e i g h t | Kappa Phi

I was a woman on a mission.

The full sleeved red blouse with the scoop neckline paired with my best jeans was what I'd finally decided on.

I'd vetoed everything else in favor of the clothes laid out on my bed so that I could look less like I was in for kicking back and more like I'd made an effort. But not too much, of course. I wanted my effort to be effortless.

"Are you done?" Matt yawned as he lay on his back on Ella's bed, looking up from his phone at me. "I really don't know why you're putting so much thought into what you're wearing. I mean, it's a fucking frat party."

Ella stopped brushing her hair and looked at him through the mirror. "Because every once in a while, we'd like to, genius. Also, in case you went temporarily deaf a couple of hours ago and didn't hear what I told you, then Noah's taking Riley, so that's a done thing."

"Um, if I may remind you," I chimed in, "I was already going for you. A certain redhead you said you wanted to see ring a bell?"

"Well, it's at Kappa Phi," Matt pointed out, ignoring me. "And it's not like anybody cares what you're wearing in general, even. Guys only look two places anyway."

"Okay, stop," I groaned loudly. "No more of this, please. When are you guys leaving?"

"We're leaving now," Ella said, putting down her brush. "And you're supposed to be leaving in half an hour with Noah."

I frowned. "What?" He did say he'd take me, but no details were shared and I was as clueless as anything as I watched Ella put her make up on. I'd figured he'd probably blow me off and I could go with a friend from the dorm later. I didn't blame him if he did blow me off. If you thought on it, we weren't exactly even friends yet, were we?

"Yeah. Mac practically stalked me down to my class to tell me to give you a heads up."

"What?" I frowned to myself. Did that mean Mac was making him take me? Or was he doing this because he wanted to?

Could Mac really make Noah do something he didn't want to do?

I was pretty sure that was a big no.

A little elated and more than enough panicked, I scooped the clothes off the bed and made a run for bathroom. "And you're telling me this now?"

"Well," she had the grace to look guilty. "I thought it gave you less time to back out or something, you know?"

I snorted and Matt answered her before I could, "Oh Ella. She definitely wasn't going to back out."

It pained me to say he was right.

But he was, and I had a party to get ready for.

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He was a whole ten minutes early and man, I loved that.

Fortunately, I was ready and had just finished tying the laces on my sneakers (Matt said there were no heels at a Kappa Phi shindig, thank God) and didn't keep him waiting long.

Okay, play it cool, I told myself. Just be cool, Riley.

"Hi," I smiled up at him big and bright the moment I opened the door.

So much for playing it cool.

He stood there with his hair looking softer than ever, wearing washed out jeans and a dark blue T-shirt. He had one hand was shoved into his pocket and those perfect blue eyes of his were completely on me.

"You look good," he said softly, and just like that, I felt the butterflies in my stomach.

He was such a keeper.

Too bad that didn't mean anything right now. Not until I knew him, not until I could call him a friend.

"You're not too bad yourself." I totally understated before asking, "Should we get going?"

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Being a junior in Redwood University, I'd been to many frat parties. It was generally the same thing at every different house: drinks circulated the place while the music went on strong. Everyone somehow always managed to find someone they knew and ended up having a good time, but those were at the parties of the houses I'd been to most.

I was a little apprehensive when we arrived because Kappa Phi parties were known to be a little outrageous. As in, more than the norm.

And I hadn't been to a Kappa Phi rager even once.

Which explains why my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight in front of us when we entered from the front door.

It was like every bad college movie coming true with actual nudity to the side where they were playing beer pong, rowdy dancing on the tables and grinding which was definitely not limited to the dance floor.

And I'd bet everything those guys in the corner were not smoking a cigarette.

We'd stepped into a disaster.

This confirmed one thing for sure: Kappa Phi parties definitely weren't my thing.

Not even two steps into the house, I immediately turned on my heel to face Noah with wide-eyes and an expression that outright said no. I didn't care if I kind of, sort of, type of liked him and this was supposed to be an opportunity to spend time with him. I had my principles and I could tell what bad news was. I wasn't staying here.

He took one look at my face, another brief one at the state of the living room before turning back to me and declaring, "You go get your friends, I'll get Mac. Keep your phone on you at all times and check in with me in five minutes. We'll be out of here soon."

That had to be the most he'd ever said to me.

But that wasn't all.

The best part was that he actually got it. This wasn't my scene. Hell, I was sure this wasn't the place for any one of us, but he still understood and was all for leaving.

Noah Archer was the best.

I gave him a quick and grateful smile before bolting for the kitchen to the left (as he took off for the right) where I thought Ella would be. Halfway inside, I started backtracking at the sight of a couple making out against the kitchen counter. Nope, no Ella here.

Taking out my cell phone from my pocket, my intent to call Ella was intercepted with a call from Matt, which I gladly accepted.

"Where are you?" I yelled at him over the music.

"I'm trying to tear away Ella from her redhead so we can make an exit," he was shouting too. "This party sure went downhill fast."

"Well, we just got here." I informed him. "And we're leaving. Where are you? Should I come to you guys?"

There was a bustle of noise before he answered, his voice wavering a bit because of the loud music. "We—there—around—it's near the bathroom."

"Wait, what?"

I pulled the phone away from my ear to see that the call had ended. I frowned as I decided to work with what I had. They were somewhere near the bathroom. Okay.

After eons of winding my way down the hallways and opening doors, I finally opened a door that didn't mentally scar me forever.

Finally, it was a bathroom.

And there was a girl was crying on the white tiled floor.

Uh oh.

I glanced around to look for Ella and Matt but came up empty again—there was no sign of them. I bit my lip, alternating between looking over my shoulder down the hall and back into the bathroom where the brunette sat crumpled and defeated in a sobbing mess and I knew the guilt of just leaving her there would heavily outweigh the need to get away from the place.

I just sighed. Was there really a choice?

I stepped inside and sat at the edge of the tub, debating what I should do before remembering Noah's parting words. He'd wanted me to check in with him in five minutes. Drafting a quick message, I came to a stop when I realized there was a major flaw in that plan.

I didn't have his number.

Fuck.

Stumped but deciding to make the best of it, I selected Mac's number. There was a good reason why I had it in the first place. A couple of years ago, he and a classmate of his had been part of the Student Society, and every freshman was required to save his and Dana Walter's number in case they had any troubles figuring things out or anything—needless to say, even though I never had to use it, I was glad I still had it.

Then I pressed send, letting him know I was in the bathroom on the first floor and would be near the door in ten minutes.

Then I sent another text to my friends to be at the door in ten minutes too.

By the time I was done and finally looked up, the girl was looking at me, painting an immediate sorry picture as she punctuated the act with a sniffle.

A little out of my element, I decided to prompt her just the slightest bit when I lightly raised my eyebrows. Sure enough, she took the bait by announcing openly without any hint of hesitance, "He dumped me."

And then she burst out crying all over again.

I sighed once more to myself. In a circus of a party raging downstairs in a house where my friends were God knows where while I was up here in a quiet bathroom with a crying girl, I awkwardly reached out and patted her back.

This was going to be a long night.

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Thanks to everyone who read, commented and voted! And Jimmy, who spent a lot of time reading my story and supporting it :) Thank you!