Chad's pretty well-known around here, and he's got a rep… Aren't you scared to mess with that guy? I'm Ashley, by the way.”

“Well, yeah, a little,” I admitted. “But that guy was harassing the girl, so I thought I had to do something.”

“It seemed like that girl, Sage, and you got pretty friendly, huh?” she asked casually.

“Well… ‘friendly’ is a stretch; we just talked for a few minutes. But yeah, she seemed like a pretty cool girl,” I replied.

“You think you'll see her again?” she pressed.

“Well… I guess so; the campus is small,” I answered, a bit weirded out by the question.

“Ash and I gotta head somewhere, but you two can keep talking,” Derek jumped in. “Come on, Ash.”

“Where to?” the redhead asked.

“Didn't you say you wanted to check where our classes are? Let's go,” he urged.

“Uh… Okay. You not coming, Maya?”

“Nah, Maya's got something to tell Ass-man,” Derek answered for her, and took off, dragging the redhead with him.

“Real subtle, Derek, real subtle…” Maya muttered to herself.

“You wanted to tell me something?” I asked, kinda confused.

“Uh… nah, it's nothing. Top-less Derek's got that kinda sense of humor. Don't pay him any mind.”

“Yeah, I've noticed he's a bit… eccentric.”

“That's one way to put it… Hey, what're your plans now?”

“Actually, I was late to the orientation tour, so I was thinking of wandering around campus to see where everything is. You know the campus?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “I made it on time to the tour, and I'm from the city, so I've been here other times. Want me to come with?” she offered, which surprised me. “I'd feel bad if you got lost in the Labyrinth and showed up late to class tomorrow.”

“Haha, yeah, that'd be terrible. I'd love that, thanks.”

“You're welcome, but… it's gonna cost you something,” she added with a sly smile.

I thought she was flirting, so I played along.

“Whoa, so there's a catch… And what's it gonna cost me?”

“A small favor. Really, really small,” she said, pinching her thumb and index finger together.

“And what's this really, really small favor?”

“Uh… I'll tell you later.”

“So I can't say no, right? Aren't you a little, just a little, manipulative?”

She let out a giggle. “Maybe a little. Shall we?”

Since we were in the Labyrinth, we started the tour there. First we checked out the common areas, then our classrooms. Luckily, all the gen-ed classes are on the same hallway downstairs—except the computer lab, which is in the engineering area—so usually we won't have to run from one end of the Labyrinth to the other between classes.

When we'd seen everything we wanted, we headed to the Residence Hall to poke around the study lounge, laundry, and convenience store—fuckin’ expensive, but super handy for grabbing instant noodles, a pack of colored markers, or… condoms, for example. After that, we went to the sports area.

The whole time we were chatting about all sorts of stuff. Maya told me her parents live in the city, but in a suburban area far from campus, so she doesn't live with them, but in the dorms like me. She also said she's enrolled in an associate's in Social Work. For my part, I told her a bit about my town, Dad, and that I'm studying engineering.

“What's left to see?” I asked, back at the Academic Plaza.

“Hmm… I think just Greek Row now,” she replied.

“Ah, the frat houses. That interests me.”

"Yeah, I heard that girl, Sage, trying to convince you to join a frat…" she said. Then she realized how that sounded. "Not that I was eavesdropping," she hurried to add. "It's just… y’know, we were right at the next table, and…"

“Top-less Derek was interested in our conversation,” I finished for her.

“Well, you know he's dead set on joining the DIKs, and when he heard that girl telling you about those guys…” she said apologetically.

“It's cool, no big deal. You probably also heard I got a problem with my roommate…”

“One of those football team guys, right?” she said, making a face. “They think they're untouchable on campus… Mostly because they are.”

“They are?”

She shrugged. “At least, that's what people say around here. The only thing that really matters at this college is the team making at least the playoffs every year, so if the players get in trouble, admin sweeps it under the rug. They always get away with it, and they know it.”

"That explains why that Chad thinks he can harass a girl right in the middle of the cafeteria like it's nothing," I said. "Or why he and his pack can jump a freshman in front of witnesses," I thought.

"Exactly."

"According to what Sage told me, I can't count on admin doing anything. They'd probably do nothing even if that guy wasn't on the team. I don't think there's a form that lists 'asshole roommate' as a reason for a room change."

"Haha, no, I don't think so. If there was, there'd be a mile-long line at the desk."

"Yeah. So it looks like if I want to get rid of that jerk, my best bet is getting into a frat and moving in with them."

"Sounds like you drew the short straw."

"Seems that way. What about you? Who'd you get as a roommate?" I asked her.

"I don't know. When I got to the room, no one was there. Guess I'll meet her later."

Deep in this conversation, we reached Greek Row. Like everything else on this campus, it's pretty small: just one paved street with the frat houses on both sides, though not packed together like on a normal block—they're spaced out with good stretches of land in between, grass and trees, like an extension of the park.

"You know which frat each house belongs to?" I asked.

"Yeah. That one's the Alpha-Nu-Omega," she said, pointing to the first building, a huge three-story mansion—the top floor with dormers—and a facade with columns, all surrounded by a concrete block wall over six feet high. We got closer to check it out, peering through the bars of the gate.

"Wow! It's a real palace…" I said, genuinely impressed. "No wonder they call those guys 'the preppies.'"

“Yup. They can hang out with each other there and not have to mix with the commoners,” Maya said.

As if confirming her words, a security guard appeared from inside the property right away, staring us down like we'd done something wrong, so we got out of there.

About thirty or forty yards down, on the other side of the street, there was another house about the same size, but less fancy and a lot more rundown-looking.

"That's the headquarters for your pals the Tri-Alphas," Maya said, though it was obvious from the huge blue banner with three yellow alphas hanging on the front facade.

"In that case, I'm not getting too close," I said.

"Wise decision."

We kept walking until we reached another mansion, this one surrounded by a metal-bar fence. It wasn't as big or luxurious as the preppies', but still pretty impressive.

"The DIKs' house?" I asked rhetorically, since this one had a big banner with the frat's name in Greek letters too, hung on a side facade over a terrace.

"A real mansion, right?" she said. "Honestly, I have no idea how those guys can afford to live in a place like that."

“A thousand times better than my room with that jerk Troy,” I thought.

"What do people say about those DIKs?" I asked her.

"According to them, they're the 'cool guys' on campus, but their rep… is that all they do is throw parties, get drunk, and chase girls. That's why Top-less Derek is so eager to join. You interested?"

"Looks like they're my only option to ditch my roommate, aside from those Beta-Iota-Pi… Where do those guys have their frat house, by the way?"

"They don't. They live in the dorms and meet up in the library."

"Oh… So, the DIKs really are my only option… And that house over there?" I said, referring to the last building on the street, across the sidewalk, with no banner in sight.

"That's the HOTs' house," she replied.

It's probably the least impressive building on all of Greek Row. It can't compare to the others in size—or luxury, in the case of the preppies and the DIKs—but that doesn't mean it doesn't have its charm. It's a two-story house with a gabled roof, and the facade painted sky blue. Pretty nice. Out front, there's a big yard with well-kept grass, shade trees, and lawn furniture, all enclosed by a low white wooden fence. And the best part: a girl in a lounge chair, sunbathing in a bikini.

“What do you know about those girls?” I asked, starting to walk toward the house. Yeah, I’ll admit it: I wanted a closer look at the bikini girl.

“Well… HOT started as the football team’s cheerleader sorority. That’s why they’ve got ties with Tri-Alpha,” she explained. “But they stopped being cheerleaders years ago—I don’t know why. Now they’re just a sorority of sluts. Or at least that’s their rep on campus,” she added, frowning. Then she shrugged. “Still, I need to get into that sorority for… reasons.”

“You think you’re gonna have trouble with your roommate too?” I asked.

“No… other reasons.”

“Oh… how mysterious,” I teased, leaning against the fence.

The girl in the bikini must’ve heard us coming, because she sat up and pushed her sunglasses up for a second to glance at us. Then she went back to sunbathing, ignoring us. Naturally, I took the chance to give her a full once-over. Turns out she was a gorgeous Asian girl with a killer figure.

“Okay, I’ll tell you,” Maya said after thinking it over for a moment. “But don’t spread it around—I don’t want any competition. Rumor has it… the HOTs give full scholarships to sisters who meet certain requirements, so it’s super important for me to get in,” she said, lowering her voice, even though the bikini girl wasn’t close enough to hear us, and there was no one else around.

“Oh… wow. Have you already talked to them?” I asked.

“Yeah, it’s the first thing I did when I got to campus, but it didn’t go well…” she replied, making a face. “I talked to this girl Quinn, who’s the VP, but she was a total jerk to me. She said she’d call me, but she didn’t even take my number.”

“The president’s Sage. Did you talk to her?”

“Yeah, but she didn’t pay much attention to me either. She said this semester, Quinn’s the one handling pledge admissions. So… that’s why I wanted to ask you for that small, really small favor… Jack, if you see that girl again, could you put in a good word for me to get her to accept me as a daughter?”

“Daughter?” I asked.

“It’s what they call pledges in the sorority,” she explained. “Please, Jack, it wouldn’t be a big deal for you… Sage kinda owes you one, and besides, I could tell she liked you.”

“You think so?”

“Totally! Those HOTs are the popular girls on campus. They usually don’t give freshmen the time of day. If she didn’t like you, she would’ve blown you off.”

“Well, maybe… But, Maya… doesn’t that scholarship rumor sound too good to be true? I did a ton of research on scholarships, and I’ve never heard of a frat or sorority around here offering them.”

“Well, like I said, it’s a rumor—they don’t exactly advertise it… If they did, every girl on campus would be lining up at their door.”

“And where’s all that money coming from?”

“No idea… Donations from alumnae or something?”

“With this crap economy that never seems to fully recover from the recession? That sounds super weird to me. Usually, frats and sororities ask their members for money, not hand it out. Especially not the insane amount a tuition costs.”

“Jack, I’m not gonna get into details, but… that scholarship would solve all my problems. If the rumor turns out to be false, well, tough luck for me, but at least I’ll have tried… Will you do me that favor, please?”

Considering everything I went through to get my own scholarship—and the fact that she’d been looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes for a while now—I couldn’t say no.

“Alright, if I see her again, I’ll try to bring your name up…”

“Thanks, Jack!”

“Don’t get your hopes up, though,” I added quickly. “Like I said, it’s not like we’re friends or she owes me anything.”

“Seriously, thank you. It’s just… I think they only take pledges for a few days. Could you… I don’t know, find some excuse to talk to her?” she pressed.

“Uh… I’m not sure I can do that. If she’s with that Chad, I won’t even be able to get near her…”

“I’d owe you a huge favor.”

“Okay, I’ll think of something,” I said with a sigh. Truth is, I had zero confidence I could pull it off.

We kept chatting in front of the HOTs’ mansion for a bit longer, even snapping a couple of photos with our phones as a memento of the first day. And I know what I’m about to say sounds like too big a coincidence, but it’s the honest truth: we were just about to leave when I took one last glance at the house and saw Sage at one of the ground-floor windows, looking at me and waving for me to wait. Half a minute later, she came out of the house and walked over to talk to me.

"Hey, dude," she greeted. "Let's chat for a sec."

"Sure," I replied, intrigued. "By the way, you know Maya, right? She wants to be a pledge..."

"Yeah, I know. You talk to Quinn?" she asked.

"Yeah, but..." Maya started.

"Okay, if we take you, we'll call," she cut her off, not paying much attention. "Sorry to borrow your friend. Just a minute."

I followed her into the yard, and we sat on a bench under a tree, far enough that neither Maya nor the Asian girl in the bikini could hear us.

"I heard the Alphas gave you a hard time earlier," she said, sounding worried.

"Wow, news travels fast around here."

"It's a small campus, and some people saw it. Dude, sorry that happened to you."

"Well, I'll survive."

"I guess after that, you hate Chad..."

I let out a dry laugh. "Of course not. I'm his number one fan. Planning to go to all the games with a shirt printed with his fuckin’ face."

She let out a chuckle too, probably just humoring me. "Then, you'll wanna get payback for what he did to you, right?" she said.

It hadn't even crossed my mind, so the question caught me off guard. "Uh... And what am I supposed to do for payback? Fight him and his whole gorilla pack? I'm not crazy," I replied.

"No, dude. What if I told you there's a way to get payback without fighting anyone, and help me at the same time?"

"Help you? With what? He hasn't messed with you again..." I asked, a bit alarmed.

She shook her head. "No, he hasn't done anything else, but... Listen, if I tell you why the fight earlier happened, you promise not to tell anyone?"

"You have my word."

She stared at me for a few seconds, like sizing me up.

"Okay, I trust you," she finally decided. "This morning, he left me watching his gym bag while he talked to his buddies, and I got curious and peeked inside... turns out he had a pair of panties hidden in there. And the bastard had the nerve to tell me he'd bought them as a gift for me!"

"Why don't you believe him?"

"Because they weren't even new! If you bought lingerie for your girlfriend, would you leave it crumpled in your gym bag?"

"No, of course not. I'd ask the store to gift-wrap it, with a bow or something."

"Exactly! Those panties are... a trophy from fucking some bitch. He's cheating on me and thinks I'm so stupid I wouldn't notice. He's full of lies..."

"And steroids. Apparently, they don't just shrink balls. Brains too."

She let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah... But he keeps repeating like a fucking parrot that there's no other girl, that it's all in my head, and treating me like I've gone crazy. Jack... I need to know who his slut is. Will you help me, please?"

I blinked, surprised. "How? You want me to follow him around all day with a wig and sunglasses or what?"

"No, dude. I got it all figured out. Actually, it's super easy," she assured me. "You said you work out, so I guess you'll sign up for the gym, right?"

"I hadn't thought about it yet, but yeah, probably."

"Good. The semester membership is sixty bucks. I'll give 'em to you. In exchange, all you gotta do is go work out when the Alphas are there, and keep an ear out."

"Keep an ear out? For what?" I asked. I was starting to think that ape Chad had a point and the redhead was a bit nuts.

"For what Chad and his friends talk about, duh!" she replied like "this guy's dense." "Listen, the Alphas spend all their time bragging about their hookups while they train. I've been with 'em a bunch of times, and I know. Chad won't talk about the slut he's banging in front of me, but in front of you..."

"In front of me, neither, Sage," I cut in. "Those guys already know me, and they hate my guts."

"Nah, they won't suspect anything weird. First, it's obvious you work out, so they won’t think twice about seeing you there, and second... you don't know 'em: none of 'em is the sharpest tool in the shed, and they're total blabbermouths. They won't hold back on talking about the girls they're banging just 'cause you're there."

I hesitated, trying to think of a way out. Not because I didn't wanna do her the favor, but because I didn't know if I could. Like with Maya, but way worse.

"Come on, dude, I'm offering you a free semester at the gym," she insisted.

"Sage, you're also offering me a sure way to have even more problems with those guys than I already do."

"Nah, they won't do anything to you at the gym, in front of everybody. Dude... I promise you won't regret helping me. I mean... you just got to campus. Wouldn't you like having a girl like me on your side? I could, you know, introduce you to people—chicks—show you the ropes around here, help you settle in and stuff..." she said in a warm, persuasive tone.

"Sage... yeah, I'd like that, and even more to help you, but... I barely escaped a beating today... Couldn’t you ask someone those guys don't know for this favor?"

"Dude, I'm gonna level with you: you think it's easy for me to tell super personal stuff to someone I just met? No, it's not, but I don't have anyone else to turn to," she said, dead serious.

"A girl like you?" I was surprised. "Come on, you must know half the guys on campus."

"I know guys, yeah. And they're all friends with Chad, or scared of him. It's not the first time he's made a scene like earlier in public. Know how many guys have stood up for me? Not a single one! You were the first," she said bitterly. "Dude, I told you earlier: it's obvious you're not the typical clueless freshman. At least you got attitude, and balls," she continued, clearly buttering me up, which made me raise an eyebrow, so she switched tactics. "You said you wanna help me, and I really don't have anyone else..." she insisted, softening her tone. "Please, tell me you'll at least try..."

“This is emotional blackmail… and you know it, right?" I replied with a half-smile. "Alright, Sage. If I can, I'll help you," I promised.

She was asking for help straight up, no games or bullshit. How could I say no? Plus, what she was offering in return was basically her friendship.

"Thanks, dude."

"But I can't promise anything," I added quick. "I'm no private detective. Just... I'll keep an ear out, and if I happen to hear something, I'll tell you."

"That's exactly what I'm asking. Here, the cash for the gym," she said, digging in her purse. "And let's swap numbers, so you can let me know as soon as you find out something."

We did that.

"Hey, Sage, can I ask you a favor now?" I asked after swapping numbers. "This girl, Maya, says your VP wasn't exactly nice to her."

She shrugged. "Quinn's like that with everybody; it's not personal."

"She says she basically blew her off. Didn't even take her number. Couldn't you give her a shot? I'm not asking you to accept her as a HOT, not even as a pledge, just talk to her, see if she gives you a good vibe."

"This year I delegated pledge admissions to Quinn, and if she didn't give her a good vibe..."

"She's a really cool girl, and she really wants to be one of you guys," I insisted.

Now I was the one with the persuasive tone—or more like, pleading—or she was the one looking for excuses to bail.

"What's your interest in this?" she asked, with a sarcastic smile. "You’re into this girl? Wanna hook up with her?"

"Well... she's the only person I know here, besides you, that Troy, and some half-crazy guy I talked to for like two minutes... We're gonna have almost all our classes together and it'd be cool if we became friends..." I started explaining, while she kept looking at me with the same sarcastic expression. It was clear she wasn't buying any of it, so I figured honesty was the best policy.

"Okay. Now I'm gonna level with you," I told her. "I'm not looking for anything specific with her, but yeah, she's pretty, and I'd like to score this point with her. Nothing wrong with that, right?" She shrugged. "I'm not gonna lie; I can't say I know her super well, but we've been together all afternoon, and she seems like a fun girl and a decent person. If not, I wouldn't have said anything."

Sage threw a long look at Maya, who was still watching us from the fence.

Sage gave Maya—who was watching us from the fence—a long look. Finally, she made up her mind and signaled for her to come over. She also called the bikini girl—I got introduced; her name's Riona.

The three sat on the bench—I stood up to give Maya the spot—and the interview started. Sage asked why she wanted to be a HOT, and Maya gave this kinda cliché speech—it was obvious she'd rehearsed it—about making friends on campus, the sense of sisterhood, and whatever else.

I guess it worked, 'cause Sage didn't brush her off; she kept asking questions. For example, she asked her to tell something about herself, and Maya said she likes movies and reading and considers herself studious, but not a boring nerd. She said she likes parties and having fun. Finally, Sage and Riona checked Maya's socials on her phone.

"Okay, Maya," Sage decided finally. "We'll take you as a pledge, but that doesn't mean you'll automatically be a HOT. You'll have to go through the Scavenger Hunt challenges, and they're not easy. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, of course; I'm ready to do whatever challenges you ask," Maya replied, so happy she was practically glowing.

"Good. Give me your number. Tomorrow we'll call to assign you a ‘mother’."

They did that. They swapped numbers, Riona went back to her lounger to sunbathe, and Sage to the house, though not without giving me a wink of complicity first.

"Thanks, Jack!" Maya exclaimed as soon as we left the HOTs' yard, giving me a hug.

"Haha, you're welcome. I didn't do much. Just told her you're a cool girl and really wanna be a HOT."

"Dude, I appreciate it a ton, seriously."

"Hey, wanna swap phones too?" I suggested. "I'd feel better. You know, in case I get lost. At least I could call you to rescue me," I joked.

"Haha, you want me to come find you if you get lost on campus?"

"On campus, in the city... Could happen; I don't know the city either. But hey, I'd buy you a soda or something..."

"Nah, sorry, not worth it."

"Whoa... You'd leave me lost and on my own?" I said, theatrically clutching my heart.

"Whoa, so guilt trip, huh? Okay, let's swap numbers. After all, we're classmates. But don't call me just 'cause you're lost in the halls."

"Okay, I'll save it for emergencies like... can't find the cafeteria, and I'm starving."

"Nah, real emergencies."

"Like... can't find the bathroom? That'd be an emergency!"

"Hahaha, you're a goof."

"Thanks for the compliment."

We headed back to the Academic Plaza trading jokes and laughing. Suddenly, Maya was in a great mood.

“Hey! Have you signed up for all the electives?” she asked me suddenly, as if it just occurred to her.

“I signed up for Spanish,” I answered. “I don’t know if I’ll sign up for anything else. I’d like to have all my classes in the morning and leave afternoons free to look for a part-time job, but the only class that would fit in my free slot is Gender Studies…”

“I have that class! That’s exactly what I was going to tell you—sign up with me,” she said enthusiastically.

“Uh… the thing is, I’m not sure if that topic interests me much…” I tried to dodge.

“Well, it’d help you get to know us women and our problems, our new roles in society…” I gave her a skeptical look, “…but mostly, it’s easy credits,” she added, switching tactics.

“How easy?”

“To pass, all you have to do is attend every class and take the exam.”

“Who says that?”

“Everyone, on the B&R forum! Come on, go for it! If we go together, at least we’d both have someone to talk to. Going to class alone sucks… What do you say?”

I probably should’ve said no, but I guess her enthusiasm pulled me in… Or rather, I still haven’t learned to say no to a cute girl.

“Well, if you put it like that…” I said. “I guess some easy credits would be good for the first semester…”

“Awesome! Want to go to the library? You can sign up online from there. There are computers.”

“Uh… Okay…”

We did that. The library is another annex of the Labyrinth, and I guess it was open even though it was Sunday so the freshmen could check it out. As Maya had said, there are public computers—old clunkers with CRT monitors that must’ve been there since the nineties—and I used one to sign up for Gender, to Maya’s delight. After that, we wandered around the rooms a bit to poke around.

There were very few people, and definitely no one studying, but in a back room, I saw a group of guys playing a board game. I figured they were the Beta-Iota-Pis, since Sage had told me that frat usually plays “Dungeons & Dragons,” so Maya and I went over to ask them. Yeah, it was them.

The frat president is named Magnar, and he was there with his girlfriend, Sally, a kinda plain girl: short, skinny, with a slightly mousy but not unattractive face. She’s got pretty eyes behind big glasses and a short, platinum-blonde bob that’s kinda cute.

This Magnar didn’t seem like a bad guy, though the whole conversation, I knew what he was thinking about me without needing to read his mind: that I don’t fit in his “friendly fraternity,” as he called it. A bit judgmental, I’d say.

When he asked about my high school grades and SAT score, I didn’t bother telling him I graduated with the highest GPA in my class or that I’m at B&R on an academic scholarship. I’m sure it would’ve impressed him, but… what for? He confirmed what Maya had told me: the Betas—seems like everyone calls them that, not “BIP”—don’t have a frat house I can move into, so I’m not interested.

That Magnar guy told us the frat is co-ed, and he tried to convince Maya to apply as a pledge, but she told him she’s not interested and was just tagging along with me.

At one point, the librarian came over to tell us we were talking too loud. Honestly, I think she did it just to be a pain, because we weren’t bothering anyone—like I said, no one was studying—but… wow! What a woman.

According to the Betas, her name’s Isabella, and I got the impression they’re all—at least the guys—pretty smitten with her. No wonder. I fell a little too, even with the scolding she gave us.

I pegged her at a little over thirty, and she’s a Mediterranean beauty with olive skin, dark hair, plump lips, and huge, hypnotic emerald-green eyes. Plus, she has a cello-like figure that’s probably caused more than one neck strain among guys who pass her on the street.

When we were heading out, I told Maya I wanted to ask what I needed to do to get a library card—an excuse as good as any to talk to her and see her up close again—so we went to the desk. She was doing something on the computer—probably playing solitaire or something—and barely lifted her eyes from the screen to look at me. She just told me, in the coldest, most distant tone possible, that the student ID works as the library card too. The Betas call her the “Ice Queen,” and it seemed more than fitting.

***

When we left the library, it was already around dinnertime. I wanted to keep hanging out with Maya, so I made my move. 

“You hungry?” I asked her. “I’ll treat you to dinner.” 

She looked at me, kinda surprised. “For real?” 

“Yeah… why not? I mean, we’re having a good time, right? And I don’t really feel like eating alone in the cafeteria…”

She thought about it for a sec. “Hmm… you know what? Alright. But not the cafeteria. I know a better spot nearby. Don’t worry, it’s not pricey, and we can split the bill. You don’t have to treat me.” 

The place Maya suggested was this Italian restaurant about a five-minute walk from campus, right across from the bus stop. We grabbed a table on the patio—they had some awnings for shade, so it wasn’t too hot—and checked out the menu. Sure enough, the place wasn’t expensive, as long as you steered clear of the seafood and meat sections. 

We ordered a pizza and a salad to share, and honestly, both were super tasty. While we ate, we kept chatting about all sorts of stuff, just like we’d been doing all afternoon. 

For dessert—gelato and espresso—she hit me with this goofy quiz she probably pulled from “Cosmopolitan” or wathever. Said she wanted to “figure out what kind of person I am.” Questions like, “Would you rather go to a party or have a chill dinner at home with friends? Do you prefer working out outside or soaking in a relaxing bubble bath?” Silly stuff like that. After a while I started answering with whatever dumb joke came to mind; Maya scolded me for not taking it seriously, but she also laughed at my quips.

The real WTF moment of the dinner came when she got all dramatic and said, “If we’re gonna be friends,” I had to promise to always be “100% honest” with her. In my book, you say that kind of thing to someone you’re starting a relationship with, not someone you’ve only known for a few hours… right? 

Anyway, I took it as a sign she’s into me—after all, she’d spent the whole afternoon with me and had kinda gone along with my flirting—so I promised, almost solemnly, that I’d never lie to her. Anyway, I consider myself an honest guy with everyone, so making that promise wasn’t exactly a big deal.

Truth is, things were going really smooth with this girl. We’d spent the whole afternoon together, and it was a blast. Connection, good vibes… Sure, there was this little voice in my head whispering that it was all too easy, too perfect. That the first thing she did was ask me for a favor, and the second was convince me to do something I didn’t even want to do. Two textbook red flags. But… eh, I ignored it.
Not the first time I’ve written something like that in this diary in the last 24 hours, huh?

When the bill came, Maya suggested splitting it, but I was set on scoring a chivalry point, so I covered it like I’d promised. Like I said, it’s not a pricey place, and we ate pretty well, so my wallet didn’t hurt—too much.

I still had zero desire to be alone or go back to hell… I mean, my room with that asshole Troy. So, on the way back to campus, I started racking my brain for something to suggest to Maya to stretch things out a bit longer.

“What do you feel like doing now?” I asked when we hit Academic Square. “We could chill on the grass, or maybe take a walk around the neighborhood… You know I don’t know this city, and if I get lost on my own, you’re gonna feel guilty,” I teased, flashing my best trademark Miller smile… which, for the second time today, totally bombed.

“I can’t right now. It’s getting late, and… I gotta call my boyfriend,” she replied.

I stared at her, dumbfounded, while she dug around in her purse for her phone.

“Uh… You have a boyfriend?”

“Yeah…” she said, not even looking up, suddenly glued to her phone screen. “Catch you later, bye.”

And with that, she turned and bailed, leaving me absolutely floored.

Well, could’ve been worse. She could’ve waited until we were making out to drop the boyfriend bomb, like Josy did.

Let’s be real, I gotta give her props for her flawless manipulation game. She got everything she wanted from me in just one afternoon, then shoved me straight into the friend zone. And I didn’t even see it coming. I even signed up for a shitty elective just because she wanted someone to chat with in class! Can I be more of an idiot?

I need to get way smarter with girls, and fucking fast, or they’re gonna walk all over me.

***

Chapter Text

I was thinking what to do next when it hit me—wandering around campus alone was just asking to run into those Alpha baboons again and get another scare, or worse. From now on, I’m gonna have to watch my back constantly. Not exactly new for me, but… honestly, it’s pretty pathetic that at eighteen, in college, I’m dealing with the same crap I did at eight in grade school.

Lacking a better plan, I decided to hit up the gym with Sage’s money. Like she said, even if the Alphas were there, they couldn’t mess with me in a public place like that.

Sage had done her homework, because signing up cost exactly the sixty bucks she gave me. The girl at the front desk took my info for the membership, then showed me around the facilities, which, by the way, aren’t half bad. Not that I’ve got much to compare it to, since this is my first time joining a gym, but still, I was impressed.

The place was crawling with Alphas, including Chad. I didn’t know most of them, obviously, but they’re not hard to spot: team jerseys and ape-like vibes. From the looks and whispers they threw my way, seems like they already know who I am.

I also realized Sage’s idea wasn’t half bad. Those guys acted like they owned the gym, mouthing off whatever dumb shit popped into their heads, loud enough for everyone to hear. I can totally see them bragging about their hookups at full volume.

They looked so ridiculous with their strutting and ultra-macho bullshit that, when the receptionist went back to her desk, I snuck a couple of photos of them, just so I could laugh my ass off later.

After that, I ran out of excuses not to head back to my room. I was kinda beat anyway and wanted to crash on my bed, chill with some YouTube videos on my laptop or something, and figure out if calling Josy was a good idea.

On one hand, it didn’t feel right hooking up with her and not even calling the next day, plus I wanted to know if she got in trouble with her dad. On the other… she made it crystal clear last night was a goodbye, and we probably wouldn’t see each other again, so I wasn’t even sure she’d want me to call.

None of that mattered, because when I got to my room, I walked into a shitshow: my guitar was gone—case, stand, everything—and that prick Troy was just how I left him: sprawled on his bed in his boxers, calmly flipping through a sports magazine.

“Where’s my guitar?” I asked the guy.

“Some Alphas took it,” he said, annoyed—obviously at me asking, not the theft.

“What?!” I shouted. “Some fucking Alphas? Why the hell did you let them in?!”

“They knocked, I opened the door, they came in. What was I supposed to do?” he said, barely looking up from his magazine.

“Jesus, you practically grilled me before letting me in, and you just let those assholes waltz in?!” I was almost yelling, barely able to wrap my head around this. “Did you at least report it to campus security?”

“Nope,” he said, like the thought never even crossed his mind—because it probably didn’t.

“Fuck! So, you just sat there on your ass, jerking off?”

“Enough!” he snapped, finally tossing the magazine aside and standing up. “I’ve got my own problems! Deal with your own shit!”

He looked like he was about to swing at me, and for a second, I almost wanted him to, just so I’d have an excuse to hit back and pound him. Insane, obviously. Starting a fight on my first day on campus, with one of the football team’s golden boys? Instant expulsion. At least with Chad, the whole cafeteria saw him being a douche to Sage, but here, it’d be my word against Troy’s. Not to mention the guy’s not exactly small, and I could be the one who ends up pounded.”

“I’m out of here before I smash that fucking idiot face of yours!” I yelled, storming out of the room in a rage.

***

Admin was already closed at that hour, so there was no way to request an emergency room change—if that’s even a thing, which I seriously doubt—and I couldn’t find any security guards to report the theft either. And anyway, what was I gonna say? That a bunch of team bros, admin’s golden boys, barged into my room and stole my guitar? It’d be my word against theirs, and Troy already made it clear he’s not backing me up.

Then it hit me that, to top it all off, I didn’t even have a place to crash for the night.

I thought about hitting up Maya, but I nixed that idea fast. Sure, she owed me one, but still, a girl I’ve only known for a few hours, who’s got a boyfriend, isn’t exactly gonna let me sleep in her room. Plus, by now, she probably already has a roommate. Derek? I barely know the guy. Don’t have his number, don’t even know if he lives on campus.

My only option—or at least the only one I could think of—was the DIKs. I figured if I showed up as a pledge, they’d let me crash at their place for a night, even if it’s just on a couch.

That’s what I thought, idiot that I am.

***

The door to the DIKs’ mansion was open when I got there, so I walked in and found myself in a massive living room—seriously huge—where a bunch of guys in red-and-black jackets were having some kind of contest to chug an entire can of beer and then let out the longest, loudest burp possible.

Not exactly my scene, but there were also a few girls in the room: a busty blonde, a slim brown-haired girl, and my favorite, the super-sexy Asian HOT I’d seen in a bikini that afternoon—Riona. That got my attention real quick.

“Hey! Who the hell are you? The Alphas send you to snoop?” one of the beer-chuggers yelled at me, a good-looking guy with dark hair and a cocky attitude.

“Hey, guys, I’m Jack,” I said, walking up to the group. “Door was open. Nobody sent me, especially not those Alpha apes. I’m here to ask what it takes to join the frat.”

“I know this guy,” Riona piped up. “He’s not with the Alphas. He’s the freshman who stood up to Chad in the cafeteria.”

Another good-looking dark-haired guy, but with a way friendlier vibe, stuck out his hand. “I’m Rusty, DIKs’ president,” he introduced himself. “This is Tommy, the VP,” he added, nodding at the first guy. “You really went toe-to-toe with friggin’ Chadwick?”

I let out a laugh. “Chadwick… Is that his actual name?”

“Nah, just a DIK joke,” Rusty said. “So? You really did it?”

“I guess you could say that,” I replied, shrugging.

“Wow… Freshman, I don’t know if you’ve got a serious pair of balls or you’re just nuts, but either way, if you wanna be a DIK, you’re off to a good start.”

“Not so fast,” Tommy cut in. “I heard the story too, and it wasn’t that big a deal.”

“Bullshit it wasn’t,” another DIK jumped in, a black guy with dreads and an athletic build. “I was there, and I’m telling you, this dude squared up to fucking Chardorius with some serious balls.” He cracked up. “Called him ‘Koko, the talking gorilla’! Like you’d ever have the guts to say that to that beast’s face!”

“Whatever,” Tommy said, brushing it off. “Point is, before we take him, he’s gotta pass the tests like everyone else.”

“What tests?” I asked.

Tommy’s smile turned wicked. “For starters, you gotta prove you’re a guy with balls and some hustle.”

“How?” I pressed.

“By sneaking into the HOTs’ house and bringing us a trophy: a pair of panties. I don’t care if you steal, lie, or beg—just get it done tonight.”

“Deal,” I said, playing it cool.

“Nah, this guy’s gonna have it too easy. He’ll just ask Sage,” Riona said, reading my mind.

“And why would that stuck-up bitch give her panties to this freshman?” Tommy shot back.

“Let’s just say if you asked, the only thing Sage would give you is a kick in the nuts,” Riona fired back, all sarcasm. “But this guy stuck up for her in the cafeteria when Chad was being a total douche. That’s what the whole thing was about. Plus, I saw them talking this afternoon. They get along well.”

“I see…” Tommy said, pointing the neck of his beer bottle at me. “Listen, freshman: if Sage helps you, Riona’s gonna tell us, and you’ll never be a DIK. Got it?”

“Damn, gorgeous, you could’ve kept that to yourself…” I said to Riona, half-joking, half-serious.

“Sorry, handsome, but I couldn’t let you cheat,” she replied with a grin. “You’re cool, though, so I’ll throw you a bone: sometimes the girls leave underwear in the showers. Ground floor, right hallway, first door.”

“Alright, I’ll be back in a bit,” I said, and headed off to sneak into a sorority house to steal a pair of panties… What could possibly go wrong?

***

I found the front door of the HOTs’ house open, just like the DIKs’. Suspicious, but… whatever. I didn’t have many options anyway, so I went in.

Even more suspicious was how easy it was to get to the bathrooms, because the house—at least the ground floor—seemed completely deserted. As for getting the panties, it was almost too easy: I found a pink pair on a bench in front of the shower stalls—like a big piece of cheese in a mousetrap.

I grabbed the panties and was about to bolt when I heard girls’ voices and laughter in the hallway. I couldn’t leave the way I came or… any other way. There was another door that probably led somewhere else in the house, but it was locked, and there wasn’t even a window to slip out of. I was trapped. Shocker, right? Who could’ve seen this coming?

Half scared, half resigned, I did the only thing I could: hide in one of the shower stalls, pull the curtain shut, and pray for a miracle—that the girls wouldn’t come in. Of course, my prayers went unanswered, because a moment later, their voices were in the bathroom. It sounded like just two girls.

“Look, it’s not mandatory, I don’t even make all pledges do it,” one was saying, “but if you want me to take a special interest in you, you gotta prove you’ll do whatever I say, no hesitation, no complaints.”

“Okay,” the other girl replied.

“Good. And don’t worry. Just follow my lead,” said the first one.

Clearly, they were up to something, but again, not like I had much choice. I just stood there in the shower stall, barely daring to breathe to avoid making a sound.

For maybe a couple of minutes, nothing happened; I even started thinking the girls might leave and I’d be out of this mess. Wishful thinking.

“Who’s there?!” barked the first girl. A second later she yanked the curtain open and looked at me with this sarcastic smirk.

The girl looked like some wild, slutty version of Miley Cyrus. Not tall, not short, kinda slim, and really pretty—even with the half pound of makeup. Heart-shaped face, slightly upturned little nose, small mouth, and huge eyes with golden-green pupils, ringed in smoky gray. For some reason, her eyes reminded me of a snake’s. A brazen, insanely sexy snake.

From her brows I could tell she’s a brunette, but her hair’s dyed white. Cropped short at the nape and swept to one side, shaved clean around the ear on the other. To top off the badass vibe, she had a piercing above her upper lip, a natural beauty mark on the other side by her lower lip—freaking kissable, I thought, even in that situation—and a single earring: a silver skull.

She’d taken off her clothes and was wrapped in a towel, and I could have bet my balls there was a killer body underneath, knowing damn well I wouldn’t lose them.

A step behind her was another girl, also wrapped in just a big towel. A Hispanic with dark hair and tanned skin, also stupidly hot, though her face was maybe a bit too long for my taste.

“Well, well… what do we have here? A fucking pervert!” Slutty Miley said, grinning with her mouth—but not with her eyes, that oozed malice and mockery.

“Girls, I can explain…” I started weakly.

“Oh! The perv who broke into a sorority’s showers says he can explain. Please, explain, I’m all ears,” she said, not moving aside to let me out of the damn stall. Honestly, I was worried she’d turn on the water and soak me any second.

Judging by her eyebrows, she’s a brunette, but her hair’s dyed white, short at the nape, swept to one side, with the whole area around the other ear shaved. To top off the badass vibe, she’s got a piercing above her upper lip, a natural mole on the other side near her lower lip—fucking kissable, I thought, even in this mess—and a single earring: a silver skull.
She’d stripped down and was wrapped in a towel. Right then, I’d have bet my balls there was a killer body under there, and I wouldn’t have lost them.

A step behind her was another girl, also dressed in just a big towel. A Hispanic girl with dark hair and tanned skin, also fucking gorgeous and sexy, though her face was maybe a bit too long for my personal taste.

“Well, well… What do we have here? A fucking pervert!” said the Miley Cyrus wannabe, grinning with her mouth—not her eyes, which were wicked, dripping with mockery.

“Girls, I can explain…” I started, not exactly convincing.

“Oh! The pervert who snuck into a sorority’s showers says he can explain. Please, go ahead, explain, I’m all ears,” she said, not budging to let me out of the damn shower. Honestly, I was half expecting her to turn on the faucet and soak me.

“I think the DIKs set me up for a hazing prank…”

“Sounds to me like you snuck in here to peek through a crack while we got naked,” she accused.

“That’s not it!” I defended, throwing my hands up. “I swear! This is some kind of trial to let me pledge…”

While I stammered excuses, the girls—especially “Slutty Miley,” since the Hispanic girl seemed shyer—kept laughing. It was obvious these chicks were in on the hazing, or they’d have called the cops by now. Realizing that calmed me down a bit.

“What did those prankster DIKs tell you to do, newbie?” she asked, laying on the sarcasm thick.

“They told me I had to sneak in here and… get a pair of panties,” I admitted.

She let out a huge laugh. “So you want a pair of panties…” Her expression turned hard. “And what are you willing to do for them?” she asked, leaning so close to my face I half thought she might bite my nose off.

“Uh… you want money?” I asked, hopeful. “I don’t have much, but…”

She cut me off with another big laugh. “Nah, that’s no fun. If you want panties, you’re gonna have to earn them. Strip,” she ordered, finally stepping aside to let me out of the damn shower stall.

“What?”

“You deaf? I said strip,” she repeated.

“Why the hell would I strip?”

“Because I say so. Haven’t you figured out the situation yet, newbie? If I want, the whole campus will know by tomorrow that you’re a pathetic creep who sneaks into girls’ showers to jerk off.”

I tried to defuse things. “Come on… You know I didn’t come here for that. Who tipped you off that I was coming? Riona or Tommy?”

She didn’t like that question. Her glare got even harder, and one eyebrow arched so high it nearly hit her bangs.

“So the newbie’s a fucking know-it-all who thinks he’s got it all figured out…” she said.

“I don’t know shit,” I backpedaled. “I got caught here like a… newbie, like you said.”

“Exactly, glad you get it. Strip.”

I didn’t have much choice—how many times have I said that one by now?—so I started taking off—slowly, dragging my feet—my sneakers and socks.

(*) “¿También eres novata?” I asked the hispanic girl, switching to Spanish to maybe win her over.

“Sí, yo también.”

“Daughter Camilla, don’t talk to the perv!” Slutty Miley barked.

“Sorry, Mother Quinn,” Camilla muttered.

“¿Te llamas Camilla? Yo soy Jack. Encantado de conocerte.” I said, ignoring Quinn.

“Igual.”

“Esta broma también es para ti, ¿huh?” I asked.

“Supongo que sí… Hablas español bien,” she said with a small smile.

“Estoy aprendiendo,” I said, smiling back. “Estoy en Intermediate Spanish.”

“¡Yo también!”

“¿Créditos fáciles para ti?”

“Ha, sí. Nos veremos en clase.”

At first I thought the girl was shy, but she clearly wasn’t at all; she was just a little intimidated by Quinn. Same as me, honestly. And she had reason, because Quinn looked more riled up by the second.

“Cut the chatter, damn it!” she snapped again. “I’m the only one talking here!”

“Alright, tough girl, whatever you say,” I told her while pulling off my T-shirt. “So your name’s Quinn. You’re VP of the HOTs, right?”

“My name’s none of your fuckin’ business. Hurry up and strip already—we ain’t got all night,” she pushed.

I took off my pants, hoping she’d be satisfied with that.

“All of it!” she ordered.

No point in protesting, so with a shrug and a sigh, I took off my boxers too, standing completely naked.

“Okay, you’ve seen me in my birthday suit and had your fun. Can I go now?” I asked. No such luck, of course.

“No way, the fun’s just getting started,” Quinn said, with a smile more twisted than a fuckin’ corkscrew, giving me an unapologetic once-over. “What do you think, daughter?” she asked Camilla. “Turns out the freshman’s packing a nice tool. Ever seen one this size up close?”

“Uh… I don’t think so,” Camilla admitted, eyeing me just as blatantly.

“Let’s see if we can make it even bigger,” Quinn said, then yanked Camilla’s towel away, leaving her in nothing but a pair of black panties in front of me. Just like I imagined, the girl had a killer body: small but perky, firm tits with dark nipples, flat stomach, wide hips, and a spectacular tattoo of a Quetzal bird down her side.

“Hey!” Camilla protested instinctively.

“Any problem, daughter?” Quinn scolded.

“Uh… no, Mother Quinn, of course not,” she replied.

“You like what you see, newbie?” Quinn asked me.

After three years working with five prankster girls as the only guy in the group, I can tell when girls are just messing around and want to mess with me. And this was definitely that. So, I decided to lean into it.

“Of course I like it,” I said.

“Yeah, I can see your little buddy’s already excited,” she said, shooting a glance at my boner.

“Ese pájaro es un Quetzal, ¿verdad, Camilla?” I asked her, ignoring Quinn again—just to knock her down a peg (or two).

“¡Sí que lo es!” she answered, smiling. “¿Te gusta?”

“Me gusta mucho. ¿Te lo hiciste por Mexico?”

“Sí, y por Guatemala. Mi papá es de Guatemala y mi mamá es de México.”

“Again with the Mexican chit-chat?! Shut the hell up already!” Quinn cut us off again.

“It’s called Spanish, Quinn. ‘Mexican’ isn’t a language,” I said, just to bug her a bit more… which worked.

“You giving me a language lesson now, asshole?” she snapped.

I laughed. “Come on, girl, don’t get all bent out of shape over nothing. Honestly, I’m starting to like this hazing. By the way, Camilla and I are buck naked. You gonna be the only one still dressed? Don’t tell me you’re shy…” I said, full-on flirt mode engaged.

That’s when she started laughing.

“You’ve got some balls, newbie,” she said. “Confidence sure ain’t your problem.”

“I’d say we’re alike in that,” I told her, twisting my grin to match hers. “Come on, Quinn… would you rather I whined and begged to leave? Isn’t this more fun?”

“Ha, you little fucker…” she muttered, more amused than pissed. She hesitated a moment, then made up her mind. “Fine, let’s do it your way.” She dropped her towel to the floor; she wasn’t even wearing panties. “What do you think?” she asked mockingly, hands on her hips.

“Wow… You’re a total babe, Quinn,” I said, shamelessly checking out her perky tits, her toned belly with slightly defined abs, and her shaved pussy. I hadn’t been wrong: she had a smoking body.

