37. Kai
Chapter 37
Kai
“Last item on the agenda,” Hillary says. “The dean spoke to me this morning. She wants to encourage more physical donations this year, not just cash. Something to show that people actually give a shit about Riverside, and they’re not just getting their tax write offs.”
A bored murmur moves through the students clustered around the GAZ dining table. We’ve been at this for two hours, and shit’s getting stale as fuck.
“Blankets,” a senior calls out. “Always need blankets.”
“Blankets are already on the list.”
“Canned food?”
“Has anyone actually looked at the list?” Hillary says, pressing her fingertips to her temple like she’s getting a headache.
She’s not the only one. Everyone here looks like they’d rather be studying calculus than dealing with the nitty-gritty of party planning. We dealt with all the fun shit at the last few meetings—lining up the DJs, making sure there were enough party supplies.
And I’m not talking about red solo cups.
This isn’t my first Rain Dance, and despite everything that’s kicked me in the balls so far this semester, I’m looking forward to it.
I might even leave Haven alone and concentrate on enjoying the party.
Yeah, who the fuck am I kidding?
Tormenting this girl is quickly becoming my favorite pastime.
As if thinking her name drove her out of whatever day dream she’d been stuck in, she blinks and glances around the dining table. She’s become a fucking guru at avoiding eye contact with me, though.
If I had a beer right now, I’d be asking someone to hold it.
“What’s the plan, Haven?” I ask, the words a little muffled with my plastic straw in my mouth. I try to keep a sucker on me at all times. It’s probably the only thing that’s helped me quit smoking.
Fuck nicotine patches. Raspberry suckers are the way to go.
“The…plan?” Her confusion is downright adorable.
“Yeah. You got a seat at the table for a reason.” I use my sucker to point at the varnished golden teak. “Why the hell else would you be here?” I let my chair fall forward with a thump that makes Haven jump in her seat. “Give us the intel, Riversider. What do you guys need down there?” I stage-whisper, my sucker stick pointing the way.
She flushes, and just for a moment, I swear I can see those marks around her throat.
There’s a queasy feeling in my stomach. Part pride, part jealousy. I did that. Me. But fuck knows if I actually want anyone to know that. Ever.
Melissa stands so fast, her chair almost falls over. “How dare you speak to a GAZ sister like that?”
“Actually, Melissa?” Hillary leans forward, arms on the table, boxing in the impressively thick file she’s compiled for the dance. “Haven isn’t a sister. She’s not even a pledge?—“
Melissa holds up a finger, and Hillary stops talking.
Well, fuck. I didn’t know Parker had that much power. Guess it helps when your daddy owns the half the fucking town this side of the Agony River.
No one wants to own anything on the other side, anyway.
“She’s right, Parker,” I say, pocketing my chewed up stick in favor of unwrapping a fresh new sucker. “Haven’s an only child.” I pop the new sucker in my mouth, swirling it over my tongue.
That ought to do it.
But the bitch ignores me. Haven fucking ignores me.
She’s looking at Hillary, grabbing Melissa’s wrist and urging her back into her seat.
Yeah, I’ve heard this one.
Don’t feed the trolls, right, Haven?
I don’t eat scrawny mice like you, anyway. And even if I did, hunger won’t drive me away from this bridge. I’m here to stay.
Unlike you.
“Well? We could use some ideas, if you’ve got any,” Hillary says, glancing over at me like she’s wondering if I’m going to object again.
I purse my lips, flicking out my hands, giving Haven the floor. If she wants the spotlight on her so badly, then she must have it. She won’t come crying to me when she makes a fool out of herself in front of everyone.
“Uh…yeah…I don’t have a copy of the list, but is there pet food on there?”
I laugh, but no one joins me. Fuck, no one’s even looking at me.
“This is a charity event for people, not pets,” Hillary explains carefully, as if Haven might not be up to speed yet.
That kinda pisses me off. I never implied Haven was dumb, just poor.
“Riversiders love animals.” Haven has the fucking audacity to look over at me like she’s making a point. “Everyone I knew had at least two dogs and shared a few cats between them and their neighbors.”
They laugh at that for some fucked up reason. I cross my arms over my chest, gobsmacked by what the fuck is happening. When did my mouse turn into a show pony?
“Pet food is really expensive, so we— they buy the cheapest. That stuff’s so bad for the animals, they end up needing vet visits no one down there can afford.”
“What’s the problem? Everyone down there has a shotgun.”
Now everyone’s paying attention to me.
Hillary even fucking gasps.
“Oh, come on.” I throw my hands up. “It was a fucking joke.”
“Excellent suggestion.” Hillary points at Haven with her pen before making a note in her file. “I’ll add it to the social media announcement going out tomorrow morning. Right. Thanks everyone. Meeting adjourned.”
I stay in my seat, glaring at Haven as she stands with the rest of them. She hangs back a moment, throwing the departing students a quick glance, and then leans her hands on the dining table, giving me the fucking stink eye from a few feet away.
“Just give it a fucking rest, would you?” She straightens, flips her hair back with a flick of her hand, and stares down her nose at me. “If you’ll excuse me. I need to get moved into my new room.”
