Chapter 1 #2
“Oh, cut the shit! We all know you’re a member, and you know exactly who Daniel is. So if he applies, make sure he’s rejected. That’s the least you can do, given what you assholes have taken from me and my friends.”
“Listen, Jeremiah. If I was actually a member, I’d tell you that the club doesn’t take applications,” the other guy replied. “They choose their recruits. At least that’s what I’ve heard.”
“Then make sure he’s not fucking chosen!”
My foot slipped slightly, hitting a crunchy leaf, and the angry guy spoke up again. “Shit, I think someone’s coming.”
“If you didn’t want us to be overheard, then why did you decide to accost me out here in public?” the second guy replied, voice tinged with amusement now.
“Oh, fuck you, man.”
Now that the guys knew someone was close, I couldn’t remain idle in the walkway, because then they’d know for sure I was eavesdropping, even if that wasn’t my initial intention.
I fumbled in my coat pocket for my black earbuds and put them in before I started walking again. That way, I could pretend I’d been listening to music and was blissfully ignorant of the dispute up ahead.
I headed to the end of the walkway and turned left into the quad, keeping my eyes fixed on the path so I could pretend I hadn’t noticed the guys at all, let alone overheard their heated conversation.
I could feel their heavy gazes on me, though, and they remained quiet until I was a couple of yards past them.
“I’m serious, Valcourt,” the angry one finally said as I walked away, presumably assuming I couldn’t hear because of my earbuds. “Keep whatever shit you’ve got going on away from my brother.”
The other guy simply chuckled.
After that, I heard the angry one storm away, his rapid footsteps pounding against the cobblestones as he headed in the same direction as me. I didn’t dare look back. Just waited for him to pass me with bated breath.
A second later, something solid slammed into my shoulder. My handbag jerked out of my grip, and everything inside went flying—phone, keys, lip balm, and several stray pens that clattered and rolled away. At the same time, one of my earbuds flew out too, seemingly vanishing before my very eyes.
“Hey!” I snapped as I regained my balance and turned around to glare at the guy who’d just slammed into me. “Watch where you’re going, asshole!”
He didn’t move. Just stood there, silently staring at me with wide brown eyes.
Given how he’d stormed away from the other guy, I had to assume he was the angry one called Jeremiah.
But now, he looked a little less furious and a lot more startled, like he hadn’t even realized what he’d done to me until I yelled at him.
A few feet away, the other man pushed off the wall he’d been leaning against. My eyes widened as I took a proper look and realized it was him. The hot tattooed guy I’d noticed at the Saint Dionysius statue earlier.
He shifted a hand out of his pocket and angled himself toward me, like he meant to head over and help me gather my things. But before he could take another step, the guy who’d collided with me finally jolted into action.
“Shit, I’m so sorry,” he blurted, crouching in front of me to gather my scattered things. “I wasn’t looking where I was going. Totally zoned out.”
I crouched down too and picked up my phone. Somehow, it had survived the fall without a single crack.
With a little sigh of relief, I slid it back into my purse and looked up at the guy, face softening slightly. “It’s okay, I get it. I’ve been zoning out half the day too,” I said, feeling bad for snapping at him now that he was helping. “Sorry I called you an asshole.”
“No, it’s fine. I am an asshole. I can’t believe I just walked into you like that! I almost sent you flying into the pond,” he said, jabbing a thumb toward a pond with a fountain on my right. I hadn’t even noticed it was there until he mentioned it.
I gave him a small, wry smile. “Well, you didn’t, so it’s fine. Although…” I looked around the leaf-strewn ground again. “I think one of my earbuds may have ended up in there.”
The guy winced. “Sorry. If you give me your details, I’ll Venmo you for a new pair.”
“No, it’s all right.” I let out a light sigh as I waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve been meaning to replace them anyway. They always fall out.”
“Are you sure?” he asked as he handed me another pen and a red scrunchie. “I mean, I feel like I owe you something after Hulk-smashing you like that.”
“Well… I suppose there’s one thing you can help me with,” I said, shoving the last of my stuff back in my bag.
“Yeah?”
“Directions.” I gave him a sheepish smile as I rose to my feet. “I just transferred here, and I dropped all my stuff at my dorm earlier. But then I spent two hours on a campus tour and got all turned around. Now I can’t remember if I’m meant to go that way or that way to get back to my dorm.”
“Which building did they put you in?” he asked, standing too.
“Athena.”
“Ah.” He smiled. “That’s a nice one. Private rooms. I’m guessing you’re at least a sophomore, then?”
“Junior.”
“Ah, cool.” He turned and pointed to another walkway across the quad beside us. “If you go through there and turn right, the Athena building will be directly ahead of you.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
He smiled again and stuck out a hand. “I’m Jeremiah, by the way.”
“Violet,” I said, returning his smile. As we shook hands, I noticed that the other guy was still watching us like a hawk from his spot near the wall, intense eyes slightly narrowed.
“Er… I think your friend might want something from you,” I added, dropping my hand.
“He’s been staring over here the whole time we’ve been chatting. ”
“Who?” Jeremiah flicked his head around, then looked back at me. “You mean Julian?”
“Uh… I guess so, if that’s the guy standing by the wall.”
He gave a dismissive wave, jaw clenching slightly. “He’s not my friend,” he muttered. “Just a guy I know. Don’t worry about him.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Anyway, speaking of knowing people,” he went on, cocking his head slightly. “If you’ve just transferred here, I’m guessing you probably haven’t met many new people yet?”
I nodded. “Yeah, you’re only the second person I’ve met so far.”
“Well, I know I’ve made a pretty terrible first impression, so I totally get it if you say no.
But if you’re interested, my boyfriend Dylan and I are helping a friend of ours host a back-to-school party on Friday,” he said.
“You’re totally welcome to come. Have some drinks, meet some new people.
And I promise: no one will bowl you over.
Except Dylan with his cooking skills, maybe. He makes the best canapés.”
I laughed softly. “That sounds really cool. Where’s it going to be?”