Aric looked surprised. “You were with him last year?”
I knew what Aric was thinking – and I was irritated. “We weren’t exclusive. When he went away to school we figured it would be easier to have an open relationship.” I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to defend Will to him.
“You don’t strike me as an open relationship type of girl.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know more than you think.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Aric shrugged and finally backed up to let me get some air. I felt relief -- and a weird sense of loss at the same time. What the hell is wrong with me?
“I don’t know you very well, you’re right,” Aric said. “I do know one thing, though.”
“And what’s that?”
“You need to be careful.”
“What do you mean? You’re the third person to tell me that in the past two days and I’m a little sick of hearing it.”
Aric looked surprised. “Who else told you that? Will?”
I hadn’t talked to Will in days, but I didn’t want to give Aric any information he could use over me. “No, not Will.”
“Who then?”
“No one.”
Aric grimaced when he realized I wasn’t going to tell him what he wanted to know. “Just be careful.”
Aric then turned his back with what looked like a clear purpose. I didn’t know what that purpose was, but all the men in my life – whether I wanted them to be in my life or not – were acting extremely weird lately -- and I was sick of it.
Twenty-Three
After leaving the UC, I headed back toward the dorms. I was a little irritated that Paris had stood me up – but I figured she had a good reason. It wasn’t like her to just forget me or maybe that was my ego talking.
When I got to the room, Paris was sitting on the couch watching General Hospital.
“Where were you?”
Paris looked confused.
“Coffee?”
“Oh, God, I forgot. I’m sorry.” So much for being unforgettable.
I didn’t have the energy to even feign indignant anger. “It’s fine.”
I sat down on the couch and watched the rest of the soap with Paris. After that we decided to go to an early dinner.
“I have a lot of homework to do tonight,” she explained.
I didn’t, but I was hungry. We made our way down to the cafeteria. I was happy that it was potato bar night. It’s the little things that calm you sometimes. As a food lover, there was nothing that bacon and cheese couldn’t fix, especially when it was dumped on top of a hot baked potato.
We sat with a few guys from our floor – including Rick No. 1. He greeted us warmly. We kept the conversation light. That was a good thing since my mind was so busy.
“I’m thinking of joining Alpha Chi,” Rick No. 1 admitted.
This took me by surprise. He didn’t strike me as a fraternity guy. “Why?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. They just seem like a lot of fun.”
I refrained from letting my true feelings known. I didn’t know how he would take the fact that I was starting to think they might be a frat full of sociopaths and date rapists.
After dinner, we returned to our room. Paris sat down and started writing a paper on her laptop. I turned the television on. I wasn’t really watching anything; I just wanted the noise.
After about an hour, my cellphone rang. I looked at it and saw that it was Will. I debated not answering for a minute, but then I decided that probably wasn’t the way to go.
“What’s up?”
“What’s up with you?” I didn’t know if I expected Will to act differently, but he wasn’t.
“Nothing. Just watching television.”
“You have homework to do?”
“No.”
“You want to spend some quality time with the handsomest guy you know?”
I smiled despite myself. “What kind of quality time?”
“Just regular quality time.”
I debated the thought internally. I just wasn’t ready to let him go yet, I realized. “Sure.”
“Can you be ready in twenty minutes?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll pick you up downstairs.”
I hung up the phone. Paris was watching me with a raised eyebrow.
“Are you going to Will’s?”
I averted her gaze. “Yeah.”
“Have fun.”
I was surprised by her response, but I pushed it out of my mind as I went into the bedroom to pack a bag.
Brittany and Tara were returning to the room as I was leaving.
“Where are you going?” Brittany seemed like she was in a good mood. I could only hope I would ruin it on my way out.
“To Will’s.”
Brittany frowned. “Why?”
“I thought we would have some dirty sex.”
Brittany stiffened at my flippancy. “Well, have a good night.”
“I will.”
Mission accomplished.
When I went out to the parking lot, Will was waiting. I got in the car and was surprised when he greeted me with a warm kiss.
“What was that for?”
“Can’t I miss you?”
“You missed me?” I smiled at him, feeling the first relief I’d felt all day.
“I always miss you. Don’t you miss me?”
“Of course,” I answered him automatically. The truth was, though, I wasn’t sure if I had missed him.
Will did the majority of the talking over the five-minute ride to his house. If he noticed my silence, he didn’t say anything about it.
When we got to his frat house, we both climbed out of the car. Will absentmindedly grabbed my bag. I was struck for a second by the fact that he had been part of my life for so long that I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if he wasn’t there anymore. I didn’t want to think about that, though. Not tonight at least.
When we entered the fraternity house there was a large group of guys sitting in front of the television playing Call of Duty.
“Do they ever do anything else?”
Will shrugged. “Boys like toys.”
