Phoenix looked down at the ground. “They look the other way.”
He started to look like he had two heads. I licked my lips. My throat suddenly felt really dry. I drank some more of the liquid from the cup. I felt parched. Finishing the drink, I put it back on the banister and looked at Phoenix.
“I… I’m so thirsty.”
He smirked. “Really? Do you want some of mine?”
I reached out to grab his cup and it tipped over the edge sufficiently landing on someone’s head. They flipped me off. Or at least I think they did. I saw like twenty fingers.
Something was wrong. My mouth felt like cotton. “Y-you said no drugs…” Why did my words sound so funny?
Phoenix laughed loudly. “I also told the new history teacher that I was a virgin in need of an older woman’s expertise…” He pulled me close to him and tilted my chin up. “Now you’ll see why you need us. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’m doing this for Nixon, so he can see. He needs to see. Nobody can control us, especially not some farm girl who moos in front of the entire student body.”
I was being carried or pushed. I wasn’t really sure which. But suddenly we were back inside, and he was carrying me down the stairs and out to the front of the house. I tried to fight him, but it was like I had no strength in my body. This was bad. So very bad.
“H-help.” It was a weak pitiful yell. Actually, it sounded loud to my ears but everything sounded loud.
“Phoenix… pleashhh.”
“Sorry, Trace. I really am. But this is for your own good.”
How is drugging me for my own good? This is what I wanted to yell to him, but when I opened my mouth nothing came out.
“What the hell, Phoenix!” I heard another male voice. Please let it be a teacher or someone, or Tex even!
“She’s drunk. I’m taking her back to her dorm.”
“Like hell you are! And her dorm isn’t in that direction. What are you doing?”
I saw Chase’s face. Well, I saw three of them. At least I think it was Chase.
“I’m doing her a favor, doing us a favor. Back off, you’re already on Nixon’s shit list. I’m making everything better, you’ll see.”
I lifted my hand up to grasp Chase. He looked concerned but not enough to do anything. I wanted to cry, but then again, I wanted to keep my tears in. I felt so dehydrated.
“I’ll take her,” Chase mumbled.
“You’re going to do it? Really?”
“Just let me do it.” Chase held out his arms. I was being transferred. That was a good thing, right? I mean, Chase gave me boots!
Chase mumbled something under his breath as he carried me to a waiting car. He gently placed me in the front seat and drove off. I tried not to nod off, but it was hard. And Chase kept mumbling something like, “…Can’t believe she’s pushed him this far. What is Nixon thinking?”
That was the last thing I remembered until everything went black.
****
A loud bell ringing woke me up. Apparently I had been run over by a truck the night before. I remembered the party, and then I remembered drinking something from Phoenix. He looked hot last night, and then Chase? Had Chase been there?
The bell rang again. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. Where was I? I felt comfortable, like I was in my bed, but it wasn’t my bed.
Oh no.
I jolted upright and noticed the room was masculine. Definitely not my room. I didn’t do anything though. I had all my clothes on, my body felt fine. Well, other than the pounding of my head. I quickly grabbed my jacket and bolted out of the room.
The guys’ dorm. Of course. At least nobody was there to witness my shame. And then one by one, doors to the hall opened, and guys poked their heads out.
“Ah! He bagged another one! Go Tim!” A guy shouted, and then a giant wall of muscles greeted me via the bathroom. The guy was Asian with killer golden eyes and an even greater smile. I gulped.
“Tim bagged the new girl!” Someone else shouted.
I tried to get by the guy, but he kept blocking me.
“What is your problem?”
He smirked and leaned in so close I could smell his toothpaste. “What baby? No good morning kiss from the guy you spent the night with?”
Anger and shame washed over me simultaneously. I didn’t do that. I would never do that! My eyes darted to all the guys around me. They were high-fiving and texting, and of course taking picture of me. Great.
“Get the hell away from me!” I pushed against his muscled chest. But he only pulled me closer. I struggled out of his grasp, mainly because he let me get free, and jogged down the hall only to find the door to the main lobby already open. And there stood Phoenix waiting. Chase was by his side.
As well as about one hundred other males from the dorm.
I launched myself on Phoenix, but Chase blocked my way. “Let it go, Trace.”
“You son of a bitch! Why would you do that to me?”
Phoenix smirked. “Maybe you shouldn’t drink so much next time.”
Chase released me. His eyes were sad, but I didn’t care. I charged out of the lobby to the sound of guys screaming and calling me a whore.
By the time I reached my dorm, tears were streaming down my face. I checked my pocket for my key card.
It was gone.
I guess I’d already used my one elevator ride anyways. I jogged up the stairs, sweating by the time I reached the third floor.
And, to my utter horror and humiliation, I was welcomed by several girls clapping. “Way to go, New Girl, bagging the quarterback of the football team. Well done!”