I covered my ears as high-pitched squeals filled the living room.

Almost all the girls in white dresses ran towards the windows to peek at the young men singing on the front lawn outside.

"Now, ladies. Calm down." Naomi was trying not to laugh, but she was obviously amused. "You're officially Kappa Pi Kappa sisters now. Once we go outside, don't forget to curtsy when they give you your roses."

"Save the squealing for later," advised Ophelia.

There were giggles all around.

When Madeline caught my eye, she covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself from laughing. Jamaica winked at me, before fixing Lilian's neat braid.

"Follow me," said Naomi, leading the pack outside.

Newly initiated brothers from the Alpha Alpha fraternity fanned out on the front lawn of the KPK house, wearing a black tie suit and each carrying a rose.

I spotted Scout, front and center. It was hard to miss his gingerness. I couldn't help the smile that creeped out on my face as we shared a look.

Otto, standing at the end of the line, raised a hand to signal the boys. When he closed it into a fist, the serenade began.

* * * * *

Some time later, we were inside the house mingling with the guys and drinking champagne – because what else were we going to drink in a sorority house?

"We're officially sisters!" exclaimed Madeline, raising her hand that was holding the glass to cheers with everyone.

I smiled as my fellow new sisters whooped and hooted with her.

A strong arm snaked around my waist and pulled me back against a hard body, while a voice whispered, "Congratulations, Miss Anderson, for surviving initiation and becoming a Kappa Pi Kappa sister. I'm proud of you."

His warm breath on my skin sent tingles down my spine.

"Hardly something to be proud about, but thanks." I turned around and faced the redheaded goof, bringing my arms up around his neck. "You, too."

"What?"

"Congrats on finding real friends through your brothers," I said, gently stroking the back of his neck. "I'm happy for you."

"I found more than that, you know."

He grinned, before leaning down and kissing me.

God, I honestly could stay like this with him forever. I'd never felt this at peace in someone else's presence before. He made everything simple and easy. Being with him made me feel a sense of calm I never knew I needed until I met him.

With him, I finally felt content.

Wanting more privacy, I found myself dragging him across the room and out of the house, until we were hidden under a big tree on the front lawn.

Scout's lips traveled down my neck, and it took all of me not to moan out too loud. Damn, he was so good at this.

"Connie," he murmured, his lips finding mine again while his calloused fingers caressed my cheek. "I love kissing you."

I loved kissing him, too. But I needed to focus.

"Scout," I breathed out.

"Hmm?"

He was too busy trailing kisses on my body. I didn't want to stop him. Fuck, I hated myself right now. But I really needed to tell him.

"I have to tell you something."

"Can't it wait?"

"No."

At that, he pulled away and looked at me while he cupped my face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." I assured him. "It's just..." I took a deep breath. "When we go home for the holidays... I've decided to tell the crew about us."

He blinked for a moment, then a smile played on his lips. "For real?"

I nodded, returning his smile. "I mean, yeah, sure, Oz already knows and Frisco kinda knows. But I wanna make it official with all of them." My forehead creased as I looked up at him. "Is that okay with you?"

He was grinning broadly now, with one of his hands reaching down and holding mine. "Hell yeah."

I bit my bottom lip. "Alfie will lose his shit."

He blew a breath, nodding. "I figured."

"That won't stop me from being with you, though," I told him, catching his eyes again. "I want you to know that."

Alfie would just have to get over it. Scout was a huge part of my life now, if not the biggest. I never expected to be this happy with someone but here I was. I actually saw myself being with him for a long time. My best friend would just have to deal.

Scout smiled, his eyes wandering to our intertwined hands. "Can I introduce you to my mom as my girlfriend, then?"

My heartbeat accelerated, but I forced myself to calm down. I already met his grandparents, and I already knew Mrs. Crimson. This shouldn't be hard.

"Of course," I said.

"Snow, too?"

I averted my eyes from his gaze.

If I wanted to stay in Scout's life, I'd eventually have to face his twin sister. I guessed it was time to have that long overdue talk.

Damn, anything for this boy holding me right now.

"Sure," I finally replied, laying my back against the tree as I stared up at him.

He smiled. "Thank you."

"How's your mom doing, by the way?"

