I STAYED AWAY FROM THE DIK house the rest of the weekend. I’ve been contemplating dropping out of pledging, but then I think about my pledge brothers, both Mac and Carter, telling me how much they relied on me through the process. If I did quit, I’d feel like I was giving up. Not giving up on the fraternity—because fuck them if they think I’ll look past some goddamn sexual assault bullshit—but giving up on my guys. It may not matter anyway. As I park the Jeep along frat row, I’m just a few minutes from my meeting with the DIK officers. They may not want me to stay. And if that’s the case, well then they can just swallow my load.
I don’t play that game.
Trotting down the steps and into the basement, I chuckle at the sight of them—Zane, Sarge, Tim, and Damian—seated around a long table, Trevor at the head. He motions to the empty seat across the table from him.
“Thanks for coming, Bishop. Have a seat,” he says with regretful eyes.
I chuckle again, shaking my head at the nonsense. “I feel like I’m walkin’ into a fuckin’ tribal council or somethin’,” I joke, pulling the chair out and taking a seat. “Was all this really necessary?”
“Unfortunately, yes. A complaint has been filed against you, and we must formally look into every legitimate complaint,” Trevor responds.
I grin. “Oh okay, so I’m good to go then, right? I mean, you said ‘legitimate complaint.’”
“Bishop, you tried to beat down an officer’s door. You forced your way into his room, unwelcomed,” Trevor says.
“Not to mention all the Theta Nu girls coming by, giving us shit. They might file a complaint against us, you know. You’re gonna ruin our rep running your mouth like that,” Damian says with a snarl.
“Am I in the goddamn Twilight Zone right now?” I shout, scanning the faces around the table, stopping on Sarge. “Sarge, c’mon, man. You know I’m in the right here.”
He nods. “One-hundred percent. These assholes know how I feel. Still had to be here,” Sarge grumbles, crossing his arms and shooting Trevor a look of disgust.
My eyes trail back to Trevor. “Is this how you’re choosin’ to run your fraternity? Protectin’ pieces of shit like Brady, who take advantage of drunk young girls?”
“Hey! That’s my boy you’re talking about,” Damian barks, jabbing his pointer finger at me.
“Yeah, and your fuckin’ boy is a creep.” I scoff loudly. “Y’all must have me sadly mistaken. If you thought you were gonna get me here and somehow convince me I was wrong, or get me to apologize to that little shitstick, you’re wastin’ your breath. If this is an organization that promotes the sexual assault of women, I don’t think I wanna be a part of it anyhow.”
“Please, there’s no need to speak like that. We are not that kind of organization. Not one bit,” Trevor says.
“Oh yeah? Well, while you all are worried about me ruinin’ your reputation with the sorority girls by tellin’ ’em about Ted Bundy up there, you should probably also know that Theta Nu calls this basement the Roofie Room. Hence why your buddy Brady hasn’t been able to organize a social with ’em.”
Zane and Tim look toward Trevor and then back at me. “That was from a long time ago,” Trevor says.
“Obviously not as long ago as you think,” I respond, shrugging. I lean back in the chair and cross my arms. “So, what’s it gonna be, gentlemen? You know where I stand. It’s right in the same spot I was standin’ in before I walked through that basement door. Why waste time here? Y’all do what you gotta do.”
Trevor clears his throat, looking toward Damian when he says, “After looking at the circumstances and speaking with my VP, we’ve decided to take a vote amongst the officers, excluding Brady, over whether or not you remain in the pledging process. We just think it’s important to get a consensus here, since so many are upset within the fraternity. Damian will give you a call tonight after our meeting to let you know what was decided. If you remain with us, going forward, we ask that you try and stay away from Brady and his room.”
In my head, I’m standing, flipping every motherfucker off in here but Sarge, and walking the fuck out. But I think to my guys and the bond I’ve formed with them over the past few weeks.
“If Brady keeps his nose clean, I couldn’t give two fucks what he does. But I will never look past sexual assault. And Trevor”—I lean in for emphasis—“havin’ sex with an unconscious woman, or even attemptin’ to, is sexual assault. Don’t get your definition twisted to protect your boy. It ain’t one that can be manipulated at will.”
Damian shoots daggers at me with his eyes as I stand from the chair. I look them all over, slowly, contempt in my features. Eventually, I land on Zane and I keep my eyes on him until he looks at me.
“How long did you serve in the Air Force, Zane?”
He looks startled and confused. “Uh, um, four years.”
“And you went to basic training, right?”
He frowns, looking across the table at Damian and then back at me. He lets out a nervous chuckle. “Um, yeah. You kind of have to.”
“That’s what I figured. But I’m confused. See, I don’t know how Air Force basic training works. But in Army basic, one of the first things we learn is the Army Core Values. Loyalty, Duty, Selfless Service, Personal Courage, Honor, Respect, and Integrity. Integrity. To do what’s right, legally and morally. To adhere to moral principles. Whether others are watchin’ or they ain’t.” I lean both hands on the table, looking Zane dead in the eye. He breaks eye contact. “Integrity, Zane. Had you joined the Army, you would’ve learned about that.”
With that, I turn on my heel and make my way toward the basement steps with a deafening silence left in my wake.
Just about the time I reach the apartment, my phone chimes with a text from Sarge.
You’re still in. Not sure if that’s good news or bad news for you haha.
After parking, I text back, The jury’s still out on that one lol. So, you gonna be a bro and tell me who voted what? before making my way inside the building.
Heading into the apartment, my phone goes off again.
Haha Fucker. I knew that was coming. You can’t say shit, roger? I’ll fucking blow your Jeep up. I have the capabilities, you know? hahaha. Yays were me (obviously), Tim, and Zane. The nays were Trevor and Damian.
I’m shocked to read Zane’s name as one of the yays. Plopping down on my bed and turning the TV on, I sit back and text, Wow, Zane is a shocker. I figured after my little rant, he would’ve been happy to see me go.
Sarge texts, I think you shook some sense into him. Damian should be calling soon, by the way. Head’s up, they want you to come back for study session.
I laugh, shaking my head, as I type, Yeah, that’s one phone call I’m not gonna take. Would you look at that? It’s naptime. Thanks for the info, bro. Talk soon. I’m getting them ZZZZZZZZZs.