Fraternity Wars

By Briony Summers

Sam Blair can’t believe the luck he’s having at his very first semester at Davidson University. He’s joined the perfect fraternity, he’s loving his classes, and best of all, he’s found a hot and charming man who’s actually interested in him!

There’s only one problem in his otherwise perfect life - his fraternity is involved in a years-long prank war with a rival frat, and it only seems to be growing more intense. What starts out as good, clean fun escalates, and it’s threatening in Sam’s life. Will his blossoming romance with the handsome artist Sage be able to withstand an all-out war between frat boys?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Briony Summers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463996768

Briony Summers

I'm a writer from a small town living out all my fantasies on the page. I love the salty-sweet mix of romance and kinky sex, and to me, nothing beats hot young guys experimenting with their sexuality. When I'm not writing, I'm usually drinking too much coffee or lounging around with my lazy pets.

Book preview

Fraternity Wars

Briony Summers

Published by Briony Summers

Copyright 2019 Briony Summers

Warning! This work contains adult content, which may include strong language and sexually explicit scenes. If you consider these subject matters offensive, please do not read any further. The people and events depicted in this novel are fictional. Any similarity to past or present events or any person living or dead is merely coincidental. The characters depicted are all 18 and over.

1

I looked around the courtyard of Ivory Student Union, and all around me were the hottest men I'd ever seen in my life. I didn't think this was what my father had in mind when he encouraged me to go to freshmen rush for the university's fraternities. Nonetheless, I was enjoying myself.

As I made my way around the courtyard, copping looks at the cute freshmen trying their best to fit in with far more confident upperclassmen, I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn't even read most of the Greek alphabet. Was I really going to commit a part of myself to one of these groups when I couldn't even pronounce their name? I wandered around with my shoulders straight and my gaze firm, hoping to spot Alpha Nu Sigma. I had seen my father's sweaters and pins enough to at least recognize the three letters of that frat. However, as I was looking around the square, mingling between other men in the summer sun, I couldn't seem to find them.

Hey there, a voice said. Among the crowd of people talking, I almost didn't realize that someone was talking to me until I turned my head and found eyes staring at me.

A tall thin man was looking down at him with a benevolent smile.

I had the urge to just turn around, but something about his face made me stay. Me?

You look like you're searching for something, he said with a shrug. His voice was so friendly and casual that it drew me in. I had the feeling that he was an old friend that I had known my whole life, and I had just forgotten his face. Of course, I had never met him before. No one from my old school was here, and I thanked God for that.

I'm searching for Alpha Nu Sigma, I said honestly. I knew this guy wasn't a member. He didn't have the same overly cocky air that my father did when he spoke of old times. He wasn't a douche, in other words. You don't happen to know where they are?

The man chuckled and shook his head. Not here, he answered. I wondered if he was being truthful or not. All the posters and announcements I had seen had insisted that all frats would be rushing freshmen, trying to get them to join their ranks. Why wouldn't Alpha be there?

What do you mean? I asked. I looked around at all the men surrounding me, as if that settled my point. Are they not recruiting anymore?

The man pulled in his bottom lip to suck on it in thought, and it drew me in. This guy wasn't too bad looking, and the men behind him manning his booth were cute enough as well.

I don't like to speculate about other frats, he said with a smile. His eyes told another story. They just don't need to recruit. It's more of a private invitation kind of thing. Don't feel bad. They're jerks anyway.

Whether this guy liked it or not, of course I felt bad. Alpha was the best frat on campus. It was the only frat as far as I was concerned. I wasn't going to take no for an answer. I watched in annoyance as the man in front of me turned around to grab a pamphlet off his table. He turned back to me and took a deep breath before starting in.

My name is Michael, but most of my brothers call me Mikey. I'm the acting president of Beta Mu Delta. We're kind of a new frat, up and coming after all that business a few years ago with a previous frat that won’t be named. I’m sure you know what I mean. We're not a party frat. We're not that frat from those movies that you saw. We're a brotherhood for the modern era. I think someone like you could really enjoy what we have to offer.

I was polite enough to listen to his pitch. Of course, it would have been interesting to me - if I hadn't already settled on the frat I was going to join. Still, I took the information from him and pretended to consider it.

Thanks, I said, tucking the pamphlet into my pocket. I could tell that the conversation was coming to a close, so I went back to the topic that was on my mind the whole time. By the way, do you know how to get an invitation into Alpha?

