Meet Him at the Altar
Chapter 4: Freshman Year
EARLY AUGUST
“So your entire group is full of hot guys, and mine has two engineering dorks, an international student who spends all his time on his phone, and a guy I’m not sure finished puberty,” Allison sighed loudly.
“Well yeah, they’re cute, but two of them are jerks,” I scoffed, recalling Cory and Jon’s antics with the bitch brigade the last few days.
Granted, they hadn’t done anything to me, but they were still obnoxious.
“Did you guys decide what you’re doing for the lip-sync skit?” she asked with a mischievous glint in her eye.
“I’m not going to spoil it and tell you. You are the competition,” I refused.
She laughed as she threw a kernel of popcorn at the side of my head. We’d finished day four and been given the evening off to relax.
The week had been full of group activities, campus tours, and lectures on services the university provided to students, and I was happy for the reprieve.
Little blonde bimbo had turned out to be Kim, and she was not a fan of me. I wasn’t sure why, because we’d never actually talked to each other directly. But I could say the feeling was mutual.
She’d been insistent on trying to get the attention of every male in our group and maintain dominance over every female.
I’d gone to high school with girls like her, and I wasn’t buying into her popularity game.
Trevor had been the only one immune to her charms, so we’d spent most of our time together, joking about how lame some of the activities were.
“At least they’re giving us the weekend free before classes start. I don’t think I could take any more group activities,” I sighed, ready to relax. “We just have to make it through tomorrow.”
“Easy for you to say. Your team might have a chance of winning something tomorrow.”
“You’ve got some smart people. You guys might do all right on the academic trivia,” I offered hopefully.
“Oh, joy. The contest that shows how dorky my team is. Sounds great.” She made a disgusted face and fell backward dramatically.
“You’ll be fine. No one will remember any of this week after classes start anyway. We’ll be too busy,” I reminded Ali.
The last day of orientation had several competitions of different sorts. There was a team relay race, an academic competition, an engineering challenge, and a team lip-sync battle.
My team seemed pretty evenly matched in every subject, so seeing how we did against the other groups from our dorm would be fun.
I was looking forward to it, but obviously my roommate was not. As the week went on, she’d spent mealtimes with my group and had gotten to know almost everyone pretty well.
“You sure you guys can’t adopt me for tomorrow?” she begged.
“Sorry. I don’t think your leader would go for it. If you’re the only normal one, she might need the company.”
“Maybe I’ll just tie you up in the closet and take your place tomorrow.” She wiggled her eyebrows and nodded over at our small shared closet space.
“That sounds like the perfect plan. No one will ever notice the difference,” I agreed sarcastically.
***
“All right, guys,” Cale addressed the group as we waited at the start of the team relay activities.
“This challenge has to involve the whole team. I’m glad you all paid attention when I told you to wear athletic gear.”
“What do you think they’re going to make us do?” Trevor’s whisper over my shoulder and accompanying hand against my lower back distracted me from the question.
“What?” I asked as I glanced in his direction.
“Do you know what they’ve got planned for this?”
My eyes scanned his chest and neck, up into his vibrant brown eyes. It made me realize that this whole week I’d never seen him look this casual.
He was always wearing some sort of collared shirt, but I had to admit that the compression tank he was wearing did him all kinds of favors.
“I think it’s an obstacle course. But don’t take my word for it. That’s just the rumor on the street,” I whispered back.
“Excuse me, Cale,” Kim’s nasally voice interrupted. “You might need to repeat what you just said. I don’t think everyone was paying attention.”
“I said that this is another team-building activity. To see how well you all can cooperate as a team.”
Well, that sounded like fun.
“We need to designate a team captain. They have to complete all the activities first and then coach their teammates through it, making sure we all stay together as a unit,” he explained.
“Well, I’m thinking since I have experience with leading a cheer team that I’m a natural choice,” Kim interjected before anyone else could speak.
Of course she did.
“Somehow being a tiny, peppy dictator qualifies you for leadership now?” Trevor asked in a worried voice.
The snort that followed his low whisper couldn’t be helped. Kim turned those icy blue eyes in my direction, and I froze.
“You think you could do better? What leadership experience do you have?” she questioned with one perfectly manicured hand propped on her hip.
“Uh…” My experience with being president of the art club and VP of the National Honor Society wasn’t going to help with this one.
I looked across the group for help from Cale, but it seemed like he was enjoying this interaction. My eyes narrowed at him, and he shrugged. Coward.
“Well, I’m waiting,” she tapped her foot impatiently. God, she was annoying. “Who do you think should be in charge?”
Cale interjected, “It’s not about being in charge, Kim. It’s about having someone physically capable of doing the challenges and then helping the rest of the team through it.
“This challenge is about teamwork, not hierarchy.”