"She wants to find herself again," he answered thoughtfully. "She's trying out a lot of stuff lately, like painting and gardening. She still cooks a lot, though."

That sounded nice.

"Is she happy?" I asked.

Scout thought about it, before nodding. "Yeah, I think she is."

That brought a smile to my lips. "That's good."

"But she seemed way happier when I told her that Coach is making me first string next season."

"What?" My eyes widened. "Seriously?"

He grinned. "Yeah, he told me this morning."

"Holy shit, Scout!" I laughed, putting my arms around him. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you," he whispered, kissing me on the cheek before I pulled away.

"I'm really happy for you," I said sincerely.

Next school year, I'd be repeating my Philosophy class. By then, I'd be free from pledge duties so I would be able to concentrate on passing that damn class.

Look at us, being college students.

Smiling, Scout reached up a hand and pushed a stray hair behind my ear. With his other arm on the tree above my head, Scout leaned down closer to me while his free hand continued to play with my hair.

"What's on your mind?" I asked, tilting my head.

"I'm wondering how I never noticed how beautiful you are even in high school."

I rolled my eyes. "You're so cheesy."

He chuckled. "No, seriously."

"A lot happened back then." I released a sigh, closing my eyes when he touched my cheeks softly. "You had a thing for Halo."

It wasn't officially broadcasted, but everyone knew about it. At least, everyone in the crew did. We often teased Oz about it to piss him off.

"You had a thing for Alfie," he shot back.

I opened my eyes and met his green ones. He didn't seem mad, he just looked like he was stating a fact.

"We're even, then," I said.

He shook his head. "I was never in love with Halo."

I considered telling him...

Whatever, fuck it.

"Maybe I was never in love with Alfie."

He watched me, waiting for me to continue.

"Or maybe I was."

I shrugged, wetting my lips as I pondered about it. Alfie and I had a complicated relationship, everyone knew that. We had the kind of bond that was so thick and solid that nothing could ever break it.

"I don't know," I continued. "I mean, I know for sure that I love him."

For the longest time, we ran to each other to get away from all the bullshit and drama that surrounded us. We found comfort in each other, to the point where we became dependent on each other.

"But was I really in love with him?" I wondered. "Like fucking deep, crazy as hell, all consuming, I-can't-breathe kinda love."

I thought Alfie was the only one who could ever understand me and fully accept me for who I was. It was so easy to confuse that kind of feeling with being in love.

But then, I met Scout.

"Why do you think that?" he asked.

"Because..." Because I was beginning to realize that what I felt for Alfie was nothing compared to what Scout made me feel – like fucking deep, crazy as hell, all consuming, I-can't-breathe kinda shit.

"Why are we talking about the past?" I said instead. Yeah, I wasn't ready for that conversation right now.

Scout let out a small laugh. "You brought it up."

"Let's change the subject." Please.

"What do you want to talk about?"

I tilted my head and pursed my lips. "I wanna talk about why you're still not kissing the hell outta me to make me shut up."

He grinned and did just that.

I closed my eyes and savored the moment – here with him, in his arms, feeling the safest I'd ever been since forever. With our foreheads against each other, a satisfied sigh escaped my lips.

"I love how you feel in my arms," murmured Scout, kissing my temple.

"Aw," I cooed. "You're making me blush, Crimson."

"I love making you blush, Anderson."

I pulled back and met his eyes, seeing the sincerity in them. Why had I ever ignored this Golden Boy in high school?

"Always the charmer, aren't you?"

"Admit it," he dared, flashing me a lopsided grin. "You're turned on."

Pft, that was easy. "I'm turned on."

With his smile frozen in place, his eyes turned lustful as they wandered to my mouth. He didn't need further encouragement. He closed the distance and crashed his lips down on mine for the nth time tonight.

What he didn't know was, admitting I was turned on by him was a piece of cake. But admitting I was in love with him was another story.

Even though it was the truth...

I'm in love with Scout fucking Crimson.

_____________

Writing Alfie's story made me realize how much in denial Connie is with everything involving Scout. Now I get all your frustrations. LOL!

Next update: Sunday (April 26)

Coming up next..... Chapter 33: Pretty Little Gangster
Who's up for revenge?

#SavageMeWP