Chapter 8

Alpha Omega Chi was going to be here any minute. There's nothing ​I can​ say that can get me out of this situation. I'm beginning to think this is a​ll a ploy​ to hook up with some of the girls in the sorority instead of actually enjoying a movie.

"I'm pretty sure we have everything," Brett says,​​ counting each of the snacks on the table. "Holden, pick a movie,"

It feels good ​that ​Brett's ​finally ​calling me by my name now. "What movie?" I ask.

"I don't know​,​ you decide. How about Mean Girls or something? Every girl loves that movie."

"I hate re-watching movies."

"Who said something about Mean Girls?"

I turn around ​to see​ Sarah, Jamie, and a bunch of other girls from the sorority standing at the front entrance of the living room.

"Well, instead of making plans for that event​, ​I thought my guys​ ​and your girls could watch a movie​,​" Brett tells Sarah.​ ​"Besides it's three days away, we can plan for that any time."

"I figured you would do something like this. There's no way you guys would host a charity event. All you want to do is party." Sarah rolls her eyes.

"Ouch. That hurts​,​" Brett says, touching his chest as he pretends there's an ache in his heart." ​ ​We all joined the Greek life for a reason, we like to have fun. We can still plan for that stupid event, but tonight let​'​s spend our Friday night as young college people should."

I can tell Brett's charming attitude made an impact on all of the girls. Why would they give up their Fridaynight?

"So​,​ Mean ​G​irls?" Jamie asks.

"Actually Holden doesn't w-" I cut off Brett quickly before he jeopardizes our position. I don't think the girls would stay if it was something else. Rubin kept insisting earlier we watched 'Hulk'​ but this could help me get back in Jamie's good graces.​

"Mean Girls it is," I smile, more so directed to Jamie.

Brett stares at me suspiciously for a moment, than proceeds to fit everyone on the couches and on the floor.

Ever since the club incident, Sarah has been acting really strange around me. We've bar​el​y talked, but I just assumed that was because she was busy with everything that's going on.

Being Rubin, he decides to slouch into the seat next to Sarah on the couch. I'm not sure if he just likes to annoy her, or just genuinely has a crush on her.

Sarah stares at him for a moment than says,"Of all the seats, you chose this one?"

"Don't you know how the hierarchy works? King and ​q​ueen sit side by side." Rubin ​winks and then grins.

Sarah rolls her eyes at his comment. Jamie having a good sense of humor, laughs at Rubin's joke.

Damn, Rubin got Jamie to laugh.​  Why can't I do that?​

I look up at Jamie, wishing she would notice and look back. I just want her too see that I'm not the guy she assumes I am. It must be hard as hell, I'm in a fraternity. I'm not any different from the guys sitting here in her eyes.

Sarah notices me staring, at least she's not oblivious like Jamie is. I quickly turn away. I feel such a strange vibe coming off Sarah, and It's bugging me because I can't pinpoint the problem.

Jamie gets up from the couch, heading straight to the kitchen. This is it​. ​​S​he's alone and I can explain everything beginning with Rocky, Will ​S​mith, the fake IDs​,​ and why I couldn't meet up with her.

"Holden!" Sarah calls out catching up to me.

"Yeah?"

"I need to tell you something​,​" ​s​he says​ and​ by the look on her face, I don't think I want to know.

I try to look past her, I lost all views of Jamie. "Can you tell me later? I need to do something." I walk off into the kitchen.

I freeze at what my eyes have just witnessed. I feel my hands curl tightly into a fist as I watched Brett's body lean against Jamie's on the kitchen counter. Why was he so close to her? Why are his lips​ press​ing against hers​'​? I clench my jaw​,​ attempting to hold my anger in.

"Holden.​"

"Holden​."

I vaguely hear Sarah calling my name, but I ignore her, still staring at Brett and Jamie. "​​Holden!" Sarah​ finally​ snaps.

I can't bring myself to look away from Jamie, even though it tortured me to look. "What?" I snap back at her.

"This is what I wanted to tell you about. Come on, let's go before they notice the​re'​s an audience​,​" ​s​he says​,​pulling me into the nearest hallway.

"Why did you want to tell me about this? I'm not involved."

"You remember the day we first met?" She asks, looking at me like I had amnesia or something.

"Of course I do." I groan​, still not seeing the point of this conversation​. The vivid memory of Brett and Jamie kissing was still fresh in my brain. I'm getting agitated by the very thought.

"Do you remember what I told you? About Brett cheating on my best friend?"

"Yeah? What does that have to do with-​,​" I stop myself from saying anything else. Sarah's best friend is Jamie​.​ Brett was in a relationship with Jamie? How could I be so stupid​?​

"You understand where I'm going with this now?" Sarah asks.

"Yeah​,​" I grumble.

"Good​,​ because I didn't want you to accidentally blurt it out. Brett said he was drunk and that him cheating on Jamie was a mistake. He's a pain in my ass but I hope he meant it because Jamie's my best friend and I know it would hurt her​,​" Sarah rambles.

My eyes arch up in confusion. Now I see what this has to do with me, Sarah doesn't know I have a crush on Jamie. She just didn't want me accidentally saying what she told me to anyone. I just admitted to myself I had a crush on her​, ​​w​ow.​  Well, the timing's a little off.​

"I won't tell anyone about what you'd told me, don't worry​,​" I assure her.

"Thanks Holden," ​s​he smiles, "Come here." She pulls me in for a quick hug. "Now let's go back before anyone starts wondering why we were gone for so long."

I give her a weak smile. It was the best I could do, considering my circumstances.

We tiptoed back to our seats. Some groaned as we walked by, accidentally blocking view of the movie.

"Hey, where were you? You just missed the best part​,​" Rubin whispers to me.

"Had to use the bathroom​,​"​ I lie.​

"You want some of my popcorn? I was trying to save you some, but everyone was being greedy​,​" Chris says​, holding the bag out towards me.​

"I'm good, thanks Chris​,​" I say. Truth is​,​ I was looking forward to the snacks, but whenever I'm stressed out I can't eat.

I watch as Brett throws his arm around Jamie, it's making me sick and more ag​gravated​. I would do anything just to get out of this hell. What does Jamie even see in him?

Suddenly everyone jumps, the sound of the doorbell frightening them.

"I got it," I ​say,​ getting up​, and the other three pledges who stood up to answer the door, sit back down​. ​ I glance their way, they're all trying to get with one of the sorority girls.  Nice to know I played some part in their hooking up.  ​I know everyone was too lazy and already comfortable​ to go get the door​. ​​This just gave me an excuse to get away from everything anyways.

Saved by the bell.

​I​ walk to the front door and ​can't believe my eyes.