Page 24 of Snitches and Serpents

From outside in the hall, I can see several of my sorority sisters. All of them are still wearing pajamas, and they linger close to their own doors as they stare at me with eyes filled with both suspicion and worry.

I suddenly become acutely aware of the fact that I’m still only wearing tiny shorts and a thin top with spaghetti straps, and no bra underneath. Yanking up my arms, I cross them over my chest as I turn back to the three people now spreading out inside my room.

“Please,” I say, dread lacing my voice. “What’s going on?”

None of them reply.

The woman starts going through my closet while the second guy searches through my desk. Davidson stops in front of my set of drawers and pulls out the topmost one.

My heart leaps.

“No,” I blurt out, and lurch forward.

Davidson whirls around, his eyes flaring with suspicion. Raising a hand, he holds it up to stop my advance. “Stand aside.”

“Please.” Mortification crashes over me, turning my cheeks flaming red, as I motion towards the open drawer. “Not that drawer.”

“Why not?”

Next to us, the woman pauses her search of the closet and twists to look at us. Then she rolls her eyes at her colleague. “Jeez, man, can’t you tell? It’s her underwear drawer.” Stepping away from the closet, she flicks her wrist at him. “I’ll take that one.”

Davidson scowls but steps back and lets her search it while he moves to the closet instead.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

She nods while efficiently searching through the drawer. When she finds nothing, she moves on to the next one. And then the next.

After pushing aside a stack of sweaters, she pulls out several small bags made of clear plastic.

My mouth drops open.

Utter incredulity clangs inside my skull as I watch her hold up those bags.

Drugs.

There are drugs in my drawer.

“That’s not mine,” I press out, but the words stumble over my tongue.

She gives me a look that says, that’s what they all say.

“No, please,” I continue. “I swear. They’re not mine.”

Davidson and the other guy turn towards us. Both of them scoff at my explanation.

“Alright, come on,” Davidson says. Shutting the closet door, he spins his hand in the air and gives me a commanding look. “You need to come with us.”

“What? No, I…” I look between the three of them, but they all just stare back at me with stern expressions. Desperation washes over me. “Please, this is a mistake.”

“Drug use is strictly prohibited at Bercester University.”

“I know. Please. I know that. I swear, I don’t do drugs.”

“Then why were you hiding them in your drawer?”

“I wasn’t!” I look from face to face while panic sears through me. “I’m telling you, they’re not mine.”

Davidson heaves a sigh. “Save it until after the drug test.”

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