Page 11 of Nothing to Fear
EDM echoes into the chilly night as we walk up the moss-covered stone steps and push past the faux cobwebs strewn across the entrance. Parker and I arrive just in time, a senior named Alfie checking us in at the door, handing us a black satin blindfold as he checks off our names on a list. We’re the last ones to enter, and Parker gives me an exaggerated eyeroll.
The ambiance is spooky in the best way. The lights are off, fog machines in every corner, cauldrons overflowing with steam, bubbling with colorful concoctions. Apothecary jars, skulls, and bones line counters and windowsills. Everything glows neon green and purple, reminiscent of Ravensmere’s Lights Out, Frights Out party.
We watch Alfie join another senior standing on a table and shouting at everyone to settle down. “Alright, alright! Shut your mouths and let’s get this going. You each RSVP’d for thisparty and for good reason! Tonight, we’re going to have a little anonymous, dirty party game! Ever heard of a glory hole?”
There’s a collection of gasps and nervous chuckles, and my eyes snap to Parker, who has his fist between his front teeth.
“Did you know?” I ask him under my breath.
“Swear, I didn’t. But I’m not fucking disappointed. A glory hole? Who has this kinda opportunity? I’m not passing it up; I don’t care what happens.”
Jesus. Is this for real? Looks like Grimsley Hall just made everyone’s desire for a hookup tonight that much easier.
“All men will be receivers, sorry ladies, but there’s no easy way to get you off through a glory hole, the anatomy just isn’t made for it. Men who are down for being givers, we’ll make sure you’re matched with someone who’s cool with that. Team that gets their partner off the quickest wins. We call it a competition, but there are no losers in glory hole roulette!” Alfie laughs deviously before he continues. “Now that you know the details, if you no longer wish to stay or participate, just come see Sophie and she’ll get you crossed off the list.” A few people step forward around us while Parker and I share a look with a mutual agreement, as long as we don’t get paired together, we’re staying to see how this plays out.
“In honor of the season, though,” Alfie continues, “we’re giving you some extra help to lube things up.” He lifts a black sheet and tosses it behind him, revealing a large pumpkin, the top cut off, its face carved into a cunning smile. He dips his hand into the center of the gourd, pulling it back out with a handful of gooey, stringing pumpkin innards. My mouth falls open slightly. “Givers may use hands and guts, absolutely no mouths or other holes. Now let’s put these pumpkins to good use!”
“Holy fuck, is this actually happening?”
I give Parker a look of pure shock as my reply, but there’s nochance in hell either one of us is walking away. We follow Alfie as he leads us through Grimsley Hall in the near-pitch black, the fog and light decorations leading our way. Hushed whispers can be heard under the music as we watch Alfie type in a code to an interior door, opening it and descending down a narrow staircase into the basement. EDM still flows around us, my heart rate picking up. Parker is right. When will there ever be another opportunity to experience something as taboo as a goddamn glory hole? As we reach the basement of Grimsley Hall, flames flicker wildly in sconces on the walls, and the smell of dirt and decay permeates the air around us. I guess they weren’t going for aphrodisiac scents and wanted to make it a little challenging for us.
We all filter into the large open space, taking in our new surroundings by the light of the dim flames. Along the entire length of the wall in front of us are what have to be glory hole booths. Boxed structures with two doors on opposite sides, and no windows, which look similar to a large photobooth you’d see at a mall. I watch and wait, leaning against the cold stone wall with my arms crossed over my chest and my legs crossed at my ankles. Am I really going to walk into one of those with one of the people down here?
“Parker Kingsford!” a beautiful girl calls out, her voice light and perky as she grabs my friend’s attention. She’s a curvy girl with straight auburn hair that dances around her shoulders. Her lips are painted a deep red, and she gives Parker a look that says she’s happy to see him here. A smile pulls at my lips as I watch Parker eye her appreciatively. She’s exactly his type and hopefully can take his mind off Mia and Leo.
My eyes scan the crowd to see who’s here with us. There’s a bunch of us that are out openly, and I’ve had my fair share of hookups with several of them. But if none of them are downhere, I may not be participating at all, unless a straight man is open to getting off anonymously by me.
“Fuck, I hope I get paired with her,” Parker whispers, his eyes raking up and down her body. A resulting chuckle escapes under my breath.