Mikey didn't seem all that interested in discussing another frat, but as I could tell, he was kind to a fault. They only want the kind of people who they think of as the best of the best.

I was number one in my high school graduating class, I said. I have great test scores and extracurriculars.

Mikey gave a shrug. Sometimes it's more about connections, really, he said, though I could tell he was just trying to placate me instead of giving me real answers.

My father was a member of Alpha Nu Sigma, I added.

Maybe you should get him to hook you up, then, Mikey said. Despite me going a little too far, he was still calm as ever. Really, they're just privileged jerks who have gotten through their lives by stepping on others for the most part. I try to stay away from them as much as possible. But maybe you'd fit in.

I raised my eyebrow as I considered whether Mikey was really as nice as I had first thought. I didn't let his words change how I was feeling, though.

I think I would, I said firmly. But thank you for your time. You guys do seem to offer some of what I'm looking for. I'll give you some consideration.

We hope you do, Mikey said. It would benefit both of us.

I gave his blue eyes, smooth face, and tidy brown hair a look over. I gave it a little more consideration before I turned away and left. I really had no reason to be here if Alpha wasn't rushing, and I knew I wasn't going to settle for any less than them. I had no interest in any of the other frats, but at least I had my backup plan if it came to that.

Hey, Dad, I said into the speaker phone of my cell phone. I had nothing else left to do that day, and so I returned to the hotel room I had rented for the week while I sorted out where exactly I would be living on campus.

Hey there, Sam, he said, enthusiastically as ever. I'm in Albuquerque right now. I just finished up with a speech, so you caught me at a great time.

When I had last spoken to him, he had been somewhere in Arkansas, so I wasn't sure how he was sounding so chipper when he had traveled by car across several states. I felt useless in comparison - I was already exhausted after a day of touring the campus and checking out frat rush.

Great, I said. I just got back from dinner myself.

Have you made any friends yet?

I paused before laughing. Dad, it's not kindergarten, I said in an embarrassed tone. And classes haven't even started yet. I still had several days before I would go to my first class as an official college student - though I had already taken a few through a program in high school.

You're right, he said. I could see that big smile through his beard all the way through the phone. That'll come in time. The best friends I ever met were from my college days. I can't wait for you to meet those kinds of lifers.

I knew all too well that he still had friends from college. They still had monthly meetings, and I would have to hear all the anecdotes about Gary and Doug and their wonderful lives. It was pretty embarrassing that my middle-aged father had a more active social life than I did. I tried to change the subject.

You know, about that. Did you know that Alpha Nu Sigma doesn't even recruit anymore? I guess it's invite-only.

I could hear my father shifting the phone from ear to ear. I chewed on my lip as I waited for his response.

Invite only? he questioned. I could tell he was skeptical. That doesn't really sound likely. They have to be out there somewhere. I'm sure they're looking for young men who have the initiative to go after the frat themselves. Try something like that.

I laughed helplessly. "Go after them myself?

Sure. They have a house right there on campus. Behind the English building. Why don't you go knock on their door and talk to them yourself?

I never thought about that, I admitted.

That's because you sell yourself short, Sammy, he said. You deserve to be considered. They may not know you because of some magazine or social media or whatever. But you're exactly the kind of kid that they want representing them in the future. If they still have the same values that they had when I was president, then they'll consider you.

Okay, I said. This time, it was me that let skepticism color my tone. After a bit of a pause, I continued. And if they have changed? Do you think that I should go for a different frat? Maybe a newer one, even.

Hey, kid. You're doing it again.

Selling myself short, I said with a chuckle. Alright, I know. But I just don't want to disappoint you.

Sam -

I know, I could never disappoint you, I said in an overly saccharine tone.

My father laughed from the other end. Well, you know there are several thousand ways you could disappoint me, but you haven't done any of them yet. Be confident in yourself, be true to who you are, make the choice that will push you forward - not just the easy choice - and I'll never be disappointed in you.

It was the same kind of stuff that I had grown used to hearing my whole life. Really, it didn't help at all, but I listened anyway. Okay, thanks, Dad. I'll let you know what happens. I'll go down to their frat house in the morning and see if I can find something out. Any chance you'll be near Austin anywhere soon?

My father sighed, and for the first time since the conversation started, I could hear something tired in his voice. It's on to Phoenix and Tucson this week. Then the tour up California and into Washington and Oregon. Then I need to fly home and check on the house. But after that, I'll try to make it out there. I can't promise anything, you know that, but I will try my damned hardest to see you soon, son.

