Chapter 7

 

Spencer

 

“She’s eating with a girl. Red hair, purple eyes, looks like a supermodel,” I reported, watching George and her friend from the other side of the restaurant. I kept my head down and pushed my Bluetooth earpiece tighter to my ear as I scooped up some rice into my mouth.

“’Looks like a supermodel’?” Chase repeated. “You gotta give me a lot more description than that, buddy. How am I supposed to get a read on her like that?” he asked.

“I can’t risk getting close, or George will recognize me. I’ll see if I can get the info in a couple of days,” I told him.

“So, how you liking your job so far?” Chase said, chuckling.

“It’s ridiculous,” I said, not wanting to let on how I sort of liked it. I kind of felt like I was a spy, like James Bond, or some shit like that, but there was no way in hell I was going to tell my brother that. “This job is such a drag,” I added.

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Any hot chicks catch your eye?” he asked.

“I didn’t come here to get laid, you idiot,” I barked. “And I haven’t been paying attention to other girls because you know, I’m doing my job?”

“You can afford to let loose every once in a while, man. I’m not requiring you to tail her every hour on the hour. That shit’s just creepy.”

“I’m working undercover, genius. I wouldn’t have to do this if she’d just know who I was,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“No can do, buddy. Client’s request, client’s rules. Besides, I know you’re secretly enjoying that shit, so quit your complaining. And you don’t have to give me an update every couple of hours. Just give me a report every week or so,” Chase said.

“Will do. I’m hanging up now. This sweet and sour pork isn’t going to make its way into my belly by itself, later,” I hung up and proceeded to demolish my food, while I kept an eye on Georgiana and her friend. My phone vibrated, and I swiped at the screen, seeing one text message from Chase.

 

You’re still a student there, too. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself.

 

I snorted at his message. I didn’t come here to study, I came here to work. Besides, I didn’t think there was anything fun to do around here.

I watched George and the tall redhead get up and leave the restaurant, and I rushed to finish my meal. It was stupid of me to get lost in my own thoughts when I was busy keeping an eye on George, but I didn’t want to waste all this damn food, not when the last time I ate was back on the plane. Also, I think I forgot to bring the wad of cash Chase gave me in my bag, so waste not, want not as they say.

I paid the bill and was still chewing the last bite from my plate when I immediately spotted George’s friend’s head, and watched as the two girls walked back to their house, and I surmised they probably won’t be leaving their dorms for at least a couple of hours. That was plenty of time for me to focus on the rest of my tasks for today.

Since Chase did give me the go signal to not be a stalker twenty fours a day, I could take a break, and start unpacking my stuff. I also needed to figure out a way to place cameras on George’s house so I’d know her whereabouts. It freaking stinks that Alderman House had to be so far away from Winston, though. I wonder if I could request a transfer…

“Hey! New blood!” I heard a shout come from the other side of the road. I turned my head and waited for three guys to cross over until they were standing right next to me. “’Sup?” guy with the brown hair asked, and I nodded at him.

“’Sup?” I repeated.

“You’re one of the new kids living in Alderman, right?” he asked, and I raised my eyebrows at him, neither confirming nor denying it. Seriously, how do these students get this information? They literally know a lot more than I’m comfortable with.

“I’m Tyler Bass, President of Psi Gamma Alpha,” he said, nodding. He raised his hand and extended his thumb towards the other two guys with him. “This is Ross and Carlos. Do you have any plans for rushing?” he asked. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

“Rushing?” I repeated.

“Yeah, I mean are you interested in joining any fraternities?” Tyler clarified.

“I haven’t exactly thought about anything passed unpacking my shit,” I said, partly telling him the truth.

“You should totally consider it, dude!” the one named Carlos said. “PGA is like, awesome!”

“Hey, tell you what, why don’t you come to the party over at the frat house in Avery? I guarantee you’re going to have tons of fun,” Tyler said.

“I’ll think about it,” I said.

“We’ll see you there,” Tyler corrected, confident that I was going to attend. He flicked his fingers in a mocking salute as he and his friends walked away, and I scoffed at his cockiness. Dumbass thought he called the shots when I could totally put him on the ground if I wanted to.

I walked back to my dorm and looked at my roommate curiously as he didn’t pay me any attention, keeping his eyes glued to his triple monitors. He was playing some kind of racing game, and his body swayed in the same direction as his car, making me snicker a little at how into it he was.

