Текст книги "Games Frat Boys Play "

Автор книги: Todd Gregory

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Chapter 15

Iawoke under a blue sky, with puffs of white cloud drifting lazily across it.

I wiped sleep out of my eyes and sat up, realizing I was alone.

I looked at the clock on the nightstand table. It was almost eleven. “Shit,” I said, jumping out of the bed. I had to be at the house for my meeting in two hours. I started looking for my clothes, and remembered I’d left them outside. I dashed over to the sliding glass door, opened it, and smiled at Dante. He was sitting at the picnic table, drinking coffee and reading the paper. “Morning, sleepyhead,” he called.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” I picked up my shirt. It was still damp, and so were my shorts. I sat down at the picnic table. “Christ, I’m going to run home and get clothes.”

“Relax and have some coffee.” Dante picked up a carafe and poured another cup. “You’ve got plenty of time. Just go take a shower and drink some coffee.”

“I don’t have anything to wear,” I moaned, taking a sip of coffee. “Hey, this is good.”

“Only the best for my baby.” He smiled. “Now, jump in the shower. You can borrow some of my clothes.”

“Your clothes won’t fit me,” I replied. “And I have to run home, anyway—the stuff I need for the meeting is there.”

He got up and picked up my clothes. “I’ll put these in the dryer while you shower, and you can change when you get home.” He winked. “I put out a toothbrush for you in the bathroom. Now, go. You don’t want to be late.”

I took the coffee with me into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I quickly lathered up and washed my hair. As I let the heavy spray pound my body, I felt like I could conquer the world. This is it, I thought, rinsing the lather out of my hair. What are you going to do, Jordy? Are you going to fight to stay in the house or are you going to drop your bombs on them and walk out with your head held high?

I got out of the shower and dried off. I brushed my teeth. When I walked back into the bedroom, my clothes were lying on the bed. I slipped on my underwear and got dressed. According to the clock, it was now eleven-thirty. I sighed and headed back outside. Dante was back at the picnic table. I sat down and refilled my coffee cup. It really was good coffee. “Okay, I’m going to drink this cup and head home,” I said as Dante folded the newspaper and put it aside.

“It’s going to be okay, don’t be nervous,” Dante said. “You want to come over when you’re finished?”

“Yeah.” I looked around the sanctuary. “I think I’ll need some peace and serenity when I’m done.” I finished my cup of coffee and smiled at him. “I’ll pack a bag when I’m at my place. Unless you don’t want me to stay over?”

“I want you to move in.” Dante raised an eyebrow. “Whenever you’re ready, just pack your things and you’ve got a home here.”

“I don’t think I’m ready for that yet, but I know I’m going to be spending a lot of time here,” I replied. I stood, stretching and yawning. I leaned down and kissed him. “Last night was incredible, Dante. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” he answered. “My thoughts will be with you this afternoon.” He winked. “Kick their ass.”

I laughed and then walked out to my car. There was no question about that, but I still didn’t know what I wanted to do about being a brother. It really depended, I supposed, on how the meeting went. As I drove back to my apartment, I kept going back and forth. But ultimately I felt incredibly betrayed by the brotherhood. But it wasn’t the entire brotherhood, either—only a select few.

I didn’t know what I was going to do. As I walked into my apartment, I finally decided it would depend on how things went at the meeting. The one thing I knew for sure was, after the meeting was over, I was going to decimate Chad. I gathered the documents I needed, shoved them into different file folders, and labeled each one with a Sharpie. I put them in the order I would most likely need them and placed them inside my backpack. I glanced at the clock. It was just after twelve. I’d started a pot of coffee when I’d first gotten home, so I got a cup and sat out on my balcony. I had about fifteen minutes before I had to head over there, and as I sat sipping my coffee, I went over all the arguments I was going to make. I looked over at the pool, and sure enough, Jeff was out there, lying on his stomach on a deck chair. I smiled. I really loved both Jeff and Blair. Maybe things would have been different if they both hadn’t been so busy these last two semesters—but then maybe it wouldn’t have made a bit of difference. They were great guys and had a great relationship I envied.

