Delta Pi’s big Toga party was Friday night. In the past, I loved going just so I could take my pick of all the girls dressed in white sheets. This year, I was more than happy to miss out on all the debauchery. 

Kassie couldn’t hold her liquor and I wasn’t down to go out and party without her. If we were going to go to a frat party together, I much preferred to not go to one of the biggest ones of the year.

But the guys on the team wouldn’t take no for an answer. After practice, in the locker room, Neil chided, “It’s our last year, man. The last year where it’s socially respectable to wear a sheet in public.”

I unstrapped the ice bag from my shoulder. “Kassie isn’t a party girl.”

Trent threw his cleats into his locker. “Natalie’s going.”

“You and Natalie a thing now?” I asked.

Trent rubbed his hand together. “Yes… No.” He paused in thought. “I don’t know?”

I shook my head and laughed. “Good luck with that.”

Jordan stretched out his hamstrings. “Just bring her, Romero! Come on!”

Neil nudged me. “Don’t you want to see her draped in a sheet?”

I sighed. Kassie would definitely look sexy in a toga. Thoughts of her blonde hair down on her bare shoulders invaded my mind.

Pulling out my phone, I put a hand up. “Okay. Let me call her.”

Trent hit me on the back of my head. “Attaboy!”

As the phone rang, I held a finger to my lips to shut them up.

"Hi, Ryan." Kassie's voice sounded muffled.

I rotated and stretched my shoulder. “Hey. You want to go the toga party tonight? I wasn’t planning on going, but I have a sheet at home with your name on it. We don’t have to drink either.”

Kassie coughed. “I’d love to, but I’m sick!”

I turned away from my friends who were staring at me. “Oh. You want to come over then? I can make you some soup. We can watch that new horror series on Netflix. It just came out today.”

Kassie coughed again. “No. You should go without me. The toga party sounds fun. I don’t want you to miss out.”

“Miss out? No. I don’t care. Let me pick you up.” The guys crowded around me, shaking their heads vigorously. I pushed them away from me.

Kassie was persistent. “I’m already in my pajamas and in bed. I just need a good night’s sleep.”

“Okay. Tomorrow then? Can I pick you up tomorrow morning?” I was disappointed I wouldn’t be seeing her.

“Sure. Call me in the morning,” Kassie said sleepily.

“Okay. Good night.” I hung up the phone to the guys cheering.

“All right, Romero! We get our old Ryan back for one night!” Neil howled.

We hadn’t had a guys’ night in awhile anyway ever since I’d met Kassie. It was our last year together. As much as I wanted to see Kassie right then to check on her, I’d see her in the morning.

After running back to my place for a quick shower and dinner, I met the guys at Delta Pi. The festivities were already in full gear. As expected, there were hot girls all over the place, wearing toga gear. Some were dressed in white bikinis. How bikinis were related to togas, I was unsure, but no one was complaining. I was in a sheet lazily slung over my shoulder and held in place with a belt at my waist. 

Trent and Natalie were happily talking together in a corner. It looked like things were going well.

Jordan handed me a cup of beer. “I’m glad you came.” He held up his cup in a toast.

“To our last year.” I tapped my red plastic cup with his. 

Sipping the beer, I noticed some of the cheerleaders were at the party. Seeing them made me think about Kassie. I hoped she was okay. Pulling out my phone, I tapped on her name to text her, but hesitated. She said she was going to sleep. I thought better of bothering her. She probably needed her rest.

I sighed and pushed my phone back into my pocket. When I looked up, Jordan was talking to a girl in a white bikini. Her friend, also only in a skimpy white two-piece, stood nearby eyeing me with bedroom eyes. Not wanting to interact with the girl, I scooted away to an empty corner.

From across the room, the white bikini girl kept smiling at me. Before, I would have swooped that girl up in a snap. I might have even taken her to a room upstairs for a quickie. That night, I was completely uninterested. Not picking up my indifferent vibes, the bikini girl started to totter her way over to me with determination in her eyes.

Shit. I spun around to find my exit. To my left, I saw Helena gliding towards me.

