Fresh Meat
Lucian
I’m going to a frat party. I’m not sure that’s something I thought I would ever say but ever since I met my half-brother a few days ago life has changed a lot. His girlfriend Megan invited me along tonight and I’m not really in the position to tell them no. I want to get to know Gael more than anything, he’s my last shot at having a family, and even though it’s a bit confusing trying to make it all work, I think it will be worth it.
So far we’ve all hit it off and I feel like we’re building a bond– a hell of a lot faster than I would with any other new friend. Gael has taken to the idea of being a big brother and he seems to be embracing me with open arms.
I park my car in a parking lot on campus and start to walk toward the music I hear coming from a row of houses. I’ll just look for Gael’s truck, as long as I know he’s there I’ll be fine going inside. I’ve never really had a hard time socializing.
As I walk down the sidewalk music gets louder, not that it’s recognizable, it’s really just a symphony of thrumming bass. There are students roaming the sidewalks, laughing, and socializing but no one I know. As I walk I notice Gael’s truck parked on the side of the road. But when I get closer I see the windows all fogged up.
It doesn’t seem like he’s gone inside yet, he’s literally steaming up his truck with Megan. I mean it’s the perfect situation to pull some little brother hijinks. I sneak up onto the driver’s side and bang on the window.
The horn honks briefly before I see Gael wipe the fog off the window. It looks like Megan is in his lap and when he sees me he starts laughing so I laugh too.
When he opens the door I chuckle, “You have to hand it to me, I mean that was classic little brother stuff, right?”
Gael starts to laugh too, but I can tell Megan feels a bit awkward. I extend a hand to her to help her climb out of the truck, without it I’m afraid she’ll face plant. Once she’s on the ground she tugs at her dress to straighten it and quickly recovers some of her usual sass, smirking up at me.
“I’m sorry I interrupted your fun but I heard there’s a party around here,” I tease Gael as he climbs out of the truck.
“Come on,” Megan takes Gael’s hand and starts to lead us to the front of the frat house.
This house looks like it has the biggest party happening by far, there are people all over the lawn and on the porch. When we get inside there are people everywhere, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel a strange twinge of excitement. I’m hoping to start school here next semester and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t imagine what college parties might be like.
“Wow, this is crazy,” I shout over the music.
“Come on, I’ll get you a drink.” Megan gestures, guiding us over to where the kegs are.
After we all fill a cup we start to push our way through the party. Megan is leading the way and I can tell she’s looking for someone or something.
We bump into a guy about my age, he’s tall and athletic with red hair and freckles but I’ve never met him.
“Hey man,” Gael smiles.
“Hey! I didn’t know you were coming tonight, good to see you both,” the new guy smiles, looking between Gael and Megan.
“Yeah, you too,” Gael smiles.
“Silas, this is Luc… he’s coming to school here next year so I wanted to introduce you both,” Megan says, tugging me a bit closer.
“Nice to meet you, make yourself at home man,” he shakes my hand and I try to commit his name to memory.
I have a feeling I’m going to be meeting a lot of people tonight and I don’t want to get them mixed up. Red hair, freckles, Silas.
“Sorry, I’ve got to bring Piper a drink but I’ll come find you in a bit,” Silas grins and pushes through the crowd with a cup in each hand.
“Piper and Si? That could be interesting,” Megan says, casting a thoughtful look at Gael.
“Wouldn’t she like eat him alive?” Gael asks.
“I don’t know, it could work,” Megan makes a playful face.
I can’t help that I’m feeling a bit lost, “Who is Piper?”
“Sorry, just a friend but she is very…” Megan hesitates as if she is searching for the right words. She clears her throat and twists her long hair around her finger, “Oh my gawd MEGAN! You didn’t tell me you were bringing some fresh man meat tonight; don’t be greedy, share the wealth.”
“Wow, that was like really good and I only met her once,” Gael laughs.
“I love her to death like seriously but she has so much energy,” Megan makes a little frowny face. “I find her cute but some people think she is overwhelming.”
“There’s someone for everyone, right?” Gael loops his arm around Megan’s shoulders.
Now I can’t decide if I want to meet Piper or not. I’ve never been the type to go for the over-extraverted girls but I told myself that I was going to be cool tonight, no matter what comes at me.
“There’s Bran… come on…” Megan says as she tugs Gael behind her.
I try to keep up as I cradle my red solo cup in my hand. As we get near the back of the room I see Megan has her eyes on a tall guy with blonde hair. His back is facing us and it looks like he’s deep in the middle of making out with a girl.
“Um…” Megan huffs.
“You said you wanted to meet Stevie,” Gael adds.
“You’re right, I could learn a thing or two from Luc,” she laughs before sauntering right up to him and tapping him on the shoulder repeatedly.