“Tell me something I don’t know, perv boy,” she said. “Camilla, let’s see how daring you are. Play with his cock. You want to, don’t you?” she ordered.

“Uh… okay,” said Camilla; without further fuss, she grabbed my cock and started stroking it slowly.

“Wow… Best hazing ever,” I managed to say once I got over the shock.

Quinn burst out laughing again. “Cammy, you’ve got his cock hard as a fuckin’ torpedo,” she said.

“You’re helping too, Quinn. Don’t sell yourself short.”

“You’re gonna fit fuckin’ right in with the DIKs,” Quinn laughed. “If you actually get in, of course,” she added. Then she turned serious again. “Don’t you dare cum, got it?”

“Relax. Not my first tricycle ride. I’ve still got something for you too,” I said, reaching out to grab her ass.

“Who said you could touch my ass, perv?” she suddenly snapped, shoving me back. “Camilla, let go of this guy’s cock.”

“Ha, come on, girl, don’t be like that,” I tried to calm her. “We’re all just having fun, right?”

“You really think you’re getting laid tonight, dickhead?” she shot back. “Get the fuck out!”

“Damn it, Quinn! This is the hazing? Get us all worked up and then leave us hanging? What a shitty prank!” I griped. “C’mon… forget that nonsense and let me take care of you both a little…”

“Get the fuck out of here, pervert!” she insisted, pointing at the door.

“¿Tú quieres seguir, Camilla?” I asked her.

“Bueno… quizá…” she answered, shy again under Quinn’s glare.

“See? Camilla wants to keep going,” I told Quinn. She hadn’t exactly said that but… whatever.

“I don’t give a shit!” she shot back.

“Then you get out and leave me and Camilla alone!” I snapped back, officially pissed off now.

She stared at me, eyes wide like I’d just sprouted a second head. “Who the fuck do you think you are?! I’m not going anywhere!”

I shrugged. “Cool, then stay. Watch if that’s what gets you off. I don’t care,” I said.

“Fuck you! I’m done with this bullshit. SISTERS, A PERVERT!” she suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs, and a moment later two or three other girls rushed into the showers howling—though it was obvious they were cracking up.

“Damn, Quinn, you’re a fuckin’ cockblock!” I protested, trying to grab my clothes to get out.

“Your clothes stay here! The only thing you’re taking is this,” Quinn said, snatching my clothes away and throwing the panties at my face.

“What the hell? This ain’t fuckin’ funny!”

“Get the fuck out, you fuckin’ perv!” she repeated. The girls started shoving me toward the door.

No point fighting it. I was clearly ending up bare-ass on the street, so I tried to leave with some style.

“Ladies, pleasure meeting you,” I said, walking out the front door with my hard dick leading the way like a battering ram.

***

Of course, my swagger, like my hard-on, lasted about five seconds—the time it took to find myself buck naked on the street in the middle of the night. “Twice in two days. You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me!” I thought. The difference this time was my stuff stayed inside the HOTs’ house, including my wallet and phone. I didn’t even have shoes.

At least I had those damn panties, and since the DIKs’ house is practically across from the HOTs’, I managed to cross the street and knock on their door without anyone spotting me.

Needless to say, the DIKs greeted me with roars of laughter but wouldn’t let me into the mansion. They congratulated me on completing the first task, said they’d be in touch, and slammed the door in my face, ignoring my protests. That’s when I hit rock bottom. All my confidence went straight down the drain, and I had this overwhelming urge to cry, drop out of college, and run home to Dad.

I had no clue where to go or what to do, so I just started walking. The area behind the frat houses is unlit and seemed deserted, so I went that way. Somehow, I ended up in the parking lot, where I saw a woman with a gym bag heading to her car. When she passed under a streetlight, I recognized her: Isabella, the librarian.

I didn’t really know her, but there was no one else around to help, so I clung to that lifeline.

“Isabella, please, I need your help,” I called out, hiding behind a car, only poking my head out.

“Who’s there?” she asked, trying to spot me in the dark.

“I’m Jack, a freshman…”

“And what do you want?”

“I got hazed and need help… But please, don’t come closer right now!”

My plea didn’t work. She’d already spotted me, and three seconds later, she was standing in front of me. Seeing me naked, she yanked me out from behind the car by my ear.

“Aren’t you ashamed, kid?” she scolded. “What are you doing naked? Are you some kind of flasher?”

“I’m not a flasher!” I defended. “I told you, I got hazed! Please, Isabella, don’t you have something I can cover up with? A towel, anything?”

She opened her gym bag—probably coming from the campus gym—and handed me a towel, which I quickly wrapped around my waist like I’d just stepped out of the shower.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, relieved to at least not be flashing my junk, but still clueless about what to do next.

“Let’s go to the library,” she said. “There’s some clothing in ‘lost and found’ that might fit you.”

“People lose clothes in the library?” I asked, surprised.

She let out a scoff. “Says the kid naked in a parking lot.”

“Touché…” I muttered.

She opened the library and pulled out some shorts from a cardboard box under the counter—who the hell forgets his pants in a library?—and a T-shirt, too small for me but enough to cover up. For now, I’d have to go without shoes.

“Alright, kid. Now explain why you were naked in the parking lot,” she ordered, more than asked.

“Please… could you not call me ‘kid’?” I asked. “I told you, my name’s Jack.”

“If you act like a kid, I’m calling you kid.”

“Fair enough…” I muttered. “You’ve helped me, so I’ve got no right to complain. Thanks again, by the way.”

“I’ll ask again: what happened?”

“Well… it’s a bit of a long story.”

“Start talking,” she insisted.

I hesitated, trying to get my thoughts in order.

“I guess it all started this morning… The roommate I got stuck with turned out to be a real jerk who’s been pulling the trick on me…”

“The trick?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, you know: bullying me to make me find somewhere else to live. That way, if I leave, he might not get another roommate and have the room to himself for the rest of the semester.”

“That’s against the rules,” she pointed out.

I shrugged. “Sure, but he didn’t seem to care much.”

“I see… What exactly did he do?”

“Right off the bat, he wouldn’t let me into the room. Then, insults, threats… But the worst part is he let some Tri-Alphas barge in and steal my guitar. That guitar… it was my mom’s, it meant a lot to me… And this guy didn’t even warn me or call campus security! He just lay there on his bed like nothing happened, and when I called him out, he got all threatening.”

With all the hazing drama, I’d forgotten about the guitar for a moment, but telling Isabella brought it all back, and I felt like crying again.

“What happened next?”

“If I’d stayed in the room, there would’ve been a fight, so I left. I figured maybe the DIKs would let me crash at their frat house for the night if I tried to pledge… But they said I had to pass a test first…”

“What test?” she asked, eyeing me like a cop grilling a suspect in a movie.

“Um… It’s embarrassing to say, but… they told me I had to sneak into the sorority and steal… a piece of underwear.” I said, feeling like I was dying inside.

As expected, she was instantly outraged.

“Excuse me?! Didn’t your mother teach you that’s wrong?”

“My mother… she died when I was born, I never knew her That guitar they stole is pretty much all I have left of her…”

“Oh, I’m sorry…” she said, softer. “But that’s still wrong!” she insisted.

“I know, Isabella, but you have to understand, I was desperate,” I justified as best I could. “Plus, the girls were in on the hazing.”

“How so?”

“There was a HOT at the DIKs’ house who told me to go to the showers. She even gave me directions. I’m sure as soon as I left, she called her friends, so they were waiting for me. Then… you know, they blackmailed me into stripping, saying they’d ruin my reputation on campus if I didn’t… and kicked me out like you found me.”

“And what did those DIKs say?”

“What you’d expect. They laughed at me and slammed the door in my face. Now… I don’t even have a place to sleep.”

“That’s the most ridiculous story I’ve ever heard,” she said with an exasperated sigh.

“I know, Isabella, but it’s the truth. I guess you think I’m an idiot, and I don’t blame you. Right now, I feel like a hopeless idiot, among other things. If I had my wallet to buy a train ticket, I’d go back home to my dad and forget about B&R. Since I got here, it’s been nothing but harassment and humiliation… After all the sacrifices I made these years to study here!” I said, on the verge of breaking down.

“Alright, alright, don’t get so dramatic,” she cut off my whining. “You need to go back to your room and make peace with your roommate.”

“Isabella, that’s not possible. He doesn’t want peace with me—he’s thrilled to have driven me out. He’s one of those football team guys, and I heard he was a Tri-Alpha before they kicked him out of the frat for fighting… Can you imagine what kind of guy he is?”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know… I guess I’ll have to go back to the room, if only to get my stuff.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Isabella, it’s late, and I’ve already bothered you enough. You don’t have to.”

“I’m telling you, I’m coming with you,” she insisted, in a tone that didn’t leave much room for argument—again, that “Ice Queen” nickname fits her like a glove.

“As you wish,” I gave in. “Thanks again.”

We went to the dorm, and I found my stuff piled up in the hallway by the room’s door.

“Damn it! He just left my stuff out here for anyone to steal!” I exclaimed. “My laptop! Good thing nobody took it… You see what kind of roommate he is!”

“Let’s go inside. I want to talk to him.”

“Isabella, I don’t think that’s a good idea. He can get nasty with you…”

She let out a low huff. “I know how to handle students. Come on.”

I shrugged and tried to open the door. Of course, now he’d decided to lock it.

“Troy!” I called. “It’s Jack, your roommate! Let me in!”

“Your shit’s right there! Get the fuck outta here and leave me alone!” he yelled from the other side.

“I don’t have anywhere to sleep!” I shot back.

“I don’t give a shit! Come back in here, and I’ll break your fucking legs, you shitty freshman!”

“Let’s get out of here,” Isabella said, grabbing my arm; we left the building with my stuff.

“Know anyone you can stay with?” she asked once we were on the street, while I looked for a pair of sneakers and and one of my T-shirts in my luggage.

“No… It’s only my first day, and I’m not even from the city. Guess I’ll sleep on the grass; it’s still pretty warm…”

She stared at me, like she was weighing her options.

“Come with me,” she finally said, and started walking.

When I was about to ask where we were going, she pulled out her phone and called someone to meet us at the door.

To my surprise, we went to the preppy mansion. A security guard opened the gate, and Jill, the gorgeous brunette who’d saved me from the Tri-Apes a few hours earlier, opened the main door. Once again, she was with the preppy blond guy.

“Um… Good evening,” she greeted, surprised to see me there. “Jack, right?”

“Yeah… Good evening, Jill,” I replied, pretty intimidated by the situation.

“You two know each other?” Isabella asked.

“We met briefly this afternoon, yes,” Jill said. “What’s going on?”

“This young man doesn’t have a place to spend the night,” Isabella explained. “His roommate turned out to be a brute, and he says he doesn’t know anyone on campus and isn’t from the city. Tomorrow he’ll need to request a room change or something, but right now, honestly, I don’t know where to put him, and… I’d feel bad leaving him on the street. I thought maybe he could stay here for one night. I know you have a guest room.”

“Oh… Of course, if he’s in a bind, he can stay, right, Tybalt?” Jill said to the blond guy. Judging by his face, the idea appealed to him about as much as a spit in the eye.

“Er… This is highly irregular. That room is reserved for visiting alumni. We don’t like introducing strangers into our residence,” he said.

“Well, Jack isn’t exactly a stranger; he’s a B&R student, like us,” Jill countered.

“If he’s had a conflict with his roommate, he should consult campus security, who will ensure his roommate…” the guy began.

“Tybalt, I just said his roommate is a brute,” Isabella cut him off. “This boy shouldn’t share a room with him for even one night.”

“It’s just one night; we can’t leave him on the street,” Jill insisted.

“Look,” I chimed in, “I don’t even need a room. A couch is fine, and I’ll be gone first thing tomorrow. I won’t bother anyone, and you won’t even notice I was here.”

“All right. One night,” the guy said reluctantly.

“Well, that’s settled. Good night,” Isabella said, and left.

“What happened with your roommate, Jack?” Jill asked kindly.

“Well… he turned out to be one of those bully football players, like the ones from this afternoon,” I answered.

“Oh! I see…”

“Jill, don’t worry, I’ll handle this,” that Tybalt guy interrupted, cutting off the conversation. “You can return to your room; don’t let this matter ruin your evening.”

“Tybalt, this isn’t ruining anything,” Jill said.

“Well, it has disrupted the tranquility of the house…”

It seemed like this Tybalt guy was just looking for an excuse to kick me out, so I jumped in.

“Like I said, I don’t want to… disrupt anything. I just need a bathroom to freshen up and a place to sleep. A couch is fine.”

“You’re not sleeping on a couch!” Jill protested.

“I’ll find him a spot, don’t worry,” Tybalt said.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you, Tybalt,” Jill said. “Good night, Jack, sleep well,” she said to me.

“Good night, Jill. And thanks again.”

Once Jill left, Tybalt’s attitude went from unfriendly to outright hostile.

“This fellow can sleep there,” he told the security guard, pointing to a sort of decorative padded bench in the entryway, too small for me to lie down fully. I guess he expected me to sleep sitting up or something. “I hold you responsible for ensuring he doesn’t wander the mansion. In fact, he must not pass beyond this foyer,” he added.

“Uh… I can at least use the bathroom, I hope…” I said.

He didn’t even look at me. He kept addressing the guard. “Let him use yours,” he said, and walked off, not before reminding the guard again that he was “responsible.”

When the guy left, I extended my hand to the guard. “I’m Jack,” I said.

“Ron,” he replied, shaking my hand, though his face said, “What a mess I’ve been stuck with tonight.”

“Can I… use the bathroom, please? Brush my teeth and stuff…” I asked.

“Follow me,” he said, and led me outside to his security booth by the wall. Next to it was a small restroom, like one at a gas station: toilet, sink, and a mirror, that’s it. “It’ll have to do,” I thought.

I took care of business and cleaned up as best I could, and when I came out, the guy guided me to a back door of the building and into a storage room full of dusty old junk, but with a foldable cot. It was definitely more comfortable than the bench Tybalt wanted me to sleep on.

Ron set it up with practiced ease and told me I could spend the night there.

“This is where you crash when everyone in the house is asleep, right?” I asked him.

The guy gave me a look like, “Why’s this kid poking into my business?”

“I worked almost three years on a night shift. Janitor at a nursing home. I did something similar,” I confided. His expression softened. “Look, I don’t want to take your bed.”

“Actually, in the summer, I prefer crashing in a recliner in my booth. It’s cooler,” he confided back. “I only come here in winter when it’s cold. Don’t worry, you’re not taking my bed.”

“Thanks. Who’s this Tybalt guy?” I asked.

“The president of this frat,” he replied, with an involuntary grimace.

“And how come Jill lives here? I thought this frat was guys only.”

“In theory, yeah, but they make an exception for her,” he said with a shrug. “At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

“I see…” I said, though I had no clue frats did stuff like that.

“You’ll need to leave early tomorrow. Best if you’re gone before Tybalt wakes up. First thing he’ll ask is if you’re still here,” he said.

“I’ll set an alarm on my phone…” Then I remembered fuckin’ Quinn had it. “Erm… I mean my laptop. Seven-thirty, is okay?”

“Fine. Don’t go into the rest of the house, or I’ll get in trouble. If you need the bathroom again, use the one in my booth.”

“Don’t worry. I just want to sleep. I’m not going anywhere,” I assured him.

“Good. Get some rest,” he said before leaving.

Once I was alone, I stripped down and lay on the cot with a sigh of relief, but despite being physically exhausted, I realized I wouldn’t fall asleep. When I closed my eyes, images of all the bizarre stuff that had happened today—and yesterday, with the date with Josy—flooded my mind.

I decided to do what I did yesterday and write in this diary to sort out my thoughts.

What a fucked-up first day of college. Not even in my wildest dreams—or more like nightmares—could I have imagined half the shit that’s happened to me. It’s almost midnight now. I’m gonna try to get some sleep.

(*)

“Are you a freshman too?” I asked the hispanic girl, switching to Spanish to maybe win her over.

“Yeah, me too.”

“Your name is Camilla? I'm Jack. Nice to meet you,” I said, ignoring Quinn.

“You too.”

“This whole joke is on you too, huh?” I asked.

“I guess so… You speak good Spanish,” she said with a small smile.

“I'm learning,” I said, smiling back. “I'm in Intermediate Spanish.”

“Me too!”

“Easy credits for you?”

“Ha, yeah. I'll see you in class.”

“That bird is a Quetzal, right, Camilla?” I asked her, ignoring Quinn again—just to knock her down a peg (or two).

“Yeah, it is!” she answered, smiling. “You like it?”

“I really like it. Did you get it for Mexico?”

“Yeah, and for Guatemala. My dad is from Guatemala and my mom is from Mexico.”

“You wanna keep going, Camilla?” I asked her.

“Well… maybe…” she answered, shy again under Quinn’s glare.

Chapter Text

MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2012

Like I’d promised the security guard, as soon as I woke up, I jumped out of bed without wasting any time, grabbed my stuff, said goodbye to him, and got the hell out of the preppy mansion.

First thing I did was head to the Residence Hall for a quick shower. After that, I decided to skip breakfast and go straight to the HOTs’ house to get my things back.

Okay, truth is, I didn’t exactly “decide” to skip breakfast. I just didn’t have so much as five lousy bucks on me to pay for it. The HOTs had my wallet.

***

Quinn opened the door.

“Wow, perv, I barely recognize you with clothes on,” she said by way of greeting, with the same twisted smile from last night.

“I could say the same about you, Quinn,” I shot back, twisting my own smile to match hers. “Speaking of clothes, can you give mine back?”

“Our president’s got your clothes, and she doesn’t like intruders. She’s gonna make a keychain out of your balls,” she warned me, and you could tell she was dying to watch the show.

“Bah, it won’t be that bad…”

“Haha, won’t it? Wait and see.”

“Right then, Sage showed up, stepping out from behind her.”

“The intruder’s back at the scene of the crime?” she teased me.

“Uh… Morning, Sage. Go ahead and laugh. Clearly, I deserve it.”

“You definitely do,” she said with a snicker under her breath. “Come on in,” she added, motioning for me to follow her.

I left my luggage in a little sitting room that doubles as the entryway, and followed the two girls down the hall to a kitchen that also served as a dining room—pretty spacious. One girl was cooking— he slender girl with brown hair I’d seen yesterday at the DIKs’ place—and a few more girls were having coffee. I would’ve killed for a cup too—I’d barely slept, so I really needed it—but obviously, I didn’t dare ask them to spot me one.

“Uh… Morning. How’s it going?” I greeted them, a little unsure.

Considering I’d snuck into their showers last night, I was afraid they might be pissed at me. But no. They just greeted me back with mocking looks on their faces.

“So, you took my advice and you’re gonna rush the DIKs, huh?” Sage said.

“Yeah, at least I’m gonna try, though honestly, I still don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

“You saying that because of last night’s hazing?”

I shrugged. “Mostly that, yeah. It was pretty wild, to be honest.”

“Well, from what I hear, you took it pretty well.”

“A certain girl I know told me to take that kinda thing with a sense of humor, and not personally,” I replied with a smile. “You didn’t join in?”

“Nah, I usually leave the hazing to Quinn and the girls. But if I’d known it was you, I would’ve made an exception,” she said with a mocking smile.

“Oh… So I’m special?”

“Well, from what I hear, you put on quite the show. Quinn was just telling us… big things about you. Don’t blame a girl for being curious.”

Was this redheaded goddess flirting with me? This redheaded goddess was definitely flirting with me! Of course, I switched to full flirt mode right away.

“If you want a… private show, just say the word,” I said.

She burst out laughing.

“Dude, Quinn’s right. You’ve got no shame.”

“Haha, not much, true. But I’m just kidding.”

Quinn had been watching this whole exchange with a pretty surprised look on her face.

“You already knew this guy?” she asked Sage.

“Yeah, our paths have crossed,” she replied.

Just then, Riona walked into the kitchen, dressed in a pair of shorty pajamas. She was surprised to see me there, but she flashed me a playful smile right away.

“Yeah, Sage and I know each other, and I know Riona too. Morning, gorgeous,” I greeted her. “You totally played me last night. ‘You’re cool, so I’ll help you out… Head to the showers…’”

“You’re not mad at me, are you?” she said, giggling as she went straight for the coffee pot to pour herself a cup.

“Of course not. I can take a hazing. Introduce me to your friends?” I asked her.

“Sure, though I think you kinda met them last night already. This is Elena,” she said, nodding at the cook, who gave me a mocking smile without stopping her whisking of the eggs in the bowl. “This is Sarah,” she went on, and this time the mocking smile came from another slender girl with brown hair, though hers was shorter. “And this is Melanie,” she finished the introductions with a girl with short dark hair and big tattoos on her collarbone and cleavage, who also gave me the obligatory mocking smile.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Jack. Didn’t have time to introduce myself properly last night,” I said.

“Well, I think you made a hell of an introduction on your own,” Sarah teased me, setting off laughs from the others.

“So, perv, tell me… Did you enjoy your exhibitionist experience?” Quinn asked.

“Sure, it was a blast. The best part was when the librarian found me and dragged me across the campus parking lot by my ear.”

She let out a huge laugh. “The busty brunette from the library? For real?”

“Dead serious. She totally made a keychain out of my balls. Wouldn’t stop calling me ‘kid.’ ‘If you act like a kid, I’ll call you kid…’ I thought she was gonna spank my ass!”

“Haha, bet that would’ve gotten you hard, perv,” she needled me.

“Maybe it would’ve,” I laughed through my teeth. “Anyway, in the end, she was great to me. Helped me out and got me out of the jam.”

“I knew a perv like you would get off on flashing your tool around campus.”

“Flashing my tool around campus, like you say, wasn’t the fun part of the night.”

“It wasn’t? Then what was?”

“The showers, obviously. And by the way, I still think it would’ve been way better if you’d forgotten about the hazing and let me give Camilla and you a little love,” I said with my extra-smug smile.

She let out a huff. “See what I was telling you? This asshole was convinced he was gonna score with Camilla and me. What a loser!” she said, looking at the others.

She was starting to piss me off, calling me “asshole,” “perv,” “loser,” and all that shit, especially with that tone of hers that was way more contemptuous than teasing. I decided to needle her back a little, so she wouldn’t think I was gonna be her punching bag.

“Quinn, what am I supposed to think when a girl sets up the whole scheme just to see me naked?”

“Just to see you naked? It was a hazing, newbie. If you think I was interested in seeing your junk, you’re delusional.”

“You weren’t? You took a good long look. Plus, it didn’t take much to get you to strip too, you dirty girl…”

“Pfft… Your eyes were practically popping out of your head when you saw me.”

“Can’t deny that,” I said with a shrug, all casual. “You’re a total babe, I told you that last night. But you enjoyed what you saw too.”

“You’re delusional, newbie.”

“It’s the truth. Just like it’s true you were this close to forgetting the hazing,” I said, holding up my thumb and forefinger almost touching. “You can deny it, but we both know it’s true.”

“Keep it up, asshole, and you’re gonna get slapped,” she snapped, in a tone that wasn’t exactly joking.

“Jesus! Girl, I’m just kidding. If you dish it out, you gotta take it. To pull off jokes that wild, you’ve got some seriously thin skin.”

“And you’re a real cocky little shit, for a fucking newbie!”

“Okay, okay, cut it out, you two,” Sage cut us off. “I guess you want your stuff back, huh, dude?” she asked me.

“Yeah, please and thanks.”

“Come to my room,” she said, nodding her head for me to follow her.

“You don’t wanna piss off Quinn. She can be pretty hardcore with guys,” she warned me casually as we left the kitchen. “Though it’s up to you, of course.”

“She’s the one who started busting my balls, and I don’t like being anyone’s doormat, but… I appreciate the advice. Does this fall under that thing you said about showing me the ropes around here?” I asked her with a smile.

“Sure. And I helped you out with that Maya girl too, right?”

“Yeah, you did. Thanks.”

“I told you you wouldn’t regret helping me. Made any progress with her yet, Romeo?” she asked with a playful smile.

“Uh… no. I think she friend-zoned me hard,” I admitted.

“Aw… Poor baby,” she said, shooting me a mocking look.

“Bah, I’ll survive.”

Sage’s room is right on the opposite side of the building from the kitchen—the right side if you’re coming in the front door—downstairs, right next to the showers. The first thing I saw when I walked in, in the corner on its stand, was my guitar.

“Sage!” I exclaimed. “Why do you have my guitar?”

“Your guitar? That guitar’s mine. It was a gift.”

“Don’t tell me: a gift from Chad. He gave it to you after sending his fucking Alpha buddies to steal it from my room!”

She looked at me dead serious. “For real? You’re not messing with me?”

“You think I’ve seen that guitar there and I’ve decided to make up that it’s mine?”

“Uh… No, of course not… What happened?”

“Like we agreed, I went to the gym, and a bunch of those apes saw me there,” I explained. “Guess they took the chance to sneak into my room and swipe the guitar. That Troy was there, but he didn’t give a shit. Didn’t even think to warn me or report the theft. He just lay on his bed scratching his balls. That’s why I wanna rush the DIKs—I can’t keep living with that fucking asshole. Sage… I’m not gonna get into details, but that guitar was my mom’s and it means a lot to me. When I saw they’d stolen it…” I almost felt like crying, I was about to say, though I cut myself off before I did. “Please, give it back,” I asked her.

“Yeah, of course, take it…” she said, sitting on the bed looking overwhelmed. “You see the kinda shit I have to put up with? Chad told me he’d seen it a pawn shop window and thought of me, ‘cause he knows I’d wanna learn to play. That it was a… ‘peace offering’… And I believed him like an idiot! Thief, liar, son of a bitch!”

I sat next to her and we just stayed quiet, not knowing what to say.

“You find out anything about his slut yet?” she finally asked.

“No. You were right—yesterday at the gym, those apes spent the whole time spouting all kinds of bullshit out loud like they didn’t care who heard, but nothing that’d be useful to you.”

“But you’ll keep trying, right?”

“Of course, Sage. I made you a promise. I’ll do everything I can,” I assured her.

“Jack, you really wanna help me, don’t you?” she asked, looking me right in the eyes.

“I… don’t know you that well yet, but I’m sure you don’t deserve a guy treating you like that. Yeah, of course I wanna help,” I replied. “The problem is… this gym thing depends on too many flukes—that guy deciding to talk about his slut, me being there… You shouldn’t get your hopes up too much.”

“And couldn’t you think of something else?”

“I just got here—I don’t even know people on campus who could dish dirt on the guy or something… You really don’t know anyone who…?”

“I can’t even talk about this with my sisters!” she cut me off, throwing her hands up in frustration. “They all know Chad and the Alphas, and some of ‘em… get along fucking great with them. I told you yesterday: on this, I can only trust you.”

“In that case, you’re trusting an idiot who got played last night into ending up naked in the middle of the street.”

“All the DIKs have been through that kinda stuff. And they hazed me too,” she said. “Plus, if anything, last night you proved you don’t go down easy. That’s important. I think you will come up with something,” she said with a warm smile. Like yesterday, she was giving me a pep talk and buttering me up, of course, but I liked hearing it.

Right then, Quinn poked her head in the door, not bothering to knock.

“The other idiot from last night just showed up for his stuff,” she said, in the same tone a little kid would use to announce the ice cream truck.

“Where is he?” Sage asked, standing up.

“In the entryway. Tell him to come in?”

“Nah, tell him to wait in the yard,” she replied, her face suddenly lighting up with a mischievous smile. “What’d you say his name was again?”

“Derek,” Quinn answered.

“Derek? That Derek?” I thought.

“Girls, I’ve got class first thing and I still haven’t had breakfast. Better get going,” I said, standing up too and grabbing the guitar.

“Alright, dude, see ya,” Sage said.

“See ya, Sage. Quinn…” I said goodbye.

“Perv…” Quinn said, giving me one of her mocking smiles.

I left just in time to catch the show. Sure enough, “the other idiot from last night” was the Derek I know. Oh, and today he was shirtless too.

Sage hollered at him from the window, and without waiting for him to come closer, she started tossing his clothes and the rest of his stuff into the yard while chewing him out for sneaking into the girls’ showers. Sneakers, boxers, and everything else rained down all over the place in graceful arcs, and poor Derek had to run back and forth to grab them. At least Sage was nice enough not to chuck his phone—it could’ve smashed. I walked over to the window while Derek scrambled for the rest, and she handed it to me.

“Yo, Ass-man!” Derek greeted me. “They get you with the shower hazing too?”

“Yeah, me too,” I replied, handing him the phone and starting to walk off, lugging the guitar, suitcase, and the rest of my stuff.

“Knew you’d cave in the end!” he said, following me out of the yard and grabbing one of my bags to lend a hand. “Who hazed you? Quinn?”

“None other than her.”

“Hahaha, fuckin’ Quinn… Hey, the redhead didn’t chuck your stuff out the window on you?”

“Nah. You know I’m on good terms with her, after what went down yesterday in the cafeteria.”

“Oh, right… Hey, we gotta get revenge on Quinn!” he said, all pumped up.

“You planning to trick her into ending up naked in the street? Good luck with that,” I said sarcastically.

“Maybe not that, but… we’ll think of something.”

“Dude, I’m out on revenge. All I want is for those girls and the DIKs to stop pulling hazings on me like last night.”

“Come on! It wasn’t that bad,” he said, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “Actually, the whole thing was a riot.”

“Yeah, hilarious,” I said flatly.

“Right? Totally,” he insisted, grinning big at me.

“No. That was sarcasm,” I replied without changing my tone. “The hazing didn’t strike me as funny at all.”

“Ass-man! Hazings are like adventures. Stories to tell for life! We come to college for exactly that kinda stuff.”

“I already told you I’m here mostly to study and graduate, but truth is, right now, the hazing doesn’t even matter to me. Water under the bridge. I’ve got bigger problems.”

While we were having that chat, we left Greek Row, and I saw Maya waiting for Derek, sitting on a bench in the park. She looked at me all puzzled.

“Hey, Jack,” she greeted when she caught up to us. “What’re you doing here?”

“It’s kinda a long story…”

“They got you with the same hazing as Derek,” she guessed.

“Uh… guess the explanation wasn’t that long after all.”

“Haha, nope. They give everything back?”

“Yeah, got it all,” Derek answered.

“And what’re you doing with all those bags?” Maya asked me.

“Yeah, dude! You’re not going anywhere, are you?” Derek added.

“I’m not going anywhere, but yesterday I almost did,” I replied. Then I spilled the whole saga to Derek and Maya about the guitar theft, how Troy wouldn’t let me into the room and dumped my stuff in the hall where it almost got stolen… “…I’m not going back to the room with that asshole, and I don’t think admin’s gonna switch rooms for me easy, so right now I don’t even have a place to crash. Or anywhere to stash my stuff,” I vented to them.

“Well, at least we can help with that, right Maya?” Derek said.

“Derek!” she exclaimed.

“Come on… Ass-man’s in a bind, and your roommate never showed up…”

“No way! Jack, no offense, but for once in my life I hit the jackpot with a room to myself, and I don’t wanna share it. Plus, we barely know each other…”

“Come on, Maya!” Derek pushed. “Ass-man helped you talk the redhead into letting you pledge, right? He’s a good guy, and he’s gonna be my frat brother. Plus… you owe me.”

“Again with that!” she protested. “How many times you gonna bring it up?”

“This is the last, I promise.”

Maya looked at me, serious.

“You did help me with Sage…” she admitted, like it pained her. “Fine, you can crash in my room… But just for tonight! Take it or leave it.”

“I’ll take it,” I said.

“Ass-man! Why’d you open your mouth?” Derek griped at me. “I could’ve scored you weeks of crash space. Months!”

“Too late. One night, that’s it,” Maya said with a giggle.

“Thanks. I’ll try to get a room change as soon as possible,” I said. “By the way, you guys haven’t told me yet how you know each other. Looks like you’ve got a lot of history…”

Maya burst out laughing. “Yeah, a ton of history. You could say we’ve known each other our whole lives… literally!”

“Ass-man, Maya’s my twin sister!” Derek said.

“For real?” I looked at both of them, pretty shocked. “But you don’t even look alike…”

“That’s because we’re not identical twins. Those are the ones where the egg…” Maya started explaining.

“Yeah, you’re fraternal, I remember from bio class, but seriously, you don’t look alike at all…” I was gonna say they even had different hair colors, but then I noticed Maya’s eyebrows are the same color as Derek’s hair, which is light brown: she’s dyed blonde. Anyway, it looks good on her, so I switched it to a compliment. “No doubt who got the beauty genes between the two of you,” I said.

“Yeah, Derek’s a total babe,” Maya joked.

“Haha, exactly. I’m the good-looking one in the family,” he said.

I chuckled. “I’ve got my own opinion on that.”

“Well… You gonna tell me how your clothes ended up at the HOTs’ house, or what?” Maya changed the subject.

“Didn’t Derek tell you?”

“He just said he lost his clothes in a hazing.”

“Actually, the hazing’s for the HOTs’ pledges too, so… you might find out firsthand,” I told her.

“Shit, that’s right!” Derek jumped in. “When they did mine, there was a pledge…”

“A Hispanic girl? Camilla?” I asked him.

“Nah, a redhead. Mona,” he answered.

“But… what was the hazing like?” Maya pressed.

“You’re not gonna like it…” Derek said, and he told her, though a PG-13 version. I don’t know if he sugarcoated it for his sister, or if the girls went easier on him than they did on me.

In the meantime, we’d made it to the Residence Hall, so we went in so I could drop my stuff in Maya’s room, and from there we headed straight to class. It was already past nine, and we didn’t wanna be late on the first day. For me, coffee and breakfast would have to wait.

***

Classes start every day at nine-thirty, and the first one on Monday is Calculus, one of the gen-ed courses common to all freshmen.

The professor’s name is Robert Mattis, and he seems like one of those guys who thinks he gets paid to explain stuff in class, not to make sure the students understand what he’s explaining. And the guy was itching to get started: he did a course intro in under fifteen minutes, and dove right into filling the board with math formulas, barely giving time to take notes.

Anyway, this summer I had the foresight to study the textbook for this class on my own, so I’ve got a base and nothing sounds like Greek to me. Otherwise, I’m sure I would’ve had trouble keeping up.

Maya and I sat together—the desks are doubles—and I got the impression that either she has prepped over the summer like me, or she’s really good at math. As for Derek, he sat with his friend Ashley.

I also spotted Camilla, who was sitting a few rows ahead of us with a pretty cute redhead girl, who I figured must be Mona, the HOT pledge who hazed Derek.

Speaking of classmates, there were a couple I liked seeing in class a whole lot less: the Alpha with the dyed white hair I kicked in the balls, and who from what I overheard is named Dawe, and Anthony, the Alpha who didn’t join his buddies in the attempted lynching. I guess both flunked the class last year and had to retake it, ‘cause I’m sure they’re not freshmen.

That Anthony guy didn’t pay much attention to me, but the other asshole spent the whole time shooting daggers at me with his eyes. And he wasn’t the only one. Three or four other guys—pretty sure they were freshmen—gave me the same look. Judging by their shirts and their look—gorillas with vaguely human features—must be on the team. I guess my thing with Chad is already public knowledge.

Between classes we’ve got a fifteen-minute break that Maya, Derek, Ashley, and I spent grabbing sodas from the vending machines in the hall. In my case, a sandwich too, to make up for breakfast.

The next class was English Composition, and the professor is none other than the one who broke up my run-in with that Chad yesterday. Her name’s Cathy Jones, and I could confirm my impression from yesterday wasn’t wrong: she’s straight-up hot for her age. Tall—I think I said it yesterday: in heels, taller than me—slim, green eyes, high angular cheekbones, and an elegant bob of mahogany hair. Dyed, but who cares. Like with Maya, I gotta compliment the color choice.

This class, like Calc, is three hours a week—a ton of credits between the two—so tomorrow we’re gonna have the exact same schedule as today. The prospect of seeing that MILF again doesn’t suck at all. Mattis on the other hand…

When classes ended, Derek suggested the four of us—Ashley, Maya, him, and me—grab lunch in the cafeteria, and of course I said yes.

***

We’d just grabbed our food—or whatever you wanna call what they serve in the cafeteria—and sat down when Quinn, Riona, Sarah, and Melanie came over to our table.

“Well, well, the perv with our new sweet daughter…” Quinn said by way of greeting. Do I need to mention her sly tone and sarcastic smile? At this point with this girl, both can be taken for granted.

“Hey Quinn. Pleasure seeing you, as always,” I greeted her. Sage had warned me not to piss her off, so I tried to sound sarcastic but not overdo it.

“Hi everyone… and thanks for accepting me as a daughter,” Maya greeted, a little shy.

“Thank Sage for that,” Quinn said, barely looking at her—the one she was interested in was me. “Perv, I wanna talk,” she said, nodding her head for me to follow her.

I looked at my friends, shrugged, and followed Quinn and the HOTs to a discreet corner of the cafeteria.

“Didn’t know you and Sage were so tight. What’s going on between you two?” she asked, no beating around the bush.

I shrugged. “Nothing’s going on. We’re just becoming friends, that’s it,” I replied. It didn’t even cross my mind to tell that chick that Sage had asked me to spy on her boyfriend.

“Is it about the Chad thing?” she pressed.

“What Chad thing?” I played dumb.

“What happened here yesterday, when you got cocky with him and he almost kicked your ass,” Sarah clarified. “You wanna die young or what’s wrong with you, freshman? Chad doesn’t take shit from anybody.”

I shrugged again. “Nothing happened. Just words and a shove or two.”

“Yeah, ‘cause Cathy stepped in. You got lucky.”

“Believe it or not, maybe the lucky one was him. I’m tougher than I look,” I bragged—I admit it.

Melanie let out a mocking snort. “Dude, cut the tough-guy act. The Alphas almost beat your ass after.”

“They jumped me five at once, like a fucking pack of gorillas,” I said. “You say Chad doesn’t take shit from anybody, but I say he’s actually a piece-of-shit who didn’t have the balls to face me one-on-one.”

“Whatever,” Quinn said. “Why’d you get in Chad’s way?”

“‘Cause he was being an asshole to Sage, and that pissed me off. Somebody had to put him in his place.”

“So you’re a fucking white knight…” she said, though her tone sounded more like “so you’re a fucking retard…”

“I thought I was a fucking perv. Make up your mind, Quinn, one or the other.”

“The jury’s still out. I haven’t figured out what kind of idiot you are yet.”

I shrugged for the third time. “Well, let me know when you do. You want anything else, or can I head back to my table?”

“With that Maya? I was gonna get rid of her, asshole, but you had to stick your nose in HOTs business and make Sage accept her as a pledge,” she suddenly unloaded—really, you can’t let your guard down with this girl.

“Come on, Quinn, I just asked Sage to talk to her. She’s a really cool girl, you’ll see,” I tried to calm her.

“I don’t give a shit. Who the fuck do you think you are to mess in HOTs’ business?” she kept coming at me.

“Sage doesn’t think I’m messing in anything I shouldn’t.”

She didn’t like that answer one bit, ‘cause suddenly her smirk froze on her face. But she recovered it right away.

“So you wanna bang that Barbie doll… what about Josy?”

Once again, she caught me off guard.

“Josy? What do you know about Josy?”

“She called you last night. Poor thing, you should’ve heard how her voice shook when she thought I was your hookup…”

This time she really got under my skin. “What the… Who the hell do you think you are to answer a private call?!” I snapped.

She burst out laughing. “Well, well, the perv-boy’s got some spine,” she said casually to her cronies.

“Of course I’ve got spine! One thing’s a hazing, and a whole other thing’s fucking with people’s private lives!”

“Whatever, fuck off, newbie. I’m done with you,” she said, waving her hand like “get lost.”

“Screw you, Quinn,” I said, and headed off.

I got back to the table, and of course Maya asked what the HOTs wanted with me, but I preferred not to get into details, at least not right then. We finished lunch chatting about classes and last night’s hazing.

Derek managed to take off with Ashley as soon as we finished eating—clearly he likes her and is seriously trying to win her over—and I asked Maya to come with me to admin to request a room change. Like I figured, the lady at the desk gave me the runaround and threw up all kinds of roadblocks. Obviously, she has zero interest in a line of students asking for switches because they don’t like the roommates they got stuck with.

“I knew this wasn’t gonna be easy…” I muttered.

“You really can’t go back to your room?” Maya asked me. “Where’d you sleep last night?”

“Believe it or not, in the preppy mansion,” I replied. She looked at me like she couldn’t decide if I was messing with her or if I’d lost my mind. “I’m not kidding,” I insisted. “Isabella, the librarian, got them to let me crash there for the night.”

“That brunette lady we talked to yesterday?”

“Yeah. She found me after Quinn’s hazing in the parking lot…”

“But after the hazing… you’d be naked, right?”

“Yup.”

“The librarian found you in the parking lot, naked…” she repeated in disbelief.

I told her the whole saga from the night—how Isabella helped me, and what happened when she went with me to my room. “…so yeah, I slept in the preppy mansion… on a fold-up cot in a storage room.”

“So it wasn’t a super comfortable night…”

“At least I didn’t sleep on the grass, which is where I would’ve ended up if not for Isabella. She’s a super serious chick, and truth is she’s a little intimidating too, but last night she was awesome to me.”

“You had a rough first day.”

“That’s putting it mildly. Hey, Maya… I know we agreed I’d only crash in your room for one night, but you see I don’t have anywhere else to go. Could I maybe stay a few more days?” I asked her, and I admit this time I was the one pulling the helpless puppy eyes. “I’m supposed to be a DIK pledge and in a few days I’ll be able to move in with them…”

“Gee, Jack, I was so happy to have a room to myself…”

“I promise I won’t bug you, and plus… we’re friends now, right?” I kept up the shameless emotional blackmail.

“Fine, okay…” she gave in reluctantly. “Until you can move in with the DIKs or they assign you another room…”

“Thanks, for real. Hey… you know where I could buy Isabella some gift? I wanna thank her for being so cool to me last night.”

“What’re you thinking of getting her?” she asked.

“No clue… Isn’t there a flower shop around here?”

“You gonna get her a bouquet? You asking her out or what?” she joked.

“Haha, nah, of course not, but… maybe a little pot with a flowering plant? What do you think? I figure that’s something pretty much everybody likes, and it’s not too personal.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. There is a flower shop in this neighborhood.”

“You wanna come with and give me advice?”

“It’s just… I’m waiting for the HOTs to call me, and I wouldn’t wanna leave campus right now.”

I figured it was better for her to have all the info on Quinn.

“About that… Quinn’s pissed at me, and I think at you too. She says she didn’t wanna accept you as a daughter, and she didn’t like us going around her by talking to Sage. I’m telling you so you watch out with her. She seems like a bitch, honestly.”

“She’s pissed ‘cause I’m a daughter? What if she convinces Sage to drop me?! She said she’d call me, but she hasn’t… Now I’m worried…” She didn’t need to say it. Suddenly she looked really stressed.

“Nah, I talked to Sage this morning and she hasn’t changed her mind,” I reassured her. “You’re a daughter.”

“Oh… Good… And about that shower hazing… you think I’ll have to do it too?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I overheard Quinn telling this Camila that she doesn’t make all the daughters do it. Maybe you’ll get off.”

“For real?” She let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness… You know what? I’ll go with you to that flower shop,” she added with a smile.

We headed out, but just as we were about to leave campus, she got a text from Sage summoning her to the HOTs’ house “ASAP,” so she gave me directions to the shop and took off.

***

I got Isabella a little pot with an orchid (eighteen bucks) and for Maya, a small bouquet of violets (seven). I picked that flower ‘cause it matches her eyes. I know she’s got a boyfriend, but… who knows? Nothing wrong with thanking her for letting me crash in her room with a little something, and nothing bad about trying to win her over… Well, nothing bad for me. I guess her boyfriend would have a different opinion, but… whatever. I don’t know the guy and I don’t owe him anything.

I went to Maya’s room thinking maybe I’d find her there and could give her the bouquet in person, but she wasn’t, so I left it on her pillow with a thank-you note. Since I was alone, I took the chance to call Josy.

“Jack, hey!” she greeted me in a cheerful tone that sounded forced.

“Hey Josy. Listen, you called me last night, right?” I started the conversation. I think I couldn’t help sounding forced and unsure too.

“Yeah, some girl answered… A friend of yours?”

“I assure you she’s not. More like the opposite. She’s a jerk chick who hazed me last night and kept my phone. I didn’t get it back till today. Was she rude to you or something?”

“Yeah… Well, nah, it wasn’t anything. She just called you ‘pervert’ and said you couldn’t answer ‘cause… bah, whatever. Nonsense.”

“I’m sorry, Josy. Some people don’t get the difference between a hazing and harassment.”

“I see… They doing a lot of hazings on campus?”

“Yeah, and pretty wild ones. Well, I guess not for everybody. In my case, it’s ‘cause I’m trying to join a frat.”

“For real? Not the DIKs… Right?”

“You know them?” I asked, surprised.

“I told you my stepbrother’s in a frat—the DIKs!”

“Wow! You said he was at a college, but it didn’t occur to me it was B&R…”

“Well, it is. And he’s the VP of the frat.”

“I know him! Tommy? Dark-haired guy, kinda cocky-looking?”

