Skyla stepped onto the sticky floor of the frat house, adjusting quickly to the blaring bump of the music being poorly DJ'd in the corner. She scanned the room for signs of her sorority sisters but all she could see was a sweaty mob of drunk 20 year olds.
Not the usual sorority type, Skyla had found it difficult to make friends in college and find a group. So in her second year she found her way to Zeta Kappa Delta, but it was all so overwhelming. Being surrounded by these girls all the time, told exactly what white dress she must wear to which events. It felt a little cult-y, especially the recruitment ceremony, but it had been about a couple of months and no "hazing" had occurred, and all the girls seemed nice enough, even if some of them were real sticklers for the rules and traditions.
None of this, though, was on Skyla's mind as she searched the room. She was intent on finding a friend who was a girl, because she knew frat boys were not to be trusted. This was only her third party, as she had been skipping a lot of them... But Trinity had pulled her aside and told her that guys were complaining that not all the girls were coming to their "brother" fraternity, and that she must attend them all--in proper dress, of course-- or face disciplinary action. When asked what she meant by "disciplinary action," Trinity insisted that Skyla must follow all the rules as outlined in her handbook and she will never need to find out.
Skyla just needed to be seen, by any girl from the sorority who was sober enough to remember her being there, and then she could bolt. It wasn't that she didn't like to party. And it wasn't that she wasn't flattered that the boys had noticed her absence, although it did also make her feel weirdly objectified. It was just that she didn't really know anyone at the parties so she felt kind of awkward and she didn't feel... Protected?
This feeling was only amplified by actually being there. Eyes seemed to rake over her body as she stood in the humid room. She didn't wear shorts under her little white dress and she almost never wore a bra over her perky little B-cups anyways. But this exposure made her nervous all of a sudden, being surrounded by boys in a natural boy habitat. It wasn't purposeful that she was so exposed, she dressed like this regularly, but she couldn't deny that she craved the attention. She couldn't admit she wanted someone's hand to accidentally graze her sensitive nipple, or for her skirt to flutter up just enough that her lacey black thong could be seen. It didn't matter though, she just had to find her ticket to leave this place.
As she squeezed her way through the crowd, she was pushed into some boy's shoulder and knocked him off balance a little, "Hey!" He turned around and looked her up and down. He was obviously a little intoxicated but he steadied himself fast, "Hey..." He said again in a flirtatious tone. Skyla rolled her eyes and motioned to keep walking, but the boy grabbed her by the wrist, "You could definitely use a drink!" She tried to protest but he was actually doing a great job of pushing through the crowd so she let him be her guide. His grip on her wrist was firm but she could tell if she pulled away, he would let her, which weirdly made him seem more inviting to her. He was taller than her, and much stronger, he definitely played a sport. Skyla didn't really know much about sports, she tended to just do yoga and dance for her workouts. She was more interested in being slim and flexible than being strong and muscular.
They reached the makeshift bar that was actually just a gross plastic fold-out table covered in empty bottles and liquor spills and he started concocting something for her.
"I'm Jacob, I haven't seen you around here before so I assume you didn't know that." She couldn't contain her scoff at his attitude.
Jacob eyed her petite frame, he was pretty sure this was the sophomore who had joined their sister sorority this year who kept skipping their parties. As president of Kappa Zeta Alpha, he made it his mission to know everyone.
"What's your name, then? I can't give you free alcohol without knowing who you are."
"I'm Skyla, and you can keep your alcohol. I have to drive home soon anyways." She turned away from him and started scanning the lawn now that they were outside it was actually easier to see people's faces, "Have you seen anyone from ZKD?"
Jacob brought her the red solo cup mixture and looked out into the crowd as well, "Hmm, I saw a few girls in little white dresses, but I haven't seen them in a while."
"Wonderful," She set the cup down without even taking a sip and Jacob glanced at it. She flipped around and looked at him, "Do you know if you saw Trinity?"
He made a face, "That prude? I definitely haven't, why?"
"I just hate these things and I need to get out of here but I can't leave unless they know that I came or I will face 'disciplinary action,' or some shit."
"'Disciplinary action?' What do you mean by that?"
"I have no idea okay, but I just joined this stupid sorority to make friends not to go to dumb house parties, no offense... What was your name again?"
"Jacob. And none taken I guess, but you don't have to be such a bitch about it." He picked up her cup and handed it to her again, "If you drink this it would be a lot more fun, I promise."
Skyla scowled at the name calling, but took the cup, it looked like she would be staying a bit longer than planned anyways. She looked at the contents with a feeling of trepidation and took a long swig. She rarely drank but it was fun sometimes, and it helped with the social awkwardness.
"Why do you hate frat parties so much?" Jacob said, as he watched her pretty long neck as she gulped. He traced her long legs with his gaze, so smooth and bare under the short, mandated, white dress.
"You literally called me a bitch, you called Trinity a prude, you're basically making me drink alcohol, it's disgusting in that house, everyone is belligerently drunk, it is full of men.. I mean do I have to go on?" Skyla sneered, trying to be louder than the warm feeling that pooled in her abdomen after noticing Jacob checking her out, especially after calling her a bitch, God what was wrong with her?!
"Whoa whoa whoa, slow your roll pretty lady. I'm not like other guys okay. I came out here to help you and I am trying to be your friend. You're the only one here making this party such a downer and attacking me!"
Skyla took another swig of her drink and noticed it tasted kind of funny, "Hey, what's in this?"
Jacob gestured to the tens of bottles on the table, "A little bit of everything... You know the girls were telling me that you were kind of stuck up like this, but I didn't think it would be this bad."
"The girls?"
"Yeah, Trinity and them, when I told them you needed to come to more of the parties."
"You-- wait... Oh my god, you're that Jacob? Oh shit, I--" She set down her empty cup and looked around in a slight panic, "Sorry, I didn't know..." Then, more realization washed over her face, "Wait, then you recognized me from the beginning? And you-- you were the one who demanded I be here? Can't you just tell Trinity that I was here so I can go."