18. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
Alex
After going over the plan with her more than two dozen times, Margot leaves the Kappa house and heads toward Delta Epsilon. I’m a bundle of nerves, but I’m trying not to show it. I don’t need her any more nervous than she already is.
Devon and Keith spent the better part of the day using waterproof caulk on the first floor windows after Kai and I snuck over in the dead of night to work on the upstairs windows. As far as I know, no one saw us. While she’s inside, we’re going to super glue the back doors and lay in wait on the front until she’s out the door and on her way across the street to change.
It’s a foolproof plan. Of course it won’t stop the deltas from showing up at the gala but it will slow them down and, more importantly, piss them off.
Through the dining room window, I watch with bated breath as she knocks on the door and Ryan opens up, beckoning her inside with a hand on her back. The noise that escapes causes me to stir.
“Dude, did you just growl?” Kai asks. I didn’t even hear him approach the window.
“Shut the fuck up.” We watch the door close and then we wait.
According to the plan, she’s got forty-five minutes in there to interview the guys and then take the group picture, ensuring they are all in the house and not leaving for the gala early. I wish we could just go over there now and wait to seal the doors but it would be ridiculous to stand out there for that long and we would almost certainly be noticed.
The other guys mill around, slowly getting ready for the gala while sipping beer or water. With a sigh, I turn away from the window and see Kai looking at me curiously.
“What is it with you and this girl?”
I walk into the kitchen, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge and checking my watch. Three minutes have passed. I sense Kai following me into the room. “Nothing, man. I’m just worried we’ve sent her into the lion’s den without a chair.”
“She’ll be fine. And even if she’s not, it’s not like they’re going to hurt her. It’s a harmless prank.” Kai grabs a beer, twisting the cap off. “No, it’s more than that. You’ve been distracted lately.”
Suddenly, I remember that not that long ago, I was thinking the same thing about Kai. “I’m not the only one. Where have you been these past few weeks? You’re, like, never here.”
Kai takes a sip and looks away. “Guess I’m here when you’re not.” He walks out of the kitchen and I hear his heavy footsteps on the stairs. Weird .
Fighting the urge to look out the window again, I head upstairs to change into my suit. As much as I’m dreading this event, at least I’ll get a visit from my father out of the way. Speaking of which, I should probably figure out if he’s on his way here yet. It would fuck up everything if he showed up at the house instead of just meeting me at the gala. Why didn’t I think of that? Fuck.
I jump into my dress pants with one hand and use the other to call my brother.
“What’s up, shithead?” My brother says, the sound of a clicking keyboard and some kind of virtual combat in the background.
“Hey, Drew. Listen, has dad left for campus yet?”
“Fuck if I know. Fuck. Fuck. Shit. You killed me, Alex. Thanks a lot,” Drew sighs into the phone, the clicking sound disappearing momentarily.
I roll my eyes, putting the phone on speaker and dropping it on the bed so I can button up my white collared shirt. “Can you just stop the game for a second to talk to your only brother?”
“I can,” he starts. “But I won’t.” The disdain in his voice is apparent. While my brother and I get along fine, the age gap is difficult especially these last few years where he’s been in high school and I’ve been away at college. In the beginning, he would come visit me now and again, but it’s been a while since he’s been to campus or the frat house. And when I come home for holidays, he hardly ever leaves his room. I know it’s hard for him to see me and not think about our mom, hell it’s hard for me, but I try to be as patient with him as I can.
“Fine, just can you check outside to see if Dad’s car is there. I want to make sure I get to this stupid gala before he does.” I hear Drew huff and the clicking stops again.
“Car’s gone,” Drew says quickly, no doubt returning to whatever game he’s playing. At least he’s still on the line with me. For the past four years I’ve felt guilty about leaving him behind, but I had to get out of that house before I was well and truly suffocated. My next step is to get Drew into a college as far away as possible so he can escape too.
Tying my tie, I look out the window toward the DE house to see if I can get a glimpse of Margot.
“Thanks for checking. He’s probably on his–” I stop. “Fucking christ.”
