CHAPTER TEN: KIDNAPPINGS (PART TWO)

"It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives, it is the one that is the most adaptable to change."

-Charles Darwin

GREEK VOCABULARY:

*Bid: An invitation of acceptance given to a potential member of a sorority of fraternity. The potential member has the option to refuse or accept the bid from the Greek chapter of their choice. Certain qualifications, based on the organization or university may prohibit some potential members from being able to receive bids.

*Hazing: Hazing is any act that, as a condition for group membership, humiliates, intimidates, abuses or endangers any person-regardless of their consent to participate. Greek councils and the universities that house the organizations have strict policies in place the regulate and punish reported behavior of this nature.

*Pledge: Potential members that have accepted their bids are put through an initiation process as a chapter "pledge." They spend a certain amount of time, specified by the Greek organization, proving themselves and meeting qualifications to become an Active member.

*Pledge class: A pledge class consists of all a Greek organization's potential fraternity/sorority members that have accepted their bids and all go through the same initiation and pledge process during the current pledging season. Members of this class are intended to work together and bond with each other while they all strive toward meeting Active member status. The intention of a pledge class, is to teach the potential organization members the culture of the fraternity/sorority while training them on what the aesthetics of brotherhood/sisterhood and working as a unit actually are. Pledge classes may vary in size, from as big as 30-50 to as intimate as 1-5. There can also be multiple pledge classes in a single year (one in fall, one in spring, one in summer, etc.) , depending on the length of the organization's pledging semester (usually 6-8 weeks).

Petya Ignashov paced the halls of his townhouse like a restless tiger; his natural insomnia causing him to pay no attention to the approaching midnight hours.

He was surprised there weren't holes in the polished hardwood floors beneath him, though it wasn't like he had roommates to anger if such damage occurred. He lived alone-renting this posh place that strategically bordered the DRU campus-instead of being cramped in a dorm room with strangers he didn't want to waste time with. He could afford to do whatever he wanted, so saving money on trivial things like living expenses, was something he didn't bother worrying about. As demanding as it was, it literally paid to be a son of the Ignashov dynasty.

While he stalked about, the gears in his mind turned furiously, like a Victorian era clockwork mechanism. Each piece moving in overdrive as he tried to decipher the latest puzzle in his life, the fraternity of Omicron Eta Nu.

The very nature of the organization was ridiculous. It was frivolous. It was capricious. It was contradicting. It was a damned waste of time-and yet, he had agreed to join. For one reason only, well, more like five.

Suoh.

Hitachiin.

Haninozuka.

Morinozuka.

Ootori. Especially Ootori.

These five names topped the list of Japan's current capitalistic powerhouses. Through association with his mother's family-the Yamamoto travel industry zaibatsu-he had learned to revere them with the same awe and caution one should ancient dragons of lore. At the very university he was attending, they were a large portion of the generous plaster that was preventing the school from crumbling into the depths of bankruptcy.

The majority of the students at this school had no idea who they were dealing with when they revered the members of that fraternity with even an ounce of xenophobic skepticism. But Petya did, and for what he was planning for the future of his family's companies, the acknowledgment of those five names were absolutely crucial.

"I can't believe I've degraded myself with even the thought of joining that stupid frat," Petya ranted aloud to himself, as he tended to in his more analytically obsessive moments. "Why did I even sign up! I have to be calm... I have to think of this like a new business venture. This pledging thing, it's research, observational research. I'll go in, figure out their systems, become a permanent member, secure a place of power and then mold this whole thing into the image of my benefit. It will all be worth it. Once I finally secure ties with those five…Ootori…Suoh-"

He paused and growled slightly, saying Suoh's name like a curse under his breath. To play the business game, you had to professionally romance people you would by no means want to associate with. Tamaki Suoh was now one of the those people for Petya. He originally had no intention of joining the fraternity. He'd been aware of the very moment the families of its members had made a presence on campus, and he was certain he could find some other way to curry acquaintanceship with the Japanese heirs. Had it not been for Suoh practically stalking Petya for the entire last half of the summer semester, that might have been the case today. But that tennis match…if only he hadn't given in to that stupid match against Suoh-

The boy groaned in frustration, raking his pale hands through the auburn waves that framed his jaw line. His fingertips paused just near the dark circles under his light golden eyes, trying to massage his temples and relieve himself of a headache at the vexing memory.

"I had that stupid blonde, both in a real and verbal tennis match," Petya said, ranting nonsensically as he recalled how he'd tried to combat Suoh on the meaning of his group approximately seven hours ago. "I had him at every round. I slaughtered him. They were all on my side, all of the imbeciles in that room had been made to see how frivolous this whole thing was. They were about to walk out with me. Even Ootori didn't have a word to say in his blunders. How in the world did he bounce back?"

