Page 4 of Crave You

Erin smiles sheepishly. “Sorry,” she concedes. “You’re right.”

“So, what else? Ah yes, there is a quiz in the library, if you’re a bit of a brain.”

“Well, I do love sports,” I say, “and I was into a lot of different sports at high school. In fact, I am planning to become a sports reporter or writer.”

“Weren’t you the captain of a school and state team?” asks Laurel. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I want to say it was an unusual sport.”

I feel the chill of a possible judgment on my skin. “Yes, that’s right, boxing,” I say, brightening my voice to make it sound like a less unusual sport.

“Wow, boxing! That’s great,” says Erin, and I can tell she means it. “You look great for someone who boxed,” she adds. “I guess that means you won all your matches.”

“Pretty much,” I reply in a matter of fact way, but with a smile.

Actually, it was all my matches. Once I got into that ring, I was either going to win or they were going to have to take me out on a stretcher. I loved the feeling of power boxing gave me; power over my own body and over my opponent. It was as psychological a sport as it was physical and I reveled in the moment when my opponent realized that I seemed immune to pain and that I was more than willing to push the match to the limit to triumph over her. That usually cinched it for me, before I’d even blacked an eye.

Kids at school knew that Leona, the loner would rip you to pieces as quick as look at you. The loner, who didn’t date, as boys were afraid I might attack them on a whim. It was stupid and puerile. In fact, it only annoyed me because I sort of suspected some of it was true. I didn’t care for high school popularity rituals and so I didn’t engage in them. I didn’t date because I wasn’t interested in the movie-promised and party foreplay that was followed by vanilla college-boy sex, and which everyone else raved over.

I always wanted something darker and more dangerous. Sometimes I fantasized that they let me fight boys and then I got to fuck the ones that beat me . . . I pause that memory — that version of Leona will definitely not be attending this college.

“Maybe I could try out for that sports challenge, just to meet a few other sporty types,” I say optimistically. “Not that I think I want to swap houses, anyway.”

“That’s the spirit!” Erin actually claps her hands together in pleasure. “And . . . well, tonight, there’s a big party over at Valens House, anyway.” She looks at Laurel in a mixture of humor and apology for bringing up the subject of Valens again. “Their parties are always legendary,” she adds. “Whatever you do this afternoon you must come to the party with us. It’ll be a good way for you to get to see who else is on campus.”

“One thing at a time, OK?” says Laurel; ever the voice of reason, it seems. “Let’s get Leona settled in and then we can take her over to Valens’ playing field, to sign up for that sports challenge. We can tell her all about the party, if she has any energy left after whatever Valens have cooked up for this year.”

Chapter Three

Zander

“Where are the entrants now?” I ask.

“Outside waiting for us,” Shawn says.

During Derby Days, I’m always reminded of how good it is to have a large outdoor space behind the house with no close neighbors.

“Let’s get started,” I say.

The four of us — myself and Shawn Coates, and the twins, Damien and Lucien Westing — go outside where the entrants are waiting. Dozens of Valens members are also gathered. Some of them have helped to set up the challenges and some will be helping run the event. Others have just come to satisfy their curiosity about this year’s challenges.

This afternoon’s challenge is divided into three parts and candidates can be eliminated at each stage of the process. We four will be observers for the first two stages, and much more involved in the last stage, which is my personal favorite.

Stage one is relatively easy. Candidates have to hold their breath for one minute. Simple right? It is until the barrel of water is introduced. Something about the thought of being underwater makes a lot of people panic and this makes something as simple as holding their breath for a minute impossible. This stage of the test is designed to test who panics under the tiniest amount of pressure and who can keep themselves calm and get the job done.

Four large barrels of water have been set up and ready. A Valens member stands ready beside each to control the process. The entrants are already standing in a huddle in front of the barrels and the air feels charged as I walk towards them. No one is panicking yet, although some nervous tics and giggles are on show. The majority of the crowd is buoyed up, and ready for anything. Or so they think.

As they notice the four of us approaching, a hush falls over the crowd. When it is completely silent, I smile and step forward.

“Good afternoon,” I say. I smile again as the greeting is yelled back at me. “It is a pleasure to see you all here today and know that among you are the best of the best. For those of you who prove to us that you can face anything, our challenge traditionally offers an opportunity to pledge to us here at Valens.”

A cheer goes up and I let it go on for a couple of seconds, before I hold my hand up and they fall silent again.

“The first stage is a simple test of endurance and willpower. All you have to do is hold your breath underwater for one minute. Easy.” I watch as everyone nods back at me, eager to get going. I love the energy and enthusiasm, and hope they live up to it.

“The catch is that you will be held down in one of these barrels of water. Control yourself and don’t let panic overtake your senses. If you last the minute, you will move on to the next stage of the challenge; if you fail, then it’s goodbye from us. If you do need to come out of the water before your time is up, tap twice on the side of the barrel. You will be let out of the water, but you will also be instantly eliminated from the process.”

The candidates’ nerves are really starting to show now, and I feel as though I can taste the coppery tang of their collective fear. It makes me feel alive and I can’t wait for them to get started.

“Any questions?” I ask.

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