"You little shit."

He burst out laughing. "Man, I missed you."

"I rushed out in the middle of the fucking class, asshole!" I yelled into the phone, hoping to hell that his ears bled from my shriek.

"This is the only free time I have," said Oz defensively. "As hard as it is to believe, I missed your sorry ass enough to call as soon as I goddamn can."

I snorted. "You could've texted to check if I was free. Some of us have lives, you know."

"Right, I heard you joined a sorority. Is that your new life now?"

I was quiet for a moment, panicking a little because how could he have known? There was no one else who could've told him other than Scout. But still, I played it cool.

"Who told?"

"Drew."

I fought a sigh of relief. Of course, it was my brother.

"I didn't know you guys still talked," I said.

"We were talking about football, and then you came up."

I rolled my eyes, sitting on the nearby bench. "Uh-huh."

"How're you holding up over there?"

"Eh."

He chuckled. "Don't sound too excited."

I didn't reply.

"What, you're not gonna talk to me now?"

How could I let him know that I wanted him to keep talking because I missed his voice so much without appearing sappy as fuck?

"And deprive you of the spotlight?" I said instead. "I'd never."

He laughed, and with a dreamy sigh, he whispered, "I miss high school."

I drew a line with my shoe, before asking, "Is it tough?"

"Everything is," he admitted. "Especially fucking football. I'm catching up but Alfie..."

"How is he?"

"Not good. He's keeping up the tough guy act, but I can see through his bullshit."

My fingers reached up and fiddled with a lock of my hair.

"Maybe he just needs a little more time to adjust," I reasoned.

Oz didn't reply right away. I could clearly imagine him shaking his head.

"I won't be surprised if one day, he just snaps."

"What do you think he'll do?" I asked quietly.

"I don't know, Con," he said, worry etched in his voice. "Alfie can be so goddamn unpredictable."

I silently agreed with his statement.

"Do me a favor, though."

I snapped to attention, waiting.

"If he runs to you, don't turn him away."

"Never." He was my best friend. "But Oz, I don't think Alfie –"

"He will."

"How can you be so sure?"

"'Cause besides me, you're his only family."

* * * * *

I was still staring at my phone, sitting on the bench outside, when Scout found me.

"Everything alright? You rushed out pretty quick back there."

I looked up at him. "Yeah, yeah. No worries."

He sat down beside me, studying me. At first I thought he was going to pry, but then he took my books from my lap and stood up.

"Let's go grab some lunch," he merely said. "I'm sure you're starving."

I stared at his back as he walked away. When it dawned on me that he wasn't kidding, I quickly grabbed my bag and followed after him. We went to cafeteria since it was the nearest. I bought some food because he was right, I was actually very hungry. Then, I sat across from him at an empty table.

"You excited about the mixer coming up?"

Oh, shit. I almost forgot about that.

"It's this Thursday, right?"

"Yup." He nodded. "All the brothers are looking forward to it. Apparently, partying with the Kappas are always fun and chill."

I raised an eyebrow. "Never thought frat boys would be up for anything chill."

He laughed, before shrugging. "Guess it could get too crazy sometimes that a relaxed night is needed every once in a while."

I popped a fry in my mouth, not caring if I looked unladylike. "I've had enough of fucked up nights and insane events back in high school. I'm retired of all things wild."

"Yet you joined a sorority." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I don't think Greek life is any better. In fact, I think it's worse in terms of wildness."

"Is that why you pledged?" I tilted my head as I watched him closely. "You wanna sow your wild oats?"

"Something like that," he grinned, playing along.

I leaned back on my chair. "Can't imagine you doing any real fun," I muttered, just as my phone pinged for a text message alert.

Scout made a fist to his heart. "Ouch."

I rolled my eyes, trying not to smile, as I looked at my phone.

Jams:
MADE. THE. SQUAD.

Lils:
Haven't we already got a squad right here?

Jams:
That's cute, Lils. But I meant the CHEERLEADING squad! Mission accomplished!

Lils:
Oh! Congratulations!

Jams:
THANKS! You? How's the charity work?

Lils:
I'm having the most adoring time! I can't wait for next weekend!

Mads:
OMG! You will not believe this! There's a rumor going around that some guys planted TREES in the middle of the football field! TREES! Most people think it's just a prank by the graduating class, but I heard the Aces pledges did it.

Jams:
Ooh! You think?

Mads:
I think so!

Jams:
Cons! Can you ask Scout about it?

Cons:
Why me?

Jams:
Aren't you the one dating him?

I raised my head and looked at Scout. He held his burger up, about to take a bite. I cleared my throat.

"So."

"Yeah?"

"Looks like some guys planted trees in the middle of the football field as a prank."

The burger stopped mid air. After a moment, Scout spoke. "Did they now?"

"They're freshmen, too."

He took a bite of his burger, appearing unaffected.

"Pretty ballsy, huh?" I pushed.

He only nodded.

"Any idea on who they might be?"

He swallowed and shrugged. "No clue."

"I hear they're pledges."

He nodded, about to take another bite.

"From the Aces."

He froze, making me smirk.

Cons:
Confirmed.

When Scout recovered, he casually leaned back in his chair and met my eyes. He lowered his burger, and had a calculating look on his face.

"I mean, that's nothing compared to stealing a cop car."

I raised an eyebrow, not entirely surprised he heard about that.

It happened a couple of times back in high school. Technically, it wasn't me who borrowed the police car without permission. It was my friend Kurt, and it was his uncle's car. But Scout didn't have to know that.

"Better than selling out a party to the cops because I wasn't invited," I replied, shrugging.

Last year, Oz got Scout and his friends kicked out of a party just because. We didn't have the truce back then yet. As payback, they called the cops that same night and reported the party for causing disturbance in the neighborhood.

Oz was impressed. I was not.

Scout groaned, hanging his head. "I know I shouldn't have done that. I still can't believe I let Oz get to me that night."

"Doesn't he always?" I snorted. I couldn't blame Scout, but I couldn't blame Oz either. "He's done way worse things to you." It was a fact.

"He reacts the only way he knows how."

My eyes didn't leave Scout, trying my damnedest to read him.

"Are you only saying that because you guys are friends now?" But even as I asked it, I knew the answer before he even replied.

"No, it's just the way it is. I realized later that he acts like a bad person because that's the only thing he's ever known."

Damn, this guy. Just when I thought he couldn't get any more fucking good, he'd go ahead and say shit like a ginger angel.

"When some of us are pushed over the edge, there's no other choice than to drown."

"Halo seemed to have saved him," he said.

A small smile touched my lips, as I looked away.

"He's lucky. Not all of us has that same luxury. Sometimes, it's good enough that we have someone we can drown with."

"I don't believe that."

I sighed. "Of course, you don't."

"No, seriously." Scout leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Why not stay up for air for as long as you can until someone comes and pulls you out of the water?"

I looked him straight in the eye, feeling a little insulted.

"Do I look like someone who wants saving?"

"No," he replied seriously, not backing down from my stare. "You look like someone who needs it."

_____________

Dun dun dunnn! Pretty short chapter, but holds a lotta meaning. Can you make guesses? ;)

Next update: Thursday (March 21st)
Note: Next chapter's gonna be the Greek social mixer between the Aces and the Kappas. Do I smell a formal event? How on earth will Connie survive that? :)