Campus King | 18+

Chapter Fourteen

Hannah

That Friday, four days later, I shot a quick wave in Sarah's direction as I breezed past the front desk. I didn't stop for a chat, mainly because she was in the middle of flirting with a cute Korean exchange student whom I recognized from my Phys Chem class. With a playful wink thrown my way, she returned her focus to the conversation.

I made my way upward, taking the elevator to the third floor of the library. It was an open, talk-friendly space—and it was the floor I usually avoided at all costs. Even at eight in the morning, it was already crowded. Students filled every table, backpacks slung over chairs, coffee cups and half-eaten breakfast sandwiches scattered around despite the NO FOOD signs posted everywhere.

I scanned the room for my group as I walked past a table of co-eds, all obviously freshmen. They still had that excited youthful glow—college hadn't drained it from them yet.

"Paul wants us to go to the Sigma Tau house tomorrow. He said Marcus has this beer run... thing planned. Sounds kinda fun, no?"

The familiar name stopped me short. For a moment, the noise of the floor dulled, like someone had pressed their palms over my ears—then it rushed back in all at once, louder than before. Against my better judgment, I turned my head to listen more.

"He's wasting his time. Everyone's gonna be in Boulder tomorrow. No one's doing frat stuff," another girl answered.

"Which means the boys will be even happier that we showed up. I think we should go." She turned to a girl slumped over the table, arms folded beneath her head. "Seriously, Beth—what's your deal today?" she asked, her tone sharp. "I know it's early, but maybe try pretending you're part of the conversation?"

Beth shifted, lifting her head slowly. "... Sorry."

I didn't wait to hear more because it was none of my business. I had to remind myself that Dylan didn't go here anymore, even if that asshole, Marcus, was still around. Whatever Sigma Tau had been to me, it wasn't that now. Just another frat. I told myself those girls were going to be fine. 

Frowning to myself as I tried to banish unwanted memories, I weaved through the other tables until I spotted my groupmates. Sitting together near the back were Skylar and Charlotte, minus one important member.

Charlotte was in her signature attire—flannel and jeans, her hair braided into a French braid, but Skylar was definitely a lot more dolled up today. Her hair was meticulously curled in pretty loops that hung down to her shoulders. Hooped earrings dangled from her ears, and a splash of bold dark pink lipstick framed her radiant smile. Her ensemble—a white crop top paired with high-waisted jean shorts—was completed with her trusty sneakers, albeit in a dark blue this time. Before, I had thought she was more handsome than beautiful, but not today. Today she was pretty.

Wouldn't have anything to do with the only male member in our group, would it?

In the last two lectures we'd had together, Skylar and Fuckface had flirted up a storm. She was clearly more interested—leaning in, laughing too much—while he mostly just soaked up the attention. I'd assumed their fixation on each other would make things easier for me, but it didn't. Both times, I left in a worse mood than I'd arrived in, despite my best efforts to tune them out.