all graduate.”
“Sounds like the club anyone would want to get into.”
“That’s right. After all, every Student Body President ever elected has been a member. Most alumni who make it to Washington have been members. Quite a few CEOs, inventors, professors, too.”
“Then I should be happy for David.”
“He’s the congressman’s son, right?” I nodded. “There is nothing that the honorary can do for him that he doesn’t already have access to.”
“Are they using him?”
Grant shrugged. “Like with the fraternities and sororities, some people feel like their future careers depend on their social skills, their network of contacts, their six degrees of Kevin Bacon way of getting that first, second, and third job. That desire to collect business cards and favors is where this honorary derives its biggest power.”
“What’s the catch?”
“Aside from the fact that some of us think the honorary is widely unrepresentative of the student body, and would prefer that it not have influence on campus and local elections?”
“Of course.”
“They hate dissension in the ranks. Once a decision is made, they expect everyone to fall in line. They have a System of appointments that keep most people in line. In fact, the closest this campus ever came to defying the honorary was when the engineering fair was defunded back in the eighties. Still, that System is not perfect. The Integrity Party, the whole demographic of so-called ‘independents,’ we are all visual reminders of that imperfection and it only enrages them further.”
Grant looks up as another student strolls into the shop. “Mike, my time on this campus is almost over. So listen to me closely.”
I lean in as his voice drops to a whisper.
“Over the years, as much as you might suspect otherwise, you won’t find an evil mastermind at work or a cabal of enforcers for some vindictive student mafia. Instead you’ll discover something even more insidious. You see, people change while in the honorary. Oh, they’ll find the power and jobs they so desperately want if they’re talented enough, but many a tapped member loses themselves along the way.”
I hoped that was just a lump forming in my throat and not an encore from lunch.
GRANT HAD REASONS for disliking the honorary and Student Government types in general. The previous year, he was wrongly accused of advocating for a dry campus during a push to curb drunk driving.
I needed air.
I descended the stairs that lead away from the food court. Halfway down, I crashed into a fast-moving brunette. We both lunged for the rails and saved ourselves from an embarrassing tumble down the steps. As we both stood up and began apologizing, I realized I was talking to Chloe.
“I almost didn’t recognize you,” I said truthfully. In addition to her trimmed and darkened hair, she was wearing an elegant evening gown, and had taken to wearing more makeup in public.
“Yeah? Well, thanks. I’m running late.”
What an ice queen! Still, I followed her up the rest of the stairs, feeling it was the chivalrous thing to do. “Have a good time,” I told her but got no reply.
I looked around, deciding caution was best when making the second attempt down the stairs. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the door to the men’s room open. I nearly hit the deck in response.
David was wearing one of his best suits, with the silk tie his father gave him last Christmas. Short of a tux, he was dressed to the nines. He hadn’t told me that he was going to a party.
I peered around the banister just as he passed by me. My curiosity got the best of me. I decided to follow him again. I was able to get just a few inches closer when Chloe appeared around a corner. Of course, she was dressed up as well, so they were going to the same event. They disappeared around that same corner.
I looked down at my clothes. An open button-down and khakis – the outfit was pretty typical for me during Florida’s cooler season. I shrugged, not caring that I might not fit in.
As I turned their corner, a massive wall of a man blocked my path. I looked up. The tall fellow looked familiar. After a second, I realized I was standing inches away from our school’s quarterback, Tex Rainier.
“Private meeting,” he barked.
I tried to look around him, and saw balloons and streamers in a room at the end of the hall. I made a half-step toward my right and he grunted.
“Fine!” I threw up my hands in defeat.
But as I left, I knew there was another way to get the truth out of my longtime friend. I needed to call Tyler and Lauren. David needed an intervention.
THE TWISTING OF metal signaled the turning of a key. A moment later, the door opened and David stepped into our apartment.
He stepped through the foyer and found us seated at the round dinner table. I was shuffling cards, trying my best to not look like I was listening to his arrival. Lauren, whose wavy brunette hair and cheerleader good looks had always belied an extreme smart and tough personality, was sitting on my right. Tyler, the lanky guy with many contradictions, was sitting on my left. He turned to see David.
