College Chronicles Ep. 17

Mary let me borrow some clothes, and we went to a late lunch. I took her somewhere expensive that Cindy liked, and offered to pay. It was a lot easier to spend my money freely when everything else was paid for. Afterwards our conversation led us on a winding path back to and around campus, just walking aimlessly, talking endlessly. But it was cold outside, so we adjourned back to her room.

Her roommate still wasn't there (she wasn't surprised), and we stretched ourselves comfortable across her bed. It was obvious Mary really appreciated my company, cuddling up and grabbing my hand, stroking my hair with the other. She had been lonely for the whole beginning of college, and that was something I could relate to deeply. But she was SO touchy-feely, intertwining her legs between mine, until we were lying under and on top of each other, as much as next to. It was almost too much. I could feel my body getting confused, a thrill of tension that made me want to turn and kiss her, or more. It almost didn't matter that she was too straight for it to be anything more than platonic.

And believe me, Mary was straight as an arrow. She might have been shy like me on the surface, but as I got to know her she revealed a profound interest in boys. That's too coy; the only way to describe her is horny. Outright thirsty. One of her biggest complaints about her ex, aside from the cheating, was that he hadn't been enough. That had been especially tough with all the hot guys she'd noticed around campus... But she was free of him, and clearly wanted to act on it.

I couldn't help but worry-- she was going to LOVE Jaxx.

And soon it was the evening. Mary loaned me some more clothes, and I promised to pay her back. We did each other's makeup, and then bundled up, ready to face the night and cold and whatever else lay in wait for us.

*

The sorority was loud and lit up, visible and audible from blocks away. When we came shivering up the road an additional chill of fear ran through me. What if my email had been a mistake? Surely they didn't actually choose me. Maybe it was a trick, the pulling of the rug I'd been expecting, devastating betrayal that would send me back to my high school levels of popularity.

But they couldn't be betraying Mary; she was real, cool, hot. And I was with her, the same. I shook my head, denying the faint hands of anxiety trying to drag me underground. I was spreading my wings and flying, leaping up the stairs to knock loudly on the door.

They had assembled the whole organization; every sister on campus, all the off-campus houses, grad students, and even the graduated sisters still living in the area. It felt like all of them met us in the foyer; cheering, squealing, jumping up and down, congratulating us with warm hugs. It was overwhelming and exciting at the same time, and soon I was fully swept up in celebration, cheering and dancing with girls I hardly knew.

Then Cindy found me. Found us. She swept up behind us like a wave of energy, her arms spreading around our shoulders, ushering us further into the center of the mass of girls. She had pink t-shirts loudly emblazoned with three Greek letters standing at odd angles with long dramatic shadows; we pulled them on over top Mary's clothes. When we stopped moving in the central living room of the house, we joined a group of other freshman girls in the center of the throng of feminine energy. They wore the same expressions we did... excited but distinctly nervous.

The other freshman quickly also pulled on the t-shirts, and as soon as we were uniformed like the girls around us, we were split up and dragged apart. Shots were pushed into our hands-- at least three each, in such quick succession we barely had time to parse the alcohol entering our bodies. Then we were bundling up, putting on jackets and hustling out into the cold, surrounded on all sides by sisters singing and clapping songs that I didn't know.

Cindy held my hand tightly, and I held on to Mary like a vice; her hand on the other side was held my someone else, and it was impossible not to skip along with the other girls, down the sidewalk of the main road of campus. I caught brief glimpses of other groups of girls joining ahead and behind us, making a parade of all the different sororities to some central location.

And then it became obvious; a large building, the university's own basketball arena. It was lit up like game night, and I could hear the music playing from streets away. I floated along with the crowd, tethered by Cindy, but buoyant and bouncy all the same. It was so much fun! So fun to let go and scream and whoop with the other girls, get carried off with the emotional overload of bid night.

Inside the stadium, bleachers were packed, and I filed right in to our section along with all my new sisters. It took a while for everyone to find their places and the last groups to filter in, but it might as well have been instantaneous, waiting was such a party. We started to do chants in competition with other sororities around the arena; I didn't know any of the words, but by the time a speaker came to the central podium and quieted the massed organizations, I knew at least three SLT anthems by heart. There was some ceremony to the announcements, each organization getting its own time to shine and announce their new members... But most of that was lost to the general noise the crowd made, less interested in watching the other groups' than themselves.