There’s no reason you and Dante can’t have what they have, I told myself. I smiled. Chad and I would have never had what I have with Dante—I can’t believe I was ever so crazy as to think I was in love with him.

It was partly my own fault. I had to take responsibility for my own actions, for my own behavior, or I was no better than Chad. I didn’t hate him—okay, I did hate him, but not for what he’d done to me. I couldn’t ever allow myself, no matter how forgiving I might want to be, to forget what he’d done to Jay—and what he’d done to Dante. He’d hurt them both in his drive to get at me, which was cowardly, malicious, and unforgivable.

But how is what he did any different than what you’re about to do?

“The difference,” I said out loud, “is that Jay and Dante were innocents. The people I’m bringing down today aren’t.”

And that was the bottom line.

My phone chirped, and I picked it up. The text was from Chris: The meeting will be in the Chapter Room at 1, and you WILL be able to face your accusers.

“Perfect.” I smiled, finishing my coffee. I texted back: I look forward to it. Thanks, Chris.

At a quarter till one I pulled into the Beta Kappa parking lot. No one was out playing basketball, and no one was sitting at the picnic tables in the backyard. I got out of the car and took a deep breath. Judgment Day, I thought, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. I thought about saying hello to Roger, seeing how things went with his new little brother, but decided against it. There’d be time for that after, and I needed to stay focused. As I walked up the sidewalk toward the back door to the foyer, I glanced up and saw Chad sitting in his window. He smirked at me and gave me a sarcastic wave. I smiled back and flipped him the bird. Just about an hour or so, and you’re getting yours, you fucking bitch, I thought as I kept walking. The back door was open. The pledges, looking the worse for wear, were mopping up the Great Room. I flinched from the smell of sour beer. I waved them off—I didn’t want to shake their hands and have them all ask me how my day was going. I did smile, though, at their obvious discomfort. I was one of you not that long ago, I thought, and I hope this whole experience turns out better for you than it has for me. I hope you never get disillusioned the way I’ve been.

The door to the Chapter Room was open. Three brothers were already sitting in there when I walked in, and all three avoided looking at me. Bobby Dunlap wasn’t a surprise—I’d expected him to be one of the complaining brothers. Even Rees wasn’t a shock to me. Of course Chad had put him up to it—but Brandon? That was like being slapped in the face. He wouldn’t look at me, and at least had the decency to turn red, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. The irony was, I’d felt bad including him in my file. Obviously those feelings had been wasted.

It wasn’t a surprise that Chad was pulling the strings from backstage, either, while keeping his own hands clean.

That’s what you think, Chad.

“How’s that paper coming, Bobby?” I asked as I sat down.

“Fuck you,” he spat back at me. “You’re getting exactly what you deserve, asshole.”

Brandon looked up, a puzzled look on his face. “What are you talking about?” He looked from Bobby back to me.

“He fucking hacked into my computer and deleted all my files,” Bobby hissed. “I ought to kick your ass.”

“You’re welcome to try,” I shot back. “Nothing would give me greater pleasure than beating your sorry ass to a bloody pulp.” I folded my arms. “I’ve trained in mixed martial arts, Bobby. I’ll break every fucking bone in your miserable body. Bring it on, bitch.”

He blanched, and I smiled. I hadn’t trained in MMA. But one thing my dad always said, nine times out of ten, intimidation worked—especially with cowards.

Brandon met my glance and bit his lower lip. He mouthed sorry to me, but I wasn’t having any of it. No, Brandon, I’m the one who’s sorry—sorry for you. Sorry you’re such a spineless piece of garbage that all Chad has to do is snap his fingers and you’ll do his dirty work for him. You’re pathetic, and I’m sorry I ever thought we were friends.

