Pure Vengeance

Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Adrian

I come downstairs and sit on the sofa as everyone talks amongst themselves. I look around, and I want to scream that I’m fucking gay and just see what everyone does. It makes me so fucking angry that I have to hide this part of me. The biggest part of who I am. I have to act like it doesn’t exist. I must pretend to like girls like everyone else. What if I can’t get an erection with a girl? What then? Pills? Taking Viagra for the rest of my life so that I can fuck a woman I don’t care about?

“Ace,” Declan says, waving a hand in front of my face.

I startle. “Sorry, I was in my own thoughts.”

“It’s fine,” he says. “We said that there must be some weakness of your brother’s that you know about.”

“To be honest, we don’t talk that much, we haven’t ever really been close. Noah hated the fact his father married my mother, and that I became his stepbrother. He’s been a dick to me since the day we met.”

“But you’re older and stronger, surely you just beat the crap out of him,” Kyle says.

“He’s... different,” I say. “There’s a danger about him I don’t like to mess with.”

“Are you saying you’re afraid of your brother?” Declan laughs. “Come on, Adrian, how can that be? You’re a football star, he’s an artist. There’s no contest. You’re also taller and stronger.”

I think about how Noah overpowered me for the kiss. And then the sex. “He’s stronger than he looks, and he’s crafty.”

Declan snorts. “As if. I bet I could side tackle that fucker to the floor and beat his ass.”

I feel a rage overtake me. “No!”

Everyone looks at me surprised.

“Are you defending him after what he did?” Declan asks, narrowing his eyes.

I clench my fists. “I just don’t think we should resort to physical violence. You’ll get written up,” I say through a clenched jaw.

Declan tilts his head to the side. “You are defending him. Would you prefer to be pledged to the Delta’s, Carter?” He’s dropped my nickname, which means I’m in shit. It almost instantly calms me down.

“Maybe you’ve forgotten who you’re pledged to?” Kyle suggests. “Do you need to be reminded?”

I look around at everyone, waiting for someone to defend me, but no one does.

“Strip,” Declan says at last.

“What?” I say, balking.

“Strip completely,” he says.

A bunch of hands grab me and strip me down. Then they drag me to the door. “Run to the quad and back, then you can come back inside and get your clothes back on.”

“You’re kidding,” I say, my eyes wide.

“No, I’m not,” he says. “Do it, or you’re out for good.”

I take a deep breath and nod. “Fine.” They push me out the house and I take off, covering my dick and balls with my hands. Some people catcall as I run past, while others gasp and shout profanities at me. I don’t even know if I pass any staff members. I run to the quad where there is a large group of people hanging out, then I turn around and run back to the house. It takes forever.

I get back to the house and bang on the door. “Okay, I did it, let me in.”

“I don’t think so,” Declan calls. “Maybe we should see how long you can stay outside for before you get arrested. Like your brother wanted.”

I bang on the door again. “Come on, guys, this isn’t funny. I also want revenge; I wasn’t defending him. I won’t defend him.”

The door swings open, and I fall inside. My clothes are tossed to me, and I get dressed, embarrassed and angry. “That wasn’t fucking funny.”

“It was for us.” Declan chuckles. “Cool it, Ace, you’re back, and you’ve got your head in the game. Now, what can we do to get your brother back?”

I straighten up and glare at everyone. “I don’t know his weaknesses, but I can follow him around for a few days and find one.” I’m trying to buy time, but I hope they believe I want to do it. I keep my face as straight as possible.

Declan nods. “Acceptable. You’re to report back ASAP about what you find out. We can’t let him get away with getting us kicked out of our own house for a drug bust.”

I nod. “Of course.”

“Right, you’re all dismissed for now. Ace will report back to us anything he finds out.”

“I’ve got football practice, I need to get going,” I say, running upstairs to grab my gym bag. I head out, ignoring everyone who says bye to me. I can’t believe they fucking did that to me. That was humiliating.

As I walk down the road, I avoid looking at anyone in case it’s someone I passed earlier. I make it to the locker room where the other football players are busy getting ready.

I get my gear on and get onto the field, running laps to warm up.

Football training takes my mind off of all my worries. Of the frat brothers and of Noah. I just focus on hitting hard and scoring every time. I think it’s the hardest I’ve ever played. Coach calls out praise for me time and time again.

When practice is over, he motions for me to come over, and when I do, he grabs my helmet and pulls me close. “I want to see this spirit at our first game, Carter. You got it?”

“Yes, sir!” I shout.

“Good boy, go get showered and get home.”

I shower with the other guys, and I have to keep my eyes hyper-fixated on the wall so that I don’t look at the other men I’m showering with and get called out for being a pervert. Or gay.

Is it really such a terrible thing to be gay?

I hate Noah. I was completely normal before that kiss, and I still had a shot at being normal before we had sex. He has fucked my entire life up and completely confused how I feel.

I’m going to expose his little deal with those girls if it’s the last thing I do. Following him around will give me a chance to take pictures and evidence that I can post on social media and smear his name. I might even sell it to the campus newspaper and get a few bucks out of it. Everyone will see it, and his reputation will be down the toilet.

Satisfied, I head back to the house. A few of the guys are having beers in the living room, and Kyle looks up and motions for me to join them, but I shake my head. “I’m beat from practice, and tomorrow I’m going to follow Noah. I need the rest.”

“Suit yourself,” Kyle calls. “University is supposed to be fun, though. Don’t take it so seriously.”

I snort. University is exactly when you’re supposed to take life seriously. This is your future you’re working toward, that’s what my stepfather always said. These are the moments in your life that counts the most. The friendships you make, the connections, the networking, and the studies you do. I know my stepfather wants me to go pro, but I honestly wouldn’t mind a life as an advocate.

Are there any gay advocates? I’ve always known it was a boys’ club, but how much of a boys’ club is it? I should search the internet and see if there’s any popular gay advocates and see what my chances are. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as Noah made it out to be. Maybe I can come out after all.