Page 17 of Puck Shots
“Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Eli replies, like that makes it clearer.
“So people dream of goats in the summer?”
He laughs, and the goat horns wobble, but I catch it before it can knock off the tall fake candles flickering either side of it.
“It’s a play by Shakespeare. And well, I guess, yes, in his world, they dreamed of goats, fairies and, well, magic and love.”
He finally gets the horns into a position that seems stable enough and climbs down from the small stepladder.
“So how are you finding your task?”’ I ask, and he nods with a tired smile.
“It’s more manual labor than the attic bathroom, that’s for sure, but the guys seem okay. I’ve met Jeeper, Ken, and Claw. But I’m only half sure those are really their names.”
I chuckle. “Jeeper is really Jasper, but his kid brother was talking to him on Facetime during rush and called him Jeeper right when Gareth was walking past, so now he’s Jeeper, and Gareth is, well, Gareth. He’s pretty cool, thinks he’s funnier than he really is, but cool. Don’t be too friendly with Ken, though, or he’ll walk all over you. Oh, and Claw, he’s really called that. I saw his driver’s license once. He’s a good guy if you can understand a word he says with his thick accent.”
“I managed okay, I think. He’s from the Texas Panhandle, right?” he asks, taking a sip from his water bottle.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Thanks for the advice. Any other tips?” he asks, and I get this warm feeling in my chest. It’s kind of nice being useful in a way that doesn’t revolve around hockey.
“If you’re ever near Pickton’s, buy a box of their cookies and make sure the guys see you bringing them into the house. They all love them, and it will score you serious brownie points.”
“Nice. Pickton’s,” he says, typing the name into his phone. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Gareth calls out to Eli from across the room.
“Can you give us a hand, pledge? I think they gave us the wrong ones.” he calls, and Eli rushes over.
“Thanks again,” he says on the way, and I find myself standing there watching him for a minute as he tries to explain something to Gareth about the fake topiary tree he’s assembling, until finally Gareth takes off the small ball of greenery and replaces it with a larger one, then a stem and the smaller one back on top in the correct position. Eli glances my way, and his sparkling smile erases the last of the stress I was holding from today’s not so stellar practice. Before I look like a total creep staring at him, I look away, and turn, pretending to inspect the mantle, and that’s when I spot it. A tiny turtle made from folding the label from a water bottle. Did Eli make this? I pick it up gently, worried it might fall apart if I’m not careful.
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready?” Eli calls, and I spin, my face immediately going warm.
“I was just going,” I reply, sliding the turtle into my back pocket before doing as he says. When I reach my room, I find my bed perfectly made, even better than Luka’s, with tight corners, and a little peppermint chocolate on my pillow.
“Okay, now that’s cute.”
6
Eli
The house is full, and I mean, seriously full. I don’t think we could squeeze in another person if we tried. And that means I’m in the corner trying not to hyperventilate or run screaming from the room. Thankfully, the music is so loud it’s drowning out the combination of voices, but Chang is close enough that I can hear his very loud singing. Who knew he was a Taylor Swift fan?
“You can’t hide in the corner all night,” Magnus yells into my ear, startling me.
“I can try,” I reply, and he leans against the wall beside me.
“It’s a fun house, hey?”
I nod. Magnus is another pledge, and this is probably the first time he’s even said two words to me, but at least I am pretty sure he isn’t friends with Toby the tool. I caught Cosmo calling him that the other day and now it’s in my head forever.
Riley waves at him from across the room.
“I should go, don’t want the VP to think I’m ignoring him,” Magnus says, and he weaves through the sea of gyrating bodies.
“Are you hiding?” Cosmo asks, making me jump again.
“Is it scare Eli night in the frat house?” I ask as my racing heart starts to settle.