At precisely one o’clock, the Executive Council filed in, shutting the door behind them: president Chris Moore, looking grim; vice president Craig Yamamoto, slender and scowling; treasurer Dave Morton, who’d always been nice to me and looked like he wanted to be somewhere, anywhere, else; secretary Tim Haas, carrying the big ledger where he recorded all meetings for posterity; pledge marshal Eric Matthews, who gave me an encouraging look; and house manager Jason Spielman. They sat down in the chairs lined up at one end of the room behind two tables from the Great Room, and Chris had his presidential gavel.

Chris picked up the gavel and banged it. He cleared his throat. “We are here to hold a preliminary hearing to determine whether or not a full hearing before the brotherhood is necessary. Let the record show that the accused brother, Jordan Valentine, is present, as well as his accusers, brothers Robert Dunlap, Brandon Benson, and Rees Davidson. The charges against Brother Valentine are, first, conduct unbecoming to a brother of Beta Kappa; second, conduct reflecting negatively on the brotherhood of Beta Kappa; and third, violating the honor code of Beta Kappa. Should Brother Valentine be found guilty of any one of these charges before the entire brotherhood, the brotherhood will vote on whether he should be expelled from our fraternity. This is a very grave and serious matter, and I will not have these proceedings taken lightly.” He looked at my accusers. “Do you wish your accusations to stand as they are, or modify them in any way? This is your final opportunity to end this.” His voice had a note of pleading in it, and I loved him for it. Chris was uncomfortable with all of this, obviously, and wanted it over.

Bobby rose. “I would like to add another accusation.” His voice quivered with outrage. “He hacked into my computer and deleted all of my term papers, all of my class notes, everything. I don’t know how I’m going to pass this semester without that stuff!”

I stood. “I don’t have the slightest idea what he’s talking about.”

“You admitted it to me!” Bobby snapped.

“I never said I hacked into your computer,” I replied evenly. “As I recall, Bobby, I simply gave you some friendly advice about not leaving your computer on when you weren’t using it, if you were connected to a wireless network. Advice, I might add, all of you would be wise to take.”

“My files are gone!” Bobby spluttered. “You—you—”

“Do you have any evidence to back up your accusation, Brother Dunlap?” Chris asked.

“Well, no.” Bobby’s face reddened. “But—”

“Then the accusation will not be added to the current charges,” Chris cut him off.

“Brother Morton, I would like the record to show that Brother Dunlap slandered me maliciously.” I bowed my head. “And that is the cornerstone of my defense—that all of this is a malicious and mean-spirited attempt by certain brothers to drum me out of the brotherhood. I have evidence I will present to the Executive Council of this conspiracy, and will prove to you that the mastermind behind all of this doesn’t even have the courage to accuse me himself, but rather is such a coward that he got these three brothers”—I waved my hand at them—“to do his dirty work for him, and that his motivation is not a concern for the brotherhood and its reputation, but rather a personal—and I might add, incredibly spiteful—vendetta against me. I would also add that this is most definitely conduct unbecoming in a brother of Beta Kappa and reflects very poorly on the brotherhood as a whole.”

A smile played at the corner of Chris’s mouth. “Go on, Brother Valentine.”

