Page 1 of Summoned

It’s Halloween night, and the parties on Greek Row never disappoint. After all, it is the University of Alabama, and we take partying seriously. It brings me to this moment, where I’m dressed as a vampire—minus the fangs—and on my way inside the Phi Mu House. I know. I’m a cliché, especially with this costume. I couldn’t find anything else at the last minute—so it will have to do.

A crowd of what looks to be freshmen is entering the monstrosity of a house. It is white with tall columns, something you’d definitely see in ancient Greece. At least the architecture is on point. Then there’s the cheerleaders entering behind me, all dressed in their slutty little outfits. Some dressed as witches, one vampire, and even a maid. Any excuse to show their asses tonight, which is just as well, seeing as I’m trying to get laid.

“Good game last night, Jeremiah!” Candace says, flipping her long blonde hair, giving me fuck me eyes with her baby blues. “Come find me later.”

“Absolutely.” I smirk, knowing I’ve already bagged her for the night. We’ve dated on and off for the past couple of months, but nothing exclusive anymore. “Don’t go too far, baby girl.”

Last night was our game against Auburn, and we won yet again. I don’t want to say I carried the game, but being the quarterback has perks; like having the cheerleaders fawning over me. I can’t complain, that’s for damn sure.

A Tate McRae song plays through the speakers as I enter the house. The crowd of bodies makes it smell like musk and body odor. It’s hot as fuck, and I wrinkle my nose as I dodge left and right. I’m here to find Noah, my best friend, and tight end, but that’s already proving to be a difficult task.

Making my way through the crowd is a full-time job, but I finally manage to find my friends, spotting them by the makeshift bars. Noah and Ian finally spot me and give me bright smiles, beckoning me over. I quicken my footsteps, trying to get away from the flailing limbs as the student body dances and grinds against each other in perfect synchrony.

“What’s up, man?” Noah, my best friend, says as I reach him. He’s having to yell over the music, and I squint my eyes as I try to make out his words by reading his lips. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

“I got held up.” I lie, knowing damn well I was just buying a last-minute costume.

“A vampire, again, Watters?” Ian smirks. “Don’t you think that’s a bit repetitive?”

“Oh, fuck off.” I roll my eyes. “You’re dressed as a damn werewolf. Besides, the girls love this shit.”

“You’re not wrong.” Noah laughs and hands me a shot of what’s either vodka or tequila. I’m guessing it’s the latter, but with no lime. “Cheers.” He clinks the shot glass against mine, and Ian does the same. “Let’s get fucking trashed.”

I down my shot in one go, grimacing at the taste of the tequila with no chaser. Fucking hell, that’s horrible, but that just means I’ll be horny later. That saying about tequila making panties fall off is a true fucking story, or in my case, boxers.

“Let’s go,” Noah says. “Maria texted me—” Another cheerleader, Candace’s best friend, to be exact. “—and she said they’re waiting for us upstairs.”

“Alright,” I say, tensing up, yet following him all the same.

Again, we’re dodging bodies left and right, mainly going up the stairs. I don’t know how people aren’t falling down. It’s so crowded, but they somehow manage to stay upright. They are probably talking about taking the next available room, everyone knows that’s what people come upstairs for. Which is why now I’m asking myself why we’re coming upstairs, but since I doubt it’s for an orgy, I relax.

Maria lives here, so we’re probably going to her room, which is spacious and boasts a pretty cool balcony. I would know, seeing as I’ve been in there before, not with her, but with Candace, her roommate. She obviously wants a repeat, so maybe they’ll give us a bit of privacy soon. Except when we finally push the door open, the lights are off, and candles are scattered all over the floor.

“The fuck—” I mutter, looking at Candace and Maria sitting on the floor around a board game I don’t recognize. “What’s this?” I ask them, and Candace’s eyes light up.

“Baby!” she says excitedly. “You’re finally here.”

I grin, but Ian and Noah walk past me and join them on the floor, leaving me to lock the door so we’re not interrupted. Lord knows people will try to come in here to get laid, and I don’t want to have to kick them out.

“What is this?” Noah asks, clearly confused. He takes off his Ghost mask just for Maria to put it back on.

“Don’t take it off. It’s creepier this way,” she murmurs, taking a triangular-shaped object from the ground and placing it on the board.“It’s a Ouija Board. And before?—”

“Doesn’t that summon spirits?” I frown, coming to sit next to Candace.

“I hope so!” Candace giggles, clearly drunk already.

Maria shoves a bottle of vodka my way. “Here, drink. It’ll make it fun.”

My frown deepens. “Oh, I don’t know about this,” I mutter. “That shit freaks me out.”

“Oh, don’t be a pussy,” Ian says. “It’s Halloween. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“We die?” I ask in confusion.

“Don’t be so melodramatic.” Candace rolls her eyes, taking a swig of her bottle of tequila. Oh, hell. She’s going to be trashed, and soon. The last thing I need is to have her throw up on me later. “Drink, so we can get started.”

I open the bottle of vodka, take a long gulp, probably equating to at least five shots, and gasp at the burn going down my esophagus. It’s definitely way worse than tequila. I take another long gulp, my head feeling light and fuzzy all of a sudden.

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