Petya asked his question in the lull of the discussion. He had planned it this way. It was easier to stir up a storm in a calm than try and conquer a pre-existing one.

"I have a question about your founding belief," Petya said with a mockingly raised hand, as he had not been called upon.

Suoh Tamaki didn't take offense to his rudeness in the slightest, and with literal open arms, blissfully encouraged him to ask anything his heart desired. The other fraternity members seemed to review him with skepticism. Particularly Ootori Kyoya, who was giving a Petya a look of warning through the intimidating lenses of his glasses. Petya smiled deliberately at him, relishing the challenge.

"If the art of the elite can be so easily taught, what marks those who do practice as being so different from the rest of us?" he asked.

His tone had a sneer, and his lips twitched to a smirk as he saw the look of confusion from the masses around him in response to his intelligent phrasing.

"Pardon me, I seem to need to clarify that question," Petya said with ego before any of the active Omicron Eta Nu members even had a chance to respond. "What I mean to ask is, if someone like me came along, an established member of a pre-existing elite family-one who's spent years mastering the academic and societal expectations that come with that- what would your organization have left to offer me? If elitism is so easy to teach, hypothetically."

"Tamaki, I believe this question is best directed at you," Ootori said, still never breaking eye contact with the Ignashov boy. "You did, after all, found our beliefs."

Petya arched an eyebrow as the blonde didn't give the snakiness in Petya's question a second thought. He genuinely began to think of a response, as if the interview were as harmless as he'd intended it to be.

"Of course, as Kyoya said, who better?" Suoh said, grandly stroking his chin before being struck by brilliance. "We could provide you with a venue to demonstrate your qualified skills, if they're as adept as you say. For what is practice without demonstration? Surely they would be wasted or deemed incompetent if withheld from a worthy audience."

Suoh only meant to be helpful, Petya knew this. But he couldn't stop the searing feeling of fury welling up inside him at the fact that anyone in this world had applied the term 'incompetent' even remotely while addressing him. Incompetent? Incompetent! He'd show the fool president of this fraternity the true meaning of incompetence.

"I see," Petya said with a thin-lipped smile, not breaking composure. "With that said, isn't there the question of practice versus practicality? What's the point of doing something, if its venue and display is naturally impractical?"

When Suoh let out a good-natured laugh, Petya was seeing red.

"I'm sorry," Suoh said with a huge smile, as if he were talking to someone of lesser understanding. "But that seems contradicting to your original statement. Since when has elitism ever had anything to do with practicality? In fact, the whole premise of the elite is that ambitious people take what is practical- what average people will find 'doable'- and transform the world around them into a phenomenal experience in every aspect! The elite are individuals who better themselves in extraordinary ways, reaching above and beyond what separates one man from another. What separates man from the divine forces hovering around us, shaping our destinies! To be elite is not to continue a practical journey of mediocrity, but to attain a grand title that is not merely claimed, but one which can be built by anyone! Surely you agree with me, if you know of elitism."

Suoh was the kind that sought to genuinely build rapport. The eagerness in his eyes hunted to find common ground with Petya to help it flourish into a mutually beneficial relationship of supportive connection.

Vapid imbecile.

Oh, how Petya would enjoy crushing him. How dare he even utter the word mediocrity in Petya's presence. Did the Ignashov heir know of elitism? Did he know of the struggling commitment, blood and sweat, physical and mental exhaustion that it took to stay on top? Why yes, yes he did. And he would gladly be the dragon that would burn down the castle of this fairytale dreamer in order to show him-in the midst of a fiery inferno-what true elitism looked like.

"Hm, is that what you truly believe?" Petya asked simply, taking a few more strategic seconds to set Suoh up for failure.

"Oh, absolutely!" Suoh said enthusiastically, probably thinking that the two were on the same page. "And it's precisely what I believe we do here at Omicron Eta Nu. What all fraternities do! We take young men, test their limits with opportunities and the bonds of brotherhood, and shape them into whatever form of elitism they're meant for!"

In hindsight, it would probably be better if Petya didn't try to shoot down Suoh's social standing.

He knew that. It completely contradicted his purpose for wanting to associate with the prestigious Asian families in that fraternity. But sometimes, there was a little thing called pride that was ever so hard for Petya to ignore. Once he'd been challenged, whether the opponent was aware or not, he became comparable to a heat seeking missile. Once the target had been selected, there was no way to stop the course and the eventual obliteration.

Petya smirked, and made eye contact with Suoh, the missile finally having been launched. He raised his hand again, because play time with Suoh was over.

"Would you say that you think you are better than the other fraternities on campus?" Petya asked.

Suoh's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the turn in Petya's questions.