“Thank you.” I smiled back at him. “This entire hearing has come about because of a video that was circulated electronically to all the brothers. I do not deny that I am in the video. I do not deny that the video is of me having sexual relations with another man, in the steam room of my gym, Body Quest Fitness Center. And I will further stipulate that perhaps such conduct is contrary to the code of honor all Beta Kappas are held to. However, this video was shot without my knowledge and circulated in an attempt to get me expelled from Beta Kappa.” I cleared my throat. “What happened in that steam room was an error of judgment on my part—I freely admit that. But what one of us has not made an error of judgment? Who hasn’t done something that possibly was a violation of our fraternity standards? The difference is that mine was recorded without my knowledge and then circulated. If these charges are allowed to stand, and I am expelled, this sets a dangerous precedent for our chapter. Any brother with a grudge against another can simply record the first brother doing something, file charges against him, and get him expelled from the brotherhood, starting an incredibly vicious cycle, pitting brother against brother. Is this what any of us want? Is this what we want Beta Kappa to become?” I unzipped my backpack and removed the first folder. I handed each member of the Executive Council a piece of paper. “I would like to enter this document into the record. It’s a copy of the blueprint of the floor plan of Body Quest Fitness Center. I have highlighted the location of a peephole in the wall between the storage room and the steam room. This is how the video was recorded, and an employee of Body Quest, named Robby Mackey, did it. I was able to trace the electronic signature on the video back to Mackey’s cell phone. Mackey, if necessary, is willing to stand up in a court of law and state that he made the video at the instigation of Chad York.” I got out another file and passed out another piece of paper. “This is a copy of an e-mail from Brother Chad York to Brother Bobby Dunlap. It was Brother York, who has been sexually intimate with Robby Mackey, who convinced him to record me any time I was in the steam room, hoping I might do something indiscreet. Once Brother York had the video, he immediately e-mailed it to Brother Dunlap. Please note the text of the e-mail—where Brother York instructs Brother Dunlap to circulate the video to the entire brotherhood and states, ‘For obvious reasons, I can’t do it myself. ’ ” I turned and looked at Bobby, who’d gone white. “As we all know, it was Brother Dunlap who sent the video to everyone. I would add that the video was also sent to the manager at Body Quest. The other person on the video is my trainer, Jay Collins. As a result, Jay’s employment was terminated, and the gym attempted to terminate my membership as well.”

“You said attempted,” Craig Yamamoto pointed out. “What happened?”

“As Jay Collins was an innocent victim of this vicious vendetta against me, I purchased the gym and fired the employee who shot the video, and the manager.” I shrugged. “I have also reinstated Jay’s employment. I could not, in good conscience, allow him to have his life destroyed by the machinations of Brother Chad York.”

“You bought the gym?” Rees whistled from behind me.

“Yes. I bought the gym,” I answered him. “As the brotherhood is well aware, my parents are very wealthy. What the brotherhood does not know is I have a trust fund of my own, worth approximately one hundred million dollars, and that money is mine to do with as I please. And I was very pleased to spend several hundred thousand dollars to right this wrong. I would like the record to show that correcting this injustice done to Jay Collins by Chad York was very expensive for me to do.” I folded my arms. “And yet I am the one who stands accused before the brotherhood of conduct unbecoming to a brother, as Chad York intended all along.”

Chris cleared his throat. “I think we’ve heard enough,” he said, “and now the Executive Council will—”

“I’m not finished.” I cut him off. I took another file folder out of my bag and passed out another printout. I closed my eyes. “Let the record show this document is a list of several brothers of Beta Kappa, the title of a term paper, the class it was for, and the instructor.”

“What is this?” Tim Haas asked.

I smiled. “As you will note, Brother Haas’s name is on the list. Also on the list are two of my accusers, Brothers Benson and Davidson. This, as Brothers Haas, Benson, and Davidson are very well aware, is a list of term papers turned in by the brothers named as their own work, when the truth is the papers were written by me.” I turned and looked at Rees and Brandon, who were squirming in their seats. “Just like video recordings, Microsoft Word documents have an electronic signature. Someone who knows what to look for would be able to determine the computer those papers were originally written on, which can easily be proven to be mine. The university takes a very dim view of cheating—as does the national chapter of Beta Kappa. The students on that list will be expelled, and no other university would allow them admittance. I also believe the National Chapter would demand they be expelled from the brotherhood—and might even launch an investigation into this chapter, as would the university. It is entirely possible the scandal would result in our charter being pulled and the house shut down.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Rees blustered. “You’d be expelled, too.”

God, this was so easy. It was all I could do not to laugh. I’d hoped someone would bring that up. “Do you think I care?” I turned and looked at him. He was slouched down in his chair and wouldn’t look at me. “I have a trust fund worth nine figures. My parents are worth over half a billion dollars. I don’t need a college degree. I don’t need to work a day in my life. Sure, at first my parents would be disappointed in me, but once they found out the whole story, why I exposed this to the world, they would be proud.” I reached into my backpack and retrieved the last file. I passed out the final photocopies. “Let the record show I have passed out one final document.”