“That’s the one!”

“What a coincidence! Actually, I think he’s the one who set up the hazing.”

She let out a huff. “I’m sure he did, that’s totally his style.”

“You said he’s hooked on weed… and maybe worse stuff…”

“Yeah… Listen, the other day you said you weren’t interested in frats… You really wanna join the DIKs?”

“Excellent question," I thought. Right then, the obvious answer was “no.”

“Well, it’s not that I want to, it’s that I think I don’t have a choice,” I explained. “The roommate they assigned me is a total asshole… Seriously, compared to him, Sleazy Steve is a gentleman and a scholar.”

“Haha, that bad?”

“Yeah. Admin gave me the runaround on switching rooms and I need a place to live, and the DIKs are the only frat here willing to take me, so…”

“Man… In that case, you’re gonna know the torture of putting up with my asshole stepbrother.”

“Looks like it…” I decided it was time to get to the real reason for the call. “Hey, Josy… actually I wanted to call you yesterday, but… let’s say my day was too chaotic, and I couldn’t. You have any trouble with your parents over… you know?”

“Ugh, yeah… Dad figured out what happened and got mad… But whatever,” she said in a sad tone.

“Why’d they come back early?”

“When they got to the lake, it was pouring. They didn’t check the weather forecast before leaving… Whatever.”

“Aw, that sucks. Did they ground you?”

“Yeah, but like I said, I don’t care. I’d rather not have to go to California with me and Dad fighting, but… it’s up to him.”

“You’re still set on going… Guess you haven’t heard from B&R.”

“That’s right… Uh… How about you? Any trouble getting home? Actually, that’s why I called. I felt bad about… you know, the way you had to leave.”

“Nah, don’t worry, nobody saw me and called the cops. I got dressed and went home no problem.”

“Thank goodness…”

“Hey Josy… After our date and… you know, what we did… it’s hard for me to wrap my head around you going to California and maybe us never seeing each other again. I still think it’s possible they’ll accept you at B&R, and…”

“Jack, no,” she cut me off. “This morning, I called admissions again, and I’ve still got eleven people ahead of me.”

“Well, that’s two less than Saturday…” I said without much conviction.

“It’s still a ton!”

“Even so… You really gonna take off for California that soon? Maybe I could come back to town this weekend and…”

“Jack, I’m at work, and…” she cut me off again.

“…you don’t want Sleazy Steve snitching to his dad,” I muttered, finishing the sentence for her. No point beating a dead horse.

“Bye, Jack,” she said in a tone that wasn’t just a casual goodbye.

“Bye, Josy,” I said.

In her head, she’s already let me go. I should do the same.

Chapter Text

After wrapping up the call with Josy, I headed to the library to give Isabella her gift. I found her at the desk, looking as serious as a heart attack. Though I guess with her, anything else would be the odd one out.

“Hey, Isabella,” I greeted her with my friendliest smile.

“Good afternoon,” she replied, curt.

“I came to tell you I got all my stuff back, including the guitar the Alphas stole, and I’ve got a place to crash, at least for a few days.”

“Uh-huh. Glad to hear it. Anything else?”

“Yeah… To thank you again for helping me out—you were really kind.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I… brought you a little something, you know, as a thank-you… Here you go, hope you like it,” and I handed her the orchid. “They told me at the shop it’s an indoor plant, doesn’t need much light or water… I thought you could put it by the window to brighten up this place, or take it home if you’d rather…”

She took the gift with an expression that only shifted from “I’m looking at an annoying idiot” to “I’m looking at a slightly less annoying idiot,” and a curt “thanks.” Clearly, the conversation wasn’t going anywhere, so I said goodbye and went to find a spot to study.

There weren’t many people around, but at a table in the back, all alone, I saw Jill. Of course, I went over to talk to her.

“Hi, Jill, good afternoon,” I greeted.

“Hi… Jack, right? How you doing?”

“Way better than the first time we met… Well, and the second time too…” I replied with a smile.

“Glad to hear it,” she said, returning the smile. “Hey, did those guys from the team end up hurting you?”

“Uh… Honestly, this morning in the shower I noticed a few bruises on my body, but… nah, it’s not a big deal. They barely hurt.”

“Tch… Really, admin should do something about it… Did Tybalt find you a good place to sleep?” she kept asking.

“Yeah… Well, actually, Ron, the security guard, did. He let me crash in the storage room, on a fold-up cot.”

Her eyes went wide.

“You slept in the storage room!?”

“Your friend Tybalt wanted me to sleep in the mansion’s entryway, on that cushioned bench you guys have there,” her eyes got even wider. “The cot was awesome by comparison,” I went on, keeping the smile. “Seriously, Jill, I’m not complaining. I just needed a place to crash for the night, that’s all. By the way, thanks a ton for convincing your friend to let me stay at the frat house. Otherwise, I probably would’ve had to sleep on the grass.”

“Don’t mention it… You got a place to stay now?”

“Yeah, for a few days at least,” I answered, and before she could ask where and I’d have to explain I’m “illegally” staying with a girl, I changed the subject with the first thing that popped into my head. “What about you, what’re you doing here? Studying?”

“Yeah, obviously, it’s what most students do in the library…” she replied, half-sarcastic, half-amused.

“True, dumb question… It’s just that it’s the first day of class and hardly anybody starts studying this early.”

“Well, junior year’s pretty tough. But it looks like you’ve decided to be responsible and study on day one too.”

“Yeah, I don’t wanna fall behind. I’d like to study a bit every day.”

“Good for you… Hey, even though there’s not many people here now, we’re not supposed to be chatting in the library…”

“Don’t worry, Isabella and I are super tight. I’m sure she won’t mind us talking,” I said in a dead serious tone—totally joking.

She gave me a sarcastic smile and raised an eyebrow.

“Is that so?”

“Of course,” I kept up the bit. “She loves me.”

“If that were true, you’d know she prefers her friends call her ‘Bella,’ and that if she saw us chatting here, she’d definitely mind, friends or not.”

I let out a chuckle. “Maybe we’re not that tight,” I admitted. “But you two are close, right?”

“Yeah, Bella’s my best friend,” she said.

“Brilliant. She seems super serious, and honestly… kinda intimidating, but I know she’s a great person. Truth is, I don’t know what I would’ve done last night if she hadn’t helped me.”

“That’s right. A lot of people judge Bella just by her exterior and don’t see she’s actually a sweet, kind person. I’m glad you’re not one of them.”

“Good… Guess I should let you get back to studying…”

“No! Uh… I mean, we can keep chatting if you want, just keep it low.”

“Whisper whisper…” I murmured.

“What?”

“Whis-per, whis-whis-per, whissss…” I went on.

“Haha, you’re such a goof. Come on, sit next to me so I can hear you,” she said, pointing to the seat beside her.

“Thanks. You come here every day?” I asked, sitting down.

“Not every day, just sometimes. When I want to see Bella, or when… I want to be alone and have some space.”

“Oh… And here I am bugging you…”

“No, it’s fine, I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean the library at my frat house is usually too… crowded.”

“I get it. Speaking of, I thought your frat was guys-only. Is it co-ed, actually?”

“Not exactly. It’s a male frat, but they make exceptions sometimes. My dad’s an alum, and he pulled strings to get them to make one for me,” she explained.

“Oh, got it. You know, I’m trying to get into the DIKs.”

“Oh… Were they the ones who pulled that hazing on you?”

“Uh… yeah,” I replied, feeling my face heat up.

“What was that hazing like?” she asked.

“Didn’t Isabella tell you?”

“No. She just said she found you in a compromising situation.”

“Uh… it was definitely compromising,” I said with relief. “It’s kinda embarrassing to talk about, honestly. Can we leave it at that?”

“Of course,” she said, her tone understanding. “Hey… Those DIK boys, aren’t they a bit…?”

“Party animals and players?” I finished her sentence. “Yeah, that’s their rep, and I think they’ve earned it. But I need a place to live, and admin’s already stuck me with every hurdle to switching rooms, so I think the DIKs are my best shot at long-term housing.”

“Couldn’t you join another frat?” she asked.

“Which one? I’m too broke to get into yours, the Alphas hate my guts, the Betas don’t have a house… so I’ve got two options: the DIKs, or borrowing a dress from you and trying my luck with the HOTs,” I joked.

“That last one I’d love to see,” she said with an amused giggle.

“Haha, I don’t think I’d pull it off. Guess it’s gotta be the DIKs.”

“I see. Have the Alphas hassled you again?” she asked, getting serious.

“Nah, at least not today… Bah, don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it. It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with this kinda crap.”

“Not the first time you’ve been bullied?”

“Nope… happened back in middle school… and then high school too,” I admitted, a little embarrassed. “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d deal with it again in college, but bullying seems like some kinda curse for me,” I said with a shrug.

She gave me a sympathetic look. “I know what that’s like. I dealt with bullying too.”

“Oh… Sorry to hear that. How old were you?”

“About eight.”

“Same age as me when it started… What happened?”

“A boy in my class took a real dislike to me. He used to pick on me… Actually, that wasn’t so bad, just annoying. But after a while, his friends started doing it too, and that was worse.”

“What’d they do? Just words, or did it get… physical?”

“Uh… no… well, you know, mean words, heavy pranks to humiliate me… One time they put gum in my hair,” she said. The memory made her make a face and shake her head in disgust. “There was no way to get it out, so they had to cut it off.”

“Man, I know that can be rough for a little girl. I hope they could give you a cute haircut, even if it was short.”

“Well… actually, yeah,” she smiled. “Mom took me to her stylist and got me a bob cut that I ended up really liking. And it was comfortable. I’ve thought about getting it again a few times.”

“I can picture it,” I said, staring at her face with a smile. “And yeah, I bet it’d look good on you. But it’d be a shame to sacrifice that gorgeous hair of yours. It looks great on you too.”

“Oh… thanks…” she said, blushing a little, which on a girl that beautiful had a really cute effect.

“But I think your case and mine were a little different,” I added.

She furrowed her brow curiously. “What do you mean?”

“That actually, your bully had a crush on you.”

“What? He hated me!”

“Love and hate are the same feeling, one positive and one negative. Two sides of the same coin. Let me guess, and stop me if I’m wrong. That boy… maybe he sat near you in class?” I said.

She nodded. “Yeah, next to me. The teacher put him there. I wanted to sit with my friends.”

“Of course. And since you ignored him, he decided to get your attention with dumb pranks. He’d hide your eraser or pencil, draw something silly in your notebook… Stuff like that. Am I on track?”

“Well, it was a little more annoying than that, but… yeah, you’re on track.”

“At that age, boys are idiots—we don’t know any better. So you got mad and told him to leave you alone, until you decided to complain to the teacher.”

“That’s right. The teacher moved him.”

“And he felt rejected, and that’s when he really took a dislike to you. And from what you say, he must’ve had some charisma with other kids, kinda like a mini-leader, so they started picking on you too, and that’s when things got really nasty. Am I wrong?”

“Not at all! More or less, that’s what happened. How’d you know?”

I shrugged. “Wasn’t hard to guess. It’s almost always the same when a boy picks on a girl in school, especially if the girl’s pretty.”

“Like when boys pull the pigtails of the girl they like, but taken to the extreme. Is that what you mean?”

“Exactly that. How’d it get resolved?”

She made a face. “It didn’t end well… My parents talked to the school principal, several times, but it didn’t work. Every time they punished those kids, they’d get mad and be even meaner to me. One time I even fought one… It was after the gum in the hair. I kicked him in… well, you know where.”

I blinked, surprised. “Ouch!”

“Uh… Someone told me to do it…”

“And did it work?”

“No… It made it worse. The principal said fights were intolerable, and… Well, in the end my parents decided the best thing was to switch schools. It was awful, ‘cause I lost all my friends.”

“I see… All because of a preteen Romeo who couldn’t handle his feelings or treat a girl right.”

“Yeah… What happened to you?”

“My case is way simpler: there were some kids I knew from kindergarten and got along with, who pretty much overnight decided I was actually a loser and they’d have more fun bullying me than being my friends.”

This time she was the one who blinked, confused. “But… why?”

“Some kids get a kick out of picking on the weak, so they look for any excuse. They’ve got this sadistic side that I think wakes up around that age, eight. They don’t have moral filters yet, so they can be really cruel. I guess most learn to control it as they grow up…”

“Those Alphas aren’t kids, and they’re bullying you! I guess some kids never grow up…” She trailed off for a second, like she wasn’t sure if she should go on. “Jack, I heard a story… That Chad, the Alphas’ president, was bothering a girl yesterday in the cafeteria, and a freshman stood up to him… That was you, right?” she asked.

“Uh… Yeah, it was me.”

“What happened?”

“What you said. Chad had grabbed the girl by the arm, was shaking her, yelling at her… All right in front of me. I figured I had to do something, so I confronted the guy. Later I found out the girl’s his girlfriend.”

“Was there a fight?”

“Is that what the rumor says?” I asked.

“Actually, I think there are a few rumors going around…”

“Yeah? What versions?”

“That… you flirted with the girl, and her boyfriend got mad at you for it.”

“Of course not! It happened like I told you. But it didn’t turn into a fight, just words. A professor came over and stopped it. The wildest part is that prof teaches my class. English Composition, no less, three hours a week… Hope she doesn’t think I’m some troublemaker and take a dislike to me in class.”

“Is it Cathy Jones?”

“Yeah.”

“Cathy’s a really good person, she won’t think badly of you,” she assured me. “Is that why those Alphas jumped you afterward?”

“That’s right. I guess I’ve put a target on my back with those guys…”

Right then, Isabella showed up.

“Hey Bella!” I greeted her with a friendly smile… that she didn’t return. Just the opposite, she got even more serious.

“What’d you tell this young man, Jill?” she asked sternly.

“Nothing… Just that your friends call you Bella,” Jill said, I think a little intimidated, just like me.

She looked at me, frowning—even more than she already was, I mean. “Jack, people come here to study or read, not to try and pick up girls,” she scolded me.

“Bella! Jack and I were just chatting, that’s all,” Jill protested. “I’m just trying to be friendly with new students on campus…”

“I took this young man to your fraternity last night because he had nowhere to sleep, that’s all,” Isabella told her. “I don’t think he’s the kind of boy you should be hanging out with.”

“And I’m giving orchids to this witch…,” I thought.

“Jill’s not a little kid!” I burst out. “She’s an adult and I don’t think she needs to be told who to talk to or not. You think she has that little judgment?”

“Of course not! But she doesn’t know you. You get into trouble and do stupid stuff. Jill shouldn’t hang out with boys like you,” she said in a tone close to contempt.

“Boys ‘like me’? Wow, a little, just a little judgmental, don’t you think?” I shot back, sarcastic. “True, Jill doesn’t know me, but neither do you—you have no idea what I’m really like. You formed a bad opinion of me ‘cause you met me at a bad moment, and I get it. I’m the first to admit I’m embarrassed you saw me in that situation. But I don’t think I’m the first guy to get hazed at B&R, and plus, I tried to show you I’m grateful. I really wanted us to get along, but clearly you don’t want that to happen,” I said, shaking my head bitterly. “Better if I sit somewhere else so I don’t bother anybody.”

“Jack, you weren’t bothering me,” Jill said.

“Thanks. But apparently, I’m really bothering Bella.”

“It’s Isabella!” she snapped.

“Yeah, sorry, Isabella,” I corrected. “Jill, nice chatting with you, and thanks again for the help. See you around. Bye.”

“Bye…”

As I walked away, I heard Jill say something like “Bella! That was really rude!”

I pulled out my notes from this morning’s classes and reviewed them, though there’s not much to study yet. After a bit, I started writing this diary. It’s almost eight now. My plan is to hit the cafeteria, then spend an hour or so at the gym.

***

After ending the conversation with Josy, I decided I wasn’t really that hungry. Or more like, I didn’t feel like eating the cafeteria slop twice in one day. I got a sandwich and a candy bar from a vending machine and ate them on the way to Maya’s room.

She wasn’t there, but she must’ve stopped by a bit earlier, because she’d put the bouquet of violets in a glass of water, and on the back of my note she’d written “Thanks! I’ve got stuff to do with the HOTs this afternoon, but see you tonight.”

I left my backpack with my class stuff and laptop, and changed into workout clothes.

***

At the gym, I ran into the Alphas hogging the weight machines, but this time they weren’t alone—they were with a bunch of girls. Team groupies, I guess. Among them, Melanie and Sarah, two of the HOTs I’d met this morning. When Sarah saw me, she pointed me out and made a comment that got Chad, his ape buddies, and the girls around them cracking up. I imagine something about the shower hazing.

I guess when Sage said this morning she can’t trust her sorority sisters because some are way too tight with the Alphas, she meant at least those two—Sarah and Melanie. Quinn and Riona were in the gym too, but they didn’t seem as buddy-buddy with those guys. They were off to the side, running on the treadmills.

I decided to ignore both Alphas and HOTs, and start my routine. I did the warm-up and stretching, then went to town on the heavy bag.

I’d been pounding the bag with punches and kicks for a good while when Riona came over.

“Hey, handsome. The bag surrender yet?” she asked in a good mood.

“Haha, yeah, it’s had enough,” I said, wiping the sweat off my face with the towel and starting to take off my gloves.

“You picturing it as Quinn?”

“Nah, no way. But maybe some other people.”

“Chad and the Alphas…”

“Yeah, that could be,” I said, motioning for her to follow me to the water fountain for a sip. Despite the AC, it was hot and I was thirsty.

“You’re not their favorite either. They say you hit on Sage and Chad taught you a lesson for it.”

“You know that’s bullshit.”

“I’m just telling you what they say,” she replied.

“Actually, I heard that rumor too. Bah, the cafeteria was full of people who saw what really happened. I don’t think that rumor’s got legs,” I said, filling a little cup with water and handing it to her.

“Maybe not. Though it’s true you flirted a little with Sage this morning…” she said with a half-sarcastic smile, taking the cup. I started filling one for myself.

“I flirted a little with you too, right, gorgeous? It’s just joking around. Plus… am I supposed to respect some ‘bro code’ or whatever with a jerk who pulls shitty stunts on Sage like he did yesterday, and tried to beat the crap out of me with five other guys?”

“I guess not,” she said with a shrug. “I don’t care who you flirt with. Just saying those guys can be dangerous. Though I think you figured that out yesterday.”

“Yeah, and thanks for the warning. But you saw I can handle myself,” I said, nodding toward the bag.

“Against a bag…” she said, skeptical.

“Against a guy too,” I assured her.

“And against a whole frat?”

“You’re right. I can’t take on the whole pack of gorillas. I’m not Superman,” I admitted. “But I’ll be careful.”

“Still mad at Quinn over the hazing?” she changed the subject.

“I’m not mad at her over the hazing. You saw this morning I’m not the type to get pissed over a prank, even one as… wild as last night’s. But answering a private call and being rude to a friend of mine—that’s crossing a line. From now on, I’m done with her.”

“The thing is, I don’t think she’s done with you…” she said, with that sarcastic smile still on her face.

“Why do you say that?”

“She’s got her eye on you.”

“Something tells me I’m not gonna like that attention, coming from her…”

She let out a chuckle under her breath. “Maybe you will end up liking it.”

“I doubt it.”

“You wouldn’t be the first guy it happens to.”

“That… I can believe. I admit, despite everything, she’s got her… charms.”

“Haha, see? Hey, that girl who called you, is she your girlfriend?” she asked, clearly fishing for info. There was no reason not to give it.

“Nah, I don’t have a girlfriend. She’s a friend from my town. She called ‘cause she’s on the waitlist for B&R and wanted to know how my first day here went.”

“And did you tell her?”

“No way! If I’d told her even half the stuff that happened to me yesterday, she wouldn’t wanna come to B&R anymore. Fuck! She’d run screaming as far from this place as possible.”

She burst out laughing. “Poor baby…”

“Bah, I’ll get through it. Hey, Riona, aren’t you scared those Alphas might give you shit if they see you talking to me?” I asked her. My turn to fish for info.

She got serious. “I talk to who I want, and do what I want. If they get pissed, that’s their problem.”

“I see. But… for example, would those guys get pissed if they knew you were at the DIKs’ party last night?” I pressed.

“Last night wasn’t a party, just a meeting, to organize the hazings, but… why’re you asking?”

“I’m trying to understand how things really are with the frats around here. It matters to me if I’m gonna join the DIKs. I heard the HOTs are ‘Alpha girls,’ and…”

She cut me off with a huff. “Yeah, that’s what those guys would want. I’m no ‘Alpha girl’ or any of that shit.”

“And the others?” I said, nodding toward the group of Alphas, where Sarah and Melanie were, giggling at their every word.

“Well… Everybody does what they want, but… nah, not really.”

“I also heard you used to only party with the Alphas, but now you also do with the DIKs, and the Alphas are pissed about it, and there’s trouble.”

“Uh… That’s true,” she admitted.

“What kinda trouble? Anything serious?”

“Nah, just beef between Alphas and DIKs. Never really gone too far,” she said, waving it off. “Though us HOTs are stuck in the middle of it, and it sucks,” she added.

“And why’s it a problem for those guys if you party with the DIKs? Can’t you party with who you want?”

“Of course we can, but… truth is, between HOTs and Alphas there’s history and shared traditions, and that’s hard to change.”

“Even so, you should be free to go to whatever parties you want without it being a problem for anybody, right?” She shrugged, with a resigned gesture. “I get the impression the Alphas are acting like cavemen about this. Or am I wrong?”

“You’re not wrong,” she admitted.

“And how do the DIKs act?”

“I guess they’re not so bad,” she said, shrugging again. “And honestly, they throw better parties,” she added with a smile.

“And haven’t you thought about ditching the Alphas?”

“I told you: it’s not easy to break traditions.”

“Why? Didn’t you say you’re not ‘Alpha girls’ and you do what you want?” I pressed her.

“Well… you know Sage and Chad are a couple, and so are Arieth and Dawe…”

“Who are Arieth and Dawe?”

“Dawe’s the Alphas’ VP.”

“The asshole with the white-dyed hair who looks like he’s thirty-five?” I asked.

“Yeah, that one,” she said with a grimace.

“And Arieth?”

“Ari’s the most senior HOT. Don’t worry, you’ll meet her soon… and probably get to know her real well,” she said with a sly, mysterious smile. “My point is that, on top of everything, there are personal relationships between HOTs and Alphas. We can’t just ‘ditch those guys,’ things don’t work like that,” she explained.

“And there aren’t that kinda personal relationships with the DIKs?”

“Truth is, there are. Two sisters are dating DIKs.”

“I see… So, if I’m reading between the lines, at least some of you are already leaving the Alphas for the DIKs, and the Alphas are pissed about it.”

“I guess… yeah, it’s something like that,” she admitted.

Right then, Quinn came over.

“Hey, perv,” she greeted me, half teasing, half insulting, as always.

“Good afternoon, Quinn,” I replied politely. “Want some water?” She nodded.

“You not pissed at me anymore?” she asked.

“Not enough to not say hi. But answering a private call was a dick move, and you know it,” I said, filling a little cup and handing it to her.

“Sure. But sneaking into a sorority shower to steal panties was a total gentleman move, right?” she shot back.

“You know I didn’t do it ‘cause I felt like it.”

“But you did it. Nobody held a gun to your head.”

“What’re you trying to say? That we’re both assholes?”

“I’m saying get off your fuckin’ high horse, like you didn’t do anything wrong. You deserved everything that happened to you last night, and you know it.”

“Actually… you’re totally fucking right,” I admitted. “If I sneak into girls’ showers to steal panties, ending up bare-assed in the middle of the street is exactly what I could expect. But you didn’t have to answer a private call and shit-talk to a friend of mine. That’s crossing a line.”

“Bah, stop whining, newbie, it was just a joke. Who’s that chick?” she asked, blatantly fishing for info.

“A friend from his hometown,” Riona answered for me. “He says she’s on the waitlist for B&R.”

“Friend, or… friend?” she asked with intent.

“Actually, coworker. Summer job at a mini-mart,” I clarified.

“If she’s on the waitlist, maybe we’ll see her around.”

“I hope so,” I replied.

“That means you wanna bang her…” she said, keeping up her info-fishing tactic. Unfortunately, a smug grin must’ve slipped onto my face, and the bitch caught it on the fly. “Or you already did, perv?”

“Why’re you so interested in my friends or who I bang, Quinn?” I shot back.

“You’re right, I don’t care,” she said, crumpling the paper cup and tossing it in the trash. “Rio, let’s go. The pledges and that Barbie doll this guy stuck us with are waiting.”

“Jesus, Quinn! What’s your problem with Maya? You don’t even know her,” I protested. “Give her a chance, she’s a cool girl.”

“Yeah, we’re about to see how cool she is,” she said with a malicious smile. “See ya, perv.”

The girls took off, and I kept working out a bit longer—cardio on the treadmill this time—before heading to the showers.

***

I took a quick shower and went back to the room. As I figured, Maya wasn’t there, so I took the chance to call Dad. A quick call, and of course, I didn’t tell him half the stuff that’s happened to me these past two days.

Then I called Nell, and after her Julia, so they don’t say I’m forgetting about them now that I’m a college guy. Same tactic: five-minute calls, just general chat. I don’t want them thinking I’m a loser who lets everybody push him around—which is pretty much what’s happened since I got here, honestly.

After the calls, I got out my guitar and practiced. I’d been working on finger exercises for a good bit—must’ve been around ten at night—when Maya came in. Seeing what I was doing, she asked me to keep playing, and sat down on her bed to listen.

Obviously, I didn’t keep doing scales and finger exercises—the most boring thing in the world for a listener—so I played her the ‘love theme’ from Cinema Paradiso by Ennio Morricone. It’s a piece I really like—according to Dad, it was one of Mom’s favorites, and she played it beautifully, so I learned it myself. Zoey used to say it’s cheesy, but I know she actually liked it too.

“Wow! Jack! You play really well!” she praised me when I finished. “How long have you been studying guitar?”

“Since I was eight,” I answered.

“Is there a music school in your town, or private lessons?”

“Neither. I would’ve loved music lessons—I’d probably play way better—but I learned on my own, with guitar and theory books I got from the library, online tutorials, stuff like that. Really, I’m just an amateur, I play for fun.”

“Well, I’ve really enjoyed what you’ve played… Plus, it’s the soundtrack from a movie I love.”

“Yeah? I should watch it sometime.”

“You haven’t seen it?”

“Nope. Honestly, I don’t watch many movies.”

“You don’t like them?”

“Yeah, of course I like them, but I never had much time. You do?”

“I love them! I’ve always had my best times in a movie theater.”

We chatted for a few minutes about hobbies, and then she asked me to play something else. The funny thing is, instead of staying on her bed, she got up and sat on mine, next to me.

I played a couple more Morricone pieces, soundtracks from movies that, unlike me, she had seen, and she told me about them.

When I wrapped up the “recital” and got up to put the guitar back on its stand, instead of going back to her bed, she got comfortable on mine, leaning back like it was a couch, using the headboard as a backrest, so I sat the same way next to her. Her vibe felt strangely intimate.

We talked about my afternoon, how bitchy Isabella had been to me despite the gift, the gym… When I asked what she’d been doing, her face changed, and not for the better.

“I’ve been with the HOTs all afternoon,” she replied.

“And what’s the problem?”

“The problem is the mother they assigned me.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Quinn!” she said in the same tone she would’ve used for “Lucrezia Borgia.”

“Oh… I was hoping it’d be Sage.”

“That’s what I was hoping too, and it seemed like she was about to pick me as her daughter, but before anybody could say anything, Quinn said she wanted me for herself, so I’ll have to put up with her. At least she told me the rumor about the HOTs scholarship is true.”

“For real?” I was surprised.

“Well… Actually, not in so many words. She asked if I’d heard the rumor, and when I said yes, she hinted there might be something to it.”

“Maya, I wouldn’t trust too much of what Quinn says…” I warned her.

“I don’t know… The other two daughters have heard the rumor too and think it could be true…”

I looked at her skeptically.

“Three scholarships? That’s a ton of money…”

“I don’t know… But it’s worth a shot.”

“I guess you’re right. You don’t lose anything anyway,” I said.

We kept chatting, and she told me the ceremony assigning daughters to mothers was at the HOTs’ house pool—yeah, apparently they have an indoor pool. I guess Quinn and Riona left for that ceremony after we saw each other at the gym.

Then we changed the subject, and she talked about her family. Mostly about Derek. She said that even though they’re twins, they’ve got really different personalities, but they still have a super close relationship. For my part, I told her about Dad, my job at the nursing home, and even a bit about Zoey.

During the whole evening, just like yesterday, I felt like I was getting mixed signals on my flirt radar, so I decided to take advantage of the moment—it seemed like the romantic music had put her in a mellow mood—to figure out what was going on, and I switched the conversation to her boyfriend. I asked if they’d known each other long, if he studies at B&R… and she just gave vague answers. I pressed a little more and… finally she confessed she doesn’t actually have a boyfriend.

“And why’d you say it, then?” I asked, confused.

“Because… Uh… I prefer guys not paying attention to me.”

“For real? Why?”

“Well, it’s just… right now, things are a little complicated in my life and… let’s say I don’t have time for that stuff.”

“Oh… So, you wouldn’t want me to be attracted to you?”

“Maybe… it’d be better if not…” she said, looking away.

On this stuff—like everything—I hate beating around the bush, and since my goal is to not get friend-zoned, I decided to be straight up.

“Maya… it might be a little late. Truth is, I am attracted to you,” I confessed. “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna chase you or anything, just… you asked for total honesty, so… there’s the info, do what you want with it.”

She got a little flustered, but it didn’t seem like she was bothered; more the opposite.

“Oh… Well… Thanks for being honest…” she said. “Uh… It’s late, we should go to sleep…”

She was right. Between one thing and another, it was already eleven.

She got up, opened the closet door, and used it as a screen to change and put on her pajamas—a light set of top and shorty bottoms. For my part, I just stripped to my boxers and got in bed.

***

Now… I don’t even know if Zoey and I were a real couple, but at least we had “something” real. Intimacy, trust… stuff I miss. At the very least, with her I wasn’t alone. Now I am, and I’m sick of it. I want to have a couple again. A real one, not just friendship and hookups, which is what I had with my nurse friends. That was just a phase to get over my heartbreak with Zoey, when I finally accepted she’s not coming back from California. Truth is, I used them as “rebound chicks,” though I’m sure they know and I doubt they care one bit.

The situation with Josy seems like a dead end, and as for the girls I’ve met on campus, Sage and Jill feel like they’re way out of my league—plus Sage is with that fucking Chad, and maybe Jill’s with that Tybalt—and Quinn clearly just wants to mess with me and have fun at my expense.

But Maya… she’s different.

She’s not as sexy as Sage or as stylish as Jill, but with her “girl next door” vibe, she’s got a lot of appeal. And maybe… she’s more in my league.

She reminds me a little of Josy, I don’t know why. Maybe because both look cheerful on the outside but are actually sad girls deep down. With Maya, during our conversation she hinted she has some issue with her parents that makes her suffer, though she didn’t give details. I guess it’s a really personal topic, and we’re not there yet. The point is, it gives her this vulnerable air that makes me wanna help her. It’s dumb, obviously. I don’t know how the hell I could help her.

I guess Quinn’s right: I’ve got a bit of a white knight complex. At least with pretty girls.

The problem with Maya is what I mentioned: she sends mixed signals. On one hand, she makes up a fake boyfriend so I won’t be interested in her. On the other… she acts exactly like she’s trying to make that happen. And it’s not just that. Yesterday she straight-up used me. Not that I mind. I would’ve helped her with Sage anyway. But isn’t that a red flag? But she’s also been awesome letting me crash in her room for a few days…

So yeah—I’m a mess.

Eh, I’m overthinking it. It’s way too early to be talking about anything serious with Maya—or anybody. I’ll try to get to know her better and make moves little by little. And whatever’s gonna happen will happen.

Chapter Text

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

Last night, Maya set her phone alarm for seven-thirty so she could go jogging before breakfast, and she asked if I wanted to join her. I said yeah, so we both kicked off the day with some exercise. After a shower and a quick breakfast, we headed to class.

Tuesday’s schedule is the same as Monday’s, and just like yesterday, Derek sat with Ashley, and I sat with Maya for both classes. During the break, Maya and I went to grab sodas from the hallway vending machine. Camilla and Mona, the other two HOTs pledges, had the same idea and joined us in line.

“Hola chico. ¿Hoy llevas ropa?” Camilla greeted me with a grin.

“Haha, sí. Puedo quitármela si quieres. Pero esta vez, en privado.”

She cracked up. “Eres un sinvergüenza.”

I shrugged with a smile. “Un poco.” Then I switched to English. “Wanna introduce me to your friend?”

“Sure. This is Mona.”

“Hey, I’m Jack. Nice to meet you,” I said.

“Hey, man. I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said with a giggle.

“Good stuff, I hope.”

“Oh, quite the package,” she said, and both she and Camilla burst out laughing while Maya looked at them, probably not getting it.

Mona’s a redhead—kinda auburn—with gorgeous blue eyes. Pretty cute. She’s got a killer body too. I’ve realized at B&R that I’m definitely into redheads.

“So, who did you guys get assigned as mothers?” I asked them.

“Sage, the president,” Mona answered. “You’re friends with her, right?”

“Uh… I guess you could say that. We get along,” I replied. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” she said, but I could pretty much read her thoughts without telepathy: ‘Friend of the girl who decides whether I get into HOTs? This guy’s worth knowing.’

“Riona told us she didn’t throw your clothes out the window after the hazing,” Camilla jumped in. “You know Riona too, right?”

“We’ve talked a couple times,” I said. “She’s the one who tricked me into walking right into the shower trap.”

“But you didn’t get mad at her, right?” she kept asking.

“Nah, it was just a hazing. I don’t get pissed about that stuff, I know it’s not personal. She seems cool, pretty fun.”

“She’s my mother, you know?”

“Yeah? How’s that going so far?”

“Like you said: she’s cool. Though some of the tasks are kinda intense…”

“Tasks?” I asked.

“Yeah, you know, every mother gives her daughter a list of tasks for the Scavenger Hunt. Mona and I are teaming up,” she explained.

“What about you, Maya?” I asked her.

She made a face. “I’m on my own for now. Since we’re an odd number…”

“Quinn give you a task list too?” I pressed.

“Yeah…”

“What tasks?”

“They’re supposed to be secret… Quinn would flip if I told you,” she mumbled, looking embarrassed.

“I’m not gonna tell Quinn, but… whatever. Are they gonna take another pledge so you’re even and you get a Scavenger Hunt partner?”

She shrugged. “No clue.”

We got to the front of the line, and I treated the girls to their sodas. Nothing wrong with making a good first impression, especially if it only costs a few coins.

“¿Jack, puedes hacerme un favor?” Camilla asked as we stepped away from the machine to huddle in the hallway. “I need a guy to help me with one of my tasks.”

“Si, claro, te ayudo, si puedo. ¿Qué favor?” I said.

“Te… lo dire más tarde.”

“Guys, not everybody speaks Spanish…” Mona cut in, popping open her soda.

“I just asked Jack to help me with one of my tasks, you know which one,” Camilla explained, giving her a knowing look. “And maybe he could help you with yours too.”

“Great idea! You gonna help us, Jack?” Mona asked.

“You’ll have to tell me what those tasks are, but if I can help, sure, count me in,” I said. “Plus… if the DIKs take me, I’ll probably need help with whatever tasks they give me too.”

“For sure. Cammy already told me you’re a cool guy. Not like the loser I had to haze in the showers that night,” Mona said casually.

“A loser? Why?” Maya asked.

“Pfft… He practically started crying when Quinn and I caught him in the shower with the panties. It was pathetic. He thought we were gonna call the cops or something,” she answered.

“No wonder Derek hasn’t come over to meet these two,” I thought.

“Well, I wasn’t exactly chill at first either. But then I realized the whole thing was a hazing and nobody was calling the cops, so I decided to play along with Quinn,” I said. “I guess Riona or Tommy tipped her off that the new suckers were on their way.”

“Yup. Tommy, actually,” Mona said, giggling. “The guys last night were pretty pathetic too. One legit started crying, begging us not to get him kicked out.”

“There were hazings last night too?” I asked.

“I had to haze two guys!” she replied with a grimace. “We were at it till one in the morning.”

“Three for me,” Camilla added, looking no happier.

“With Quinn?” I asked.

“One with Quinn, the other two with my mother, Rio.”

“And you with Sage, then?” I asked Mona.

“Nah, she doesn’t seem to care about that stuff. With Sarah and Melanie, one guy each. First time was fun, but now, it just feels like a chore.”

“For real. When Quinn told me I had to help with a hazing, I thought it’d just be one guy,” Cammy complained. “Hope we don’t have to do it again tonight,” she added, throwing a side glance at Maya, which she definitely noticed, because she frowned.

“You haven’t done it yet, have you?” Mona asked Maya. Casually, but somehow it sounded like an accusation.

“No, Quinn hasn’t told me to do it,” Maya replied, annoyed, fidgeting with a silver bracelet on her wrist.

“Well, if you told her you wanted to… then we wouldn’t always be the ones stuck with it. I mean, you’re a pledge too…” Cammy suggested.

“Uh… I don’t know…” Maya muttered, starting to blush.

Time to step in and change the subject.

“So… how many DIK candidates have you girls hazed so far?” I asked them.

Camilla thought for a second. “Uh… seven?” she said, looking at Mona, who nodded.

“Wow… Bad news for me. Sage said this year the DIKs are only taking two pledges.”

“You’re gonna have competition…” Mona said.

“Actually, Sage already warned me about that,” I admitted. “The DIKs are a popular frat. Makes sense more than two guys would wanna join.”

“Bah, I bet they’ll pick you,” Camilla encouraged. “You were the only one who had the balls to own the hazing and play along. That’s gotta count for something.”

“I don’t think the DIKs know that.”

“Of course they do! I’m sure Quinn told them.”

“If my shot at the frat depends on Quinn talking me up to those guys… I better get used to the idea I’ll never be a DIK,” I said, discouraged.

“Why do you say that?” Mona asked.

“‘Cause she can’t stand me,” I replied.

“Well, of all the guys we’ve hazed, you’re the only one she talks about. I don’t think she even knows the others’ names,” Cammy said.

I shrugged. “She doesn’t know mine either. She calls me perv or newbie…”

“Haha, yeah, but she’s noticed you, and that’s what matters. Whatever she says, she liked that you had the guts to play along.”

“Actually… Riona told me yesterday that Quinn’s noticed me,” I mentioned.

“See?”

“The problem is she’s noticed me ‘cause she thinks she can keep screwing with me and treating me like her toy, not ‘cause she likes me.”

“If there’s anybody she actually likes…” Maya muttered, almost to herself.

“Nah, dude. She’s noticed you ‘cause you stood up to her, and she liked that,” Cammy said, giving me a playful nudge on the shoulder.

“You think?” I asked, surprised.

“Yeah… Well, and ‘cause she wants to keep screwing with you and treating you like her toy,” she added with a laugh, which Mona and I joined.

“Hey, maybe that’s not a bad thing,” Mona said with a sly look. “Maybe it’ll help you become a DIK pledge so… y’know, she can keep you close.”

“Keep me close so she can keep screwing with me and treating me like a toy…”

“You know, no gain without pain…” she said with a sarcastic smile.

“So not only would I have to deal with the DIKs’ hazings, but Quinn’s too… I’m starting to think this whole frat pledge thing isn’t such a great idea,” I said, half-joking, half-serious.

“Nah, wey. It’s just a few more days, and I don’t think there’s anything worse than the shower thing. You can handle it,” Cammy said, encouragingly.

“Think about all the parties you’ll get invited to once you’re a DIK,” Mona added.

“Yeah, I think you’re right. Anyway, seriously, none of us actually know what the DIKs’ criteria are for picking pledges, right?” They shook their heads. “Then it’s pointless to stress about it now.”

Right then, Professor Cathy came down the hall, and the four of us went into class.

***

After class ended, Maya, Derek, Ash, and I ate in the cafeteria, like yesterday. Derek pretty much monopolized the conversation chattering about the DIKs. He took it for granted that we'd both been accepted as pledges after the shower hazing, and when I told him about the conversation with Mona and Camilla, he started making weird plans to maximize our chances of getting picked.

Considering neither of us has the slightest clue about what criteria those guys actually use to pick pledges, I didn't pay him much attention.

Over dessert, he grabbed my phone and installed an app called Swiper; he said it's really new but it's already blowing up on campus, because it's for hooking up. I've never used one of these, but the process is pretty easy: first you create a profile with your photo and details, and then the app suggests profiles of girls interested in hooking up, supposedly compatible with you.

My theory is Derek's noticed Maya and I connected, and for some reason, he doesn't like it. Installing that dating app is his way of saying "find another girl out there, and forget about my sister."

***

We’d already finished eating and were just chatting at the table when Mona and Camilla came over.

“Hey, what’s up?” Camilla greeted us all; then she switched to Spanish. “Jack, te buscábamos. ¿Nos haces ese favor que hemos hablado antes?”

“Claro, guapa. ¿Qué quieres?” I replied.

“Ven con nosotras y te lo digo.”

“De acuerdo,” I said, getting up.

“What’s going on?” Maya asked.

“We just need Jack to help us out with that thing we talked about. It won’t take long,” Mona said.

“You want me to come too?” Derek asked.

“Nah, Jack’s enough.”

I followed them out of the cafeteria, where their ‘moms’ Sage and Riona were waiting.

“Hey, you gonna help our daughters, dude?” Sage asked me.

“I guess so,” I shrugged, “though they still haven’t told me what it is… Is it some task you gave them?”

“Maybe…” she said with a sly smile.

“Ooh… Then I’m expecting the worst,” I joked.

“Haha, nah, you’ll see it’s not that hard. Go on, daughters,” she said.

“So, how can I help you?” I asked the daughters.

“It’s just… we need a guy’s underwear, so… we thought of you,” Mona said, half-shy, half-flirty.

“And why not get it from the DIKs’ house? You can go to the showers, sometimes guys leave underwear there…” I said, winking at Riona, who burst out laughing.

“I’m better at it, More convincing,” she joked.

“Haha, true. You totally fooled me,” I said. “Okay, girls. How do we do this? ‘Cause I’m not stripping here…”

“I thought after last time you got into stripping in public,” Camilla teased.

“Nope, once was enough, thanks.”

“Let’s go to the Labyrinth,” Sage suggested. “There won’t be many people there right now and we’ll find an empty restroom. Rio and I’ll stand guard at the door so nobody comes in. But don’t take too long.”

That’s what we did, and on the way, Sage managed to lag a few meters behind to talk to me discreetly.

“Still nothing?” she asked in a whisper.

“Afraid not,” I replied in the same tone. “This week I’ll try to hit the gym every afternoon, while there’s still not much to study, but… like I said, don’t expect too much out of this…”

“I’m just asking you to keep trying.”

“You got it.”

“Thanks, dude,” she said, then sped up to catch up with the girls.

Once in the Labyrinth, we found a girls’ restroom that was empty right then, and Mona, Camilla, and I went in while Sage and Riona stood guard at the door. I went into one of the stalls to take off my boxers in private, put my shorts back on commando-style—hoping the bulge wasn’t too obvious—and came out to give them to the girls.

“Here’s your… ‘trophy,’ or whatever. They’re reasonably clean, I think…”

“Haha, thanks Jack, but… this was Sage’s task for Mona. Rio assigned me one too,” Camilla said a little unsure.

“Uh… Okay, what is it?”

“Well… I need a photo of your… dick.”

“Uh… Mine?” I blinked.

“Well, it doesn’t have to be yours exactly, but it has to be a big one, and you’re the only guy I know who has it like that…”

I burst out laughing. “Wow… So, either I give you the photo, or you’ll have to go around campus asking guys how big their junk is.”

“Haha, guess so. Please, dude…” she begged

“It’s kinda intense… this pic is only for Riona, right?” I made sure.

“Just for her, I promise,” she said serious. “And you don’t even have to show your face.”

“Uh… Okay, fine,” I gave in. “But you owe me one!”

“Haha, see, Mona? I knew he’d help us. This guy’s a…”

“Camilla, if you say I’m a ‘perv’ like Quinn, I’m outta here and no photo,” I cut her off, joking.

“A good guy! I promise that’s what I was gonna say,” she defended, playing along.

“Haha, then okay.”

She handed me her phone, I turned around, opened my pants, and took the photo.

Mona burst out laughing.

“Why’re you turning around, dude? We’re gonna see the photo anyway…”

I chuckled as I zipped up. “Yeah, and Cammy already saw everything up close and personal in the shower hazing. I dunno, I did it without thinking.”

“Thanks, dude, you’re a sweetheart,” Mona said affectionately. “It’s gonna be cool seeing you at parties when you’re a DIK and we’re HOTs.”

“Well, you’ve got a head start on that, you’re already daughters. I’m not even a pledge, and I haven’t heard from those guys yet.”

“All I know is Mona and I won’t be stuck doing any more shower hazing tonight,” Camilla said. “Maybe there aren’t any more DIK candidates.”

“That’d be good news. Seven for two spots is already plenty of competition.”

“Hey, you don’t happen to know where we can find an umbrella with unicorn print, do you?” Mona asked me.

