Pledge

16. Bodies

16. Bodies

"Kirstie, I think... I think you might be right."

"You do?" Kirstie asked. "I mean, sure you do. Because it makes sense. You can't really think you're the only gay guy in that frat. I mean, they're hyper-fixated on each other's bodies. It's weird."

Mitch nodded along, but his mind was elsewhere.

Jax wanted to get me away from them.

But why? He couldn't possibly want to come out. It would hurt his pride too much.

Did he want to sneak around?

Shit... are they sneaking around?

If so... is Scott okay with that?

His heart broke at both of the possible answers to that question.

"So... what do we do?"

"He's never gonna talk to me about it. Think you'll be able to pick his brain?"

"Mitch, I hardly even see him anymore."

"Go to one of his classes."

Kirstie seemed thoughtful for a moment, but then she nodded. "Okay. Only because I'm worried."

Mitch watched as Scott showed the email to Brad on his phone. Brad appeared to read it carefully, and nodded. "Okay, a meeting with a professor obviously takes precedence. You can go. But don't take your pledge brothers with you. I don't want the professor to see that. I'll let the brothers know that you'll be walking alone and I'll tell them not to mess with you. You act normal. Got it?"

Scott nodded and pocketed his phone. "Thank you, sir."

Mitch almost laughed out loud. The email had come from a fake account. The professor's name was even spelled wrong. But if Scott and Brad were none-the-wiser, then he would get at least a good 30 minutes alone with Kirstie, and she could get to the bottom of all of this.

Mitch waited outside of the classroom door, and as soon as he saw Scott leave, he shuffled inside.

Kirstie looked disappointed.

"How'd it go?"

"He almost wouldn't stay, when he saw that it was me,' Kirstie said, and her lip quivered slightly.

"I'm sure he was just afraid that he would get in trouble..."

"Oh, I know. But I don't like to see him scared." She took a seat on the nearest desk, and Mitch perched himself on one facing her. She laughed, humorlessly. "I still see that eight-year-old boy when I look at him, you know? It breaks my heart when he isn't happy. Anyway... I asked about you, first."

"What'd he say?" Mitch nearly jumped out of his skin, desperate to know Scott's true feelings.

Kirstie looked like she was internally struggling with how to word this. "He said that you don't like him."

"He what?" Mitch nearly yelled. Kirstie opened her mouth to speak, but Mitch continued to rant. "Why on earth wouldn't you call me in here? You knew that I was right outside! I could have settled it!"

"Because he looked so upset!" Kirstie replied, her eyes wide. "He said that Jax told him that you had a deal with Brad to keep him from de-pledging. He said he's embarrassed about what happened between the two of you because now he knows that it was all an act."