My eyes scanned the group and stopped on Cory. He was athletic, well-spoken, and despite being kind of a jerk, he seemed to possess a certain charm that made people want to follow him.
“I think Cory would make a good team captain.” I nodded.
His eyes flashed to mine, the curiosity in them apparent. “I’m cool with that.”
“What?” Kim asked, clearly not in agreement. “But, babe, we both know that I have more…”
“I agree,” Jon interrupted her from Cory’s other side.
“What the hell. Me too,” Trevor agreed from behind me.
“All right.” Cale clapped, seeming satisfied with my nomination. “Sounds like a third of the group thinks you should be in charge, Mr. Chandler. Any objections?”
A low murmur filled the group, but no one disagreed.
“Nope. I think his height might work in our favor.” I smiled at Cory across the group, and I felt Trevor take a step closer to me from behind.
A huff from the tiny plastic spitfire at his side drew my eyes down.
“But…,” Kim whined and crossed her arms over her chest.
“No offense, Kim…” I shrugged when she narrowed her eyes at me. Her loud scoff was almost comical as she glared at me.
“…But we don’t know what all the challenges are. We need every advantage we can get.”
“Sounds like we’re at a consensus. Let’s get into position,” Cale directed.
Our group of ten moved over toward the first challenge, which appeared to be some kind of target practice.
The head of the dorm resident advisers introduced himself and talked about how it took teamwork and social interaction to succeed as adults.
“Are you sure you guys don’t want me to lead? I mean, I’m sure Cory is more than capable, but I’m tougher than I look.”
Kim was still trying to sell herself hard. Most of the rest of the group was already assembled around Cory. She didn’t like the attention being drawn away from her.
“Kim, let it go,” Cale sighed. “It’s for one day. I’m sure you can find some minions to take over the university tomorrow. I hear rush will be starting soon.”
“Fine, whatever. It’s your loss,” she told everyone with her nose in the air. Even Cory was ignoring her little final attempt at gaining control.
The head RA came over the speakers again and counted down while all the team captains lined up. I saw Allison lined up at her own team’s starting line a few teams over.
Cory stretched his arms across his chest and shook them out. Trevor and I stood side by side toward the group’s back and watched as the bullhorn sounded.
Cory shot off like a rocket toward the other side of the field.
Some upperclassmen handed him a bucket and a blindfold. He lined himself up in front of a tarp with a circular target and placed the bucket in the grass.
We all watched as he pulled the blindfold down and began to toss beanbags toward the center of the target meticulously.
Somehow he managed to get all but one of his four into the center target. He ripped off the blindfold and sprinted toward the group, in the lead, with only a few team captains hot on his heels.
“All right. This game is just like beanbag toss. I get to talk to each of you through four tosses. Who’s up first?” Cory asked.
Kim bounded into action and took off across the field, grabbing a bean bag from the bucket and pulling the blindfold down over her eyes.
Her first shot went over the center target and into the outer ring. Cory caught up with her and talked her through the next three shots. She hit two in the center and two inside the farthest circle.
One by one, he talked our teammates through it until I was the only one left. “Let’s go, Special K.”
He had built up a light sweat from running back and forth, but his enthusiasm was infectious.
“Let’s do this,” I nodded.
“That’s the spirit. Let’s finish strong. Think you can manage four in the center?” He was jogging backward as we headed toward the other side of the field.
“I can try. It’s pretty much like cornhole, right?”
“You play cornhole?” he asked with an amused smile.
“Normal people can play cornhole too, not just beer-toting frat bros.” I rolled my eyes.
“I’m not in a frat,” he laughed.
“Yet,” I clarified with an eyebrow raised.
“You think you’ve got me all figured out, don’t you?” The smirk on his face was kind of adorable, but he was still a jerk…mostly.
“Am I wrong?” I asked. He had fraternity bro written all over him.
“Put on the blindfold, Krista.” He passed me the piece of black fabric, and I settled it onto my forehead, looking back at him.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
That damn dimple appeared as he smirked at me again. I pulled the fabric over my eyes and felt him guide a bean bag into my outstretched hand.
“Usually women like to see what I’m doing,” he whispered in my ear as he squared my shoulders to the tarp.
My breath caught, and my pulse picked up as I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“Just like cornhole, visualize the target and smooth release,” he coached as he released me. I nodded and followed his instructions, hearing a dull thud as the bag hit the tarp.
“Nice. Just like that.” He placed another bag into my hand, and I repeated the motion again and again. “All right. Last one.”
“Thanks,” I told him quietly.
As my last toss hit and I pulled up the blindfold, I heard our team cheer from behind me. Somehow I’d managed to toss all four beanbags dead center.
We took off running toward the rest of our team while our points were counted. We were the second team done.
“Nicely done, Krista. I think only a few people nailed all four,” Cale praised as he held his hand up for a high five.
