by Harper West
"Absolutely not!" McKenzie glanced away from the road for a second to give me an affronted look. "I've let you stay in that dorm room reading or doing whatever else you do in there all semester. As your friend,I cannot let you waste your youth anymore."
"Waste my youth?" I laughed at her. "I'm not wasting my youth, I'm... I'm growing my brain. For my future." I didn't sound confident in the last part, and I knew it.
"Well, your pretty brain is big enough today," McKenzie said. "You're coming to the party, and that's that. Besides, I'm driving, and I’m not taking you home."
"I think that’s called kidnapping." I informed her.
The town looked pretty at night. The lights from windows and streetlights made a pattern that couldn't be mapped. I wanted to rest my head on the window and let it lull me to sleep, but I knew if I laid my head down, it would make getting out of the car even harder.
McKenzie slowed down as she came to the intersection. "Look, we're almost there. Oh my goodness, Tanner played so well, didn't he? Ahh! He is a shoo-in for the NFL!"
"Yeah, he was great," I said, not really knowing enough to comment on the game, much less how Tanner played. "I think the house is just up there."
There were cars parked all over the lawn in front of a big house that had all its lights on. We could hear the bass from down the street. It already looked like it was going to be a loud, rowdy party.
McKenzie parked the car. She was careful not to park behind anyone else, but also smart enough to keep the back of her car right next to the road so no one else could park behind her, either. She was a pro at these kinds of parties and I was thankful for that, since I knew I was probably going to be the one to drive home.
We got out, and McKenzie looked in the rearview mirror one last time to check her hair and makeup. I didn't bother. I was wearing a loose-fitting T-shirt and jeans. The shirt was, at least, the school color. It was my small bit of support. McKenzie was wearing fitted dark-blue skinny jeans that had strategically placed rips in them. They would probably be too revealing for anyone else, but she pulled them off perfectly. She had paired them with a flowy spaghetti strap top, a trendy denim jacket, and a necklace in school colors. Where my outfit looked like a lazy attempt at fitting in, hers looked like she had bought it straight off the mannequin at a boutique.
The music and noise of the partygoers grew louder as we got closer to the house. I wanted to take my mind off the party, so I reached for something I knew McKenzie would care about: Tanner.
"So you mentioned the NFL? Does Tanner really have a chance of being drafted?" I asked. I knew enough football to know that making it to the NFL was every college football player's dream.
"Yes! He is probably going to go into the draft. That's where they get picked by one of the teams to play for them—" she started to explain.
"I know what the draft is," I cut her off with a laugh. “But you really think it’ll happen?”
"I hope so. I know it's his dream. At least for now," she said.
"What does he want to do after football?" I asked, assuming that everyone had a plan after sports.
"He was talking law school with Nathan, and then joining his dad's firm. I'm pretty sure that's his backup plan," she said. "But I could be wrong."
“I see. Looks like you don't do a lot of talking when you're alone?" I asked with a nudge and a sly smile.
"Of course we talk," McKenzie said and rolled her eyes. "We talk about football, and we talk about the past and stuff. But we don't really talk about the future. We're both just trying to live in the moment. We're both seniors. He's the starting linebacker on the football team and I'm pre-law..." her voice trailed off. "I think a part of us knows that the "real world" is out there and coming soon, so we're just having fun while we can, you know?"
"I get that," I said as we walked across the street and into the party.
We were at the Alpha Chi house, a two-story, light-gray house with big Greek letters above the door. Most of the guys were wearing some sort of collared shirt or their football jerseys. Most of the girls, on the other hand, were wearing little to no clothing, despite the fall chill. Most of them dressed like McKenzie. Dressed to kill. While I looked like I had forgotten I was going to a party.
"Okay, he said they're in the living room. I think it's this way." She grabbed my hand and pulled me through the open front door. The house opened up to a large foyer with a staircase leading up to a balcony. She pulled me to the right and into a cramped room full of yelling boys. Right in the middle of them, leading the yelling and chanting, was Tanner. He was towering over them with a cup raised high when he caught a glimpse of McKenzie.
