Monica’s Recon

Monica McCormick watched as the triumvirate of girls broke up and went their separate way in front of the Crimson Barrel. She watched with intrigue as the girl she knew was called Blair mounted the stairs up the hill towards campus. Based on the friendly embrace they had shared Daniela had found her girl.

The blonde drummed her fingers on the steering wheel of her car. She hated having to stoop so low as to spy on others recruiting drinks but she had little other choice. Her Little and most trusted lieutenant Cheyanne was on the swim team and had practice most evenings. Plus Monica had always been a big believer in “if you want something done right do it yourself”.

She glanced at her phone as it vibrated. It was a message from Daniela to the Sorority wide group chat ‘Bars clear for anyone who wants to use it!’ They has always agreed to all stay clear of the bar when a girl was being recruited to avoid adding unwanted pressure or overwhelming the poor girl. But it had always been a loose unwritten rule. It had been Daniela’s decision to make sure it was firmly agreed upon at the chapter meeting at the beginning of the semester.

It was no secret that Daniela was Candice’s hand picked successor to be President after she graduated. She was her little after all. But Monica was determined not to let that happen. She had worked to hard these past years to just step back and let that bitch casually take over. They both knew how important it was to control this pledge class. Because those 6 new members if everything shook out like it would today would decide the election at the end of the semester. It was important that Monica controlled this class.

She groaned to herself as she opened the door and exited her car. If she was going to find out about this girl Blair (other than from the extensive rumors swirling around her that is) she was going to have to put in the leg work. And unfortunately that meant talking to Rick…

Rick was the Owner/Operator or the Crimson Barrel and by all accounts wasn’t the kind of guy your typical college girl wanted to spend a lot of time around. In fact for someone who owned a bar a stones throw away from a college campus Rick for the most part hated college kids in his bar.

But like all symbiotic relationships Rick needed the students and the students needed Rick. They kept him in business and he kept them drunk with generous pours, cheap beer, and a certain blind eye to fake IDs. The Delta’s had long ago worked out an arrangement with the disgruntled middle aged man. One that was also mutually beneficial.

As Monica sauntered up to the bar she drew the eyes of several of the male patrons that were gathered around the pool table. Monica had always had smaller tits than she would have liked to have had but had long ago figured out that a low cut top worked for everyone. Small boobs just meant she had to cut hers lower.

The greying old man gave her a curt nod as she walked up to him at the bar. “You just missed some of your friends.” He slid a glass in front of her. Scotch on the rocks. Outside of the required cheap pitcher of beer Monica refrained from drinking anything else in this particular establishment.

“Well that was by intention. We’re not supposed to interrupt those meetings. Guess Daniela gets afraid I’ll need to take a pee at the wrong time.” She winked flirtatiously at the bartender. He was well aware of what went on in his bar at all times. Including what happened in the women's bathroom at the beginning of each fall semester.

“I’m amazed more of those girls don’t get caught. Been a few years since that’s happened.”

“Oh we both know I’m well aware of that fact Rick.” Monica shot back at the mischievous grin the bartender had given her. In fact she had been the last pledge to have been walked in on while taking her photo. It was an experience that one didn’t soon forget. “It’s one of the reasons that I bring my recruits in on Monday nights instead of during the Thursday rush.”

Rick’s eyes had stared off into the middle distance no doubt remembering the scene. Monica knew from having perused the perfectly timed picture that Rick had had the perfect view of her freshman ass from his position behind the bar as two drunk girls had pulled open the door to catch The blonde in all her glory.

“So I take it no one walked in on the girl tonight? Or did no one get the chance?”

The bartender sized Monica up. His gaze lingered on her cleavage for an inordinate amount of time. They both knew he was looking. He just simply didn’t care. ‘Old perv’ Monica thought to herself.

“You just gonna stare at my tits all day or you gonna tell me about the girl that just got naked in your bathroom?” She tried to push the situation along. She could get oogled by Rick any old time. Right now she had a mission.

“You know as well as anyone I stay out of y’all girls business. I stick to our arrangement.”

“Bullshit Rick. I know you keep one eye glued to that corner eyeing up every girl that comes in here. Especially during recruiting season so you can get a preview of what to expect on ‘dance night’. And don’t even try to lie I saw you doing it all last night with my recruit.” Monica had never taken the stern approach with Rick before. Most of the Delta’s if they ever had to deal with him flirted their way around him. But Monica liked being direct. And if she was going to be the Delta Mu President she Rick being on her side was also a big plus to her plans.

“I pay attention to everything that goes on in my bar.” Came the curt reply.

“What do you want Rick? Want me to flash you? Show you my ass? What’s it gonna take to get you to have a polite conversation with me?” She didn’t want to flash him. In fact the thought disgusted her slightly. But Rick had seen her naked before, what was one more time?

The grizzled bartender stared her down. This time though in the eyes. “I want that picture from last night.”

“Of Mimi the girl I brought in? Fuck off you know I can’t give that to you. Plus you’ll see her naked soon enough.”

He shrugged “that may be so. But I still watch the trailers for movies I plan to go see.”

Monica pondered her options. “I can show you it. That’s the best I can do.” Rick eyed her even closer. Their gazes boring into each other. It was Monica who blinked first. “And I will give you my photo from two years ago.”

Rick nodded his agreement. Monica with the look of someone who had just paid to much money at the auction block pulled out her phone. Scrolling back she found that fateful photo. Ever inch of her small pale frame in view. A look of pure terror and surprise on her face as two girls equally shocked stood at the door in the background. Over her shoulder you could just make out the perfectly positioned Rick. The perfect instance of Monica’s embarrassment frozen in time. One second sooner or one second later and it would’ve been quite a different photo.

After sending it off to Rick she pulled up the most recent photo saved to her phone and passed it off for the pervy old man to ogle. She knew this was a massive breach of trust. One that could get her in major trouble with the rest of her sisters. She just hoped what Rick had to say was worth it.

“Her names Mimi. Freshman. Real firecracker. Didn’t even question having to take the photo. She just did it. Though you know that part.”

Rick passed her back the phone “I like the Tats” was all he had to say.

“Well? It’s your turn?” Monica said expectantly.

“Young girl. Like most that age. Didn’t like the beer. Drank gin and tonics. Seemed to ask a lot of questions. Didn’t hear what they were. Seemed to take some convincing to go to the bathroom. If I read the situation right it was only after Daniela showed her the pictures of herself and The red head. Then she took a decent amount of time doing it too. But didn’t get caught. Came back to the table all proud of herself. Seen that face a thousand times. Means she did the thing. They all left happy.”

“That’s it?” Monica asked trying to make sure she rung every last detail out of the bartender. It unfortunately seemed like she had overpaid for very little information. The only thing potentially damming was Daniela showing off the photos of her and Fiona doing the challenge. But even then that didn’t really break any rules cause those were photos of them. It would be different if it had been a different sister.

“It appears you got the better end of this deal Rick.” Another half hearted shrug

“That’s simple economics. Supply and Demand.” He looked the Junior up and down again “but because I like you stop in Friday sometime. Ill give you the lowdown on the rest of the happenings if you want.”

The toasted him and downed the last sip of scotch “Pleasure doing business with you Rick.” And she turned not towards the exit but towards the guys playing pool. She was feeling powerful after her negotiations with Rick. And the youngest of the frat guys holding their pool cues as they watched her approach was about to be the lucky beneficiary of that confidence.