It made me remember how Chase and I used to beat each other up in the arcades whenever Dad gave us some money to get out of the house so he and Chase’s mom could have some “alone time”. Chase was old enough then to know what it meant, but all I cared about then was that we’d get to play outside.

While he was distracted, I took the time to look at the guy from the side. He was wearing large spectacles over his eyes, and the glint from his computer kept me from seeing what color his eyes were. His mousy brown hair was messy and went in different directions, like he had jumped out of bed and immediately started playing. His clothes were all wrinkly, like he’d slept on them, and they had…Buzz Lightyear prints on it? I furrowed my eyebrows.

“Dude, are you still wearing kiddie pajamas?” I couldn’t help but ask, my mouth gaping.

I waited for him to reply, but he didn’t say a word and just kept playing his game. I shook my head and grabbed my duffel bag, wondering if I could chance letting my cameras out while my roommate was distracted and get started on placing them everywhere. I mean, he seemed pretty immersed with that game of his—

“Toy Story is kind of my thing,” I heard a squeaky voice coming from behind me, and I turned around almost to shit myself from how close my roommate was standing next to me.

He adjusted his glasses and blinked his large green eyes at me, and I blinked back, leaning back.

“Who are you?” he asked, leaning closer and peering up at my face with those ridiculously bug eyes of his.

“I’m your new roommate,” I said quickly. He stepped back and I righted myself up, coughing a little to hide my initial freak out. “I’m Spencer, and you are?” I asked politely.

He continued to hold the stem of his glasses, staring at me silently.

“Elliot Ferguson,” he said. He turned away and walked back to his computers, picking his controller up from his seat and sat down. He went back to his game, and I just stood there like an idiot, wondering what the hell just happened.

“Uh,” I said, trying to come up with something to say. Fuck it, I sucked at small talk. “So, um…you hitting this party up at Avery?” I asked.

He paused his game again and turned his head around to look at me like I just asked him the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard.

“Do you honestly believe that I am the sort of person who would blend in at a party?” he asked, the question almost sounding rhetorical. I shrugged.

“I don’t know. I’m not much of a party goer myself,” I admitted.

“Now you are just trying to sound sympathetic,” he said, scoffing a bit. I crumpled my brows at him in annoyance.

“Quit acting like you know who I am,” I snapped at him. “Look, dude. I don’t know how the system works around here, and frankly, I don’t give a fuck. I’m trying to talk to you because we’re staying in the same room together, and it’s going to be a huge hassle for me if we didn’t. So stop being so defensive,” I told him.

His eyes widened in shock and I sighed.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just been a long day,” I said as an excuse. He nodded.

“I apologize for my behavior as well, Spencer. I’m quite used to students who belittle and humiliate me, so I have kept my guard up in order to avoid such altercations,” he said, and I held my tongue from asking why he talked like a robot. “Shall we start over?” he asked, and I nodded.

“So, are you sure you don’t want to go to this party?” I asked, and he shook his head with a grimace.

“Psi Gamma Alpha’s parties are not really my cup of tea,” he explained. “They’re too loud and too rowdy, and most of the people who terrorize me would be in attendance, and I would really appreciate a peaceful day without becoming a target for those imbeciles.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I really had to ask him about it.

“Dude, no offense, but why do you talk like you swallowed a dictionary?” I asked, realizing too late how crass I sounded. He shrugged and didn’t seem to mind, though.

“I’ve always thought that a rich vocabulary showcased intelligence,” he said, matter-of-factly. I bit the inside of my lip, unsure of how I was going to say my next words without offending him. He stared at me and smirked.

“You don’t have to censure yourself to me, you know. I am quite capable of telling the difference,” he said.

“Dude, I’m not stupid. But maybe you could try to dumb it down just a little bit? I’d really appreciate it, and I think other people would appreciate that, too,” I blurted out. He casted his eyes down on the ground, and I quickly tried to amend my statement. “I mean, not everyone is able to keep up with you, man,” I added. He kept his eyes on the floor but he nodded.

“You have a point there, Spencer,” he said, and I released a sigh of relief. He looked back up and grinned. “It was nice talking to you today, Spencer. I shall take your suggestions into account,” he turned back towards his game and continued playing, and I turned back and fell on my bed, spread-eagled and exhausted all of a sudden. Talking to Elliot really took a lot out of me. Students here really come in all shapes and sizes.

Just what have I gotten myself into?