Page 5

Chapter 5

Party Games

"Wait, but — but he can't be — "

Wally is… gay ?

The word echoed in his mind, over and over again. It couldn't be true, could it? Surely Logan would have noticed if… If Wally was…

Wally looked up and Logan flushed hot, looking away quickly and trying hard not to look like he'd just been staring at his roommate.

"Are you sure?" Logan demanded in a low hiss, glancing around them furtively.

"Dennis said he saw your friend Wally blowing a guy in the alley behind some club this summer," Ashton replied, his grin slipping into a leer now. "That sure enough for you?"

"He's certain it was Wally, though?" Logan pressed. "It just… It doesn't seem like him."

Logan had trouble picturing Wally with anyone; guy, girl, or — or anyone .

"You really didn't know?" Ashton asked, his expression turning incredulous. "Didn't you say you guys went to high school together?"

"We did, but…" Logan stammered, mind whirling as he searched his memories for clues, any signs he'd apparently missed. But he was coming up short. Sure, Wally'd been different, but… not that different. Right?

"You didn't notice he never hooks up with any of the girls at the parties?"

"Well, yeah," Logan admitted. "But like, he's such a nerd that — "

"We've got plenty of guys in the house who are nerds. Hell, three of our alumni went on to found million-dollar tech companies. We have no problem with him being a nerd."

"But," Logan worked out slowly. "You have a problem with Wally being gay."

"Not a problem," Ashton said, his hands shooting up defensively even as his mouth twisted with the lie. "It's just… We think he might fit in better somewhere else. Someplace they won't mind him shoving his lifestyle choices in their face."

Logan racked his brain, but he couldn't remember a single instance of Wally doing any such thing. And given Logan hadn't been aware his own roommate was gay until Ashton had flat out told him…

"That's why you put him in my room," Logan worked out. "The one right next to its own private bathroom, instead of near the big ones at the front. You don't want him using your showers."

"See? I knew you'd get it," Ashton said, pleased. "Makes some of the guys uncomfortable. Why do you think we've been riding his ass so hard since he got here? Though... Huh. He probably likes that. But it's not like we can just come out and tell him he's not Minotaur House material, y'know? Gotta make him leave on his own."

"But he's a member of the house. Aren't we supposed to be ' united by eternal bonds of brotherhood, always striving for excellence; together, forever? " Logan argued, quoting the creed the pledges were all expected to memorize. Hell, every month at the house meeting, all the fraternity brothers chanted it together at the end, with varying levels of accuracy and enthusiasm.

He'd tripped over that line in particular twice during the initiation ceremony; gratefulness blooming warm in his chest at the reminders whispered by the hooded brother standing in front of him, holding the chalice the pledges were to drink from. Kneeling there in that dark room, flickering candlelight dancing over the chipped linoleum and outdated wood-paneled walls; the taste of fruit punch drink-mix hitting Logan's tongue as he took a sip from the heavy metal cup supposedly containing the ritual 'blood of the brethren'?

It'd been hokey as hell, sure. But he had to admit, there'd been something indefinably cool about it at the same time. About knowing how many other men had knelt just like this, said the same words, and pledged the same oath; all of them joining together to be part of something bigger than themselves. To be a team, to be brothers. Every story Logan's dad had ever gone on about his own years here as a member of the house, made real.

And now here Ashton was, telling Logan it'd all been a lie.

"Annoying, right?" Ashton carried on, making a rude noise. "Everyone's so damn woke these days. It's even worse because he's a legacy. Technically, we aren't supposed to haze you legacies at all, but…special circumstances, you know?"

"Not sure I do." Logan frowned. But Ashton just let out a laugh, elbowing Logan knowingly.

"Oh, right. Sure . That crap with your coach, huh? Don't worry, I won't squeal. But he's requested a roommate change three times now, so whatever you're doing? Keep it up. Oh, and that 'Wet Wally' game of yours has been a huge help, too, by the way. Couple more rounds and I think he's a gonner," Ashton told him confidently, before he looked up, his face brightening. "Hey — Aaron's here! I need to go see if he got the keg set up alright. I'll catch you later, yeah?"

Logan stared blankly after him as Ashton disappeared into the crowd, his stomach in knots. He glanced down at the can in his hand, curling his lip as the idea of the syrupy-sweet stuff suddenly made him nauseous.

Screw plans with Madeline , Logan thought, tossing the soda in a big trashcan already half-filled with empties. I need a real drink

Weaving awkwardly through the press of bodies, Logan tried making his way back toward the kitchen, but the crowding had only grown worse as more people arrived at the party. He couldn't even see inside the room past a couple of heads. But there was a steady stream of partiers going in and out of a door just beside which looked like it let out onto a porch or backyard or something; all of them carrying red cups filled with neon-colored drinks.

"Hey, Logan!" one of his fraternity brothers called out. He turned to see Noah grinning at him, briefly lifting the three cups he was clutching tightly together in greeting. "That was a good game last weekend! You thirsty?"

Noah held out the drinks he was juggling unsteadily, and Logan nodded, still feeling somewhat numb as he took a cup of what he was guessing was jungle juice.

"Cheers, man!" Noah said, tapping one of his remaining drinks against Logan's hard enough to splash the contents over their hands.

Logan flicked the liquid off his hand, grimacing as he lifted the cup and tried a sip.

"Fuck, that's strong," he muttered, eyeing the bits of citrus pulp floating across the liquid's surface and trying to place the flavor beyond just 'artificial fruit and orange dye #14'.

"Only the best for a fellow athlete!" Noah replied cheerfully, lifting one of his drinks in a salute.

