PRESENT

I didn't tell anyone about the dead bird.

It had been weeks since then. Arisa went back to her apartment, and Byron arrived soon after. Everything was back to normal.

Arisa and I never kissed again after that first time. I wanted to tease her so damn bad about it. I had a hunch she was expecting me to mention it, too.

But after getting that nasty ass package, I didn't want her to get into the crossfire of whatever it was that was about to come.

So we had a silent agreement and pretended it didn't happen. But fuck me, if I didn't get a boner every time I saw her.

The threat still bugged me, though. I wanted to hunt down the fucker who was doing this, but I figured maybe that was what he wanted – to waste my time chasing a loose end.

I had no leads, and I sure as hell had no time to deal with this shit.

I had a difficult year ahead of me; having to balance law school and football. It was my last eligible year to play in the NCAA. I wanted to make it count. I still had to make up to Coach Saxon with that shit I pulled last year that ended me up in the hospital.

I welcomed the good distraction of the school year. I never thought I'd be this excited to go to class but there I was, one of the earliest to arrive in all our classes during the first week.

Aside from the cold calling and tons of readings assigned to us, it wasn't all that bad. Every single one of my classmates looked hungry to prove themselves. I wasn't sure I had their enthusiasm, but that could just be my nerves talking.

The professors didn't spare anyone. One girl cried when the professor grilled her and she couldn't answer. I thought one of the guys would even pee himself.

I sorta had to thank the Ordo for the initiation tests I went through. Nothing came close to that experience. Everything else paled in comparison.

I figured that as long as I didn't have any social life, I was confident I could balance law school and football.

"Why are you being weird?" Byron asked me suddenly, as we walked out of our Torts class.

I frowned. "The hell are you talking about?"

"You've been quiet lately."

I snorted. "Me? Quiet?"

"Toned down," he corrected.

I shrugged. "Just thinking about all the shit I have to do this year."

"Don't worry about it." He nodded and nudged me. "I got you."

He was equally busy this year, supervising the Ordo while doing his readings at the same time. And still, he offered to help me. I seriously didn't know what I did to deserve this guy.

"Right back at ya, man," I said, winking at him.

He shook his head in amusement. "We have a study group on Thursday. You think you can drop by after your practice?"

"Sure." Not like I had a life. "As long as you come to a party with me after the game this Saturday."

His nose wrinkled. "Frat party?"

"Yeah." I pursed my lips. "Most of my teammates will be there. It'll be a one time thing, I swear."

He studied my face. "I thought you said you didn't go to parties like that."

Yeah, I didn't really party anymore – specifically after the shit that happened three years ago. I only ever went to the pub to drink with Byron and the others. But that was the extent of it.

Well, excluding my misadventure last year.

"It's my last year with the guys," I pointed out, shrugging. "Thought I could bond with them more before the season ends."

"And why do you need me?"

I grinned. "So I have an excuse to leave early."

"Ah," he breathed out, nodding in understanding. "You're going to use me."

I jumped to his front and faced him. I put my arms up as I started walking backwards. "Name your price, Beaumont."

He didn't reply for a few seconds, considering it. But when he finally spoke, I kinda wished he didn't open his mouth.

"I heard you learned how to cook this summer."

Damn it, Arisa.

"For every hour we stay at that party, you'll cook for a week."

Fuck. I didn't really wanna go without Byron. No doubt it would be the same damn scene, triggering memories I didn't wanna fucking face ever again.

I looked at my preppy roommate, ignoring his smug face.

"Agreed."

* * * * *

I knew it.

It was the same old fucking scene.

"Yo, Alfie?!"

I exchanged looks with Byron before turning around and grinning at Holden. He was holding a bottle of beer, looking the happiest he'd ever been.

He laughed. "Am I drunk or what?"

"Hey, man," I greeted, giving him a nod. Either he was totally high or totally wasted. Maybe both. "Got some free time, so I decided to stop by."

"Holy shit, you're really here."

I smirked. "In the flesh." I gestured to my roommate, and added, "This my friend, Byron. By, this is my running back, Holden."