"Better is hardly a word we could use justly," Suoh said with congenial diplomacy. "We are a different breed from our fellow Greek life members. To say that one chapter is competitively superior is a shallow discredit to the premise of brotherhood, and we appreciate all of the members of our new Greek family!"

"But do you believe you can hold your own weight against the national fraternities on this campus?" Petya asked with a persisting follow up.

"As a local fraternity and newly founded," Tamaki replied with just as much humility as his first answer. "We most certainly have a lot to learn about the dynamics of our fellow Greeks. However, I believe we definitely have a significant edge that could make us thrive just as well as any fraternity. As I said, we do carry our own breed of member that-"

"So you do think you're better than them."

Petya interrupted Suoh blatantly this time, not with a question. The smirk twitched on his lips as the metaphorical countdown began in his head, having finally caught Suoh in his own words.

"Well, what I just said was-" Tamaki tried to respond, a little taken back with the sudden comment, but was immediately cut off again.

"And based on your premise of elitism," Petya interrupted once more,"you would have to hold a unique weight in order to break the advantage of tradition, history and university support that the other organizations hold, such as the fraternity, Alpha Lambda Psi?"

Suoh twitched visibly at the mention of the barbaric, jock fraternity and Petya was delighted at the sight. He continued grilling the blonde without rest.

"And with your status as a newly founded local fraternity-with no knowledge of the American Greek system before this previous summer-the only edge you could possibly have might be the influence your families currently hold in the university's economic framework?"

"I will have you know that Omicron Eta Nu stems from its own origins that are just as prestigious as the national fraternities on this campus!" Tamaki proclaimed with grandiose offense like a bristled cat. "To say that we are only rich and nothing else is a bit-"

Petya then continued his questioning as a prosecuting attorney. He shot off one accusation after the other with the fury of rapid gunfire, leaving no room for that fool to defend himself. Nowhere would be left safe for him to hide.

"But also based on your premise of elitism, should every potential member of this room be chosen with the ideal of 'quality over quantity?' Do you not have an active member quota to meet in order to be considered a legitimate organization?"

"Well yes, but-"

"So you do have a quota, which means that everyone in this room was chosen out of desperation to meet that qualification, not a careful strategic process?"

"Hey! You can't just-"

"Have you even let any of them know the time commitment or amount of money they'll have to pay to even be able to participate?"

"No, I-"

"Have you informed them about the derogatory subservient tasks they'll need to perform during their 'pledge' period that follows an American historical tradition of inane fraternal hazing rituals?"

The room began murmuring in skepticism.

"Commitment? What are they talking about?"

"I don't have time for that..."

"Hazing? Like paddling or something?"

"Pay? Oh hell no am I gonna' pay to be here. You need to pay ME to be here!"

Petya swelled with victory as he stood, preparing his final statement.

"My final question for YOU and this whimsical social order you've built, Suoh Tamaki, is...what is the point? Because what I, and this entire room, seem to be observing is a group with a lack of credibility, social stability and PRACTICAL application." Petya threw in an extra noticeable smirk at that sentence, throwing Suoh's answer at his first question back in his face. "You have subjected yourself willingly to scrutiny at our hands, and you now admit to being incapable of giving us the most basic information for involvement. My own qualified answer to the question, would be that there-IS-no-point. Unless someone can prove me wrong?"

And that is where Petya left things, giving Ootori a final satisfied smirk before sinking carefully down into his own chair. Everyone else began to stand up and proclaim their objections in the meeting.

As chaos then ensued by his hand, Petya leaned back, folded his arms in satisfaction and smiled.

It had been so perfect.

Then that stupid crimson headed sympathy case had asked his question, and it all went down hill. With help of course from the blonde one. Not Suoh, but the blonde Southern prospect that reminded him a great deal of Suoh without a conscious or filter. He wasn't sure which one would be worse, but he was definitely going to keep an eye on both.

"No matter what I still have the upper hand," Petya said to himself, still ranting aloud and still pacing. "That giant 'Sargent' of theirs should have escorted me out after what I caused in the meeting. I didn't even get a slap on the wrist! Suoh was the one who still encouraged me to sign up after I destroyed him, saying that I only proved him right! That I had ambition, spunk and a keen eye for details that could only help to...benefit them."

Petya spat out those last two words. It was leaving a bad taste in his mouth and his brain to think that he would do anything that would be even remotely helpful to Suoh at all. But still, he signed his name...though only while making defiant eye contact with Ootori as he did so.

"Fine Ootori, Suoh….you want in my your little 'brotherhood' that bad?" Petya said as he finally stood firmly, a subtle smirk of concluding satisfaction on his face. "Then be prepared when I use all that ambition of mine to take everything you and your members have built from the inside out. I guess I'll have to thank you since it will be far easier to overshadow two of the Ignashov's greatest rivals, once I'm a brother."