And there he is. Oliver Andrew Prescott. Pulling up in front of my house on fraternity row. He parks his black Mercedes in front of the driveway and ambles out of the car, walking up the house like it’s his own. I hear the door slam underneath me.
“Alex?” My father yells from the entryway. Yells louds enough that not only can I hear it through my closed door, but so can my brother.
I hear Drew chuckle from the phone. “Guess you found him. Have fun at the ball, princess.” I tell Drew to shut up before hanging up and pocketing my phone.
If I don’t get down the stairs and intercept him now, he’s just going to come up and the last thing I want is Oliver’s assessment of my bedroom. Grabbing my dress shoes from the side of my bed, I hoist them on and then practically run down the stairs.
“Alex, good you’re dressed. Let’s go. I’m not going to be late.” He demands. Of course he demands.
“Hi, Dad. Good to see you, too. Yes, I am doing well. And you?”
Oliver waves me off. “Cut the bullshit. Get in the car.”
“I’m driving with the boys. I don’t need your ride. You go ahead and I’ll see you there,” I say, walking past him into the living room. I feel a firm grip on my upper arm that stops me. I’ve got a foot on my father but he’s got four decades of anger on me.
“This is an important night for us, Alexander. Don’t fuck around.”
I take a deep breath before ripping my arm out of his grasp. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” I reply. Looking in the living room, I see Keith, Kai and Devon, all ready to go across the street and finish the job. I need to be with them. I promised Margot I would be there, to protect, to help her. Not that I don’t trust the guys, I just…I need to do it myself.
“Dad, we’re actually about to do some prank business so it would be a lot better if I just went with the guys.”
My dad’s eyes softened a bit. The idea of me fulfilling the senior prank is something he’s been proud of since last semester. But he also tried to control it and wouldn’t stop giving me dumb ideas until I just eventually stopped taking his calls and answering his texts.
He looked into the living room at my brothers who were now just standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. We should be over there by now.
“Did you fellas take any of my ideas?”
No one says a word. Devon fakes a cough and Keith’s shoes suddenly become very interesting to him.
I sigh. “No, dad. We decided to do our own thing. And we have to go do it right now or else it’ll all be for nothing.”
Oliver takes a step closer to me. “This alumni event is the one night of the year that I get to show everyone I graduated with how proud I am of my son.” Then, through his teeth. “And if you chose that one night to complete your senior prank then that’s pretty fucking stupid of you.”
I close my eyes.
“I take it you boys can handle whatever needs to be handled for this prank without my son, yes?”
“Yes, sir,” all three mutter.
“Excellent,” Oliver grabs my arm again, pulling me toward the door. “Alexander, let’s go.” My heart is racing. I want to text Margot and tell her the change in plan, but I don’t want to startle her and blow her cover. Hell, I want to run across the street and hide out until my dad leaves, but I know that’s definitely not an option.
Before walking down the door, I only have a second to look over my shoulder. “Make sure there’s no issues.” Make sure she’s alright. The guys nod and I have no choice but to leave the house with my father, hoping beyond hope that everything goes so according to plan that Margot doesn’t even notice my absence.
I check my phone again for any update, but no text has arrived in the twenty minutes I’ve been sitting here. None of the guys have arrived yet, no Deltas but also my Kappa brothers are missing, too. I have no idea what the fuck is going on, but I don’t know how much longer I can sit here without figuring it out.
When we arrived, my father carted me around to all his fancy, rich friends like he always does. Showing off the goods to his CEO comrades as if he wanted to sell me off like cattle when I graduate. I had been gearing up to introduce him to Margot, a situation I thought I couldn’t avoid at this juncture, but she hasn’t shown up yet. I had breathed a sigh of relief when everyone was called to sit at their tables and his seat was across the room with the alumni.
They should’ve been here by now. I take a sip of my beer and check my phone for the hundredth time before placing it face down on the table. Just as I’m about to bolt out of my chair, the back door opens and in sneaks Kai, Keith and Devon…but no Margot. My heart is in my fucking throat, but I try to remain as calm as possible while they take their seats beside me.
