on two wheels (maxley fic)

CHAPTER 02

September 02, 2002.
"'Cause you should've seen him when he first saw me."
— My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
Taylor Swift.

Classes were a disaster.

I really tried to focus on the subjects and the professors, but besides a few new terms, I remember nothing. It wasn't entirely my fault. The whole class of freshmen couldn't concentrate, and the professors weren't really teaching. It was mostly an introduction to the semester and some information about evaluations. Naturally, I didn't pay attention.

About ten minutes into the first class of the morning, someone started passing around a flyer announcing a party at the Gamma Mu Mu Fraternity House. Chaos didn't break loose, but only because the students were smart. Still, it was what everyone was whispering about.

"Did you get it?" I ask as soon as I meet the boys in our dorm room, waving my flyer about the party at them as if they could read it without taking it from my hand.

P.J. is by his desk by the window (chosen by him as soon as we walked in), and Bobby is on his bed, lying over the clothes he still hasn't organized from yesterday, playing on his Game Boy. He tosses it aside just as I walk in and wave the flyer.

"We got one," Bobby says. "We're going."

"Oh," I say, trying not to sound disappointed. I thought they would say no first. "Well, that's good. Our first party as college students," I comment with a smile.

P.J. matches my energy. "Everybody will be there."

"Yep," Bobby sits up on the bed. "And I've heard the Gammas already know the date of this year's X-Games. Maybe they'll spill the beans tonight."

"Wait, hold up! You heard what?" Now I'm more anxious about this party.

"They are last year's winners and the year before that, and the year before that... They probably have connections with the organizers. Some students in the psychology hall were talking about how the Gammas are already tracking down new people for their team, so maybe they know the date?" Bobby says in one breath, then cools himself, lying back on the bed. "That's what I heard, anyway."

"Well, it makes sense if they're already recruiting," P.J. agrees.

I take a moment to process. Considering the power the Gammas hold, not just in the X-Games but also due to their influential members, it makes sense.

"But why new candidates? I thought they'd keep the same team. Uppercrust hasn't graduated yet," I point out.

"They probably won't change their group. But they recruit to maintain dominance," P.J. explains. His expression suggests he thought I already knew this. I must still look confuse, so he continues. "You know, at least two other teams in the X-Games are from the Gamma Mu Mu Fraternity."

"I had no idea," I gasp, sitting on Bobby's mattress for a better view of Bobby.

"Yeah. Some say it's to secure victory for their House. Others say it's because Bradley can't stand the idea of losing, so he buys off his competitors," P.J. shrugs and turns back to his notebook as if he hasn't just dropped a bombshell.

"Bradley wouldn't..." I start to say, but stop myself. Why the hell am I about to defend this random dude? I've only met him once, and we weren't even introduced. "I suppose if he's really the rich, pretentious kid we think, he could, yes."

Bobby doesn't hesitate. "I believe theory number two. He's afraid of losing, so he buys off the competition. Man, I wonder how much he'll offer us once he realizes we're good. Perhaps we should consider..."