I didn’t think that was a significant answer, but I didn’t feel like arguing so I let it go. Without realizing what I was doing, I scanned the room. I didn’t want to admit that I was looking for Aric, but I was. I felt a little disappointed when I didn’t see him. Then I mentally slapped myself for thinking that.
“Hi, Zoe.”
I wasn’t sure which one of the guys had greeted me, but I responded with a general hello to everyone in the room. None of them looked up, but everyone else uttered a variety of different greetings.
“Who’s winning?”
No one answered me. I saw a figure enter the far side of the room. Before focusing on him, I knew it was Aric. He had a certain presence. I looked up and met his gaze. He was frowning at Will.
For his part, Will was studiously avoiding making eye contact with Aric. I decided to test Will.
“Who is he?” I asked in a low voice, but for some reason I felt the room go suddenly silent. Had they heard me?
“Just a fraternity brother,” Will brushed off my question. “Let’s go to my room.”
I followed Will dubiously, casting one glance back at Aric. He wasn’t looking at me, though. He was glaring at Will’s back.
Once in Will’s room, he popped in a movie and we lazed on the bed to watch it. It was a horror movie. One of the better ones I’d seen recently called Cabin Fever. The twists were pretty interesting. Plus, who doesn’t love a kid with a mullet?
After the movie, Will was feeling amorous. Truthfully, I could use the release, too. I pushed any suspicions out of my mind. When we were done, Will drifted off to sleep. I wasn’t as lucky.
Left alone with my thoughts, I couldn’t help but run the last few days through my mind.
One would think that vampires b
eing real would be my big worry. That wasn’t my primary concern, though. I was more worked up about the fact that everyone kept warning me to be careful – like there was something special about me.
Finally, I drifted off. It was an uncomfortable sleep, though. And my dreams? They were filled with big teeth and rivers of blood. I woke with a start.
It was still dark in the room – which meant it wasn’t morning yet. I laid still for a moment, trying to figure out what had woken me up.
Then I heard something. I couldn’t identify it, though. It sounded almost like … animals.
For a second, I thought I must still be dreaming. The noises continued, though.
I looked over at Will. Only Will wasn’t there. His side of the bed was empty.
I got to my feet slowly. I checked to make sure I was dressed. I had put my shorts and T-shirt back on, thankfully, and I opened the door. I waited and listened some more. The sounds continued. They were upstairs. It sounded like they were torturing a dog.
I froze. I knew I shouldn’t investigate. Still, the thought of an animal being in pain infuriated me. I quietly ascended the stairs. I looked around, but there was no one milling about in the stairway -- below me or the room above me.
As I climbed, another thought entered my mind. What if it wasn’t a dog? What if it was a girl?
I sucked in my breath and entered the main living room on the other side of the stairwell.
I don’t know what I was expecting. It certainly wasn’t what I found.
Twenty-Four
I crept close to the wall, plastering my hands flat against the hallway wall behind me. I could hear voices. Briefly I wondered how I could mistake human voices for animal noises, but I pushed on. That really wasn’t what was important right now.
I slipped behind a door that was mostly closed, but still cracked open. I peered through the opening, taking care to keep myself hidden. What I saw left me flummoxed.
There were about fifty fraternity brothers in the room – including Will and Aric – and they were all situated in a large circle. It looked like a ritual of some sort. I just hoped they weren’t doing some sort of human sacrifice.
There was one guy standing in the center of the room. He seemed to be the leader.
“We have to be careful,” he said. “We need to make sure that we don’t draw attention to ourselves.”
“We are being careful,” I wasn’t sure who said that. It was someone in the crowd, though.
“I don’t think you are. There are rumors.”
“What rumors?”
“There was some sort of scene outside the library the other day with one of the girls.”
Now this was getting interesting. I couldn’t help but wonder if it had been the same scene I had not only witnessed – but also had gotten myself involved in.
“What happened?” Another voice from the masses.
“Some guy confronted his girlfriend about what she did here the other night.” The leader again. “And he did it in front of a bunch of people at the library. Then some other girl got involved to the point that it drew an even bigger crowd.”
The leader swung around until he was facing Will at this point. Will lowered his gaze. “And it was your girlfriend, Will.”
Uh-oh.
Everyone in the room swiveled to look at Will, and I swear I heard a couple of growls.
“You need to control her,” the leader continued.
“What do you mean?” Will swallowed hard.
“She is out of control.”
“Just because she stepped in and stood up for a girl she was worried was going to get smacked around?”
Well, at least Will was standing up for me.
“It’s not just that and you know it,” the leader warned. I figured he must be the president of the fraternity or something.
“What do you mean?” This time, I recognized the voice. It was Aric.
“She’s going to be a problem,” the leader responded.
“What kind of problem, Brett?” Aric again. He looked suddenly aggressive. I guess the leader’s name was Brett.
“Don’t be an idiot, Aric. You know where she’s from. She could be a real problem.”
“She’s just a girl,” Will said. “She doesn’t know anything about any of that.”
“Can you be sure?”
