Fifteen

Chapter 13: Where Have You Been

Elsa couldn't believe she let JT talk her into attending what she knew would be a night full of debauchery. Who says they're going to have dinner, but turns it into a full-on party at a creek anyway? She thought as they walked through the beautifully decorated dining area in front of what Elsa believed to be a glorified Garden of Eden.

There was a hedge maze to the far left and some sort of garden area to the right. Before them was a stone patio that overlooked a serene and naturalistic lagoon leading to a larger body of water. It came complete with man-made waterfall.

This is definitely not a creek. Elsa thought as she looked around. The lagoon was gorgeously decorated with green and gold flowers to show its own sense of school spirit. There was a large sunken hot tub in the far back bubbling and ready for whoever wanted to soak.

The scenery was truly breathtaking and how they managed to jazz up the dozen beer kegs, festive tables filled with liquor, and clear solo cups Elsa would never know. There was a good mix of upperclassmen, but the majority of those in attendance had been present during the Freshmen Orientation Introduction. There had to be hundreds of students present.

We are in the middle of a crime scene! Elsa shuddered as she reached over to grab Stefan's arm. "We need to get out of here! The cops will come and we will go to jail for being a part of an underage drinking ring!" Stefan laughed so loud that JT looked back to see what he had missed.

"E thinks we're going to jail!" Stefan laughed as he waved his arms out to the crowd. The thought was somewhat laughable. There were hundreds of students there and tons of alcohol to appease them. This was beyond a Texas U tradition. Stefan thought. "Elsa, this party is a major part of the culture here, so no we're not getting arrested." JT smirked. "Besides, I'm too cute for prison and you're too uptight to be anyone's Piper." Elsa grinned at the Orange is the New Black reference and shoved him forward.

It had been an interesting day to the say the least. Elsa enjoyed all of the sessions and meetings with professors that morning, while the guys made social plans with their new friends and roommates. Elsa was beyond happy that they had been placed at the newest residential hall together. It was common practice for the university to mimic housing assignments from Fish Fest for the year, so Elsa was hopeful. They weren't on the same floor, but that might have been for the better.

Bridgestone Manor was incredible standing at six stories tall with a brick chimney at each of the far ends. It was laid out like an English mansion with granite and marble in honor to the British founder Edward Bridgestone.

Large, green shutters lay on either side of all of the windows. The grounds were perfectly landscaped with a fountain to one side showing a pair of warriors. The fact that this place is so pristine is a telltale sign that everyone has a sense of school spirit and pride here. Elsa smiled.

The foyer was massive with two stories tall and a double sided staircase that was the focal point. Large archways on either side of the hall led to a dining room and library with a huge fireplace. The thick carpet muffled their steps as they walked into her room.

Elsa was more than a bit nervous. The guys had left to check out their rooms earlier in the day while she listened to an impromptu lecture. They had seemed to bond immediately and she was eager to meet the new guys at dinner. She just hoped she would have the same luck with her roommates.

Mahogany bookshelves lined the walls and four-polished desks stood in each corner. The headboards for each bed were also mahogany and she wondered just how much everything all cost. Elsa noticed a beautiful girl sitting on the bed closest to the bay window.