Petya was so overcome with amusement now at becoming their prospect and elation at his brilliant resolve, he couldn't stop a nefarious-sounding chuckle from escaping his lips.

*DINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG*

*DINNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG*

*DINNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG*

Lost amidst his snickering and plotting, he nearly jumped 20 feet like a startled feline at the unexpected sound of his doorbell ringing throughout the empty domicile.

He grumbled as he gathered himself to answer, complaining about the fact that he hadn't scheduled to see anyone, nevertheless at this hour.

However, it was hard for Petya to remember the last time he'd even had company at his new place since he moved in exactly four months ago.

It was a quiet night, but it was always one of those for Skylar Tussan.

It was especially quiet, since he was away from home and away from the constant pounding of his father knocking on his bedroom door, demanding why he wasn't trying harder. Skylar's roommates were out having fun somewhere that night, talking about something that freshman college boys typically should be out doing. He had been conveniently misinformed about their plans and was sitting alone, looking through files of all the pictures he'd taken since arriving at the Dawning Renaissance University campus. A picture was worth one thousand words and Skylar loved both art styles so much, that he depended on them as his outlet of expression.

"The scenery around here is so pretty," Skylar thought in adoration, trying very hard to be optimistic about his roommates snubbing him. "I can't wait till I get to start taking pictures with friends though, instead of just nature and random people. Maybe with those fraternity guys, then I'll be just like my roommates, out doing things and being included."

He sighed lightly and started clicking through more files on his laptop, his dark brown layered bangs flopping into his powder blue eyes like they normally did. He had taken an obscene amount of pictures on orientation day with his Nikon D90. The camera was a graduation present from his older sister, Cheryl, and it was his pride and joy. He liked reminiscing and reflecting on the world around him, and photography was just a great way for him to do that. Pictures were moments that were always remembered. Maybe there was some kind of empty hole that he was trying to fill in the process. Capturing moments that were to be remembered, moments that weren't his.

Older files from his home town that he'd never taken the time to go through popped up as he reached the end of his recent pictures, and he stared at a smiling photo he'd taken with his Cherish. It was the day they left for his road trip to college, and since she had already graduated with her Bachelor's degree, she'd been around to help him get himself situated to leave home. His sister was actually a DRU alumni as of last spring, and he couldn't think of any other college he'd be able to get into, so he followed in her footsteps. The background of their small, cute home in the island city of Galveston,Texas made him suddenly homesick. He longed for his family life back, however strained it was.

Before he let himself yearn too much, he tried to remember the meeting he'd attended just a few hours ago, reminding himself that this separation and change was a good thing.

"It will help me grow," he thought, the words and assurance of the active members of Omicron Eta Nu coming back into his mind.

"Are there any more questions?" Kyoya said with an intimidating cheerful tone after he had shut down the kid named Kye like a prison on lockdown.

Skylar was terrified. He wanted to ask an honest question, he really did, but the Vice President of this group seemed to have an extremely low tolerance for any question he deemed less than worthy. Would Skylar's question be too simple? Too stupid? With all the confidence he could muster, he shakily raised a hand.

"U-um…I-I have a question!" Skylar said, trying to seem as genuine as possible, but his natural stutter getting the best of him in the process. "W-would the p-pledges…what you guys called us-um-um…w-would we be allowed to help you guys out with your p-p-positions? Like events and things…or-or even taking pictures?"

He heard someone snicker at him, but they were immediately silenced by Kyoya and Tamaki's sharp glares. One of the brothers, who was the secretary with the auburn hair, piped up immediately to answer.

"Hey guys, I'll take this one!" he said cheerily, and the princely blonde and the powerful vice president nodded in reassurance that they found this quite all right. "So, you will definitely be able to help the active members with positions. In fact, it's encouraged! Positions are one of the primary ways we offer leadership opportunities to our members, to help them develop skills they didn't even know they had. It's also the way you can find your place in the fraternity and grow as a person. If you're accepted into the pledge class, there are pledge positions you can take to give you a crash course in some of that responsibility. There's pledge president, VP, secretary, treasurer and even historian! "

He paused and gave Skylar a knowing smile that made his heart soar for some unknown reason with the positive energy and confidence it aimed toward him.

"So if taking pictures is what you like specifically," Kaoru said, "You will have plenty of opportunity for that. Plus, I need all the help I can get with documenting the fraternity, so you can talk to me about that later."

Being addressed as an actual human being, instead of an insignificant being, made Skylar want to do back flips of excitement in his head, since there was no way he could do them in real life.

"Also, if anyone wants to shadow for any active position to see what it's like, that is always an option. You can come see me or Kyoya about that should you accept, and we'll make sure to get you where you want to be!" Kaoru finished with a nod and gave a kind smile with an easy going hand behind his head as he turned directly back to Skylar. "That was kind of a lot, but did that answer your question?"

