by Cathryn Fox
I wasn’t a fan of all the attention. I’m not one to flaunt or showboat around and as far as Maize goes, after the incident, she mostly kept to herself or hung out with Kaitlyn. I found out later she was a scholarship student. Maybe she had to focus on her running and classwork and didn’t have time for parties. That doesn’t change the fact that she was one of the mean girls—girls who never had anything to do with me until I was a baller. Of course, Chelsea Haverstock was a mean girl too and that didn’t stop me from sleeping with her in my senior year of high school.
“She looks different,” Linc says.
He’s right. She does look different. She was a cute sixteen-year-old, now she’s a tall, gorgeous college senior who excels in track. Impressive really, and now I might have taken it all away from her. Just because I don’t like her doesn’t mean I want bad things for her.
“Fuck,” I say again. I’m responsible for the accident and I need to at least see what I can do to help. “Listen, I’m going to go to the hospital.”
“I’ll come with you,” Linc says.
Steph slides her arm around Linc. “Me too.”
“Hey, what’s going on?” I glance up to see Kaitlyn coming toward me. Her ponytail bounces as she picks up her pace. “I was out front when I heard the ambulance. Who’s hurt?” She glances around the track, and her face pales as worry moves into her eyes. “Wait, shit. Where’s Maize?”
I jerk my thumb over my shoulder, to the street. “She, uh…”
“Oh my God, is Maize hurt?” she asks, her voice rising, bordering on hysteria as her gaze goes from me to Linc, to Steph, back to me again.
“It’s her ankle. I think it might be broken.”
“Holy shit.” She starts toward the street.
“Where are you going?” I call out.
“To the hospital. Where do you think I’m going?”
“I’m going too. Come on. I’ll drive you.”
She keeps walking, and I guess if Maize hates me, her best friend does too. “It’s too far to walk. Come on, Kaitlyn, I’ll drive.”
She slows and spins, her jaw tight. I don’t miss the way Steph has her head lowered, like she’s looking down her nose at Kaitlyn, because she’s not dressed in the latest, most fashionable yoga clothes from that ridiculously overpriced store.
She yells out, “Fine.”
“Meet me in the lot,” I say and hand my keys to Steph. She takes them and doesn’t even acknowledge Kaitlyn as she stalks off, not bothering to wait or make conversation. She could at least show concern for Kaitlyn’s best friend.
I nod to Linc and we head to the locker rooms to change. A few minutes later, I’m behind the wheel of my Jeep, Kaitlyn beside me and Linc and Steph in the back as I maneuver through the campus and hit the street. Ten minutes later, I’m at the hospital and squeeze my Jeep between two cars. Linc pulls up his parking app to pay, as Kaitlyn and I both hurry inside.
Kaitlyn scans the waiting room. “They must have taken her in already.”
“I’ll go find out.” I walk up to the nurse’s station, and a pretty little blonde behind the counter offers me a big smile.
“Hi there.” She smiles, and Kaitlyn snorts behind me.
“Seriously,” she murmurs.
Ignoring her, because I am not flirting like she thinks, I ask about Maize and find out that she’s been rushed to surgery. I thank the nurse and plop down into a chair next to Kaitlyn.
She turns to me, her face tight. “What the hell happened anyway?”
My stomach twists as I toss my car keys to Linc. “No sense in you both hanging out here. I’ll give you a call when I know more and you can come get us then.”
Linc catches the keys and nods, and I bend forward to brace my elbows on my knees.
“Are you going to answer me?” Before I can get a word out she continues. “It obviously has something to do with you, considering you’re sitting here.”
“It was an accident.”
She snorts. “Oh, just like you pulling down your pants. Was that an accident too, Christian?” What the fuck is she talking about? I don’t get the chance to ask before she blurts out, “Okay, tell me everything. Exactly what happened.”
I let her earlier comment go, and exhale. “Kyle missed the ball, and it hit her. She went flying and landed hard.” I steal a quick glance at Kaitlyn to find her shaking her head, and I can almost hear the wheels spinning.