Bikini girl or Helena?

At least I knew Helena so I stepped towards her, stopping the bikini girl in her tracks. Phew.

Helena had on a gold laurel crown in her black hair. She wasn’t wearing a sheet but had on a white gauzy floor length dress. I always thought Helena was beautiful. It was a shame that running back had treated her so poorly.

Helena smiled, placing her hands on my chest. “Ryan!”

This was completely unlike the Helena I'd known since freshman year. She was much too reserved to throw out touchy-feely greetings.

“Hi, Helena,” I said, taking a step back.

Helena immediately stepped forward. “Are you having a good night?”

Shrugging, I looked around. “Honestly? After three years of this, it’s kinda getting old.”

Helena wrapped her arms around my neck. “I completely agree. You want to get out of here? Somewhere where we can be alone?”

Okay. This was crazy. Helena never ever came on to guys so boldly. Plus, I knew that she had an anti-athlete dating mantra. Something wasn’t right.

I pushed her away. “Thanks, Helena, but I’m good. I think I’m just going to head out.”

Her face looked genuinely surprised. The bikini girl’s face lit up, watching me hurry away from Helena. I needed to get out of there fast.

As I walked to my car, Helena’s behavior unsettled me. It was so unlike her usual character. Whatever the reason, I needed to tell Kassie right away. Lots of people were at that party. I couldn’t risk anyone getting the wrong idea and telling her something that was untrue.

I drove to Boyd Hall and parked outside. Still, I couldn’t shake Helena’s weird behavior. She’d never shown any interest in me before after all the years of knowing each other. Suddenly, a horrible thought came to me.

Was I being set up? Kassie was so sweet natured. She’d never do something so dishonest, would she?

With my heart racing, I called Kassie.

She answered after a few rings. “Hello? Ryan?”

“Kassie, I’m outside. I need to talk to you.”

I could hear her getting up. “Okay. Is everything ok?”

I got out of my car and started to pace. “I just need to talk to you, please.”

She took in a sharp breath. “I’ll be right out.”

In minutes, Kassie walked up to my car in her pink pajamas and a robe. She hugged me. “You okay? Is everything okay?”

I pulled away from her, holding onto her hands. “Something really weird happened tonight.”

Kassie shook her head. “What happened?”

Still in disbelief, I said, “Helena Baker came onto me.”

Kassie pulled away. “Then what happened?”

“What do you mean? Nothing. I left and came straight here.”

Her face brightened. “Really?” She threw her arms around me. “I knew you would pass the test!”

I pushed her away. “Test?” Turning away from her, I mulled over the night’s events. I knew there was no way Helena was suddenly interested in me.

I turned back to Kassie. “How could you set me up like that?”

Kassie hugged herself. “They were telling me how much of a player you were. How you were going to hurt me. It was a stupid thing to do. I’m sorry.”

Seeing her face full of regret, I put my arms around her, pulling her in close. “No. I get it. I get why you did it, but it still hurts that you don’t trust me.”

Kassie began to cry, burying her face in my chest. “I’m so sorry.”

With my finger, I raised her face to look at me. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone in my life. I know I have a reputation, but I would never hurt you.” Looking into her face, I realized she didn’t look sick at all. “Are you even sick?”

She shook her head slowly. “No. All of it was a lie.”

That stung me. Worried, I asked, “What about this? Us? Is that a lie?”

Kassie shook her head, tears falling from her face. “No. I care about you so much, Ryan. That’s why I was so scared. That’s why I wanted to see if you’d pass that stupid test.” She threw her head into her hands. “I was so stupid. I’m sorry I lied. I never meant to hurt you.” She looked up at me sadly. “I just didn’t know how you felt about me.”

I held Kassie against my chest, feeling her body rise and fall in heaving sobs. "I care about you so much," I spoke softly into her ear. "Please don’t cry. Will you stay the night with me? Do you think you’re ready?”

She looked up at me with a tear streaked face and without hesitation whispered, “Yes. I’d love to. I’ve never been more ready.”