Putting the party in 'private party'

Inside the modern cabin, Casey was taken aback. A large open plan kitchen joined into a lounge area. Several sofas were arranged before a ridiculously sized flat screen TV and a host of students were scattered upon them. A full range of booze was upon the counter tops, half-a-dozen expensive bottles laying mostly empty already. A small group of guys were crowded in the kitchen, chatting animatedly. The music was much lower than the main party, adjusted so people could actually hear one another. Many of the boys turned and greeted the trio as they came in. Despite the mostly friendly faces he saw, Cass couldn't help but feel like some were looking towards them the same way wolves might look at a injured deer. He felt a large hand come down on his shoulder, heavy and just a little too hard to be friendly.

"Come on. I'll introduce you to the other future Beta Psi members, huh?" Some laughter broke out among some of the older looking students and Cass looked to Lucas, seeing if there was any sign he was having the same sense of wrongness. He didn't seem to though. Lucas was practically vibrating with excitement and wouldn't be able to spot if this was some kind of elaborate setup or prank to mock some new students. Sitting down on the edge of the old leather brown sofa, Casey looked around.

"Where are my manners. Everyone, Lucas and Crissy." Dean gestured towards them. "Casey." Cass corrected quickly. "Sure." Dean payed him no attention, but Casey caught the small smirk which flashed across his face. "Some would be brothers. Okay, okay, that's Elliot, Javier, right? Yeah, yeah. Jemma? Jamie, shit, my bad." Dean pointed out a handful of other students one by one, who were apparently interested in committing to Beta Psi. Elliot, a good looking guy with peroxide blonde hair and contrasting dark stubble. Javier, a slightly overweight but tall boy with a nervous smile and a bronzed completion. And Jamie, a slim guy with a terrible mustache clinging to his upper lip but clearly a keen sense of fashion. Dean introduced some more, with about ten 'pledges' among the twenty odd existing members.

"Well, with all the formalities out of the way. I say we have some fun, yeah? Yeah!" Dean stood, his words drawing a cheer from all gathered. Nearly all. Casey refused to play cheerleader to that asshole and simply pulled a 'I suppose' sorta face. He caught eyes with Elliot who also seemed less then sold. But if there was anyway to ease an awkward social gathering, booze was surely it.

The next couple of hours weren't as bad as Casey predicted. He quickly got a beer in his hand, some international one he didn't recognise but it went down easy enough. As time went on, the 'wrongness' of the situation had slipped away to. The uneasy feeling fading as his buzz grew. He found the other 'pledges' better company then most of the Beta Psi guys, who out of sight from the rest of the university seemed to reverted to drunk, frat boy stereotype. He chatted to Elliot, discovering he to had been dragged here by a friend, Rich. He was studying biology and had a weird but amusing sense of humour. Casey found himself chuckling at his corny jokes despite himself. Jamie had admitted he was sucking down his pride and trying to play ball for the opportunities the frat offered post-study. "Worst case is they reject me and I keep going as normal. Miss all the shots you don't take, right?" He'd said, cheeks flushed as he necked a beer. Casey had conceded he had a point. Still a small, sneaking suspicion continued to eat at his thoughts after their talk. 'Surely there would be more potential pledges then this? Why these guys?' His mind pulling on the thread as he drunk.

"Crissy!" Dean appeared next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and clamping it tightly. "Casey." Cass stated firmly, already tired of the other guys company. "Yes, Casey, sorry. I didn't mean to mess it up."

"Sure you didn't." Casey snorted, taking a sip of his drink and searching for someone to try and distract him. Where was Lucas?

"No, genuinely." Dean offered, loosening his grip. He led Cass towards the back entrance of the cabin, over looking the woods. "Can we talk outside real quick?" Dean asked, gesturing for Casey to go first. "I guess." Casey looked at him, unsure what this was about. Had he already fucked up somehow? Was he about to be kicked out? "Perfect." Dean slipped out onto the porch and slide the French doors close behind them, leaving the chatter and music to be deafened.

"I feel like you don't like me very much. And that we've gotten off on the wrong foot." Dean spoke with a frank honesty Casey was surprised by. "Look, man. I know I'm a bit of an asshole. Kinda just who I am. I understand maybe you didn't know much about us and I kinda took offence, I guess. I like to push buttons too, just a bit." Dean chuckled, half to himself. Casey wasn't sure how to react. This seemed like a totally different guy then the one who was clearly belittling him not two hours before. "I know you're into politics, right? Same. Not studying but, personally you get me? I think you would fit pretty well around here. Believe me, I'd let you know if I didn't want you. So, if I do seem to throw some shit your way, it's not personal. Try roll with it?" Casey nodded, a little stunned by how frank Dean had just been. "Ideal. Good to clear the air. See you at the bottom?" Dean raised his beer out and Casey gently tapped it, nodding. "Thanks, I-I apricate it. " Cass smiled. They finished their bottles and Dean hurled his out into the darkness. "Ahhh, shit. Not good for the planet that, right. Fuck it. Two won't hurt, right?" He nodded and Casey offered a small one in return before tossing his away too. It fell away into the darkness far short of where Dean's had but he felt a small comradery with him from the action.

"Lets get back to the party!"

They rejoined and the small voice in Casey's head, probing the suspicion nature of this gathering died. Eased by Deans friendly words. The music was turned up and the drink continued to flow as he chatted to everyone. Beers turned to shots. The world seemed a little more simple in Casey's mind. Lucas was busy chatting to Joseph and a few other members, he seemed fine. Cass played a few rounds of beer pong with Elliot and Dean. **** had not improved his game.

"Right, right, everyone please!" Joseph spoke up, lowering the music to be heard. "I know we're all having a good time but not everyone here is Beta Psi." A collective 'ohhhh' came from the gathered students, aside from the 'pledges'. "So, why don't we kick things off with an, 'interesting' little game huh?" A ragged cheer came forth. Casey looked around, quizzically. Elliot shrugged and Dean only grinned wider.