“What is this?” Chris looked like he was going to throw up at any moment.

“When I pledged this fraternity, I had my financial adviser investigate the finances of the house,” I replied, smiling. “It’s called due diligence. I wanted to know what I was getting into—and stupidly, I thought if the house had financial trouble, if I made it through and was initiated, I could help out.” I shook my head. “This house has been very poorly run from a financial standpoint for quite some time. I was shocked to discover that not only is the house years behind in dues payments to the National Chapter but also years behind in making payments on the mortgage held by the National Chapter. The National Chapter, apparently, has been in a quandary for years about what to do about this chapter—which on the surface is flourishing but doesn’t understand the concept of fiscal responsibility. They were more than happy to sell the back debt to me, as well as the mortgage. They were delighted that a brother from this chapter cared so much about this house he would actually take over the financial burden from them.” I exhaled. “What you are holding is the agreement between me and the National Chapter. I own the mortgage on this house. I own the back debt of this chapter. And I am well within my legal rights to demand repayment of the back debt, as well as the outstanding mortgage payments, or take possession of the house. And evict Beta Kappa once and for all.”

I picked up my backpack and slid it over my shoulder. “Decide what you want about the hearing.” I walked to the door. “I really don’t give a rat’s ass anymore. I joined this house because I wanted to be a part of it. I believed all the bullshit you drilled into my head as a pledge, about brotherhood and honor. I believed everything this house supposedly stood for. What an enormous disappointment to find out it was all just a bunch of bullshit. Fuck you all.”

“What are you going to do?” Chris asked hoarsely.

“When this nonsense first came up, I couldn’t believe how stupid all of you were, thinking I would come in here and cower, beg, and plead not to be thrown out. I thought I’d blackmail you, since I hold all the cards. I thought, well, I can force them to kick out my accusers, I could make them kick out Chad, and maybe we could purify this house and make it what it was intended to be from the beginning. And you people had the nerve to question my character?” I laughed. “But the more I thought about it, the less I cared. Do I want to be a part of a house where this kind of bullshit masquerades as brotherhood? Do I want to be a part of a brotherhood that simply pays lip service to the ideals it supposedly upholds? And the more I thought about it, the less I wanted to.” I opened the door and smiled. “So, you can all just stew for a while and wonder what I’m going to do. And by the way, fuck all of you.”

I slammed the door behind me.

I took a deep breath.

That felt good.

And now, there was just one last piece of business to attend to.

The house was silent as I climbed the staircase and walked down the upstairs hall to Chad’s room. His door was open, and I stood in the doorway. He was still sitting in the window, looking out. I cleared my throat, and he turned his head. He gave me a nasty smile. “So, is the hearing scheduled for tomorrow night? I can’t wait.”

I shook my head. “No, Chad, there’s not going to be a hearing. I’m sorry to disappoint you.” I smiled. “In fact, I would imagine the Executive Council is pretty much shitting themselves right now, terrified about what I’m going to do next. I’d say it’s pretty safe to say I put the fear of God into them—and I’m God.”

His smile faded.

“You’ve lost, Chad.” I stepped into his room. “Not only this battle, but you lost the entire war.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied. “And get out of my room.”

“Dante and I are back together, so you failed there, too,” I went on. “He loves me and wants me to move in with him. I know someone as twisted and soulless as you can’t comprehend love, but he does love me. And he hates you for what you tried to do to us. But I’m pretty positive that doesn’t really bother you much—you’re used to being hated, I’m sure.”

“Go to hell.”