“My dad loves to play. It’s kind of second nature for me,” I shrugged.
“Well, you’ll be popular at tailgate parties,” Jon laughed as he elbowed Cory.
Kim was still pouting with her arms drawn across her chest. Her two little minions were flanking her as she glared at the guys.
The head RA came over the loudspeaker again and announced that our team was tied for second out of twelve teams. Our team managed to keep our points high over the next few group exercises.
“All right, next is the three-legged relay race,” Cale announced. “We’ll have five pairs that need to make it down and back to the pole on the other side of the field.”
“Ooh! I’m good at these,” Kim clapped. “You gonna be my partner, Cory?”
“I’m pretty sure her perfume must be called Desperation,” Trevor whispered in my ear. I tried not to laugh, but he was right; she was desperate for his attention.
Trevor stepped forward, and I could feel his chest press up against my back as his hand settled on the outside of my hip.
“Or maybe it’s called He’s Just Not That Into You,” I responded quietly, hoping no one overheard us.
“You’ll probably want to pair up with someone who is a similar height to you. Trust me. It’ll make things easier,” Cale suggested.
We all scanned the group, literally sizing up our teammates. Cory and Trevor were by far the two tallest. Most of the other girls were short, and Kim was stuck with one of her giggly friends.
Jon was the shortest male, only an inch or two taller than I was. Judging by the grin on his face when the other four guys paired up with each other, he wasn’t upset he got stuck with me.
“Looks like you’re with me, Krista,” he smiled as he appeared at my side.
“Hope you can keep up,” I teased.
He laughed as he grabbed a set of ties from the pile near Cale’s feet and stepped up next to me. “You want to tie us up, or should I?”
“Normally I make the guy buy me dinner before I let him tie me up.” I smirked.
He placed the ties into my outstretched hand before he stepped up beside me and lined his leg up with mine.
“My treat in the dining hall tonight if we win this thing,” he offered.
“Pretty sure we all have meal plans.”
He smiled at my snarky remark, but it didn’t seem to faze him.
“I might spring for the upcharge and get you a Rice Krispie treat.”
“Big spender. How do the girls resist you?” I said in a mocking voice.
“Just tie us together, smart aleck.” He winked.
Luckily my long legs paid off for once. Our knees were almost exactly at the same height as each other. That would make this so much easier.
I quickly tied us together at the thigh, knee, and midcalf. Kim was whining that the ties were cutting into her skin while the rest of us lined up.
“All right, Trev and I are gonna take the lead, then the two sets of girls. Next up are Adam and Ken. Krista and Jon can anchor,” Cory instructed as he and Trevor lined up at the starting point.
“Sounds good, man.” Jon reached over for a fist bump, and I shifted as his body leaned.
“Why are we the anchor?” I asked after he straightened back up.
“All-state for track and field,” he announced proudly, puffing his chest up a bit.
“So you’re not a soccer player?” I asked, recalling the first day of orientation.
“That too. But four hundred meters was where all my ribbons came from,” he responded. It sounded like Jon was quite a high school athlete.
“Impressive.” I nodded.
He smiled as we stood at the back of the group.
The RA started us again, blowing a whistle to start the race. Cory and Trevor stumbled a little but locked arms and powered their way to the other end of the field.
Their long legs gave them a definite advantage over the other groups. Kim and her partner yelled at each other the whole time but made it back without face-planting.
By the time Jon and I were up, only one other group had sent their last pair across the field.
“All right. Hold on tight, and let’s do this,” he coached.
It was a weird sensation to feel his leg flex against mine as we hobbled our way along at a steady speed. The hair on his leg tickled mine, but we managed to stay in the lead around the pole.
“Shit. They’re speeding up.” I could see the other pair a few teams over trying to take the lead.
“Just keep going,” he insisted. “Pick up the speed a little, and don’t let them pull your focus.”
Nodding, I tightened the link my arm had on his and looked toward where the rest of our teammates were cheering us on.
“We got this. Just a little faster,” he urged.
My legs were burning by the time we made it back to smack Cale’s hand. I didn’t look toward the other team, but I think we managed to win, from the cheers surrounding us.
“Good job, partner.” Jon smirked as he leaned down to release the ties on our legs.
“You weren’t half-bad either.”
“Next time I have to get tied to someone, I’m finding you,” he laughed.
“Because that happens all the time,” I laughed back. Jon shrugged and smiled, holding his hand up for a high five.
“Nice job, guys. The bonus points for first should throw us into the lead. Only one activity left,” Cory cheered in front of the group.
The last activity was a scavenger hunt in the engineering quad.
Kim was surprisingly helpful with her knowledge of the university history, and we were able to breeze through it, finishing second behind Allison’s team.
