Underneath the Canopy - Part One

The walls of the frat house reverberated with music like a pulsating heart, the vibrations of its wooden boards a humming melody overlayed onto the ambience of the joyous sounds of whooping, laughter, and yells. The semester had yet to even begin, and the campus’ Greek societies were already in peak form. At least a hundred people were in and around the secluded building, all participating in some form of drinking, vomiting, talking, laughing, or making out. Lights of different colors flickered randomly, their dull glow painting the house and the grass outside in shades of rainbow.

If there was a hell, William was certain it looked something like this. He glanced at Mark, who had a smile that stretched from ear to ear as they trudged through the campus’ outlaying forest towards the party.

“I don’t know if this is really my scene, I-”

His best friend grabbed William by the shoulders and began pushing him forwards determinedly despite his protests. Resisting was of little use; Mark was essentially a foot taller and several times stronger than him and could have carried him there over his head the rest of the way if he wanted.

“Sorry buddy, but you’re going to meet a lucky lady and get laid tonight.”

He could only sigh with resignation.

“I really hate you sometimes.”

“Oh, get over it, besides didn’t you say that lovely roommate of yours was going to be here? This could be your chance. Afterall, if she sleeps with you, then come morning she doesn’t even need to do a walk of shame or kick you out, you’re both already in your apartment.”

He was beginning to regret telling Mark about Nicola, and his feelings for her. His friend had been even more enthusiastic about the situation than William himself, practically bouncing off walls with excitement at the possibility that William might finally, like a tortoise awoken from eighteen years of sleep, be out of his shell.

“Dude, you have to introduce me to her, I’ll wingman you straight into between those legs. What did you say her name was again?”

William scoffed at his friend’s remark, although he knew Mark was being sincere.

When they reached the house, Mark quickly introduced him to some friends, paying special attention to the women when doing so.

“Hey, I’ll grab you a beer man.”

“You know I don’t drink, what if my mom-”

Mark grabbed him around the neck and whispered into his ear. “William, nothing bad is going to happen if you drink one beer, and besides,” he gestured at a couple of the girls standing around a bonfire, “I think a few of them were hoping to catch a one-on-one with you.”

A slender hand snaked towards Mark’s as he picked two beers from a cooler, latching onto his wrist.

“What do you think you’re doing?” The voice belonged to a woman.

“I’m getting a beer, what does it look like?”

He turned to face her, only to be met with the most awestriking figure he had ever seen. The woman had emerald eyes that seemed to bore into his soul, and auburn hair that glinted in the house’s soft yellow light. She was older than most of the people at the party, probably in her mid-twenties.

“Are you kidding me? There’s no way you’re twenty-one. Make yourself scarce kid.”

“Come on, half of everyone at this party isn’t of age, and I know for a fact you’re not the one who bought this shit, so what do you care? Besides, I'm eighteen, I'm an adult so let me make my own decisions.”

“I don’t care what other people are doing, in this matter you’re not an adult, and I’m not letting you take those beers in front of me.”

“If you gave me the chance, I think you’ll find that I am plenty adult.”

“Please, you wouldn’t last fifteen minutes with me.”

“Do you wanna bet?”

She gave him the once over, letting her eyes scan his filled-out body. “Follow me.”