“H ey, beautiful,” a frat boy wrapped his sweaty arm around my shoulder. He licked his lips as his eyes fastened to my chest. Ugh! I was so over this. “I heard you're in the market for a new guy.” He winked but it looked more like a twitch than a wink. “I’d love to fill that position for you.” His lips curved up and he burped, loud. My eyes roamed, his polo shirt looked stretched, and his hair stuck out in clumps around his head.
“Ugh, get off me.” I pushed his body away from mine. I seriously needed to get the hell out of here. I was so done with drunk frat guys hitting on me. It didn’t help that every person here had either witnessed or heard about my big breakup with Ethan. He’d been such an asshole. He’d already moved on with Brittany, a Phi Kappa bitch. Normally, I didn’t give two-shits about the politics in the Greek system. But when Ethan decided to drag that shit into our relationship, I changed my mind. I should be going for a guy in his rival fraternity just to piss him off. I tried to remind myself why I was too good to stoop so low. But damn, a big part of me wanted to.
I noticed a door on the first floor open a crack. The room was vacant, so I ducked inside. I sat at the desk on the left side of the room. A perfectly made bed was in the center along with a television and two rocker chairs in front of the television mounted to the wall. Whoever this guy was he liked plaid. Both his sheets and bedspread were maroon and blue plaid. I shut the door, hoping any party-goers would think it was occupied. I had to admit, whoever stayed in this room was tidy. Everything seemed to have a place. I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes. I let the events of the last week play through my mind.
Fucking, Ethan.
He had to make our break-up a public display. A decent human being wouldn’t have decided to break up with me in the middle of campus, during the announcement of Greek week festivities. I guess I’d always known he was just another douchebag. It was only a matter of time before he lived up to my expectations. People always disappointed you, especially guys. Ethan wasn’t even the worst of them. I had a long line of disappointments in my life. Someday, I hoped that would change. My luck, ‘ her life was filled with disappointment,’ would be written on my tombstone. I pictured the look Ethan gave me as he broke up with me. His chin held high and a cocky grin spread across his face, he said, “Sorry babe, but I found someone else. You understand.” I didn’t think you were supposed to look that happy when you broke up with someone.
What a fucking asshole!
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I balled my hands into fists and rested them on my forehead. I needed to get over him. He’d been acting strange the last few weeks. Hell, months really. I just figured he was stressed about school or something. He’d been pulling away from me, but I figured he’d talk to me in time. I always tried to give him space. I certainly didn’t want to share all my life stresses with him. I guess I should have expected it. I wasn’t expecting the break-up to be quite so public or to hurt quite so much. We’d been together for almost a year. I thought we were in love or at least close to it. Man, was I wrong. The sound of the door opening had me snapping up in the chair.
A man with a thick head of chestnut hair and ocean-blue eyes stared down at me. He cocked his head and I noticed his strong jawline, “Well, I wasn’t expecting to have a lady in my room. What are you doing here?” His eyebrows quirked up.
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. “Oh sorry, I needed to get away from the crowd.”
He nodded. “Well then, by all means, feel free to use my room in any way you’d like.” He clicked the door shut behind him. “As long as you don’t mind my company while you do it. You did hide away in my room after all.” A mischievous grin spread across his face.
“Ah, thanks, I guess.” I wasn’t sure what to say to that. I didn’t want to go back into the fray of the party. I knew I’d get hit on again if I did. I wanted to go back to my sorority, but when I suggested that to Mya, she gave me a long speech about my responsibility as a senior in the house. Apparently, I’m supposed to be a leader for the pledges. I hated that. I had every right to disappear from the world for a little while. But, of course, this happened during Greek week. So, that was a no-go until all this was over. Usually, I loved this week. All the parties and gatherings with friends were a wonderful reprieve from school. This year, I wanted to crawl into a hole.
The guy waved his hands in the air a foot from my face. I blinked. His eyes softened as they focused on me. “Ah, hey, you wanna talk about it?” I was surprised by the sincerity in his voice. I didn’t even know this guy.
“What makes you think I have something to talk about?” I asked.
