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 arealdrink
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 onedrivingthem; 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'stwohandfuls, 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 outrightcalledhim 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?"
