Page 8 of Puck Shots
“You sure about that?” he asks, and I follow his stare as Eli crosses the border of trees and disappears into the woods.
“Well, fuck me. Okay, maybe I was wrong.”
“Looks like a couple of others have spotted him headed in there, too,” he says, and I watch as Toby and another new pledge I don’t recognize huddle together grinning mischievously before following Eli.
“They look like they’re up to something. I might go check it out.”
“Really? You’re going to check on a pledge?” Luka asks.
“If they do something stupid, we’ll be the ones copping it from the Pres and the dean.”
“Fair enough. Want me to come?”
“No, I got this.”
I head out the back door, the cool air filling my lungs and the scent of pine needles and rain fill my nose.
It’s a short walk across the back lawn, past a small gazebo to the woods. Wooded areas are creepy as fuck at the best of times, but with dry leaves and twigs cracking under my feet as I follow the worn path deeper in, it’s even worse.
A flash of red catches my eye, and I spot the guys who followed Eli. Maybe this wasn’t such a great hiding space after all. I’m about to ask what they’re up to when Toby leans close to the other guy and speaks.
“You go that way, keep quiet so he doesn’t see us.”
“I bet he screams,” the other guy replies with a chuckle, and they take off in opposite directions through the thicker brush of the wood.
What are they up to?
I try to keep my footsteps gentle as I sneak behind them, curious as to what the hell they are plotting. They’re heading for where I hit the stick up one of the easier to climb trees deeper in. Then I spot Eli, standing under a ray of light streaming through the branches above. His head is tilted back, eyes closed as he basks in the warmth of the sun. The way the light hits his swept-back ash blond hair makes it shine almost like silk, and his skin has a honey sort of glow to it. Something hits the tree trunk to his left with a small thud, and he jolts.
“Is someone there?” he asks, looking to the woods on his left and right. “Hello?”
What are those fuckers doing? He hasn’t spotted me yet either. Should I just say something? I’m about to step into view when Toby and his friend jump out from behind trees and rush toward him. Eli startles, backing up against the nearest tree, and while these guys are double his size, he actually doesn’t look particularly worried.
“That was funny,” Eli says as they slowly step closer, boxing him in. My hands clench into fists as I watch these two lord over him. I should step out, say something. Stop them. But stop them from what? They aren’t exactly doing anything to hurt him, just getting in his face, and shit, he’s probably had to deal with that before now, so who am I to step in? He’s not some damsel who needs saving.
“You should leave now,” Toby says with a chuckle. “You don’t belong here.”
“Does anyone really belong anywhere?” Eli replies, and somehow that makes me madder than the fact these two douchebags have him practically pinned against a tree.
“Leave or every day will be like this. We’ll make sure of it,” the other guy says, and I step out.
“That’s assuming you’ll still be here,” I say, and they jump back a step.
“We didn’t. We… we weren’t,” Toby’s friend begins, and I raise my brows, scoffing at his attempts to explain what these dicks were up to. Eli’s still standing, back against the tree, face flushed and glasses slipped down his nose.
“We were just having fun,” Toby says, and he wraps his arm over Eli’s shoulder, pulling him close
“Yeah, we’re all good here. Just having a bit of fun, right?” he goes on to say, looking down at Eli.
“Sure,” Elli replies dryly. “Fun.”
“I like to have fun, too. You know what’s really fun?” I ask, stepping closer and keeping my gaze on Toby.
“Umm, what?” he asks, and I stop right in front of him. His friend shifts to the side a little, trying to separate himself from the situation, but he’s in it now.
“I think you would have loads of fun taking your hands off Eli and crawling back to the frat house. In fact,” I say as Toby removes his arm from over Eli’s shoulder, sweat prickling his brow a little now as my smirk grows wider. “I think you’d have a really good time spending the day like that.”
“You can’t be serious?” his friend asks, and I turn my head slowly to look at him, knowing how freaking creepy I must look doing it.