“Fuck,” she murmurs. “This is bad, so bad.”
“Yeah, my sentiments exactly.” I glance at Kaitlyn’s ponytail, the glow on her cheeks, like she’d just been running herself. “What does this mean for her? You know, for track.” I have no idea if she’s a scholarship student here or not, but I can only assume she is, based on the fact that she told me I’ve probably ruined her future. I didn’t want to come right out and ask, and make her feel, less, somehow.
Instead of answering, Kaitlyn pushes from the chair, and shoves her hands into her pockets, but her non-answer says it all. Shit. Kaitlyn paces for a few seconds and heads to the coffee machine. Coins plink as she drops them into the slot, followed by gurgling sounds. She surprises me by coming back with two paper cups.
“Thanks.”
She doesn’t respond. Instead, she sits down and loudly sips, like she’s purposely trying to annoy me, but I’m already upset with myself as it is. I toss up a silent prayer, and tell myself that it’s nothing serious and that after minor surgery she’ll be back on her feet in no time. My gut however, doesn’t quite believe it.
“Should we call her parents or something?” I ask.
“No.”
I shift on the hard plastic chair, as more people enter and fill the seats. “Don’t you think they should know?”
“No.” Kaitlyn pulls her phone out and starts texting.
“Her parents should know. I mean she might want a family member here for when she gets out of surgery, and their insurance—”
“No.”
I let loose a frustrated sigh and tug on my hair. “Can you say something other than no?”
“Yes.”
“So you can, you just won’t to me.”
She gives me a humorless grin. I shake my head and I flick the plastic lid on the coffee as I push to my feet. My phone pings, and I pull it from my pocket. I read a message from Tamara, telling me there’s a fun new band at the pub this weekend. That will get me out of Wolf House for the night, and I always try to be out of the frat house when the monthly ‘ceremony’ takes place. I shake my head. Jesus Christ. It’s fucking crazy. My father is a goddamn Supreme Court judge, and what’s taking place in the basement of Wolf House is fucking corrupt. Sure, it’s a secret society, and we’ve all taken a vow of silence, but I don’t want anything to do with it. Just like I didn’t want anything to do with the hazing when I arrived. I am not going to ‘bag’ any virgins, for Christ’s sake. I’d like to think I’m above that kind of disgusting misogyny. Women are not sex objects, put on this earth for my pleasure.
While I believe that, and respect women, it doesn’t mean I want or am ready for a committed relationship. If my parents’ marriage was anything to go by—she trapped him by getting pregnant with me—I’d steer clear of women altogether. But hey, I’m a red-blooded male. So, while I’m all about the sex, women know I have nothing more to offer.
I stop pacing. Maybe…this weekend, the ‘ceremony’ that takes place in our basement might just be the way to make up for taking Maize to the ground. Then again…I’m not sure it’s something she’d ever do.
I spend the next little bit checking social media, and pacing. I head outside for a breath of fresh air, and the cute nurse eventually follows me out. She puts her hand on me and turns me her way.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
I narrow my eyes. Shit, did I sleep with her at some frat party and forget? “Sorry, no.”
“I’m Fiona Witherspoon.” She gives a little laugh. “I was a senior at Sweetwater when you moved to town.” She ni
bbles her bottom lip in that flirty way women do. “I was there at Chelsea’s party the night you sort of lost your pants.”
“Yeah, great night.”
She chuckles and nudges me playfully. “It was just a prank, put the new kids in the closet, and have some fun.”
“It really wasn’t fun.” I narrow my eyes and inch back. “Was it fun for you?”
She waves her hand. “Actually yeah, it was a good laugh.” I just stare at her and she shifts a bit uncomfortable under my scrutiny. Bullying is anything but funny. “It was harmless.”
“I’m not sure I would agree with you.”
“Come on. You got over it, big time, and Maize was a big nerd at our school on scholarship.” She blows out a breathy sigh. “Did she really think she could be one of us?” A tsking sound is followed by a hard eye roll, and everything inside me tightens.
