Chapter 7

Logan

 

        I was sitting in my room playing video games.  It brought me some relief to shoot players in Fortnite when I was annoyed.  I had tried to get a hold of Amy to see if I could run into Faith, but I had no luck.  Killian didn’t answer his phone, so I was shooting virtual players and losing the game.

        Mason came back to our dorm room looking upset.  So what’s new?

        “What now?” I asked sourly.

        “I’ve got bad news for you and really-really-really good news,” said Mason.

        “Don’t play games, Mas,” I said tiredly, pausing the game.  “I’m not in the mood.”

        “I went back to the quad today and hung out so I could run into Faith,” he explained.  “I have a date with her Friday night.  I’m pretending to be her boyfriend to punish her jerk ex-boyfriend.”

        “Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa!” I said, dropping my game controller.  “What is this?  When---  What happened?!”

        “I just said,” he explained.  “I was hanging on the quad talking to Gregory hoping Faith would come by and she did.  I apologized for the other day---“

        “Yeah, what were you thinking, by the way?”

        “Shut up?  Okay?  I’m talking?”

        Jeez, look who grew a pair.  Okay, asshole, I’ll be quiet for now.

        “Anyhow, after I explained I thought there was a shooter on campus or something, which is why I tried to shield her with my body---“

        “You thought I was talking about a shooter?” I laughed hard, almost falling off my bed.  “Come on!  There were no gunshots!”

        “Will you shut up and let me tell the whole story please?” he insisted. He started pacing around the room.

        “Okay-okay,” I said, throwing up my hands.  “Go on.”

        “We get to talking and walking and suddenly she sees her ex boyfriend on the quad.  It’s Kyle,” he explained.

        “Kyle?!  She used to date, Kyle?  Are you kidding me right now?”

        “God dammit, Logan!  How many times are you going to interrupt me?!” snapped Mason, turning to face me, his eyes wide.

        “Sorry,” I said, suddenly interested.  “Go on.”

        “So she tells me to pretend to be her boyfriend and we start making out right there on the quad!” he said excitedly.

        “Oh, great,” I snapped, folding my arms over my chest.  “I like a girl and you suddenly make out with her.”

        “She was into me,” he countered.  “Don’t pretend like she’s not.”

        “So why would any of this make me happy?” I asked.

        The excitement rushed out of him and he collapsed onto his bed.

        “The coach wants me to go over plays on Friday night,” he explained.  “I have to go, I can’t take her.  But you can.”

We were both silent for a moment, thinking over the implications.

        “I have to be you?  Wow, it’s been a long time since we did that,” I laughed.  “Got any crappy clothes I can borrow?”

        “Uh, got any cheap cologne I can wear?” Mason countered mocking me.  “Or better yet, I’ll just smell like farts all day.”

        “Touché, brother,” I acknowledged with a wave of my hand.  “But I can hardly be mad at you since I’ll soon be making out with your girl.”

        “Just dial it back, Romeo,” said Mason, glaring at me.  “Remember, she’ll think you are me.”

        “Oh, right,” I said.  “Can you give me some tips on being depressing and pathetic before I go?”

        “Just do it for me before I change my mind,” said Mason, getting up and walking to his desk.  “I’ve got football plays to go over.”

        “You’re a good brother, setting me up on a date” I said grinning to myself.  “Well, not really.  The only reason you’re doing this is because you can’t go.”

        “And don’t make me look like a jerk!” Mason insisted.

        I nodded stoically, but internally grinning. That was exactly what I would do. 

***

        On Friday night, I got ready for the party like Mason would.  I didn’t put any product in my hair.  I wore something that I’d wear to class and I basically slouched like I thought the whole world was against me.  It’s was like being Clark Kent when I was really Superman.

        I had Mason’s phone and texted Faith some Mason-like insecurities.  I complained that it would probably be too loud, too noisy and too full of drunks for it to be a good time.  Faith tried to cheer me back up, but I brought on the negativity just like I knew my brother would.

        We decided to meet on the corner just down the street from the frat house.  I had been practicing Mason’s mannerisms all my life, so this was basically going to be cake.  She’d never know who was really taking her out!

        “Hey, Faith,” I said, looking down on the ground.  “If you don’t want to do this, I’d understand…”

        “No, I definitely want to.  Why?  Do you want to leave?”

        “No, I guess I’ll do it,” I whined.  “Sorry to be so indecisive.  I know it’s annoying.”

        Faith was wearing this hot little black mini-dress that showcased her ample cleavage.  Her long brown hair was pulled up into a high ponytail.  God damn, she looked hot.  Let’s face it, my brother can’t handle a hot chick like this.  I’d be doing him a favor if I stole her away from him.  The only issue was, how did I make the transitions from him to me?

        “It’s fine,” smiled Faith.  “I appreciate you doing this.  Kyle was such a jerk to me.  It’ll be nice to get a little payback.”

        “Yeah, I’ll probably screw it up,” I sighed, scrunching my shoulders and looking down.

        “Don’t say that,” she said, reaching out and taking my arm.  “You were so confident talking to me yesterday.”

        “I was?  I mean---  I was!  Yeah!  Okay.  Confident.  I’ll try that,” I said, changing gears.

