I snort-laugh. “Yeah, maybe the other guys can, but no one is going to ditch their Friday night plans because I got my ass kicked by some random.”
“Then what’s the point of being in the frat and going through all that stuff during initiation?” She sounds genuinely baffled. “I thought hazing and humiliating each other were supposed to bond you together and create a sense of family.”
I snort-laugh again. “Yeah, that’s what they tell us, but my theory is that it’s just a way to continue the abuse. They had to go through it, so now it’s their turn to inflict it on others. Like a full circle thing.”
“Guys are so messed up,” she says. “I mean, I know sororities aren’t that much better, but at least their torture is mostly psychological and not physical. Not that I’ve been in a sorority orcouldever be in one, but that’s what I’ve heard they’re like.”
“Guysaremessed up,” I agree. “But so are lots of girls. I think at this point it’s just people who are messed up.”
“Yeah, especially the people around here.” She pauses. “You’re moving better. How are you feeling?”
“Not as bad,” I tell her. “Not great, but not any worse.”
“Do you think we should get off the path?” she asks hesitantly. “I know you said you don’t care about Jordanknowing I helped you, but it might be better if we stayed out of sight.”
“I don’t care if we pass half the school,” I say honestly. “I don’t like when people tell me who I can or can’t talk to, so I really don’t give a shit if anyone says anything to him. If he doesn’t like it, then he’ll just have to deal with it.”
We fall silent as we continue down the path. Despite her worries, we don’t pass anyone until we’re almost at my dorm, and even then, it’s just a bunch of first-years who know better than to stare or make a big deal when they pass us. I can’t guarantee that they won’t sing like canaries to everyone they see later, but whatever. I’ll deal with Jordan and anyone else who wants to be a dick about things if I have to.
“Do you need help getting inside?” she asks as we come up to the gate. It’s wide open, like it usually is on weekends, and we pause in front of it.
“Yeah. I doubt I’ll make it very far without you,” I say honestly.
She digs around in her purse and pulls out her ID card.
“I swear I’m not getting fresh with you,” I say, injecting as much sincerity into my voice as I can when I realize my dilemma. “But I don’t think I can get my ID out right now.”
“What pocket is it in?”
“The side one closest to you, in my pants.”
She has to step away from me and pull up the side of my jacket, but I manage to stay on my feet as she digs into my pocket and pulls out my ID for me.
“Here.”
I take it from her and wait as she taps her ID on the gate sensor to log her entry, then I do the same with mine.
“How the hell are you so calm right now?” She pulls my arm tighter around her shoulders as we walk through the gate. “Youjust got attacked by some guy in a mask, and you’re acting like it’s no big deal.”
“This isn’t the craziest thing that’s happened to me lately,” I say dryly as we walk toward the dorm. “I guess my baseline for freaking out has shifted.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? Or is you being all calm something to worry about? I read somewhere that it can take a long time to bleed out from internal injuries. Are you going to drop dead because you’ve slowly been bleeding to death inside this whole time, and that’s why you’re so chill? I really don’t mean to make this about me right now, but I can’t handle that. I will literally lose my mind if you die in front of me.”
“I’m not bleeding out,” I assure her. “And I promise I won’t die in front of you.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she mutters as we slowly climb the stairs.
“What do you think the odds of it rejecting my card are?” she asks dryly as she watches me tap my ID against the sensor next to the ornate door.
“Zero, because your stepbrother doesn’t make the rules here. And you’re not on our shit list as far as I know, so I’d say the odds are in your favor.”
She taps her ID on the sensor, and the tiny light on the base of it flashes blue, meaning she’s good to go and her entrance has been logged.
“What the fuck?” a deep voice exclaims as soon as we walk through the main doors.
“Hey,” I say to Anthony, another member of the Keepers royalty, as he strides over to us, his entire demeanor tense and predatory. “What’s up?”
“What’s up?” He looks between Eden and me. “Do I need to get the boys and deal with whatever the fuck happened?”
