Page 13 of Claimed and Shamed

I've never been rejected by Hudson before, even when we were just frenemies with benefits. Heck, even before the sex at all, he was always available. But now that he's kicked me to the curb, I'm surprised to find that I miss him in ways that go beyond the physical. I feel rejected and hurt which is surprising, because I’ve always told myself that our sex is just casual, and that there are no feelings involved.

So why do I feel like this?

I miss talking to him about the things that are going on in my life. It's been over a week and I haven't heard from him. To top it off, I saw the flyers he put up all over campus. He tried to hurt and embarrass me! I can’t believe he would stoop so low as to try to sabotage my chances of joining Zeta Tau. I have no idea if any of the members have seen the flyers, I’ve been avoiding them all week, until now.

When she saw the flyers, Tricia said, “These pictures of you are so cute! I heard Hudson was behind this. He can’t hate the Elites that much can he?”

“Cute? I’ve never felt so embarrassed in my life!”

“You'd never get that nonsense from the Elites. Those boys know how to treat right!” she says, giggling uncontrollably. “Because this? This is just childish!”

I continue going to volleyball practice and some rush events. I decide I’m not going to let this affect me, especially if Tricia is still inviting me to Zeta Tau things. My chances haven’t been ruined, so I’m not going to waste any opportunity to further my pledge.

“Do you want to go to the rush picnic, tomorrow?” Melissa asks at volleyball practice Friday evening.

Saturday already, huh?

It is going to be the first Saturday that Hudson and I are apart. We usually spend Saturdays fucking like bunny rabbits, but clearly that isn’t going to happen, since I don’t want to talk to him, let alone see him.

“Sure, why not?” It isn’t as if not going would make Hudson talk to me again.

***

Melissa and I see Tricia and her boyfriend, Henrik, and we make our way over to them, since they are the only faces we know.

“Stephanie!” Tricia jumps up as if we’re besties and I’m caught off guard by her enthusiasm.

“Hey.” Henrik lifts an arm to wave at me and gives me a smile. I watch his eyes glide over my body and it makes me cringe a little. I barely know him and his girlfriend is right in front of him.

What the fuck?

“So how do you know Hudson, Stephanie? You guys must be pretty close if he feels comfortable enough to play that joke on you with the flyers.” Tricia sits back down on Henrik’s lap and taps the bench next to her for Melissa and I to sit.

Ugh, don’t remind me. “We grew up together. He’s best friends with my brother, Sawyer.”

Melissa and I sit down next to them.

“Oh really? Do you know his family?” she asks.

“Yeah. I don’t know how they feel about me or anything, but I was always at their house with Sawyer and Hudson. Mostly just tagging along with Sawyer. It’s mostly our parents who get along.”

Tricia laughs and Henrik rolls his eyes.

“What’s so funny?”

“My parents don’t like Henrik.”

“It's all about connections, baby. Your daddy doesn't want the kind I can offer!” Henrik says and Tricia giggles again.

“My parents would love it if I became Tricia Foley, instead of Tricia Olsen. Silly isn’t it? Imagine me, Mrs. Hudson Foley.”

I laugh awkwardly, but not because of her comment. It doesn’t bother me at all because Tricia is clearly into Henrik and not Hudson. I am awkward because of her behavior.

Is she high? She’s being awfully giggly even when things don’t seem that funny?

Then, start to wonder if Henrik’s comment is a hint about the drugs Hudson and Sawyer talked about. However, because Hudson was an asshole and tried to publicly humiliate me, and Sawyer has been overbearing as if he’s my dad or something, I decide that it’s not that big of a red flag to persuade me not to pledge. So far, it’s been more fun than not fun at these events, and I don’t see any reason not to commit.

Melissa and I continue to sit with them and just talk about miscellaneous things. Or at least Tricia and Henrik talk a lot. I wonder if Melissa has some weird obsession with Tricia, or is trying to be her friend or something, because she hangs on every word Tricia says and is overly super-responsive. I mostly just listen to the three of them and look around.