Chapter 3

    The drive to the frat house was the longest twenty minutes of Keira's life. She has never felt more apprehensive and agitated in her entire life as she did during those twenty minutes.

It was like a twenty-minute-long visit to hell, in a staring challenge with the devil. 

Xander, as Kimberly had introduced him, kept throwing her sinister glares from the rearview mirror and he pretended as if he was just meeting her for the very first time when he went ahead to ask her how Camden University was treating her.

She couldn't tell if he was playing mind games with her or if he loathed her guts for laying hands on his friend, but didn't want to say anything yet.

She was very uncomfortable and edgy, but neither Elvira nor Kimberly noticed because Xander was an expert player. Without any hassle, he played the nice and chivalrous gentleman to Elvira and Kimberly, while dishing her the deadliest glares, through the rearview mirror.

She was more terrified about meeting Andre at the party. If this Xander guy could instill so much fear into her, just with his glare, then she might piss in her panties when faced with Andre.

Why did she cross paths with them?

Why couldn't fate just keep them away from her forever?

"Are you excited?" Elvira squealed with a thrilling rush, from beside her.

No! She's nothing near being excited. She's terrified and panic-stricken because she's about to go face her worst adversary.

"You bet." Keira mouthed with laconism, looking out of the window.

Of course, she knew the kind of people they were going to meet at the party. Probably rich and wild kids who drank alcohol, smoked pot, and tell dirty and flirty jokes.

Girls in revealing and skimpy dresses and boys that are barely clothed, go after these girls. It's always a wild orgy in there. Dirty games like beer pong, spin the bottle, truth or dare and flip cups are the most prominent in such gatherings.

She's had this knowledge from the few college-related movies and books she's read and before she realized who Kimberly's friend was, she was mentally prepared for the party.

Now, she's dreading it.

"We're here," Kimberly announced to them from the driver's side, when the car finally came to a halt.

In front of them was a building that seemed to be a residential apartment, however, it had strings of colorful lighting, tied from the rooftop to the lawn.

"Are you nervous?" Elvira asked her in a small whisper, leaning closer and clutching her hand in a tighter grip.

Why shouldn't I be? Keira almost snapped at the girl.

If I'd known beforehand, I was going to meet up with these guys, I would've rather worked till ten pm, than tag along with you guys.

Now, I'm gonna be in the same room with these guys and probably be used as an object of mockery by them.

She wished she could take back the hand of time and avoid their earlier confrontation. It would've been best for her if she had not confronted them about splashing her with dirt and water.

Too late to cry over spilled milk now.

   While Kimberly and Xander went ahead of them towards the building, acting like they haven't brought two newbies with them, Keira and Elvira alighted the car, holding each other's hands for comfort and confidence.

It came off quite normal outside the building, except for the loud music that could be heard blaring from inside the building and the lighting around the lawn, but that was it.

There were no party cups littered on the lawn, nor were guests parading the surrounding.

They ascended the short flight of stairs that led to the porch and stopped in front of the entrance door. Xander fished out a key from his jacket pocket and inserted it into the keyhole, while both Keira and Elvira watched from behind them.

He unlocked the door and pushed it open, welcoming them with loud deafening music blaring through the walls of the building.

Inside the house was everything Keira had expected it to be. Loud music, boisterous crowds, foggy with thick smoke, and dim lighting. She guessed they could barely hear themselves properly over such loud music and noise.

From the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of a girl giving an erotic lap dance to one of the guys on the sofa, while the others were taking turns vaping from the big pot.

A few of the crowd were dancing to the loud music, however, dancing was an understatement of what the couple near the dining table was doing. The guy was groping the almost naked girl and his friends were cheering them on.

The kitchen table had all the drinks, from gins and beers to the craziest cocktail mixtures anyone could think of.

It was the wildest orgy Keira has ever witnessed.

Keira didn't let go of Elvira's hand as they sauntered behind Kimberly and Xander, who was giggling with them, navigating their way through the boisterous crowd.

They arrived at another living area and it was a bit more luminous than the rest of the apartment, less boisterous, and less deafening.

The sofas and cushions were arranged to face the TV against the wall and the fireplace underneath it. It was like a private clubhouse, for private and elite members only.

Keira spotted Shakira among the people in the room and she was seated on a guy's lap. They were making out because her blonde hair shielded the guy's face from sight.

There were two other dudes present in the room and looking at them, Keira immediately guessed they were twins, because of their uncanny resemblance.

Xander cleared his throat loudly, gathering the attention of everyone in the room.

"Guys, we're here." He announced to them, walking towards his seat. Kimberly followed behind him, leaving Keira and Elvira by themselves.

However, what Keira didn't foresee at the party, was Andre being Shakira's boyfriend.

