Griff
The sounds of a large party on the campus of Moonhaven University were muffled by the hum of the idling car.
“You’re really BYOBing to this guy’s frat party, huh?” Darcy asked as he pulled out a flask from Pruitt’s center console. “Mind if I have some before we go in?”
“ I do mind! ” grabbed the flask away and tucked it into his satchel. “And yes, I am bringing a little something. Whatever fits in the man purse is fair game.” Plus, you already had some earlier, he thought to himself. You just don’t know it yet.
“I hope this guy’s more impressive than he sounds, or?—”
“Or what?” shot back, nudging Darcy. “I seem to remember you getting defensive when I first met Pruitt and Uriah, too.”
“Well, first off, I was possessed by their jealous ex-girlfriend . But I still had control of some of my actions, like not wanting to see my roommate get hurt.”
“Ironic considering everything that happened, but I appreciate that,” said . “I just want to make sure there’s a true delineation between defensiveness and jealousy.”
“Yeah, yeah,” sighed Darcy. “Jealousy has no place in a supernatural harem, I know. ”
“Harem,” muttered, not liking the way the word rolled off his tongue. “That word seems so?—”
“ You? ”
“ Outdated is what I was going to say.” gave Darcy a stern look as he turned off the ignition. “Now, let’s go over the plan before we go to our first-ever college frat party.”
and Darcy stepped up to the front entrance of the manor some twenty minutes later, both surprised to see a queue of partygoers already waiting to get in. Someone at the very front knocked on the door.
“Dang, no special VIP line even?” quipped Darcy, his hand brushing against ’s.
“Remember what I said,” replied , giving the other witch’s hand a friendly pinch.
“Oh, VIP is over there,” a sorority girl in front of them pointed out. “On the west end.”
The two made their way down a small cobblestone path that wrapped around the sizable fraternity.
“It’s just like at all the big college campuses—like how it is in the movies, even,” Darcy exclaimed as he took in the architecture, playfully putting his arm around ’s shoulders. “Old, historic home, lots of structural beauty and glamor. But inside, baby, that’s where the real magic is: dirty beer bongs, overinflated frat bro egos, and a sizable supply of roofies.”
They turned the corner to see Haven waiting. couldn’t deny he was impressed with what he saw.
Haven wore a fitted crimson dress shirt with a gold paisley design running down it. He had purposely skipped the first few buttons, which brought attention to his broad chest and perfect sun-kissed skin tone. His often messy blonde hair looked like it had seen both a comb and some styling product. His smile was big and bright when he made eye contact with . He looked like a million bucks.
“Actually, we’re all out of roofies, believe it or not,” Haven said in direct response to Darcy’s joke a moment before.
Darcy gulped, his eyes widening. “I mean, i-in this economy? I completely understand,” he managed.
Haven chuckled, putting his hand on Darcy’s shoulder. “You must be the Darcy I’ve heard very little about. I’m Haven Hemming.”
did his best to look disinterested in the interaction, but couldn’t help but to notice that Darcy seemed equally as entranced by Haven as he was. “In the flesh,” Darcy replied, shaking Haven’s free hand. “Nice to meet you, Haven.”
“Same, mate. I have to say that you are a very handsome, strapping woman,” continued Haven, “which, of course, I only say because I assumed with such a name that?—”
“Ah, yes,” Darcy’s face flushed. “One of those darned gender neutral names.”
Haven smiled again. “Well, I meant what I said about the handsome and strapping part.”
“Me, too,” said Darcy, a wistful smile on his lips, not realizing how silly he might sound.
Haven looked down at , his face again lighting up. “And well, well, well. If it isn’t the boy in the woods. The original ankle biter himself.”
“Hi, Haven,” smiled back as Haven politely took his hand and kissed it. “Thank you for the invite. Uh, I hope you don’t mind, but Darcy’s my roommate. Well, ex-roommate.” He could already tell he was rambling. And did he just kiss my hand!?
“Ah,” Haven nodded as he released ’s hand and turned. “Coincidentally, I’m here with an ex-roommate of mine as well.”
Haven gestured to Alo, whose long black hair flowed down over his tan blazer. went to shake Alo’s hand, but Alo instead went in for a hug. Although wasn’t aware of it, Alo took a deep breath, inhaling his scent as he stepped back and introduced himself. “Alo Amarok. Sophomore here at Moonhaven U. It’s good to meet you, .”
Haven gestured. “Alo, this is Darcy.”
“Ah, great to meet you, Darcy,” Alo said as the two shook hands. “Do you also go to MHU?”
“I do. Think we actually play you guys in football this weekend.”
“Indeed,” Alo nodded. “In fact, Haven, myself, and several members of our fraternity will be on the field for that. Hopefully, we’ll give your team and their little star quarterback, Pruitt Mondamin, a run for their money.”
Both and Darcy tried not to wince at the name drop.
“Uh, yeah, for sure,” Darcy smiled his way through the interaction. “Go sports ball.”
“Let’s get you two a drink, shall we?” Haven nodded toward the west end entrance.
“Yes, a roofie-free one,” Alo teased, patting Darcy on the back.
imagined Darcy was mentally kicking himself, but all he could wonder is how their new acquaintances had such good hearing. Maybe Haven actually is a werewolf. Is his friend, too?
The manor was much more full than either of them expected, but and Darcy did their best to relax and enjoy the upbeat party atmosphere.
“I’m going to try not to bombard you with introductions, at least for now,” Haven spoke loudly as the sound of the band playing echoed through the halls. “Maybe we can spend some time getting to know each other a little better.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what,” Darcy began, pointing at . “You’ll have to watch out for this one. He’s a natural wolf tamer, after all.”
thought he could die of embarrassment right then and there. Did he forget they’re not supposed to know these things?
“What was that, man?” Haven asked.
“Uh, I meant magnet . told me you met him after a wolf attack. Almost like they were just drawn to him,” replied Darcy before mouthing an apology to .
Their frat boy guides for the night led them into a secondary dining room, where a dozen party guests mingled and laughed.
“Are you two okay with the house jungle juice?” asked Alo. and Darcy nodded. “Haven and I will grab that and meet you back here.”
Alo put his hand on Haven’s shoulder as the two ducked into the next room.
“Talk about a scary moment,” whispered in Darcy’s ear.
“Why the whispering?” Darcy asked.
sighed, pulling out his phone and typing up a message. He held the screen up so Darcy could see: Werewolves = Acute sense of hearing.
“Oh, duh,” Darcy acknowledged.
A pair of hands grabbed ’s shoulders, pulling him back. “Who said anything about scary?”
instantly recognized the voice, breathing a sigh of relief as he leaned into Uriah. “Oh, gosh. I just got here and my nerves are shot.”
“Now you must know how I feel,” Uriah said, letting go of and reaching for two full solo cups on a nearby table. “Care for a drink, you two?”
Darcy sniffed the closest drink before taking it.
“Don’t worry, pal,” said Uriah. “I don’t need none of that date rape stuff to get either of you back to my place.”
Darcy shrugged and took the drink.
“Thanks,” nodded as he took the other cup. “But if you’re in here, then who’s leading the band?”
“Long story,” the vampire said as he gave ’s rear a quick squeeze. “I’ll see you soon.”
Uriah ducked out of the room before could say another word. Guess my temporary vampire cloaking spell worked, too, he thought to himself.
“Wow, this actually tastes pretty good,” Darcy threw up his thumb as he took another drink. “Also, was he just flirting with me?”
smiled and shrugged before trying his own drink. “It’s good, but I feel like it needs a little something,” he said as he reached for his bag. “Yours, too. Hold on.”