“One of us?”
“You know.” She puts her hand on my chest. “One of us.” Her voice is flirty, playful as she touches me. “People like you and me.”
I shake my head as the pieces fall into place. “Oh, one of the popular kids, you mean?”
“Yeah, you know. Cool and popular and not on a sports scholarship. She should have stayed on her side of town.”
“Okay, let me get this straight. You guys were out to prank both of us?”
“Yeah, but then…” Her gaze moves down my body, and her fingers follow, stopping when they reach my pants. “This happened, and then you fit in quite nicely, didn’t you? No hard feelings?”
One of her hands goes to her hair, and in a flirty gesture she curls a strand around her finger. I jerk back, away from her touch. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back inside to check on my friend.”
“But—”
I don’t want to hear what she says. I go through the doors as they open, my stomach tight at what I just heard. I honestly had no idea the prank was on Maize, too. Did they tell her to pull my pants down? Then make fun of her for doing it? She did stop hanging with those girls, because they turned her reputation to shit. She never seemed like she was an easy lay, as the guys used to say. In the hallway one day, I heard someone call out ‘corn on the cob’ when she passed, and I’d have to be an idiot not to get it—although I’m beginning to believe a lot of things went over my head in high school. But her name is Maize, which in French is loosely related to corn, and a guy’s dick obviously represents the cob.
Those rumors must have evolved from that incident. Something the mean girls started to put her in her place, show her she didn’t belong. Did she think I was in on it? Holy fuck, she must have, but had I known what was really going on, that she’d been set up too, I would have beat the crap out of everyone responsible—although most of them were the mean girls.
I drop down into the uncomfortable chair and Kaitlyn stares at me like I might have something on my face. Other than regret and worry, I’m pretty sure I’m clean. I swipe at my nose anyway.
“Christian?”
I stiffen, and brace myself because she looks like she has something very important on her mind. I lower my voice to match hers. “Yeah?”
“What goes on in the basement of Wolf House?”
3
Maize
I slowly open one eye, and then the other, and when my bedroom walls come into view, and reality comes racing back, I groan and roll over, the stupid boot on my foot a heavy reminder that I might never run again. It’s been five days since they did the ankle surgery, and for five days I’ve been lying here trying to figure out how to pay for it, along with my next term’s tuition. I run my tongue over my front tooth. It’s been a bit wiggly since I fell. Maybe the tooth fairy would give me a large sum if I tucked it under my pillow. I mean, an adult front tooth must be worth something, right?
God, what am I even saying? I must still be concussed, because I’m clearly not thinking straight. The tooth fairy only collects kids’ teeth. Sheesh. I laugh, almost manically at that last thought. My phone pings, and I sober as I reach for it. I put on my best happy voice when I see it’s my mom calling. Then I wonder why she’s calling at ten in the morning on a Saturday. I slide my finger across the phone, digging deep for my chirpy voice.
“Hey Mom, what’s up?”
“What do you mean what’s up? Can’t a mother check in on her daughter?”
Okay, it’s true. I haven’t called or texted and that’s not like me. It’s just, well, I worried that if I heard her voice I’d burst into tears, and have to confess that I’m going to lose my scholarship. Mom is a nurse’s assistant and can’t afford to help me, even though I know she’d go without heat and food to try. But still, I’m an adult, and I need to find my own way out of this mess.
“Sorry. Just crazy busy with the upcoming meet,” I say, and cringe as the lie spills from my lips. I hate to lie to my mother but under the circumstances, I have no choice.
“I thought that was today,” she says, as dishes clang in the background and her tea kettle sings.
“Oh, yeah, no. I made a mistake. It’s next week.” I’m glad I don’t have pants on, because yeah, they’d be on fire.
“That’s not like you. Making a mistake on your meets.”
