I awoke to the sound of my wretched alarm. The loud blaring unsettled me as I reached over to turn it off. I couldn’t help but feel somewhat tired as I finally sat up on my bed. I was out late last night. The police chief had called me yesterday afternoon to help with the investigation of yet another death but I hadn’t expected to be out as late as I was, talking with the forensics team, trying to find a motive and thus find the perpetrator.

I glanced over at the empty bed beside mine which stored a lot of my random belongings I hadn’t put away yet. I hadn’t been assigned a roommate just yet but then again, I’d only been in this dorm for all of two days, I’d been made to move dorms after they’d closed my last building for renovations. They were still in the process of getting people moved and I’d been lucky enough to be one of the first people placed.

Sliding my hands into my pants, I shimmied my pajama pants down my legs before stepping out of them, determined to find an outfit for the day before I had to go to class. I quickly began rummaging through my drawers before settling on an old Nirvana t-shirt, slipping it over my naked torso. I didn’t bother to wear a shirt when I went to bed because no roommate meant I could do whatever I wanted within the confines of my room. I reached into my pants drawer before settling on a pair of black distressed jeans.

After getting dressed, I slipped out of my dorm, heading out of the building with my class stuff to head out to the food hall before class. I was determined to get my blueberry muffin before they sold out. I could see a tall figure standing near the doorway I had needed to get into. Rolling my eyes, I debated whether or not my blueberry muffin was worth it seeing him again. This tall figure in question was Brody Madden, a known playboy at my university who consistently had a chip on his shoulder. He would constantly make it known that he didn’t like me much after I chewed him out for assuming that just because he was hot that I would sleep with him. Now, I won’t be the first to admit that that fluffy haired, green eyed, tall ass motherfucker was hot as fuck. But he was a downright fucking asshole and I couldn’t stand it. The first day I met him, he almost hit me on his rather brisk walk across campus and then had the balls to act like it was my fault for “being in his way”.

I could see his eyes as they looked up from his phone, glancing at me for a moment before turning back to his phone. It made me wonder if he was going to choose to make another one of his “pleasant” comments about how much I was a bitch. I briskly walked up and tried to slip past him in the case that he did choose to make one of these comments, but not before he was able to slip in one.

“See you’re in a rush? What’re you running from Jade? Your bitchiness?”

I rolled my eyes and shot him a glare, not daring to answer his snide ass comment before slipping into the door that led to the cafeteria.

I quickly bought my blueberry muffin and slipped out the other door to leave, so that I could make it to class in time to try and get a nice spot by the windows. Criminal justice was one of my favorite subjects but I often found myself daydreaming while staring out the windows. Especially because Brody was also in that class. I didn’t know why, because he, unlike me, often just sat there laughing with his friend Billy over random shit on their phones instead of at least trying to pay attention to Professor Thorn. Billy was a whole other issue together. His full name is William Frost, but he was an even bigger jackass than Brody. See, Brody was an asshole and he prides himself on it. Billy was a bit more like a snake in tall grass, he acts nice to your face while the entire time, he’s making your life a living hell behind your back.

I slipped into the law and criminal justice building, quickly trying to make my way to class before someone could steal one of the precious window seats. Thankfully, I did get there before anyone had managed to steal one from me. I popped a piece of my blueberry muffin into my mouth as I set up my laptop to at least try and take notes but usually I ended up rewatching the lecture recordings that I made later and taking notes then. Within a few moments, I watched as Brody sauntered into the classroom with Billy in tow.

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As usual, they came up and sat in the two seats close to mine, shooting me glances with smirks on their faces.

“Bitch, you coming to the party the Serpents are throwing this weekend?” He asks me with a mischievous look.

I scoff and roll my eyes, “No, Brody… When have you ever known me to go to any of the orgy parties your frat throws?” I shoot back at him.

For a second I catch a look of disappointment on Brody’s face. Was he looking forward to the possibility of me saying yes? He turns back around and I can see him chewing on his lip ring as he for once pays attention to what Professor Thorn was saying.

The Serpents, or the Serpent and Sword Society was a fraternity known for its extravagant parties. Brody and Billy were the two presidents of the frat and often loved to orchestrate these parties to be orgies practically for the student body to get in on. I had once heard a girl got spit roasted by the two until she passed out at one of these. Either way, I wasn’t into a party where everyone took ecstasy and fucked.

I turned back away from the boys and stared out the window, watching as students rushed to and from their classes as well as the squirrels did their thing in the trees. As I stared out the window, I couldn’t help but feel someone staring at me, turning slowly, I could see Brody and Billy both watching me as I was watching out the window. They quickly averted their gazes as soon as they noticed that I had seen them.

I side-eyed them a bit before turning back to my daydreaming out the window. Why the hell were they more interested in me now than they had been in the last fucking 2 months of this semester?

I sighed in relief when the class finally ended, gathering my belongings, I headed back to my dorm since my next class wasn’t for another two hours and I wanted to get some notes and homework done before then. As I’m walking I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, flipping it out, I see my best friend, Ivy had texted me.

Ivy: GIRL! Did you hear about the Halloween party the Serpents are throwing this weekend????

Me: Yes. Brody himself came and asked me to come.

Ivy: You should. I’m gonna go

Me: No. I’m not going to any party those horny fuckers throw.

Ivy: Jade, you never go anywhere. You legit sit in your dorm all day and study. You never leave any time for anything fun

Me: I leave plenty of time for fun. Just not with those boys. They’re trouble, I’m telling you Ivy. No.

Ivy: You’re going. This is the only party I’m going to make you go to and if you don’t like it, you won’t have to go to another one. Now come onnnn. Loosen up.

Me: Fine. But don’t tell me I didn’t warn you, I won’t like it.

I slid my phone back into my pocket and continued the rest of my hurried walk back to my dorm. Upon reaching my dorm, I slid my ID card into the card reader and settled myself on my bed, propping my computer up as I rewatched my lecture and took my notes. During the lecture however, I noticed Brody and Billy in the corner of my camera, often sneaking glances over at me, some of the time staring intently at me. It couldn’t help but leave me wondering again about why the hell they were taking such an interest in me when they hadn’t before.

I continued to wonder this even into my next class and as I went to bed for the night. The thought lurking in the back of my mind every moment it could. Why were such dark and mysterious boys who hated my guts taking an interest in a girl like me? Or better yet, me?