“What the fuck? What happened? Where is she?” I whisper yell at Kai who sits on my right.
“Fucking Ryan, man. He walked out the door with her. We had no choice but to stay hidden until they left the porch and then we bolted. She seemed okay though.”
“She seemed okay?! Fuck!” I yelled and the room stopped, all tables turning in my direction. Ignoring the looks, I push out of my seat and rush toward the door, pulling my phone out of my pocket. Once I’m in the hallway, I call her.
My first call rings a few times then goes to voicemail. The next, right to voicemail. She’s ignoring me? Is she safe? I told her I would make sure she was okay and I failed. I don’t even know where she is right now. Ryan could’ve taken her anywhere. He could’ve—
As I’m about to call her again, I hear the front door open and I sigh in relief when Margot walks into the room. And then my fists ball in anger when I see Ryan walking in behind her. His hand is on her back as he guides her toward the ballroom door.
“Oh fuck that.”
Margot’s face lights up when she sees me, but there’s an anxiousness to her expression. “Hey, Alex…” Her voice trails off as her eyes glance nervously toward Ryan, who’s attention seems to be on the seating chart beside the door instead of the conversation happening next to him. The doors open behind them and a flood of Deltas come in, ready to party. As if they didn’t have to pry themselves out of a locked house.
I hold in my rage as best I can. “Are you okay?” Margot nods once. I feel like she’s trying to convey something to me that she can’t yet say until this meathead walks away. “Let me show you your seat.”
“Thanks again, Ryan,” she says and Ryan finally brings his attention to us.
“Oh, no problem, seriously. Are you okay to stay with him?” he says with a concerned look toward Margot. What the fuck? Margot nods a few times and Ryan takes that as an okay to leave. “Alex,” he says with a nod toward me. Taking his seat card, he walks toward his table without another word.
I don’t give myself a second to consider that reaction I just had as I take Margot’s hand and walk her toward our table. I want to interrogate her right this very second. I need to know everything that happened in the past hour when she should’ve been here. With me. But I can’t, not yet. I need to show face before I can drag her away. Plus, I promised her she’d get to cover this event for the paper so in order for that to happen, she needed to be there. At least for a little while.
“Hey, Margot. About time you got here,” Devon ribs her as she takes the empty seat next to me. She shoots him a look but also seems relieved to be sitting down with us. Still, there’s a nervousness to her that supercedes her usual jitters.
Margot takes the napkin off her plate and shakes it out onto her lap. She gives me a tight smile but doesn’t say anything else. Oh no, this is bad. I want to rip that napkin off her and pull her out of the room for some answers.
Leaning close to her ear, I whisper, “Do you want go talk…?” Her head whips to mine, our noses basically touching, while a fierce emotion flashes in her eyes. I move to grab her hand, but right before I can, I hear that voice I’ve been trying to ignore for the past twenty-one years.
“Alexander, it’s time for us to head to the stage.” Pinching my eyes shut, I lean back away from Margot, even though every instinct in me is screaming not to. I hear her let out a sigh as well and she situates more comfortably in her chair. I should introduce her to my father but I can’t, in good conscience, bring her attention to the man that’s taken my mother’s psychotic episode out on me and my brother for the past fifteen years.
Without a glance at anyone else at the table, I push my chair back and follow him to the front of the room. A hush falls along the crowd as we take the stage, my father finding himself at home behind the podium in front of an audience with eyes only for him.
“Welcome, faculty, brothers, and guests, to our Seventy-second Annual Fraternity Alumni Gala.” He pauses for applause. “It is my honor to welcome you all this evening alongside my son, Alexander.” Waving his arm in my direction, he motions toward me but that’s all I’m here for. A trophy for him to wave around and gloat to his friends about. My son, chapter president. Had nothing to do with my influence or the amount of money I threw at the school to get him that position. I have to physically restrain myself from rolling my eyes.