You slapped Shakira's boyfriend! Her conscience reprimanded her after recognition had dawned on her.

You're doomed, Keira Logan.

A few seconds washed through Keira like forever, as she stood under the scrutiny of everyone in the room, except Shakira, as she was busy scrolling through her cell phone.

Andre's deadly glares were the most prominent and they appalled her, sending goosebumps over her.

Ten seconds passed and still, nothing was said in the room. Keira had almost passed out from anxiety and trepidation when someone finally spoke up.

"Welcome ladies." One of the twins said from the group, getting up from his seat, which was next to Shakira and her boyfriend.

Keira immediately let out an exhale, forcing a smile through her discomfort.

"I'm Cole." He introduced himself, reaching his hand towards Keira for a handshake and she took it with great hesitation.

He repeated the same welcoming gesture to Elvira, then continued his introduction.

"These are my friends," he turned to the mean-looking guy with Shakira,

"He's Alexandre, but we call him Andre and Shakie calls him Dre." He informed them, his gaze, particularly on Elvira.

"You already know Shakie and Kim, Xander and of course me." He went on, then turned to his look-alike, seated with Kim,

"That's my twin, Aiden. I guess you must have already figured we're twins." He snickered, averting his gaze from his brother, back to Elvira.

"Nice to meet y'all, I'm Elvira and she's Keira," Elvira spoke on her and Keira's behalf, while the latter mouthed an indistinct hi to the group.

Keira noticed everyone else was quite welcoming towards her and Elvira, except Shakie's boyfriend, Andre.

He hasn't even spoken a word to them or even smiled their way.

"So Keira, tell us about yourself." Xander turned to her after they'd been offered seats and drinks.

She was startled with fright, upon the mention of her name and her fright only worsened when she realized it was Xander who'd called her.

Why can't he just leave her be?

"What's your major? Where are you from and who are your parents.." From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Kimberly nudge him lightly and he shrugged, ignoring whatever warning she'd given him.

"I'm an econ major and I'm from Topeka..."

"I've never been to Topeka before." Cole asserted, before she finished, then turned to Elvira,

"What about you, Elvie?"

"I'm a business major and I'm from Texas..."

"I've been to Texas twice." He took after her, then turned to Xander,

"Bro, remember that bimbo we flew to Texas to fuck?" 

"Yeah, Tessa, that was her name," Xander replied with a snort,

"I remember her, she was a fucking screamer." He added, in a playing and mocking tone,

"Aiden, did you go with them?" Kimberly fired at Aiden, on whose lap she was seated. He shook his head in defense immediately,

"No! I'd no idea they flew to Texas." Then he turned to his twin with a questioning gaze,

"When was that?"

"Hmmm…I think a few days after our last birthday. You went to visit mom, remember?"

"Uh...You didn't tell me you guys were flying to Texas, you said you didn't wanna visit mom."

"Would you've gone with them if they'd told you?" She questioned him again and immediately, he shook his head negatively. Kim's gaze softened before she returned it to Cole,

"You're such a man-whore."

"Don't paint me that badly in front of your friends." He cajoled her playfully, then turned to Elvira,

"Don't mind Kim, I'm not as bad as she paints me."

Elvira smiled, but Keira wasn't at all, amused by their conversation. She was aching to leave the room and be away from their radar, at least until it was time to go home.

Andre's acidic glares weren't even helping her relax.

He hates my guts, she thought to herself.

Imagine, having the guts to come to his party, after slapping him. Who wouldn't hate your guts?

He must probably be thinking of several ways to retaliate against that slap.

   After their conversation heated off with Elvira, Keira got up and excused herself to use the restroom. Not like she was in great need to use the restroom, but to escape Andre's subsequent deadly glares and the feeling of being inconspicuous in the room.

"Where are you going off to, Keira?" Xander's voice beckoned her, just as she reached to open the door and she halted on her track.

"Yeah." Cole's voice seconded Xander's,

"We are about to spin the bottle?" He asserted expectantly, staring at her,

"You're in?"

Keira's face feigned a smile as she turned to him,

"I'll pass. I need to use the restroom." She explained politely, ignoring the sullen look on Elvira's face.

"You sure you don't want me to save you a spot in the game?" Cole inquired, but she politely declined his request, the fake smile still lingering on her face.

"Okay." Cole heaved in resignation and Keira turned to open the door and leave, when the deep baritone voice growled behind her, unexpectedly, and she startled with fear, recognizing the voice.

"The bathroom is down the hall. The last door on the left." The voice directed her,

"Don't you dare make any mess inside there?" 

Clouded with a thick fog of apprehension and nervousness, Keira blurted a 'yes sir', to the owner of the voice, even before she could stop herself.

Appalled and embarrassed by her impulsive response to his command, which everyone heard clearly, she pulled the door open and scurried out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.