“She looks about ready to climb you like a tree, man. Have fun with that.”
I scan the small crowd, my eyes finding a pretty blond slacker with piercing blue eyes. My head cocks to the side, observing as Silas laughs at something his asshat buddy says, slapping him on the back of his shoulder as he brings a beer bottle to his lips. He’s wearing a pair of denim jeans and a Corvus College Rugby hoodie with a pair of black Converse. It’s casual and somehow really fucking cute. I pull out my phone for no reason other than wanting to see his reaction. We traded numbers to be able to text if he had any questions about assignments, and this will be the first message between us.
Me: You really going through with this?
I rollmy eyes as Silas pulls his phone from his pocket, watching as his shoulders deflate, his eyebrows pinching together as his lips purse. His confusion is felt in waves as his eyes slowly lift from the phone, and based on his reaction to my text, you’d think he just received a death sentence. My heart sinks, and I can’t explain why. Silas’ eyes meet mine through the crowd, and hell, if looks could kill, I would burst into flames right now.
I’ve never understood Silas’ hate for me, and seeing how we’re working together to get his bullshit grades up, you’dthink he’d get over whatever it is and treat me like a human rather than shit on his shoe. Once he relaxed last night, it was comfortable. It felt like two old friends studying together. I saw a different side of him and thought for a split second that maybe everything I’ve known about him over the last three years was bullshit, but now that his eyes are burning holes into the back of my skull, I know I was wrong. That’s somehow more disappointing than him just being a dick all the time.
“Who you lookin’ at, Silas?” his buddy asks, his voice loud through the crowd as he looks over Silas’ shoulder and sees my text. “Asher Ambrose! Ha! Sucks to be you, dude! Have fun with the ass-kisser.”
I try not to let the fire rise in me, but it licks at my feet anyway, my body heating as Silas groans, letting his head drop back. I should leave. Walk away right now and spend the night alone in my dorm room. Or, hell, even head to the archives to study for Professor Thorne’s class.
We can’t possibly be friends. We’re from two different worlds; we may attend the same college and share the same courses, but we’re still living separate realities. The jock doesn’t hang with the book nerd. It was stupid of me to think it could be anything but exactly what it is, an arrangement made out of our control.
Silas meets my eyes again, the crystal blues swirling with something that looks a whole helluva lot like disappointment. I’m not wanted here. I quickly scan the small group again, looking for a familiar face that isn’t Parker, who’s left my side and is chatting up the pretty girl eye fucking him.
My eyes meet Silas’ again, realizing that I’m alone down here. The look on Silas’ face is making me want to run for the hills. I give him a subtle nod and turn to leave, no longer feeling the desire to party. I’m fairly popular at Corvus and don’t have issues with the majority of the student body, minusthe group of dumbasses Silas hangs with. But something about flying solo right before I enter a glory hole competition just doesn’t feel right. Especially when Silas is looking at me like he’d rather I be anywhere but here. I guess our unspoken truce was short-lived.
My boots hit the first step of the basement, ready to walk away from Grimsley Hall with no destination in sight. EDM gets louder and louder as I ascend the steps, joining the wild party upstairs. People dance, and couples are already hooking up in corners of every room as fog licks around my calves, my feet taking me toward the entrance, disappointment clawing at me.
Leaves crunch under my boots as I hit the cobblestone walkway directly in front of the residence hall, the crisp air filling my lungs, a piercing sting that’s a welcome reprieve from the stifling air inside the building.
“Asher!” Silas’ deep voice practically growls from behind me. I turn to face him just as his thick fingers comb through his blond locks, pushing them back, only for the hair to fall back in his face. He really is handsome. “Where ya headed?” he asks, stuffing his hands awkwardly into his front pockets and rocking back on his heels. His eyes quickly peruse up and down my body, making my skin heat. I’ve had my suspicions about Silas’ sexuality, but never had the opportunity to ask, given he’s spent the last three years hurling insults at me.
“Eh. Kinda puts me in a weird position, slacker. Being gay and all. Not sure if I’m wanted there and didn’t want to make it weird.”Not to mention the way you were looking at me.
Silas shifts on his feet, carding those thick fingers through his blond hair again.