All the blue-eyed boy could do was nod his head eagerly, so overwhelmed with excitement he couldn't utter a word.

Skylar nodded with assurance as he thought over the words once more.

When he had first walked into the Omicron Eta Nu HQ for the meeting, he didn't know what he was going to do, but he didn't want to just leave. His anxiety was spiking the need for him to flee, to not change himself for fear of failure. However, he'd gained willpower over his feet, as shaky as they were, and made sure they didn't budge. Not until he got through this meeting of strange people that may hold a new experience.

That was growing in itself, wasn't it?

If only he hadn't walked head first into the tall active brother who was the Sergeant at Arms, Takashi. He thought for sure someone as powerful and scary as that would chew up someone like him and spit him back out, but he hadn't. He offered him a hand, asked if he was okay, gave him a pat on the head…and then smiled slightly. All Skylar could do at the time was stare at him with wide-eyed gratitude.

That was growing too, wasn't it?

He could have shrunk from embarrassment and ran right out of the fraternity house before he messed up and bothered anyone else. But he didn't. As stumped as he was, he took a deep breath and found a lone couch in the back to sit and listen. He wasn't being daring quite yet, but in his own way…he was growing. Even asking that question in the meeting, took all he had, and he was rewarded for it.

Skylar sighed a bit, his anxious nature still making him neurotic about pumping himself up with false confidence. There was that saying about faking it till you "made-it," but Skylar was so painfully honest about things he didn't think it was possible for him to fake anything. Instead of curling up into a new ball of worry, he turned off his computer and turned to his other outlet of expression, the written word. He pulled a simple blue journal out from under his bed that served as a diary for his thoughts.

No one knew it existed except for his sister, who had encouraged him to start one. His father would have deemed anything of the sort too feminine, and would have ridiculed him for being soft and lazy with daydreams. Any one at DRU who discovered it, he was sure would have the same reaction. He wasn't in the mood to be judged.

Skylar slowly started writing in a new page he used to keep his worries at rest until tomorrow.

On and on he kept writing to the tune of his own pen, so quickly and so absorbed in his own poetic words that he almost didn't catch what was to come to his doorstep at the moment.

*BANG, BANG, BANG!*

The young artist staggered to his feet with a jolt and turned to where the door was. Had his roommate returned after a "wild night" with his friends? Or did another girl end up at his doorstep wanting to get his roommate's phone number? With either decision, Skylar calmed but grew morose once more at the thought of who would be on the other side.

"I'm c-coming!" Skylar called timidly as he scrambled upward and to answer it. He was feeling rather silly for acting this way after giving himself that grandiose lecture about inner strength just minutes ago.

Something made him look through the small peephole in the middle of the door, and he almost yelped in surprise as he found himself peering at three members of Omicron Eta Nu. The president, Tamaki, headed the group and kept knocking on Skylar's door with a grin of enthusiasm, his blonde hair bouncing as he did so.

"H-Hello?" Skylar called through the door, now afraid to open it.

He didn't exactly know why he was rigid with fear at the realization they knocking on his door. Was it a mistake? He felt like an idiot of course, for asking who it was, but surely they couldn't be there for him. Or worse...what if they were! What if they were coming to reject him, or play some sort of prank on him? They must of have decided that he wasn't worth their time to-

"Hello! Is anyone home? We are looking for the dorm room of our friend Skylar Tussan! Would he happen to be in residence?"

That was Tamaki...asking for him. This was definitely no mistake.

"M-me? You really are looking for me?" Skylar sputtered out. Gripping the doorknob in desperation and leaning against the wall was the thing only supporting him from fainting in a fit of joy or disbelief.

"Skylar! Come on out, Mon Ami! There's no need to hide! It's only us!"

When Skylar still couldn't respond immediately, he noticed that the vigor in Tamaki's voice dropped a few notches as he began speaking in a softer tone. He must have remembered how easily frightened Skylar was from the meeting.

"Skylar, we'd like you to come with us. To join us, if that's alright with you. Will you trust us?"

Join them! He was being asked to join them! Even the bid with gold-leafed paper pinned neatly above his bed seemed like a dim reminder of a dream too good to be true. Now hearing them say it, he knew it was real. He knew that if he just tried, he would be included. Yes, if he just tried and just trusted them.

"Yes! Yes! I will...I-I'll be right out!"

Skylar giddily through on some sneakers and grabbed a soft hoodie he had hanging on a hook nearby. Eagerly throwing open the door, he prepared himself to welcome friends of his into his new home for the first time ever.