Technically, we didn't have team captains. Coach Saxon didn't believe in that shit, something about his former player causing him a headache in the past and he didn't want a repeat. But it didn't matter.

The team treated me like their captain, anyway. They respected me. They saw how hard I worked my ass off for the team. They knew how much the game meant to me, how they meant to me – even if I didn't usually attend the same parties they did.

One slip up didn't change that.

"You got anything to drink?" Byron asked.

"Yeah, o'course." My teammate looked around until he spotted someone. He raised a hand and yelled. "Yo, pledge! C'mere!"

A nervous-looking freshman rushed to us and looked expectantly at Holden. "You called for me, sir?"

"Get us a couple of beers. Stat."

"Yes, sir."

"Keep them sealed," I ordered.

"Yes, sir."

Yeah, this seemed all too fucking familiar.

"You wanna play beer pong?" Holden asked.

I looked to Byron, and he just shrugged. He looked bored already. He eyed everything around here like it was beneath him. He was probably right.

I turned my attention back to Holden. "I only play against the best."

He laughed, nodding. "Then, we'll get you the best."

We followed him to another room, where a beer pong table was already set up. I noticed that the only difference between frat parties down south and up here was the vibe of the place.

Down there, it was all spring break central where everybody practically went topless at some point in the night. Here, it was preppy as shit with the old fancy interior and fully clothed individuals.

Same old wild scene, though.

I nodded to several guys who called out to me, while Holden walked over to his frat brothers. They looked like fucking kings of the douchebag mountain of ego. Pathetic losers.

Damn, this was what I looked like before?

"I've never seen you play beer pong," Byron said.

"You've never seen me party," I countered.

"After seeing you almost kill yourself from getting too drunk that you couldn't function?" He gave me a pointed look. "I'd rather not."

I pressed my lips together. "Touché."

"Here you go, sirs."

The pledge from earlier handed us two sealed beer bottles. I grabbed one from him and placed the edge of the bottle cap on top of the table, before I slammed it down with my other hand. I gave it to Byron and did the same with the other one.

"Thanks," I told the pledge, before he ran off to do another errand.

"How did you do that?" Byron asked, eyeing our bottles.

"Told you." I smirked. "You've never seen me party."

"I hope I never will."

I chuckled, before taking a swig. I spotted Mack entering the room with a smug face. The stupid shit grinned when he saw me and walked over to where I was. I wondered how he would play this.

"Isn't this a miracle?" he drawled, offering his hand for a man hug.

I accepted it and slapped my hand with his. "Pray for Hail Marys, that's the only miracle."

"Are you dying or something?" he asked, when we pulled away. He stared at me like he still couldn't believe I was here.

"Dying of schoolwork." I shrugged. "I needed to chill out, so I stopped by."

Yeah, that was a load of bullshit. This was the last place I'd go to if I wanted to relax.

I caught Byron hiding his knowing smirk by drinking his beer. He turned away, telling me he didn't wanna be introduced this time. But I knew him. His eyes maybe somewhere else, but I knew his ears were listening.

"Dude, you gotta blow off some steam every once in a while." Mack shook his head. "I mean, just look at what happened last year."

My jaw clenched and my grip on the bottle hardened, but I schooled my expression as Mack continued to spout off his words of fucking wisdom.

"You pushed yourself way too hard, and you ended up on a bender. None of us want a repeat of that. We need you now more than ever."

I knew he meant well, but I also knew that I wanna bash his fucking face in. I didn't like people telling me what the fuck to do. Most of all, I didn't like it when people threw my goddamn mistakes to my face like they fucking knew me.

I knew I fucked up.

No need to rehash fucking history.

I let out a humorless laugh, resisting the urge to snap at him. "You think you can mask that condescending tone with concern?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, pulling an innocent face.

Yeah, that was his mistake right there. He put on an innocent expression instead of a confused one. I'd even be impressed if he was at least indignant.

I sneered, stepping closer to him. "Don't fuck with me, Mackenzie. Go find someone else to bother." I waved a hand for him to go away. "Shoo."