Before too long, the ceremonies drew to a close and we began to file out slightly less drunk but more intoxicated on social energy, buzzing with excitement and good vibes. Back to all our various sororities for more shots, so the celebrations could begin in earnest.

In the house, the party split into different rooms. We stood around counters or sat on low couches and the edges of girls' beds, just drinking and hanging out. There were freshmen sprinkled around, in pairs or trios, passing each other by but mainly hanging out with older sisters. I'd find out later even that had been engineered, with specific girls assigned to shepherd and look after each freshmen group.

Of course, Cindy was assigned to Mary and I, and she took her duties seriously. From the moment we re-entered the house, our hands always held a drink, and it never got too low. But even better was her social stewardship, introducing Mary and I over and over to sisters we'd met and ones we'd never seen before. She never let us get too lost in conversation, drawing us back in by prompting us to tell a story or asking a question. It was like having some sort of college fairy godmother, magically meeting every need to make bid night a massive success.

When girls began pulling jackets on for another foray into the cold, Mary and I trusted her implicitly, not even asking where we were headed. I should have known Cindy wouldn't let such a good opportunity to push my limits pass by.

*

We naturally split into different directions, groups forming as girls followed friends to disparate bars and clubs around campus and the city. My group was a larger one, but the only people who mattered were Cindy and Mary, the three of us sticking together like glue.

No one had changed clothes; looking good wasn't the point of the night. It was about celebrating our new Greek lives, being part of a sisterhood. All the other sororities were also out in t's with Greek letters or punny catch phrases-- it really felt like I was part of something bigger, didn't have to apologize or explain or worry about what anyone thought. They couldn't judge all of us!

And no one could judge individually either, as we were having such obvious, exuberant fun. Our entrance to some non-descript dive brought it to life as we bum-rushed the bar. It looked a LOT like the same place where Cindy had first made me suck Jaxx's nuts... But I couldn't tell for sure, and didn't wonder about it at all with a drink in one hand, the other pulled by Cindy towards the bare dance floor and thumping beat.

"Let's fucking go, bitches!!"

Cindy was a storm, as usual-- and to my surprise, Mary kept up with her, matching the flowing athletic grace of her movements, almost surpassing them. I hadn't expected all that from her sweet, shy, unassuming surface; but I was quickly learning my new friend was kind of a freak, moving with the lithe sexuality of a gymnast. I was amazed, watching the two of them gyrate and spin and grind on each other, dominating the floor. Then Cindy caught me with a flash of her emerald eyes, and I realized I had frozen on the sidelines for no reason. I was just as magical, just as beautiful as they were. I belonged. So I jumped in, throwing abandon to the wind, giggling and squealing as they welcomed me to the show. Though I couldn't meet their skills, I outmatched their enthusiasm, putting my whole being into forgetting everything but the physical rhythm I could feel in my bones.

When I broke away to refill my drink, the temperature in the bar had spiked. Word must have spread about our invasion, because in less than half an hour the bar had been packed, with a long queue of boys craning their necks to see inside. Those lucky enough to get in were making their best attempts to penetrate the dense clusters of girls, hoping they might ingratiate themselves enough to intrude.

Of course I should have known girls on their own were easier prey. As I fought my way through the crowd, eyes swung to follow me, though I was less conscious than usual in faded haze. The attention I gained opened an alleyway, like a sea parting to let me through, heads turning in my wake. There were a few improprieties-- someone rubbing a little too close as they passed, a hand that lingered too long on my ass to be totally a mistake... but nothing so obvious that I could call it out.

That changed when I reached the bar. A small spot opened at the crowded surface, and I pushed myself in, not thinking about why such precious real estate was available... Until a heavy arm fell around my shoulders, making me jump.

"SO WHICH SORORITY ARE YOU IN?"

He was basically yelling in my ear, his breath hot on my neck. When I turned, it was to be hit in the face by the stench of alcohol, like he'd bathed in cheap whiskey. He was taller than me, though that wasn't saying much, and a low effort sports jersey and typical fade marked him as a bargain bin frat boy. That was reinforced by his clumsy arm, weighing me down; uncomfortably heavy on my thin frame.