"I'm so-"

Before the words finished leaving his lips, the color promptly drained from his face when he noticed the blindfold in the hand of Takashi, standing just behind Tamaki.

Blindfolds...oh no...a blindfold. Those were never good. They were used for cruel pranks and kidnappings and way too many negative stereotypes for Skylar to list through his racing mind as his dread and a need for survival took over. He had been tricked for sure. There was no way anything good could come of this.

He tried to keep hold of all the resolve he'd worked on building in the past few hours. But in desperate seeming times, the true natures of his heart couldn't help but overwhelm him they minute they took a step toward him with questioning looks.

"EEEEEKKKK!"

A desperate squeal left Skylar's lips as he could sense himself fainting from shock at being unable to cope with whatever they had in store for him.

He felt himself falling back and heard a frantic cry of, "Mon Ami!" before everything went dark.

Rocko Warner walked along the road back to his dorm from the old cinema located close to campus.

They had weekly Friday night showings of old films that were free to students, and when Rocko didn't have practice or anything exciting to do, they were his guilty pleasure. He usually went alone but wasn't bothered, since the easy walk from campus into town was just long enough to give him time to wander in his own thoughts.

Rocko loved movies, especially the classics. From prohibition era gangster flicks to horror cult classics, he loved to immerse himself in the almost cheesy fantasy of any well done cinematic realm. He figured he had a more imaginative mind than most of the team mates he'd interacted with while playing football through high school and college. Working in the film industry as a director or screenwriter seemed like the ideal future for a daydreamer like him.

Old Hollywood and its magic were hard to find in the present day. Not impossible, but he was definitely more secretly critical of movies than most people. Strange script ideas always popped into his head after he saw a traditional flick, and that's usually what he mulled over on his typical Friday night trek while habitually playing with a pair of vintage aviators he wore on a daily basis.

Thinking about it, it was probably a lame explanation for why he wore his sunglasses at unnecessary times. It was a subconscious desire to feel like a big shot movie star, even during the regular routine of his life.

Tonight, the nervous twirling of his glasses and thoughts in his brain were dedicated to the decision he'd made only hours ago...to join the strangest fraternity he'd ever seen…

He was no stranger to the stereotypical idea of frats and sororities. He'd seen Animal House and Revenge of the Nerds at least a dozen times, great movies in fact. Plenty of his teammates were already members of/or pledging Alpha Lambda Psi, so he heard things about parties or the drama between the chapters every once in awhile in the locker room.

He always considered himself the type to prefer a small casual group of friends over select social orders. He was distant from the Greek system, and sometimes couldn't quite understand why people would jump through the hoops they did just to gain membership. The whole idea had never sparked his ever changing interest, and the current houses on campus all seemed the same on the outside.

But these guys...calling them cookie cutter would be blasphemous. In fact, if Rocko was subconsciously trying to find his piece of "classic Hollywood" in the real world, Omicron Eta Nu might be the closest he'd ever get.

Everything about them and their fraternity was larger than life. From their glamorous appearances, the Beverly Hills looking frat house, the cults of college girls that formed around them and their crazy antics (that Rocko was sure he'd only seen a fraction of)...Omicron Eta Nu was too surreal to exist beyond the world of a movie screen.

Theirs was the classic plot of "stranger comes to a foreign land" that Rocko knew all the greatest stories are built upon. Well, strangers, that is. Foreigners that were not only trying to assimilate themselves into the everyday absurdity that is life at an American university; but life within the jungle that is the American Greek system. Jungle also wasn't that much of an understatement, since he knew the "wolves" of Alpha Lambda Psi well.

Their fraternity was the protagonist, the Alphas their antagonist, and they had fought against adversity to form the place they believed they belonged. He had heard the rumors and had seen what the Alphas had done to sabotage Omicron Eta Nu's first fall rush. It was the reason the emergency recruitment meeting he'd gone to had been necessary in the first place.

Every member even had their own personality archetype that you usually found written in a dynamic cast of characters.

The smooth, strategic intellect. The youthful, innocent. The tall, silent muscle. The narcissist playboy. The easy, going nice guy. They were all there, and of course, the self-righteous leading man...Tamaki.

Oh yeah, from the moment Rocko had encountered the blonde fraternity president as he'd been leaving the football field from an early semester practice, he'd known this guy was actively living as the hero of his life story.

At the time, Tamaki was trying to recruit some of Rocko's teammates that were already interested in Alpha Lambda Psi, so he was failing miserably. They'd mocked him, tossed flyers back that he'd given them and laughed as they followed after the Alpha president (who was also on the team) in a pack like formation.

Rocko was good at being casually friendly with all of his teammates, but the guys from that receding group were by no means part of his preferred circle. He'd gone up to Tamaki, asked the guy if he was good, while handing him a few stray flyers that had blown his way on the field.