“Fourth year, applying for grad schools.” I have the grades to get into Harvard Law, I just won’t have the funds if I can’t get a scholarship, and with this broken ankle… “I have a lot on my mind.” Time to change the subject. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Maybe I can drive up tomorrow, we can grab lunch—”
“No,” I bark out quickly, too quickly judging by the way she just fell silent. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m just crazy busy. I’ll see you at Thanksgiving, okay?” Hopefully in two months, my ankle will be better, and I can get back to running. If not… Nope, not going to go there.
“I have a study group, so I have to go.” Pretty much the first thing I said that was true.
“Okay, love. You have a great day. I’m looking forward to seeing you for Thanksgiving.” A pause and then, “Will you be bringing anyone with you?”
I shake my head and silently laugh. “No. You know I don’t have time for guys right now.” I don’t have the time, patience, or trust needed for a boyfriend. I’ve seen the way the guys here go from one bed to the next. My own father cheated on Mom right after I was born, then he screwed off, never to be heard from again. So no, I’m not about to put my heart in any man’s hands only for him to crush it. “All my focus goes into my work.”
She makes a tsking sound. “All work and no play—”
“Is what’s going to get me into Harvard,” I say, cutting her off. Mom knows my plans, and I get that she wants me to enjoy college and come out well-rounded. She wants better for me than she had, and I don’t want to disappoint her, but I will not be bringing any guy home. I’ll be bringing good grades home instead.
She laughs, and it mingles with the sound of her spoon in her teacup. I smile, missing my tea and honey moments at home. “Okay, love. If you change your mind.”
I end the call, push from the bed, and about to head to the hall bathroom when a knock comes on my bedroom door. “Maize, you up?”
“Yeah, come in.”
The door pushes open and in walks Kaitlyn. I instantly notice the tightness in her shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” I steal a glance at the clock. “Shouldn’t you be at the meet?”
“I just finished warming up. Headed back in a second. I wanted to talk to you.”
I shift on the bed, to make room for her. “What’s up?” I ask, my stomach tight. She’s going to deliver bad news. I just know it.
“I was talking to Coach today. She uh…she’s going to replace you. Janice is going to take your spot.”
I grip the sheets and squeeze. Of course, she’s going to replace me. I never thought for a moment she wouldn’t, but it stings nonetheless. “Janice will do great.”
She glances at my boot. “I’m worried about your tuition.”
“Me too.”<
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“There’s a way…” Her voice falls off and my gaze jerks to hers, and from the way her eyes are wide, her head dipped a little, I’m not sure I want to hear what it is she’s about to say.
“What?”
She picks at an imaginary piece of lint on my bed. “Remember those whispers we used to hear, you know about the secret society some of the athletes and scholars belong to, you know the Wolf Pack, at Wolf House?”
“First that’s a stupid name and second it can’t be true, Kaitlyn. Men can’t buy and own women, it’s the twenty-first century, and illegal.” She slides her hand behind her back, and produces a card. I eye it carefully. “What’s that.”
“It’s an invitation.” She pushes it toward me. “It’s for you, and only you. You have to turn it in tonight.”
I take the card from her, and all it says is a time and a place, and that time is nine tonight. “What am I looking at?”
“In the basement of Wolf House. It’s an auction of sorts. You’ll belong to the highest bidder.”
Forgetting all about my foot, I jump up, hardly able to believe what I’m hearing. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was, but…”
My heart crashes in my chest as my brain races to catch up. The Wolf Pack at Wolf House is real? “Where did you get this?”
She hesitates for a brief second. “I can’t tell you.”
“Kaitlyn,” I warn.
She stands and puts her hands on my arms. “Just trust me on this.” She takes the card and holds it up. “This…right here…is your ticket to Harvard, Maize. You might never run again, but as long as you can stay at Kingston and keep your grades up, you’ll get that scholarship to Harvard. This will help you afford it.”
I glare at her, unable to wrap my brain around this. “How long have you known about this?”
“A little bit now, why?”
“Why are you just telling me now?” I practically shriek.
She exhales and makes a groaning sound. “I was hoping you’d miraculously recover, and two, I wanted to wait until the last minute so you couldn’t overthink it.”