“The disappearing act you just pulled. I asked your name twice. The only reason you noticed me was because I waved my hands in the air.” He held his hand to his heart. “You obviously have something to talk about. I’m a great listener.” He might be a great listener, but I wasn’t a great sharer. I hated talking about my issues with people.
“I don’t even know you.” I narrowed my eyes at him. I wasn’t about to share my messy break-up with some guy I just met. Last I checked, that was a big no-no.
“Well, let’s rectify that immediately.” He held out his hand for me to shake. “I’m Flynt, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance…” He drew out the last syllable waiting for me to fill in my name. I wasn’t sure I wanted to give it to him. Everyone knew my name and what happened this week. If I told him, I would see the unmistakable pity in his eyes. I didn’t want that.
I let out a heavy breath. “I’m Cordelia, but my friends call me Delia.” I took his hand. A strange sensation went up my arm when our hands touched. I tried to pull away, but he held me, his eyes looking back at me with sudden interest. When he let go of my hand, I stared down at it.
What was that?
“Well, Cordelia, you have a beautiful name.” He smiled wide and sat back on the bed. “Now that we know each other, you want to tell me what’s bothering you?” He stared back at me with inquisitive eyes. He seemed like the kind of guy I’d want to get to know. Yet, something was holding me back.
“No, I’m kinda over my drama from this week.” I pressed my lips together and rubbed my hands down my barely-there shorts. I hated the outfits they chose for tonight. I was not one for hot-pink hot pants. It was Wisconsin for Christ sakes. It got cold at night.
“Well, if you don’t want to talk would you like to play a little Mario Kart? You can kick my ass on the racetrack if it’ll make you feel better.” He grabbed a remote off the console. I noticed the chairs, but I hadn’t noticed the consoles. He handed me the controller and fired up the game.
“I take it you play this often?” I moved to the rocker chair in front of the television.
“I wouldn’t say often, but it was the last game I played.” He slid into the chair next to me and Mario filled the screen. “You can tell a lot about a person by the character they pick in Mario Kart.” He tried to inflect wisdom into his words.
“Oh yeah? So will you be picking Princess Peach or Princess Daisy?” I smirked.
He shook his head. “Neither, I’ve always been a Luigi man myself.” He flipped up his collar. I hadn’t noticed how formal he was dressed until he did that. He wore a baby-blue button-up and black pants. A midnight blue tie was loose around his collar.
“What were you all dressed up for today?” I asked.
“Oh,” he looked down at himself. “I had a meeting off-campus.” His words were clipped. It wasn’t any of my business, but I was curious.
“A meeting?” I watched as he stared at the screen. He’d chosen Luigi.
“Yeah, a meeting, so what’s your choice? I’d love to know the true soul of the woman who stole away in my bedroom.” There was a curiosity below his teasing tone. I wondered for a moment if he was actually serious.
“Yoshi, I’ve always been head-over-heels for Yoshi.” I chose and hit the button to start the game. I leaned forward as soon as the checkered flag dropped. I was determined to win.
He didn’t say anything, and we both focused on the game. He was right, this was helping me forget about all the bullshit going on outside. I wondered if he needed an escape too. In here, all I had to focus on was the game. Around the last lap, I noticed Flynt glancing over at me. In his distraction, I was able to beat him. I threw my hands and the controller into the air. “Yes, I won!” I called out.
“That you did, princess.” There was amusement in his tone.
I furrowed my brow. “Princess?”
“Yeah, it suits you.” He smiled.
“I’m no princess.” I rested my hand on my hip and stared back at him.
“Sure, you’re not. So, which sorority do you hail from?” He pulled out an awful accent.
“I’m Phi Mu,” I smiled.
“Ah, so what you’re saying is I shouldn’t be talking to one as great as yourself.”