He was then met with a show of gratitude that had been overwhelmingly overdone.

Even after Rocko had turned down the same recruitment pitch in a more polite manner, Tamaki still insisted on continuing a friendly conversation with him that was so genuinely upbeat, it was hard not to catch some of his positive vibes.

He expected to never really speak to the Asian fraternity guy again, but through the scripted hand of fate, that blonde and his crew just kept popping up randomly everywhere throughout the coming weeks. Rocko didn't know if this was the norm, but in hindsight, he wondered if Tamaki was aware of how much like a movie protagonist he actually was. He left sprinkled encounters of influence with everyone he met by coincidence without realizing, even with Rocko himself.

Even on the day they met, Rocko had been going through one of his low periods. He regularly dealt with changes in his mood he was good at concealing from most people, so there was no way Tamaki could have known that his infectious attitude in their conversation that day had secretly been a much-needed pick me up in Rocko's week.

Then again, maybe he did realize. From what Rocko had seen, if there wasn't a scenario Tamaki was included in, he would write himself in and assume the role of the problem-solving hero. Like that situation with the freshman that Rocko had witnessed at the Beta Mu barbecue he'd attended with some of his teammates.

It was all perplexing to think about, but Rocko hadn't been able to overlook two very blatant factors about the possibility of joining them.

One, he just loved the vibe of everyone he'd met from their group. Besides Tamaki, he'd connected the most with the twin brothers, Kaoru and Hikaru, that seemed to follow their president everywhere. Okay, so maybe Kaoru had been more inviting than Hikaru. However, after seeing how they warmed up to his sense of humor and a great discussion about art and music between the two, they would both take the time to chat him up whenever they passed by on campus. Even if he was surrounded by a good portion of his Alpha Lambda Psi teammates.

Sure their antics as a fraternity seemed a little crazy, but Rocko knew the importance of being around people that just made you feel good about being alive.

The second thing about joining them, was how they lived life...because man did they do a lot. His dark blue eyes looked back down the road as he ran his free hand through his short brown hair, the answer he'd been waiting for playing back in his mind.

Rocko sat patiently in the meeting, trying to wait for the moment to ask his question. It would be for the second time now, because the first time it wasn't answered clearly and merely left him confused and wondering if he'd said the wrong thing.

After some shy kid asked about the positions and Kaoru quickly listed them, Rocko raised his hand again, thinking this was his chance. His other hand was subconsciously playing with this aviators by his side. He didn't know why he suddenly felt so anxious, but he knew he played it off well.

"Yes? Go ahead," Kaoru said, signifying to Rocko with a grin as he took it upon himself to take the next question. Rocko flashed a friendly grin right back, appreciating the acknowledgment.

"So, I know I asked this before, but what I really want to know about you guys is exactly what you do," Rocko said outright. "I know you just got through talking about all the positions and everything, but can you give me the specific activities you guys do throughout the year. I guess I'm still honestly on the fence about whether doing all this in-between school and athletics would be worth it. Are things interesting enough that you could convince me?"

Rocko didn't exactly think he was being too blunt, but he definitely knew he was approaching his question in a more friendly way than the rest of the skeptics in the room had. It was an honest question wasn't it? He just wanted the details.

Kaoru nodded thoughtfully and pushed back his light auburn hair a little, as if trying to find the right answer.

"So most of the activities you'll be doing as a pledge are given more on a weekly basis, so you'd have to join really to find those out. We did mention about leadership opportunities with community service and event planning, but are you looking for more of the social specifics?"

"Sure," Rocko shrugged, still doubting things a bit. "Anything you could give me, I guess."

Kaoru looked to is brother who had been acting less than thrilled to be sitting through this entire meaning. Hikaru caught the look, probably signifying this question was best answered by him since he had self-defined "parties and popularity" as his job title. The black haired twin gave another huffy sigh and didn't bother standing up, just crossing his arms and leaning back more as he focused on Rocko.

"Look," Hikaru began with a matter-o-fact tone. "I don't know what you do on a daily basis with your team or whatever, but it's nothing like what we do. That's a fact. Active members will have out of town trips every time there's even a free weekend. Our main community service for the semester will be the biggest Casino Royale this town has ever seen. Every stupid homecoming, campus carnival and athletic event we are going to be at with state of the art interactive booths. Before we formed this fraternity on your campus, this group has been so jam packed with crap to do even I couldn't get bored with it."

He became reminiscent and started casually listing the weirdest series of events Rocko had ever heard. Both Tamaki and the Vice-President Kyoya looked like they wanted to strangle him in their own way for revealing certain things, but as he bragged on, a side of him seemed to warm up to the crowd of prospects listening in awe.