"Kenz! You're here!" His attention shifted to us as we walked in the door. All eyes stopped to look at us, and then the crowd seemed to part a bit.
"Baby!" McKenzie shouted as she ran over to Tanner. She jumped into his open arms and wrapped her long legs around his waist as they greeted each other with a kiss.
Kenz and Tanner’s lip lock was met with cheers from all the guys. The girls, however, looked on longingly or scowled in jealousy at them. I just smiled as they continued to put on a show for their adoring fans.
When they came up for air, McKenzie did her best to look sheepish when she noticed that everyone was watching them. Tanner, however, kept one hand in McKenzie's jean pocket while looking around and smiling. He seemed to be relishing in the moment.
As the perfect couple continued to hold onto each other and chat with other guests, I took the opportunity to slip away from the crowd and find somewhere quiet to sit. I was not naïve enough to expect silence at a frat party, but I was hoping for something a little less noisy… somewhere.
I walked down the hall to explore a bit. The hallways were long, with mostly closed white doors. Partiers were lined up along one wall next to a door that I assumed was the bathroom. I resolved not to drink anything at this party because that line was going nowhere fast.
I got a bit curious and started to open some of the doors to see what an actual frat house looked like. I opened the door on a couple half-naked and on top of each other in a mostly dark room. They didn't even seem to notice my presence, so I was able to close the door quickly and quietly. I decided I had explored enough hidden rooms and that I would return to the living room. At least there, everyone was fully clothed. For now, anyway.
Not much had changed. I took a long look around the room, which was painted tan with brown furniture and green accents. I assumed that the couches were dark to hide stains that may occur during a frat party, and they seemed to be doing the job well. That, or they had an amazing maid to clean up regularly.
I went to the back corner to sit on one of the dark, oversized chairs. It looked like the safest place in the room to get away from the crowd and still be able to keep an eye on my surroundings. I definitely didn't want someone to be able to sneak up behind me. I didn’t want anyone to get the idea that I was there to meet people. For good measure, I grabbed one of the green pillows off the floor and stuffed it under my right arm and stuck my feet out to the left of me. Then, I was taking uptake whole seat.
I pulled out my phone and instinctively opened up my Kindle app. McKenzie wouldn’t let me bring my hardcover book to a party, but at least I could try to read one online. I was usually pretty good at tuning out the noise around me, but figured that this would be my biggest test yet.
I checked on McKenzie. She was perfectly fine and seemed to be in her element. She had her right hand on Tanner's back and a cup in her left, as she told a thrilling story to a small cluster of people. Honestly, she would make an amazing wife to a professional football player if she wanted it. She had the looks, the charisma, and the brains to back it all up. She could wow a crowd on her own or take a step back to let her partner shine, and always knew what the moment called for.
As for me, I couldn't even imagine standing in the middle of so many people, much less being the center of attention. I would much rather be where I was, at the back of
the room. Or better yet, back at my dorm room by myself.
I smiled at McKenzie again. I really was happy for her. She was exactly where she was supposed to be. I returned to the Kindle app and and settled in for what I knew would be a long, loud night.
9
Nathan
I brought my beer to my lips and took another gulp.
The party was going pretty well. Even Elizabeth seemed to enjoy herself. Or at least I thought so. The entire house buzzed and dozens of people were drinking and laughing and dancing. A loud, hip-hop song blared from the stereo at the front of the living room, a rhythmic thumping pulsed through the entire building, punctuated by auto-tuned lyrics.
I noticed Tanner and McKenzie out of the corner of my eye. His arm was wrapped around her. They drank beer and talked to a group of people, though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Kenz looked pretty damn tipsy, swaying slightly to the music and giggling just a little too loudly at Tanner's jokes. He was keeping a watchful eye on her. He pulled her a bit closer and kissed her on the cheek as she grinned and leaned into him.
That was one of the things I loved about Tanner. He was a good man, through and through. I didn't have to worry about any girl he was with. He would take good care of Kenz tonight, make sure she got home safely. Hell, he'd probably be holding her hair back as she puked in a couple hours, then placing a pillow under her head on the bathroom floor.