"Uhm..."

I looked down, checking that my t-shirt was still clearly emblazoned with the letters of my new sisterhood. But he wasn't interested in reading.

"I... I just got a bid... S-sigma Lambda T--"

"--SIG-LAM? HOLY SHIT, THEY'RE FUCKING HOT! AYO, TOMMY!"

He kept bellowing throughout his response, turning halfway through to yell at some unseen friend behind him. With the movement, his arm came down to my waist and wrapped around me, tugging me with his drunken sway. Of course I squirmed and pushed, trying to free myself... but his grip was too rough, too strong. Why did I always end up like that, helpless for some fucking oaf or creep? What did it say about me?

But that wasn't a time for bigger existential questions. I had to extricate myself from his hold, before over-familiarity escalated into something darker, as it always seemed to. I wracked my brain, trying to think of a way to get his attention, but only enough to ask to be let go, not egg him on. It seemed like all my options for getting boys attention were sexual, promised more and more of me, got me into more trouble.

But I also, somehow, had a tendency to attract heroes as much as villains. Another hand came down on my shoulder, at the same time as its twin landed on my assailants'.

"Yo, bro..."

Both I and my new 'friend' turned in shock at the verbal and physical address, not expecting either. My knees wobbled when I saw him; tall, lean, with a friendly smile, unruly mop of blond hair, and twin sapphires for eyes. It took me a second to recall a name, and he was already speaking to my captor.

"...ease up. She's not into it!"

It was Dane; Cindy's hot senior crush who I'd met at the gym. Maybe it was just the situation he'd found me in, but he was even more attractive than when I first saw him. He gestured to my obvious discomfort, and the drunken frat boy noticed me for the first time.

"Oh..."

With some gentle prying from Dane and I, he slowly relinquished his hold. The look of confusion on his face would have been funny, if I wasn't still worried about the nasty turn-- but he wasn't that drunk, or that vile, and took the rejection in stride, spinning and stumbling off into the crowd. I let out a sigh of relief, then remembered my manners.

"Uhm... Thanks..."

I couldn't meet his eyes at first, ashamed to have been saved again. But Dane didn't know it was a habit, and his tone was light and cheerful, like he hadn't even noticed.

"No problem. Sami, right? Cin's friend?"

"Y-yeah... She's here too, somewhere..."

Of course he was looking for Cindy. He had just happened to spot me; why would anyone be looking for little Sami? I took a step away, hiding my embarrassment by craning my neck to look around the bar. But he grabbed my wrist gently, stopping me from walking further.

"That's okay, I'm sure I'll see her. Can I get you something?"

He gestured to the bar, and I realized he was offering me a drink. And then what? But his smile was so charming, so disarming... I didn't think he would turn on me, it was easy to say yes.

"Uhm... Yeah... Can I... Can I have a long island?"

He flagged the guy behind the bar down with a laconic wave of his hand, working 1000% less hard than everyone else around us, and the drink was in my hand within the minute. I sipped it cautiously, peering over the edge at his light smile.

"So, you're pledging SigLam too?"

He was leaning against the bar, totally cool, and I was so confused. He wanted to talk to me? Of course. I was a hot, doe-eyed, lost little freshman. Every guy in the bar wanted to talk to me. And with that realization came confidence.

"Yeah... I'm... I'm pretty excited..."

"You should be! Greek life is awesome."

"You... You're in a frat?"

"All the best people are..."

He winked with the words, and even though the joke wasn't very funny I giggled in automatic reaction, light and airy. I swayed a little, both with drunken unsteadiness, and in an attempt to avoid his eyes.

"...I'm in Phi Psi. "

That didn't mean anything to me beyond vague familiarity, but I reacted anyway.

"I've heard of them!"

He was leaning in over me to be heard through the sounds of people around us, and my response came out a bit too loud, overly enthusiastic. He just smiled a little wider and went on.

"We do mixers with SigLam sometimes... Hold on one sec, yo! Eric!"

He shouted off into the crowd, then turned back with explanation.

"He came out with me, he's social chair."

