3 Doorknob

COLIN

"Did you see her?" Brandon whispered as we reached the upstairs landing. "She's perfect!" Hunter pushed past us, peering into each bedroom as he walked by.

He'd take the best one for himself, I knew. That's how it had always been; back when he'd been President of our fraternity house, and even before.

"Leave her alone," I warned. "She's off limits."

"Really? And who decided that?"

"We did," I snapped, "the moment we decided to move in here."

Staring back at him, I could tell my friend still didn't get it. Maybe he never would.

To Brandon, the University's latest in a string of football prodigies, restraint simply wasn't in his vocabulary.

"Look, you don't shit where you eat," I explained. "All one of us has to do is pi*s her off and then we're out on our a**es again. It'll be just like Omega Alpha."

Omega Alpha. It was still a sore subject between the three of us. We'd made a pact not to talk about it, at least not until the semester ended. And the semester's end was nowhere in sight.

"Hey, I'm not looking to pi*s her off," Brandon replied. "Just the opposite! I'm looking to show her some fun. Make her happy. Get her all—"

"Get her all hot and bothered and into you," I finished for him, "and then toss her away for the first cheerleader who throws a pom-pom your way."

"No, no. It's not like that."

"It's exactly like that," I countered. "You don't think, Brandon. Or rather, you think with the wrong head."

Up ahead, I saw Hunter disappear into one of the rooms on the left. Apparently he'd made his decision.

"And besides," I pointed out, "you're on academic probation. Every spare minute you're not practicing or working out you should be studying your face off. You don't have time for a fling, or a girlfriend… hell you don't even have time to jerk off!"

My friend lowered his head guiltily. He knew he was right.

"If you don't get your grades up, you're off the team," I explained. "And if you're off the team, you lose your scholarship. And if you lose your scholarship—"

"I'm out," Brandon said gloomily.

"Exactly." I nodded clearing my point.

There was an awkward pause as we stood in the narrow corridor, which was growing darker with the setting sun. I reached for the light switch. The single bulb in the upstairs hallway was so covered with dust it felt like it was on a dimmer.

"You're right of course," Brandon said finally. "You're always right. It's just that she's so… well she's such a cute girl. And I— I guess I got carried away."

She's not cute, I wanted to say. She's beautiful. Wildly beautiful. And she's a woman, not a girl.

In truth, I'd seen those things the moment I walked through the house's big old antique door. Lily was exactly the type of girl I'd go for; Auburn hair, porcelain skin. Curvy and beautiful, with full bre**ts and smooth voluptuous thig*s.

Just like Carley.

Carley…

I pressed my lips together, sourly. No matter what I tried to distract myself from the breakup, my thoughts always floated back to my ex girlfriend. Carley, my high-school sweetheart. The girl who'd agreed to marry me, even if it was through the simple pledge of a cheesy promise ring.

Carley, the girl who had cheated on me with my friend. And not just any friend… but my best friend.

Fu*k you Derrick.

It was about as screwed up a situation as screwed up situations got. It had taken me two long years at Community College before finally being accepted here. And now here I was, thousands of miles from home. Trying to forget that Carley and Derrick who were still back in our home town, living together.

A familiar nausea began in the pit of my stomach. I could see the two of them now, clear as day. Probably doing all the same things we used to do. Going all the same places we used to—

"This place sure needs a ton of work," Brandon said, wiping one big finger along the wall. It came back absolutely covered in grime.

"Yeah totally," I agreed. I found myself rubbing my temples, trying to shake away thoughts of not one, but now two women. "Think maybe you got us in a little over our heads?"

"Nah. We can whip this place into shape in no time. Maybe even make it as great as it once was."

Brandon grabbed the doorknob to the nearest bedroom. When it broke off in his hand, he let out a nervous laugh.

"Or at least, as close to the old legends I've heard about Delta Delta Thoras," he grinned sheepishly.

"You're a fu**ing barbarian," I quipped. "You know that?"

Brandon flashed his trademark boyish grin. He tried handing the doorknob off to me, but I pushed it back into his hand.

"No way bro," I smirked. "That's your room now."