Chapter 2
Chapter Two
BAILEY
Ipull up around the corner from the house, like I’ve done every day since I moved here. The covered parking at Kappa House is reserved for the president and vice president, and I prefer to leave my car out here rather than have it targeted by a ridiculous Sigma prank.
It still strikes me as odd how intense they are about the rivalry here. I transferred colleges and chapters at the end of last year so I could be closer to home, and the Sigma and Kappa chapters at UVM have largely let the rivalry go.
Mostly because the UVM guys are more interested in hating on the frat guys from CU. I guess they do things differently here in Connecticut.
I stretch my neck to the side before grabbing my bag and jumping out. Even early in the semester, I already have a lot of coursework to catch up on, and with everyone out of the house at a party tonight, it will give me the perfect chance to get ahead.
We’re far from a raucous house, but having people constantly passing my bedroom and filling out the common areas makes it hard to concentrate.
Transferring right before senior year hasn’t been smooth either, and the only reason it was allowed was because my dad gave a great, fat donation to Rho Kappa Tau.
Pity all that money couldn’t buy me friends, and while everyone is nice enough, they’re all tight already.
I’m the outsider.
Thank fuck it’s only one year to get through.
I know something’s up as soon as I round the corner and see a bunch of my brothers out on the lawn. Charles, our president, is gesturing to something, and instead of ducking my head and passing them, I suck in a big-boy breath and move closer.
“What’s going on?”
“Sigmas.” He shakes his head, copper hair almost red under the setting sun. “Assholes have covered up all our windows, so it’s pitch-black inside.”
When I look back over at the house, the windows are indeed covered with something black. “Can we remove it?”
“Yeah, it will take time though.”
Neilson scoffs. “Bet it was Chad Doomsen. How they voted that guy VP, I’ll never know. He’s almost as bad as Robbie.”
“Agreed,” Charles says. “But Zeke isn’t any better, and it’s not like they had a pool of worthy contenders in Sigma Beta Psi, so they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel.”
I have no idea who any of these people are that they’re talking about. I’ve heard Chad mentioned a few times, but by the time I transferred last year, I was bogged down in finals prep, so barely did anything else outside of the house and frat duties.
“What makes the Sigmas so bad anyway?” I ask.
I’m met with four blank stares.
“They’re a bunch of douchebag jocks with more muscle power than brainpower, and they never leave us alone,” Jordan says. “Don’t worry, newbie, you’ll cross paths with them soon enough.”
I smile and thank him for the warning, then go to head for the house.
“Bailey, wait.” Charles catches up to me. “I hate to do this to you, but with the pledges cleaning this crap off the windows, we’ll need the extra hands tonight.”
“To … night?”
“At the Sigma party. Obviously it’s going to be a fun time, but while we’re there, the main aim is to stealth sneak as many items out of the house as possible. I can count on you, right?”
“Ah …”
“Come on, man. I know you work hard, but this is only one night.”
Only one night where I would have had the house to myself. We walk inside, where all the lights are on because the windows have been completely sealed. I actually don’t think I’ll mind if they’ve done this to my bedroom window—it’s more effective than block-out curtains.
“I was hoping to get some studying done.”
Charles’s face drops, and he pulls me to the side as some of our brothers pass by.
“Look, I’m going to be real with you … I think you should come tonight and try bonding with some of the guys.
You’re on your own a lot, and I know it must have been hard to walk in here when we’ve all been together since freshman year, but parties help.
Those Sigmas are a bunch of boneheads, but they know how to go all out. ”
“I don’t know—”
“Okay, I’m pulling rank on you. You’re coming. Your dad got you in here, but you have to put in the effort too, man. Party. Tonight. Theme is CEOs and Office Bros or Hoes, depending on who you ask, so you can’t even flake out because I know you’ve sure as hell got a suit in your closet.”
Unfortunately, I do. A few of them, actually.
“Okay then.” Not like there’s much else I can say. I leave and head to my room, trying not to sulk about a night out. I’m not an antisocial person—I had a lot of friends at UVM, but it’s always difficult to decide who’s authentic, so I tend to lie low.
The guys here all have influential families, but Dad is head of one of the largest banks in the world, and one day, it’ll be run by my sister and me.
Being a Prince is weird. People are either intimidated and avoid me like the plague, or overly friendly, to the point where the friendship becomes sterile.
I spend as long as I can studying, but the excitement in the house is high, and everyone is too loud for me to be able to concentrate. Around seven, I give in, shower, and get dressed before heading downstairs.
The living area has been cleared with most of the brothers gathered around the outside of the room, and a beer pong table is set up in the center. I slide in, trying to keep to myself, but our house manager, Lucas, spots me right away.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were coming tonight?”
“Charles’s orders.”
He laughs. “Good, you can be on my team for BP. We’ll be up soon.”
“Should I be worried about why you don’t already have a partner?”
“You caught me. I’m terrible. Like, ridiculously terrible, so if my balls accidentally go into one of our holes …” He squints. “Can we pretend I didn’t say any of that?”
“I think that would be best.”
I like Lucas. Out of all the brothers, he’s always been the nicest one, and if I’m honest, he’s not bad to look at. He’s all crooked smiles and kind eyes. It’s sweet.
But I’m not Out here, and I have no idea how he identifies.
It’s not that I want to make a big deal out of it or anything.
At UVM, everyone knew and no one cared, but since I don’t know any of these guys well yet, I figure it’s information I’ll keep to myself.
Besides, it’s not like I have the time to date anyone this year, so what’s the point of getting into it?
And I never hook up with people who know who I am.
Beer pong is usually my least favorite game because of how long it takes and how few people can play, but we keep the teams in rotation so people aren’t standing around waiting for long.
After a few turns, it’s confirmed that Lucas is so bad I’m already tipsy, and the night has barely gotten started.
“All right, brothers,” Charles calls. “Listen up. As far as those Sigmas know, we couldn’t care less about the damn windows, got it?”
A few cheers meet his words.
“We’re going to go down there, have a wild night, and stealth steal all the items we can get our hands on. What’s the golden rule?”
“Games before dames!” literally every brother but me recites.
“What is it?”
“Games before dames!”
I lean closer to Lucas. “This thing is serious, isn’t it?”
“Hell yeah. It’s our year to win. I don’t want to graduate never having won King of Thieves.”
Now that I have a slight buzz going, I’m intrigued. “Okay. I’ll try to help you guys out.”
A strange look crosses Lucas’s face. “Us out.”
“What?”
“Us. You’re one of us now. You have to stop viewing us as the other guys. We’re your brothers now.”
I nod, because he’s right. “Sorry, hard habit to break.”
“I bet. I’ll tell you what though.” He pats me on the shoulder. “If you come back tonight with something worth big points, everyone here will love you. Kappas are team players. Remember that.”
Because how do I forget a vaguely serious life lesson while tipsy?
Tell me once, shame on you. Tell me twice … well, I’m starting to get the message.
Apparently no one is going to let me drift by this year unnoticed, so it’s time to get involved.
By stealing, apparently.
Game on.