I had never heard the term before, but I could put it together from context. Then Eric appeared, lanky and fit, with long black hair and a wobble to his step that said he'd been drinking for a while. He joined the conversation noisily, clapping Dane on the shoulder, not even seeing me at first.

"Man, this place is lit tonight. This new freshman class is-- woah..."

When he finally caught on to my presence, it arrested his thought, and I stifled a laugh watching his brain freeze and restart. Goddamn did I have it, even in casual clothes.

"...Who's this??"

"Eric, Sami. She's a friend of Cindy's, just got her bid for SigLam. I was saying we should do a mixer soon."

Eric nodded like he was listening, but I could tell from the way he stared me up and down that not much was getting through. When he found my eyes watching, he shook his head as if exiting a daze, suddenly avoiding my eyes by looking back at Dane.

"What?"

Dane rolled his eyes at me, and explained a little more curtly.

"Sami. Friend of Cindy. Just pledged SigLam."

"Well shit, we gotta mix with SigLam this year!"

Dane turned back, and I couldn't hold in another girly giggle at the look on his face.

"See?"

I felt endeared to the two men. They were men, college seniors, fully grown. But in the that bar, drunk and under my charm, they were more like a pair of buffoonish golden retrievers, and it felt like I could trust them, even if I'd only know them for a few minutes. Dane patronizing his friend and letting me in on the joke; Eric dumbfounded and lagging behind the conversation. And at that moment, I knew how I wanted to celebrate my bid. I wanted to do my own hunting; bring back these two older, hot boys to Cindy and Mary. I wanted to take control too... And where the night went after that, I was sure Cindy would guide me through.

"Come with me!!"

I reached out and grabbed Dane by a hand, not waiting for response or acknowledgement before I pulled him into the crowd, back towards the dance floor and Cindy. I figured Eric would follow, and saw that I guessed right with a brief turn back. But I didn't look for long; I wanted them to feel free to admire the wiggle of my ass as I led them through the clustered dancers. Maybe it was my imagination, but I could feel the heat of their desire watching me.

Finding Cindy was easy; the floor revolved around her incredible gyrations, the dancing flames of her long hair. When she saw me, her face lit up, and I felt the same way, running to her, tugging Dane along behind me. Her smile grew as she realized who was trailing behind me, taking on a new tone of absolutely diabolical joy.

"Look who I found!!"

My shout was lost under the booming of the sound system and the people around us, but Cindy didn't need to hear. Wordlessly, she gained Mary's attention and introduced her and Dane, then noticed Eric behind him and screamed, running to hug him. Mary was stuck on Dane, looking at him like he was a glass of water and she'd just been saved off a desert island. I grabbed her, and she was startled out of her ogling, laughing with me when she realized.

Cindy had started dancing with Eric, and they were getting heavy, grinding into each other like they'd forgotten about everyone else. Then Dane was sidling up behind me, doing the slightly stiff dance of a non-dancer trying to not look too stupid. After a second, I relaxed and began to push back, grabbing Mary and pulling her around to give her an excuse to do what she so obviously wanted to. She fell into it, dancing up against his side, so we were kind of sandwiching him. Dane managed to generally hold his own, but the look on his face when it flashed past told me he hardly knew what to do between the two of us.

I don't know how long we danced, Mary and Dane and I; it could have been minutes or an hour. We took turns, in a way-- Dane turning back and forth, or Mary and I re-commanding his attention when we felt too ignored. His expression didn't really change from endearingly overwhelmed, and it gave me even more courage; when he turned back, I flipped my hair in his face and spun so my ass was right against his crotch.

As soon as I made contact, I could tell he was already aroused. I couldn't blame him-- really, it was my own fault. Our fault. And his reaction was a compliment. As I bumped and twerked on him, that reaction grew impressively; I couldn't help but bite my lip, think about what it might look and feel like. The uncontrollable sign of his desire enflamed me in kind, and I turned around to throw an arm over his shoulder, pulling his chin down with my other hand to match his lips to mine. He was passive, and I did the work, my tongue pushing between his lips. But after a second he regained control, a hand circling my waist to lift me off the ground as he asserted himself inside my mouth, stealing my breath with his passion.