The Freshman

Chapter 1

The fraternity house loomed ahead, its brick facade lit by the orange glow of porch lights. Music thumped from inside, bass vibrating through the ground as Cory adjusted the strap of his backpack, nerves coiling in his stomach. He wasn’t sure what to expect—parties, sure, but also brotherhood, connections. A real college experience.

The door swung open before he could knock, revealing a guy with a red solo cup and a smirk. “Fresh meat!” he called over his shoulder, then turned back to Cory. “You lost, kid?”

“Uh, no. I’m Cory. Pledging?”

The guy’s grin widened. “Oh, we’re gonna have fun with you. Come on in.”

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of beer and sweat. Brothers lounged on couches, some already drunk, others eyeing him with amusement. A hand clapped his shoulder, and Cory turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered guy with sun-bleached hair and a confident smirk.

“Josh,” he said. “Soccer team. You’re the scrawny kid they warned us about?”

Cory flushed. “I’m not that scrawny.”

Josh’s eyes flicked over him—lean but soft, no real muscle to speak of—and he laughed. “We’ll fix that. Or, well, maybe not.” He winked, and Cory wasn’t sure what that meant.

The night blurred into hazing rituals—shots, embarrassing dares, chants shouted until his throat was raw. Then came the pranks.

“Final challenge,” announced the fraternity president, grinning. “Eat this entire pizza. One sitting. No breaks.”

Cory stared at the large pepperoni pizza, stomach already churning from beer. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” Josh dropped onto the couch beside him, close enough that their thighs brushed. “Better get started.”

The first few slices were easy. Then the cheese turned heavy, the crust like lead. By the last slice, Cory’s stomach strained against his shirt, stuffed and tight. He groaned, rubbing it. “I’m gonna explode.”

Josh’s gaze lingered—on his belly, his lips, the way his breath hitched when he shifted. He laughed at first, but something in his composure changed, and he sat up straighter, then looked away, clearing his throat. “Not bad, rookie.”