The RA head got up in front of the group after we’d finished and started reading off the team totals. By the time he got to the top three, our number still hadn’t been called.
“Looks like you guys might have pulled this one off,” Cale speculated as he looked back at us with a smile.
“Number three… number three… number three…” Cory started a low chant as the RA called the second-place team.
When he announced we’d won, it was a full shout from the members of our group as we jumped up and down.
They released the groups back to the dorm after we’d been given our faux gold medals with the university logo on them.
“Who’s coming to the fountain with us?” Cory called out as our group stood off to the side of the bigger group.
“Just keep it clean, Cory,” Cale told him. “You can still get arrested for nudity.”
“Oh, come on. My brother runs through the fountain naked once, and I’m being lectured because he’s an idiot.” Cory rolled his eyes. It sounded like he came from an unusual gene pool.
“I’m just saying, campus police will take you in if you do something dumb.” Cale shrugged.
Trevor stepped in beside me, bumping his shoulder against mine. “What do you think they’re talking about?”
“God, you two are clueless.” Kim rolled her eyes at the two of us. “It’s like a university tradition to stand over the jets in the engineering fountain on the last day of orientation.”
“And Cory’s brother did it naked?”
“Yes, he’s a legend.” She smiled. “Ten push-ups totally naked over a jet before campus security hauled him off. I heard it was quite a sight.”
“Wouldn’t that be kind of painful?” Trevor shifted and pulled at the hem of his shorts.
“The jets hit his chest, not his junk. He’s not a total moron. My older sister was a freshman when he was,” she told us.
“Who’s in?” Cory asked again. Kim, of course, clung to his side as half of our group headed back to the dorms with Cale.
“Are you coming, Special K?” Cory asked as he looked over at me.
Trevor looked down at me and smiled. “I’ll do it if you do.”
“Fine. Yes. Whatever,” I agreed. “Let’s do it.”
Kim and her friends ran through first, screaming at the top of their lungs as they got blasted with the chilly water.
Jon showed off by holding a plank over a jet for the whole time it was on. Trevor got down and did ten push-ups over the central jet, his hair a slicked-back mess.
“Is it freezing?” I asked as he stepped in front of me, water dripping from his hair and clothes.
“Let’s go find out,” he laughed as he reached down and grabbed behind my knees, hoisting me over his shoulder.
“Don’t you dare drop me,” I laughed as he walked into the center of the fountain just as the jets turned on.
“Put me down. Put me down,” I shrieked as the spray shot me in the face.
“Sorry,” he apologized, laughing as I slid down his chest.
His hands lingered on my waist as I looked up at him. As the spray calmed and the water dropped back down, he used a finger to push my wet hair out of my face.
“No, you’re not,” I teased him.
“You’re right. I’m not.” He stepped in closer and looked down at my lips as my heart raced. “I want to…”
“Ahhh!” I laughed as the water shot back up and soaked both of us. He shook his head and grabbed my hand, pulling me back to the small group sitting along one of the concrete benches.
“No push-ups, Krista? I’m kind of disappointed. I thought you were a badass,” Cory teased.
“None of the other girls did them.” I pointed over to the group attempting to ring out their hair.
“But you’re not like them, are you?” he said lowly as he shot a look at Kim and her friends.
“God, I hope not.” I shuddered.
The guys all laughed, and Cory pointed toward the center jet of the fountain. “Go on, now…”
“You’re so bossy.” I rolled my eyes and pretended to be annoyed with him bossing me around.
“Maybe you’re just all talk. Guess Special K isn’t so special after all.”
I looked back at Trevor. He shrugged his shoulders at me.
“Fine. Two push-ups,” I agreed.
“Do the real kind too. No girly push-ups,” Cory told me.
I narrowed my eyes at him and pulled off my soaked tank top, handing it to Trevor before I walked back toward the fountain in my sports bra.
Timing the jet as soon as it died down, I got into position and started doing push-ups, the guys counting from behind me.
The water shot up, my arms stalling on four as I tried to keep it from spraying in my eyes.
“Damn, girl,” Jon called out.
“Shit, that’s hot,” I heard Trevor say from my other side.
“Trying to prove a point, Krista?” Cory yelled.
They all stood a few feet away as I finished the tenth rep and the water pressure started to ease off. Trevor was standing next to me, holding out a hand to pull me up as I stood.
“All right, you proved me wrong,” Cory conceded. “No girly push-ups coming out of you, Greene.”
“Happy now? Anything else you’d like me to do to prove I’m worthy of your approval?” I asked in a snarky voice.
“Nope. You’ve more than got it,” Cory laughed as I rang out my tank and pulled it back over my head.
“Now I believe someone owes me a Rice Krispie treat. Let’s go, boys,” I yelled over my shoulder as I headed back toward the dorms.
Continue to the next chapter of Meet Him at the Altar