“Is that one of your list tasks?”

She shrugged. “Yeah; some are kinda dumb. I dunno, maybe Sage just wants one…”

“I don’t really see unicorns fitting her vibe. Then again, apparently she wants boxers too, which fits even less…” I joked.

“Haha, true.”

“Have you checked Amazon?”

“Good idea. Let’s go?”

We stepped out, and the girls handed their “trophies” to their “moms” who, as promised, had kept watch at the bathroom door.

“Did you help our daughters with both tasks, Jack?” Riona asked me.

“Yup, yours too, you naughty girl,” I teased playfully. “What do you even need that photo for, huh?”

“For… stuff,” she replied with a shameless grin.

“Haha, well… whatever, enjoy it, I guess.”

We joked around a bit more, then the girls went off to continue their Scavenger Hunt tasks—something about taking selfies in the faculty office area. I figured it was better not to ask—and I decided to head to Maya’s room. But as I passed the auditorium door, I heard piano music. Curious, I peeked in and saw Jill alone on stage, playing—beautifully—a classical piece on a grand piano. I slipped in quietly and sat in the back row.

After the classical piece—a Chopin nocturne, if I identified it right—she played a modern piece I didn’t recognize. When she finished, I realized she thought she was alone, so I stood up to let her know I was there.

“Jill, hey… You play really well,” I said, I said, walking up toward the stage.

“Jack! What are you doing here?” she asked, a bit startled.

“Well… I was passing by in the hall, heard music, peeked in out of curiosity, and when I saw it was you, I stayed to listen. Hope that’s okay, it’s just… you play so well…” I explained.

“It’s not that I mind, but…”

“I know,” I cut in. “When you play, you disappear into your own world. That’s why you didn’t notice me come in. You thought you were alone, and I startled you. Same thing happens to me when I play guitar.”

She looked at me curiously.

“You play guitar?”

“Yeah, but I’m just an amateur. Nowhere near as good a musician as you. Though I love it. Are you practicing for a recital or something?”

“Uh… yeah, a recital.”

“Soon?”

“In the fall. The date’s not set yet.”

Right then, the door opened, and that Tybalt guy came in, walked up to the stage, and started talking to her, blatantly ignoring me. More to mess with him than anything else, I greeted him and thanked him for letting me crash at his frat the other day, but he barely responded. He kept jabbering to Jill about some ideas he had for a campaign or whatever.

Honestly, it was awkward. From Jill’s face, it was obvious someone didn’t belong there—I couldn’t tell if it was Tybalt or me, though if I had to bet, I’d say both. Either way, I said my goodbyes and left.

***

I went to Maya’s room thinking about suggesting we do something together this afternoon—even just studying in the library—but she wasn’t there, so while waiting, I started browsing online for some kind of job to earn a bit of pocket money.

I found an ad from a woman looking for a college student to tutor her ten-year-old son a couple hours a week. It seemed interesting, so I called the number and talked to her. I mentioned I’m here on an academic scholarship, which I think impressed her a bit, because she set up a meeting at her house on Friday at 3:30. The first session’s a trial, but if she’s happy with my work, I’ll go every week. I’d earn thirty bucks per session. It’s not much, but every bit helps.

After that, seeing Maya still wasn’t back, I started writing this diary.

***

When I finished the diary, Maya was still MIA. I put on workout clothes and headed to the gym, like I’d promised Sage.

Not much to say about it. I did my warm-up and stretching routines, then hit the treadmill for a while before moving to the heavy bag.

That Chad guy wasn’t there, but other team guys were, throwing me dirty looks and making loud, shitty comments about me, just like yesterday. I even got a couple “accidental” shoves, though I tried to ignore the provocations.

I was thinking about wrapping up the session and hitting the showers when my phone rang—I always keep it on me in case there’s a chance to snap a photo or record something for Sage. It was Maya.

“Hey, Jack, where you at?” she asked, her voice a little shaky.

“At the gym. Why?”

“It’s just… my dad showed up on campus out of nowhere, came into my room, saw your stuff…”

I tensed up.

“Oh! Could that get you in trouble?”

“Well… I don’t know… He says he wants to meet you.”

Knowing Maya had hinted she and her dad don’t get along, the idea of meeting him didn’t exactly thrill me.

“Uh… I don’t know…” I half-mumbled, scrambling for an excuse to get out of it.

“Jack, don’t worry,” she cut in. “Once he meets you, I know he’ll like you. Honestly… you’d save me a ton of trouble if you come to dinner with my dad, Derek, and me. I’ll explain later.”

“Oh… Alright. Whatever you want.”

“Great! Just… if he asks, say admin assigned you this room by mistake or something,” she warned. “That way we avoid questions. And don’t tell him I’m trying to join the HOTs, okay?”

“Got it… Can I say I’m trying to join the DIKs?”

“Derek already told him that. Look, don’t stress, just be yourself. I’m telling you, I know he’ll like you,” she insisted.

“Okay. I’ll be at the room in about twenty minutes.”

“Cool.”

***

I took a quick shower, and sure enough, twenty minutes later I was in Maya’s room, shaking hands with her dad, who took his kids and me to a diner off-campus—though in the same neighborhood—and treated us to steak and fries. Considering that aside from the pizza I had with Maya on Sunday, all I’ve eaten since getting to college is vending machine sandwiches and cafeteria slop, it was a nice change.

During the whole dinner, Derek acted… like Derek, blabbing and making dumb jokes. Maya, on the other hand, was tense and mostly quiet with her dad. Even if I didn’t know about her issues with him, I could’ve guessed.

As for me, the guy asked me a ton of questions, practically an interrogation—my studies, my job at the nursing home, my family…—but he never treated me with suspicion or gave me the vibe he was upset about me sharing a room with his daughter. He seemed serious but nice enough. When he dropped us back at campus, he said goodbye with a firm handshake and a slight smile.

“Well… that went okay, right?” I said to Maya when we were alone, back in her room.

“I think so…” she replied. “Jack, thanks. I think you saved me from a lot of trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Well… I don’t know if you noticed, but my dad’s… kind of controlling, especially with me,” she explained, choosing her words carefully. “This showing up on campus unannounced wasn’t random, he did it to check on me. But after meeting you, I think he’s satisfied. I knew he’d like you. You’re the kind of guy he likes.”

“Oh… I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said.

“Uh… Well… I guess it kinda is,” she replied, but her tense smile made it crystal clear that getting her dad’s approval didn’t exactly score me points with her.

“What’re you gonna do now?” I asked.

“I don’t know… Hide from Quinn, I guess,” she said with a shrug.

“Not gonna be easy. I’m afraid she knows where you live,” I joked.

“Haha, yeah, true. What were your plans when I called?”

“After the gym? Practice guitar, I guess.”

“Why don’t you play something for me?” she suggested.

“Sure, but not here, the room’s like an oven. Let’s go to the park. It’s cooler out there this time of day,” I suggested.

“Alright.”

I grabbed my guitar, Maya took some kind of blanket—or tablecloth, I dunno—to keep us from sitting straight on the grass, we got a couple of sodas from the vending machine, and we sat under the shade of a tree.

Maya asked me to play some Morricone’s theme, like yesterday. I was in the middle of that when the whole mom-daughter group—Sage, Quinn, Riona, Mona, and Camilla—showed up, but I was so focused I didn’t notice they were listening until I finished the piece.

“Well, well. My sweet daughter tells me she’s having dinner with her dad and then going right back to her pledge duties, and I find her here with the pervert, serenading her like a pair of hippie lovebirds,” Quinn “greeted” us.

Maya turned red and didn’t say anything, but I decided to mess with Quinn a bit. See if it was true that she liked me standing my ground—and maybe take the heat off Maya while I was at it.

“Quinn, why don’t you join us and sing something? Bet you’ve got the voice of an angel,” I teased.

“I’d rather go bald,” she shot back.

“Pfft… With what you do to your hair, wouldn’t make much difference,” I jabbed. “Hope you didn’t pay for that haircut. What happened around that ear? Your barber got Parkinson’s and slipped with the clippers?”

“Guys go to barbers. Girls go to hairdressers, asshole.”

“Are you sure you didn’t walk into a dog groomer by mistake? Actually, that would explain the poodle look—shaved in some spots, fluffy in others.”

The other girls let out a few stifled giggles, but Quinn wasn’t amused by my digs.

“Lick my ass, perv,” she snapped.

“You’d enjoy that, wouldn’t you, naughty girl?” I fired back with a wink.

“Did you enjoy streaking across campus the other night?” she countered.

“Probably less than you enjoyed seeing me naked.”

“Pfft, that again? You’re so full of yourself, newbie.”

“You liked what you saw, Quinn, and we both know it. Just saying, next time, you don’t have to go through all that trouble to see me naked. Just ask, and I’m good.”

“In your dreams.”

“When I asked you to strip, you did it right away. Quinn, you’re dying for a little love from me, you’re just too proud to admit it,” I pushed, flashing my cocky grin.

“Fuck you!” Her responses were getting shorter, which told me she was genuinely pissed.

“C’mon, Quinn, I’m just messing around. I told you yesterday: for a girl who pulls such wild hazings, you’ve got a pretty thin sense of humor,” I said, shaking my head.

“You’re not even here three days and think you can act all cocky with me? Who do you think you are? I’ll tell you: a smug newbie with a mouth too big, begging for someone to shut it with a smack. And if the Alphas don’t do it, I will.”

Honestly, she was getting on my nerves, and I was about to snap back in the same tone when Sage stepped in.

“Enough, you two. Cut it out with the arguing,” she interrupted. “Sorry, dude, but we’ve gotta take Maya. Scavenger Hunt stuff.”

“Sure, duty calls,” I said.

Maya got up and left with the girls, but Sage hung back a moment to talk to me.

“Did you go to the gym this afternoon like you said?” she asked, sounding a bit anxious.

“Yeah, I was there a while, but Chad wasn’t, and his buddies didn’t say anything you’d care about, unless you wanna know what they’d do to me if they caught me alone.”

“Shit!”

“I’ll try again tomorrow.”

“If you hear anything…”

“I’ll let you know right away,” I finished for her.

“Alright. Looks like you’re actually making progress with Maya, Romeo…” she switched topics.

“We’re just friends. Nothing more.”

She gave me a mischievous smile.

“It’s never more… until it is. And I heard you’re living in her room now…”

I shrugged. “She had a spare bed ‘cause her roommate didn’t show, and she’s doing me a favor. You know I’m not staying in my room with that Troy guy…”

“My point is, doesn’t seem like she’s put you in the friend zone, like you said…” she pressed.

“Well, maybe she’s letting me crash in her room exactly because she sees me as a harmless friend…”

“Harmless, you?” she laughed hard. “If she sees you that way, she needs glasses. You play well, by the way.”

“You heard me?”

“Just for a bit. Hey… what’s with that fight with Quinn?”

“Yeah, I know you told me to keep a low profile with her, and that’s good advice. But she’s been trying to get under my skin since Sunday, and I don’t want her thinking I’m her punching bag.”

“Dude… I know the shower hazing was pretty wild, but you did sneak into our showers. You kinda deserved payback.”

“I know, Sage. That’s water under the bridge. But after that she did something else that pissed me off more, and it wasn’t even a hazing. That’s where she crossed a line.”

“What was it?” she asked, curious.

“When she had my phone…” I started to explain, but changed my mind. “Look, it doesn’t matter. Quinn’s your friend and VP, and it’s not cool for me to complain about her to you, like I’m expecting you to do something about it. I’ll handle my issues with her myself…”

“Suit yourself. Just a heads-up, Quinn’s not the type to let this stuff go.”

“Got it…” Then an idea hit me. “Hey, you think she might take it out on Maya for me getting in her face? I know she’s not exactly Maya’s biggest fan, and… I’m not sure she knows where hazing ends and bullying begins.”

“I told you Quinn can be pretty hardcore with guys, but she’s not gonna act the same with a future sister. After initiation, we’ll all have to live together in the same house. Besides… the Scavenger Hunt’s supposed to be tough for the daughters. If they can’t handle the hazings and take them with a sense of humor, they’re probably not HOT material,” she explained in that slightly condescending but kind tone she often uses with me. “Same goes for future DIKs, by the way…” she added, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, you’re right, I’m new around here and don’t know much about this stuff. And… I probably shouldn’t stick my nose in HOTs’ business,” I admitted, remembering Quinn had thrown that at me more than once. “Forget I said anything.”

“Alright. Dude, I’m out, they’re waiting for me. Catch you later.”

“See ya, Sage.”

***

Back in the room, out of pure curiosity, I decided to check out the app Derek installed on my phone—Swiper—so I took a quick selfie right there in the room and set up an account. I was about to drop it and start studying or something, but I started getting notifications about compatible profiles right away. More out of curiosity than anything else—I wasn’t really planning to message anyone—I started scrolling through them. Then I came across a profile of someone called “C.”

It’s a woman in her thirties or maybe forties, saying she’s looking for a hot, no-strings-attached fling with a young guy. What grabbed my attention right away were the five or six freaking erotic photos of herself on her profile—in lingerie, and even naked. That said, she was wearing a mask and covering the “interesting” parts.

Despite her age, this woman has a body that’s any guy’s wet dream. Then I looked closely at her face, and it hit me: I know her. It’s Cathy, my Composition professor!

The mask covered a lot of her face, but there’s no mistaking it: her hair, the shape of her mouth, her chin, her neck, her figure in general… it’s her, I’m ninety-nine percent sure. Plus, she happened to be online on the app right then, so I messaged her… and she replied!

We had a super steamy chat going back and forth, and in the end, she sent me a fully nude photo of herself—though, yeah, without showing her face, so she can’t be identified. I sent her a similar selfie I took right there and then. Good thing Maya didn’t walk in while I was at it. Would’ve been awkward to explain.

It’s gonna be really weird seeing her in class, but weird in a good way. I played dumb the whole time, so I’m sure she thinks I didn’t recognize her, but of course, she knows it’s me. I’m gonna love seeing the look on her face next time she sees me, though I bet she’ll play it cool.

She was super insistent about anonymity and secrecy, so I’m not saying a word to her or anyone else, but being in class knowing that she knows… Haha, it’s gonna be fun.

Could there be something more between us down the line? Hahaha, that’d be brilliant, though it’s freaking risky. or now, I’m not giving her any hint that I’ve figured her out—but if we keep up these sexy chats… who knows?

When we ended the chat, still kinda blown away, I started writing this diary. It’s getting late, and Maya’s still not back. Maybe she’s with Quinn pulling the shower hazing on some poor bastard trying to pledge the DIKs. Mona and Cammy didn’t say the HOTs were done with that hazing, just that they weren’t doing it tonight.

Whatever. I’m gonna play guitar until Maya gets back or I get sleepy.

Chapter Text

I practiced guitar, but only for a short while. For some reason—probably all the stress lately—I couldn’t focus. So I decided to crash early, maybe wake up tomorrow and kick off the day with some exercise, like today.

I must’ve just dozed off when something weird woke me up: somebody had pulled off my sheet and climbed on top of me, straddling me—I’d passed out on my back. For a second, I thought the Alphas had snuck in, and I was about to shove and swing, but then I heard Maya whisper, “Shh, it’s me…”

In the dim light, I saw her, just in bra and panties, running her hands over my chest, grinding against me, both of us in nothing but underwear.

Like I wrote yesterday, I was really starting to like Maya, and in that moment I figured if she was climbing into my bed, it’s ‘cause she felt the same. Why else? I sat up and started kissing her, sliding my hands over her legs and back.

“I was hoping something like this would happen…” I whispered in her ear. “I’m really into you, Maya, you know that…”

“Jack, I…” she started. Then the lights flicked on—and I realized we weren’t alone. Quinn, Sarah, and Melanie were there, and the whole scene must’ve been comedy gold to them, because they burst out laughing.

“What the hell is this?” I almost shouted.

“What’s it look like, Einstein?” Quinn said, with that damn smirk I would’ve loved to wipe off her face with a slap. But I didn’t answer her. I ignored her and looked at Maya. She must’ve read the disappointment in my eyes, ‘cause she couldn’t even meet my gaze.

“Daughter Maya, get off this pervert’s bed,” Quinn said. “And you”—she pointed at me—“you’re coming with us.”

Maya got up and started dressing without even glancing at me. I stayed sitting on the bed.

“Quinn, I’m really sick of you and your bullshit. What the hell is this about?” I asked.

“Looks like you thought you were getting laid tonight, but nope—blue balls again, just like in the showers the other night.”

I didn’t say anything. Just sat there staring at all four of them, dead serious.

“Get up, dumbass, we don’t have all night,” she pressed.

“I asked you what the hell this is about,” I said, slow and sharp. The heat from a minute ago had turned into ice-cold rage.

“You wanna be a DIK or not?” she said. “If you do, come with us. If not, go back to sleep. Your call.”

For a second, I thought about telling them all to fuck off and crashing again, but after what just happened with Maya—and even though she looked ashamed as hell—I didn’t have a damn ounce of desire to share a room with her another minute. The DIKs still felt like my best shot at a permanent place to stay, so I got dressed and followed Quinn and her two friends, taking their digs and jokes with my jaw clenched and eyes forward. Maya walked beside me, staring at the floor, as quiet as I was.

***

We headed to the DIK house, where one of the guys met us and led me straight to a room—pretty cool, by the way. Already waiting were the other pledges: Derek and five other guys I didn’t know, though they looked familiar from class. Someone asked if we’d all gone through the HOTs’ shower hazing, and we all nodded.

A moment later, Rusty, Tommy, and a couple of other DIKs I only knew by sight came in. They told us to strip to our underwear, blindfolded us, and led us somewhere else in the house while funeral music blared through the speakers.

When we reached our destination, they sat us in chairs and cuffed our hands behind our backs. Bet they hit up a sex shop for those handcuffs. By then, my jaw was clenched so tight it was starting to hurt. Then I heard Tommy’s voice—guess he was the emcee.

“Brothers! Before us stands the next batch of… maggots! Maggots, yeah—not DIKs! You don’t become a DIK overnight! You earn that title through sacrifice and loyalty! Tell me, freshman, you want to be a maggot?” Tommy asked someone to my right.

“Hell yeah, I do!” Derek’s voice rang out, pumped as hell.

“Good. Then you’ll be put to the test,” Tommy shot back.

He asked the other guys the same question, and they all answered just as hyped. Finally, Tommy put his hand on my shoulder—my turn for the damn question.

“Freshman, you want to be a maggot?” he asked.

“Yeah, whatever,” I muttered, barely into it.

“Looks like we’ve got the weak link in the chain!” he bellowed.

Right then, the funeral music cut out, replaced by techno so loud it practically blew out my eardrums. They yanked off my blindfold, and blinking in the light, I saw we were in the house’s main lounge. The candidates were seated in a semicircle, backs to each other, like we were on some damn stage. In front of us, a crowd of maybe fifty to seventy people—guys and girls—was screaming and cheering.

A moment later, I saw what all the fuss was about: through a door behind us, seven total knockouts strutted in, hips swaying, wearing nothing but lingerie and heels. I knew every one of them: Quinn, Riona, Sarah, Melanie, Elena, and the pledges Camilla and Mona.

The girls lined up in front of us, facing the crowd, while Tommy kept up his rant.

“The road to becoming a DIK brother is like my own dick—long and hard! Two maggots will start that road tonight! That’s right, two! No less, and sure as hell not more! The rules are simple: the first five to blow their load are out! Ladies, there’s your targets! LET THE CUM-PETITION BEGIN!”

Each girl picked a guy and paired up with him. For Derek, it was Camilla who got the honors. For me—and no big shock—Quinn came straight at me, all hips and heels, with that twisted, cocky grin of hers. She threw in a couple of stripper-worthy dance moves, straddled me, and started grinding against my dick, which, despite the situation, was hard as a rock. Don’t blame me—she looked hot as hell in just lingerie, stockings, and those insanely sexy high-heeled sandals.

“Hey there, perv, saved you for myself… You happy about it?” she taunted. “Say goodbye to being a DIK. You’re about to become my little bitch, and it won’t take long.”

“No way in hell I’m giving this bitch the satisfaction of making me blow,” I thought, staring her down in silence, jaw clenched tight.

“What, no comeback? Wishing it was Maya dancing for you?” she kept going, spinning around seductively and rubbing her killer ass side to side against my dick. “Don’t forget, she’s the one who wanted to be a pledge, not us calling her…” she said, half-turning to shoot me a look. “She’s so desperate to be a HOT… Wonder what else she’d do to get it…”

My plan was to not say a word, but this time I had to speak up.

“Quinn, it’s obvious your beef’s with me. I stuck my nose in HOTs’ business, whatever. Leave her out of it. She hasn’t done shit to you.”

“The white knight saving his damsel. Ha, how pathetic!” she mocked.

“Jealous, Quinn? That’s what’s pathetic.”

“You’re delusional, newbie.”

“Whatever. Keep polishing my dick with that ass—you’re doing a hell of a job. Still not enough to make me lose it.”

I don’t know what jab she was about to throw back, because right then Tommy announced we had a loser: Riona had gotten her poor sap to let go. They uncuffed him quick and dragged him out to shouts of “Get the limp-dick outta here!” Not long after, the next “victim” went down, then three more guys, until it was just Derek and me. I thought the test would end there, but I was wrong.

“And here we have, ladies and not-so-gentlemen, this year’s two maggots!” Tommy roared, sparking cheers and applause. “But… are they worthy of rising from the muck to become DIKs?” That got a chorus of boos and “no”s. “We’ll find out in a few days!” he answered himself. “For now, let’s raise the stakes! Condom time!”

With all the smugness and sass in the world, Quinn pulled my dick out of my underwear and slipped on a condom Tommy had tossed her.

“The rules are still dead simple,” Tommy ranted on. “The first of these two maggots to blow in the condom has to swallow his own failure! Ladies, go for it!”

Quinn straddled me again, that taunting grin plastered on her face.

“Now the real fun starts, perv,” she said, grinding against my dick—bare now except for the latex—with her lips brushing my ear. “Tell me, perv, how bad you want me to slip off these panties right now… to rub my smooth, shaved pussy against that rock-hard cock of yours,” her voice was all sultry, her hot breath tickling my ear. “Tell me how you’d love to shove that big dick into my tight, wet little hole…”

Honestly, her dirty talk and those moves were making it tough to hold out. To keep my head clear, I glanced around. Quinn had made me forget the crowd for a minute, but they were still there, circling us, laughing their asses off. That snapped me back to pissed off more than turned on. When Quinn finally pulled her lips from my ear to check the effect of her stripper act, all she got from me was a clenched jaw and a raised eyebrow.

“You’ve got some stamina, I’ll give you that,” she said, grudgingly. Then she looked at the other girls, who were free, just watching the show since their “victims” had tapped out. “Girls! Get over here!” she yelled over the music.

The girls came over and Quinn signaled them to stand between us and the crowd, forming a screen.

“Hey, gorgeous,” I greeted Riona, who’d positioned herself right beside me.

“Hey, handsome,” she shot back with a big grin.

“You joining us? Looks like Quinn could use some help,” I teased.

She laughed hard. “Dude, you’re such a cocky little shit.”

“Haha, thanks, Riona. Love you too.”

“Shut it, dumbass,” Quinn snapped, giving me a light smack to make me focus on her. “You think I’ve used my best moves on you? You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Then she lifted herself slightly, glanced down, and I could see her subtly slide her thong to the side.

“Are you really gonna do what I think?” I asked, stunned. “Here, in front of everyone?”

“No one’s gonna see, the girls have us covered,” she replied, winking with that sly, horny grin of hers. Then she grabbed my dick and slipped just the tip inside her pussy.

“Ho-ly sh-it… You actually did it…” I muttered through gritted teeth.

“Pretty hot, right?” she said, starting to move her hips, eyes locked on mine. “All these people around, but no one sees the best part… except these horny chicks, of course—they see everything…” she went on, probably testing if I’ve got an exhibitionist streak. “Feel how wet… you’re making me… perv? If it weren’t for the music… everyone could hear your dick splashing inside me… Feel how my pussy’s gripping it? You’re about to lose it… I can see it in your eyes…”

She was dead right, it was driving me insane, but a part of my brain kept repeating: “This bitch is NOT gonna make me blow.”

“No way,” I shot back—and right now, I don’t know how I got my voice to work. “Maybe… if you take my dick all the way in…” I challenged.

A total bluff, I’ll admit, but it was all I could come up with.

She let out a laugh. “Knew you were… my kind of guy…” she said, slowly sliding herself down. “No shame…” She stopped short. She’d just taken my dick to the hilt, and instead of another jab, her eyes went wide, and she let out a huge sigh, freezing for a moment like she was trying to adjust to me inside her.

Finally, a card to play: she was at least as turned on as I was. I could play her game and win—but I had to keep it together even more. To cool myself down, I focused on my anger and the things I don’t actually like about Quinn… which, honestly, aren’t many, because she’s a total babe. But… that heavy makeup, that shaved patch around her ear, that tacky skull earring… I managed to zero in on those instead of her sexy, slutty grin.

“Come on, Quinn, fuck me hard!” I said loud enough for the other girls to hear; suddenly, I didn’t give a damn. “Or you scared?”

She started moving her hips, but cautiously.

“That’s… all you got?” I taunted between gasps. “Scared you’ll come before me?”

“Shut up, asshole!” she spat, practically snarling.

“You too scared… to bring your A-game? Fine, I’ll bring mine!” I growled.

I gripped the chair’s backrest to lift my ass off the seat, giving me room to move my hips, and that’s exactly what I did—as hard as I could. My arms ached from holding up my weight and some of hers, but I didn’t care. The pain actually helped—it dulled the arousal and made it easier to hold back.

“Look me in the eyes, Quinn…” I gasped, “and tell me… my dick inside you isn’t driving you wild… fucking you hard… stretching your tight little pussy… right in front of your friends…” I went on, almost shouting over the music, despite my ragged breathing. “I don’t care about the crowd… I don’t care about anything… Just you, Quinn… You’re making me hard as a rock… inside you…”

“Damn, you guys are hot as fuck, you’re getting me so turned on!” Riona said.

“Ugh, for real. Keep this up, I’m gonna have to finger myself right here,” Sarah added.

Neither Quinn nor I paid them any mind. We kept fucking hard, throwing all kinds of dirty talk at each other, eyes locked, until we heard Tommy yell that we had a loser: Camilla had finally gotten Derek to blow. I’ll admit, for a second, I forgot all about the DIKs and just wanted to keep fucking Quinn, but that wasn’t happening because Tommy shouted that I’d won the cum-petition, and the whole crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

The girls kept shielding us for a bit longer, giving Quinn time to catch her breath. She was half-collapsed on me, her face resting on my shoulder.

“Guess you didn’t make me your ‘little bitch’ after all,” I whispered in her ear, low enough that the others didn’t hear.

“For now, perv,” she shot back with that twisted grin, pulling away and fixing her thong. “This round’s a draw.”

The girls finally stepped back, and one of the DIKs—the guy who let us in, later I found out his name’s Jamie—uncuffed me. “Maggot’s packin’,” I overheard him tell Tommy.

I peeled off the condom and wrestled my still-raging boner back into my boxers. Meanwhile, judging by the crowd’s screams of “Ewww, gross!” Tommy must’ve been making Derek choke down his “failure.” No way I looked.

When the chaos finally died down, I got up on shaky legs and stood behind Tommy with Quinn, Derek, and Camilla.

“Maggot, take a good look at the guy next to you!” Tommy roared. “That guy’s your maggot-brother! And we all know the DIKs’ public code is…!” He paused.

“FAMILY COMES FIRST!” the crowd roared back.

“Exactly!” he went on. “If you two prove you can face the trials together and have each other’s backs… you’ll rise from the muck and become DIK brothers!” Huge ovation. “BUT… if one of you quits… you both fail! You’ll survive together, or go down together. Both DIKs, or neither! Enough talk—LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!”

***

The party started for everyone—except Derek and me. First, they took us back to the room where we’d left our clothes so we could get dressed.

“Ass-man, you and me, maggot-bros!” Derek shouted, completely pumped, the second we were alone. “Told you this would happen! We’re going all in on this, right?”

“Yeah, sure, all in…” I said as I started getting dressed, faking hype I definitely didn’t feel. Derek was so amped up it would’ve been a dick move to tell him otherwise.

“We’re gonna crush every challenge together and move into this badass mansion,” he kept rambling while pulling on his pants—true to form, dude hadn’t even brought a shirt. “You won’t have to share a room with my fugly sister anymore.”

“Good. I don’t wanna stay in her room any longer,” I said.

“No shit!” he replied. “I love my sister, but nine months inside a vagina with her was more than enough.”

“Inside a vagina? Bro, I don’t think you get how pregnancy actually works.”

He cracked up. “Whatever, man. To me, everything from pussy lips inward is vagina. Anatomy lesson over. Anyway—swear you’re not gonna bail on me?”

“The truth is, tonight was fucking humiliating and I’m still pissed,” I admitted. “But yeah, I need a place to live and this mansion is insane. I give you my word—I’m in till the end. You giving me yours?”

“Fuck yeah!” he said, shaking my hand. And just like that, Derek and I became maggot-brothers.

We finished getting dressed and met up with Rusty and Tommy, waiting in the hallway.

“Maggots, we’ve decided I’ll be Derek’s father, and Tommy’s gonna be Jack’s,” Rusty announced.

“Perfect. I get Josy’s stoner stepbrother. Better make sure I don’t slip up that I know her…” I thought.

“What’s that mean?” Derek asked. “You guys adopting us or something?”

“It means for the next two weeks, your asses belong to us,” Tommy said with a wicked grin.

I guess we both made the same freaked-out face, because our new ‘fathers’ burst out laughing.

“You should’ve seen your faces,” Rusty said. “Nah, it just means over the next few days we’ll take you guys under our wing, like sons, and show you around the frat—introduce you to the brothers, teach you our traditions, all that. But you gotta do everything we say, like we were your real dads. That’s the deal.”

“Hell yeah, Daddy. I’m in a hundred percent,” said Derek.

“Ha, good son,” Rusty replied.

“And what about you, son?” Tommy asked me, staring me down.

“Uh… yeah, a hundred percent,” I repeated.

“Right… Rusty picked Derek, so I’m stuck with you,” he said flatly. “Don’t think the cum-petition impressed me. You’re still the weakest link in the chain.”

“C’mon, man, don’t freak your kid out,” Rusty said playfully.

“He should be freaked… Anyway, next up’s a private DIK ritual. Sons, follow us,” he said, turning and walking off.

They led us to a mini-theater room—calling it “mini,” but the place is massive. Again, this mansion is insane. The other DIKs were already there, and they congratulated us on becoming maggots, handed us each an ice-cold beer, and sat us down in the front row. Tommy jumped back into his MC act, this time rocking a demon mask with goat horns.

“Maggots!” he yelled. “Think the trials so far were rough? That was just foreplay! The real test starts now—in the… MAGGOT HELL!”

The DIKs exploded in cheers and applause.

“That’s right,” Rusty added, standing beside him. “Over the next few days, you’ll have to prove you can work side by side as real brothers and survive Maggot Hell together. Only then we’ll know if you’ve got what it takes to be one of us, to live by our code: Family Comes First! And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… me and Diablo proudly present… the Board of Hellish Trials!”

It was just a regular whiteboard covered with a red cloth. They yanked it off with way too much ceremony, showing the list of challenges Derek and I had to face in the coming days. Rusty and Diablo-Tommy took turns explaining.

“First up: The Anti-Fag Guard Race!” Tommy shouted. “We wanna see you two run bare-ass through the mall with at least one security guard chasing you. Make that poor bastard die inside trying to grab you! But don’t get caught, or you’re screwed.”

“Second: You gotta pull a prank on the Alphas. Not some weak shit—something big enough to really piss ‘em off.”

“Third: Egg the preps. A dozen eggs—you know where to throw ‘em.”

“Fourth: Give a Beta a wedgie. Campus tends to forget the nerds, but we won’t—right?”

“Fifth: Maggot Hell’s special, so you’re living it special—hammered. Or at least buzzed. Little ‘liquid courage’ never hurt. Between the two of you, down a hundred beers before Hell’s over.”

“Sixth: Get a stripper to autograph your dick. Easier if said dick’s hard, obviously.”

“Seventh: The HOT pledges always do a sexy car wash fundraiser. You maggots gotta run your own. The challenge: make more money than they do. Maybe some grandma wants to see you wiggle your asses in thongs while you soap up her ride before bingo or church.”

“Eighth: Fuck a teacher. Easy to say… impossible to pull off.”

“Ninth: Public sex. Maybe with the same teacher—if you’re gunning for an A-plus.”

“Tenth: Think nailing a teacher’s tough? Try a feminist. Careful—they tend to bite.”

“Eleventh: Get slapped by at least three different girls. Honestly, I have a feeling this one will be the easiest for you two manners-less clowns.”

“And last but not least, the grand finale: the sacred DIK Helmet!” Rusty said, holding up a hard hat with a giant dildo glued to the front. “Every brother here has worn it proudly. You can take turns, but one of you must be wearing it nonstop through Maggot Hell, twenty-four/seven.”

“Now,” they went on, “the rules of Maggot Hell. First: you must provide photo or video proof of every completed task—or have at least a DIK present as a witness.”

“Second: You can decide who does each task, or do them as a team. For extra motivation, each completed task is worth one point. The brothers will decide if the point goes to one of you or is split between both. The maggot with the most points wins a special prize. Technically, the cum-petition was your first task—and Jack won—so he’s in the lead with one point.”

“Third: Maggot Hell ends two Saturdays from now, exactly at nine PM. Today is Tuesday, so that gives you almost eleven full days. Sounds like a lot? Trust me, you’ll need every minute.”

“Now, the sacred Dick-Helmet,” said Rusty. “Who’s wearing it first?”

“Me, me! I’ll go first!” Derek shouted, shooting his hand up.

“Ha, it’s all yours, son,” Rusty said, handing it to him. “I see you’re trying to tie up the scoreboard for the big prize. I’m proud of you.”

“Already letting me down, son?” Tommy asked, turning to me with a stern look. “You keep proving you’re the weakest link.”

After that, we all left the theater room, and Rusty told us to go join the party.

***

We stepped out of the mini-theater, and Derek and I went to grab a couple more beers from one of the mini-fridges scattered around the house.

“So, how do you wanna tackle these tasks? Together or solo?” Derek asked.

“Guess it’d be easier as a team, right?” I said.

“Dude! Didn’t think you’d be down for that! It’s an honor, Ass-man!” he said, dead serious.

I looked at him, confused. “An honor? What are you talking about?”

“That you’d wanna team up to bang some chick in public—and the professor, and the feminist.”

“No, hell no! Those tasks we do on our own. I meant the tasks that don’t involve screwing,” I clarified.

He burst out laughing. “Alright, man, whatever you say. But it’d be easier as a team. Tons of kinky girls out there would rather have two dicks than one.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever. I’m good with just one dick: mine.”

We’d just cracked open our beers when Sarah and Melanie, Quinn’s hazing sidekicks, walked up. My first instinct was to tell them to screw off, but they came in peace, and, as usual with the HOTs… they’re gorgeous. Can’t stay pissed at a couple of babes like them for long, so I played along.

“Hey, maggots! You guys killed it in the cum-petition,” Sarah congratulated us. “Well, you not so much,” she added, eyeing Derek.

“I held out a decent while!” my buddy shot back. “Just had a rough moment at the end. That Hispanic girl’s just too freakin’ sexy!”

“Cammy? Yeah, she’s a bombshell. Gonna be a killer HOT,” Melanie said, grabbing a beer from the mini-fridge.

“And you, perv? Had fun with Quinn?” Sarah asked with a teasing tone.

“Sarah, it’s Jack. Can we drop the whole ‘perv’ thing already?” I replied.

“Haha, fine, Jack, whatever. But ‘perv’ fits you like a glove. Man, you and Quinn put on a hell of a live porn show. Wildest thing I’ve seen in forever.”

“Eh, it wasn’t that big a deal,” I said, trying to downplay it so the story wouldn’t spread—I don’t need that getting around—but she took it as me bragging.

“Dude, you’re such a cocky little shit,” she chuckled. “No wonder Quinn’s into you.”

“Oh yeah, Quinn’s totally crazy about me. That’s why she keeps busting my balls every chance she gets.”

“You’ll figure her out. She loves pushing buttons and testing people,” Sarah said.

“Using Maya to humiliate me—was that a test?” I asked.

“Quinn used Maya to humiliate you? How?” Derek cut in.

“You know, the daughters waking up the maggot candidates… and all that,” I answered.

“What do you mean by ‘and all that’?” he pressed.

“Derek, how’d they get you here tonight?” I asked.

“Camilla and that Asian HOT, Riona, came to my room to tell me about a party, and…”

“That’s it?” I interrupted.

“Yeah…” He shrugged. “What else was supposed to happen?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

“See, Quinn decided to have a little fun with you tonight,” Sarah said with a smirk.

“So, I’m special? Oh, joy!” I said dryly. “And looks like she’s having fun with Maya too.”

“She’s her pledge. Maya’s gotta do whatever Quinn says if she wants to be a HOT. That’s how it works,” Melanie said with a shrug.

“Yeah, like going along with Quinn’s damn humiliating hazings,” I muttered.

“But… what did my sister do?” Derek pressed again.

“Maya’s your sister?” Melanie asked.

“Yeah, my twin sister.”

“Dude, you’ve handled the hazings pretty well so far,” Sarah said, ignoring Derek. “You still pissed about earlier in the room? I’d say you got your revenge in the cum-petition, right? She threw everything at you, and you still came out on top.”

“What went down in the room is exactly the kind of crap I’d expect from Quinn and her twisted sense of humor. Guess you’re right, I got my payback with her. The problem’s Maya. Didn’t expect that from her,” I said bitterly, but I regretted it the second I saw Derek’s face.

“But… what did my sister do?” he asked, for the third or fourth time.

“Derek, it’s better if she tells you, alright?” I dodged. Luckily, Sarah changed the subject.

“Guys, we gotta go get ready for our ceremony with the pledges,” she said. “But first, congrats on winning the cum-petition,” and to my surprise, she gave me a quick peck on the lips. Melanie followed suit.

“You’re not gonna tell me what happened with my sister?” Derek asked once we were alone.

“Derek… I shouldn’t have said anything,” I replied. “Sorry man. Seriously, forget it, it’s got nothing to do with you.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he muttered, half-annoyed.

We chatted a bit more about nothing in particular, sipping our beers, and he said he wanted to find Ashley, though I’m pretty sure he really wanted to track down his sister. As for me, I decided to take a walk around the mansion, try to meet some people, and especially my—supposedly—future brothers.

The first DIK I met was John-Boy, a blonde guy a bit older than me—he’s a sophomore—and around my height. Turns out he’s dating Elena the HOT.

Elena not only danced during the cum-petition for one of the DIK wannabes until the guy blew his load, but she also had front row seats for the “live porn show” Quinn and I put on. Her boyfriend didn’t seem to care at all.

Actually, turns out they’re both exhibitionists. They were hanging out in their underwear. “We’re gonna end up naked anyway, so who cares?” Elena told me with a cheeky grin and a wink.

Of course, she’d told her boyfriend about what went down during the cum-petition, so they both teased me about it, but in a friendly, fun way. I liked them—they seemed chill and down-to-earth.

While I was still chatting with Elena and John-Boy, another laid-back guy joined us: Jacob. He’s black, taller than me, pretty athletic—he could pass for one of the football guys—and he has dreadlocks dyed a reddish-brown.

I’d seen him taking pictures all night, so I gave him my email to send me some. He told me he joined the DIKs at the start of last year, and that John-Boy had been his maggot-bro.

He told me he’d joined the DIKs exactly a year ago, and his maggot-bro was none other than John-Boy. Like me, he’d had serious doubts at first about whether joining the frat was a good idea. In fact, he said he almost quit after the HOTs’ shower hazing. The campus security guard caught him naked in the campus park and nearly called the cops, which would’ve landed him in the slammer for the night.

He also told me—cracking up—that the second time he almost bailed was during the cum-petition, mostly because he lost and had to chug… well, what was in the damn condom. According to him, the only reason he didn’t bolt from the house right then was because he was still cuffed to the freaking chair. But he also said, despite it all, he didn’t regret joining the DIKs one bit. Jacob’s another guy I really clicked with, and talking to him gave me a boost to keep pushing through this Maggot Hell crap.

We were chatting and joking, the four of us, when Rusty rolled up with the DIKs I hadn’t met yet. First, he introduced me to Nick, a dude with a buzzed head and three-day stubble. He’s a junior, so probably twenty-one or twenty-two, but with that clipper-cut, he looks closer to thirty. Not the most flattering look, but… hey, his call.

Nick’s one of the four original DIKs, the founders: Rusty, Tommy, him, and some guy named Vinnie. He told me Vinnie was his maggot-bro, but he dropped out of the frat and college last year, no degree. Didn’t give me any more details on that.

Rusty also introduced me to Jamie and Leon, the last two guys to join the frat at the start of last spring semester. Usually, the DIKs don’t open rush in the spring, but they made an exception since they were down to just six guys—barely a frat. Rusty said their plan was to hit ten brothers this semester, but Vinnie bailed a few weeks after they took in Leon and Jamie, so if Derek and I make it, we’ll be nine guys total.

Leon and Jamie didn’t have to compete with other dudes to become maggots. The DIKs already knew them from partying together the previous semester and invited them to join. Still, they had to go through the Maggot Hell tasks.

The conversation didn’t last long because Jacob spotted a girl he’s into across the room, standing alone, and jumped at the chance to go talk to her. The others followed his lead not long after, so I ended up back with Elena and John-Boy. Three’s a crowd, so I said goodbye and kept making my rounds through the house.

I hadn’t checked out the upstairs yet, so I headed up there. First thing I saw was a lounge, smaller than the one downstairs but pretty chill, with chairs and couches for hanging out. It opens onto a terrace. It’s not huge, but big enough for the ten or twelve people chilling there, enjoying the night breeze.

In that lounge, I ran into Ashley, who was alone for once—weird, since cute girls don’t usually stay solo at parties for long. She explained she was waiting for Derek, who’d gone to grab them both some drinks.

While we were talking, she pointed out a busty girl and said she’s Tommy’s girlfriend. I remembered seeing her last Sunday at the house with Riona and Elena, but I didn’t know she was a HOT. This time, she was rocking the sorority uniform, so it was obvious. I figured getting on good terms with my “daddy’s” girlfriend was a smart move, so I went over to talk to her. Total fail.

“Hey, you’re Heather, right?” I said with my best smile—Ashley had told me her name. “I’m Jack, nice to meet you…”

The chick just gave me a quick once-over, muttered something like “I don’t talk to maggots,” and turned back to her friends—a couple of stuck-up bitches who cracked up at the shut-down I’d just gotten and ignored me.

Of course, a guy like Tommy would only date a snooty bitch. Though, thinking about it, maybe she’s just bitter, considering Josy told me Tommy cheats on her every chance he gets. Maybe I should feel sorry for her instead.

I went back to Ashley, and we were both laughing about my “adventure” with Heather when Derek showed up with a couple of Solo cups, one for him and one for Ashley. Three’s a crowd again, so I made my excuses and left them alone.

Next to the stairs, there’s an open hallway that stretches to the other side of the first floor. It overlooks the whole ground floor, like a balcony. I hadn’t seen Sage at the party, and I was curious if she’d be there or with that jerk Chad, so I tried to spot her from up there. I was scanning the crowd when the music changed, and people started gathering around the area where we’d had the cum-petition, now cleared of chairs. Somebody nearby said the “HOTs’ ceremony” was about to start. Sounded like a great spot to watch, so I stayed there.

A moment later, all the HOTs and pledges came through the same door they’d used for the cum-petition, and the crowd started cheering. The HOTs were rocking their sorority uniforms, while the pledges wore sexy outfits. You could tell Mona and Camilla were eating up the attention, but Maya looked like she was dying inside, or close to it.

Sage was there too, and I’ll admit it made me happy to see she wasn’t with her asshole boyfriend. Even though the HOTs’ uniform is kind of ridiculous—basically a cheerleader outfit—it looked killer on her. I remember thinking she’s got the best legs I’ve ever seen on a girl. And considering all the HOTs are total babes, that’s saying something.

Despite the hype when the HOTs hit the “stage,” Sage seemed lost in her own head, not even waving to the crowd like the others. She didn’t glance up at me either, which I would’ve liked so I could at least wave back.

Finally, Quinn stepped forward and took charge as “emcee,” much like Tommy had done.

“Let the real party begin!” she shouted, throwing her arms up with a huge grin, sparking a wild cheer. “DIKs and pathetic maggots, meet this year’s pledges!” she went on. “Aren’t they total hotties?”

She had the pledges step forward, and the whole party erupted in applause and cheers. Mona and Camilla waved to the crowd when Quinn called their names, but Maya kept her shy vibe.

“You’ve got your traditions to uphold, and we HOTs have ours!” Quinn went on, milking it. “As you know, we used to do our rituals with the Alphas, but our Oh-so-charming vice president Tommy made us an offer we couldn’t refuse, so… we’ve decided to kick off a new tradition between the HOTs and DIKs this year!”

