7. Devin

7

DEVIN

A fter the meeting, I find myself wandering around campus with a growing sense of frustration. I can't seem to stop the hurt that's risen after finding out Tessa's been playing all three of us.

It feels like she's been weaving this web, wrapping each of us up in her charm while keeping her intentions hidden. It was one thing when it was just the two of us playing a dangerous game but knowing that she's been flirting with Jace and Alec too? That stings more than I care to admit.

I've spent the last few days stewing over it, letting my irritation fester until it's practically bubbling over. But I'm not the kind of guy who just sits back and lets things happen. Alec wants us to come up with a plan to get back at her, so I've been brainstorming nonstop, trying to come up with a way to get her to feel just as humiliated as she's made me feel.

As I pace my room, ideas start to form. We're just going to have to turn the tables on her, make her so uncomfortable around the Sigmas that she won't ever want to go near any of us ever again. We can't just kick her out of the next party, but we can make it clear she's not welcome.

I grab my phone and start typing out a plan in my Notes app. With the charity carnival coming up, that's the perfect chance to put her on the spot, to make her look like the biggest fool since Boo Boo the Fool. We'll invite her to come, maybe even offer her a chance at a story for her podcast, just playing up how friendly and cooperative we can be.

Then, we'll use our social media to make her look bad. Maybe get people to post unflattering or silly pictures of her, or catch her in awkward moments. She'll be the laughingstock, and she'll never want to come back to another Sigma Theta event ever again. It's perfect.

Granted, it's not exactly the most honorable plan, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If Tessa thinks she can mess with us and get away with it, she's got another thing coming.

With a smirk, I hit copy and paste the plan into a text to Alec and Jace, outlining my idea. It takes only a few moments for me to get a thumbs-up emoji from both guys, and Alec gives me the go-ahead.

Sending off another text, I cordially invite Tessa to the carnival as my "guest," though I warn her that I'll be busy so I might not see much of her. Satisfaction rolls over me in waves when she replies with enthusiasm.

Can't wait to see you there , she texts.

Same , I text back, pocketing my phone as my smirk broadens. I really can't wait to see how she takes it when she finds out that the Sigmas are not to be messed with.

The next day our plan goes into effect. Tessa comes with a couple of other student reporters and as I warned, I don't see much of her, though not because I'm as busy as I warned, but because I'm choosing to avoid her. I feel the sting of betrayal at how casually she could toy with the three of us like that, and my loyalty is to my brothers first and foremost.

The carnival gets underway and Tessa wanders around getting interviews. I catch her in my periphery a few times, giving her a fake smile and wave. She lights up whenever she sees me and it sets off a funny feeling inside, but I'm determined to ignore it.

Unbeknownst to Tessa, we've got Matteo and Julian following her around making sure to take plenty of pics of her which are then uploaded to our frat's social media page. They were told that Tessa was causing trouble for the frat, so they catch her in the most unflattering positions and the worst angles.

There's a photo of her scratching her nose that looks like she's picking it, with the caption "Digging for gold at the carnival." Another photo captioned, "Check out the carnival freaks!" shows her lurking near a tent, which is poorly lit, so she looks menacing and crazy. There are photos of her stuffing her face with a corndog, with mustard on her face, with a chocolate shake mustache, and more.

It doesn't take long before people start laughing at Tessa's photos, and I notice her withdrawing as she realizes people are becoming less friendly.

Eventually, she makes her way over to the churro booth, which I'm currently manning for a shift. She pushes her way to the front and puts her hands on her hips.

"What the hell is all this?" she demands.

"What do you mean?" I ask, feigning innocence. "Do you want a churro?" The scent of fried dough fills the air as I watch Tessa's shoulders straighten and she slaps her phone down in front of me.

"I mean this!" Tessa says, the embarrassing photos on full display. "Why are you guys taking mean photos of me?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I've been working all day," I say, a shrug rolling off my shoulders. "I'm not following you around taking any photos."

"Well, if not you then someone from this fraternity," Tessa snaps. "I don't get it. I thought we connected." She drops her voice lower. "What about that kiss at the party?" Her eyes are shining now, and I feel the slightest twinge of guilt but I brush it aside, squaring my shoulders instead.

"I heard you connected with a few of our frat bros," I say, narrowing my eyes slightly as I give her a fake smile. "Maybe you were wrong about me. I guess I was wrong about you too."

"So you're getting back at me by posting mean photos?" Tessa asks, hands on her hips.

"I didn't post anything," I remind her. "Now order or leave. You're holding up the line."

Tessa barks out a harsh laugh. "This attempt to bully me is pathetic," she says, contempt in her tone. "Mean photos on social media, what is this, middle school?"

"If you don't like how you look on our page, maybe you ought to reconsider coming around the fraternity so much," I tell her. "We didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, sweetheart. Maybe you're just not cut out to be part of Sigma Theta life?"

Tessa rolls her eyes. "This is freaking ridiculous. I thought you guys were turning a new leaf, I thought you were changing things up. But I see you're still using the same old bullying and intimidation tactics, aren't you?"

"You take that back," Alec growls, appearing behind Tessa. He looms over her, a glare on his face. "I was coming to see what's the holdup in the line. I guess you're just hanging around trying to find the next story for your stupid podcast," he says, annoyance coloring his tone.

"I'm not the one engaging in pathetic attempts at bullying," Tessa says, green eyes glinting in the bright sun. "If there's a story here, I have to get to the bottom of it. Why are you guys suddenly so determined to push me away? Is it because I'm close to uncovering some uncomfortable truths?"

"Hardly likely," Jace drawls, walking up next to them. "There's no more skeletons in the Sigma closets but sure, tell yourself whatever you want to make yourself feel more important than you are. You broke one interesting story, whoop-de-do. Now you're just chasing us around, trying to stay relevant."

Tessa scoffs. "You think I don't see right through all this bullshit? You guys are so pathetic. If you think for a second that you've scared me off, you're dead wrong."

"Can I get a churro?" someone asks, tapping Tessa on the shoulder. I glance at the line that's formed and realize that we can't just have it out here in front of everyone.

"Steve, take over," I tell the freshman pledge that's been helping me.

I throw my apron down and step outside of the stall, pulling Tessa by the arm. Jace and Alec follow behind, the four of us heading to a quiet spot near the back of the psych building.

"You have no idea what you've even done, do you?" I ask, trying to hide the hurt in my voice. "You think you can just play around with the three of us, use us, pit us against each other, and walk away, don't you?"

"What?" Tessa asks, confusion coloring her features.

"The library?" Jace reminds her.

"The café?" Alec adds. "We know that wasn't just platonic chit-chat. You were flirting with us, getting us to let our guards down around you. How long before you were messing around with all three of us?"

Tessa's eyes flicker in recognition. "It's not like I'm dating any of you," she mumbles, though her cheeks are tinged pink. "But whatever. You're going to try to destroy your newfound reputation over some lame attempts at flirting?"

"It's just the tip of the iceberg," I counter. "You're manipulating us, using us to get close enough to find your next big story."

"Whatever," Tessa says. "I can't reason with you guys. You want to go, let's go. If you think I'm easily intimidated into backing off, you're dead wrong. You want to get to me, get under my skin, you're going to have to step up your game."

Her lip curls into a smirk and she tosses her hair as she stalks off, head held high.

The three of us turn to face each other, eyes narrow.

"It's game on," I say, clenching my hands into fists.