“Good comeback,” I mocked. “Congratulations, though. I’m sure when you launched your little scheme to get me thrown out of the brotherhood, it never once occurred to you it might blow up in your face. I bet it never occurred to you—because you’ve undoubtedly pulled this kind of bullshit before—that wimpy little Jordy Valentine was not only a worthy opponent but more than willing to fight even dirtier than you were, was capable of going for the throat and being even nastier than you are.” I laughed. “It’s actually sad how pathetic your little games really are. I warned you yesterday that going up against someone with a lot of money at his disposal was a huge mistake. I gave you a chance to call this whole thing off, to get your little puppets to withdraw their stupid charges against me, but not you! Not the great Chad York! You would never back down and admit defeat. Not to nerdy Jordy.” I shook my head. “I not only beat you, Chad, but I can bring this whole house down.”

“What are you talking about?” He stared at me. “You’re not making sense.”

“I won’t bore you with the details of my enormous triumph.” I folded my arms. “You’ll hear all about it soon enough. But there are a few things you need to know.”

“You’re already boring me, so go away.” He waved his hand and looked back out the window.

“I always thought it was interesting how contemptuous you were of your family.” I ignored him. Time to go for the jugular. “I remembered how you said your dad acted like you thought you were better than everyone else because you wanted to go to college. So, I did some checking—or rather, I had some of my people do some checking. You see, I wondered how on earth you were paying for college without working, if your family was as working class as you claimed. How were you paying for everything? Imagine how shocked I was to find out your father, the one you trashed whenever you talked about him, had actually taken out a second mortgage on your home to send you to college. That your siblings, whom you hold in such contempt, were all contributing and helping out to send you to college, so you could get a degree and make something of yourself. Do you have any idea, do you even care, how hard they are struggling to pay those monthly mortgage payments so you can be here and talk shit about them?”

“That’s none of your damned business.” His face had drained of color, and his voice was shaking.

“Your mother works in a diner,” I went on. “On her feet all day, waiting tables, so you can be here. Your father takes extra shifts at the garage so he can put food on the table and try to stay ahead of the huge financial burden he’s taken on, so you can be here. And you don’t even appreciate it. Not. One. Bit.” I shrugged. “I don’t know why that surprises me. You are probably the most self-absorbed, arrogant piece of shit I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

“You don’t know a thing about me.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Who’s to say?” I took another step forward. “But here’s what I do know. Tomorrow morning, my financial adviser is buying the garage where your father works—and the diner where your mother works. By tomorrow afternoon, they will be closed down and your parents will be unemployed.” I stroked my chin. “Now, I wonder how they’re going to be able to keep up with those mortgages? How are they going to be able to keep you in school?”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“I wouldn’t?” I smiled at him.

“Why would you punish them?” he yelled. “They haven’t done anything to you!”

“Kind of like how my trainer did nothing to you? But you were willing to ruin his life.” I took another step closer to him. “And what did Dante ever do to you? Oh, yeah, he dumped your ass because he saw what a shallow, worthless piece of garbage was wrapped up inside such a pretty package.” I barked out another laugh. “Oh, yes, did I forget to mention that my financial adviser is also buying up the paper your parents’ bank holds on their home? We’re offering twice what they’re worth—no bank will be able to turn down such a profit.”

“You sick motherfucker!”

“And how long do you think they’ll be able to keep up those payments without jobs, Chad?” I started laughing. “And as soon as they are late, we’re going to foreclose. Your family is going to be unemployed and homeless, Chad, and they have you to thank for it.”

He was trembling. “Don’t do this, Jordy, please, I’m begging you. They haven’t done anything to you—”

I cut him off. “They raised you, didn’t they? You’re a product of their parenting. Did they not love you enough, Chad? What did they do to make you such a monster?” I shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter, I suppose. I don’t care. All I know is you have to be stopped, and taught a lesson. What was it you said to me yesterday? There’s nothing I could possibly teach you? Do you still think that’s true, Chad?” I reached into my backpack and pulled out the classified ads from the paper. I tossed it on the bed. “You’d better start looking for a job, Chad. I took the liberty of circling a few that look right up your alley—McDonald’s is hiring, and so is T.G.I. Friday’s.”

He moved, to get out of the window, but lost his balance.

For a brief second, I saw his eyes widen in terror as he tried to get his balance back.

And then he was gone.