Right then, I noticed Sage snap out of her daze, shooting Quinn a look of surprise—and not the good kind.

“Daughters, you’ve been told what the ritual’s about! Find the hottest, sexiest DIK you can, and give him a good make-out! After that, how you end the night is up to you.”

That got another huge cheer from the party. Each girl went off to find a DIK or just blended back into the crowd, but I saw Sage grab Quinn’s arm and pull her aside to talk—more like chew her out, from the looks of it.

“Quinn’s taking some liberties with her role,” I thought.

I was leaning on the hallway railing, watching them argue, when Maya came up to me, giving me those sad puppy eyes—she’s got a real talent for that.

“Jack, please, could you…” she started, all hesitant.

“What?” I pressed.

“Help me… with the ritual.”

I blinked, not believing it. “You want us to kiss?”

“Well… yeah… I’d rather do it with you than…”

“After what went down in your room earlier?” I cut her off. “Kissing you is the last thing I feel like doing.”

“But it wasn’t my fault!” she protested.

“It was your fault, Maya. You knew I was into you—I told you yesterday. And at the very least, we were friends. But you still used me and humiliated me in front of Quinn and those other two girls, and I don’t think anyone was holding a gun to your head, right?” I snapped. “And you know what’s worse? It wasn’t even necessary. If you needed help, all you had to do was ask. We could’ve faked it or whatever.”

Just then, Quinn showed up, having probably spotted us from downstairs, and from the look on her face, she was ready to take out on us whatever Sage had just chewed her out for.

“Daughter Maya, what’d I say about the ritual?” she barked, all attitude.

“That… we had to find the sexiest DIK, and…” Maya stammered.

“Exactly!” Quinn cut her off. “At least you’re not deaf, though you seem to have trouble getting it: you need to find a DIK. A DIK! This idiot,” she said, jabbing a finger at me, “is just a maggot. Stop giving him those sweet eyes and find a guy in a DIK jacket. Come on, daughter, we don’t have all night.”

Even though I was still pissed as hell at Maya, seeing Quinn act like a bully toward her got under my skin, and I had to step in.

“Quinn, why the hell do you have to be such a jerk to Maya? I told you before: leave her alone. It’s obvious your problem’s with me, right?”

She let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Ken defending his Barbie,” she sneered.

“I think you saw earlier I’m no ‘Ken,’ right?” I shot back. “Why don’t we make a deal, you and me? Want a toy to play with tonight? Fine, I’m right here—mess with me, haze me, whatever. I don’t care, I can take it. But leave her alone. She hasn’t done anything to you. All she wants is to be a HOT.”

She laughed again, but this time it seemed like something actually amused her. “I thought you just wanted to bang her, but it’s way worse… you’re in love with her!”

“Maybe I want to bang her, maybe I’m in love with her, or maybe I just want to help her because she’s my maggot-bro’s sister and I owe her for letting me crash in her room,” I said, trying hard to keep my cool. “Or maybe it’s you I’m into, Quinn, and I just want you to keep paying attention to me tonight. Think whatever you want.”

She stared at me, like she was sizing up whether I was a worthy opponent or just a dumbass newbie.

“Don’t you want another shot tonight to make me your ‘little bitch’?” I pushed, flashing a grin as twisted as hers. “You said it yourself earlier: the game’s tied right now.”

“Get lost,” she finally said to Maya, nodding her head.

“Can I… go back to my room?” Maya asked.

“Pfft… not even gonna finish the ritual? Go wherever you want. You’ll never be a HOT.”

“Come on, Quinn, don’t be like that. What’s your problem with giving her a chance?” I jumped in again.

“A chance for what? At the HOTs, we want bold girls, ready to take on the world and party hard. This girl’s a prude who can’t even make out with a guy at a party.”

“Wanna make out?” I asked Maya.

“Okay,” she replied.

I grabbed her by the waist and kissed her right in front of Quinn. A solid French kiss, pulling out all my moves, and she went along with it.

“Alright, your daughter just made out with a guy at a party,” I told Quinn when Maya and I broke apart. “And yeah, I know I’m not a DIK, but I’ll be one in less than two weeks, and that’s gotta count for something, right? Plus, it’d be way worse if she’d hooked up with the other maggot,” I added, and it seemed to land, because Quinn cracked up.

“Daughter, do whatever you want, I don’t give a crap. You, newbie, come with me,” she said, motioning for me to follow.

Chapter Text

Quinn led me down the hallway to a corridor where, besides some bathrooms—there was a line of girls at the door—the DIKs’ rooms are. She pulled out her phone and started typing something, ignoring me.

“What are we doing here?” I asked.

“I’m gonna pop your cherry,” she said, still glued to her phone.

“No way, it’s happening? You’re gonna make me a man? Oh, Quinn, I’m thrilled! Always dreamed it’d be with a sweet, thoughtful girl like you…”

“Haha, shut it, asshole. Not like that,” she said, pocketing her phone. A moment later, Riona and Tommy showed up.

“What’s the maggot doing here?” my “daddy” asked, not thrilled to see me.

“I brought the stuff, I invite who I want,” Quinn said with a shrug.

“But why him?” Tommy pressed.

“Because I’m pretty sure he’s a virgin, and I wanna break him in. Let’s go upstairs,” she replied.

I was curious what this was all about, so I followed. Plus, I'd committed to being Quinn's "plaything" for the night, so I couldn't exactly back out.

Tommy opened a trapdoor in the ceiling, and a fold-down ladder dropped. We climbed up to an attic stuffed with junk, then squeezed through a window onto the roof. As a joke, the DIKs had left a wheelchair up there, and Tommy mentioned it was a reminder that if you weren't careful, you'd end up needing one.

On top of the chimney—a solid brick structure—there was a pile of candles, and Riona busied herself lighting them all. They cast a pretty cool glow, honestly. We sat on the roof tiles—the highest part isn't too sloped, so it's not that uncomfortable—and Quinn pulled a pre-rolled joint and a lighter from her bra. She lit it, took a drag, and passed it to Tommy, who took a hit and handed it to Riona.

"Pretty sure that's not tobacco…" I said, playing a little dumb.

"Haha, like I said, a virgin," Quinn teased, taking the joint from Riona and passing it to me.

"Not sure I wanna try that…"

"Pfft… what, you a prude like my sweet daughter?"

I shook my head. "Nah, it's not that. I tried it once before, with my ex, and it hit me hard. Ended up puking my guts out."

"What'd you smoke?"

I shrugged. "No clue. She got the stuff. Think she said it was hash or something. Looked like a little brown rock. Honestly, it looked like dried dog crap."

She burst out laughing. "Yeah, that's probably exactly what it was. Your little girlfriend got ripped off with some garbage. Nobody sells hash around here. This is quality indica. It won't mess you up. Come on, take a hit," she insisted.

"How do I do it?" I asked, accepting the joint.

"For starters, hold it right. You're gripping it like some schoolgirl sneaking her first cigarette in the school bathroom."

She showed me how to hold it so it wouldn't go out and the weed wouldn't go to waste, then had me take a drag and hold my breath until I started coughing, which they all found hilarious.

Tommy pulled out his phone and started snapping pics. I felt awkward about telling him to stop—guy's my “father” after all. Not like I thought he'd blackmail me or anything, but I wasn't thrilled about photos of me smoking weed floating around. To even the score, I whipped out my phone and took a few shots of him and the girls.

"What're you gonna do with those pics, newbie?" Quinn asked, her tone suddenly serious.

"What do you think? Post 'em on Rooster so we all get expelled?" I shot back, dripping with sarcasm. "I'm not an idiot, Quinn. These stay on my phone. Just like I'm hoping Tommy's don't leave his, right?"

"Obviously, maggot," Tommy confirmed. "What happens in the DIK mansion stays in the DIK mansion. It's a code. We don't want loudmouths in the frat."

"Cool. I'm down with that policy," I said, feeling a little relieved. "Wanna swap numbers so you can send me those pics?"

We exchanged contacts—not just Tommy and me, but Quinn and Riona too, so I could send them the photos. Meanwhile, we kept passing the joint around.

"This reminds me of my first time," Riona said, giggling, after I started coughing again from another hit off the joint.

"Yeah, but you were, what, like twelve?" Quinn replied. "This is way more fun."

They kept passing the joint around, chatting about their own stuff. I played along and took a few more drags, but tried not to inhale too deep and passed it quick. My chest stung a bit every time I breathed in the smoke, but other than that, I wasn't feeling much. Maybe a little lightheaded, but I chalked it up to the couple of beers I'd had and the fact that I hadn't eaten since dinner hours ago.

"Maggot, what's the deal with you and Sage?" Quinn asked after a few puffs.

"C’mon! That question again?" I groaned. "You already know—after that thing with Chad in the cafeteria my first day, we hit it off and we're kinda becoming friends.”

“Nah, it’s more than that” Riona piped up. “Every time I see you two, you’re whispering secrets with your heads together, like a couple of schoolkids,”

Tommy looked at me, genuinely shocked. "You making moves on Chadla's redhead, maggot?"

"I'm not making moves on anybody."

"Haha, you're such a liar," Quinn accused. "Of course you wanna bang her, but you don't stand a chance."

"Now I'm curious," I said. "Why not? 'Cause of Chad?"

"Duh," she said, giving me a look like I was an idiot.

"Doesn't seem like their relationship's got much of a future…" I said, fishing for info casually.

"Pfft, those two have been like that since I got here," Riona cut in. "They spend more time fighting than anything else, but they still don't break up. And I'm pretty sure they're not even hooking up…”

"No way," I said, genuinely surprised. "That dude's not fucking a knockout like Sage?"

“We’ve never seen that guy spend a night at the mansion, or Sage crash somewhere else,” Riona went on.

“Well, they don’t have to do it at night…” I pointed out.

“‘Sage the Nun’?” Riona shook her head. “She’s only with that guy ‘cause he’s the Alpha president and team captain. It’s a campus status thing.” She kept explaining. “Me? I wouldn’t put up with that dude even if he was the fuckin’ president of the United States, but… her call, I guess.”

"Rio, the weed's loosening your tongue," Quinn warned, snatching the joint from her. "You're talking too much about a sister, sister."

"Don't worry, I ain’t no snitch," I said. "I'm not gonna run and tell Sage you gave her a nickname." Still, this was the perfect moment to dig for more info on Sage and her boyfriend, with everyone getting buzzed, so I kept at it. "I still don't get why Chad's not banging Sage. Is the guy gay or what?"

That got Quinn laughing out loud.

"Who knows? Anything's possible."

"Steroids?" I guessed. "I know they shrink the balls and kill the sex drive, and that gorilla's probably juicing like a damn junkie."

"Like every guy on the team," Riona snorted.

Tommy let out a loud laugh. "Those dudes act all macho, but they're limp dicks."

"Seriously, you'd have to be gay or dead from the waist down to date a stunner like Sage and not be banging her every single day of the year—twice on holidays," I said. "And a total piece of shit to treat her like crap. I don't know her that well yet, but she seems like a solid chick."

"Sounds like you've got a crush on her, newbie," Quinn teased, passing me the joint.

"Quinn, according to you, I've got a crush on everybody," I replied. "Didn't we agree the one I'm really into is you?"

Tommy gave a scoffing laugh. "Watch who you're hitting on, son. This chick could sink her teeth into you and leave nothin’ but bones.”

"She says she's gonna make me her 'little bitch,'" I said.

"She's absolutely capable of that."

“She’s dead serious.”

“Maybe I’m down to take the risk. Quinn’s got a fuckin’ perfect ass, gotta admit.”

"Hahaha, you don't know what you're saying," Tommy replied. “You talk big for someone who’s only been here three days, kid.”

“Only been here three days? Geels like three fuckin’ months,” I said, dryly. “In three days, I’ve pissed off a pack of steroid-junkie gorillas, told my psycho roommate to fuck off, so I’m basically homeless, and to top it all off, I let a sadistic chick—admittedly hot as hell—strip me naked in the middle of the street.”

Riona cracked up at my rant. “Haha, poor baby,” she said, her voice way more teasing than sympathetic. “But you seem to be holding up pretty well,” she added.

“It’s all an act, gorgeous. At night, I cry myself to sleep, hugging my knees on my borrowed bed.”

“Sink or swim, newbie,” Quinn cut in. “If you can’t handle the heat, go running back to Mommy and Daddy.”

“I’m still swimming, Quinn, and I’m not going anywhere,” I shot back. “You’ll get plenty more chances to make me your ‘little bitch,’ don’t worry.”

“Oh, I’m not worried. That’s gonna happen,” she said, giving me a long, cocky, flirty stare.

We kept smoking and chatting about random stuff—mostly them talking, me listening—and at some point, I started feeling actually relaxed for a change, unlike the last few days when my nerves have been strung tighter than piano wires.

But that chill vibe wasn't gonna last long. Out of nowhere, we heard a commotion down on the street: shattering glass and people yelling. We leaned over the edge of the roof to see what the hell was going on, and it was the Alphas, chucking stuff at the windows and screaming at the DIKs.

A moment later, the DIKs spilled out onto the terrace, joining the shouting match with a solid barrage of insults and threats, but honestly, none of them could match Chad's volume.

"SAGE! SAGE! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! GET OUT HERE NOW!" the guy bellowed like a lunatic, pacing back and forth in front of the mansion, waving his arms around.

"YOU JEALOUS 'CAUSE THE GIRLS AR PARTYING WITH US INSTEAD OF WATCHING YOU DO CRUNCHES?" Tommy yelled from the roof, not about to let the others steal the show.

"IT'S LEG DAY TODAY!" that Anthony guy shouted, totally out of left field.

"THEN GO DO SQUATS ON EACH OTHER'S DICKS AND LEAVE US ALONE!" Tommy fired back. That jab set off a storm of insults, and someone even launched something up at the roof—a dildo, of all things. I figured that's what those assholes were throwing at the windows.

I'm not a DIK yet, and technically, none of this shit was my problem, but… I was pissed. Maybe it was the weed. Or maybe I just can't stand Chad and his pack of steroid-sponge assholes.

"HOW DO YOU ALPHAS HAVE SO MANY DILDOS?" I shouted at the top of my lungs. "YOU A GAY FRAT? OR ARE THOSE YOUR PERSONAL COLLECTION, CHADELINE? HOPE YOU CLEANED ‘EM AFTER PULLING ‘EM OUT OF YOUR ASS!”

"Nice one, maggot," Tommy said beside me, cracking up. A bunch of party guests had poured out of the house when the chaos started, and they were cracking up too.

"CHAD, LOOK, IT'S THAT FUCKING FRESHMAN!" that white-haired idiot Dawe yelled.

"JUST WAIT TILL WE GET OUR HANDS ON YOU, SHITHEAD!" Chad threatened.

"WHAT, YOU GONNA GANG UP ON ME AGAIN, YOU FUCKIN’ COWARDS?" I shouted back, throwing all caution to the wind. "COME AT ME ONE-ON-ONE IF YOU'VE GOT THE BALLS!" Definitely not my smartest moment—weed does not do me any favors.

That exchange sparked another round of insults flying from both sides, with Chad still screaming for Sage. Riona had slipped away, but Quinn was still sitting next to me, cracking up, clearly loving the whole mess.

"THE GIRLS ARE AT OUR PARTY 'CAUSE THEY WANT TO BE!" I heard Rusty yell from the terrace. "THEY’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!"

"DOESN'T LOOK THAT WAY!" one of the Alphas mocked, because right then, Sage came out of the house with the rest of the HOTs—minus Quinn—and the pledges, including Maya.

"About time!" Chad yelled, grabbing Sage by the arm. "The HOTs belong with the Alphas, that's how it's always been!"

"Chad, enough!" Sage snapped, struggling and yanking her arm free. "What the hell were you thinking? You could've hurt someone! Let's all get out of here before this gets worse!"

With Sage and the girls, a bunch of the guests left too, and just like that, the party was pretty much over.

“Let’s go check what the hell happened to the windows,” Tommy said, climbing down through the trapdoor. I got up to follow him, but a wave of dizziness hit me out of nowhere.

“Tommy! Your kid’s not feeling right! Give me a hand here!” Quinn shouted, but he was already gone.

“I think… it’s the weed…” I muttered, sinking back down, confused.

“No shit, idiot,” Quinn snickered. “You’re high.”

“I don’t know, I felt fine. But when I stood up, everythin’ started spinnin’…”

“Meh, it’s nothin’. Stay put, it’ll pass quick,” she said, settling down next to me in a tone oddly gentle—for her, anyway. “So, you enjoyin’ the experience?”

“Better than the first time,” I admitted.

“Feels relaxin’, huh?”

“Yeah…”

“Exactly. Indica’s the shit. It chills you out, and suddenly everythin’ feels like no big deal. Problems, worries… All the bullshit just—gone.”

“Yeah…” I echoed.

“And lots of things are better high… Eatin’, for one. Food tastes insane after a smoke. Or fuckin’…”

“Yeah…”

“You’ve never fucked high. Haven’t even eaten high. Why do you keep sayin’ ‘yeah’?”

“Yeah…”

She laughed. “You that stoned already?”

“Yeah…”

“Quit it, asshole,” she said, smacking my arm. “You only took a few hits, and this shit’s not even that strong. Barely any THC.”

“Alright, fine, I was jokin’,” I admitted, chuckling. “I mean, yeah, my head feels kinda light, but you’re right—even with all that mess earlier, I’m super chill. Don’t feel like going anywhere right now,” I said, lying back with my hands behind my head, staring up at the starry sky. The night was perfect, a cool breeze taking the edge off the August heat.

“Yeah, it’s nice up here,” Quinn said, flicking the last bit of the joint away and lying down beside me. By the way, you really stirred up some shit with the Alphas, newbie. They’re not gonna let that slide.”

“Yeah, I know…” I sighed. “Whatever. It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with crap like this. I’ll figure it out. I’m tougher than I look.”

She let out a shot snort-laugh. “One of two things: either you’re a fuckin’ macho-man or a dumbass who’ll end up in the hospital before the week’s out.”

“Yup. One of those. And honestly, I’m not even sure which myself,” I said. “Guess we’ll find out.”

“Haha, yeah… So, you said you smoked with your ex?”

“Psh, we were fifteen.”

“What happened with her? Why aren’t you two together?” she asked.

“She took off to California a year ago.”

“Why?”

I recited my usual line in my best dead-inside voice. “She was bored with our boring town, our boring high school, her boring house, her boring stepdad…”

“I can picture it. And I’m guessing she was bored with her boring boyfriend too,” she jabbed.

“You’re a bitch. She asked me to go with her.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“Good question. Right now, I could be on a beach screwin’ her instead of here, putting up with hazings and those roided-up clowns.”

“You regret it?” Quinn kept digging.

“Nah, not really,” I said. “The whole beach life thing was her deal, not mine. I wanted to come to college. Wasn’t gonna ditch my dad, my studies, and my future just to follow a girl—even her.”

“You two still talk?”

“Haven’t in at least six months. Sometimes I peek at her Rooster account… don’t even know why,” I admitted. “She posts beach pics and stuff like that. Got a bunch of tattoos, and I think she’s with some guy. Guess she’s living the life she wanted—surfing and soaking up the sun.”

“So, she ditched you for a never-ending beach vacation, and now she’s screwin’ some surfer in Cali,” Quinn summed up. “Bet that hurt, newbie.”

“Thanks for twisting the knife, Quinn. Yeah, it hurt. I spent weeks bawlin’ in my room like a total idiot. Pretty fuckin’ pathetic. Never again—not for her or anyone. But I’ve moved on.”

“Looks more like she’s the one who moved on, if she’s with some guy,” she twisted the knife yet a little more.

“You think I haven’t been with anyone since then?” I shot back.

“Oh yeah? Who?”

“Before I came here, I was hooking up with two chicks from work.”

She was obviously digging for info, and knowing her, she might use it against me. But the weed had me so fuckin’ relaxed, I didn’t care.

“Yeah, right. You’re full of shit,” she nailed.

I shrugged. “It’s true. Believe what you want.”

“Where do you work?”

“Worked. Quit to come here. At a nursing home. I was a janitor and handyman, night shifts on weekends.”

“Pfft… sounds like a shitty job.”

“Could’ve been worse. Pay wasn’t bad, and most nights there wasn’t much to do.”

“And you used to fuck two chicks from there?” she pressed. “What, a couple of grannies?”

“Haha, no, dumbass. Two nurses. They’re young—only four or five years older than me.”

“Bullshit.”

“What, you think I’m makin’ shit up to impress you? Right now, I’m too stoned to even come up with a decent lie.”

She cracked up. “I know—that’s why I’m askin’ now.”

“So you’re milking me for info on my love life while I’m high. Real smooth, Quinn,” I said, rolling onto my side to flash her a cocky grin. “Why do you even care?”

“It’s not what you think, newbie. Don’t get full of yourself,” she said, giving me a not-so-friendly punch on the shoulder. For a second, she reminded me a lot of Zoey.

“Then why keep asking?”

“’Cause I haven’t figured you out yet. There’s something about you I can’t pin down.”

“You can’t tell if I’m some white knight or just a perv.”

“Exactly.”

I thought about it for a second. “Why not both?”

“Nah. You said it yourself—can’t be both.”

“Actually… why not?”

“The perv… no, the dark knight… and the white knight… fighting it out inside you,” she mused, eyes drifting toward the sky.

I burst out laughing. “You’re the one who’s high, Quinn. Getting’ all philosophical.”

“Haha, maybe,” she admitted.

“Nah, I don’t think they’re fighting. More like taking turns. Sometimes I’m one, sometimes the other.”

“A boy scout and a horn-dog at the same time? Nah. One’s gotta call the shots.”

“And which do you think?”

“Let me ask you something,” she said. “Would you have gone at Chad in the cafeteria if he’d been messing with some dude?”

“Well… a guy should be able to handle himself. Not exactly the same…”

“Fine, different question: would you have stood up for Sage if she’d looked like a pig-faced blob?”

“Uh…” I hesitated.

She burst out laughing. “Knew it!”

“I don’t know…” I said after a pause. “If Chad was harassing some girl right in front of me… yeah, I think I would’ve stepped in, even if she wasn’t hot. I can’t stand bullies.”

“And I can’t stand liars,” she pressed.

“Look, who knows?” I said, being real. “In the heat of the moment, you never know how you’re gonna react.”

“You wouldn’t have been so eager to play tough guy with Chad if Sage weren’t a hottie that’s for sure,” she said. Then she shifted gears. “You got a pic of that ex on your phone?” I nodded. “Show me,” she said—more an order than a request.

“Why?”

“Curiosity,” she said with a shrug. “I wanna see what kind of girl could break your heart.”

“Planning to be the next one to break it, Quinn?”

“I’d have to date you first, and don’t hold your breath, newbie. You’re not my type. Like I said—at best I’d make you my bitch. Or better yet, my gimp. Now show me.”

“Alright, fine.”

I pulled up a pic of Zoey I’d taken in her room one afternoon, right before we hooked up. She was naked—though only the start of her boobs are visible—striking a sexy pose, arms up, running her hands through her hair. 

Quinn studied it closely, like she was sizing her up. 

“Not bad, I’ll give her that,” she said finally. “But… blue hair? Pfft…” she mocked. 

“You’ve got yours dyed white, you jerk,” I shot back. 

“Yeah, but it looks good on me.” 

“Honestly, I never liked the blue hair,” I admitted. “No clue why she started dyeing it. But it was her hair, so… her call. Gotta say, the white looks better on you, though that shaved side thing… pfft…” 

“Back to this again, asshole?” she said, getting a little heated. “What the hell do you know about style?” 

“Not a damn thing, but I know what I like, and that haircut ain’t it. Looks like they shaved you for brain surgery or somethin’.” 

“It does not look like that!” 

“Sure it does. All it’s missin’ is the scar from the operation. But hey—it’s your head, your call.” 

“I’m this close to kickin’ you in the balls,” she said, and she sounded like she meant it. 

“Hey, I said earlier you’re a damn hot chick, and I meant it,” I said, throwing her a bone. “There’s other stuff I do like about you.” 

“Oh yeah? Like what? My ass, you perv?” she asked with a smirk, propping herself up on one elbow on the roof tiles. 

“Hell yeah,” I said, mirroring her, leaning on my elbow too. Our faces were so close I could feel her breath. “But I was thinking about that bad-girl grin of yours—your trademark,” I went on. “Twisted as a damn corkscrew, like you’ve got ‘danger’ written all over your face in bold letters. Dunno why, but… yeah, I’m into it.”

She let out a real laugh. “Okay, I like that one. You get a pass—for now.”

“Okay… Hey, my turn to grill you while you’re high?” I asked. 

“Pfft… I ain’t that high,” she said. “You ain’t gettin’ shit outta me.” 

“Come on… After all I spilled, you ain’t gonna tell me some story about the dude who broke your heart and made you as sweet and loving as… a cactus?”

“What, you lookin’ for a sweet and lovin’ girl?” she fired back. That why you’re so into little dollface Maya?”

“I don’t even know what I’m lookin’ for,” I admitted. “I just keep my options open. Zoey wasn’t exactly sweet and lovin’. Actually, you kinda remind me of her. You’re sharp, you got attitude, and somethin’ tells me you’d rather screw than cuddling, just like her.” 

“Lucky for you, you don’t remind me of any of my exes,” she said. 

“How many you had?”

“None of your damn business,” she said, though her tone wasn’t as sharp as usual. “I told you, you ain’t gettin’ shit outta me.” 

“Come on, Quinn, it’s just a normal question,” I pushed. 

“Fine, yeah, I’ve had a few,” she said grudgingly. “None of ‘em were serious, though. What about you and this Zoey? Was that serious?” 

“We were friends since we were twelve,” I said. “By fifteen… we were more than friends. Honestly, I don’t even know when we started being a real couple… or if we ever were. We just spent all our free time together, fucked a lot, and didn’t see other people. Guess that’s what a couple is… But I don’t know if it was actually serious.” I shrugged. “Guess not, since she took off for a damn extended beach vacation in California and left me hanging, like you so delicately put it.” 

“You were in love with her?” 

“I thought I was, but now… no clue,” I said. “Whatever, it’s water under the bridge. Dunno why we’re even talkin’ about her. Hey, Quinn, does stuff really taste better when you’re high?” I asked, setting the stage to make my move. 

“Told you it does, didn’t I?” 

“Did you? Let’s see…” I leaned in, brushing my lips against her earlobe, giving it a little nibble. For a second, she tensed up, and I thought I was about to get slapped, but she didn’t. 

“Haha, look at you gettin’ all frisky…” she said, playing along. “Let’s see what you taste like…” She licked my cheek. “Ha, not bad at all,” she said. 

Right then, I kissed her. 

“Damn it!” she pulled back, suddenly pissed. “You had to do that!” 

“What’s the problem?” I asked, thrown off. 

“I don’t kiss guys, asshole!” 

“You’re a lesbian? Gotta say, that’s news to me,” I teased.

“I ain’t a lesbian, moron!” she snapped. “I just don’t kiss guys!” 

“What, you scared of catchin’ feelings or what?” Her face said it all. “That’s it, ain’t it?” 

“Screw you, you asshole,” she grumbled, more sulky than mad. 

“C’mon, Quinn, drop the tough-girl act,” I said. “It’s just us up here, both high as hell. We can be real.” 

“It ain’t an act, jerk,” she shot back. 

“Quinn, let’s level: “I’m pretty sure you’re into me…” 

“Bullshit, I’m into you!”

“…or at least into somethin’ about me. But I’m also pretty sure I’m the one more likely to catch feelings here. If I fell for you, you’d have me wrapped around your finger, makin’ me your… what the hell’s a ‘gimp,’ anyway?” 

“A sub. Sex slave,” she explained. 

“Sounds like you watch too much porn, but… yeah, you’d probably have me doin’ whatever you want,” I said. 

“Damn right, newbie,” she said. 

“And still, I’m the one who’s willin’ to kiss you,” I went on. “Not just that—I wanna finish what we started at that damn cum-petition. And I know you do too. We’ve been dancin’ around this since Sunday. So how ‘bout it, Quinn? No hazings, no mind games, no bullshit. Just a good fuck, ‘cause we’re high and horny. You’ve already seen I’ve got a decent dick and know how to use it,” I finished, flashing a cheeky grin.

“You’re a cocky son of a bitch,” she said, staring me down all serious. “Got some nerve sayin’ that to me.” 

“I know,” I said. “And that’s one of the things you’re into about me. So what do you say, Quinn? Truce for a fuck? We can go back to fightin’ tomorrow.” 

She kept staring me dead in the eyes, all serious, until that sarcastic grin of hers crept back. “Lick my ass, perv,” she said, standing up and slipping off her panties. 

“Right now, you naught girl,” I shot back. 

She got on all fours on the roof, and I knelt behind her, pushing up her HOT uniform skirt. I went to town on her, eating her out good and proper, not forgetting her tight little backdoor. 

“Smokin’ weed and eatin’ pussy… not bad for your first time, huh, perv?” she said between moans and gasps. 

“Your turn to taste me,” I said after working her over with my lips, tongue, and fingers for a good while. 

“Alright, but keep doin’ what you’re doin’,” she said. 

“Think there’s a way we can do both at once… somethin’ called 47 or 58…” 

“Haha, 69, dumbass,” she corrected. 

“Then park that perfect ass on this dumbass’s face, and let’s do that 69.” 

I stripped down—hadn’t yet—and she ditched her skirt. Sure enough, she planted her pussy right on my face. 

“I don’t suck dick, y’know,” she said, grabbing my cock. “But I’ll make an exception this time…” 

We went at that 69—fuckin’ fantastic—until she had her fill.

“Enough foreplay,” she said, climbing off me. “Let’s fuck for real. I’m gonna pop your cherry.” 

“Haha, you still think I’m a virgin?” I teased. 

“You’re a virgin at fuckin’ high,” she said. “It’s a big first, and you ain’t gonna forget it. Every time you smoke, you’re gonna think of me… Fuck, your cock’s freakin’ huge,” she added, straddling me and grabbing my dick, ready to slide it in. 

“Haha, maybe it’s the weed makin’ things look bigger,” I said. “I’ve been seein’ my hands huge for a while now.” 

“Nah, no way,” she said, pressing my cock against her stomach. “Look, it reaches past my belly button… It’s gonna hit deep inside me.”

“Oh, thanks. Grew it myself,” I said. 

“Haha, quit talkin’ shit, dork. Let’s fuck.” 

She slid herself onto me and leaned down to kiss me. Guess in the heat of the moment, she forgot her weird “no kissing guys” rule. 

She rode me slow and sensual for a good while, until she decided we should switch it up. She wanted it from the side on the roof tiles. The weed still had us chilled out, so we kept a lazy, relaxed rhythm.

The problem was, after a while, we started feeling kinda uncomfortable. Those damn roof tiles were scraping our hips, so she got back on all fours for me to take her doggy-style. 

“You’re hittin’ all the right spots inside me… I can feel it in my gut…” she said at one point. 

“I wanna get even deeper,” I said, caught up in the heat of it. 

“Don’t think that’s possible…” 

“Yeah, it is—standin’ up against the chimney.” 

“You sure you won’t get dizzy?” she checked. 

“I ain’t that high anymore, and these tiles are a pain in the ass.” 

“Yeah, my knees are gonna be all scratched up… Alright, let’s do it,” she said. “But don’t hold back. Slow fuckin’s fine, but it ain’t gonna get me off,” she added. 

So we did it. We moved to the chimney, and she sat on the ground to suck my dick again, “to lube it up,” she said.  Pretty sure it was already slick from her pussy after all that fucking, but I wasn’t complaining.

She went at it for a good while—definitely more than just “lubrication”—until her mouth must’ve gotten tired or whatever. Then she stood up, leaned against the chimney— careful where she put her hands because there was hot candle wax all over the place—ready for me to take her from behind. And I did. 

In that position, I could thrust harder, and soon she was moaning loud. After a bit, she announced, practically yelling, that she was gonna come. A second later, I felt her pussy clamping down even tighter on my cock. 

“I’m… gonna come too…” I panted, right at my limit. “Where… you want it?” 

“Inside… Pill… Inside…” she gasped. 

So I did—I came inside her. 

We pulled apart, breathless, and were just about to start getting dressed when we heard a roaring cheer. Shocked—and startled—we looked down and saw all the DIKs, plus a few HOTs—Riona, Elena, Sarah, and Melanie—standing in front of the house, watching us screw and cracking up. 

“Nice fuck with the maggot, sis?” Elena shouted. 

“Eh, I’ve had better!” Quinn shouted back, making everybody laugh. 

“You bitch…” I muttered with a chuckle. “Hey, I’ve had better too!” I shouted down to them. “But this wasn’t half bad! Quinn’s got a fuckin’ perfect ass!” 

“You’re one of us, maggot!” Elena hollered back. “Like me and my guy, you’re into fucking with an audience!” 

“Come on, newbie,” Quinn said, grabbing her clothes. 

We climbed down and headed to the big bathrooms upstairs. 

“How ‘bout round two in the shower?” I suggested, since we were alone. 

She looked at me, surprised. “For real?” 

“I’m sweaty, could use a shower, and I bet you could too. And while we’re at it… why not?” 

“You still want more?” 

“More of you? Of course, Quinn,” I said with a half-smile. “And I don’t think that’s goin’ away anytime soon, no matter how much we fuck.” 

“That sounds like somethin’ my little bitch would say,” she teased. 

I let out a low laugh. “Don’t push it… So, what do you say?” 

“Eh, why the hell not? Come on, perv,” she said, motioning for me to follow her to one of the shower stalls. Sure enough, we had another killer fuck, standing face-to-face, touching and kissing while the water cooled us off. 

***

“You cool with everyone seein’ us hook up?” I asked as we dried off and got dressed.

“If I cared, I wouldn’t have screwed on a roof,” Quinn shot back. “But I don’t need your dumbass future frat bros or that nympho Elena and the others blabbin’ about who I screw.”

“Same here. So what’s the plan?”

“Just leave it to me.”

We headed to the upstairs lounge where the DIKs—minus Derek—and the HOTs were chilling. Quinn laid into them with a dead-serious lecture about how “if anyone of you clowns spreads gossip about who I fuck or don’t fuck, I’ll cut his balls off.”

When she was done, she didn’t even say goodbye—just stormed out, with Sarah, Melanie, and Riona trailing behind. Elena said she was crashing with her boyfriend, so she stayed.

Once the girls left, the DIKs—and Elena—burst into laughter again.

“Damn, maggot, you’re going straight for the gold, huh?” Nick said, fist-bumping me. “First night and you already check off the ‘public sex’ challenge. Even Vinnie wasn’t that wild, man. And with Quinn, no less!”

“Why’d it take you guys so long?” Elena asked. “What’d you do after coming down from the roof?”

“Uh… round two in the shower,” I admitted.

That got another huge laugh from the group.

“Mad respect, maggot,” Jacob said, giving me a fist bump. John-Boy followed, then the rest of the guys—even Elena, though hers was more for laughs than actual respect.

Well, everyone fist-bumped me except my “daddy” Tommy.

“So, all the DIKs and Derek are cleaning up broken glass, while my kid’s off messing around with Quinn…” Tommy griped. “Nice going, maggot. Real team player.”

“Come on, bro, you’d have done the same, and you know it,” Jacob cut in.

“He wasn’t off hiding with the Alphas, was he?” John-Boy added.

“Whatever, party’s over,” Tommy said, waving it off. “Get outta here.”

“Jesus, Tommy, jealous of the maggot much?” Elena teased, and something in her tone set off a little alarm in my head.

“Hold up… There’s nothing going on between you and Quinn, right?” I asked Tommy. “You’re dating that HOT, Heather. That’s what I heard…”

“Nothing’s going on, maggot,” he said, brushing me off. “And you, Elena, what’s your deal? I’m not jealous of a damn maggot, for fuck’s sake.”

“What happened with the windows?” I asked, switching topics.

“You saw it. Those assholes smashed four or five on the front and a couple on the side,” Rusty said.

“Damn, fixing that’s gonna cost a fortune. Ballpark, like a grand…”

“Don’t worry about it. Just enjoy Maggot Hell. Though I’d say you’re already having a blast. First frat party, and you bang Quinn—on the freaking roof! Like Jacob says, mad respect, maggot,” Rusty said with a smirk, circling back to it.

“I bet they’ve been into each other since the shower hazing. Quinn’s been talking about this guy a lot since then,” Elena told the group.

“You work fast, maggot. Were you planning to make a move on her?” John-Boy asked.

“Nah, man!” I said. “Quinn started the night busting my chops with another one of her damn pranks, and… well, whatever.”

“Haha, seems like you forgave her pretty quick…” Elena teased.

“Well… let’s just say we called a truce. Uh, guys, Tommy mentioned earlier that what happens in the DIK mansion stays here, so… I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread this around,” I said. “I’m not gonna go all Quinn and threaten to chop anything off, just… please and thanks.”

“Don’t worry, maggot, it’s like Tommy said,” Rusty assured me.

“Don’t stress about the HOTs either,” Elena added. “We’ll gossip like crazy back at the house. We’re total chatterboxes,” she admitted with a giggle. “But it won’t leave there.”

“Thanks. How come you HOTs came back here? I figured after heading off with the Alphas, you’d keep partying with them,” I said to Elena, fishing for more.

“After they acted like we can’t party with whoever the hell we want? No way!” she said, instantly pissed. “We only went with them to avoid a fight. Some of the girls headed to the sorority house, and the rest of us came back here.”

“Oh… Makes sense. Guess Sage stayed with her boyfriend, though…” I said, digging a bit more.

“Sage was the most pissed of all of us. She told Chad to go screw himself and went to crash.”

“Which is what we should all do,” Rusty said. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m dead tired, and we’ve all got class tomorrow.”

“Speaking of… mind if I crash here tonight?” I asked. “I’m good with anywhere. A couch works.”

“No way,” said my lovin’ “daddy” Tommy. “Rules are clear: only DIKs and hot chicks banging a brother can stay the night at the mansion. No exceptions.”

“Come on, it’s four in the morning, not much of a night left anyway,” Rusty said. “Alright, the couch is yours. Just this once, got it?”

“Thanks. By the way, when I’m a DIK…”

“That’s still a big ‘if,’” Tommy cut in.

“…I can move in here, right?” I asked. “I’m having some housing issues…”

“About that… let’s talk tomorrow,” Rusty said.

“Okay… Uh, where’s Derek?”

“Derek helped clean up, then went to his room like a good maggot,” Tommy said. “I’m hitting the sack,” he added. The rest of the group followed, leaving me alone on the couch.

Despite the hour and how beat I was, it took me a bit to fall asleep, thinking about what the hell I’ve been doing since I got to campus.

Three days at B&R, and I already have to watch my back because of the Alphas, I don’t have a stable place to sleep, I’m pledging to a frat that’s in an open war with another frat, I smoked weed, and I fucked a girl in public—which probably isn’t going to be great for my reputation…

The sex with Quinn, though… that was fucking amazing.

Chapter Text

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012. 

Last night, I figured if Tommy woke up and found me still at the mansion, he’d get pissed, so I decided to pull the same move I did when I crashed at the prep’s frat house—get up early and slip out. I set my phone alarm for eight. But when I woke up, I didn’t see Tommy or any of the DIKs. After last night’s party, I guessed nobody was in a rush to get up, so I figured I didn’t need to hurry either. After hitting the bathroom, I headed to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee before heading out. With less than four hours of sleep, I was dying for some caffeine. 

The DIKs have a big, well-equipped kitchen that doubles as a dining room. To my surprise, I found Elena and John-Boy there, gathering ingredients for a huge breakfast. 

“Morning, maggot,” John-Boy greeted, all friendly. “You sticking around for breakfast?” 

“Hey, good morning,” I said to both of them. “If you’re inviting, I’m in. Please and thanks. You guys are early risers, huh?” I added, pouring myself a cup of coffee they’d already brewed. 

“We’re usually the first ones up to make breakfast. We’re the only ones around here who can cook,” John-Boy explained. 

“Well, count me in then. I always cook for my dad and me at home. Let me help,” I offered. 

“Sweet, go for it.” 

They were making hash browns, so I grabbed a knife and started peeling potatoes. 

“What recipes do you know?” Elena asked, cracking eggs into a bowl. 

“For breakfast? At home, I sometimes whip up a frittata, for example."

“That’s Italian, right? How do you make it?” she asked. 

“It’s like an omelet, but finished in the oven,” I started explaining. “You sauté veggies first—potatoes, zucchini, onions, spinach, whatever. You can toss in sausage, bacon or ground beef too. Mix it in a dish with beaten eggs and a splash of milk, top it with shredded cheese, and bake it. Best part? If there’s leftovers, it’s great cold the next day.” 

“Sounds good. You’ll have to show us how to make it.” 

“Anytime you want.” 

We kept chatting about cooking while prepping breakfast—hash browns, like I said, scrambled eggs, and bacon—and one by one, the guys started rolling in. Nobody cared I was still there—all they cared about was the coffee pot—except Tommy, AKA Josy’s stoner stepbrother, who, just like I’d feared, started bitching the second he saw me. He kept it up even when John-Boy said he’d invited me to breakfast and that I was helping cook. He only shut up—grudgingly—when Rusty told him to stop making a big deal out of nothing. 

“Guys, what’s the deal with all this bad blood between the DIKs and the Alphas?” I asked once we all sat down to eat. 

“Tell him, Tommy. You tell it best,” Elena urged. 

“Yeah, bro, you tell it,” the others chimed in. 

“Alright, kid,” Tommy said, cracking a smile for once. Guess the chance to be the center of attention put him in a good mood. “For a hundred years…” he began. 

“One year…” Rusty cut in. 

“…the DIKs and the Preps have been locked in a brutal, no-holds-barred war…” 

“…the Alphas have been pissed at Tommy…” Rusty interrupted again. 

“Bro! Quit cuttin’ me off!” Tommy snapped, while everyone else cracked up. “You guys asked me to tell it!” 

“It all started on a dark, cold night of… spring,” he went on, dropping his voice all mysterious-like. “In a shadowy alley, the warm glow of a bar spilled out, and inside, the HOT, Arieth, was all alone, bored out of her mind, poor thing. Her Alpha boyfriend Dawe was on the floor, puking beer all over his pants, so a brave and charming DIK—yours truly,” he said, giving a mock bow to the table, “came to her rescue. ‘Come with me, fair lady, and I’ll show you a few tricks,’ I told her. And I whisked her off to the bathroom, where I made her laugh, made her cry, made her swoon, and most importantly, made her come. Twice.” 

At that, the DIKs—and Elena—started cheering, throwing out “that’s how it’s done” comments, totally joking. Tommy raised his hands to quiet them and kept going. 

“But his deeds, though bold, weren’t exactly wise. Outside the bar, that drunk Alpha and his buddies were waiting for our hero. Oh, brothers! Those Alphas were sneaky cowards! They jumped him all at once! Then they slunk back to their den, yelling, ‘Nobody fucks our bitches!’ And that, my son, is how the hundred-year war began,” he finished—and I gotta admit, he told it with some serious flair. 

“In short: Tommy banged Dawe’s girlfriend in a bar bathroom during spring break, and Dawe and his crew beat the crap out of him,” Nick summed up. 

“Sounds like ganging up on people is an Alpha thing,” I said. “They pulled the same stunt on me last Sunday. At least I nailed that jerk Dawe with a solid kick to the nuts.” 

“That’s exactly what that bastard did to me—kicked me in the nuts, and after that, all I saw was stars,” Tommy said, wincing. “The other assholes hit me too, but all I felt was my nuts screaming.” 

“I’m guessing your beef with the Alphas started when you stood up to Chad in the cafeteria to defend Sage, right?” Elena asked me. 

“Exactly,” I replied. “Don’t regret it, ‘cause that guy was being a total pig to her, but… yeah, I pretty much painted a target on my back.” 

“Well, even if you’re still a maggot, the DIKs got your back, man,” Rusty said, giving my shoulder a pat—he was sit next to me.

“Rusty, thanks, seriously,” I said. “By the way… you mentioned last night we’d talk about my housing today. I really need a place to stay. My assigned roommate’s a total jackass. You probably know him—Troy. Used to be an Alpha.” 

From the looks on everyone’s faces, yeah, they knew him. 

“Man, that guy’s a piece of work,” Jacob said, and I got the vibe he had some personal beef with him. 

“The asshole let some Alphas into my room to steal something from me, though I got it back in the end,” I told them. “Point is, I’m done living with that guy. Honestly… not gonna lie, one big reason I want to join the frat is to move into this badass house.” 

“Well… thing is, all the rooms are taken right now…” Rusty said, and my stomach just dropped. “There’s only the broom closet…” he added. 

“I’ll take it, if there’s nothing better…” I said quickly, not exactly thrilled. 

“…but Derek already called dibs on it last night. Maggot, I don’t think we can help you,” he dropped a bucket of cold water on me.

I looked around the table, stunned. “Seriously? So I’d have to stay in the dorms while you guys get to live in this badass mansion? Come on, that’d make me a second-class DIK! That’s not fair,” I protested.

“He’s got a point, Rusty. We didn’t think that through… A DIK’s supposed to live here with his brothers,” Jacob backed me up.

“Only thing I can think of is Vinnie’s old room,” Rusty said with a shrug.

