Taggart’s low, rumbled, “Fuck,” is heard by the entire group, then there’s some snickering in response.
“What’s the matter, Tag? Can’t hang on this one?” Bridger shoots a foul smile in Taggart’s direction.
My brows drag together, and I roll my eyes, but I remain silent, trying to keep my head in the game, as I know that’s the way to survive.
The rumble of laughter doesn’t stop until Kingston gives a harsh shake of his head. “Quiet.” With a clenched jaw, his eyes flick over the group until they fall silent. “This is probably the game with the simplest rules. The card reads as follows: Complete the obstacle course set forth for you. You’ll swing on the rope over the mud, traverse the balance beams, high-step through the tires, work your way under the rope net, and, finally, climb to the top of this wall. Should you fall from any apparatus, you may climb back up at the same point you fell and continue, however in some cases it might be easiest to simply start the obstacle over. Points will be awarded based on who finishes fastest. You’re done when you’re sitting atop the wall. Members of the brotherhood will attempt to make things harder for you by throwing water balloons and using water guns while you attempt to complete each obstacle.” He stops, gesturing to the buckets and guns. “The juniors and sophomores will have water balloons to lob at you. The seniors get balloons plus water guns.”
Stuart laughs. “I doubt the founding brothers realized there would eventually be such things as these crazy super sprayer guns.”
Archer shrugs. “Probably not, but we’re still within the bounds of the instructions we follow. You’re lucky these things are weak in terms of water pressure.” He smirks, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “And as for the water balloons, the year we initiated they used slingshots for maximum velocity. It fuckin’ hurt. Again, you’re lucky.”
A small grunt bursts from Cannon’s lips, and he points at me, Bridger, and Taggart, then at a spot about six feet away.
“Yep. Initiates, stand over there, facing us. We’ll give you a points update before we begin.” Archer’s lips twitch as he pulls out the paper he’s been tracking our points on. “Ready?”
I stand between Bridger and Taggart, both of them towering over me. I sneak a look behind us at the crazy course we’ll be navigating in mere minutes.Shit, shit, shit.
“Uh, Elliot?” At Joel’s snide-sounding voice, my head whips back around to see him cock his head to the side, pointing a finger toward my leg. “Did your pad fall out of your panties?”
I stand in stunned silence as my cheeks turn pink with embarrassment.
Stuart jerks a thumb toward the trees on the other side of the obstacle course, laughing aloud. “Yep, this is why we don’t have female initiates. She should go into the woods and fix that shit before we start.”
A lot happens all at once. Kingston’s head rears back, and his hand shoots out, roughly shoving Joel to the side, making him stumble and fall to the grass. “The fuck, dude. Shut up. You fuckers never learn.”
Cannon plants his hands on his hips, rounding on Joel and putting a foot right on top of his sternum with a very obviousFucking say another word, and I’ll end this right nowexpression.
At Stuart’s laughter, Kingston whirls on him, catching him by his throat. “Look, you pimply-assed loser, you don’t get to make comments.” Stuart’s eyes bug out, but the insolence remains.
Archer’s eyes find mine, and he shakes his head, the apology for their stupidity clear in them.
“I’d ask if you’re done acting like assholes, but this is the real you, no act, so I’ll just say e-fucking-nough. No matter that you passed your initiation, no matter how many games you win… you’re a disgrace to everything this brotherhood has always stood for. We might not be angelic and pure, but at least we aren’t the very fuckin’ devil.” Kingston squeezes Stuart’s neck hard, whispers something in his ear, and shoves him backward, where he trips over Joel, who’s still trying to scramble to his feet. He goes down hard on his ass and catches Joel with a foot in the ribs.
Alec’s been looking on in avid amusement, and his beady eyes catch my attention. I can see it in the way he leers at me that he’s dying to join in. Too bad the fucker still has evidence of the beating he took from me all over his face. At least he’s smart enough to know when he should probably stay out of things—but he doesn’t get a free pass this time because he’s to blame for why they assume a feminine product is stuck inside the leg of my pants.
I raise my hand, my jaw setting hard. Kingston and Cannon may have physically put them in their places, but I think this calls for more. “Can I say something?”
Archer catches sight of the fire in my eyes and quickly nods his approval. “Go ahead, Elliot.”
I let my gaze roam from Joel to Stuart before they land on Alec again. “It’s not a pad, you dickheads. It’s a bandage to protect the area where my ex cut me with a razor blade.Youlet him take me, Alec, you nutless fucker. So, fuck off, and take your dumbass friends with you. You’re not worth the air I breathe.”
As I finish my piece, I notice Dane has joined the group from out of thin air. I don’t know where the hell he came from, but it’d be frowned upon if he didn’t show up to one of the games, I’m sure. I try to get his attention because we really haven’t spoken since our argument, but he’s looking everywhere but at me.Great.
“Would you give them the points update, Arch, so we can get this the fuck over with?” Kingston’s voice comes out rough, like gravel. He’s pissed, and I don’t know if it’s more that he’s worried about me going through this, or if he’s angry those idiots aren’t done fucking around with me. It’s stupid. Their ridicule was one hundred percent weak and pathetic and obviously didn’t have the desired effect on me. It’s just riled me up.
Archer’s head bobs, a rueful grin on his face. “Absolutely. Current standings show Bridger in third with one, three, and zero points awarded. Taggart is in second after placing second in all three events for a total of six points—good job being the steadiest initiate so far. And Elliot is currently in first, having earned three points, one point, and three points. She’s at seven.”
“Wait. Why’d she get a point for game two? She didn’t finish.” Bridger’s surly voice is like running a cheese grater over my skin. “When I didn’t finish, you gave me zero.”
Cannon rolls his eyes, but I can see in the way he’s clenched his fists that he’s pissed at the question.
“Easy, you douche,” Kingston growls, “you came back before you’d finished. No one knocked you out and sent you to the hospital. She fuckin’ earned that point.” He loudly claps his hands together. “That’s about enough talk. Time to do this. Let’s go.”
Archer waves us toward one side of this maddening obstacle course. “Initiates, make your way to the left. You’ll start over there. Stay in your fuckin’ lane.”
I end up in the middle position with Bridger and Taggart on either side of me. I don’t suppose it really matters. Maybe it’ll even help deflect some of the water if we’re running an even race.
Archer pulls out a whistle. “Good luck.” He blows hard, and the shrill sound makes all three of us jump.
