The Will To

T H I R T Y - S E V E N (the deal)

As per Higgins' instructions, I'd completed the information on the link he'd emailed me a few days ago. The group referred to themselves as the Criminology Club, which, in my opinion, was a bit bland. Personally, I'd have gone with Criminimal Injustice or Criminal Justice League; however, the lackluster phrasing would look good on any application, as no one could question the objectives of the group. The questionnaire had been simple: name, graduation year, major, and a section to include a hundred words about myself.

I didn't need a hundred words. All I needed was: borderline personality disorder but determined to a fault.

Any self-respecting criminology club would appreciate the sentiment in that synopsis. After I'd submitted the link, John, the guy Higgins had mentioned, sent me an email detailing the nature of the club and asking if I was still interested in joining.

From his email, I gathered that the club was comprised of about ten people who met once a month. Their itinerary included discussions on current topics geared around the broad field of criminology, and they also took a few trips to local agencies and visited guest speakers periodically.

All things that would shine on a resume. I was in, and I responded as such to John. He emailed me with the time and place of their next meeting, which was held in a classroom in the Applied Sciences building next Saturday at seven pm. It seemed an odd time to meet, but who was I to ridicule a group of dedicated criminology enthusiasts? I was a bit disappointed I'd never before heard of the club, but not all that surprised when I thought of the countless times I'd scoffed at the flyers listing various social get-togethers all under the pretense of an academic-approved club posted around campus.

Although, I was looking forward to Saturday and meeting other like-minded, slightly neurotic individuals, for the time being, my days were filled with studying and Rey.

Nola had caught us making out on the couch when she returned home from her date, crossing her arms and smirking. Rey jumped off of me and stumbled to his feet as if his swiftness could erase what she'd seen. I simply laid in my original position, enjoying the nervous stammers that escaped his mouth. After profusely trying to calm him down by explaining that she knew about us already, Nola diffused his nerves by explaining how happy she was for us.

I mocked a gag. Then smiled. And then asked Nola who'd she went on a date with.

"Greg," she'd answered airily. "And that's all you're gonna get."

As soon as Rey had left, after kissing me chastely as Nola eyed us mischievously from her desk, I'd demanded that she'd spill the details of her date, considering her untimely return had showcased the details of mine.

"Untimely return?" she'd repeated, baffled. "Will, I was gone for nearly three hours."

After some bribery in the form of hot chocolate with a Hershey's kiss stirred inside to melt, Nola had relinquished. Greg was a senior who she met in the administration office. He worked in the financial aid department as part of a work-study program and assisted Nola with going over the many pages of her most recent application. (Insert all the horribly amazing innuendos desired.) According to her, he was nice, charming, and had eyes as deep as caverns—a direct quote.

Scrunching my nose, I'd repeated, "As deep as caverns?"

"Just go with it, Will."

And so I did. Nola also explained that she hadn't slept with Greg nor did she have plans to sleep with Greg any time soon. She'd decided she wanted to take things slow and see where it led, not wanting to confuse anything with the addition of sex. In her excited, vulnerable state, Nola had told me while she had no qualms with casual sex, sometimes life threw something that was meant to be taken seriously.

I'd smiled and told her that I was happy for her, because I was. My heart that had literally jumped earlier in the evening really, really was.

Rey and I had been keeping a low profile in the days following. I wasn't exactly the PDA type and he seemed perfectly content to continue discretely brushing his hands over mine and lending me looks that made my body hum while on campus. We'd then meet at my apartment and spend the evening much like we had a few days ago. Rey was apprehensive to invite me to his fraternity, warning that once one person found out, everyone would find out and our privacy would be a thing of the past.

Before leaving that night, Rey had gingerly asked me to dinner the following evening, explaining that we could go somewhere off campus if I didn't want to be seen.

I'd nudged him playfully. "I don't care about being seen."

"You don't?"

"No. I'm far more concerned about you. You do realize your reputation will be shot to the ground, stomped on, and then eaten by a ravaging dog after people realize you're dating me?"

Rey had huffed in amusement. "I think you give your reputation too much credit." He then added after I'd eyed him seriously, "I don't care. Seriously. I don't."

"Fine," I'd said, desperately trying to keep my emerging smile at bay. "Pick me up at six."

"I'll be here."

My morning biology class had just let out. I had a two hour window before my next and final class of the day started and was going to spend lunch at my apartment. In no rush but not wanting to circle half the perimeter of campus to reach the parking lot, I detoured through the mathematics building to shave some time and distance off my commute.

When I emerged through the doors, I saw not one person, but two people I'd forgotten about in the last week. With the hazy morning sun breaking through the clouds, Victor stood beside his bench at the base of the sloped hill outside the mathematics building. My feet froze when I spotted who was next to him.

Reid.

Standing like a statue on the stone steps, I watched as they shuffled beside each other. Victor glanced around the grounds before extending a hand, which Reid placed something quickly into. And though I knew what was coming next, the shock of seeing it play before my eyes was rattling. Victor shoved his hand in his pocket, glanced around once more, and handed something small to Reid, who swiftly tucked it into his own pocket.

They said something to each other and Reid parted from him, heading down the sidewalk leading to the parking lot.

My head pounded. My vision blurred. My ears rang.

I continued standing in shocked silence as I realized what I'd witnessed. There was no question, no doubt.

A drug deal.

Reid had purchased drugs from Victor, whom I'd seen engaged in multiple drug deals over the course of the last couple of months, and, considering it wasn't a secret which substance Victor was known for having on his person, I'd stake my money on Reid having just purchased the date rape drug.

Shock. I was in shock. But the pieces continued to assemble, and when they did I nearly keeled over.

Bile shot up my throat. I was going to be sick. Rushing down the stone steps and walking as quickly as I could with my emerging tunnel vision, I trailed the sidewalk towards the parking lot. After I whipped out my keys, I beeped my car and hopped in, feeling unsafe even after I locked the doors.

Veering out of the parking lot, I drove to my apartment.

xxx