Manny POV

Homecoming was in two weeks. His parents wanted to come down that weekend and hang with him and he did not know why. The week after Homecoming was Parents' weekend, they could just come down then, but they didn't want to. Said Homecoming was more exciting.

He told them he was pledging so that should not be a big shock to them. They were the ones to give him the money needed to pledge.

What they did not know was that he was going to be in the talent show that weekend. They did not like him singing anything that was not church music. They would flip if they saw him on stage talking about the things he wanted to do to a girl...in front of hundreds of people.

Not that he wanted to do that with girls. Well, unless it was Laila.

"I've dated boys, but none like you."

Was that a compliment or not?

"What do you mean?"

"In a good way!" She laughed. "Boys were so immature back in high school. They did not want a relationship, like what we have. Maybe a few dates, but it was all about trying t get into my pants. And I'm no prude, but I'm not sleeping with a guy just because. I wanted to get to know them a lot more personally before I do all that."

He nodded. He still did not know how he felt about going all the way with a girl. His parents gave him the sex-ed conversation pretty early in life. They did it gradually from when he could first remember at aged six and then progressed from there. All they preached was used protection, protection, protection. They sent him off last year with a case of condoms.

A case, as in, a box with several boxes in it. He never used not one. That's how much his parents knew him...they did not at all.

But those condoms were still good if he decided he was ready to use them.

"So what are you trying to say, Laila? You want us to-" He couldn't even say it.

She nodded. "When we're ready."

"Oh, okay." He wasn't. He liked how things were with them now. He heard sex made things complicated. She was his first girlfriend, he felt like he was just getting to know himself.

"Sometimes I can't believe I'm a virgin and I'm nineteen."

"I'm nineteen too and still a virgin, there's nothing wrong with that."

"I didn't say there was, just...some kids start young."

"Good that you didn't give into peer pressure then. There were girls in my high school pregnant before graduation...and of course, the guys that put them in that situation were losers. At least be responsible if you're going to have sex."

She leaned over and kissed him. "See, that's why I like you. Such a breath of fresh air."

"Besides," he said, with a smile at her. "I like our make out sessions, we don't need to go any further."

He held her close to him and kissed her, rubbing his hands through her short curls. He was a lucky, lucky guy. His first girlfriend was someone like her. They matched so well together. They liked the same things and thought alike about many things. Not everything, most.

She didn't like him pledging, but she still was there for him every night when he needed to unwind. She did not like the attention he was getting from girls that heard him singing on her floor.

It was nothing. He was not interested in any of the.

After he left Laila's room, heading back to his wing of the dorm, he was stopped by those girls from Laila's floor.

"Hey what's up Mr. Breezy," the one thick one, Shamiya said. He had to admit, she was pretty cute, and her cleavage line was catching his eye.

"Huh?"

"You know, because you're singing that Chris Brown song. I am going to be front row to hear you sing that song. That's my shit!"

"Unfortunately the Greeks take up the first few rows, like they run everything. I can't stand them," the other girl, Neta said.

Those Greeks would be him in a few weeks, but he said nothing.

"I'm sure you can find good seats."

"I hope you win. No, I know you will win. Cute and can sing? Now that's what's up!"

Why did he grin like a lame at that comment as he walked away from them? Other girls thought he was cute and talking to him when they did not give him the time of day last year was interesting. All he had to do was sing a non-gospel song?

It was Wednesday and his parents were coming in Friday morning. He had a lot to get done before then, and hopefully, between whatever the Epsilon Upsilon brothers had him doing, he had time to spend with his parents.

Some of the Epsilon Upsilon was going to be in as early as Thursday to attend some pre-Homecoming festivities. They were on call to do whatever the brothers asked. Thankfully they did not have to share their room or anything with them, since they were in a dorm.

That night, he and Brian hung out so he could give him the rundown.

"Don't let the Big Brothers intimidate you, they will try, but stand your ground. We can't let them think we're taking in some little pushovers. And two, look them in the eye, give them their respect, but don't kiss their ass. We're not about that. Simple brotherhood. You watch my back, I'll watch your back."

"Got it, Big Brother Boy Genius."

"And don't call me that when we're just hanging, bruh, it's Brian."

"Got it."

"Boy, chill out. Relax, we're just bonding."

Brian was cool, even though sometimes he was tough on them. This was not the first time they hung out, but all the other times he was pretty formal with him, no relaxing, so this was new. He was hanging at the EU house, just the two of them, getting the place super tidy.

"How's your girlfriend situation going?" Brian asked while he was hand washing dishes even though there was a dishwasher.

"Umm...good. We're cool."

"You still holding out on the sexing, right?" Brian looked him over, watching him, then smelling him. "Naa, you good."

He laughed. "How can you tell Brian?"

"You're a virgin. Once you hit that, you carry yourself differently. You def don't walk around smelling like Jergens."

"I'm sorry my mom sends me soap."

"Can you at least get some Irish Spring? Something a lil more manly?"

"You're checking my manhood? Dude, I'm straight."

"I didn't say you weren't and there is nothing wrong if you're not. Trust me, once you get some, it'll change you."

He doubted that. If he did not gear his life around sex now, having it would not change him either.

"I love my girl, I'm good."

Wait, did he just say that? Brian frowned at him.

"What?"

"Man, you told me you just met her. How are you there already?"

He shrugged. "Didn't you feel that way about J'Nae? I just know."

"Yeah, but she wasn't my first...nor my only. You haven't even sampled other varieties out there. Look," Brian stopped wiping the counter. He pulled him away from the dishes and led him into the dining room. "Least partake in other possibilities before you tie yourself down to one."

"You mean, sleep around. Brian, that's not me."

"I wouldn't be right if I advised my little bro to do that, now would I?" Brian said with a smirk, although he was only a month older than him, they were more or less equal in age. He was older in fraternity years, but that was it. "I almost f'ed up and lost my girl over that, so I had to give it up. I'm going to be faithful from here on out."

He could not imagine losing Laila over something like that.

"Unless..." Brian stated. "I teach you the ways to do things."

He was all ears.

A/N: Yes, yes, Brian is about to corrupt poor Manny.