Corbin House Chronicles: Brotherhood Unbound

Chapter 31: Meeting The New Pledges

As the final days of summer melted away, the familiar hum of laughter and anticipation filled the frat house once more. Marc, Beau, Colt, and Trey had just arrived back, eager to catch up with Connor, Cain, and the other returning brothers—Zeb, Elian, Max, Kellan, and Quinn. They gathered in the main room, recounting summer escapades, stories spilling into the air like a favorite playlist on repeat.

"I still can't believe you went cliff diving!" laughed Elian, shaking his head at Trey.

"Yeah, well, I didn't see you offering to jump!" Trey retorted, raising his eyebrows with a grin.

Suddenly, the sound of the door swinging open had everyone turning. It was time—the new pledges were arriving.

The first to step inside was Taylor. Tall, with a Southern charm that came through with every "y'all" and "howdy," Taylor made an impression before he'd even fully entered. His bright blue eyes were captivating, and his presence was disarmingly relaxed. Connor and Cain exchanged looks, each one taken aback by how Taylor's piercing gaze seemed to hold their attention.

"Well, howdy, everyone," Taylor greeted with a slow grin, taking in the room with a relaxed confidence.

"You weren't kidding, Connor," Cain murmured with a slight smirk, nudging his friend. "Those pictures didn't do him justice."

"Welcome to the house, Taylor," Marc said, offering a handshake. "Looking forward to getting to know you better."

"Same here," Taylor replied with a nod, his Southern drawl thickening with excitement. "Can't wait to see what y'all get up to around here."

Just then, Sean walked in, practically glowing with an infectious energy. His movie-star smile was impossible to ignore, and his easy-going charisma filled the room. Marc found himself instantly intrigued by Sean's enthusiastic presence.

"Hey, everyone!" Sean waved, flashing that winning smile. "Thanks for having me—I've been counting down the days for this!"

"Sean, good to see you, man!" Beau greeted him with a fist bump. "Heard you're a BMX guy? Gotta admit, that's pretty sick."

"Yeah, I try to keep busy," Sean replied, chuckling. "BMX, books, you name it. I don't like sitting still."

"Guess we'll see if you can keep up with us," Marc teased, shooting Sean a playful look that earned him an eager grin in return.

Next was Sebastian, and Quinn felt his jaw drop as soon as the guy walked in. With his beachy, sun-bleached look and that laid-back surfer vibe, Sebastian seemed to bring an air of California sunshine into the room. But it wasn't just his looks; he had an effortless charm that was instantly magnetic.

Quinn shot a glance at Colt, who noticed Quinn's captivated expression and smirked. "Looks like someone's a fan already," Colt whispered.

"Shut up," Quinn muttered, though he couldn't take his eyes off Sebastian. The way he flashed a friendly smile as he introduced himself was almost hypnotic.

"Hey, I'm Sebastian," he said warmly, shaking Quinn's hand. "Excited to be here. I was just hoping I'd make some cool friends."

"Oh, I'm sure you will," Quinn replied, smiling despite his best efforts to keep it cool.

Sebastian laughed, and the two were soon deep in conversation, talking as if they'd known each other for years.

Baker arrived next, bringing a quiet charm to the group. His youthful, slightly shy energy was endearing, and though he didn't speak as loudly as the others, he had a presence that was hard to ignore. Colt found himself drawn to Baker's soft-spoken nature and subtle smile.