Thanks, Dad, I said. I know you will.

We ended the call, and I thought about when the last time I had saw him was. It had been at least a month, when he had gone through Texas on his book tour while I was in Austin doing a campus tour for incoming freshmen. Unfortunately, I was getting used to living life like this without ever seeing my father.

At least I had my advice from him. I would keep my word and go down to the frat house in the morning. I just prayed that I wouldn't end up embarrassing myself too badly.

I approached the Alpha frat house behind the English building feeling far more nervous than I should have been. I was valedictorian. I had earned myself a free ride to Davidson University - a feat that less than 100 students achieve each year. I deserved a place at this frat house. I deserved the success that followed after the members. I was ready to take it for myself at any cost. I was ready to make my father proud.

As I rounded the corner to the front of the building, my heart sank. There were already several men on the front porch of the historic building, all of them facing the building. One turned away, looking rather annoyed as he made his way down the steps and walked by me.

Just turn back now, he said. It's useless.

I stopped in my place and watched him as he breezed past me. I didn't understand what that attitude was about, but I was already determined to approach the frat with more optimism than he had. As I reached the white steps - clean and freshly painted on the three-story building - another man turned to leave. He fixed me with a pitying gaze but said nothing. I shrugged.

What's going on? I asked to the other men but received no solid answer. One pointed towards a piece of paper posted on the door before he took off as well. The man to the left of me finished taking a photo of the sign before he joined the other.

I looked around me, surprised to find myself alone now on the porch. Others were coming from the other side of the field of grass that decorated the area in front of the Alpha Nu Sigma frat house, so I had little time to spend alone. I stepped close enough to read the sign posted to the royal red front door.

To all prospective applicants to the Alpha Nu Sigma fraternity:

We deeply regret to inform you that our fraternity is already at capacity. We already have a back-up list that is two dozen candidates long. If you have not been contacted by us, you are not part of these lists, and you will be unable to join ANP.

We encourage you to attend freshman rush in the courtyard of Ivory Student Union. There are several fine fraternities that this university has to offer, and you can find more information there.

We ask that you do not harass any members of ANP. Do not linger on this property. Security cameras are posted in several locations around this house, and any violators will be prosecuted to the fullest. We will not be staying in this home until the second week of classes, so do not knock, as no one will answer. Please respect our privacy and our desire to learn and connect at this place of study.

We apologize for any disappointment, and may you find success elsewhere.

Blaine Edwards III, President of Alpha Nu Sigma

My mind was a hazy mess as I read, and so I had to go over the words again. Like the student who had been here just before me, I took out my cell phone and snapped a picture of the sign to send to my father as proof of my efforts. With nothing else left to do, I turned away from the frat house and wandered away. I had a whole day to kill now, it seemed, and I would be using it to deal with my disappointment.

2

I knew that my father was disappointed. I had spent twenty minutes that morning refuting all his ideas for how I could get into the fraternity. He was shocked and outraged that they hadn't had an open rush like everyone else, like they had done when he had joined. He ranted about how much their values had changed, how it wasn't fair, how they were missing out. And yet, by the end of it, he had offered to make as many phone calls as he could try to get me in despite all that.

I had told him a dozen times that it was fine, that I didn't want in there anyway, that I could just try out a different frat - or better yet, not join any frat at all. The silence that had come after that suggestion was physically painful.

And so, with my father promising to make some calls, I drove to campus, feeling very much like my tail was between my legs, and I went to fraternity rush once again.

I started at one end of the square courtyard outside Ivory and began on my journey. I wore sunglasses and left my hair unstyled, hoping that no one would recognize me from the day before. I talked to several people about their frats, about life there and about their members, and I found myself lost. After spending my whole life knowing that I would be an Alpha guy, how could I go about choosing a backup? I didn't know where to begin. I smiled as much as I could and remained as noncommittal as possible as I made my way around the tables.

Soon, I came to nearly the end, and my heart sunk as I realized what the second to last table was. Beta was there, and the same three guys who had been manning it before were back again. I froze and wondered how I could get around them without them seeing me again, but it was too late.

Hey there, Mikey said. You're back.

I felt a flush of heat come over my cheeks and ears, and I hoped that Mikey didn't notice it. I walked forward slowly.

Hey,