Page 1 of Brandishing Beginnings

Maya

IsmiledasItookin the party raging around me. Drunken co-eds grinding on the dancefloor, Frat-bros cheered from the kitchen, and next to me, my roommate Terri was flirting with her latest catch: a nerdy chem-major with cute glasses.

It was a standard Friday Night at Northern Illinois University, and I—Maya Henderson—was content to relax, and drink away my stressful week of classes. The first week back was always hard, but it was my junior year and I was quick to settle into my dorm room with Terri. After two years rooming together, we had settled into a routine, so my first week back wasn’t as overwhelming as the previous years.

Still, I was glad for the chance to kick back, and the first party of the year always held a magic to it, a promise of things to come.I glanced around the frat house and smirked when I saw what looked like two freshmen standing awkwardly by the door. Freshmen were always easy to spot, as they had that deer-in-headlight look about them as they took in their first frat party. It usually took a couple months to wear off.

Feeling generous, I walked over to the door and pushed Darren—one of the frat boys—out of the way and greeted the two girls with a smile. “Hey, come on in!” I smirked. “I’m Maya.”

“Kara.” She had platinum curly blond hair and the brightest blue eyes that I had ever seen. They were keen as she looked around, eyes bouncing from place to place, taking everything in.

“Stephanie.” Her auburn hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail that accented her high cheekbones. Her bangs were cut on an angle and swept away from her face. Her green eyes were hesitant and guarded as she swept her gaze over me.

“Freshmen?” I asked.

“That obvious?” Kara asked.

I laughed and nodded. “Come on, let’s get you ladies a drink before the idiots drink it all.” I glanced to the corner where Terri had been with the chem student moments before, only to find her pressing him against the wall and already making out with the poor boy.

“This place is unreal,” Stephanie murmured, voice barely heard over the pounding music.

I laughed and weaved my way through the crowd. “You get used to it!” I called over the music. “Alpha Beta Chi is one of the more laid-back frat houses on campus. They throw regular parties, not like the raggers that Delta Omega throws. Those guys are a whole different level of crazy! Careful if you ever end up there. You might find yourself in some trouble you don’t want to deal with,” I warned.

Stephanie gulped while Kara just raised an eyebrow, not looking impressed.

I smirked as we reached the kitchen. “Alright, pick your poison. What’ll you have?” When both ladies reached for cans of beer, I nodded. “Smart choice at any party. Remember, never set down your drink, and try and keep it covered.” I demonstrated by opening my own can of beer, and after I took a quick sip, I covered the opening with my thumb.

Stephanie tried to mimic the move, but struggled, while Kara had already slid her thumb over the top of her beer can.

“Where you guys from?” I asked, feeling a little impressed already by Kara’s quick thinking.

“Creekton,” Kara replied.

“Galesville,” Stephanie said.

“That explains it all.” I laughed. “I’m also from Creekton. What school did you go to?”

Kara blushed slightly. “Mourningside Prep.”

“Ahh.” I nodded. “One of those.”

Kara shrugged and took a sip of her beer. “My brother wanted me to have a better life, single mom, you know? So my brother paid for me to go there.”

Guilt slid over me as I nodded slowly. “That’s admirable.”

Kara shrugged and glanced at Stephanie, whose deer in the headlight’s expression was slowly melting.

Hours later, the three of us were sufficiently shit-faced. Kara laughed as she climbed onto the mechanical bull in the basement of Alpha Beta Chi. Stephanie and I cheered her on as she settled into position. She had barely locked her knees and grabbed the bullhorn, before the frat-bro manning the controls sent her into a spin.

Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, Kara wasn’t at risk of flashing anyone anything risky, so I cheered on my new friend and called for the bull to go faster. “Fuck you, bitch!” Kara called, broad smile on her face.

I laughed and even Stephanie cheered. This was shaping up to be a night to remember, with new friends that would hopefully stand the test of time.

“Oh shit!” Stephanie swore when Kara was thrown from the bull.

Kara fell back onto the heavy mats surrounding the mechanical bull, laughing hysterically. Stephanie and I rushed over to her, both of us giggling as we fell onto the mat next to Kara. “That was amazing!” Kara yelled.

“So awesome,” Stephanie said.

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