Page 25 of Seeds of Friendship
“Your roommate,” Jared says as we load the car. “Alfie. What's his deal?”
“Honestly? No fucking clue. He’s nice once you get to know him. But apparently, he's got half the female population ready to risk everything for a chance with him.”
“Must be nice.” Jared whistles.
When we get back, the house is transformed. The lights are dimmed just right, furniture rearranged to create flow.
Troy's food is laid out. Alfie's playlist is actually good—not too aggressive, not too mellow.
“Holy shit,” I say. “We actually did this.”
“Don't jinx it,” Troy warns.
By 9:30, we're all dressed and ready. Even Alfie made an effort—black jeans, black t-shirt.
“Remember,” I say, gathering them together. “Tonight, we're not the rejects. We're the guys who started something better.”
“That was almost inspiring,” Alfie deadpans.
“Fuck off, I'm trying.”
Ethan raises his beer. “To the anti-frat. To telling Connor Matthews to go fuck himself. To Alfie's mysterious sex appeal that none of us understand.”
“To Einstein,” Troy adds.
“To not being homeless,” I finish.
We clink bottles.
10 PM.
Nobody's here yet.
10:15.
Still nobody.
“They're not coming,” Ethan says, panic creeping into his voice.
“They'll come,” Troy insists, but he's checking his phone obsessively.
10:23.
The doorbell rings.
We all freeze, looking at each other.
“Someone should—” I start.
Troy's already moving. He opens the door.
A group of girls, led by Miranda Walsh and Jessica Davies. Behind them, more people. Within minutes, our dead house is suddenly alive. Within half an hour, it's packed.
“Holy shit,” Ethan whispers. “We did it.”
Jared and his Alpha Pi rebellion show up, bringing more people. The music's loud, but not overwhelming. People are actually eating Troy's food, complimenting it. And Alfie?—
“Where's Alfie?” I ask.