“I’ll take it,” I said right away.

“Well… better hold off till you see it. You might not be so keen then,” Nick warned.

We finished breakfast chatting about other stuff—mostly trashing the Alphas—and then went to check out the room… which turned out to be a total dump.

“Holy shit!” I blurted, floored. “What the hell happened in here? Gas explosion or something?”

“Vinnie happened,” Nick muttered, clearly annoyed. “He wrecked the place.”

“Uh… why?”

“Let’s just say he didn’t leave on the best terms,” Rusty explained. “So before he bailed, he left us this little souvenir.”

“What went down?” I pressed.

“Vinnie’s a… weird guy, and…”

“Vinnie’s a fuckin’ psycho, that’s what,” Tommy cut in.

“Bro, despite everything, Vinnie’s still kinda my friend…” Nick protested, though not with much conviction.

Tommy apologized, and Rusty kept going.

“What happened is, we had no choice but to kick him out of the DIKs. Before he left, he did this,” Rusty said. “Nobody’s been in here since… Well, except during parties, when people sneak in to piss on the walls if the bathroom line’s too long.”

The place wasn’t even really a bedroom. You could tell it used to be a library, with toppled bookshelves on the floor and books scattered everywhere. There were leather couches and armchairs that might’ve been comfy once but were completely trashed now, plus an insane amount of junk. Stuff like an empty keg, a busted CRT monitor, broken floor lamps, and cardboard boxes packed with random crap. Oh, and a ridiculous number of empty beer and liquor bottles.

“There’s not even a bed?” I asked, picking my way through the mess.

“Dude, you wouldn’t want Vinnie’s bed—it had way too much history,” Nick said. “We tossed it when he left. It was trashed anyway.”

“Honestly, when he was living here, the room wasn’t much better than this,” Tommy added. “Guy was always a slob.”

“Pretty sure he never cleaned once,” John-Boy said.

“Truth is, this place is huge and’s got a ton of potential,” I said after taking it all in.

It was basically three rooms in one—a big space split into three areas by open partitions—but all three were equally wrecked. And the stench of piss was disgusting.

“If you want it, it’s yours,” Rusty said.

“Deal,” I decided. “I’ll clean it up and make it livable. I know a bit about DIY and that kind of stuff. I’ll figure out a bed and the rest. Thanks, guys. Can I move in soon?”

“No way!” Tommy jumped in before Rusty could answer. “No maggot moves in until he finishes Maggot Hell—and it’s not even clear you’ve got what it takes.”

“Come on, I already nailed the first task, and that’s one of the tough ones, right?” I bragged a little.

Jacob cracked up.

“Up on the roof with Quinn! Mad respect, man,” he said, fist-bumping me like last night. Elena did the same, though, like last night, mostly just to mess with me.

“Whatever,” Tommy cut us off. “When you’re a DIK—if you even make it that far—you can move into the mansion. Until then, I only wanna see you here when we call you, and after that, you’re gone. Got it? I’m out, I got class.”

We all headed out, but I couldn’t go straight to class. I had to swing by Maya’s room to grab my backpack and change clothes, since I was still in yesterday’s outfit—luckily she was already gone. I got to class just as the professor did, but I had to sprint through the Labyrinth to make it on time.

***

The first class—ninety minutes, like all of them—was Computer Science, another gen-ed course all freshmen have to take. The professor, some guy named Marshall Stone, was a bald, chubby dude, pale as a ghost, with these huge glasses that made his eyes look tiny. Total stereotype of someone who’s spent way too much of his life glued to a screen. If I were his doctor, I’d tell him to get some fresh air and hit the gym. As a teacher, he was alright—nothing special, just average.

Maya had an empty seat next to her, probably saved for me, but I grabbed a spot in the back row with some random guy I didn’t know. Derek sat with Ashley, as usual. Seems like he’s doing way better with her than I am with his sister.

Professor Stone went on for a while introducing the course, then told us to fire up the computers—there’s one for every two students—and walked us through some basic stuff about operating systems. Starting next class, tomorrow at the same time, we’re supposed to dive into hands-on work.

The next class was in a different room, and as soon as the bell rang, I left the other guy to shut down the computer and bolted before Maya could catch me. But Derek caught up with me in the hallway, slinging an arm around my shoulders.

“Maggot-bro!” he called out. “Where’d you crash last night?”

“At the DIK house. They let me sleep there, just this once, on a couch,” I answered. “Well, ‘sleep’… I got less than four hours of sleep. Not sure I’m gonna make it through the next class.”

Right then, we hit the Hall, and Sarah and Melanie passed by with some other girls I didn’t know.

“Hey, stud!” they called out, laughing their heads off.

“Why’d they call you ‘stud’?” Derek asked.

“No clue… Maybe ‘cause I won the cum-petition?” I played dumb.

“Oh, yeah, probably that… Hey, I lost track of you last night. What were you doing on the roof when the Alphas showed up?”

“Well… uh… I was smoking weed with Quinn, Tommy, and Riona,” I admitted.

“You smoke weed?” he said, shocked.

“First time. Quinn figured as much and thought it’d be hilarious to get me high so she could mess with me.”

“Did you get high?”

“Kinda,” I said with a shrug. “Guess that’s why I started mouthing off to those Alpha goons like an idiot. After that, I tried to go downstairs, but got dizzy, and stayed on the roof.”

“By yourself?”

“Nah… Quinn stayed with me.”

“Oh… What happened next?” Derek prodded.

“We hung out on the roof ‘til the high wore off, then a few HOTs came back after ditching the Alphas, and we went downstairs.”

“Party keep going?” he asked, sounding like, “and I missed it?”

“Nah, we just talked a bit more, and since it was super late, I asked the guys if I could crash on a couch. That’s the whole story. What’d you do after the Alphas smashed the windows?”

“Everyone bailed, so it was just the DIKs and me. I thought you’d left too. We swept up the glass, gathered the dildos to give ‘em back to those guys another day, and I headed out.”

“The DIKs are planning to give the dildos back to the Alphas?” I asked, a little alarmed. “How?”

Derek shrugged. “By chucking them through their windows,” he said, like it was obvious.

I let out a huff. “I really don’t like that, Derek.”

“But Tommy’s right!” he said, all fired up. “We gotta get back at those jerks!”

We’d gotten in line at the soda machine while talking. Then I heard Maya. “Derek! You could get kicked out of college for that kind of thing!” she said.

I hadn’t noticed, but she and Ashley had come up right behind us—they must’ve overheard the whole thing.

“She’s right,” I said. “The Alphas are the football team’s golden boys. They pull crap like last night because they know the administration will cover for them, and they’ll probably get off scot-free. But us? No way, man. In a fight with those guys, we’re screwed.”

“Psh, you’re both overreacting. The frats war’s been going on forever, and nobody’s gotten expelled,” Derek said.

“It’s been going since last spring, when Tommy hooked up with Dawe’s girlfriend, that bleached-hair tool. That’s what the DIKs told me this morning,” I said.

Derek let out a huge laugh. “That happened? Props to Tommy! Dawe’s such a loser.”

“Totally is,” I agreed. “But then Dawe and his goon squad ganged up on Tommy and beat the crap out of him. I’m starting to wonder if joining the DIKs is even a good idea…”

“Ass-man, you committed!” Derek said, sounding panicked. “Last night, you gave me your word you wouldn’t back out!”

“I’m not backing out. I’m just saying we should do whatever we can to avoid getting dragged into this mess with the Alphas. It might already be too late for me, but you should keep a low profile, just in case they haven’t noticed you.”

“Listen to him, Derek!” Maya backed me up.

“I’ve wanted to be a DIK since I heard about them in high school, and I’m all in for Maggot Hell,” Derek said firmly—guy was even wearing that ridiculous helmet with the dildo on it. “I’m not hiding.”

“All your sister and I are saying is, don’t get yourself into trouble for nothing,” I said.

“Psh, you two sound like old ladies,” he shot back.

I shrugged and finished my soda quietly while Derek, his sister, and Ashley chatted about other stuff. After that, we headed to class.

I would’ve liked to sit alone, or at least with anyone but Maya, but no such luck. She came up behind me and plopped down next to me. I wasn’t about to be a jerk and tell her to sit somewhere else or get up and move myself, so I swallowed a sigh and pulled out the syllabus.

The class is called “Academic Research and Study Skills”, taught by one Isabella Roberts. “Isabella? No way that’s that Isabella…” I thought.

Of course it was that Isabella. She walked in, our eyes met, and she gave me a look that made me wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole.

“Isn’t that the librarian? The one who found you naked after the hazing…?” Maya whispered in my ear. I just nodded, my face screaming awkward.

When Isabella called roll, she acted like she didn’t know me, but her stare lingered on me with that same stone-cold expression, a couple seconds longer than normal. Only upside? She gave everyone that icy glare. Again, whoever nicknamed her “Ice Queen” totally nailed it.

That said, I’ll give her props—she’s not a bad teacher. She explains clearly, gives time to take notes, and makes sure we get what she’s saying. As for the class, when I saw it was mandatory on the summer schedule, I thought it sounded like a waste of time, but it’s actually decent. It’s about getting the most out of study hours and finding useful info—online, bibliographies, academic journals, that kind of stuff.

Isabella wasn’t the only one keeping it serious in class. I was too. I didn’t bother pretending I wasn’t pissed at Maya, so I basically ignored her the whole time. If she spoke to me, I answered in one-word replies. Honestly, with less than four hours of sleep, I had zero patience for dealing with her and her excuses about last night. Just staying awake in class was enough of a struggle.

As soon as class ended, Derek came up to me.

“Ass-man, you get a text from Tommy?” he asked.

“Nope.”

“Well, I got one from Rusty. Grab your stuff. He says they’re waiting for us under the big tree in the park, ASAP.”

We headed out together, and even though I figured this was about some hazing stunt, I felt relieved. Like I said, I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Maya.

***

Derek and I made our way to the park, but first, knowing we probably wouldn’t have time to eat, we grabbed some honey cereal bars from the vending machines in the hall and scarfed them down on the way. The DIKs showed up a couple minutes after us, and the first thing they did was make us strip to our underwear. What the hell is with these guys’ obsession with male nudity? Then, just to mess with us, they had us do push-ups and squats in our boxers on the grass. Of course, everyone passing by stared and laughed.

When they got tired of making us look like idiots, they laid out our mission: we had to sneak—still in our underwear—into the preppy frat house, get to Tybalt’s room, and take selfies “defiling” it, whatever the hell that means. At least they gave us wool ski masks so no one could ID us if we got caught. They also made it clear this task wasn’t part of our Maggot Hell list.

The DIKs actually had this pretty well planned out—it wasn’t their first time pulling this stunt. According to them, the preppies all eat together in their fancy dining hall— they have chefs, waiters, the whole deal—at exactly one-thirty until about two-thirty or so, and we’d use that time window to complete our mission. The half-naked workout on the grass was just to kill time.

Since all the DIKs had done this hazing before, they gave us solid directions to Tybalt’s room. What they didn’t tell us was how to get there. We had to figure that out ourselves. Long story short, Derek and I hopped the wall at the back of the mansion—as far from the guard shack as possible—scaled the facade, which was easier than it sounds thanks to some ledges to grip and step on, and reached the first-floor balcony.

We found Tybalt’s room right where the DIKs said it’d be, with the windows open, so we slipped inside. By the way, we spotted Jill’s room first—had to be hers, super girly—but we didn’t go in, obviously.

As for what went down in Tybalt’s room… let’s just say I’m not exactly proud, though Derek and I cracked up a ton. We were also kinda jealous, to be honest. The guy lives in a legit luxury suite—huge, packed with furniture that looks stupidly expensive. He’s even got a fireplace and a private bathroom. Thing is, it doesn’t feel like a college boy’s room. It’s more like… I don’t know, how I imagine the Queen Mother’s bedroom. Something like that.

There was an expensive camera on his nightstand, so… I used it to snap a dick pic, just to freak him out when he sees it. Also took some selfies with my phone goofing around on his bed to show the DIKs. Meanwhile, Derek decided to take it up a notch and somehow climbed onto a stuffed deer head the guy had mounted on the wall, straddling it like he was riding it. Oh, and speaking of… what kind of frat guy has a freaking deer head in his room, unironically?

Anyway, naturally, it all went to hell: the deer head broke off the wall, and Derek face-planted hard on the floor still “riding” it. He didn’t end up impaled on an antler and in the ER, so I guess God looks out for his idiots.

The whole stunt made a ton of noise, so we booked it out of there. Someone must’ve tipped off the guard, because we heard him coming from the other side of the building, blowing a whistle—maybe to alert another guard? That actually helped us, since we could tell where he was and haul ass in the opposite direction. We reached the wall way before he could catch us. I just hope it wasn’t Ron, because he was cool with me the other day, and it’d suck if he got chewed out by Tybalt because of us.

The best part? Derek, that maniac, took his “buddy” the deer—goose, he called it—with us. So, there we were, sprinting across the grounds dragging that thing by the antlers and vaulting the wall with it. Sure, we could’ve been way stealthier, but the DIKs called the mission a success anyway: all objectives met, no casualties. Honestly, my stomach still hurts from laughing so hard.

After the “adventure,” the guys gave us our clothes back, and we all headed to the DIK mansion so Derek and I could pick up two coolers stuffed to the brim with beer cans—fifty each. Apparently, we’re supposed to chug them all during Maggot Hell. No way I’m spending the next week and a half stumbling around campus drunk. I’ll drink what I feel like and dump the rest down the sink unless I find someone who wants them. As long as I show the guys the empty cans, they’ll never know.

***

“Bro, now that we’re alone, I gotta tell you something…” I said to Derek as we left the DIK mansion, dragging the coolers. “The ‘public sex’ task… it’s already checked off the list.”

He stopped dead, dropped his cooler, and stared at me, eyes wide.

“Ass-man! Who’d you bang, and where?”

“Uh… Quinn… on the mansion roof,” I confessed.

“No way! You messin’ with me? You seriously nailed her?”

“Yup. After the cum-petition, we were both kinda worked up, and a little high from the weed, so when we were alone… it just happened. Between you and me, I wasn’t even thinking about the Maggot Hell task at the time.”

“Damn, Ass-man! Da-amn!” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’m freaking out, I swear. That chick’s a bitch, but hot as hell.”

“That’s a solid way to describe Quinn, yeah,” I admitted.

“Do the DIKs know?”

“Actually, they saw the whole thing—or at least the end of it. Some of the HOTs were there too… Sarah, Melanie, Riona, Elena… We were so into it we didn’t even notice ‘til after.”

“Damn, bro! Da-amn!” he said again. He wasn’t kidding about freaking out. “What’d they say?”

“What you’d expect. They roasted me like crazy, but they counted the task as done. Other than that… Tommy said what happens at the DIK mansion stays at the DIK mansion, and the HOTs promised not to gossip about it, so… please, don’t spread it around. I don’t wanna get a rep as the campus man-whore. And definitely don’t tell Maya. With how much she hates Quinn, she wouldn’t get it.”

“Ass-man, I don’t even get it… Maya said that chick hates your guts and is always screwing with you!”

“Well… guess she doesn’t hate me that much. After the roof, we hooked up again in the showers…” I bragged, I’ll admit. Derek’s face was bouncing between shock and envy the whole time, and I was kinda eating it up.

“Whoa… You guys gonna keep hooking up?”

“Nah, man, doubt it. That girl’s too complicated… and dangerous. Let’s just say last night was a Maggot Hell fever dream. An epic fever dream, though, I’ll give you that. One of the dirtiest, hottest hookups of my life.”

“I’m freaking out…” he said, probably for the third or fourth time.

“Yeah, just wanted you to know the task is done.”

“Right… and it’s one of the toughest ones! Up top, maggot-bro!” he said, raising his hand for a high-five. “Yo, any ideas on the other tasks? Like the one about hooking up with a professor?” he asked, picking up his cooler and starting to walk again.

“What do you think? Nada.”

We kept chatting about the “impossible task” on the way to the dorms, but no way was I telling him about my Swiper convo with Cathy. I don’t think I’ve got a shot at hooking up with her, but if by some miracle it happened, I wouldn’t tell Derek or the DIKs, even if it means failing that task. I’m no gentleman, but I’m not a total douchebag either.

Chapter Text

Derek and I split up in the dorm hallway. He went to stash his beers in his room, and I headed to Maya’s. She wasn’t there—off doing Scavenger Hunt tasks with Quinn, maybe? No clue, but I was glad for it.
At this point, I was running on fumes, so I decided to crash for a solid nap. I got a little over two hours, on top of the roughly three and a half I’d managed last night. Not great, but enough to get through the rest of the afternoon, as long as I didn’t stay up half the night again.
When I woke up, Maya was sitting on her bed, studying her English Comp textbook. She stared at me, like she was waiting for me to say something, but I didn’t. Instead, I went to the bathroom to splash water on my face, then grabbed a coffee from one of the vending machines in the hall. With the caffeine kicking in and my head a bit clearer, I felt ready enough to go back to the room and have the awkward conversation with Maya I’d been dodging all day.
“You still mad at me?” she asked, no warm-up, as soon as I walked in. Her voice was all pitiful, like it was somehow my fault for still being pissed. And, of course, she hit me with those sad puppy-dog eyes.
I didn’t budge, though.
“Yeah, I’m mad,” I said flatly. “I’d expect a stunt like that from Quinn, but not you going along with it.”
“I’m so sorry, Jack,” she said, and she sounded sincere, but it wasn’t enough to soften me up.
“Uh-huh, great. You’re sorry. Awesome,” I said, my voice dripping with bitterness. “You humiliated me in front of Quinn and her crew! I think I’ve been a pretty decent friend to you since we met. I helped you with Sage, stood up to Quinn for you… and this is how you pay me back? A simple ‘sorry’ doesn’t cut it, Maya. For starters, I wanna know why you did it.”
“I… can’t tell you,” she mumbled, avoiding my eyes.
“Got it. You asked me to be one hundred percent honest with you, and you promised the same. Guess that was just talk.”
I waited a beat to see if she’d speak, but she didn’t. She just sat there on her bed, staring at her feet, fidgeting nervously with her silver bracelet.
“Maya, now’s the time to show me what kind of person you really are,” I pressed. “If all you’ve got for me is ‘sorry,’ you’ve let me down big-time. I’ll grab my stuff and get out of here, even though I literally have nowhere else to go, and that’ll be the last time you and I ever talk.”
She started crying—could’ve seen that coming.
“Initiation, she called it…” she said between sobs.
“Who? Quinn?” I asked, softening my tone a bit.
“Yeah…”
“Who else knew what you were gonna do? Sage?”
“No… just Sarah and Melanie.”
“Okay,” I said, relieved. It would’ve sucked if Sage was in on it. “What happened?” I kept pushing.
“Quinn… she’d be so pissed if she knew I was telling you this… She says everything during the HOTs’ trials is ‘mother-daughter secrets.’ I’m not even supposed to talk about it with other HOTs or pledges,” she explained, pausing every few words, like she was second-guessing every syllable. “I tried to warn you, Jack, I swear, but I couldn’t get a single second alone to call or text you. Freaking Quinn or her minions were watching me the whole time… Plus, I was hoping you hadn’t gone to bed yet. Then I’d just have to walk you to the party, like the other girls did with the guys they were assigned… I’m so sorry, Jack, but I didn’t have a choice. I can’t give Quinn any more reasons to cut me from the Scavenger Hunt—you saw how she treated me last night…”
“Yeah, I saw. You really gonna keep letting her treat you like that?”
“I don’t have a choice. I just have to get through it for a few more days, and then she can’t keep treating me like this… I hope…” she said, her voice hanging onto a shred of hope.
“Is it really worth it?”
“You know why I’m doing it… the scholarship…”
“Yeah, and you know what I think about that.”
“That it’s not real… But yesterday, Quinn said some HOTs get their tuition covered, as long as they meet certain requirements,” she revealed. “But please, don’t let that slip!” she added, her face suddenly pale, like she was on the verge of a panic attack.. “She said it’s a ‘secret code’ for the HOTs.”
“Has anyone else mentioned this scholarship? Sage?” I asked, skeptical.
“No…” she admitted.
I locked eyes with her. “Maya, listen to me: you can’t trust a single thing Quinn says. Has it crossed your mind that this whole ‘HOTs scholarship’ thing might just be a hazing stunt?”
“No way!” she shot back.
“You think Quinn’s above pulling something like that?”
“Camilla and Mona believe the scholarship’s real too,” she said stubbornly.
I was losing my patience.
“Haven’t you figured out Quinn’s game yet? Last night, her buddy Sarah laid it out plain as day: Quinn loves screwing with people. Pushing buttons, testing them. Tommy—her friend—warned me about her too… Hell, even Quinn warned me about herself last night!”
“You told her to haze you instead of me…” she muttered.
“I can’t stand bullies. I’ve dealt with plenty in my life, and I’ve got zero tolerance for that crap. Besides… it’s not up to her whether I get into the DIKs or not. She’s got no real power over me.”
“She made you smoke weed!”
“Well… she didn’t exactly hold a gun to my head.”
“Still…”
“Maya, I smoked because I wanted to. I’d never done it before, and I was curious. Plus… she didn’t shove me off the roof while I was high. That counts as a win in my book.”
The joke got a faint smile out of her.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with Quinn because of me…”
“Honestly… after you left, she kinda switched gears. Don’t get me wrong, she was still a total jerk and kept busting my chops, but… in a different way. I think I’m starting to get her deal.”
“What deal?”
“I think she likes me. At least a little,” I said.
Her jaw dropped. “Seriously?”
“In a twisted, borderline psycho kind of way… yeah,” I shrugged. “I’m not saying she’s in love with me, but I think she’s kinda into me—maybe because I don’t let her intimidate me. She’s probably not used to that.”
“But she’s always picking on you!”
“Yeah, well, one way to get attention. Me, if I like a girl, I try to get her attention by being nice, maybe taking her to dinner or gifting her flowers, but… who knows, she’s got her own methods.”
“When Riona said she wanted to dance for you at that cum-petition thing, Quinn got all pissed. Told her no way, that she’d already claimed you…” Maya said, like she was just now putting it together.
“My point is, I’m sure she’ll keep messing with me, but I think I can handle her. You, though—you should steer clear of her, Maya.”
“I can’t, Jack,” she said, desperation in her voice and eyes. “That scholarship’s my only shot.”
“It’s just a rumor, a long shot…” I pushed back.
“But… what if it’s real? It’d fix everything. At least, I have to try.”
“Talk to Sage,” I suggested. “She’s actually a decent person. Ask her to switch your mother. Or I can talk to her for you,” I offered. “No promises, but I think we’re starting to hit it off, and…”
“No, Jack!” she cut me off. “Quinn got mad exactly because you recommended me to Sage. It’s better if you stay out of this. You’ve helped me a ton, and I’m super grateful, but please, don’t do anything else.”
Honestly, right then, I felt sorry for her. It’s clear Quinn’s gotten under her skin and pretty much terrified her.
“Alright…” I muttered with a sigh. “What I don’t get is why you need that scholarship so bad. I know Derek’s got a student loan…”
“Yeah, I’ve got one too.”
“Okay, like most the people here… What’s the problem?”
“You don’t know where I come from…” she mumbled, looking away.
“Then tell me. I’ve told you about my life—my dad, my hometown… I even told you about my ex, Zoey. I’m just trying to understand you.”
“I…” For a second, I thought she was about to open up… but only for a second. “I’m sorry, Jack, but there are things I can’t tell you,” she said, shaking her head.
“Why not?”
“You wouldn’t get it…”
“Maybe you should give me a little more credit…”
“Jack, my family is… Look, I know you liked my dad, but you don’t know what he’s really like. You don’t know how he treats me…”
“You said he’s controlling… I guess a lot of dads are overprotective with their daughters. They don’t realize they’re grown or whatever, and…”
“It’s not about being protective! He just doesn’t like me!” she burst out. “He says… I’m not the kind of daughter he wants. He controls me, judges me…” she added, bitterness in her voice.
“But… why? I can tell you’re a good student, you don’t get in trouble, you keep Derek out of it… What’s his deal?”
“Jack… it’s private, family stuff…” she backpedaled. “Please, forget I said anything…”
“Uh… okay… But I still don’t see what this has to do with the damn HOTs scholarship…”
“My dad… he’s the cosigner on my student loan, so he’s got me under his thumb…” she confessed. “I’m scared if I piss him off… he’ll pull his support.”
“Seriously? Even if you’re getting good grades?”
“I think so… Plus… he promised to help me pay it off when I graduate, but… only if I do what he wants.”
“Oh… I get it,” I said, though it was obvious there was a lot more she wasn’t telling me.
I was tempted to ask what she meant by “do what he wants,” but I didn’t want to push her further. “What about Derek?” I asked instead.
“Well… he’s a guy, so he doesn’t have these problems. My parents don’t control him like they do me… I knew this was coming for months, so I tried to get an academic scholarship,” she went on. “I studied like crazy in high school, especially senior year. Got straight A’s in almost everything and a good SAT score, but… I didn’t get it.”
“Oh… sounds like we were competing for the same scholarship…” I said without thinking.
“What?”
“I actually got a full academic scholarship.”
“If that’s a joke, I’m not getting it,” she said, dead serious.
“It’s not a joke, it’s true. I worked my ass off for it too…”
“What was your SAT score?”
“Come on, Maya… you really wanna start comparing stats now?”
“Just curious… Come on, tell me. I got nineteen hundred.”
“That’s a solid score,” I said.
“And you?”
“Uh… twenty-seventy…”
Her eyes went wide. “Whoa… with that score, you could’ve gone to a way better college than B&R…”
“Maybe, but B&R’s less than an hour by train from my hometown and my dad, and it’s got a pretty decent engineering school. When they offered me the scholarship… I didn’t think twice.”
“Yeah, makes sense… What about extracurriculars? I was president of the debate club. Organized competitions, trips, the whole deal. Also, I was valedictorian of my class.”
“That’s impressive, Maya.”
“And you?”
“Well… my high school didn’t do the whole valedictorian thing, but I had a high GPA too. I worked my ass off studying, same as you. As for extracurriculars… yeah, I did some stuff at school, but mostly I worked a night job since I was sixteen to help bring in money home and save for college. Had summer jobs too. Plus, my scholarship isn’t just based on grades—coming from a low-income family helped.”
“Oh… I guess we weren’t after the same scholarship after all, but either way, you totally earned it,” she conceded.
“Thanks… So… you still gonna do whatever Quinn tells you?”
“I… don’t know…” she admitted. “Waking you up was already humiliating enough, and I barely dodged the cum-petition…”
“Quinn wanted you to do it?”
“Yeah… Luckily, when I said my brother was one of the DIK candidates and it’d be awkward to dance like that in front of him, Elena offered to take my spot.”
“Oh… she seems like a decent person, right?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, I guess… You and Derek have to do some tasks for the DIKs, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yup.”
“What tasks?”
I let out a huff. “You don’t wanna know.”
“That bad?” she said with a sad smile.
“You saw that charming hat Derek’s wearing,” I said, grimacing. “We’ve gotta take turns wearing it until the evaluation on Saturday. And that’s not even the craziest thing we have to do.”
“What else?” she pressed.
“Basically… we’ve gotta spend the next week and a half chugging beers, pulling pranks on other frats, doing all kinds of dumb stuff, and… well, there are two or three tasks that are pretty… sexual,” I confessed.
“You have to hook up with girls?”
“Yeah…” I admitted. “And not just any girls. There are specific requirements. Honestly… I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”
“I figured… Same here…” she mumbled.
“What? Maya!” I said, shocked.
“You know I’ve got a list of tasks too…”
“Yeah, but… aren’t they just silly stuff, like Mona and Camilla’s?”
“What’s on their lists?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t know their whole lists, but the tasks I helped with yesterday weren’t a big deal.”
“Right… but their lists weren’t made by Quinn,” she said.
“What do you have to do? You can tell me—I won’t tell anyone, not even Derek, if you don’t want.”
“There’s… sexual stuff too,” she mumbled.
“How sexual? Like kissing a DIK last night, or…?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“Let’s just say… I’d have to go all the way with a guy.”
“Maya…”
“You think I don’t know that?!” she said, almost desperate. “I’d basically have to sell myself for that scholarship.”
“If it even exists…”
“If it even exists…” she admitted. “But… what if it’s real? Am I supposed to lose it over something other girls do without thinking twice?”
“Everyone’s different, Maya…”
“What about you?” she asked. “You gonna keep going with the DIK stuff, now that you know your tasks?”
“I… need a place to live, and the DIKs promised I could move into the mansion. Plus… if I bailed, your brother would be out too, and you know being a DIK is his whole deal. He’d probably spiral into depression, go off the deep end, and you’d be out a brother because of me.”
“Haha, true. Derek’s life is in your hands.”
“Yup. But on the other hand, there are at least a couple tasks I don’t think I can pull off… Honestly, I’m kinda lost,” I admitted.
“Same…”
We looked at each other, deflated, and fell silent, not knowing what to say.
“Jack… you’re the only friend on campus I can talk to about this stuff, and… the only one who’s got my back,” she said finally. “Camilla and Mona are just doing their own thing, they wouldn’t lift a finger for me, and Ash… she’s not going through what we are, she wouldn’t get it…”
“You’ve got Derek…”
“Yeah, of course, he’s super supportive, but… I can’t tell him everything…”
“Right, I get it.”
“What I’m saying is… I know I messed up big-time last night, but I didn’t do it because I wanted to, and it was humiliating for me too… Please, can you forgive me?”
“Maya… what really pissed me off about last night’s hazing was that… I’d told you I’m into you, and when you started touching me and we kissed, for a second, I thought…” I stopped. Was it really worth going down the guilt-trip road? “I wasn’t gonna forgive you, honestly,” I continued, “but I guess I can’t stay mad at you when you’re this sad. Plus… I did some stuff last night I’m not exactly proud of either. Honestly… call it peer pressure or whatever, but I’ve been doing dumb stuff all week… Yeah, okay, I forgive you,” I gave in.
“Thank you, Jack!”
“You gonna be one hundred percent honest with me now?”
“Maybe… ninety-nine percent?”
“Ugh… guess that’ll have to do…” I said, though it wasn’t exactly the answer I wanted.
“Wanna… do something?” she suggested. “We could hit the park, like yesterday before we got interrupted…”
“With the guitar?”
“Sure.”
“Alright.”
So that’s what we did. I grabbed the guitar, she grabbed the picnic blanket, we snagged a couple of sodas from the hallway vending machine, and headed to the park to sit under a tree’s shade. It was still pretty warm, but less stifling than the dorm, with a nice breeze blowing through.
I strummed the guitar for a bit until a group of preppies showed up, doing their own tasks for their so-called Dante Week, their version of Maggot Hell. The scene was straight-up ridiculous: a bunch of pledges in their boxers—guess the DIKs aren’t the only frat obsessed with dude nudity—and Tybalt was giving them some kind of pep talk.
“You know the deal,” he was saying. “The rules are tough but fair: whoever loses this challenge has to eat a lemon. You’ve gotta give it your all!”
Then they started doing push-ups on the grass—kinda like Derek and I had to do a few hours earlier—jumping around, and I think one of the challenges was holding their breath. Maya and I watched, not even trying to hide our laughs.
“I’d like to be a preppy…” I said with a mock sigh, flopping onto the blanket when they left.
“Wanna do what they’re doing? I can get you a lemon,” she teased, lying down next to me.
“Nah, I’m just in it for the money. What would you do if you were filthy rich?” I asked.
“I’d buy a mansion with a ton of servants and spend all day lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun.”
“No way I buy that for a second.”
“Haha, yeah, that’s not me. I’d probably buy a movie theater so I could watch whatever I want, whenever I want, without anyone bugging me.”
“All by yourself? You wouldn’t invite me?” I said, faking offense.
“Of course I would. What about you? What would you do if you were filthy rich?”
“I could pay your college tuition, for starters.”
“Nah, it’s gotta be something for you. Isn’t there something you’d be stoked about?”
“I don’t know…” I thought for a sec, staring up at the sky. “Got it. I’d help my dad,” I said. “If I won the lottery or something, I’d buy the house we live in—it’s rented. I’d give it to him, then get top-notch materials and help him renovate the whole thing: floors, walls, plumbing, decor… Maybe we’d do it over summer break or something. Make the place like brand-new, together. That way, I’d show him I’ve put everything he’s taught me to good use.”
She laughed, a real hearty one. “So, if you were a millionaire, you’d spend it… working on your vacation.”
“Haha, nah, it wouldn’t be work, not with the smile my dad would have on his face the whole time.”
“And it still wouldn’t be something just for you…”
“Well, you said something I’d be stoked about. My dad’s my only family, and helping him would mean everything to me. I really do hope I can make it happen someday—after I graduate and land a good job.”
“Jack, that’s really sweet…” she said, and to my surprise, she leaned in and kissed me. We made out for a bit until a way-too-familiar, way-too-pissed-off voice cut through.
“Ass-man! What the hell are you doing with our maggot-sister?”
“Derek! What did you just call me?” Maya shot back, pulling away from me.
“Doesn’t matter. How could you be doing this?” he snapped at her.
“Derek, you’re overreacting,” I said.
“Really, Jack? Overreacting? You don’t know what you’re talking about!” he snapped at me too.
“We weren’t doing anything wrong, just hanging out…”
“That wasn’t just ‘hanging out’!” he cut me off. “And Maya, this isn’t you,” he said to her, his tone accusing. “You know what I’m talking about. Come on, we need to talk—in private.”
Maya got up, and they stepped away a few feet, arguing. Derek seemed hell-bent on convincing her of something. Eventually, they must’ve worked it out, because they hugged and came back to where I was.
“Jack, I think I got a little carried away…” Maya said, sounding kinda embarrassed.
“Uh… okay…”
“Ass-man, you and me are grabbing a beer in my room. Bet you haven’t even cracked one yet,” Derek said.
“Sure, whatever…” I replied, totally thrown.
We walked back to the dorms in silence, the three of us together. Maya took the guitar to her room, and I followed Derek to his, where we popped open a couple of beers.
“Look, I don’t wanna be a cockblock, especially not to my maggot-bro, but… Maya’s my sister. What exactly are you doing with her?” he said, getting straight to the point.
“Uh… I think we’re starting to catch feelings for each other…” I started to explain.
“No way that’s happening!” he cut me off.
“Well, it is. I’m not saying we’re head-over-heels in love, but… she’s the one who kissed me just now…”
“I don’t wanna hear it!” he cut me off again, shaking his head hard. “I don’t wanna know any of that! Just tell me what you’re planning to do with Maya.”
“I was thinking maybe later, once we’re done with all this ‘Hell’ and ‘Hunt’ crap… she might wanna go on some dates, see where it goes. I mean, she’s not seeing anyone, I’m not seeing anyone…”
My pitch wasn’t landing. Derek was looking at me like his worst fears were coming true. I switched tactics.
“Listen, bro: I know I hooked up with Quinn on a roof last night, but I told you, that was just Maggot Hell madness. If I’m with a girl, I don’t mess around with other chicks or cheat. Never did it to my ex, and I wouldn’t do it to Maya. I know we’re still getting to know each other, and I get why you’d have doubts, but I’m not a bad guy…”
“Damn, Ass-man… I don’t think you’re a bad guy, of course not… Look, let’s drop this for now. I was actually looking for you because I was thinking we could tackle the ‘anti-fag patrol’ task this afternoon. It’s Wednesday, the mall’s probably not too crowded. Should we call Rusty and Tommy and let them know?”
“Guess… it’s as good a time as any,” I shrugged. “Alright.”
***
We met up with Rusty and Tommy in the campus parking lot, and the four of us headed to the mall in Rusty’s jaw-dropping sports car. Guy’s family is clearly loaded to have a ride like that.
Once we got to the mall, we found a quiet hallway, where Derek and I stripped down. Like the preppy mansion hazing, our “daddies” gave us ski masks to avoid being recognized, but these weren’t wool. They were freaking black leather gimp masks, as Quinn would call them. Bet they got them at some sex shop along with the handcuffs for the xum-petition. And that’s not all. Derek had to wear a red ball gag, and I got stuck with this super uncomfortable nose hook that made me look like some kind of pig-man.
Once we were ready, Rusty scoped out the security guard, and when he gave us the signal, we stepped out in front of the guy, decked out in our sado-maso getup, and started yelling at him.
“Aw, shit! Not again!” the poor dude shouted—a chubby guy in his fifties who chased us with all the enthusiasm of a sloth.
At one point, Derek bolted down one hallway, and I took another, so the guard had to pick who to chase. For some reason, he went after me. I managed to lose him—or more like he got tired of running around like an idiot—and I slipped out through an emergency exit to the back parking lot, where Derek and I were supposed to meet our “daddies.”
For a good while, my maggot-bro and I were convinced they were gonna prank us again and ditch us there buck-naked, forcing us to figure out how to get back to campus. Ten or fifteen really long minutes passed, and those jerks still hadn’t shown up. We had to duck behind cars every time someone walked by looking for theirs. But, to our massive relief, they finally rolled up, and we could get dressed.
All that was left was deciding who’d get credit for the task. After some deep debates in the car on the way back to campus, Rusty and Tommy decided Derek and I would each get half a point. Not that it matters much, but for now, I’m up two and a half points to his half.
Back on campus, they took us to the frat house to tell the other DIKs about our “adventure” over beers and some snacks that passed for dinner. Honestly, we had a pretty good time.
***
When I got back to Maya’s room, it was past ten. She was there, sitting on her bed, studying some notes.
“Uh… hey…” she greeted, sounding a little shy.
“Hey… Guess we should talk about earlier, huh?” I said, sitting next to her on the bed.
“What do you mean?”
“Well… it was kinda weird… You kissed me… or we kissed… But then you seemed to regret it… Was it because of Derek?”
“Yeah… well, no… Derek’s not the problem.”
“Then… what is?”
“It’s complicated…”
I decided to lay it all out. Like I’ve said before, once I make up my mind, I hate beating around the bush.
“Maya… you know I’m into you, and… well, you asked for total honesty, so I want us to be on the same page: earlier, Derek asked me what my deal is with you, and I told him that once we’re done with all this ‘Hell’ and ‘Hunt’ nonsense and things calm down… I was thinking of asking you out, y’know, to see if we vibe and maybe have something.”
“Jack, I don’t know… Maybe it’s not… a good idea…” she said, flustered.
“Maybe?”
“I don’t know…” she repeated.
“Do you not like me?” I asked, feeling deflated.
“It’s not that, I do like you…”
“Then what?” I pressed. “Do you… actually have a boyfriend?”
“No, that’s not it either…”
“I don’t get it, Maya. If it’s about what you said, that you don’t have time for guys right now… Look, you know I’ve gotta keep my grades up too, so I won’t bug you when you’re studying—I’ll be studying too. But we’re not gonna be hitting the books all day. We can make time to hang out, do stuff together…”
“Jack, it’s not that… I… I’ve gone out with guys, but… I haven’t gotten very far.”
“So… you’re a virgin? Is that the issue?” I said, surprised. “Because that’s not a big deal to me…”
“Not exactly… I’ve been with… a girl…” she confessed.
“Oh… Uh… Wow…” I stammered, feeling my hopes go down the drain. “I don’t know what to say… Was that your secret? The one percent you didn’t wanna tell me earlier?”
“Something like that…” she admitted.
“That’s why you lied about having a boyfriend…”
“Yeah…”
“I see… Does Derek know?”
“Yeah…”
“And your dad…”
“Yeah, him too…”
“And that’s the problem with him… why he tries to control you…”
“Yeah…”
“And that’s why you wanted me to go to that dinner with your dad and said he’d like me… because he’d rather you be with a guy…” I kept piecing it together.
“Yeah…”
“And that’s why you’re so stressed about Quinn’s task…” She nodded, barely looking at me. Honestly, through this whole conversation, she’d only glanced at me. “And… where does that leave me, Maya?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… you kissed me earlier, and this time it wasn’t for some dumb ritual or Quinn’s mind games, you did it… Did it mean anything to you?”
“Of course it meant something!”
“It meant something to me too. Look, I don’t wanna pressure you, but I’ve been honest about my feelings, and now I’m asking you to be honest with me: if I don’t have a shot with you because, for starters, you aren’t even into boys… I’d rather you just tell me straight, no ‘maybe.’ I think that’s fair.”
“I already told you I’m attracted to you…”
“So, you’re saying I do have a shot?” I pressed.
“Jack, this is the first time I’ve felt this way about a guy, and I’m super confused. I need… time to figure myself out, and with everything going on right now, it’s not the best time. It’s all just so complicated…”
“So, you’re saying you need some time…”
“Yeah.”
“Uh… alright… Like I said, my plan was to wait until we’re done with all this HOTs and DIKs initiation crap before even thinking about… y’know, us…”
“Thanks, Jack.”
“Okay… I’ll let you get back to studying.”
That’s what she did. Me, I opened my laptop and started writing this diary. It’s about eleven now, and considering how little I’ve slept since yesterday, I’m wiped. I’m hitting the sack.

Chapter Text

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012.

Maya and I—especially me—were running on serious sleep debt, so neither of us suggested last night getting up early to go for a run this morning. We rolled out of bed at eight-thirty, and after a quick shower—well, the shower was quick, but the line for it not so much—we headed to the cafeteria to grab breakfast with Derek and Ash.

Over breakfast, Derek and I worked out a deal: he’d wear the DIK helmet all morning, then pass it to me at lunch so I could wear it in the afternoon. Maybe the profs are used to seeing frat pledges pull all kinds of dumb stunts the first few weeks and won’t bat an eye at some guy in class with a rubber dick on his forehead, but I’m not taking chances. I’ve got a scholarship to keep. Derek, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about that stuff.

Just like yesterday, the first class of the morning was Computer Science. Not much to report there. This time, I did sit with Maya. The professor lectured for the first hour, and for the last half hour, Maya and I shared a computer for a lab assignment.

As for the other morning class… yeah, that’s where things get interesting.

The course is Introduction to Gender Studies. Derek signed up for it too, chasing “easy credits and pussy”—his words. It’s on the second floor of the Labyrinth, in the Humanities School, so the three of us headed over. When we got there, to my surprise, we ran into the HOTs, Sarah and Melanie. They didn’t sign up for this class looking for pussies—at least, I don’t think so—but definitely for the easy credits.

Derek and I are the only poor bastards… I mean, guys, in the class. The rest—besides Maya, Sarah, and Mel, who are basically the rare birds in the room—are about twenty butch girls, most of them overweight, with buzzcuts or bizarre hairstyles dyed in colors more suited to a Muppet than a human being, and a vibe like they despise anyone with working testicles. No surprise, Derek and I didn’t get any friendly smiles or hellos when we walked into class. More like death glares.

I was half-expecting the professor to be some lumberjack-looking lesbian with a chip on her shoulder, ready to make Derek’s and my life hell all semester, but… nope. Total opposite. She’s a straight-up MILF.

Her name’s Jade Burke, around forty but carrying it like a champ. Platinum blonde—probably dyed, but who cares? It looks amazing on her—classy, stylish, killer figure, and honestly, drop-dead gorgeous. To stay that hot at her age, she must spend half her day in the gym, the other half at the salon, and live on salads. But it works. Major props to her.

Derek was gawking at her like a doofus with his mouth hanging open when she walked in, and I’m pretty sure my face wasn’t much different.

Honestly, I don’t think Professor Burke buys half the stuff she’s teaching, and she definitely doesn’t seem thrilled to be here. According to her syllabus rundown, her plan is to spend the first forty-five minutes of class lecturing on the day’s topic, then let us students debate in pairs for the last forty-five. Meanwhile, I bet she’s just kicking back, daydreaming or whatever.

Smart move, working half as hard.

Sure enough, with forty-five minutes left in class, Jade—or “Doctor Burke,” as we’re supposed to call her since she’s got a PhD in… something-something-Gender—paired us up for these debates.

My first choice for a debate partner was Maya. Or, failing that, Sarah or Melanie. Derek would’ve worked too. But no dice. Since Derek and I are the only guys, Jade’s picking our partners herself. That way, “every girl in class gets a chance to hear the male perspective over the semester,” she said.

For me, that meant getting stuck with a female orc who immediately forgot the topic we were supposed to debate and started dumping her personal problems at me. Of course, she doesn’t take a shred of responsibility for fixing them. Nope, according to her, it’s all the fault of the “hetero-patriarchal society.” Translation: straight guys. Great excuse to do nothing and keep whining, which she clearly loves.

At one point, she straight-up told me she wished she were a lesbian. That’s how much she hates and looks down on guys.

Unlike Derek, who got into a shouting match with the feminist he got paired with, I’ve got zero interest in arguing with any of these psycho bitches. I just listened to mine with half my brain switched off, praying the torture would end soon.

Safe to say, signing up for this class wasn’t my brightest idea.

***

The plan after class was to grab lunch in the cafeteria, just the four of us—Maya, Derek, Ash, and me—but Maya got a text from Quinn summoning her ASAP for some Scavenger Hunt nonsense, which left me stuck as the third wheel with Derek and Ash. Not exactly my idea of a good time.