“Ugh, the Greek system is so stupid sometimes. No one house should be better than the other.” There were so many things I hated about the system now that I was thoroughly immersed in it. When I was accepted as a pledge, I thought it was the greatest thing ever. I was excited for the sisterhood and bonding. The relationship you form in sororities lasted your whole life, or so I was told. I wanted the connection that only a sorority could provide. There was something about the prospect of sisterhood that had me wishing for something better. I thought back to one of many cold nights when my mom disappeared, and the heat was shut-off. I didn’t have the heart to call my grandmother again, so I bundled up in all the blankets I could find. I shivered in my bed as a spring from the mattress poked into my back. I didn’t want that life. I wanted to have people who would actually be there for me. I knew it was a silly dream. No one was really there for you. I had to figure things out for myself. But part of me still hoped.
“There you go again.” He peered at me through his lashes. “Where do you disappear to?” I could tell he was genuinely curious. None of the other guys I’d dated ever seemed interested in what I was thinking. Unless they asked it after sex. Then, they probably didn’t want to know. I had a tendency to disappear into my thoughts. When my mom was around, I thought of it as a gift. I hated hearing about whatever it was she was doing while I was stuck in a battered down house.
“Well, if you must know, I was thinking about how I wanted to be in a sorority so bad when I first got here. Now, with all the politics and back-stabbing. I kinda wish I never joined.” I tucked my hands between my thighs to keep from picking at my cuticles. It was a habit I had when I was nervous.
“Yeah, I hear that. It’s not the politics that get me, but the expectations to party and hook up all the time. I’m not really into all that.” He waved his hand toward the noise that was seeping through the doorway.
“Really?” I wasn’t sure I believed him. “Didn’t every guy join a fraternity to hook up with girls and party? I’ve never once heard anyone complain about that.” I narrowed my eyes.
“I’m not every guy.” His voice was deep and husky. It sent a strange feeling through me. I wanted to be closer to him, to reach out and touch him. I pressed my thighs together, trapping my hands between them. Down girl.
“Okay, so why did you join?” I studied him with curious eyes.
“I wanted the connection to others. It felt more like home with all the guys in the house. I have a lot of brothers.” He shrugged. “I was used to having other guys around all the time. I couldn’t imagine living in the dorms without that connection and brotherhood.” He looked distant like he was remembering home. His eyes snapped back to me.
“So, I guess we joined for similar reasons. We wanted the brotherhood or sisterhood joining provided. Do you regret it now that you’ve been here a while?” I watched as the emotions played across his face. I didn’t know him well enough to know what he was feeling. He seemed a bit sad.
“No, I like the guys. I just stay in my room when the parties get too crazy. Some nights I even get lucky enough to find a beautiful girl in my room.” He winked. “How about you?”
“Even after everything, I don’t regret it.” I looked down at the shaggy brown carpet.
“So, you ready to talk about why you’re hiding out in my room?” He studied me.
I sighed and looked over at him. He was nice. He seemed like the kind of person I could confide in. I let out a nervous laugh. “I’m surprised you don’t already know. I thought everyone on campus knew by now.” I pulled my hands out from between my legs and picked at a cuticle.
“I’ve been a little preoccupied this week.” His eyes stayed fixed on me.
“I was just tired of all the guys out there hitting on me. I had a pretty public break-up this week. He ended it in front of everyone at the Greek week announcements.” I pressed my lips together and cleared my throat. I didn’t want him to see how much this was actually affecting me. “Now, everyone is jockeying for a position to get with me. I haven’t even had time to deal with the break-up. I’m definitely not thinking about starting anything new.” I slumped in the chair and pressed my hands between my thighs again.
“Well, you can hide out in here as long as you’d like.” He turned back to the television. “Would you like to play another game?”
I furrowed my brows as I looked back at him. No questions, no interrogation, nothing. He was letting it go. “Yeah, actually, I’d love to play another game.” Flynt was a surprising guy. I liked that he didn’t press me about the break-up. Once I told him, it was done. It was the first time I hadn’t felt pressured to share more.
“Cool,” he handed me the controller. “I like having a worthy competitor.” He winked.
I smiled. “Oh, I’m more than worthy, I’m going to kick your ass.”
“We’ll see.” He winked. I didn’t know where the rest of this night was going to go, but I enjoyed spending time with Flynt.