Gael leans closer to me to say, “That’s her big brother.”
By the time Megan’s brother turns around he looks visibly pissed, “HEY MAN I… Megan?”
“Hi yes, it’s me, your little sister that you invited to your party,” Megan laughs.
I guess my interrupting them in the truck turned out to be useful after all.
“Oh my gosh, this is Megan, wow, he didn’t tell me you were so stunning, your brother never stops talking about you,” the beautiful blonde woman who was just kissing Bran says as she straightens her hair.
“That’s funny, you must be Stevie, the girl that Bran is always talking about … the one he says is gorgeous,” Megan continues to taunt her brother.
“I don’t think I like this dynamic but Stevie this is Megan, my sister…” Bran grimaces.
“It’s so nice to meet you, really…,” Megan smiles at Stevie before turning to me and Gale. “This is Gael and Luc.”
Bran and Gael share a handshake in greeting and everyone else just smiles. The circle is slightly awkward because no one knows what to say but that doesn’t last for long.
A high-pitched voice squeals from behind us, “MEGAN!”
“PIPER!” Megan exclaims, matching her energy as the famous Piper jumps on her and hugs her.
“Oh hi Bran and… Gael, right?” Piper tilts her blonde head to the side looking my brother over.
“Yes, Piper and this is Luc,” Megan gestures at me.
“Luc hmm,” Piper steps closer, giving me flirty eyes. “Well I don’t know where you keep finding these hotties but share when you get a chance,” she looks at Megan.
Piper is a pretty girl, with long blonde hair, fair skin, and light eyes but her energy is a bit intense. Gael and I share a little chuckle while Bran tries to awkwardly introduce Piper to Stevie, just to find out they are already acquainted.
“Well, what do you say, Luc, want to hit that dance floor with me?” Piper makes that flirty eye contact with me again.
I look at Megan for guidance, trying to be sure that this is cool. Before I can answer Megan answers for me, “Yeah, come on, we’ll go with you,” she grabs Gael’s hand.
Gael follows her as she weaves through the crowd so I smile at Piper and offer her my arm.
“Oh aren’t you a sweet one,” Piper giggles as she wraps her arm around mine before tugging me through the crowd toward the dance floor.
I throw the rest of my beer back before letting Piper drag me into the fray. Almost as soon as we find a spot Piper is dancing wildly with me, almost treating me like I’m a pole but I try to get into and dance with her. It’s all just for fun. From what Megan said earlier she probably has something going with that Silas guy anyway.
We dance for a while longer and I start to loosen up, the beer might be helping with that. Piper is fun and pretty, but she reminds me of the girls I meet when I’m working. She’d be a fun friend to have so I’m just enjoying myself and trying to help her have some fun.
After a few minutes, it’s clear that Gael and Megan are lost in each other and Piper and I are working up a sweat.
So when she looks up at me and says, “Let’s go grab a drink, get some air…”
I agree easily and follow her off the dance floor. We end up in what looks like the kitchen and Piper makes a beeline for two girls standing off to the side. One of the girls is very short and petite and my eyes are instantly drawn to her. Her style is a bit out there, she’s wearing a metallic blue leather mini skirt with a Viva Hollywood graphic tee tucked into it. Her brown hair is pulled up in two buns like Princess Leia. She’s perfect.
I smile at her and she smiles back, biting her bottom lip a little and her brown eyes already look flirty.
She looks at Piper, “Pipe, who did you bring?”
Piper grins turning to look at me, her skin is shiny from how hard we’ve been dancing. I just hope she doesn’t say anything to hurt my chances with this girl.
She gives the new girl an excited grin. “This is Lucian, Megan’s boyfriend Gael’s brother. Whoa, that was a tongue twister,” Piper laughs.
I let out a good-natured chuckle as Piper introduces me, glancing at this perfect girl has me feeling a bit shy. “Hey.”
As my eyes fall over her and take in how pretty she is up close the room suddenly feels too hot. I rub the back of my neck while my gaze rakes over her outfit. “It’s good to meet you.”
She holds her hand out to me, shifting her gaze to meet mine with a sweet smile on her lips, “I’m Hazel, it’s nice to meet you.”
I take her hand in my much larger one, enjoying the softness of her skin. It’s adorable that her small hand is dwarfed by mine.
“Hazel,” I test her name on my tongue and love the way it sounds.
Piper is bouncing in place, eager to keep the party vibes flowing. The girl I haven’t been introduced to yet clears her throat from beside Hazel and reaches out to shake my hand too.
“I’m Divya,” she says with a grin.
I shake Divya’s hand saying, “It’s nice to meet you too.” I’m trying to be polite but my gaze keeps getting pulled back to Hazel.