When we hit the cafeteria, we spotted six or seven Alphas hanging out with some guys I recognize from class, probably their pledges. They were chatting up a storm with Camilla and Mona. Riona and Sage were in the mix too. No sign of Chad, though.

I wasn’t about to go over there and say hi to the girls while they were with those jerks, but to my surprise, Mona ditched the group the second she saw me and made a beeline my way.

“Hey, Jack!” she greeted, flashing a big grin. “Dude, can you help me out with one of my tasks again?”

“For sure,” I said. “What’s the deal?” Honestly, I was looking for any excuse to ditch Derek and Ash, who just kept walking and joined the food line.

She hesitated, fishing for the right words. “So… I hope you don’t think I’m a total mooch, but… I need a guy to treat me to lunch.”

“Sage gave you that one?” I asked.

“Yup,” she nodded.

“Okay. You like pizza?” I offered.

“Sure!” she replied, her smile widening.

“Dumb question, right? Everybody loves pizza. Let’s hit the Italian joint across from the bus stop, and I’ll treat you to a pizza. Sound good?”

“Awesome! Dude, you’re a sweetheart.”

Sage wandered over when Mona waved her down, giving me a quick nod. It was obvious she didn’t want to look too chummy with me in front of the Alphas—and I totally got why. Still, she slipped me a smile.

“‘Mommy,’ Jack says he’s treating me to lunch at the Italian place across from the bus stop,” Mona announced.

“Oh… Well, I guess that checks off the task,” Sage replied.

“You wanna come with, ‘Mommy’? Pizza instead of the cafeteria slop…” I teased, trying to tempt her.

“Ugh, I’d love to, but I better not,” she said, glancing sideways at the Alphas. “Have fun, you two,” she added, then bailed from the cafeteria. It caught my eye—well, not really that surprising—that she didn’t go back to the Alphas.

I swung by to say bye to Derek and Ash and told Derek I’d track him down later to grab the DIK helmet. No way they’d let me into the restaurant with that thing on my head anyway. Then I headed off with Mona, under the not-so-friendly stares of those jocks.

***

“So, none of those guys wanted to treat you?” I asked Mona as we walked to the pizza place.

She let out a scoff. “They’re such jerks. They think they’re hot stuff ‘cause they’re on the team.”

“Pfft, screw ‘em,” I said. “Hey, I never asked—what’re you studying?”

“Business management,” she answered.

“Must be a popular major. Pretty much everyone I know here’s studying that.”

“Yeah. I thought you were too…”

“Nah, I’m going for engineering. For now, though, you know—gen-ed stuff.”

We kept chatting about classes and profs until we got to the restaurant. We grabbed a table inside—the AC was blasting, and it was way too hot on the patio—and ordered a plate of Italian cheeses and cold cuts to start, a salad, and pizza. All to share.

“You live with Maya, right?” Mona asked at one point, while we were picking at the appetizers—which, by the way, were pretty damn good.

“Yup,” I nodded. “But the DIKs promised I can move into their house once Maggot Hell’s over, so it’s just for a few more days.”

“How’d that happen?” she pressed. “I didn’t know they had coed rooms in the dorms.”

“They don’t, I think. What happened was, I got stuck with a roommate who turned out to be a total jerk. One of those team guys who hate my guts. I bailed, and since Maya had an empty bed in her room ‘cause her roommate never showed, she’s letting me crash there for now.”

“Oh… Well, that’s a pretty big favor,” she said. “I mean, she could get in trouble with res life for that. So… is there something going on between you two?”

“Nah, we’re just friends,” I said, keeping it vague, but not lying. “Derek’s the one who asked her to help me out.”

“But you like her…” she pushed, a sly grin tugging at her lips.

I stifled a chuckle. It was kinda funny how blatantly she was fishing for info. Was she just chasing gossip, or did she have some other angle?

“Where’d that come from?” I tossed back.

“Quinn says you’ve got a thing for her.”

Now I burst out laughing. “According to Quinn, I’ve got a thing for every girl at B&R—including her,” I dodged. “Eh, don’t listen to her. She just says that stuff to mess with me.”

“You don’t have a girlfriend, right?” she asked. Gotta love a girl who doesn’t beat around the bush.

“Nope. Had one, but she moved to California last year and we broke it off. I’m flying solo now. What about you? Got a boyfriend?” I asked, keeping it casual. My turn to fish.

“Nah, I don’t.”

“Any guy you’re into?”

She let out a giggle and flashed a flirty smile. “Well… maybe I’ve met a guy who’s… kinda interesting,” she teased. “But nah, I’m not looking for a boyfriend right now.”

“Guess most people prefer to ‘test the waters’ or whatever during freshman year.”

“That your plan, too?” she asked, tilting her head.

I shrugged. “Kinda, yeah. But I’m not shutting any doors. If I met a girl I was really into, I’d go for it. I’d hate to see some girl I like end up with another dude just ‘cause I was testing the waters.”

“Met a girl you’re really into yet?” she pressed, her flirty smile not budging.

“Maybe I’ve run into a certain… interesting girl,” I shot back, flashing my best grin. “We’ll see what happens.”

“Haha, alright,” she laughed. “So… you and Sage have gotten pretty close, huh?” she went on, keeping up her little interrogation.

“You could say that,” I replied. “We get along.”

“That’s kinda weird, don’t you think?”

“How so?” I asked.

“‘Cause, like, everyone says Chad hates you…”

“Not just him. All the Alphas can’t stand me. Bet they weren’t thrilled seeing you with me, by the way.”

“None of those guys are my boyfriend,” she said with a shrug. “But Chad is Sage’s boyfriend,” she added.

“You’re Sage’s pledge and hang out with her. Ever seen them together?”

“Uh… nope,” she admitted.

“Exactly. It’s no secret that those two don’t exactly have the world’s most harmonious relationship, to put it mildly. Far as I know, they’re not even in speaking terms, right now.”

“You think they’re gonna break up?” she asked, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper that made me smirk.

“No clue. Don’t know them well enough to say,” I shrugged. “You live in the dorms too?” I switched the topic.

“Yeah, with three other girls.”

“You get along with them?”

“Meh… we’re not, like, besties, but we don’t fight either. We just try not to get in each other’s way,” she said, launching into a mini-rant about how cramped the room is for four girls and how she’s stuck on a bunk bed. “…I’m dying to move into the HOTs mansion. It’s awesome. You seen it?” she added.

“Not the whole thing. Just bits and pieces.”

“The showers, first night?” she teased, all sarcastic.

“Haha, yeah, that’s the part of the mansion I know best.”

Right then, the salad and pizzas arrived, and we kept joking and chatting while we dug in. I’ve probably mentioned this before: the pizzas here are Italian-style, not too big, with super puffy, fluffy, crispy crusts. They’re legit delicious, even if they don’t pile on the toppings. Mona liked them too.

“You from around here?” I asked.

“Nah, it’s my first time in this city. You’re local, right?”

“Nope. First time here too.”

“Oh, I thought you, Maya, and Derek already knew each other.”

“Met them on Sunday. Didn’t know a soul here before that. What about you? Made any friends yet?”

“Cammy. She’s my best friend here. We’re having a blast doing the Scavenger Hunt together. She’s such a cool chick.”

“She is. What about the HOTs?”

“Rio’s awesome too. Cammy and I hang with her a lot. Elena’s cool as well, but we don’t see her as much. She’s always with her boyfriend.”

“And the others? Who’s the toughest with the hazing?”

“Sarah and Mel, I guess… Don’t get me wrong, they’re fun girls, and I like them a lot, but sometimes they go a bit overboard with the hazing.”

“What about Quinn?” I asked.

“Uh… she’s cool,” Mona replied, clearly playing it safe. I didn’t push it.

“And the other HOTs?” I prodded.

“Arieth… she’s nuts! Dude, seriously, she lives in la-la-land.”

“I barely know her. Just seen her around. Dawe’s girlfriend, right?” She nodded. “And Tommy’s girlfriend?” I asked.

“Heather. I hardly know her either. She pretty much ignores the daughters.”

“At the party, when I tried introducing myself, she snapped, ‘I don’t talk to maggots,’ and blew me off,” I said, grimacing.

“Haha, yeah, that sounds like her,” Mona chuckled. “So, you made any friends besides Derek and Maya?”

“I guess those two are my closest ones so far. Haven’t really gotten tight with the DIKs yet, to be honest.”

“Tommy’s your ‘dad,’ right? What’s he like?”

“Derek’s way more his vibe than I am, and it shows. He’d rather have Derek as his son. For now, he’s mostly ignoring me, but I don’t mind. I’d rather do my own thing anyway.”

“What about Rusty?”

“Way friendlier and easier to talk to than Tommy. I’m starting to like him.”

“Who else do you click with?”

“John-Boy, I guess—Elena’s boyfriend. He’s the DIK I’ve talked to the most. Cool guy, super chill vibe.”

“And Jacob?” she asked.

“Chatted with him a bit at the party, that’s it, but he seems like a solid dude. A couple times when Tommy was being kind of a jerk, Jacob had my back. That’s a plus—having him on my side, I mean. Feels like the others listen when he talks. Guy’s got charisma. Hope we hit it off once I’m a brother.” I paused, eyeing her. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” she said, but the way she was hanging on my words about him, plus that little smirk she let slip, made me think she’s into him. Maybe he’s the one she was locking lips with during that party ritual. A rival? Humm.

“What do you think of the HOTs? You’ve met most of them, right?” she asked.

“Elena’s awesome. She’s like her boyfriend—super cool and laid-back. I’m hoping we’ll be friends. I get along pretty well with Riona too. Sarah and Melanie… well, they’re Quinn’s hazing sidekicks, so I keep my guard up around them, but they’re not bad. Fun girls, like you said.”

“And Quinn?” she asked, her half-smile turning sharp.

I let out a sigh. “Honestly… right now I couldn’t even tell you if we’re friends or enemies. Mostly we just argue…”

Her grin got even snarkier, one eyebrow arched. “And hook up…”

“Uh… why would you say that?” I asked.

“The cum-petition!” she giggled. “Dude, that was insane. You two actually went at it right in front of us!”

I felt a wave of relief at that. Good—means the rooftop hookup gossip hasn’t reached the daughters… at least not yet.

“Yeah, it was pretty wild,” I admitted. “Never done anything like that before…”

“What, you were a virgin?” she teased, eyes wide in mock shock.

“Haha, no, smartass. I just mean I’ve never done something like that with an audience. And, you know, I was cuffed to the chair. Not like I had much say in it…” I deflected.

“Nah, man, you weren’t like the other guys just sitting there. You leaned into it. That dirty talk? Whew, that was hot,” she said, fanning herself playfully.

I shrugged. “Before the cum-petition, Quinn was being her usual pain-in-the-ass self—and it pissed me off. Then she was dead set on getting me out. So… let’s say I pushed back.”

She cracked up laughing.

“You two have the weirdest vibe.”

“You have no idea,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

“So… frenemies?” she grinned.

“Haha, yeah, something like that,” I said. “That cum-petition thing was hardcore, though. I had no clue I’d be signing up for that kinda stuff when I pledged the DIKs.”

“Same here when I became a HOT daughter,” she said with a snicker.

“You handled your guy pretty quick,” I said.

“Pfft, he was a total loser. Barely lasted a minute,” she scoffed.

“You seen him since?”

“Yeah, in class. Soon as he sees me, he looks the other way.”

“Poor bastard… Getting booted from the party to shouts of ‘limp-dick’ probably didn’t do his ego any favors.”

“Haha, no kidding,” she laughed.

“So how’d you learn to dance like that?” I asked.

“You actually saw me?” she raised a brow.

“Caught a glimpse,” I lied—truth is, Quinn had my full attention locked.

“Didn’t learn it anywhere,” she shrugged. “I just danced, y’know? Like I was at a club or something.”

“In that case, we gotta hit the dance floor together at the next party.”

“Sure,” she grinned.

“How’s Sage as a ‘mom’?” I asked, fishing a little. “You can trust me—I’m not gonna run off blabbing whatever you say,” I added.

She hesitated, choosing her words. “She’s… kinda serious and distant. I think she’s a bit like Tommy with you—mostly ignores me. Not that she’s mean or anything, and the tasks she gives me aren’t hard. But Cammy and I usually end up with Rio. Sage shows up, hangs for a bit, then dips.”

“She’s probably swamped,” I said, trying to stick up for her. “Junior year’s rough, and being HOTs president can’t leave her with much free time.”

Mona shrugged. “Like I said, no complaints. We’re having a blast with Rio.”

“So your tasks aren’t too bad, huh?”

“Nah. Some are kinda dumb, like that umbrella thing. When we meet up with Rio for tasks, half the time we just end up at the mall, grabbing coffee and window-shopping. What about yours?”

I let out a sigh. “You’ve seen the classy fashion accessory Derek and I take turns wearing… Well, that’s pretty much the mildest one. Imagine.”

“Ha, I wouldn’t wanna walk around with that on my head,” she said.

“I haven’t even worn it yet, actually. My turn’s this afternoon. I’ll try to forget it’s there so I don’t dwell on how much of an idiot I’m gonna look.”

“Hey, if you need help with any tasks, just say the word,” she offered. “I mean, you’re helping me out here.”

“Well… now that you mention it, yeah. I could use you and Cammy each giving me a slap in front of the DIKs. Actually, it’d count if you slapped Derek instead, so… maybe go for him.”

“Nope,” she said, shaking her head all serious. “Derek didn’t help us—you did. So, we’re helping you.”

“No good deed goes unpunished, right?” I quipped.

“Haha, exactly,” she grinned. “So, what, we just walk up and slap you out of nowhere?”

“You’ll probably need to pretend you’re mad at me or something, otherwise they’ll know we’re faking it. And to sell it, they gotta be real slaps, so… y’know, I’m the worst.”

“Nah, dude, you’re a sweetheart,” she teased. “Hey, you think Sage kept those boxers you gave us? Like, as a trophy or something?”

“Yeah, I bet the HOTs have a trophy room in their mansion, with a wall full of boxers the girls have snagged over the years. Can you imagine?” I joked.

She cracked up. “That’d be kinda creepy.”

We kept joking and chatting while we finished off the food. Mona told me she’s the youngest of four sisters, and the only one who made it to college. Her sisters are all married with kids. Her parents are divorced, and she doesn’t see her dad much. I told her about my dad, my job, and a little about Zoey.

We wrapped up lunch splitting a piece of tiramisu she said she didn’t want a whole one to herself because of the calories—and a couple of espressos. Honestly, it was a really nice lunch.

“We can split the bill if you want,” Mona offered when the waiter dropped the check. “Just tell Sage you treated me if she asks.”

“Nah, no way, no cheating. I said I’d treat you, and I’m sticking to it. So, Cammy had the same task, right?”

“Yup.”

“Hmm. What do you think she did? ‘Cause if those Alphas weren’t gonna treat you, I doubt they offered to treat her…”

“No clue,” she said. “But… I’m guessing she waited for some Beta to pay for his meal and slid him her bill.”

I burst out laughing. “Plan B?”

“Haha, yeah, something like that,” she grinned.

“Well, hope this was more fun,” I said.

“It was,” she smiled. “We’ve gotta do it again.”

“For sure.”

While I paid, Mona texted Cammy to see where she was. Cammy replied she was still with Rio doing Hunt tasks, so we walked back to campus, chatting about random stuff, and split up at the park. She went off to find the girls, and I headed to Maya’s room.

***

Maya wasn’t there—probably still tied up with Quinn—so I threw on my workout gear and hit the gym to burn off the pizza and tiramisu.

I’d just stepped into the main gym room when I heard Dawe yelling across the place, asking another Alpha where Chad was.

“He’s in the locker room,” the guy hollered back. “Got a call. Think it’s Sage.”

“He bailed on leg day mid-HIT session to talk to his bitch? Has he lost his damn mind?” Dawe barked, loud enough for half the gym to hear.

“Yo! A cock wants what a cock wants…” a third Alpha chimed in.

They still hadn’t spotted me, which made it the perfect chance. I spun around and headed for the locker rooms. The team’s got private ones at the end of the hall, and I figured, with some luck, Chad might be in there alone. Made sense if he wanted privacy to talk to a chick—and I was pretty sure it wasn’t Sage.

I slipped inside quietly and heard Chad’s voice. Ducking behind a row of lockers, I pulled out my phone, peeked the camera around the corner, and started recording. The dude had his hand shoved down his boxers, jerking himself off.

“Mmm… you’re getting me so worked up… Yeah, tell me… You wearing those panties I gave you…? Yeah… Now tell me what you’re doing with my cock… Oh, yeah… Put it in your mouth and suck it…”

I got maybe a minute and a half, maybe two minutes of that crap on video—enough to show Sage—and bailed before anyone could catch me. Unfortunately, just as I was slipping out, Dawe came striding down the hall, probably to drag Chad back to practice. Perfect freaking timing.

Of course, he blocked my way.

“You! What the hell are you doing here?” he snapped. “That’s the team’s locker rooms!”

“Relax, I’m not doing anything,” I said, trying to play it cool. “Just checking out what’s at the end of the hall.” Didn’t fly, obviously.

“Bullshit! You came in here to steal our stuff!”

I probably should’ve kept trying to de-escalate, but that guy has a way of getting under my skin.

“I’m not a damn thief. You are. You assholes stole my guitar,” I shot back.

He didn’t answer—not with words, anyway. He threw a hook at my face that, if it’d landed clean, would’ve knocked me out cold. But he telegraphed it, so I dodged enough to take just a glancing hit, though I felt blood on my lip. Then he followed up with two or three more punches, heavy as hell. I blocked or slipped them, backing up, but damn, they packed a punch.

I couldn’t keep that up. One clean hit and I’d be out. I had to fight back. Knowing he’s a football player, I figured he’d be worried about an injury in his legs, so I shot a low kick at his ankle. It worked. He stumbled back, wincing, and I pounced with a hook to his jaw—not enough to knock him out, but it rattled him—then a straight to the eye that definitely hurt.

Right then, a couple more Alphas appeared in the hall, and I heard Chad’s voice behind me, yelling, “What the fuck’s going on?” Time to get the hell out. Dawe was still groggy, so I shoved him aside and bolted. One Alpha lunged at me as I blew past, but I shook him off. I dove into the public locker room—too many people there for those clowns to follow—grabbed my gym bag, and got out, checking over my shoulder the whole way.

Once I was out of the gym, I called Sage.

“Hey,” she answered, sounding surprised. “What’s up?”

“Hey, Sage. Can we meet? It’s important.”

“Is this… about what I asked you to do?”

“Exactly. Better if we talk in person.”

“I’m tied up with Scavenger Hunt stuff right now, but… How long would it take you to get to the HOTs house?”

“Five minutes.”

“Okay. Wait by the side door. I’ll come as soon as I can.”

I did just that. She showed up about ten minutes later, flushed like she’d jogged over.

“Hey! What happened to you?” she asked, spotting my split lip, which I guessed was already starting to swell.

“It’s fine. I’ll live,” I said.

“Was it Chad?”

“Nah. One of his goons. That white-haired idiot, Dawe.”

She let out a huff. “Yeah, he’s a total dumbass. Come on in.”

Once inside, she told me to wait in her room. She ran the kitchen and came back with some ice wrapped in a towel for my lip.

“Did you find anything?” she asked, straight to the point.

“Yeah…” Her face tightened with anticipation, and suddenly I wasn’t sure how to drop it. I went with the blunt route. “Look, no sugarcoating this. Sorry, but you were right: he’s cheating on you.”

I showed her the video of Chad having “phone sex” with his bitch—as Sage calls her—while jerking off in his boxers. She watched it all the way through, then played it again, and asked me to send it to her phone. After that, she went quiet, staring out the window with her back to me. I sat there, holding the ice to my lip, watching her.

“Sage… you okay?” I asked after a bit. I could see the tension in her neck and shoulders, and I figured she might be holding back tears. But nope. When she turned around, her eyes were dry.

“That son of a bitch!” she burst out suddenly, fists clenched. “Lying bastard! Asshole! Feeding me lies straight to my face this whole time! God, I’m such an idiot…”

“Sage, you’re not an idiot,” I said. “You caught him in the lie. That proves you’re not. This isn’t on you—it’s on him.”

“Did you find out anything else?” she asked, brushing off my half-assed attempt at comforting her. “Do you know who his bitch is?”

“No, sorry,” I replied. “Just what’s in the video. His buddies showed up right after, and, well, you know what happened,” I added, pointing at my busted lip.

Her expression softened, and so did her tone. “I see… Thanks, Jack. I owe you one.”

“No big deal,” I said. “So, you’ve got the proof you were looking for, right? It’s over…”

“Over?” She looked at me like I’d just said the dumbest thing ever. “No way this is over!”

“What do you mean?”

“I still don’t know who his bitch is.”

“Why does that even matter?” I asked.

“It matters to me!” she snapped.

“Sage, the important thing is you know for sure he’s cheating. The rest—”

“You don’t get it,” she cut me off, shaking her head in frustration.

Then it clicked. It was obvious, really. “You think it might be one of your friends…” She didn’t answer, but her look said everything I needed to know. “You got any suspects?”

“I suspect everyone!” she said, throwing her hands up. “Well, not everyone,” she backtracked, “but… I don’t know who I can trust anymore. This crap is eating me alive.”

“I hear you… You think it could be a HOT?”

“I don’t know,” she said, sitting down next to me, looking overwhelmed. “Chad cheating is bad enough, but if his bitch turns out to be a sister…”

She didn’t finish, but I could fill in the blanks: something like that would blow up the sorority’ harmony… and she’s the president.

“I get it, but still… Sage, you’re obsessed with this, and it’s not healthy,” I said, almost in a whisper.

“You think I don’t know that?” she shot back, bitter.

“So what’s your next move? If you show Chad that video…” I started.

“No, I’m not doing that,” she cut me off. “I want him to confess. Besides… I know that’d bring you trouble. Look, Jack,” she went on, locking eyes with me, “I know I’ve already dragged you into a mess with the Alphas, and I hate being so selfish, but you can see I’ve got no one else to turn to. Will you keep helping me? Will you find out who his bitch is?” Her tone made it damn near impossible to say no.

“Sage, it’s not that I don’t wanna help, but I’m no detective…” I said.

“You said that same thing last Sunday, and today you got me this video. Jack, you’re a smart guy, and resourceful. That’s obvious,” she countered, clearly buttering me up to get me on board.

“Honestly… this video was more dumb luck than anything else. Right place, right time. And that well’s dry now. Those guys aren’t gonna say a word around me anymore—not in the gym, not anywhere.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Please…” she pressed.

I sighed. “I’ll do what I can. But only so you can move on.”

“Move on?” she echoed.

“Yeah, Sage, move on. You’re the hottest girl on campus, and I’ve gotten to know you enough to see you’re smart and a decent person. You might think I’m just kissing your ass, but I swear, it’s what I really think. Why the hell are you with a creep like Chad who treats you like crap and cheats on you? You could have, almost literally, any guy you wanted. Forget him and get on with your life. You know it’s what’s best for you.”

“Easy for you to say!” she snapped.

“No, it’s not,” I said. “I know what I’m talking about. I had to let someone go too.”

“Who?” she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

“My ex.”

“How long were you with her?”

“We were friends since we were twelve… and more than friends since fifteen.”

“When did you break up?”

“About a year ago.”

“So, you were together a long time, then…”

“Yeah,” I said. “And I thought we’d be together way longer. Maybe even forever… How long have you been with Chad?”

“A year and eight months.”

“That’s a good stretch too…”

“Yeah… What happened with her? You wanna tell me?” she asked. It’s clear HOTs girls live for juicy gossip, but in this case, I think she was genuinely interested too.

“Her name’s Zoey,” I started. “I thought things were good between us, but then one day, out of nowhere, she told me she was moving to California. She wasn’t interested in graduating high school or going to college, and she was fed up with our town and living with her mom and stepdad. She asked me to go with her, but I’m pretty sure she already knew I wasn’t gonna drop everything to follow her. We didn’t even have a proper breakup, y’know? She just… left, and I stayed behind in our town.” I went on, feeling kinda dumb bringing up this stuff, but I kept talking, thinking maybe it might do her some good to hear it.

“At first, I was calling her every day, trying to keep in touch… I acted like everything was normal between us, thinking she’d be back in a few weeks once her savings ran out, and we’d pick things up where we left off. Guess I was in denial or something. She didn’t come back. She’s still out there. Got herself a job, and I think she’s with some guy now. And I had to accept the relationship was over, no matter how much it sucked.” I wrapped up my story.

“And… if you could’ve done something to make her stay, would you have?” she asked.

“Is that what you’re trying to do? Save your relationship with Chad?”

“Fuck yes!” she said. “If he doesn’t care that our relationship’s circling the drain, I do. I don’t want it to end like this. It feels like a failure, and it’s humiliating for me,” she admitted.

“I get it,” I said. “It was for me too. When Zoey left, on top of being lonely and wrecked, I felt like a total loser. I didn’t see it coming. And I didn’t realize she didn’t feel the same way about me as I did about her. If she did, she wouldn’t have bailed. But there was nothing I could do. She’d made her choice. If I didn’t accept it and kept fooling myself for months, that was on me.

“Chad made his choice when he started cheating, and I know it’s rough, but you gotta face what that means: he doesn’t care about your relationship, and you can’t trust him anymore. If he cheated once just out of pure selfishness, he’ll keep doing it.”

“You think I’m hung up on Chad and that I’m an idiot,” she said, her tone almost accusing.

“C’mon, Sage, if that’s the case, then I’m an idiot too, because I just told you I’ve been where you are. No. What I’m saying is, I get it, and I can imagine how you’re feeling and the stuff that might be going through your head right now.

Honestly, I had no clue if I was pushing too far talking to Sage like this. We weren’t that close, and she was clearly wound up. I worried she might take it the wrong way. But she was listening, not shutting me down, so I kept going.

“Even if my situation wasn’t exactly the same… I don’t know if I was really in love with Zoey anymore, but things with her were good. She didn’t cheat or make my life miserable. She just… wanted a different life. But Chad’s cheating on you and making you miserable. The gift he gave you to ‘make up’ was stolen. That alone… is there really anything worth saving in that relationship?”

“I don’t fucking know!” she burst out, throwing her hands up. “But what I do know is I need to find out who he’s cheating with.”

We stayed there, sitting on the edge of her bed. Me, holding the ice to my busted lip, out of words. Her, lost in her own head.

“Hey, Jack, how’d you get over your ex?” she asked after a while.

“At first, I didn’t,” I admitted. “The first three or four months sucked hard. Then… I decided to stop torturing myself waiting for something that wasn’t gonna happen. I quit calling her, quit texting…”

“Zero contact?” she asked.

“Exactly. I even changed my number and shut down my Rooster account. Ripped her out of my life like a Band-Aid.”

“I see…”

“I started seeing other girls too,” I added with a shrug. “Guess that’s what finally made me move on for good.”

She went quiet again, lost in thought.

“What’re you gonna do now?” I asked. “Go back to the pledges and the Scavenger Hunt?”

“Not really in the mood for that,” she said.

“Uh-huh. So your plan is to sit here, brooding over that damn video, working yourself up and feeling worse.”

“I guess,” she admitted with a tired shrug.

“Nope,” I said, getting to my feet. “Meet me on the lawn in fifteen minutes, in workout gear.”

“For what?”

“You’ll see. But I promise it’ll be fun, you’ll burn off all that tension, and you’ll feel a lot better when we’re done.”

***

I dropped my gym bag off in the room and grabbed my gloves. Maya wasn’t there. Technically, I should’ve tracked down Derek to get the DIK-helmet, but… honestly, it didn’t even cross my mind. I headed out to the lawn and met Sage near the calisthenics setup. I handed her the gloves, gave her a quick crash course, and we got to it: punches and kicks aimed at my hands.

Sage’s a natural at martial arts. She’s fit, toned, and those long, strong legs of hers pack real power—not to mention her coordination’s on point. I’m not saying she turned into a fighter in an hour, but a couple of the kicks she landed could’ve knocked somebody clean out.

By the time we wrapped up, we were both sweaty and worn out, but I’m pretty sure Sage forgot about her boyfriend’s crap for a while and actually had fun. Which meant I had fun too. I wanted to stretch it out a little longer, mostly so she wouldn’t head back to her room and sink into a shitty mood again, so I offered to grab us some sodas. We hit up one of the vending machines scattered around campus and flopped down on the grass with them to cool off.

“You were right, dude, this was fun,” she said.

“Told ya,” I grinned. “We can do it again whenever you want.”

“Deal. So, your dad taught you martial arts?”

“Yeah. He picked it up in the Marines. Started teaching me when I was eleven, and we trained together a few times a week ever since. Gonna miss that now that I’m here.”

“But martial arts didn’t exactly help with Dawe…” she said, nodding at my lip, which was swelling more by the minute.

“Oh, they helped,” I said. “That guy’s bigger than me, and all he managed was splitting my lip. Besides, I didn’t tell you how he ended up. I’d bet he’s rocking at least a black eye right now.”

“So, what happened?” she asked, leaning in, eyes curious.

“He caught me coming out of the team’s private locker room and thought I was trying to steal their stuff—like when they stole my guitar. So, he started swinging. I just defended myself. I always say I don’t start fights, but if someone comes at me, I’ll fight back.”

“Like some kind of martial arts code?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Sort of. But it’s not some mystical kung fu crap like in the movies. My dad taught me not to be a bully and to use it to defend myself or somebody else. That’s it.”

“Frats have codes too,” she said casually.

“Yeah, I know. ‘Family Comes First’ for the DIKs, and for the HOTs, it’s ‘Don’t turn on a sister,’ right?”

“That’s our public code, yeah.”

“Public? Meaning you’ve got a secret one too?”

“Maybe. But if I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore, would it?” she teased, flashing a half-mysterious, half-playful smile. “I could only tell you if you joined the HOTs.”

“Can I join the HOTs? Please say yes,” I joked. “The preps have a girl living in their frat—they say they made an ‘exception’ for her. I could be the HOTs’ exception.”

She cracked up. “Not a chance! Something tells me that’d be like letting a fox into the henhouse.”

“Me? Nah! As they say in Spanish, I’m as good as fresh-baked bread,’” I said, flashing my most innocent grin.

“Haha, well, what I’ve heard is you’re packing a whole baguette between your legs.”

That got a laugh out of me. “So that’s what the HOTs talk about? You’re all worse than the guys.”

“It’s true, we’re way worse,” she admitted, giggling. “By the way, how’s Maggot Hell going, maggot?”

I let out a huff. “When you suggested I rush the DIKs, you didn’t mention the tasks were this nuts…”

She shrugged. “I told you I don’t actually know what the DIKs’ tasks are. Just heard rumors.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me if the reality’s worse than the rumors.”

“That helmet with the dick on the forehead?”

“That’s, like, the tamest one.”

“I’m starting to get you, and I don’t think you’ll have trouble finishing your task list,” she said. “I mean, if guys like Jamie and Leon could handle it, I’m sure it’ll be easy as pie for you.”

“Honestly… I’m not even sure I really fit in with that frat,” I admitted.

“Come on, of course you do,” she reassured me. “Elena told me her boyfriend said the guys totally dig you. And once you’re in, they’ll help you settle into campus life. If you run into trouble, you can count on them. That’s what being brothers is about. You’ll see—once you get through Hell, you’ll think it was all worth it. No pain, no gain.”

“Yeah, you told me that when we met,” I said. “And you were right. Rusty told me yesterday that even though I’m not a brother yet, they’d have my back if I had more trouble with the Alphas…”

“See?”

“Yeah… I’m not a shy guy. Never have been. But for one reason or another, I’ve never had a ton of friends, and I’m an only child. The idea of having a crew of close friends, like brothers, sounds pretty cool,” I confessed. “But… even though I’ve only been here a few days, I can already tell this whole ‘Greek life’ thing isn’t all sunshine and rainbows,” I added.

She let out a sigh. “That’s… true. Unfortunately, there’s always some ugly stuff. Rivalries, arguments, jealousy… Maybe even betrayals, no matter what our code says.”

“Guess it’s just human nature,” I said.

“Guess so.”

She’d gotten serious again—probably thinking about those “betrayals”—so I decided to switch gears.

“Hey, Sage, thanks again for giving me back my guitar. It’s not just some instrument I could replace if it got stolen. It means a lot to me. Y’know, sentimental value.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that,” she said. “Do you play a lot?”

“I try to practice at least an hour a day, more if I can. Though, to be honest, since I got here, I haven’t had as much time as I’d like.”

“When’d you start playing?”

“When I was eight. Never took lessons, though. Taught myself with books, tutorials, stuff like that.”

“I really liked what I heard the other day.”

“Thanks. I know I’m no pro, but I’m not trying to play gigs or anything. Just have fun playing the music I like…” Then an idea hit me. “Hey, you said the other day you’d like to learn guitar.”

“When I was a kid, I begged my parents for guitar lessons, but they said it wasn’t the right instrument for me,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

“What’s wrong with the guitar?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.

“Pfft, beats me,” she said, waving it off. “I think it was my snobby brother’s fault. He convinced them it wasn’t… glamorous or classy enough. Whatever the fuck that means.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“I know, right? My parents offered piano or violin lessons instead, but like you said, I didn’t want to be some concert performer. I just wanted to have fun playing songs I liked. I lost interest after that, but they signed me up for dance classes.”

“That explains your great coordination…” I said. “And those fantastic legs, by the way…” I added, testing the waters with a little flirt.

She let out a soft chuckle. “Thanks. I quit dance when these started growing,” she said, pointing at her chest.

“No less fantastic…” I pushed my luck a little, since the first flirt seemed to land okay.

“Dude, cut it out,” she said, giving me a playful smack on the shoulder. “Quinn’s right, you’re a total perv.”

“Ha, maybe a little,” I admitted. “But seriously, if you wanna learn guitar, why not go for it?”

“Well… I guess I’d like to, but I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“Best way to start is finding someone to teach you, and you just found him—me.”

She blinked, caught off guard. “For real?”

“Sure. It’ll be fun,” I said. “Next time we’ve got a free moment, I’ll give you your first lesson. Sound good?”

She thought it over for a sec. “Well… why not? Thanks,” she said, though her tone was more like “we’ll see.” “By the way, how’s it going with Maya, Romeo?” she asked, switching topics. “Making any progress?”

“If I had to bet money… I’d say it’s not gonna happen,” I said honestly.

“Seriously?” she said, surprised. “She speaks pretty highly of you. Says you’re a really sweet guy.”

“Pfft… That’s what girls say about the dude they only see as a friend. When she starts calling me sexy, then you let me know.”

“Haha, deal. Though maybe… it’s my girl Mona you’re into now…” she teased, giving me a sarcastic smirk. “How was your lunch date with her?”

“Date? It wasn’t a date. I helped her with a task… one you gave her, by the way.”

She cracked up. “The task was to get some sucker to pay for her cafeteria meal, not go out to a restaurant and split a tiramisu like some lovey-dovey couple. She said she had a great time and thinks you’re a ‘sweetheart.’”

“Guess this sucker’s got some charm,” I said, flashing my best Miller grin.

She let out another chuckle. “Seems like it. You’re not worried Maya might get jealous? ‘Cause Mona was telling about your lunch right in front of her…”

“She’s not my girlfriend, and like I said, I’m really not sure we’re each other’s type,” I said, being honest.

“So, Mona’s more your speed now… Or is it Quinn you’re really into?” she kept digging.

“Quinn? Where’d that come from?” I asked, a little rattled.

“The cum-petition, dude!” she shot back, and just like with Mona, I nearly let out a sigh of relief that she didn’t say, “Because you banged her on the roof!”

“Oh… You saw that? I didn’t see you…”

“Well, I didn’t dance, obviously, but I was there, in the crowd.”

“Then you know I was cuffed to the chair. Not like I could do much except sit there and let Quinn do her thing…”

“Nah,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t feed me that. The girls said what really happened when they formed that circle around you two.”

“What’d they say?”

“That… you were the one who almost knocked her out of the cum-petition, not the other way around. Dude, you didn’t just sit there and take it—you got into it too.”

“Well… you know she’s been busting my balls since Sunday, and right before the party, she pulled another hazing stunt. No way was I gonna give her the satisfaction of… knocking mi out.”

She cracked up hard. “She’s been talking about you a lot, y’know?”

“Yeah, I’m sure it’s all glowing praise.”

“Haha, nope. She’s been ranting nonstop. But that means something. Quinn hardly ever talks about guys, but you… damn, she doesn’t shut up. Half-joking… but half-serious. It’s like you showed up on campus just to get under her skin, but at the same time… it’s like she’s kinda into it. I’ve only seen her like this once before, and… Bah, never mind, forget I said that.”

“I think it’s just that she’s used to intimidating guys, especially freshmen, and since I don’t let her push me around, I’m like some kind of challenge to her.”

“You’re starting to get her,” she said. “But I think she’s into you too.”

“Uh… At the party, she said she wanted to make me her ‘gimp,’ and I don’t think she was joking.”

“What’s that even mean? She wants to break your legs or something?”

“According to her, it’s like a… sex slave or whatever.”

Another huge laugh. “Tsh… That’s Quinn for you… And you’re not tempted? Bet half the guys on campus would be.”

“Haha, yeah, probably. But… nah.”

“You don’t like her?”

“There are… things I like.”

“Yeah, I can guess which things, you dog,” she teased, mock-scolding me.

“Oh, sure, all the stuff you’re thinking, but it’s not just that. I’ve noticed she’s really sharp. And she can be witty and fun—when she feels like it. And she’s bold too. Seems like she’s not scared of anything, right?”

“All that’s true,” she said. “So, you like her… Or is there a ‘but’?”

“But… she can also be a total pain in the ass.”

Another loud laugh. “Yeah, that’s true too.”

“She’s a complicated girl.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” she said, nodding. “But… doesn’t that make her a challenge for you?”

I shrugged. “Maybe a little…”

“Hahaha, I knew it. You’re way more into her than you admit. Every time you two are together, you’re at each other’s throats like you can’t stand each other, but the girls said at the cum-petition you were actually screwing each other’s brains out like there was no tomorrow, not even caring about the audience.”

“Sage… I already told you why that happened. She pissed me off big time before the cum-petition, and… let’s just say it was a hazing stunt that got out of hand, nothing more.”

“I don’t know about that…” she said, giving me a sly grin.

Apparently, Sage had decided Quinn and I had either fallen madly in love or become secret lovers or whatever. I decided to shut that down.

“You wanna know who really attracts me the most out of everyone I’ve met here? Honestly?”

“Who?” she asked, curious.

“You, Sage. Who else?” I blurted, not really thinking it through. Just… felt like the right moment.

“Whoa, you’re bold, dude. Confidence is not your problem,” she said, a little surprised—but not offended. “But I’m taken. You know that.”

“Look, I’m just putting it out there, so we’re on the same page. Do what you want with that info.”

“Alright, dude…” she said, that sly grin sneaking back. “So… you helping me ‘cause you’re hoping for something?”

I got serious. “I’m helping you because I’ve been daling with bullies like Chad since I was eight, and I can’t stand them,” I said flat-out. “But more than that, the more I get to know you, the more I’m sure you don’t deserve the way that guy’s treating you. Plus, I think we’re hitting it off, becoming friends, and friends have each other’s backs. And yeah, on top of that, I find you really hot. Nothing wrong with that, right?”

“Nope, nothing wrong with that,” she said easily. “I see you don’t beat around the bush.”

I chuckled. “Nope.”

“You hit on every girl you meet?”

“Not every girl… just the hot ones!” I joked.

She laughed hard, tossing her head back and running a hand through her gorgeous red ponytail in a flirty gesture. I was honestly stoked to see her in a good mood, considering the bomb I’d dropped on her less than two hours ago.

“You’re such a dog,” she teased, shaking her head with a mix of sarcasm and warmth. “And you say you’re not sure you’ll fit in with the DIKs… Tsh…” she added, her voice dripping with playful mockery. “Hey, I’m all sweaty and starting to get cold. I’m gonna hit the shower. Thanks for… everything, seriously.”

“No problem. And… don’t dwell too much on you-know-what. Could’ve happened to anyone.”

“I know… but I’d still rather it hadn’t happened to me.”

***

I took a shower too, then headed to the laundry room to wash my gym clothes. While I waited for the cycle to finish, I’ve been writing this diary.

Chapter Text

I dropped off my laundry in the room—Maya was still MIA—and decided to make the most of the afternoon by hitting the books. Problem was, the room was an oven at that hour, so I grabbed my class backpack and headed to the library, where there was AC.

As I passed the front desk, Isabella looked up at me and—to my surprise—gave me a small nod. I nodded back, found the first empty table—which happened to be right in front of the desk—and got to studying.

Like sometimes happens to me, I got so locked in that I lost track of time, until Isabella walked over to my table.

“Jack, it’s closing time for the library,” she said.

“Oh… I didn’t realize it was so late…” I mumbled, glancing around. Sure enough, the place was nearly empty, just five or six Betas packing up to leave.

Instead of heading back to her duties, Isabella lingered by my table, watching me gather my stuff. I figured she was just rushing me out, but turns out she wanted to talk to me alone.

“Listen… I owe you an apology,” she said once the last Beta cleared out. “Last time we spoke, I wasn’t exactly kind.”

I totally wasn’t expecting that.

“Oh… No worries, Isabella,” I stammered, caught off guard. “No big deal, really.” Then, spotting a few carts piled high with books by the desk, I had an idea.
“Hey, if you’ve got to shelve all those books now, I can lend a hand. I know the Dewey system,” I offered.

“You don’t need to trouble yourself,” she said, still a little curt, but definitely gentler than usual.

“It’s no trouble at all. I can walk you to the parking lot afterward, if you want.”

“Yeah, I need an escort; might run into some naked student,” she quipped, and it was the first time I’d heard her crack a joke. Dry and sharp, but I liked it.

“Guess I had that coming,” I chuckled. “Hand me some of those books.”

So, we got to work. Between the two of us, we shelved the books in under fifteen minutes, then headed out together. She stopped at the door to set the alarm, so I stepped outside to wait for her.

That’s when Chad came out of nowhere and swung a fist at my face.

Just like with Dawe, if that punch had landed square, it would’ve knocked my lights out, but muscle memory kicked in. I dodged, stumbling and nearly eating pavement—I dropped my backpack with my laptop and books. Chad seized the moment to try a kick, which I barely sidestepped.

Scrambling, I got out of his reach and raised my fists, ready for a fight.

“You bastard! What do you want from me?” he roared, , just as out of the blue as the attack itself.

“Me? You’re the one who jumped me!” I shot back, stunned. “I just want you to leave me the hell alone!”

“I’m gonna kill you!” he bellowed, practically unhinged, and that was the end of the conversation. He charged like a maniac, throwing a flurry of punches that I blocked with my arms or dodged as best I could.

I had to get him off me. The low ankle kick had worked on Dawe, so I tried it again, and sure enough, Chad instinctively stepped back, losing his momentum. My chance to strike.

The guy doesn’t even know how to keep his guard up, leaving me an opening the size of Texas. So, I threw a jab at his jaw—not as hard as his punches, but clean and precise. He staggered, clearly shocked that I fought back at all, and I followed up with a straight to the eye that landed just as solid.

Then I heard a shout: “Security! Security! Help!” and felt a stinging burn in my nose and eyes. It was Isabella, unloading a can of pepper spray on Chad’s face, though I caught some of it too.

Blinded, Chad lunged at me in a football tackle, catching me off guard. He shoved me hard, slamming me into the building’s wall. I bounced off and hit the ground, cracking the back of my head. Meanwhile, he staggered off.

“Jack!” Isabella cried, dropping to her knees beside me. “Oh God… are you alright?”

The hit had knocked the air clean out of me, so it took a few seconds before I could breathe again and sit up enough to answer.

“I’m fine… I think…” I muttered, though honestly, I had no clue if that was true. My head was spinning, and I was pretty damn disoriented.

“I’m calling an ambulance,” she said, already digging through her purse for her phone.

“No!” I stopped her. “I don’t need an ambulance. I’m okay… just need to sit here for a minute.”

“Jack, you’re not thinking straight. You could have a concussion. Or internal bleeding. You need a doctor.”

“Isabella, seriously, I’m fine now… Look, I’m standing up.” I pushed myself to my feet, swaying. “I just need to make it to my bed, and I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

My backpack had landed a good six or eight feet away. I shuffled over to grab it and check that my laptop hadn’t been smashed.

“I’m not letting you walk off in this state,” she said firmly.

“Really, Isabella, it’s not that bad… I’m used to taking hits,” I blurted, not thinking.

“That’s awful!” she shot back.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” I rubbed my temple, trying to clear my head. “I mean, I train in martial arts, so I know how to take a punch.”

“You can barely stand! Come on—let’s go to my car.” She took my arm and I wasn’t about to wrestle her off, so I followed.

“Where are we going? I don’t want to go to a hospital…”

“Yes, we’re going to the ER. And don’t argue.”

“But Isabella, I have to argue… Hospitals are insanely expensive. I can’t afford it.”

“Don’t think about that right now! Your health isn’t worth risking over money. And you’ve got health insurance, don’t you?”

“I don’t…” I admitted, heat creeping up my face. “My family’s… pretty broke.”

“Then I’ll cover it.”

