Page 7 of Ink & Ambition

“Let’s go. He’s done,” I say, standing from the table. The boys jump up with me. We leave the library, paying extra special attention to Edith on the way out, and head toward the parking lot next to the fitness center.

Keith is waiting for us outside the gym doors. He nods his head once and I return the gesture but for a moment, my attention is drawn toward a familiar brunette sitting on the bench outside the gym doors. Her nose is stuck in her phone and there’s an uncontrollable feeling in me that needs to know what has her so entranced.

“Pick-up game?” Kai asks, slapping Keith on the back in greeting.

“Let’s do it.”

The boys head toward the large gymnasium doors but I hang out a second. “I’ll meet you in there,” I say, heading right toward Margot before I change my mind.

“Twice in one morning. What are you, stalking me?”

Margot practically jumps out of her seat at the sound of my voice. Her phone goes flying into the air and on instinct, I reach out and catch it.

“Phew, close one!”

Margot reaches out to grab it from me but not before I see the screen. My instagram profile is front and center, and based on the post she was viewing, she is a ways back in my archive. The cheshire cat envies my grin.

“Whatchya lookin’ at, sunshine?” I ask, smugness oozing out of every pore in my body. I almost felt bad for Margot with how beet red her face gets. Grabbing the phone from my hand, she mutters “nothing” before leaning down to grab the bag she left on the floor.

Before I can say anything else, ease some of the embarrassment she is clearly feeling, the gym door swings open and a blonde girl comes out looking peppy and familiar.

“Ready to go, Margot?” She asks the tomato next to me, who nods furiously before turning on her heels and heading directly toward the parking lot without another word or glance in my direction.

The blonde looks at me questioningly but I only shrug, grabbing the door she was holding open and heading into the gym myself. I have absolutely no idea why this mysterious, feisty girl was stalking my instagram but I now have every intention of finding out.

Driving down Greek Row is always a treat. You never know what you’re going to see. From rushing freshman boys streaking down the street to gaggles of girls who look identical to each other. I keep my eyes peeled while I drive, taking in the sights but also ensuring I don’t hit any unsuspecting drunk kids.

We pass the Delta Epsilon house on our way home, noticing some guys standing on the porch, beer in hand. The president, Ryan Walsh, stands front and center, surveying the street like his own personal fortress.

“Prick,” Devon says, noticing the same thing as me.

I wouldn’t exactly call Ryan and I enemies but we aren’t besties either. Being president of our frats gives us a camaraderie of sorts but we are technically rivals and that trumps any kind of kinship we might have.

It also helps that our house is the main hub for campus parties, no matter how hard DE tries to get people to go to their parties. We form a sort of peace treaty on weekends when we allow DE and other frats to come to our parties. Brotherhood and all that. So far, it hasn’t caused any problems.Famous last words.

Pulling into our driveway, I park the car and Keith parks behind me. The twins, Devon and I walk up to our porch,bypassing a group of girls on their way to some sorority event. Kai and Devon stop to look, which is appreciated by the group, while Keith and I just head inside.

I’ve never had to show any interest in girls. They just come to me. I’ve had my pick of the litter since I was a freshman and my reputation has only gotten more notorious. I don’t really do half the things this campus thinks I do, but I also don’t do anything to stop the rumors. If they want to think me a huge player asshole, go right ahead. I haven’t lost a single wink of sleep over the rumor mill and I doubt I ever will.

“Clowns,” Keith mutters nodding toward the guys we left behind. I grab Keith’s neck and pull him into a headlock.

“Like you wouldn’t react the same way if the baseball team walked by,” I dig at him, nooging his head.

Keith laughs, shaking out of my hold. “Please, you know I’m into football players. Those scrawny t-ballers can’t handle all this.” Keith gestures to his biceps, flexing under his shirt. Behind us, Devon and Kai make their way up the porch stairs and Keith and I share a glance before shutting the door directly in their faces, locking it for good measure.

As they bang on the wood, shouting profanities, and searching their pockets for a key that we know neither of them remembered to grab, Keith and I saunter into the kitchen.

“Beer?” he asks.

“Please,” I respond, completely ignoring the shouts of our brothers.

Chapter Four

Margot

Publicspeakingclassisn’tuntil two today so I spend most of the morning fretting through my other classes. By the time lunch rolls around, I can barely stomach the thought of eating anything and I head instead to the only other place I love on this campus besides the library: the newsroom.

Tomlin University has an incredible journalism program, which is why I chose to come here in the first place. Students on the paper move on to incredible careers in writing including working for major publishing companies and newspapers around the globe. My main goal is and has always beenTheNew York Times. I’ve been dreaming about being aNew York Timesreporter ever since my dad gave me his newspaper to use as scrap for a painting project. I was drawn to the look, the feel, the importance immediately.

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