Turning my attention away from my best friend, I narrowed my eyes at a group of guys on the football team. They were pretty drunk and were talking loudly about different girls and who they thought they had a chance of hooking up with that night. I cringed a tad at the parts of the conversation I could hear from the other side of the room. They talked about girls as if they were objects, commenting mostly on their bodies, outfits, and any rumors they'd heard about their, well… sluttiness. A tall, muscular, blond guy at the center of the semicircle, Kyler, was dominating the conversation, having something gross and invasive to say about practically every girl mentioned.
Ugh, I almost forgot that Kyler would be here and I frowned in disgust. Kyler, business major hotshot whose father owned some huge company he would eventually inherit, was sleazy, easy, and filthy rich. He had a reputation for flirting with anything in a skirt, promising her the world and kicking her to the curb immediately after he got what he wanted from her. The really gross part was that he got away with his behavior thanks to his wealth and good looks. Kyler knew it and used his power to his advantage, wielding it like a weapon that he swung around anywhere he went.
Kyler was enormous, towering over most everyone in the room. His wide shoulders, giant frame, and perpetual devil-may-care attitude made him a force to be reckoned with. He seemed to eagerly invite drama into his life if it meant boosting his popularity around campus. I mostly tried to avoid him, but I had a bad feeling about tonight. I kept a watchful eye on him, but tried to avoid catching his attention unless he was about to attempt something really stupid. I glanced over at Elizabeth, who was sitting on the couch, smiling, with a drink in her hand. She was clearly out of her element, but trying to make the best of it. Hopefully, Kyler wouldn't notice her discomfort and exacerbate it. God, that would really get under my skin.
He and I never got along well, but we had a lot of mutual friends, so I ran into him often and had to put up with him. Strangely, for as obnoxious as he was, girls around campus seemed to adore him. I didn't know if it was his money, his looks, his status, or a mixture of all three, but he had a way with women that had gained him an interesting reputation on campus.
"Who's the sexy nerd on the couch?" he asked loudly.
Oh, no.
My eyes widened as I turned my attention to Kyler, staring at Elizabeth as she sat inconspicuously in the corner, not realizing she was Kyler’s new target.
“What about her?” I asked, puffing out my chest. I clenched my fist, suddenly not afraid to start shit if I had to.
Elizabeth was obviously trying to mind her own business and bide her time until she could leave the party and go back to studying. Now surrounded but obnoxious party guests and how loud music blaring from the speakers, I couldn't blame her. She got overwhelmed by loud noises and crowds easily, but she was putting on a brave face. Yet, I could see the discomfort from across the room. She noticed me staring at her and smiled sweetly, lifting her hand in a half-wave. Her glasses slid down her nose, and she pushed them up the bridge gently, tucking her hair behind her ear as she did so.
I heard a laugh come from one of the guys next to me. "Yo, that's McKenzie's friend, I think. What’s she doing here?” This time, it wasn’t Kyler talking. It was Jason, a shorter guy with a jet-black fade and fake gold chains around his neck. Jason has gone to high school with me and Elizabeth and, apparently, remembered her. "Damn, is that Elizabeth? She got hot.” He checked her out, shamelessly and my blood boiled.
My heart pounded in my chest. I really didn't want to have to step in, but these guys were closing in on her like a circle of vultures. The last thing Elizabeth needed was to deal with this group of morons. I mean, undoubtedly, they’d give her a panic attack or something.
"She lost a lot of weight, huh?" Kevin asked. He had messy, shoulder-length brown hair and a beer gut, despite being an athlete. He, too, went to our high school. He followed up that sentiment with a sickening belch. "Damn, I remember what she used to look like. If I knew she’d grow up hot, maybe I would’ve been nicer to her.”
The guys were drunk, stupid, and ready to make poor Elizabeth miserable. As soon as they downed a few beers, all of the blood in their brains got redirected to their groins, rendering them stupid and virtually worthless.