I watch her go with my jaw dropped, because fuck.
Bitch.
“Dude.”
Coming in here like she fucking owns the place.
“ Dude .”
She’s gonna learn her place, one way or the fucking?—
“Kai, dude!”
“Jesus, what?” I swing to face the senior who’d been trying to get my attention.
He grins. “We gonna hit that J or what, bro?”
This guy.
I nod, a tad reluctantly, because yeah, I want to get fucked up, but with Haven so close, I’ve been rocking a semi for nearly two hours.
I’m just about ready to pull any of these sorority girls aside and stick it in them. Half of them wouldn’t even complain.
Rumor around campus the past three years is that I have a girlfriend at Cambridge. We’re so in love, we still think a long-distance relationship could work. And I guess no one’s really questioning that logic, because I haven’t slept with a single girl since my freshmen years. Even back then, it was only one girl.
“What did you say your name was?” I ask.
“Kruger.”
I hold out my hand. “Kai.”
Kruger laughs as we slip into the backyard. “Yeah, man, I know. I’m friends with your brother.”
“You’re not on the football team, are you?” The question comes out of me in a low rasp.
Kruger just shakes his head. “Bro, do I look like a jock?”
“Yeah, sorry.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before, but Ezra has plenty of friends I’ve never met. We don’t exactly hang out in the same social circles. I’m not a fucking masochist.
“Damn fire hazard out here,” he says as we go to sit in the gazebo.
I agree. I’ve never seen so many fairy lights and dream catchers in one place. Haven’s going to fucking love it here.
Pity she’s not staying.
The sweet smell of weed blows over me as Kruger lights a joint he pulled out of his pocket. He hits it a few times and then passes it to me.
“So what’s your deal with that chick, bro? You got the hots for her or something?”
“Who, Haven?” I guess I shouldn’t have immediately guessed it was her. He could have been talking about Melissa, or Hillary, or any of the other sorority girls at the meeting.
“Yeah, the freshmen.”
“Fuck, no, I’m not into her.” I take another hard tug before handing the joint back. “Don’t have syphilis on my bingo card.”
“For real? She’s kinda mousey-looking for a slut.”
“Half the football team railed her.”
“No shit.” Kruger lets out a wheezy, high-pitched laugh. “When was this, bro?”
My hands are clenched into fists, and I can’t seem to force them to relax. No wonder my voice struggles past clenched teeth.
“Last year sometime.”
“Ah.” He waves a hand like he’s swatting a fly. “Old news is dead news. Everyone’s forgotten by now. Probably just a rumor, anyway.” He laughs and jabs me in the ribs with his elbow. Lucky for him he’s stoned, or I’ll have decked him. “Pics, or it didn’t happen, amiright?”
“I saw the pics,” I grate out.
“Yeah?” Kruger considers this for a moment, a philosophical light in his eyes.
Fuck, I’m about to punch this guy, and it’s not even his fucking fault.
It’s all Haven.
Always has been, always will be.
Should have strangled her when I had the chance. Who knows when I’ll get another? She goes to my fucking college, but I barely see her. It’s like she’s actively avoiding me. Because, no shit, she’s figured out I hate her.
Because, no shit, she’s a lying slut.
“I mean, sure, our boys fuck,” Kruger says, thankfully snapping me out of the very bloody, very messy image in my head. “But they don’t exactly go around broadcasting that shit. You know what a fucking prude the dean is. She hears there’s been gang bangs and shit happening, she’ll suspend everyone.” He blows out a stream of smoke. “She needs to get laid, man.”
He’s right.
About the dean. About everything. The only reason we get away with so much is that we keep it under wraps. And the faculty members that know about the shit we get up to are usually involved themselves, so it’s in their best interest to stay mum on the topic.
“You’re right,” I murmur, waving away the joint when he wants to hand me the last few drags. “Old news is dead news.”
“Sure thing.” He pinches the roach and takes a tiny sip from it before crushing it out under his foot.
I take out the eyedrops that live in my pants pocket, handing him the bottle when I’m done dosing myself. He hands it back with a smile, wiping away his artificial tears with a knuckle.
“Hey, man, nice hanging with you. Let me know if you ever want to smoke a fat one again.”
I nod, watching him go with narrowed eyes.
It’s not just that I’m stoned.
I am.
But I’ve also struck on an idea, thanks to Kruger.
Old news might be dead news, but thank God for the motherfucking zombie apocalypse.
I had every intention of walking straight back to my frat house. Grabbing a shower, wolfing down whatever I could find in the fridge, then passing out in bed.
But I’m so fucking thirsty, I have to stop at the GAZ kitchen to grab some water.
And then I spot a jar of cookies on the counter, just sitting out there for anyone to take. So I take. And then I pour myself a glass of milk, because cookies and milk.
That’s around when Haven walks past, her arms loaded with random shit.
Right.
Because she’s moving in tonight.
Burrowing her claws in even deeper than before.
I sidle over to the kitchen drawers, keeping my eyes locked where Haven disappeared up the stairs. My hand fumbles with the handle before I slide open the drawer and slip my hand inside.
Poor thing.
Someone should help her.