“Hi,” Tyler said.
David set his messenger bag down. “Hi?”
Lauren tapped the table in front of an empty seat across from me. The spot already had a small pile of chips waiting for him. “Join us.”
“What’s going on?”
Lauren smiled as he sat down. “3-2 five card stud,” she told him. Lauren had been David’s high school sweetheart, and despite some ups and downs, including her studying pre-med, the two of them were still together.
I finished shuffling, sent the burn card flying, and began dealing. I kept my eyes on David as the cards drifted expertly out of my hands and into neat piles. “The other day, I was in Murphee Hall, where they needed an extra hand at their own Casino Night. An active over at Delta Theta Pi whom I met during last year’s Rush was there. He said his House was hosting a poker tournament for the whole Greek system, and asked if I could help out.”
“They couldn’t get a pledge?”
Was that an insult? I tried to not look annoyed, instead I smiled. “Most of them are already dealers and waiters. Others will be designated drivers to help the sober brother and sisters at the other Houses.”
Tyler set a chip down in the middle of the table. “Ante up,” he reminded us.
We all anted. Everyone else peeked at the first two face-down cards, but I didn’t.
Tyler added an extra chip to the pile. We all called. I dealt out the third face-down cards.
“Anyway, I needed the practice and Tyler was willing to oblige.”
After looking at his cards, Tyler raised again. David called.
Lauren pulled her hair back over her ear as she considered her options. She called, and then added, “I came over looking for you and they invited me to stay.” Her pile of chips was the biggest.
“Yeah, she’s kicking our asses,” Tyler said.
She huffed.
Without seeing any of my face down cards, I kept looking straight at David. On an even keel, I announced, “Dealer sees your bet and raises you five.”
I then dealt out everyone’s first face up card.
Tyler raised an eyebrow at his three of diamonds. “Too rich for my blood.”
David looked around the table, and finally relaxed. “I raise you five.” He had the two of hearts showing.
Lauren sighed at her face card, the queen of spades. She folded.
“Do you really think your two of hearts if going to win?” I asked David, keeping my eyes on him for any sign of wavering.
“High risk, high reward.”
I glanced down at my jack of clubs. “Dealer calls.”
David noticed I hadn’t yet peeked at my face down cards. Nervous, he shifted in his seat as he asked, “What is this really about?”
“You tell me,” I replied.
He looked down at his second face up card, the four of hearts. “This isn’t about the FBI thing, is it?”
Tilting my head, I squinted at him. “That’s part of it.”
“I raise you five.”
I twisted in my chair and grabbed something off the side table behind me.
Without looking at my final face card, I dropped my surprise onto the middle of the table. The thud when my hand hit the table was louder than I intended. “I call.”
“Where did you get this?” he asked.
I tossed my five chips on top of the pile.
David pulled the envelope out of the pile. His sun-kissed face turned ghost white as he examined the broken embossed seal on the back.
He muttered three letters under his breath.
“Show your cards,” Tyler said. Lauren shot him a look. David and I just ignored him.
Instead, I asked, “Where were you tonight?”
David was still wearing his suit and tie I had seen him wearing at the Student Union. He pulled at his tie. “I had an event,” he said evasively.
“One where I couldn’t go?” Lauren asked.
He nodded.
“Is it true, then? You’re part of…“ I began.
“Yeah,” David said quietly.
“A leadership honorary?”
“Yes,” he said in a normal voice.
“THAT honorary?”
“Yes!” He tossed the envelope back on the table. “Tonight was the final induction celebration for it.”
“And I’m guessing Bo White will be running another story about it tomorrow in the Gator Times,” I said.
“He’s probably being given a list of our names right now, as a matter of fact.”
Lauren shook her head. “Why?”
“Why not?”
“You don’t need them!”
David rose out of his chair and began pacing. He gets like this sometimes, letting his anger get the best of him,