"With these guys: I've been to galas with heiresses, gotten lost in a jungle amusement park, starred in an indie film, threatened Japanese mobsters and have gone on mock espionage missions-more than once. Hell, I've even been in a car chase involving a horse-drawn carriage that we won because-"

Hikaru stopped talking so abruptly, the change in his demeanor was evident and almost shocking to the entire room. He froze up before he could finish his sentence, like the memory was too painful to even keep telling. Before he got concerned looks from his fraternity brothers or his waiting audience, the arrogant face he started with came back on immediately as he finished.

"The point," he scoffed with another disinterested glare, "is that interesting with us is an understatement. And if that still doesn't get you, we have more parties-themed parties-arranged with more begging sorority girls than I can be bothered to plan." An egotistical smile twitched on his lips as talked about the "begging girls" like he was more in his element. "Poolside volleyball and paintball tournaments with Sigma Phi sport's chicks. Open mics, swing dancing and drive-ins with Delta Nu chicks. Alpha Kappa dinner parties. The elusive Beta Mu Psi inviting us to collaborate with at least three of their events. I could go on, but I don't feel like it. Is all that enough for you, Rocko?"

Hikaru would have turned off most with his attitude change, but the last thing Rocko took was offense. The glimmer of a mischief in Hikaru's eyes as he called the brunette out at the end was enough for Rocko to know that this was it.

He could already feel his adrenaline spiking with excitement as he thought about the obscure list of adventures given before.

"Yeah," was all Rocko said, managing to contain a maniac grin spreading on his lips to an eager smirk. "You have most certainly answered my question."

Thinking back on the meeting, Rocko decided that those two factors didn't make it so hard to understand why he'd wanted to join.

Sure he had his close friends, his teammates, his family back home-but fraternity or not...Rocko realized that these were the people he'd been looking for. His kind of people.

They were a group he could run with on his high days when he was prepared to live life to the fullest in the craziest ways possible. A group that might potentially help on his low days, when he wasn't sure what he was doing but would figure he might as well get out of bed anyway, just to see what they would do. They were the ones who could give him a shot at the life he'd dreamed was only possible in a fictitious script.

It was a chance he couldn't let pass up. He smirked in confident resolution, and as if right on directed cue, a long black limousine with tinted windows pulled up on the empty street beside him.

Rocko stopped walking and immediately placed his sunglasses on his head as he gave the vehicle a wary glance. The back window of the limo rolled down to reveal Hikaru and Kaoru dressed in identical hoodies, looking equally mischievous as they called out to him.

"Hey Rocko, we've been looking for you, man!" Kaoru called out with a grin as Rocko gave an easy nod back. "You passed the grade check. Congrats. If you still want to join then you should come with us for initiation, it's up to you, though."

"I guess the offer is pretty tempting if we get limo treatment, huh?" Rocko said, chuckling as he could read the noticeable hint of impishness in Kaoru's eyes. "What's the catch?"

Hikaru's face popped more into view from the window and overshadowed his brother's. His was a perfect description of restless irritation.

"Enough chit-chat," Hikaru demanded with impatience, "If you're down, then get in the car, pledge. And throw this on and hurry, we're behind as it is."

Rocko caught a piece of black fabric in his hand Hikaru had tossed to him that he discovered to be a blind fold.

'This whole scenario is just a bad movie waiting to happen, isn't it?' Rocko asked himself humorously as he fingered the fabric in his hands.

Most people would stay as far away from this kind of thing as possible. It was too iffy, too crazy.

However, Rocko, especially while now in one of his high moods, was definitely not most people.

"Eh, fuck it. I'm in!" Rocko shrugged, letting that manic grin finally take over his face. He bolted towards the mysterious vehicle and put on the blindfold, ready for absolutely anything.

A/N:

Hello, everyone! Yes, I'm alive! Yes, I know how long it took to get this chapter out. Why no, I don't plan on giving up on this story anytime soon. Also:

I AM STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERS OF XI CHI ZETA-I AND ALPHA LAMBDA PSI. I need an alpha president and one more member of the Xi-Chi pledge class at the least, but we'll see if anyone bites!

As always, forgive my latent posting, but I hope all is forgiven with how freaking huge this chapter is. Seriously, you guys don't understand how painstaking it was to write the pledge perspectives to perfect, but I feel like it's incredibly important you get a sense for who they are now so the story can shift more focus back to Devon and the other characters throughout the plot. And my pledge class authors deserve some time with their brain babies in the spotlight with all the waiting I've made them do!

Please review! It would really help to motivate me to keep this thing alive if I know ya'll actually care about what you're reading. It also gives me insight if there are fraternity and Greek life aspects people still don't understand! Also, I like talking to you guys!

Thank you for all the continued support, and I hope this brings in a few new readers to the fold!

Much Love,

Tasia