Break of Dawn

23 | only human, after all

THERE WAS A LINE to get inside Omar's birthday party.

Throughout the years, Rory had heard many rumors about how good - and exclusive - the parties at the Football House were, but she was not expecting to see that many people willingly waiting in line just to get in.

The place was packed with what looked like half the population of Lochlan, with students arriving by the second, spilling out of Ubers and neighboring houses to join in on the front lawn. The gigantic red-brick colonial house leased by some of the starters on the team was located on Greek Row at the end of a tree-lined cul-de-sac and was rumored to have one of the biggest square-footage in the area.

Rory was only half listening to Ivy complaining about having to wait while she took in her surroundings. There was blue light spilling out of the windows on the first floor, while the rest of the house looked ominously dark. The beat to some Nicki Minaj song could be heard from across the block, but somehow Rory still caught the sound of someone calling her name in the distance.

She looked up in time to see Tyler Macintosh motioning for her to come up to the front of the line. In that moment, Rory realized that Tyler, and two other rookies were manning the front door, one of them even had a clipboard in hand, and she finally understood: it wasn't just a line, there was a list. And not only was she on that list, but apparently she was high enough to cut in line.

It was the type of privilege she could definitely get used to.

"Freckles, you're part of the team what the fuck were you doing in line?" Tyler exclaimed when she finally reached the porch, feeling the weight of a thousand daggers being shot at her back.

Ivy and Madison, on the other hand, had walked across the grass like it was Paris Fashion Week, and Rory could've sworn she saw Maddie flipping her hair.

"I didn't even know there was a list" Rory admitted wholeheartedly while Steve Whitney gave her an orange wristband. He then proceeded to explain that it gave her access to the good booze - available at the bar in the kitchen - while the rest of the peasants (his words, not hers) with no wristband had to fend for themselves with beer, fireball and jungle juice.

The whole thing felt way more professional than any other college party experience she'd ever had.

"Oh my God, you're getting the full VIP treatment, I'm loving it" Madison said when they crossed the threshold. Neither of her friends were on the list, nor did they have wristbands, and Rory just knew she would be responsible for fetching them alcohol all night.

The inside of the house looked somehow more chaotic than the outside. The floor was sticky and the air smelled of sweat and cheap vodka. From the foyer, Rory could see into the living room, where the light kept changing colors and people swayed to the sound of the latest Migos song that was playing on an expensive stereo. She could also see the dining room, where they had somehow fitted three beer pong tables.

"We'll go secure our spot on BP and you go get us the good booze" Madison shouted above the music, taking Ivy's hand before disappearing into the crowd.

Rory sighed, it was just fantastic being left alone in the middle of a party.

The kitchen was located at the back of the house, and after shouldering her way through the long hallway, Rory finally hit the jackpot. There were two more rookies staffing the makeshift bar, and Rory took advantage of the fact that the room was marginally emptier than the rest of the house by leaning against the island and chatting away with them while they prepared her drinks.

She was halfway through her first glass of gin and tonic when she felt someone stopping beside her. Cam Stuart, who had been telling her about his high school days, bowed his head at her new company and walked away to attend to another partygoer.