“That’s… really generous, but I can’t accept. If they run expensive tests, I might not be able to pay you back.” I shook my head. “Seriously, it’s not that bad.”

None of it mattered. She marched me straight to the lot, got me into her car, and pulled out.

I don’t know if it was the blow to the head, the stress of the past few days, or just plain exhaustion—I’d been sleeping way less than I should—but my eyes started to close, and I drifted off. The car seat was ridiculously comfortable, which didn’t help.

When I opened my eyes again, we were in the ER parking lot.

“Isabella… I told you, I can’t afford a hospital…” I mumbled, groggy.

“And I told you, don’t worry about it,” she said, firm but calm.

She guided me inside and stayed with me in the waiting room until they called my name. Luckily, the doctor didn’t order any fancy tests. He just checked my pupils, felt around my skull and ribs, listened to my breathing, and asked a few questions to check for memory loss or confusion. Then he handed me a couple of painkillers and discharged me. Isabella gave them her info for the bill.

“Any chance there’s a bus stop nearby so I can get back…?” I started, but she cut me off.

“You’re not going back to campus. You’re coming to my place. The doctor said you need to be watched tonight.”

“Well… thanks, Isabella…” I muttered.

I thought she was going a little overboard with the mother-hen routine, and honestly, I didn’t want to be a burden again after what went down on Sunday. But arguing seemed pointless, so I let her take the lead.

We got back to her car, and I guess she figured I was more clear-headed by then, because she launched into an interrogation.

“Okay… So, are you going to tell me why that Chad guy attacked you?” she asked.

“You saw him?”

“Yes. I heard you yelling…”

“I yelled?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes. I ran outside and that guy looked completely unhinged. I wanted to help you sooner, but I couldn’t find the pepper spray in my purse…”

“You gotta keep it in the same spot every time, so you can grab it quick,” I said.

“Yeah, lesson learned. So, why’d he come at you?” she pressed.

“I don’t know…” I shrugged.

Obviously, it was because of the video I recorded for Sage—but I couldn’t tell Isabella that. She shot me a stern side-eye, still keeping one eye on the traffic.

“Why’d he ask ‘What do you want from me?’ You don’t know that either?”

“I swear, I don’t. What would I want from that guy, except for him to leave me alone?”

“He’s the football team captain and president of the Tri-Alpha fraternity, right?” she said, more stating than asking.

“That’s what I heard.”

“Jill told me you had an altercation with him last Sunday.”

“I wouldn’t really call it an ‘altercation,’” I said. “It was over in no time. A professor showed up and that was that.”

“Cathy Jones, right?”

“Exactly.”

“Tell me what went down,” she said—more like ordered—and so I did. I laid out the whole story.

“After that, he and some other Tri-Alphas attacked you. That’s right?” she probed.

“Yeah…” I admitted, suddenly feeling like I was eleven again, telling my dad about the bullies at school. “I took a few hits, but nothing too bad… Truth is, Jill saved me kinda like you did tonight. She started yelling for security, and those guys took off. She was pretty brave—those guys are animals.”

“She told me about it,” Isabella said, nodding. “You mentioned some Tri-Alphas broke into your room and stole a guitar, right?” she recalled.

“Yes, but I got it back the next day. That Chad gave it to his girlfriend, and she returned it when she found out it was mine. She’s a decent person. No clue why she’s dating a guy like that.”

“Have the Alphas done anything else to you?”

“Uh… well… this afternoon at the gym… I ran into this guy Dawe in the locker room hallway, and since no one else was around…” I started, not sure if I should keep going. I didn’t need her asking too many questions about what happened at the gym.
“He attacked you? The split lip?” she guessed.

“Yeah, he landed a punch… But it’s nothing. I fought back, and I’m pretty sure he came out worse.”

“Worse?”

“He’s probably sporting a black eye right now, so I bet he’ll think twice before coming at me again. Same with Chad. I’m pretty sure he’s got at least a black eye as a souvenir too.”

We were stopped at a light, and she turned to give me a stern look.

“Jack, violence isn’t the answer,” she said.

“What, I shouldn’t have defended myself?”

“I’m just saying there are other ways. You need to report this to the disciplinary board,” she said, dead serious. “You can’t keep going like this.”

“Isabella, I appreciate what you did tonight, but in my experience, getting the administration and teachers involved just makes things worse. I’ll handle it, don’t worry.”

“By fighting?”

I shrugged. “If I have to… yeah. I don’t start fights, but I can hold my own.”

“Okay, we’ll drop it… for now,” she said, turning her focus back to the road as the light turned green. From the way her lips were pressed tight, I could tell she wasn’t thrilled with my answers. She drove on in silence, and I took the chance to text Maya letting her know I wouldn’t be back in the room tonight and that I’d explain everything tomorrow.

We arrived at her house—a really nice two-story single-family home in a suburban neighborhood—and went straight to the kitchen. She asked if I was hungry, and without waiting for my answer, she started cooking. Figured she must’ve been hungry herself.

“How’s your head?” she asked, taking some eggs from the fridge.

“Some people say it’s a bit in the clouds, but that’s been true forever, and there’s probably no cure for it,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Just a bit on the clouds?” she replied, that dry sarcasm of hers showing through.

“Ha, okay, maybe a lot,” I admitted. “But if you’re asking about the bump—it’s sore, that’s it. Hey, Isabella, I noticed you wear a wedding ring. Am I going to meet your husband?”

“No, you’re not going to meet him,” she said in a tone that didn’t invite further questions.

“Oh, okay… Do you cook a lot?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Whenever I can.”

“I do too. Well, I can’t right now, obviously, but at home, I always cook for my dad and me.”

“Who taught you?” she asked, curious.

“I learned on my own from cookbooks and online tutorials. My dad doesn’t know how, and since he always gets home late from work, he doesn’t have time to learn. So I took care of it so we wouldn’t always eat sandwiches and frozen meals. But honestly, I like it.”

“I do too.”

“Let me help. Want me to peel some potatoes or something?” I offered.

“Alright… Make the salad,” she said. She pulled tomatoes and the rest from the fridge and handed me a knife and cutting board.

“You have a really nice house…” I said, keeping the small talk going while rinsing the lettuce under the faucet.

“It was my parents’. I grew up here,” she said casually.

“Oh… Are your parents still with us?” I asked.

“No, they passed away years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks. They were quite old. You mentioned you lost your mother.”

“Yeah. I never knew her—she died a few hours after I was born. It’s just been me and my dad.”

“What does your dad do?”

“He’s a foreman at a construction company, and a handyman too. You know, plumbing, painting, masonry—whatever needs doing. Like me.”

“You?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, I’m not as skilled as him, obviously… What I mean is, he’s taught me a bunch of DIY stuff over the years, and that helped me land a job.”

“What job?” she asked.

“I quit a few weeks ago to come to B&R, but I used to work night shifts as a janitor and maintenance guy at a nursing home.”

“Really?” she said, surprised. “You worked nights and went to high school during the day?”

“Yup. Well, not every night,” I explained, slicing the tomatoes on the counter next to her. “Just Fridays to Sundays, and holidays. You know, Christmas, Halloween…”

“That… must’ve been tough,” she said, looking up from the skillet.

“I managed,” I said. “The worst part was it messed up my sleep schedule. Some nights I couldn’t sleep, other times I was nodding off during the day… Still haven’t fully recovered. But the job itself wasn’t hard. Once the residents went to bed, there wasn’t much to do, so I had time to study. Honestly, I was just there in case of an emergency.”

“Like what?”

“Like if something broke. Last New Year’s Eve, I spent two hours unclogging a toilet,” I said with a wry laugh. “Some idiot flushed one of those stupid paper party hats… But really, the worst part was that a lot of the residents were really old—like ninety or more. Sometimes someone would suddenly get sick, or even… pass away. And then I had to do some, uh, not-so-pleasant tasks.”

“You were there alone?”

“No, of course not. I had five coworkers: three CNAs and two nurses. Since I was the youngest and the only guy, they used to tease me a lot, but in good fun. We got along really well.”

“I see… What are you majoring in at B&R?” she asked.

I realized I’d been talking for a good while now.

“Uh… Isabella, did the doctor tell you to ask me questions to check for memory lapses or something?” I asked.

“Actually, yes,” she admitted, pausing from stirring the veggie sauté in the skillet to look at me. “He said letting you fall asleep in the car might’ve been a mistake. You’re not supposed to do that after a head injury. I have to keep an eye on you tonight.”

“Besides the bump, I feel okay…” I said with a shrug. “Answering your question, I’m majoring in engineering, though this first semester I’ve only got one class for that. The rest are gen-eds, as you know. Hey… how come you’re both a professor and a librarian?”

“I’m an adjunct professor,” she explained. “On top of my librarian qualifications, I have a degree in English Lit, so I can teach a few subjects, and they call on me when they need someone.”

“Ah, I see… Hey, I saw the orchid I gave you in your entryway. I guess now I’ll have to get you another one,” I said, half joking.

“Absolutely not. I appreciated the gesture—it’s a pretty plant—but don’t buy me another.”

“What do you want me to get you then?”

“Nothing. I don’t want you spending money on that. And don’t worry about the hospital bill either—I’ll cover it. It shouldn’t be much anyway.”

“Now that I think about it, I believe I do have health insurance…” I said. “I need to check, but I think my scholarship covers it. No idea why I didn’t remember earlier; guess I was rattled from the hit.”

“You have a scholarship?” she asked, surprised. “What kind?”

“Academic. A full ride.”

“Really?” she said, even more surprised.

“I don’t look like a nerd, do I?”

“No, honestly, you don’t.”

“You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover—you of all people should know that,” I teased. “Nerds come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors.”

“If you have a full scholarship, you definitely have insurance,” she said, ignoring my jab.

“Good to know. I wouldn’t want you footing the hospital bill, no matter how much it is… Hey, Isabella, this is the second time you’ve helped me out. Even if I don’t get you another orchid, I’d like to pay you back somehow.”

“Don’t get into more trouble, and we’ll call it even. Honestly, I still don’t know if you’re the one chasing trouble or if trouble’s chasing you.”

“Uh… The first one… No, wait, that’s bad! The second one… Hold on—what was the first again?”

“You’re kind of a goof, aren’t you?” she said, giving me a stern look with one eyebrow raised, though a faint glint in her eye told me she was playing along.

“Ha, yeah, maybe a little. I usually say my sense of humor’s an acquired taste. Seriously, though, I came to B&R to study, not to get caught up in trouble, but… I guess you’re right. Sometimes I find it because… I don’t step aside when it comes my way.”

“Maybe you should.”

“Maybe I should’ve just stood by while that ape Chad acted like a douche to that girl in front of everyone on my first day? Because most of my problems stem from that…” I said rhetorically, answering myself. “That’s not me, Isabella. And I refuse to live in fear of bullies.”

She started setting the table.

“Have you asked admin for a room change?” she asked, switching topics.

“Yeah, but they said it’s tough. I need to justify it, and the process could take weeks… They basically gave me the runaround. Guess they don’t want a mile-long line of students swapping rooms just ‘cause they don’t like their roommate.”

“So where are you staying, then?”

“In a friend’s room,” I said, keeping it vague. “There’s an empty bed. The student who was supposed to move in never did—for whatever reason.”

“That’s not exactly by the book… Any day now, they’ll assign that bed to someone, and you’ll be out on the street again,” she warned.

“I know, but it’s just for a few more days. I got accepted as a DIK pledge, and they promised I can live in their frat house once I’m in.”

“That fraternity has a bad reputation,” she said, giving me a serious look with that raised eyebrow again—but this time, she wasn’t joking.

“It’s the only one that’d take me,” I said with a shrug. “I don’t have the cash or connections for Jill’s frat. The Alphas are out for obvious reasons. The Betas don’t have a house, and the HOTs told me I’m too handsome and charming for them—every girl would fight over rooming with me, and that’d be a problem,” I said, keeping a straight face.

“You’re sure the HOTs said that?” she asked, just as serious.

“I think so, but now that I think about it, maybe I dreamed it.”

She let out a quiet chuckle. “Yeah, that sounds more likely.”

She finished setting the table, seasoned the salad to her liking—a pinch of salt and just a drizzle of olive oil—and we sat down to eat. Besides the salad, we had grilled salmon with a side of sautéed veggies—zucchini, green pepper, onion—and fruit for dessert. Can’t get healthier than that. While we ate, she put on a playlist of ‘90s songs from a little stereo in the kitchen. We didn’t talk much, but it was nice eating with music in the background.

After dinner we headed upstairs to a cozy living room and sat down on a big L-shaped couch. Once we got comfortable, she went full professor mode again and brought the topic back around to Chad and the Alphas.

“Jill told me this isn’t the first time you’ve dealt with bullying. Would you like to talk about it?”

“There’s not much to say. Back in elementary school there were some bullies, and I was their target,” I said.

“Why?”

“Does it matter? I swear I didn’t do anything to deserve those guys coming after me,” I said, maybe a bit sharper than I meant.

“Sorry. It was just a question, but if it’s too personal, you don’t have to answer.”

“No need to apologize. What I meant was, the real reason is always the same with bullies—they get off on picking on someone weaker than them. That’s it. They just look for excuses. In my case… as a kid, I had trouble making friends.”

“Shyness?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Nah, never been shy. More the opposite, but… I don’t know, I didn’t fit in. Guess I didn’t have the same interests as most kids my age. Didn’t play video games, didn’t watch sports or follow any teams, didn’t watch TV… I probably had a rep for being a weirdo. And on top of that, being poor and not having a mom… I was the perfect target.”

“That must’ve been rough,” she said, her tone soft and empathetic.

“Yeah, at that age, it was. Kids don’t have a moral filter and can be downright cruel. Nobody had my back, and the worst part was, after a while, I lost the will to even fight back. ‘Learned helplessness,’ psychologists call it.”

“That’s the right term, yes. Did you tell anyone?”

“Isabella, my school was tiny. The teachers saw what was going on and didn’t care. I guess it was easier to look the other way when the weird kid was getting harassed than to punish half a dozen of little punks and deal with their parents. And back then… I had awful grades. I don’t know, maybe I had some kind of attention issue or something.”

“You didn’t seem to have trouble focusing this afternoon. I was watching you, and you didn’t take your eyes off your notes the whole time.”

“You were watching me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, you were sitting right across from my desk,” she said, in a tone like “don’t get any weird ideas.”

“I don’t have trouble studying now, but back then, I was bored out of my mind in class. I’d zone out into my own little world and not pay attention. I think some teachers thought I was… slow or something, and they were the first to make fun of me in class. Like they were painting a bullseye for the bullies.”

She looked horrified. “That’s awful! I can’t think of anything less professional for a teacher to do!”

“You’re totally right, but I was a kid and didn’t realize it. Honestly… my school didn’t exactly have a stellar reputation in my hometown, and for good reason: it sucks.”

“Your dad didn’t help?”

“He did, once he found out what was going on. But it took me almost three years to tell him—and only because I had no choice. One day when I was eleven, I came home with a black eye and a ripped shirt…”

“Why didn’t you tell him sooner?”

“Because I was ashamed, Isabella. It was humiliating. And… back then, my dad had a lot on his plate. Anyway, he went to the principal to complain, and yeah, they punished the bullies, but that just made things worse. After that, they left me alone at school—kinda—but around the neighborhood, I had to constantly watch my back. If they caught me alone, they’d jump me for being a snitch.”

“Oh… How did it get resolved?” she pressed.

“My dad’s an ex-Marine, and he decided I needed to learn to stand up for myself, so he started teaching me martial arts. It was a great idea. I loved training with him, and I still do.”

“Did it help?” she went on.

“At the very least, martial arts gave me confidence. No more learned helplessness. Plus, my dad taught me not to pick fights for no reason, to only use those skills to defend myself or others… he gave me values. And training so hard, almost daily, taught me discipline, so yeah, it helped, though…” I hesitated a second, but since I was already opening up, I kept going, “it also got me into some trouble, to be honest.”

“What kind of trouble?” she asked, as I knew she would.

“When I was twelve… I was walking down the school hallway one day, and I heard footsteps and laughing behind me. I knew exactly what was coming, ‘cause it’d happened a hundred times before: one of those bullies was gonna knock my books and notes to the floor, shove me against the wall, or they’d gang up and give me a wedgie… Suddenly, I just couldn’t take that crap anymore. I acted on reflex—spun around and punched the nearest guy right in the jaw.

“I didn’t even know how much damage a punch could actually do… I’d only ever hit a punching bag with all my strength. I knocked him out and broke his jaw. He spent months eating puréed food through a straw. Of course, his buddies jumped me and gave me a beating. The teachers had to practically drag us apart…”

As I spoke, she stared at me, horrified, but since I’d started the story, I figured I might as well finish it.

“It was a total mess,” I went on. “The kid’s parents wanted to press charges, and to the school, I was the aggressor, not the victim… In the end, they suspended me for a month, so I flunked the year and had to repeat. That’s why I’m almost nineteen instead of just turning eighteen like most freshmen.”

“For God’s sake, Jack! That’s a horrible story!” she burst out.

I shrugged. “I know, I lived it.”

“What about high school? Did you get bullied there too?”

My face probably darkened. “Yeah, in freshman year, and worse than before,” I admitted. “By then, I’d started taking my studies seriously, and some guys decided to have fun at the nerd’s expense. My high school’s kind of… let’s just say it wasn’t the best environment. Some of the guys there were borderline juvenile delinquents.”

“What did they do to you?” she asked, leaning in.

“Same stuff as before… but worse, ‘cause the bullies were older and meaner. Worse hazing, beatings… Again, the teachers saw it all but did nothing. I think they were even scared of those guys. The only one who helped was my Spanish teacher, María. She’d just graduated college and it was her first teaching job, so she hadn’t learned how to command respect—especially not from guys like that—so she got bullied almost as bad as I did. She couldn’t do much to stop the bullying, but more than my teacher, she was a good friend, and that meant a lot to me.”

“How did that situation end?”

“Well… one day I hit my limit of crap I could take… Uh… One day, when María walked into class… those guys pulled a prank on her… Uh… They dumped a wastepaper basket over her head, and… well, I was right there and I smacked one of the guys who did it, and… yeah, another fight broke out. I took… a few hits, but they got some too.”

“Good Lord, Jack! A fourteen-year-old student shouldn’t have to defend a teacher! That wasn’t your place!” she exclaimed.

“So, I should’ve just stood there while four meatheads humiliated her? Come on, Isabella! You just did the same thing for me three hours ago!”

“It’s not the same. I didn’t get into a fistfight or take any hits.”

“And what would’ve happened if Chad had charged at you instead of me? You’re the one who blinded him with that pepper spray, after all… You risked ending up in the ER yourself, Isabella. But in that moment, you didn’t even think about it, did you? You saw someone in trouble and you helped. That’s exactly what happened to me back then.”

“Well… let’s leave it at that. What happened next?”

“Another big mess, and I got another month’s suspension. The good thing was, those guys got punished too, and they were forced to transfer schools. I recently heard one of them’s in juvie for robbing a liquor store. Gives you an idea of the kind of guys they were.”

“I see… Did you fail the year?” she inquired.

“Not this time. I studied at home, and María talked to the other teachers and got me all the class notes. She even spoke to my dad so he wouldn’t be too mad about what happened. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her. Probably hung myself from a tree or something.”

“Don’t even say that, not even as a joke!” she snapped.

“Sorry… my humor’s a bit dark tonight… What I mean is, she was really good to me.”

“What became of her?” she asked more gently.

“The next year, she got a job at a better school in another state. We still keep in touch, but just by email now—Christmas greetings, that kind of thing. She’s married with two little girls. She was thrilled when I wrote to tell her I got a scholarship to B&R. I signed up for Intermediate Spanish as an elective, and I plan to keep taking Spanish classes all through college. One day, María and I will cross paths somewhere, and I’ll surprise her by speaking fluent Spanish. I know she’ll love that.”

“That’s an excellent goal, Jack,” she said, with a warmth that caught me off guard.

“I think so too.”

“How did you get your scholarship?” she continued.

“The usual way,” I shrugged. “Studying my butt off.”

“I figured. What I mean is, how did you balance it with your job?”

“Well, I needed savings for college, and my dad, unfortunately, isn’t in a position to help me out financially, so I didn’t have much choice. I’ve basically been a boring nerd these last few years. Honestly, I have no idea how I ever ended up with a girlfriend.”

“You have a girlfriend?” she asked, sounding surprised.

“Uh… I did… She was my best friend since we were kids, and then… we were kinda a couple for a few years… But not anymore.”

“What happened?” she asked carefully.

“Long story…”

“Too personal to share?”

“Are you really interested, or just keeping me talking to make sure I don’t have a concussion?”

“I don’t think you have a concussion, and yes, I am interested. The other day, you said I didn’t really know you and had preconceptions about you… and I think you were right.”

“Oh… I guess… I had some preconceptions about you too… I mean, you helped me out big time on Sunday, and I knew deep down you’re a great person, but honestly, I thought you were… kinda stuck-up and cold. Turns out you’re pretty cool… So, what do you want to know, Isabella?”

“How did you meet her?”

“At school… in detention. After that whole mess I told you about, when I busted that kid’s jaw, I had to stay after school every afternoon till the end of the year. She was in detention a lot back then too.”

“What’s her name?”

“Zoey. She was my first real friend. Honestly… pretty much my only friend for years. Once I met her, I wasn’t alone anymore, so things got better.”

“I see… Would you tell me more about her?”

“If you want… Zoey… was a bit of a misfit,” I started, leaning back on the couch. “Not as much as me, but… she liked playing the rebel. That’s why she was always in detention. She used to do stuff like smoking in the bathrooms or talking back to teachers. She looked so rough…” I recalled with a fond chuckle. “Band tees, ripped jeans, hair always a mess… She even had a nose piercing. Did it herself… at twelve!

“In detention, the supervisor would ditch us to go smoke, so we were left alone and started talking. Well, she talked, and I listened. She decided that despite my new rep as a juvenile delinquent, I was actually a loser and she had to teach me how to be cool, so I became her charity case.

“We started hanging out a ton, and she taught me stuff like skateboarding, smoking, or what music was cool. I fell off the skateboard, hated smoking, and her cool music wasn’t really my thing, but it didn’t matter—I followed her around like a puppy. She was my first real friend, and a girl! I adored her, I would’ve walked through fire for her,” I said, smiling at the memory.

“And eventually you two became a couple…”

“Eventually, yeah. That took a few years. For a bit, in ninth grade, we even drifted apart. She started hanging with older guys, skipping class, getting into trouble, and I wasn’t into that… But then I hit a growth spurt and bulked up, probably from all that training with my dad, and… let’s just say Zoey started looking at me differently. So yeah, we became… not exactly a couple, we were kids, but… more than just friends. That lasted until about a year ago.”

“Oh… What happened? Why aren’t you together anymore?” she asked quietly.

“Sounds like you’re trying to get my whole life story tonight…” I said with a grin. “What happened was, Zoey moved to San Diego. She used to fight a lot with her stepdad and mom, and she was fed up with our town, our high school…” I hesitated. “Probably… fed up with me too,” I added with a sigh.

I said it without thinking, but it’s something that’s been gnawing at me for a while, like one of those damn intrusive thoughts.

“Why do you think that?” she pressed.

“I mean, a boyfriend who’s studying most of the time and can’t even go to parties on weekends because he’s working nights isn’t exactly the most fun or exciting guy in the world, right?”

“I see… And she left on her own?”

“Yeah… It all started when her grandma passed away. That hit her hard. I tried to be there for her, but she kinda pushed me away, so I gave her space, thinking she just needed time to grieve and would come back to me when she was ready. But one day, she told me she’d decided to use some inheritance money from her grandma to leave…”

“Just like that?”

“Kinda. We’d talked a few times about moving to California, Florida, or somewhere with beaches and good weather. I could go to college there, and she’d find a job… But it was just talk, never a real plan. Then suddenly, she was saying she was doing it, right then, without even finishing high school. She asked me to go with her…”

I was finding it hard to keep going. The memory still stung. But Isabella was looking at me with such genuine empathy, I kept talking.

“…but I’m pretty sure she knew I wasn’t going to leave my dad, my studies, or my job to follow her. Living at the beach and surfing was her dream, not mine. Mine was getting a scholarship and going to college. What she was really saying was… goodbye.”

“Did it hit you hard?” she asked gently.

“Yeah… When she told me she was leaving, I thought she’d get cold feet and stay. Even when I was walking her to the train station, I figured she wouldn’t actually get on that train. But she did. Right after, she started sending me funny texts about the other passengers, stuff she saw out the train window, what she was hoping to find in San Diego… Meanwhile, I was still sitting on a bench at the station, trying to wrap my head around what had just happened.

“For starters… were we even really a couple? We never talked about that stuff. Never made it… official, I guess. Zoey hated talking about feelings, emotions, all that… so I never really told her how I felt. It would’ve been an awkward conversation, and all I’d probably get was her saying, ‘Miller, you’re such a sissy,’ and slugging me in the shoulder.

“So, instead, I tried to show her how much I cared through actions… And we spent all the time we could together, we had… uh… intimacy… and… sometimes, just sometimes, Zoey could be really sweet. She’d give me one of those looks, or a smile, for reasons only she knew, or kiss me just because she felt like it… Those little things made me think she felt the same way about me as I did about her… But I guess not, or she wouldn’t have left me behind…”

“That happens…” she said softly, a trace of sadness in her voice, like she knew what I was talking about, though it didn’t feel right to ask.

“Yeah, it does…”

“Did you two lose touch?”

“Yeah… We didn’t fight or anything, We just… kind of drifted. On her end… I guess California had too many new things, too many new people, for her to think about me. And on my end… I tried to keep in touch, but honestly, I was pissed she left, and… pretty tired of pretending every time we talked that I was happy she’d built a life without me on the other side of the country. Last I heard from her was last spring, through some pics she posted on Rooster. She was at the beach, doing some kind of… sexy photoshoot or whatever for someone. From the comments, I gathered she’s with a guy now.”

“It still gets you,” she observed.

“Nah… I’ve moved on. I barely think about her, and I don’t miss her anymore,” I said, though even to me it sounded like I was trying to convince myself. “Okay… I don’t miss her as much as I used to,” I added, being more honest. “But it still stings. Thinking about it makes me feel… stupid. For getting so hung up on a girl who didn’t feel the same, for not seeing it coming… And it makes me sad, too, because I lost my best friend since I was twelve… And that’s it. You’ve got my whole life story tonight. Guess you caught me in a sentimental mood.”

She held my gaze for a few seconds, like she was weighing me. Maybe trying to decide if everything I’d told her was true or if I’d fed her a line.

“That was… revealing,” she said at last. “How are you feeling?”

“Surprisingly okay. Guess the painkillers are working. And you can relax—I don’t have a concussion. Going to the hospital was stubbornness, Isabella.”

“The stubbornness was refusing to go. You can’t take chances with head injuries,” she countered.

“Guess we’re both stubborn,” I said with a grin.

“Looks like it. Well then, Mr. Stubborn, it’s late. Time to sleep,” she said, getting up. “I hope you don’t mind the couch. it’s all I can offer.”

“I’m sure I’ll sleep just fine here, thanks,” I told her.

She left and came back a moment later with sheets and a pillow.

“Good night,” she said, turning to leave.

“Isabella…” I called.

“What is it?” she asked, glancing back from the doorway.

“Thanks for everything. Really. You’ve been amazing to me,” I said.

She looked at me for a few seconds—really looked—and then said: “You can call me Bella.”

And just before she left, she gave me what I think was the first genuine smile I’d seen from her since we met.

And it was gorgeous.

Chapter Text

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2012

Bella’s couch is pretty comfortable, and with all the exhaustion and stress piled up, I crashed right away last night and didn’t wake up until my phone alarm went off at seven-thirty.

I hit the shower in the bathroom Bella pointed out last night, and afterward, standing naked in front of the mirror, I took stock of the damage. First off, I’ve got a nasty bruise on my side from that gorilla’s tackle, plus a few more on my arms where I blocked his punches. And, of course, the lump on my head’s still throbbing. Between last night’s bruises and the ones from Sunday, I look like a freaking leopard without my shirt. At least the swelling on my lip’s gone down a lot.

I got dressed and headed to the kitchen, where Bella was already brewing coffee.

“Good morning, Bella,” I greeted, her. Felt kinda nice to use the affectionate name.

“Good morning. How’re you feeling?”

I shrugged. “I’m good.”

“You sure?” she asked, grabbing my wrist to lift my arm and pointing at a big bruise on the outside of my bicep.

“Well, I’ve got some bruises here and there, and a lump, but it’s no big deal.”

“You need a painkiller?” she asked, sounding concerned.

“I need a cup of that coffee you’re making. That’d hit the spot.”

“Did you sleep okay? Was the couch alright?” she pressed.

“Slept like a rock and the couch is great, thanks,” I assured her. “But I can’t function like a human being in the morning ‘til I’ve had my first coffee.”

“You’re not the only one…” she muttered, glancing at the coffeemaker like she could hurry it up with her eyes. “But really—are you sure you’re okay? Nothing hurts?”

“Yeah, Bella, I’m fine, I’m fine…” I said, dragging out the words with a tired tone.

She shot me one of her intense, probing looks, like she was trying to read my mind.

“Take off your shirt,” she said finally. “I want to see those bruises.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m starting to know you. You’d say ‘I’m fine’ even if you had a broken bone. Come on,” she urged.

“How do I know this isn’t some sneaky excuse to get me shirtless?” I teased, flashing a cheeky grin.

She let out a huff. “You’re not the first boy I’ve seen shirtless.”

“Yeah, but you haven’t seen me. Some girls have been… impressed,” I kept up the joke.

“Impressed? You got three nipples or something?” she fired back in her trademark sardonic style.

“Not that kind of impressed!”

“Well, I’ll take my chances. Let’s see it. Or are you shy?”

“Shy? Nah, I’ve stripped down in front of girls before,” I said, and peeled off my shirt as she asked.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed, eyes widening at the bruise on my side.

“Well, looks like you are impressed…” I tried to keep the joke going.

“I’d almost prefer the three nipples…” she muttered. “Jack, that must hurt…” she said, pressing her fingers gently on the bruise.

I flinched. “Ow! Yeah, it hurts when you poke it! But seriously, it’s not a big deal, it’ll fade in a few days…”

“You want me to take you back to the doctor?”

“Bella, he’s not gonna tell me anything different from last night. No broken ribs, nothing serious, just bruises and a lump. They’ll be gone in less than a week,” I said, pulling my shirt back on.

“This is unacceptable,” she said under her breath, her voice tight with indignation.

“So… how about that coffee? Looks like it’s ready,” I said, switching gears and nodding at the coffeemaker.

She gave me a stern look, sighed, shook her head, and poured two cups. She made hers with a splash of skim milk and no sugar, same way I take it at home. I asked her to fix mine the same.

“Hey, Bella… some of the stuff I told you last night is pretty personal,” I said as we sipped our morning coffee. “You were so cool with me that when you started asking questions, I couldn’t say no… Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind sharing, but you’ll keep it to yourself, right? I’d rather you didn’t tell Jill or anyone else, okay?”

“Of course. And thanks for trusting me,” she replied. “Alright, I’ll start breakfast.”

“Want me to handle it?” I offered.

“What can you make?”

“How about something special? Crêpes?” I said, hoping to show off my cooking skills.

“Too many calories,” she replied, dryly.

“Come on! You’re obviously in great shape. You don’t need to count calories all the time,” I pressed.

She gave me a skeptical look. “You actually know how to make them?”

“I do, and they’re pretty good. I used to make them for Zoey when she came over. It’s actually a really easy recipe. And quick. You got a non-stick pan?”

She gave in eventually, and with her help, I whipped up the crêpes in a few minutes. Guess she liked them—she ate three with banana slices and a drizzle of honey. Like last night, she put on a playlist of ‘90s tracks while we ate.

After breakfast, she mentioned she didn’t have to head to work until later and pointed me to the nearest bus stop. Bella’s place is actually pretty close to campus, so I made it with plenty of time for my first class, though not enough to swing by Maya’s room to change clothes.

***

Friday mornings start with Introduction to Engineering, basically a mash-up of math and physics. The professor, William Spencer, made a decent first impression. He doesn’t hammer us with formula after formula like Mattis does—at least he gives us time to take notes.

Next up was Intermediate Spanish. Technically, It’s a sophomore-level course—anyone who didn’t take Spanish in high school has to go through Basic Spanish first—so the classroom’s on the second floor, deep in the Labyrinth.

Cammy was already there and had saved me a seat. She wasted no time teasing me about my “date” with Mona.

“Did you get any of those Alphas to buy you lunch?” I asked.

“Nah, they’re total jerks. One even said I should be buying him lunch,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“And you didn’t? Bad move,” I said, catching her surprised look. “You should’ve gotten each of those chimps a banana.”

She cracked up. “Wey, I wish I’d thought of that.”

“Hah, yeah. Actually, you should’ve just come to lunch with us.”

“You didn’t ask me…” she said, she said with a playful pout.

“I would’ve if I’d known you had that assignment too. I thought Sage only gave it to Mona.”

“When we’re HOTs and you’re a DIK, the three of us should go celebrate at that Italian place,” she suggested.

“Solid plan. I’m in.”

She mentioned that, like Mona guessed, she got a Beta to cover her lunch while paying for his own.

Then the professor walked in: Cathy Jones. Turns out she’s got degrees in both English and Spanish. I was really glad to see her, because so far, she seems like a good teacher. And, to be totally honest… after our little sexy chat on Swiper the other day, seeing her gave me a whole different kind of thrill.

For the first hour, she gave an overview of the course and went around to each desk, chatting a few sentences in Spanish with each student (there’s only eighteen of us), probably to gauge the class’s level.

( *) “Buenos días, Jack. ¿Cómo estás?” she greeted me.

“Estoy muy bien. Gracias. ¿Cómo está usted, Cathy?” I replied.

“Muy bien, gracias. ¿Estudiaste español en el instituto?”

“Sí, y también en el colegio.”

“Muy bien. ¿Qué esperas de esta asignatura?”

“Espero ser bilingual en el futuro. Por eso voy a seguir estudiando español en el próximo curso.”

“En español no se dice ‘bilingual’.”

“Uh… Bilingüe,” I corrected myself. “Esa palabra es un amigo falso.”

“Bien. Tu pronunciación es buena.”

“Gracias. Sé que mi acento no es bueno, pero voy a trabajar en eso para ser mejor.”

“Está bien, pero, ¿podrías repetir la última frase de otra manera más correcta?”

“Uh… Sé que mi acento no es bueno, pero voy a trabajar en eso para… que sea mejor.”

“Muy bien. También podrías haber dicho ‘voy a trabajar para mejorarlo.’”

“Quizá mi amiga Camilla me ayudará a mejorar mi acento. Su acento es mucho mejor que el mío.”

“¿Por qué no se lo preguntas?”

“Cammy, ¿me ayudarás a mejorar mi acento en español, por favor?”

“Claro que sí,” Cammy replied.

“Muchas gracias, eres muy amable.”

“Muy bien. Jack, no te marches cuando termine la clase porque necesito hablar contigo. ¿Me has comprendido?” she said, catching me off guard.

“Oh… ¿Es por una cosa importante?”

“Sí, es importante, pero no te preocupes, porque no es algo malo.”

“De acuerdo, me quedaré.”

“Bien.”

After that, she moved on to the other students.

The class was pretty engaging, and sure enough, when we paired up for conversation practice, Cammy helped me with my pronunciation and accent.

After class, I stayed back to talk to Cathy like she asked.

“Jack, Isabella Roberts called me this morning about what happened with Chad,” she said. “We’ve set up a disciplinary meeting. It’s scheduled for one-fifteen in the dean’s office.”

I was surprised… and, yeah, kinda pissed. “I told Isabella I’d rather not get the administration involved…” I muttered.

“Jack, what Isabella told me is very serious. Of course the administration has to intervene,” she said firmly. “Don’t worry, you’ll get the chance to explain everything, and Isabella and I will be there too,” she added, probably noticing I wasn’t exactly thrilled.

I told her I’d be there—what else could I do?—asked her how to get to the dean’s office, and left.

Turns out Cammy had waited for me at the classroom door, so I walked her to the hall, filling her in on Chad’s attack and the disciplinary meeting. Didn’t see any reason to keep it a secret.

***

When I said goodbye to Cammy, it was still a bit early for the meeting, though I didn’t have enough time to grab lunch at the cafeteria. I snagged a ham and cheese sandwich and a juice from the vending machines, and that was my meal. Once I was done, I headed to the top brass floor of the Labyrinth, where the dean’s office is.

The dean’s secretary told me to wait until they called me in. I’d been there a couple of minutes when Jill showed up.

“Jill! You’re here too?” I blurted, surprised.

“Hi, Jack. Yes, Isabella asked me to come and talk about what I saw those Alphas do to you on Sunday.”

“I told Isabella I’d rather not get the administration involved, and now she’s dragged you into it too…” I muttered, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Jack, Isabella called this disciplinary meeting for your own good. You can’t allow—”

She cut off mid-sentence because right then, Chad walked in, sporting a black eye—hopefully matching his buddy Dawe’s. He didn’t say a word, but shot daggers at both of us.

The dean’s secretary told him to wait as well, so there we were: the three of us, awkwardly silent and radiating tension.

Luckily, the awkward standoff didn’t last long. They called Jill and me into the office fairly quickly. Besides the dean, Bella, Cathy, Dr. Jade from Gender Studies, and a man I didn’t know—who turned out to be the head football coach—were there.

Jill and I sat in the chairs they indicated, and the meeting began.

“First of all, I want to clarify that this is an informal hearing, a preliminary mediation,” the dean began, addressing everyone. “If we cannot reach a resolution, a formal meeting of the disciplinary committee will be scheduled.” Then he turned to me. “You are Jacques Miller, correct?”

“Call me Jack, please. I prefer it,” I replied.

“Very well. I am Dean Stephen Burke,” he introduced himself. Burke… like Jade Burke? I wondered. “It has been brought to my attention that you have recently been the victim of harassment and physical assault by another student, Chad Kazinsky. Is that correct?”

“You could say that…” I answered, feeling a bit uneasy.

“Good. Let us proceed in chronological order. Tell us your version of what happened last Sunday in the cafeteria,” he said, consulting his notes.

“Alright…” I began, trying to gather my thoughts. “I was eating lunch when a girl sat down at my table across from me. A moment later, this guy Chad, who I didn’t know, showed up, grabbed the girl’s arm to force her to her feet, then started yelling and shaking her. She demanded him to let her go and leave her alone, but he just kept trying to drag her out of the cafeteria practically by force. Since I was the closest, I thought I had to do something. So, I stood up and told him to let her go. He did, but then he confronted me, and we had a… confrontation, until Professor Jones intervened.”

“Confrontation? What that exactly means?” the dean asked.

“Just words… well, and a shove,” I admitted.

“Alright. Please continue.”

“When the professor arrived, he left. Later I found out he and the girl are dating, but still… I don’t think that gives him the right to treat her that way, especially in public. That’s about it,” I explained, maybe a little flustered.

“Cathy, you may go ahead,” the dean said, giving her the floor.

“I was eating lunch when I heard a commotion across the cafeteria, so I went to see what was happening,” she explained. “Jack and Chad were arguing, and Sage was there too. I stopped the argument, and Sage told Chad to leave before things got worse. I asked her what was going on, and she said it was a fight with her boyfriend. I offered to help, but she said it was a personal matter and that she could handle it on her own…”

“Typical…” I heard Jade mutter.

“As for Jack, he told me essentially the same thing he just explained, that he was trying to help the girl, although… he didn’t give me the full details of what had happened,” Cathy added, with a hint of reproach, shooting me a quick sidelong glance. “I thought the matter would end there, and I didn’t take action. That was probably a mistake,” she admitted.

“Alright… It seems there was another incident on campus that same afternoon,” the dean said, glancing at his notes again. “Tell us your side,” he prompted me.

“I finished lunch and headed to the freshman welcome ceremony, but on the way, Chad and a few other Alphas attacked me.”

“How do you know they were Alphas?” the dean asked.

“They were all wearing frat jackets,” I answered.

He nodded for me to continue.

“One of them grabbed me from behind, and the others started hitting me. I think there were four of them. Luckily, Jill was passing by and started yelling for help and calling security. That made those guys let me go and take off before the guard showed up.”

The dean jotted down some notes and gave Jill the floor.

“I was heading to the junior ceremony, when I saw what Jack described: those Alphas had him surrounded, beating him up,” Jill said. “Like he mentioned, I shouted for help, and they took off, but not before I heard one of them say, ‘We’ll get him later.’ Afterward…” She hesitated, her voice wavering. “I told Jack he should report it, but he said… it might just make things worse.”

“Why didn’t you report it?” the dean asked me.

“I figured maybe the Alphas would be done with me after that and move on,” I replied. “It was my first day, and… I didn’t want any trouble.”

“I see…” The dean glanced at his notes. “I’ve also heard about a theft in the dorms… a guitar. Tell us what happened.”

“That was later that same day,” I explained. “I went to sign up at the campus gym, and Chad and some Alphas saw me there. When I got back to my room, my guitar was gone. That guitar… I won’t go into details, but it’s a family keepsake, means a lot to me.”

“Why do you think Tri-Alphas stole it?” he asked.

“My roommate told me. He was there when it happened, though… he didn’t stop them. He must know them, since I hear he used to be in that fraternity before they kicked him out. I guess those Alphas somehow found out my room number, and when they saw me at the gym, knowing I’d be tied up for a bit, planned the theft.”

“Why didn’t you report that either?” he asked, his tone sharper now.

“I tried, but it was late, and I couldn’t find the security guard,” I explained “Anyway, it didn’t matter because I got the guitar back the next day. Chad gave it to his girlfriend, obviously not telling her it was stolen. That girl and I stayed in touch after what happened the first day, and when she knew the guitar was mine, she returned it.”

“I see… Anything else?” the dean asked.

“Jack, tell them about the split lip,” Bella said.

“Uh… That was yesterday afternoon,” I said. “I ran into one of the Alphas, this guy Dawe, in the gym hallway. No one else was around, so he punched me and split my lip.”

“Dawe claims you were trying to steal from the team’s locker room, and when he caught you, you attacked him,” the coach said, eyeing me sternly, like I was the one on trial. “In fact, you gave him a black eye,” he added.

Suddenly, I wasn’t nervous anymore—I was angry, though I managed to keep my cool.

“That’s a lie. I’m new at the gym and I went down the hall just to see what was at the end; it turned out to be the team locker rooms,” I explained, twisting the truth a little. “When I saw that, I turned and left, but this Dawe accused me of being a thief even though it was obvious I hadn’t stolen anything, and he attacked me. I only defended myself. Then more Alphas showed up and I had to run so it wouldn’t turn into what happened on Sunday—them ganging up on me like the cowards they are.”

“Like I said, Dawe tells a different story,” the coach insisted.

“Dawe’s lying,” I shot back, holding his gaze.

“If this is just one person’s word against another’s, we’re not going to get very far on that point,” the dean cut in. “Let’s move on. What happened last night?” he asked.

“I was at the library until closing,” I explained. “Isabella… uh… did me a favor the other day, so I offered to help her shelve books from the carts. That’s why I stayed a few minutes after the other students left. When we were done, we headed out together, but I stepped outside first while she locked the door and set the alarm. Then Chad appeared out of nowhere and tried to punch me without saying a word. I dodged, but he nearly knocked me to the floor. He kept trying to hit me, yelling insults and threats… Honestly, he seemed unhinged.”

“That’s right,” Bella confirmed.

“I have some self-defense training, so I defended myself the best I could. These bruises,” I said, holding out my arms, “are from his punches. Then Isabella showed up and stopped the fight with pepper spray. But before he took off, Chad tackled me like in football, slammed me to the ground, and I hit my side and head. Isabella thought I might have a concussion and took me to the ER. Luckily, it was just a lump and some bruises. That’s the story,” I finished.

“Isabella?” the dean prompted, giving her the floor.

“Jack’s summary is accurate,” she said. “I was locking up the library when I heard Jack yell, so I ran out and found Chad screaming insults and threats, and trying to hit him like he’d lost his mind. I remembered I had pepper spray in my purse and used it on Chad, who was clearly the aggressor. Indeed, before fleeing he pushed Jack, who then hit his head hard. I didn’t want to take chances and drove him to the ER. I have a medical report of his injuries that I can submit to the hearing.”

“Good grief! This is very serious,” Jade exclaimed. “It’s a clear pattern of ongoing harassment and assault. Stephen, we can’t go easy on this,” she urged the dean.

“We should keep in mind that we’re not talking about just any student,” the coach interjected. “Chad’s on an athletic scholarship and our star receiver. We’re counting on him this season.”

“Jack’s a gifted student with an academic scholarship!” Cathy snapped back. “It’s painful to see such a promising student being the target of bullying. It reminds me of things I went through myself. I agree—severe action is needed.”

“And in any case, we should focus on the facts, not at who the students are,” Jade added.

“Coach, I agree, we can’t take this lightly,” Dean Burke said.

“I’m just saying, it doesn’t seem that serious to me,” the coach countered. “Every year, there’s some hazing the first few weeks. It’s just boys being boys!”