#Junkie (GearShark #1)(14)
I waited at the head of the table inside the room at a podium that had been there since the day I moved in. Brothers were filling the room fairly rapidly, as the meeting was supposed to start in just a few minutes. As they came in, they took one of the chairs lining the huge table.
The two brothers running for Omega president were sitting beside me. Both had shown up early. It wasn’t mandatory they do so, but out of general respect and as a show of commitment to the frat, they did anyway.
Both candidates were sophomores here at Alpha University, which I thought was a good year to run because it meant they’d been in the fraternity for a year (and in this case, closing in on two years), so they knew what to expect here at the house and on campus. But they were still young enough at the university to be in presidency for more than a couple semesters.
Their young age would actually offer some stability to the fraternity because they would be here a while to run things.
We did have a freshman ask to run, but I shot him down. Even though I liked him, he wasn’t experienced enough.
Surprisingly, none of the upper classmen wanted in. I understood, though. They were comfortable with their roles already. They were starting to turn their attention to what they would be doing once they graduated and they weren’t as focused on the house.
The election for the new president was next month, in early spring. It would give me time to do a handover of the house, help the new guy get used to his new role, etc. Then after that, I’d be graduating.
No more classes.
No more frat.
No more football.
I think I’d miss football most of all. I’d never admit it in this house, but the Wolves felt more like brothers to me than anyone in this frat.
Playing my last game not too long ago had been poignant. The end of something I truly loved. That was when I really started to get lost.
Well, then and the night I got the drunkest I’d ever been. Drew thought I didn’t have any memory of that night.
I let him believe that.
“Everyone’s here,” Jack whispered in my ear.
I glanced up and was surprised to see all the chairs around the table full. Just to be sure it was actually time to call order, I checked the clock on my cell.
Everyone was laughing and talking, but when I stepped up to the podium, a hush fell over the room. It was an odd sort of feeling to have so many eyes on you at once.
“I know this meeting was probably an inconvenience for a lot of you, considering I called it at the last minute.” I spoke to everyone.
“Pain in the ass,” one of the guys at my end of the table said but disguised it (very poorly) as a cough.
I grinned. “That, too.”
Once everyone quieted down, I went on. “I’m sure you all know by now the night before last, one of our brothers, Jonathan, was taken to the ER and had his stomach pumped. He was treated for alcohol poisoning and released into the care of his parents. He’s doing fine and will be back at the house next week.”
Lots of people looked relieved, and I knew the same look was mirrored on my face. This frat could not afford any bad headlines.
“Because his… uh, accident, didn’t occur at one of our parties, we aren’t being scrutinized, but that doesn’t mean the dean isn’t watching us. He is.”
Everyone made a bunch of grumbling noises, and I nodded.
“So tonight’s meeting is a reminder to be responsible about drinking, especially tonight at the brothers’ party. We cannot and will not have any more brothers being taken to the hospital.”
The brothers’ party was basically a house party for fraternity members only. We had them once a month to help keep the bonds of brotherhood alive within the walls of the house.
I’m not sure what it said about me that I didn’t really feel that much brotherhood with the guys in this room. My brothers didn’t live in this house. Romeo and Braeden were my brothers and fellow former Wolves. The three of us started playing for the college the same semester and we’d played together up until last year when they both got drafted (separately) to the NFL.
When Romeo asked me to move in with everyone at their house across town, I’d wanted to say yes. But I couldn’t. I had a commitment to this house.
Plus, there was Drew…
He was family. Definitely.
But I couldn’t bring myself to think of him the way I did Romeo and B. And because of that, it was probably a good thing I wasn’t able to move in over there.
I discussed some more house business since I had everyone’s attention and then opened the floor for anyone to speak or bring up questions and concerns.
One of the guys at the end of the table, White, pushed his chair back and stood. “Elections for house president are in the coming weeks. Everyone in this room is wondering who you’re supporting for your successor.”
All eyes turned to me.
On the spot.
That’s exactly how I felt in that moment. My support would go a long, long way in determining the results of this election. Especially since I was well liked. Especially since I got Zach kicked the hell out of this place and worked like a dog to fix the bad name he got us all.
It could even be said the man I gave the nod to would win.
“I know you all are wondering about that.” I hedged. “Truth is both these guys are good choices.” I motioned to Jack who sat on my right and then to Conner (Con for short) to my left.