He thinks about how things began.

We get back to the house and I go to my room. When I say “room”, it's actually a third of a room. The house has two bedrooms, but we managed to get six people into them. The living room is always packed, and I usually only get about 5 hours of sleep every night because of the noise from the other guys playing games and partying.

Luckily, my roommates are sticking to the living room right now, so I've got a little time to lie down and think back. I try to remember what Krystina was like before this mess so I can hold onto that version of her.

A little more than a week ago.

I was sitting in the back row, watching everyone come into the meeting room at the country club. I'd come in early to set up all the folding chairs for the orientation, so it was easy enough to make sure I got a seat in the back. Thad and the other guys were crowded around the front of the room, joking around. Then Krystina came in.

One of the guys immediately bumped into the short, pudgy girl. She flipped him off. Another one put a hand on top of her head and rubbed her short hair like she was a dog. She gave him a quick, “Fuck you, asshole!” and backed away. Walking backwards, she bumped into Thad. He's basically a cinder block wall compared to her, so she just bounced off him.

She turned around with a snarl on her face, but I remember she dropped it when she looked up into his bright, blue eyes.

“Hey, little boy, are you lost?” said Thad. All the guys laughed at his incredibly original joke.

“No, I'm just... here for the meeting,” said Krystina.

Thad shook his head. He put his big hand on her upper arm and gently turned her around. “I'm just messing with you, little girl. We've got these front rows, but there's a seat in the back. You can keep my buddy Devin company!”

Krystina blushed and walked away. She sat down next to me and looked down at her feat, occasionally glancing up at Thad.

“So,” I said, “you clearly want to suck his cock.”

“Shut up,” she said. “Why would anyone want a guy like him? Other than the muscles. And the perfect blonde hair. And the trust fund that could buy my family's house literally a thousand times. And the super cut six-pack.”

“You can't even see his abs through his shirt,” I said.

“Oh, but you know they're there!” She looked over at me. “I'm Krystina. Occasionally, some total assholes call me Krys. So, you know those guys?”

“Yeah, unfortunately, I'm rooming with all of them for the summer, Krys. My uncle used to be the course superintendent here. He retired last year, but they really loved him. He got me this job, and one of the club's members convinced his son to let me stay with him and the other bros.”

“Wowwww,” she said with the enthusiasm of a **** row inmate. “You're living the dream!”

“It's the best summer job I can get, and I need to make enough to pay my expenses for my last year of college. How about you? If this isn't your idea of a dream job, then why are you here?”

Her mouth curled up like she was trying to literally hold her answer back, then she shrugged and said, “My dad wants to keep an eye on me, so he made me take this job.”

“Who's your dad?”

“Good morning, everyone!” said Mr. Ito, walking into the room. Krys waved her hands toward him like “taa daa!” He clearly saw the motion and scowled at it, but continued. “Everyone, please take a seat.”

The bros all sat down, and Mr. Ito continued. He went over the rules for working at the club, the high expectations he had for all of us, the proud history of the club, etc, etc.

I leaned over and whispered to Krys, “Wow, this goes on for awhile.”

“I know,” she whispered back. “I've sat at the back of this room and listened to this speech at the beginning of every summer of my life.”

Mr. Ito went over some of the jobs of the club and explained how they would be assigned to us.

“Hey, being a valet sounds cool!” I whispered. “I wouldn't mind driving all those luxury sedans and sports cars that the rich members drive.”

“Forget it,” said Krys. “Valets make the best tips, so those jobs always go to the richest kids.”

“What? That makes no fucking sense!”

“Mr. Cole!” yelled Mr. Ito. “Do you have a question?”

“Um, no sir.” I sat there as he glared at me for at least ten seconds. I felt my heart start beating again when he resumed his speech.

Krys leaned over and whispered, “It makes perfect sense. The rich kids have rich parents, and keeping their little babies happy is what keeps the club's richest members happy.”

“If I get Thad a binky and a security blanket, can I have the valet job?”

Krys snorted laughter, and her dad glared at her again.

The speech lasted an hour, and then we had a break before one of the accountants was going to come in and explain our pay and benefits. Spoiler, there were no benefits.

Krys turned to me as soon as her dad stopped talking and said, “You wanna go out behind the dumpsters and make out?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, why not.”

The Present

Okay, now that I think about it, it wasn't the most romantic meeting. Thad was clearly her first choice. Still, I liked her, and we got along. It's not exactly like a a teen movie where the ugly girl got a makeover and dumped the nice guy for a hot guy. She didn't dump me, I rewrote her entire existence and she never technically had anything to do with me in this reality. Still, I feel like I've been dumped.

I get up off my air mattress on the floor and go to the living room. Thad and the other guys are playing flip cup. You know, that classic Wednesday drinking game. Thad finishes off his beer first and stumbles on the first flip, but nails the second try before the other guys have a chance to catch up. He throws his hands in the air and yells in victory.

Then he looks behind him and sees me. “Devin! Glad to have you join us, you can even up the teams! Go refill the cups, we've got a keg in the kitchen.”