        That’s weird.  Mason was confident?  He’s always such a whiny complainer.  Was it the new position on the team or was it Faith?  Well, either way, he couldn’t handle this girl and be back up quarterback.  I’d be doing him a favor by dating her.

        We got to the frat house and, as usual, it was insane.  There were people all over the front lawn with red cups.  The frat guys were running around pouring beers, dancing with girls, hitting on girls and generally acting like they ran Highwater College.

        As we started to walk into the frat house, Faith stumbled on the last step.  I caught her, but I laughed at her too.

        “Walk much?” I joked.

        “Not funny,” she said, annoyed.

        “Oh, sorry,” I said sadly.  “I was trying to lighten the mood.”

        “It’s fine, I guess,” she said unsure, pushing my hands off her.

        This was perfect.  I could slowly undermine Mason and then slip in and replace him as the competent one!  I got us both drinks, spilled one by mistake and gave her the cup with the least amount of liquid.  She made a face, but took the cup.

        Suddenly, she spotted Kyle from across the room.

        “There he is,” she whispered.

        “Great, let’s make out,” I suggested, grabbing her waist, and pulling her close.

        “We’ll wait until he gets closer,” she said, annoyed, again pushing my hands off her.  “What is with you, Mason?”

        She stepped back, crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at me.

        “Nothing, I’m just trying to help, like you said.”  I shrugged.

        “Well, step back a little.  You’re a little too anxious,” she complained.

        Now I was feeling bad.  I shouldn’t be doing this.  He’s my brother and as much as I want Faith, I can’t sabotage him.  Maybe I should just tell her the truth.

        “He’s looking this way,” she said.

        Faith grabbed me and started to kiss me awkwardly at first.  I adjusted where I was standing and held her in my arms.  Suddenly, the kiss was on track and became super intense.  The noise of the frat party seemed to fade away and it was just the two of us kissing.  Then, just as suddenly, it all came back.

        “Faith?” said a male voice suddenly.

Kyle had spotted her and walked across the room.  Kyle was a tall, lanky kid, handsome and arrogant.  He definitely had a swagger about him.  He was wearing a sweater with his fraternity’s letters and holding a red cup full of beer in his hand.

        “Hey, Kyle,” she greeted him coolly.  “Surprised to see me?

She moved to face him but kept my arms wrapped around her waist.

        “Yeah, actually,” he said, while sizing me up.  “Didn’t think you were into freshmen.  You owe me some money, Logan.”

        “I’m Mason, you dipshit,” I snapped.  “You’d think he’d be stupid enough to show up here?”

        “Obviously, yes, but that’s cool,” said Kyle, backing up.  “Back up quarterback at our school has to be treated right.  Glad you found yourself a slut to bang.”

        “You asshole,” said Faith, her face red.  “You’re a piece of human garbage, Kyle!”

        “I just want my boy to get laid, is all,” he said innocent, with an over exaggerated shrug.  “A dumb girl like you would bang anyone.  Am I right?”

        “Fuck you, Kyle,” I snapped, pulling Faith behind me.  “She’s not a slut and she’s more than just a girlfriend.  We’re engaged.”

        “Engaged?” said Kyle in disbelief.  “Hey, man, it’s your funeral.”

        “Apologize to the lady,” I insisted moving towards him.  “Don’t make me get ugly.”

        “You come into my frat house and threaten me?” said Kyle pointing to himself.

        He might have had an inch or two on me, but he was skinny.  I could take him.

        “When you disrespect my woman, I do,” I clarified.  “Now apologize you bag of shit.”

        “Or what, freshman?  What are you going to do?”

        Kyle pushed me back with each sentence.  He was calling me out.  I really didn’t want to get into a fight and get ejected from gameplay.  I pushed back.

        “What do you think is going to happen, Kyle?  I work out every day,” I threatened.  “Maybe I just break you over my knee, you skinny fucking beanpole.”

        “Guys-guys!” said Faith.  “Forget it, Mason.  He’s not worth it.”

        “Yeah, listen to your future wife there, Mason,” said Kyle.  “Now get out of my frat house.  You’re officially uninvited.”

        “Is that the best you got?” I said, taunting him.  “You don’t want to go?”

        “Not really,” said Kyle, kind of bored and casually straightening out his shit.  “I don’t need the backup quarterback injured.  I got bets on the football team.  Wouldn’t want to be accused of skewing the results because I personally injured one of the players.”

        “Yeah, like you could,” I scoffed.

        “I could get some of my bros to throw you and your lady out,” he threatened, glaring at me.  “That would be sweet.”

        “C’mon, Mason, please,” begged Faith, she grabbed my arm and pulled.  “Don’t do it.  It’s fine.”

        I relented.  We walked out of the frat house.  I still had most of my dignity intact and I hadn’t sabotaged Mason, but after that kiss, I now wanted Faith more than ever.  What the hell was I going to do here?  Could I tell her I was really Logan?  She’d probably be pissed off at both of us.  Mason and I had switched places before, but never like this.  Faith’s feelings were on the line.  I wasn’t sure, but it might break her heart to find out that we tricked her.