I never really liked this shithead. I knew something was off. But I was a team player, so I always tried to play nice – except that time I almost choked him to death. Like I said, let's not rehash history.

Mack dropped the innocent mask and blew out a frustrated breath. "The only thing you're good for is football, and you can't even do that right."

Ah, I'm gonna fucking kill this cocksucker.

"Aw, I didn't know you were this emotional. Should I get you a tampon?"

"Fuck you."

I made a disgusted face. "Nah, I've seen your dick in the locker room—so no thanks."

A few laughs erupted around us. It looked like we gained an audience.

"Like yours is any bigger," he retorted.

"Compared to you?" I snorted. "Hell yeah."

Mack's face was growing redder by the second. Shit. I mean, he was still my teammate. I had no plans on humiliating him in front of strangers.

"Come on, Mack." I laughed. "I'm kidding. All in good fun, people," I added to our audience, as I put an arm around Mack and pulled him closer to me.

Byron merely eyed me, not saying anything.

"Acting like a fucking dick won't make yours grow any bigger," I hissed in Mack's ear. "Never fuck with me again, or I won't be very nice next time."

With a friendly grin, I let him go and patted his shoulder. He only glared at me before walking away. Fucking dickface.

"What was the point of coming here again?" Byron asked, stepping up beside me again.

"To bond with my teammates."

"You're doing a great job."

"Thanks."

Holden finally came back, wearing a shit-eating grin. "Found you a beer pong champion."

"Awesome. Let's go."

We were walking towards the table when a huge commotion caught our attention. Tons of people were cheering and shouting. Drawn by the crowd, we followed the noise. My body tensed with the familiar scene – exactly how it was that time.

The pledge who brought us our drinks was in the middle of the crowd, right inside the eye of the storm. He forced himself to chug the alcohol down his throat. My eyes narrowed as I studied him.

His eyes were glazed, his head lolled, and his body swayed. How many did he fucking drink already?

"Stop him," I ordered Holden.

My teammate looked at me like I was out of my mind. "He's a pledge. The brothers are only testing him."

"I don't give a flying fuck," I gritted out, looking him dead in the eye. "Stop him before he fucking hurts himself."

Holden hesitated, his eyes darting to the pledge and his brothers that were urging the freshman on.

Fuck this.

I pushed my way forward and snatched the bottle from the pledge's hands. There was immediately a round of boo's and profanities thrown out at me. I grabbed a handful of the pledge's shirt when he was about to fall forward.

"Y'all know who the fuck I am," I said in a raised voice, addressing the crowd. "Y'all know what happened in Florida. Do you really want that shit to happen to your house?"

Some of Holden's frat brothers scowled at me while the others averted their gaze. Nevertheless, I saw the guilt there. They knew I was right.

I shoved the pledge to one of them.

"Learn from that fucking mess."

With that, I turned around and left. I passed a few of my teammates, with some of them saying their goodbyes or giving me a salute. I only nodded in turn and got the hell outta there.

This was exactly why I didn't attend parties like this anymore. I knew some shit was bound to happen.

"Well, that was eventful," Byron remarked, as we walked along the sidewalk. "Too trashy for me, but eventful nonetheless."

I glanced at him. "Thanks for coming with me."

"Deal's a deal." He shrugged nonchalantly. "You'll be making meals for the next week, anyway."

I groaned. "Can I renegotiate the terms?"

"Nope, it's already done. Verbal agreements are binding in the state of Massachusetts."

"I regret telling you that."

"Doesn't make it any less true." He smiled smugly, before walking ahead of me.

I smirked. "Oh, yeah? How can you be sure I won't poison you?"

He snorted. "Who else will save you from trouble?"

Shit, that was true.

"Besides," he continued, "without me, you wouldn't have met Arisa."

Huh. "Okay, what do you want for breakfast?"

_____________

What do you think happened in Florida?

No Arisa this weekend. Don't worry, it'll be Arisa-filled next week! ;)

Next update: I update on weekends!

Coming up next..... Chapter 12: Breathe Me
Aftermath of Alfie's destructive episode...