Page 4 of Kings of the Campus

As I walk down the hall, I spot someone in the dim light and I’m about to speak out when the person turns, walking forward without paying attention, and bumps straight into me.

They clutch their nose and I reach out, trying to see if they’re alright. But when the two of us lock eyes, I immediately jump back.

“What are you doing?” I demand, instantly suspicious when I realize that Tessa Collins, the girl who did the exposé series on our fraternity, is the one lurking around in the shadows.

“Nothing!” Tessa insists, eyes wide. “You’re Alec Montgomery, aren’t you?” she asks, blinking as she takes me in. “You’re the new president of the fraternity.”

“Yeah,” I say, frowning as I cross my arms. “And you’re Tessa Collins, the chick who reported on our fraternity. What are you doing here?”

Under normal circumstances, I might not have felt so hostile toward her. Tessa was just doing her job, and I don’t have an issue with her exposing the lies and hypocrisy that our predecessors perpetuated.

But because I’m so focused on things going well, I can’t help the frustration that bubbles up inside at seeing her lurking around, as though she’s waiting for us to slip up so she can write another scathing podcast series to capitalize on our mistakes.

“It’s an open house party,” Tessa points out, infuriating me even more. “Anyone is allowed to be here.”

“I think you’re here to stir up trouble,” I say, towering over her, using my height to my advantage. “You’re trying to find your next scoop. Well, I can tell you that you don’t need to worry your pretty little head. Sigma Theta is going to rule the campus by the end of the year,” I say, my lip curling into a sneer.

Tessa frowns. “Why so hostile, Mr. President?”

Something inside me snaps at that, at the condescending tone like she’s just expecting me to fail and I tower over her.

“I suggest you get the hell out of here before you make a fool of yourself!” I tell her, my voice rising.

The music has suddenly gone quiet and everyone turns in our direction.

Great.

That’s just what we need.

3

JACE

Music pulses in the air, vibrating the floor beneath my feet as I switch out another track. Matteo’s been holding down the music, but I can’t resist jumping in here and there to take a few turns. The energy of the crowd is infectious as I feel the party hitting its stride.

The house is packed, laughter and chatter filling every corner, and I’ve been making my rounds, greeting everyone with a grin, making sure they’re having a good time. It’s nice to see Sigma Theta coming alive again, the way it should be.

I step away from the booth, passing a group of freshmen who are playingJust Dancewhen loud shouting catches the attention of the partygoers and the crowd goes quiet. It’s Alec, and he sounds upset.

Waving a hand and getting everyone’s attention, I announce a dance contest to redirect them away from the commotion.

Weaving through the crowd, I spot Alec in the hallway, towering over someone and my brow shoots up. Isn’t that Tessa Collins, the podcast chick for theSentinel?

The two of them face off, postures tense as they glare at each other. The last thing we need tonight is a scene, especially between Tessa and the Sigmas.

“She needs to leave,” Alec hisses, a fire in his eyes that threatens to consume everything in its wake.

I shift, trying to take stock of the situation. Alec’s got a point—Tessa’s presence here could be trouble, but the way he’s going at her isn’t going to help anything. I can see the fire in her eyes, the way she stands her ground, and I know this could go south fast if I don’t step in.

With a deep breath, I plaster on my most charming smile and slip between them like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Hey, what’s going on here?” I ask, my tone light and easy as I lay a hand on Alec’s shoulder. He’s tense, coiled like a spring, and I give him a reassuring squeeze before turning to Tessa. “Tessa, right? It’s Jace, nice to finally meet you,” I say, offering her a warm smile.

Her eyes flicker between Alec and me, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. “I was just leaving,” she says, but there’s a challenge in her voice that tells me she’s not backing down just yet.

“No need to rush off,” I reply smoothly, keeping my tone calm. “We’re all here to have a good time, right?” I glance at Alec, giving him a look that says,Relax, I’ve got this.

Alec grumbles something under his breath but doesn’t push the issue further. I know he’s worried about the fraternity’s reputation, but we don’t need to be making enemies right now.

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