Ritual - Palm South University

I love Cassie. I love spending time with her. But have I really been so wrapped up in her this semester that I’ve been neglecting my brothers?

I know the answer solely from the interaction I just had with them in the house. If Jeremy hadn’t pulled my head out of my ass, I’m not sure I would have seen it even then.

The truth is I like being lost in Cassie. I like that she’s my entire world.

But if I’m going to be president, and if Alpha Sigma is as important to me as it always has been, I need to find the balance.

The more I think on it, the more I can’t wait to talk to Cassie about it all. She’s my best friend, and I know she’ll have exactly the right words to say.

When I see her red hair bounce out of the front doors from where I’m sitting on one of the benches fifty yards or so from the building, I smile, my heart already fluttering with relief just from seeing her.

But then my eyes land on the person walking out of the building with her.

The person I hate more than anyone in the world.

Grayson fucking Anderson is walking next to Cassie — so close their arms brush a little as the crowd moves around them.

My heart stops in my throat as I watch them come to a stop in the sea of students leaving the building. Cassie stands with her arms crossed over her books tucked into her chest, and Grayson is talking animatedly, his hands moving, sincerity on his face as he says whatever it is he’s saying.

Cassie listens, chewing her lip, and when he’s done, she says something in response. I have no idea what it is, but I know he smiles after she’s said it, and that alone sends a rip current of anger rushing through me.

I stand, snatching my backpack off the bench and throwing it on my shoulders, determined to march my ass over there and shove Grayson away from her. I want to remind him that he’s not welcome to talk to her — ever — but before I can move, he salutes her, and she offers him a small wave, and then he turns and walks in the opposite direction.

I pause, watching Cassie as she watches him leave, an unreadable expression in her eyes. After a moment, a big breath leaves her chest, and she turns, searching for something.

For me.

I know that’s what her eyes are scanning for, that she knows I’m out here somewhere, walking toward her or waiting for her to make her way toward me. I know she’s wondering where we’ll go for lunch before I walk her to her next class.

But for the first time, I don’t want her to find me.

Something indescribable sears through my spine like a hot wire, and I know if I talk to her right now, I’ll blow. I don’t have the details. I have no idea why Grayson was with her, or what they were talking about, but I know if she walks over to me and I ask her how class was and all she says is fine and then pretends like nothing happened and we go to lunch — I won’t be able to let it go.

So I don’t give her the chance.

With my backpack on my shoulder, I fall into the sea of students and make my way back toward Greek Row, pulling out my phone to send her a text.

Me: Got caught up with A Sig stuff. Text you later.

I shove my phone back in my pocket, ignoring the response buzz that comes through less than sixty seconds later, and keep my head down the rest of my walk.

Why the fuck was she with Grayson? He’s a Music major — there’s literally no reason for him to be in that building. And why was Cassie talking to him, listening to him? I don’t care if he was apologizing for what he did to her, or talking about the fucking weather. She hates him.

Doesn’t she?

Shouldn’t she?

It doesn’t make sense to me why she would give him even two minutes of her time.

And the worst part is that whatever she said brought a relieved smile to his face, and they’d waved goodbye to each other like they were friends.

Friends.

Just the thought of it sends another chill of rage through me, and I shake my head, letting out an audible, frustrated growl that earns me a few weary glances from the students walking around me.

I need to get back to the house, and I need to get my mind on literally anything else.

I’ll talk to Cassie about this later, when I’ve cooled down, when I can be rational.

As I storm through campus, I know I’m lying to myself.

Because rationality doesn’t exist in me.