Oliver talks for another minute or so about whatever the hell he talks about. I don’t catch a word. All I can see is Margot sitting in the seat next to mine, her long brown hair cascading over her right shoulder. I didn’t really get a glimpse of her outfit when she came in, too relieved just at the sight of her.
Her dress is strapless, holding her up in all the right places and the turquoise flowers compliment the deep blue of her eyes. When I reach her eyes, she’s looking directly into mine. Her mouth opens in a bit of surprise. Fuck, I’m in trouble .
My father claps me on the back with laughter and the crowd erupts in glee. I know I must be the butt of some joke, but I hardly care. I just want to get off this stage and talk to Margot. I need to know what happened before she got here. A moment later, the crowd claps and I descend the stage, walking immediately toward the table and leaning into Margot’s ear.
“Meet me out front in five minutes,” I whisper before continuing my path toward the bar. Requesting a refill on my drink, I stand and wait, not looking back, until the fresh beer is in my hand and I’m heading out the side door with it. I know this building, having had many functions here before. Down the hall to the left is another exit to the outside. I take it and circle around to find Margot waiting for me under a light by the main door.
Putting my beer down, with no real intention of picking it back up, I grab Margot’s arm and pull her into the shadows along the side of the building.
“Jesus, you scared me,” Margot screeches when she realizes it’s me. She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you okay?”
The laugh I let out is merciless. “I should be asking you that question. What the hell happened and why did you walk in with Ryan?”
“Everything was going fine. I interviewed the guys, I got the picture and just as I was about to leave, Ryan decided he just had to walk me out. He wanted to walk me all the way home, but I needed to get my dress from your house, which was a whole other ordeal.”
“He walked you out the door?”
“Yes, practically on top of me, there was no way for me to casually leave without him coming with me. I didn’t look to see what the guys were doing but based on how the rest of DE left right after us, I’m guessing they didn’t glue the door.”
“No,” I sigh, running my hands through my hair. “They couldn’t.”
“I’m sorry, Alex.”
I whip on her. “Sorry? For what?”
“I had one job and I failed.”
I meet her eyes again. “Margot, please. Don’t even think about that. I’m just glad you’re okay.” I want to pull her into a hug but I don’t know if that’s appropriate. We are friends. And friends hug. Giving myself the permission to hold her, I reach out and pull her in. She gasps a little but lets me embrace her, only for a moment before we pull away from each other, slightly more flushed than before.
“What excuse did you give?”
“Excuse?”
“For getting your dress from my house. For coming to the gala?”
“Oh,” I don’t miss the way her cheeks turn slightly pink as she looks down, suddenly very interested in the pack of grass beneath us. “Well, I just told him the truth. I told him I was your date.”
My heartbeat picks up just slightly. Of course she would say that. That is the alibi we agreed on. But still, hearing her say the words, knowing she said them to the president of my rival frat, a guy who obviously has his eye on her, I can’t help but feel a swell of pride.
That feeling was quickly followed by a crash of regret when I remembered I left her behind for her to end up in this situation. And based on her expression, she’s just remembered, too.
“What the hell happened, by the way? Why weren’t you there?”
“I’m so sorry, sunshine. My dad showed up and demanded I go with him. There was nothing I could do. Believe me, I tried.” Margot leaned back against the brick wall.
“Well, I didn’t know that. So…I had to make something up.” Her voice is small and I can’t help but get the feeling that I’m not going to like what she is about to say.
“Sunshine…”
“I told Ryan that I was supposed to meet you back at the house and then I’d change and we’d go together. I tried to walk there myself but he demanded to walk me to your door. I couldn’t avoid explaining to him that you must’ve left without me when he saw the empty house.”
“You told him I stood you up?” I practically yell, trying my best not to but hardly succeeding.
“I didn’t have much choice! Ryan offered to bring me here as his date and I told him I’d take the ride, but I still wanted to come and find you.”
I shake my head before I realize I’m doing it. “I’ll bet Ryan was more than glad to help you out.”
Margot stands back up. “It was nice of him to do it.”