“I’ve known her for four years. I think she would have told me.”
“Does she tell you everything?” Aric was regarding Will suspiciously.
“She’s not known for keeping her mouth shut.” This was true.
“What is she known for?” Brett asked the question, but all the guys in the room snickered as they waited for the answer.
“She’s off limits,” Will warned. “She’s my girlfriend. She has been for four years. Those are the rules.”
“Only if she’s not a threat,” Brett warned. “The pack takes precedence over your love life.”
The pack?
“I thought you guys had an open relationship?” Aric asked the question. If I could smack him right now, I would.
Will’s eyes narrowed as he regarded Aric. Since Aric was a full eight inches taller than him, I had to give him credit for not cowering in fear.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you had an open relationship when you were up here and she was still in high school.” Aric was being super-aggressive right now and I couldn’t figure out why.
For his part, Will wasn’t backing down. “How could you know that?”
Don’t say it. Please don’t say it. I was mentally trying to broadcast my intentions to Aric. Of course, it didn’t work.
“That’s what she told me yesterday.”
“She told you?” Will not only looked angry, but hurt as well, by Aric’s admission.
I noticed that the rest of the frat guys seemed content to watch the show. No one was trying to step between the two men who were puffing up like squabbling tom cats.
“I ran into her at the UC.”
“And she just volunteered that? That doesn’t sound like Zoe.” Will looked confused and angry. I felt a little guilty. “You met her and she just told you that after five minutes?”
Aric smirked. “It wasn’t the first time we’ve met. In fact, I’ve run into her a couple of times.”
I mentally cursed Aric and his killer dimples. I thought I’d swore under my breath, but when I looked back up every set of eyes in the room was turned in the direction of my hiding place. Well, shit.
One of the fraternity brothers – I think his name was Craig – strode over and threw the door open, revealing me in my all my nighttime wonder. Bedhead and all.
I tried to muster any courage I had – but given the situation I was in, I didn’t exactly think I could muster much righteous indignation.
Craig grabbed my arm roughly and dragged me into the room – right in the center of the circle. I fought him angrily as the circle closed back around me. This wasn’t good.
“Let me go!”
“What are you doing?” Will seemed concerned.
I tried to smooth my flyaway hair down. I noticed Aric’s smirk as he saw my actions. “I woke up and you weren’t there. I got concerned.”
“Go back to bed,” Will whispered. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
I’m not someone that follows orders, but I figured that was the most prudent move at this point. I was woefully outnumbered. I started to move back toward the crowd – but Will’s fraternity brothers weren’t moving.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Brett answered.
I swung around angrily. “And why is that?”
“You were listening at the door.”
“I wasn’t listening,” I lied.
“Then why were you hiding behind the door?”
“When I realized you guys were having a meeting I wanted to hide because I didn’t want anyone to see my bedhead.” That’s not entirely a lie. I drool on my hair in my sleep. It’s not
pretty. I figured I’d rather embarrass myself than tell the truth.
“Is that how you always look when you wake up?” Aric was looking me up and down.
I glared at him out of the corner of my eye. “You have a problem with that?”
“No. I love that you’re not wearing a bra.”
Will stepped forward and grabbed my arm, drawing me to his side and away from Aric. It was a territorial move and it momentarily made me forget that all of the fraternity brothers were now staring at my nipples through my thin tank top.
“What are you doing?” I seethed at Will.
“Protecting you.”
Yep. That was my breaking point.
I dragged my arm away from Will angrily. “I don’t need protection.”
“Honey, that is exactly what you need at this point.” Brett was looking smug.
“Listen, Captain Obnoxious, I’m not afraid of you.” Sometimes my mouth works faster than my brain. I strode toward Brett and poked my index finger into the center of his chest. “I don’t care how important you think being in this frat makes you. And, quite frankly, all it makes you look is so desperate you have to buy friends.” Nothing could stop me now. “You need to grow up and realize the world doesn’t revolve around you. You’re not special. You’re just a guy that gets his self-worth because he’s in the hot frat.” I made air quotes around hot. I gesture a lot when I’m worked up. “You’re not special. You’re just pathetic.”
This time I wasn’t mistaken, they were growling. What the hell?
I turned back and looked at Will. I wasn’t feeling anything but disdain for him at the present moment. “I expected better from you.”
Brett grabbed my arm roughly. “Maybe no one ever told you this – but women are to be seen and not heard in my house,” he threatened.
“Then I’ll just leave.”
I tried to pull my arm away from Brett but he wasn’t letting go. If anything, he was tightening his grip.
“Let me go!”
“No.”
“Is this how you get your kicks? You threaten women into submission? And, when that doesn’t work, you drug them and gang bang them?” I’d definitely gone too far. Brett was practically cutting off circulation at this point.
“We don’t drug people,” he seethed.
“You’re so full of shit you smell like a dirty diaper.”
Awakening (Covenant College Book 1) Page 14