Fraternity Batebrothers

“Hey man, you seen Brian and Lee up and around yet? I think they got smashed last night, bro.” Nick looked up from his game of Halo at the question, seeing his fourth roommate, Danny, framed in the door to his room. Danny — Hispanic, 5’10”, with close-cropped black hair — was wearing a loose pair of gym shorts and his tank top was stained with sweat from his usual morning workouts. Nick shrugged, glancing at the clock — after 11 in the morning on a Saturday. “Nah, man, haven’t seen them. They were out at some party though, right?”

Danny nodded, laughing. “Yeah man, and when I got up for a piss this morning, they were back — both passed out cold in Lee’s room from what it looked like. Strike out again with the girls, I guess, eh?”

Nick nodded, grinning wryly. The four juniors shared a four-room suite in the Delta Iota Kappa house, and while all had been able to enjoy the occasional benefits of mixers since pledging, none were campus studs. Their fraternity had maintained a presence at State University for decades, but a series of and hazing violations followed by a probation period had shrunk the membership and alumni roster, and the DIK brotherhood — though still a proud and close crew — were now a ways down in the Greek hierarchy.

“They better get it together for the mixer tonight,” Nick said. The sisters at Tau Iota Tau put out reliably, but were unlikely to favor the comatose.

“Better wake ‘em.” Nick abandoned his game, following Danny through the shared common room to the other side of the suite, where Lee’s door stood half-open.

A groan emanated from inside as Danny’s hand raised to push open the door.