“Of course he did it, he wants to play knight in shining armor and get in your damsel in distressed pants after.” Margot shrinks back at my crassness and for a moment I feel guilty about taking this out on her. I should be happy. She got out of a bad situation–that I put her in–and now she’s here. But for some reason, I can’t get the image of his hand on her back out of my mind.
While I’m stuck in my thoughts, I don’t notice Margot’s building anger. “Hey, I did what I had to do for you and your stupid prank so let’s just get back inside so that this night and our fake date can be over.”
“Woah, woah, hold on. Wait—”
But Margot just shakes her head, refusing to listen to anything else I have to say right now. Honestly, I don’t blame her. She walks toward the door and with a sigh, and I follow after her, not another word uttered between us, but the air full of unspoken emotions.
We sit in silence. We eat in silence. And just when I’m about to suggest we head out, I’m met with silence when I glance over to her chair and notice it empty. When had she gotten up? Scanning the room, I find her standing in front of the bar. With Ryan. He’s laughing, she’s smiling, and suddenly my blood is boiling.
I go to bust out of my chair and break up their little party but a small voice in the back of my mind stops me. It says friend . Over and over it says that word in my mind until it gets too loud to ignore. Margot is my friend. She did her part of the prank and now she’s free to do whatever she wants. With whoever she wants. Even if that whoever is Ryan. Even if that whatever tears pieces of my soul bit by bit.
I swallow my pride, not an easy thing to do with how big it is, and I head over toward them. Ryan is laughing still and I want to smack the glee off his face, but Margot is touching his arm and I can’t ignore that.
“Hey,” I say to her, almost sheepishly. “I’m heading out with the boys. Do you want to come with us?” I leave the invitation open. It’s a simple yes or no question for her. Yes, I want to come with you or no, I want to rip your heart out and stomp it on the ground.
Margot meets my eyes and I’m sure she can see the trepidation behind them. It’s standard to leave a party with the person you came with and while Margot is my date, she did technically arrive with Ryan, so the choice is really up to her.
I expect a little bit of hesitation from her, the back and forth of which guy to choose. What I don’t expect is for her eyes to brighten when they meet mine.
“Yeah, I’m about ready to go,” she says with a smile that is not malicious or unkind to anyone. It’s just a simple fact. The night is late and she’s ready to leave.
Margot places her half drunk glass of wine back on the bar. “See you around, Ryan. Thanks again for the ride.”
Ryan smiles at Margot but I can’t help but sense the disdain he has for me written all over his face. When his gaze hits mine, I shoot him my favorite smile. That’s right fucker, she’s mine . He contains himself before looking toward Margot again.
“Anytime, seriously. I’ll call you, yeah? We can talk more about hog-tying.”
Margot giggles and nods before turning back to me and walking out the door by my side.
“Talk about what?”
She rolls her eyes at me and scoffs but doesn’t respond. I can’t help but notice her positive attitude has shifted slightly as we walk toward my brothers waiting at Devon’s car parked in the parking lot.
“Hey,” I stop her stride with a hand on her arm before we reach the car. When she turns to look at me, her expression is blank. “I don’t think I thanked you for everything you’ve done for me tonight.”
“There’s no reason to,” she says, crossing her arms in front of her chest, which causes my hand to fall away from her.
“No, there is. You did everything right. We can still follow through on the plan while they’re sleeping and they’ll just miss some of their morning classes instead of the gala. Same harm done.”
Her eyes soften a bit at the sincerity of my voice. She looks up at me, and I take a step forward. As I do, her body shakes a bit, and I realize she’s wearing a strapless dress on a cool September night. I immediately shrug off my jacket and wrap it around her back, pulling her body up against mine, whether purposely or not. I don’t stop to examine it.
“Well then, you’re welcome…frat boy.” When she hits me with that little dig, I can’t control the smile that breaks out on my face. She rolls her eyes but grins with me. We continue to walk toward the car, much closer than we were just seconds before and I take quick stock of everything that’s happened tonight.
Our prank is almost completed, I made good with my father and I’ve got my beautiful …friend next to me. This might have turned out to be a perfect night after all.