The Pledge by Laura Ward, Christine Manzari

rip.” I cocked my head to the side, listening again.
    Then someone moaned.
    Doug chuckled. “Oh. That was a condom wrapper. Watson must have a visitor.”
    “He’s having sex ?” I whispered those three letters like it was a curse word I wasn’t allowed to say. “Right now? While we’re in the same room?”
    “Harder. Oh yes, harder!” The shout from behind bed tent number two could not be misunderstood. Watson and his visitor were indeed bumping uglies.
    I buried my face in Doug’s shirt. “Ohmygod.”
    He lifted my chin. “What’s the big deal?”
    “I...Fahrvergnugen.” Fahrvergnugen? I word-vomited a German automobile advertising slogan? My mind was a strange, strange place.
    Doug’s mouth fell open, and he rubbed his eyebrow. “Hold up. Are you a virgin ?” He said it like I was some sort of horrifying, mythical creature.
    “It’s not a disease, Doug. So what?” I challenged him, feeling angry with him for the first time. A wave of shame hit me next. I dipped my chin and looked away. So much for him thinking I belonged in Tri-Gam.
    He rubbed the side of his neck, full of agitation. “Are you one of those girls who’s waiting to get, like, a promise ring before you give up your V-card?”
    I frowned. “No. But I’m certainly not having sex in a tent bed while someone else is in the room.” My voice rose in indignation before I could stop myself.
    “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!” Watson moaned from tent bed number two.
    ***
    At eight o’clock the next morning, Julie walked into our room like she owned the place. Alexis covered her head with her pillow, and I groaned and hid under my covers.
    “Rise and shine, my pretties. We have business to attend to.” Julie yanked the covers off of me and pulled the pillow away from Alexis. Placing both of our laptops next to us, she pushed Alexis over and got comfortable as she opened her own.
    We had agreed to check house results together. I thought we’d do that at a reasonable time. However, Julie had a different plan. After entering our personal passcodes, we waited and whatever sleep still lingered in me, flew out the window. Anticipation buzzed through my body.
    Julie screamed and bounced on the bed. “All three of my favorites are still here.” She stood up and did a little dance. “I only got cut by two houses, but who cares? I think one was the place where I accidentally let it slip that their furniture reminded me of my Nana’s. The other was definitely the one that smelled like burnt toast. I couldn’t hack that smell twenty four/seven. Sometimes my brutal honesty hurts.” Julie flopped back down on my bed.
    “I got my favorites too,” Alexis said, looking up from the screen. Her eyes danced with excitement. “It looks like I only got cut from one place. I’ll have to choose the other three to cut now.”
    Julie leaned over to look at Alexis’ screen. “But you still have Tri-Gam too, right?”
    Alexis nodded and looked at me. “Taren?”
    “I didn’t get cut?” It came out like a question, and I pulled the laptop closer to me.
    “You didn’t get cut by Tri-Gam?” Julie held up both hands, fingers crossed for luck, and Alexis clapped her hands together.
    “I still have Tri-Gam. I didn’t get cut...by anyone. I guess they all liked me. How is that possible?”
    Julie jumped up and down on Alexis’ bed. “I told you Taren Richards! You are hotter than Satan’s nut sack!”
    I threw my pillow at her. “Did you really just compare me to the devil’s genitals?”
    She laughed. “You gotta admit, that’s pretty hot, though. Right?”
    I didn’t get cut by anyone. I sat back in my bed, staring at the computer screen. A sense of something new struck me. I was finally starting to believe I could be different. That it was my turn to belong.

Chapter Ten
    ALEC
    We were walking to Ratsies for calzones when I saw her again. The field in front of Memorial Chapel was filled with girls in sorority shirts, but my eyes