Flashing Noah a grateful smile as he returned the gesture, Logan shoved down the urge to roll his eyes. Noah was plugged into the professional car racing scene in a way Logan hadn't quite figured out yet. It'd be different if he were actually the one driving them; Logan wouldn't argue that those guys were actual athletes. But the closest Noah seemed to come was the elaborate — and eyewateringly expensive — gaming setup that dominated a corner of his room in the house.

Maybe he's a streamer? Logan wondered, taking another sip of his drink. Would explain a lot, though the whole 'fellow athlete'-schtick is doubly annoying if it's true

"Hey, how many points did you score tonight?" Noah asked, cutting into Logan's thoughts.

Logan shook his head. "Still a redshirt. Ask me next year."

"Oh, well — you'll get there!" Noah replied, his smile flickering somewhat at Logan's reminder that the house's 'star player' wasn't technically a full member of the football team yet, before brightening again. "Hey, is that cheerleader girlfriend of yours coming tonight? And more importantly: is she bringing her friends?"

"Not my girlfriend, but — I think so?" Logan hazarded, scanning the party to make sure he hadn't missed her arrival. "She said she'd try."

"You guys aren't together?"

Shaking his head no, Logan took a small sip of his drink and instantly regretted it. "Just hooked up a few times. Nothing official."

"So…what you're saying is, she's single?" Noah asked hopefully.

Logan laughed. "If you think you can handle her. She's a handful."

"She's two handfuls, if you know what I mean," Noah grinned, attempting a gesture around his pair of too-full cups that Logan assumed was supposed to be lewd if he'd managed to pull it off.

He lifted his cup in acknowledgment of the effort all the same, returning Noah's grin. Logan was still reeling from the revelation about his roommate, but this? This was normal. This he understood, unlike…whatever Wally had going on.

But… so what if Wally is gay?

Logan frowned, wondering if he wasn't more bothered by the fact that… he honestly wasn't actually bothered? Given his conversation with Ashton — not to mention years of joking around with his teams — Logan knew how the other guys expected him to feel about it. But as his eyes drifted over to the other side of the room where Wally was lurking in the corner, looking utterly miserable as he checked the time on his phone once again? All Logan really felt was an urge to… to just go over and talk to the guy. Ask him if it was true, and how long, and —

And try to tell him I didn't mean any of those times I outright called him gay, or queer, or — or worse. Logan winced, knowing that… That doesn't make it any better, though, does it?

"Hey," murmured a familiar voice as a warm, curvy body fitted herself against Logan's side. "What are you so lost in thought about that you forget to say hi?"

He grinned down to see Madeline watching him coyly, a smile teasing at those pouty, plush lips. Logan lifted his arm to wrap it around her shoulders, careful not to spill his still-full drink as he transferred it to his other hand. He had to hold it up a bit to keep it from getting knocked into by the other partiers, but —

At the very same moment, the old cry went up from somewhere in the crowd that sent Logan's heart plummeting right into his sneakers.

"WET WALLY!" someone shouted from near the front door, and instantly, Logan's awareness jumped to the corner where he'd last seen Wally standing. He caught sight of Wally's face just in time to see it pale, to catch an expression Logan had never really paid enough attention to witness before:

Fear

As one, at least half a dozen of the frat guys all swarmed towards their prey. More appeared at the doorways, trying to shoulder their way through. Wally turned, fleeing, looking for an exit.

Oh no

Logan saw the exact moment Wally spotted the back door near where Logan stood; nearly falling over the couch as he wove and dodged through the crowded room to escape his pursuers.

"Get him!" one of the frat brothers yelled, laughing; Trevor's face contorted into a rictus of spiteful glee.

Is that what I used to look like? was all Logan had time to spare before Wally was barreling right into him. His lighter, untrained frame bounced off the football player's chest as if Logan were a brick wall. Wally twisted, still aiming for the safety that lay beyond the door, but —

But not in time to dodge the contents of the very full cup Logan clutched in his outstretched hand.

Logan watched in horror as the neon-colored drink spilled all over Wally's head and down his shirt. The look of fury and hatred that erupted on Wally's face stabbed into Logan's chest in a way it'd never done before, but he was turning, already out the door and gone before Logan recovered enough to actually do anything.

"Logan!" Madeline said sharply from his other side. "What the hell? "

"Niiiice! You got him," Ashton crowed, sliding up just as the back door slammed behind the retreating Wally.

"Wait, you planned this?" Madeline demanded as she stepped out from under Logan's arm, her fist thumping against his shoulder. "Don't pick on him. Oz is in my chemistry lab. He's a sweet guy!"

"Oh, he's sweet , alright." Ashton snickered. "A regular little creampuff."

"Ugh. I don't have time for assholes," Madeline spat, her tone disgusted. "Grow up, Logan. We are through ."

Logan didn't bother arguing he hadn't been aware there was anything to be through with; too focused on grabbing the smirking Ashton by the collar of his shirt and yanking him close.

"This game ends now, " Logan growled. "Or I'm dragging Wally in front of the Panhellenic Council to register a complaint about how you're treating him."

But Ashton only laughed. "Dude. You mean, how we're treating him. What makes you think they wouldn't find you guilty, too?"

Oh God. Ice water slid down Logan's spine. They would, wouldn't they?

"Not like we can just come out and tell him he's not Minotaur House material, y'know? Gotta make him leave on his own."

"Whatever you're doing? Keep it up. Oh, and that 'Wet Wally' game of yours has been a huge help, too, by the way. Couple more rounds and I think he's a gonner…"

One more incident, Coach had warned. One more missed paper, one more slipped grade, one more screwup, one more prank. One final chance to 'clean up his mess' as Coach Rankin had put it, or Logan was O-U-T out .

"Your entire future depends on it," Coach Rankin had said

Logan had to fix this.

Fast.