Days as a Freshman: 87
Mood: Kinda freaked

“So, should we start?”

As much as I could have stared back and forth from Sasha’s eyes to his friend’s bare chest forever, I didn’t want to spend my entire Saturday at the Soccer House. Eventually, the rest of the guys were going to wake up, and I wanted to be out of there before I was surrounded by some of the most infamous people on campus.

Maybe the rumors weren’t true. Maybe the Scandal everyone was still whispering about had been blown out of proportion, but as far as I knew, Sammy still wasn’t in class, and Public Safety had been seen patrolling around the Soccer House at night way more than usual.

Rumors always come from somewhere, and I wanted to be out the door before I found out just how close to the truth they were.

“Sure. Let’s start. I just gotta run upstairs and grab my book.” Sasha stood, kicking the table in the process and flinching. “Of course I forgot my book. Be right back.”

Jumping over the side of the couch and heading toward the stairs, Sasha clunked up the steps, his bare feet making enough noise on the old wood to wake up the entire house.

I stared down at my Chemistry book, turning the pages and pretending to be so interested in the equations that I had no idea the half-undressed guy was still in the kitchen, rummaging around in the refrigerator. I let my hair fall into my face, doing my best to stay quiet and blend into the old green cushions.

“Where the f*ck did they put the peanut butter?”

I could hear the half-undressed guy fighting with the contents of the refrigerator and bit my lip to keep from laughing.

“Seriously. That f*cking peanut butter is mine! They ate it all!” Slamming the fridge door, I heard him bang on the counter. “You wouldn’t eat someone else’s peanut butter, would you, Grace?”

Hearing my name surprised me so much that I looked up. “What?”

“You wouldn’t eat expensive organic peanut butter that didn’t belong to you, right?” The half-undressed guy’s face was twisted in frustration. “Especially if someone’s mom had given it to them.” He slammed the counter again, a little softer this time. “The guys in here are pigs.”

Out of all the things I had expected this guy to say, “organic peanut butter” and “pigs” weren’t even on the list.

“College kids are total thieves.” I shook my head to show my sympathy. “I can’t leave anything in the dorm fridge. Last month I left some Halloween candy in the kitchen by accident for like, 10 minutes, and when I came back, it was completely gone. But they were kind enough to leave the wrappers behind.”

Half-undressed guy smiled. “Sh*t. That sucks.”

“Seriously. It was my favorite kind, too. Almond Joys. Although any candy is good candy.” Why I was sharing all this with someone I didn’t know was beyond me. I didn’t usually talk to guys who looked like this one, never mind expose my weakness for sweets.

“Yeah. Almond Joys are the best. No one else I know likes them.” The smile stayed on his face, giving his All-American look a flash of good-naturedness I wasn’t expecting.

“Dude!” Sasha clomped down the steps again, jumping the last couple and walking heavily into the kitchen. “Public Safety is outside right now.”

“What?” The smile faded from the tall, half-undressed All American guy who had lost his organic peanut butter. “Why?”

“F*cked if I know.” Sasha rubbed his face, “but I’m pretty sure they’re coming to the door.”

As if waiting for an introduction, a knock came from the front door, rapping on the plaster quick and fast. It was not a friendly knock.

“Goddamnit. Get a shirt on or something, Stevens.” Sasha made his way to the front door. “I don’t want to deal with these losers on my own.”

The tall kid made for the stairs, sounding as though he was taking them two at a time, while I sat forgotten on the couch. My chemistry book was still open on my lap, my pen still clenched in one fist. I wanted to get out of there. But where would I go?

I was stuck.