The College JJ Series

blast from the past

Summary: After joining a sorority the spring semester of your freshman year of college, you run into a childhood friend that you haven't seen in a decade at your first mixer.

~

You were gathered at the sorority house with your new sisters, waiting for the party bus to come pick you up and take you to the frat house for the big welcome party they were throwing for all the new members. You were a bundle of nervous energy as you waited with your pledge class, listening to your chapter president go over some helpful tips.

"You can't bring boys back to the house, so if you want to hook up with anyone, that's on you to sneak them into your dorm. Use the buddy system when you go to the bathroom. It's not because it's unsafe, it's because the door to the bathroom on the main floor doesn't lock, and unless you want someone to walk in on you peeing, take a friend to guard the door." She pauses, looking off into the distance. "Hmm, what else?" she wonders aloud. "Oh, if you end up staying at the frat house, you have to leave before 9:00 am. That's when Sheri, their house mom, arrives and she'll lovingly kick you out if you aren't already gone." She grins at an unspoken memory. "Other than that, have fun, and don't drink too much!"

When you get to the frat house a little later, it's abuzz with activity. An older member gives you and a couple other girls a quick tour of the main floor, pointing out the bathroom, the kitchen (where all the alcohol is), and the door to the basement stairs, which she assures you only look scary as hell, but are super stable.

You get a beer from the keg in the kitchen and make your way to the packed living room. It's an exclusive party that only your sorority and the members of the fraternity are invited to, but you're amazed at the sheer number of people. You take a seat on a ratty looking couch with another girl and survey the party happening around you.

"Have you ever seen so many attractive boys in one place?" Beth asks as she takes a drink. "Like they are literally all hot."

"You're not lying," you say, eyes scanning the place.

"I wonder which ones are new versus the older guys?" she asks. "I don't want to accidentally hit on a senior or something."

You laugh. "I'd say the more confident looking ones are the established members, and the ones grouped together are the pledges. Also, some of these guys clearly look like they're still eighteen or nineteen," you say.

"Oooh, look at that one," she says, pointing to a boy with messy blonde hair sticking out from under his tattered baseball cap. "He's so pretty."

You examine the boy in question. He's pretty tall and athletic looking, and when he smiles, cute little dimples appear. There's something inherently familiar about him, although you can't put your finger on what it is. It's unsettling.

"Yo, Maybank, go tap the next keg, would you?" the frat president calls out.

Maybank? You think to yourself. A core memory unlocks, and a sinking feeling takes over your gut. You were looking at JJ Maybank, albeit a grownup version of him. It had been more than ten years since you'd last laid eyes on JJ Maybank, when he'd come to the Kildare Island ferry to say goodbye to you when you left the island for the last time. You hadn't been back to the island, or seen him, since that day.

You watch in awe as he throws his president a thumbs up and walks across the living room towards the kitchen, ready to complete his task. You can't help but stare at his back as you watch him cross the threshold of the living room and disappear into the recesses of the kitchen.

"Y/n, you good?" Beth asks, snapping you out of your thoughts. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"It's—I, um—" you let out a nervous laugh as you stumble over your words, unable to decide what emotion to land on. "I know him. The blonde."