I wasn't too keen on ruining the party with a confrontation and drawing attention to myself, but if I had to in order to keep Elizabeth safe and happy, I would. I owed her for all the times I’d bullied her in high school. I would do anything to make it all up to her. I could feel one of my hands balling up into a fist. I clutched my beer in the other, crushing the red SOLO cup in simmering rage.
With my attention on the other guys talking about Elizabeth, I hadn't even noticed Kyler had disappeared from the group. I scanned the room frantically, trying to find him. My heart sank when I realized he was beelining for Elizabeth.
"Oh, shit. Kyler's going to go ask the nerdy chick to… tutor him," Jason slurred, menacingly.
I tried my best to stay calm, but I was pretty buzzed and my judgment was impaired. The guys zeroing in on Elizabeth was making me want to do some pretty rash things.
"Wonder if he'll score twice tonight, huh?" Kevin said with a sinister laugh. "Hell yeah, Kyler!" His obnoxious voice was audible even over the thumping bass and the chatter.
I narrowed my eyes in disgust, but I reminded myself that if I made a scene, I could possibly make this even worse for Elizabeth. I sat down my beer on the counter beside me and tried to calm down.
"Hey, can you guys just leave her alone?" I asked as calmly as possible. But my request was immediately swallowed up in the swirl of noise.
Kyler zeroed in on Elizabeth and I knew we had passed the point of calm resolution, and the only solution was confrontation.
"Shit, where's Nathan going?" Kevin asked.
I ignored everyone. I had to get to her.
"Oh, man. This is going to be good,” Jason cackled. “Nate wants to score with the hot nerd too.”
I pushed through the crowd and reached them just as Kyler plopped down onto the couch, next to Elizabeth and wrapped his arm around her, possessively. He whispered something in her ear, and she flushed red. She looked nervous, but stood her ground.
"The hell do you think you're doing?" I demanded, my pulse pounding in my ears. I was about to make a fool of myself and piss off the biggest guy on my team, but I didn’t care. I had to stop this.
Kyler's whipped around and faced me, his eyebrows raised as if challenging me to confront him again. I opened my mouth to unload on him, but when I saw Elizabeth’s worried exp
ression, I softened a bit. Even in my tipsy state, I knew I had to try to handle this as diplomatically as possible.
"Hey, Nathan! What's going on, buddy?" Kyler bellowed. He sounded friendly, but I knew he was just stirring the pot.
"Nathan..." Elizabeth attempted to raise her voice, but Kyler held up a hand to silence her. She flinched a little and frowned, biting her lip pensively.
"I could ask you the same question, buddy," I said, putting a sarcastic emphasis on the word
I seethed and gritted my teeth. "Elizabeth, is he bothering you?"
Kyler put up a hand as I took a step closer to them. "She's fine, dude. What's your problem? I'm just having a chat with this lovely lady here," he said. He offered a cheeky smile as he put his hand on Elizabeth’s lower back. She flinched. "Am I bothering you, beautiful?" His voice was low and seductive. My face felt hot. I was furious as I watched him touch her.
"N-no, everything's fine, Nathan. We're just t-talking," she stammered, her eyes wide like a deer caught headlights. Her words said one thing, but her face said something entirely different.
She squirmed in her seat, uncomfortably. Elizabeth liked her personal space, and I knew she hated when people didn’t respect her boundaries. But she was still learning how to stick up for herself.
"Listen, man, she doesn't want to talk to you," I growled.
Kyler threw his head back and laughed obnoxiously. Elizabeth cringed, setting her drink on the table. She looked like she wanted to disappear, tears forming in the corners of her eyes, her face redder than a tomato. People were starting to stare, which only made it worse.
"Every chick wants to talk to me, pal," Kyler bragged.
This wasn't going to be pretty. I just hoped Elizabeth would forgive me for what I was about to do.
"Okay, that's enough," I hissed, reaching out and yanking Kyler off of the couch by the collar of his shirt.
His arms flailed, knocking Elizabeth's drink into her lap. She gasped and put her face in her hands. I was seeing red, and there was no turning back now.