The uproar from the video has been unimaginable. Once it started trending on Twitter, there were tons of articles written about Aiden's frat and about this University in just two days. College students have begun protesting outside of the STD house, begging for them to be kicked off campus.
It's weird. Everyone knows that these frats have been doing things like this for years, but now that it's been enlightened it's complete chaos.
The video is hard to watch, but I can't count the number of times I have rewatched it. I listened for my breath. Can you hear me in the video? Can you see my hand? Is there anything that could convict me of being the one to capture the hazing? I can't stop watching to see.
Aiden doesn't know it was my video. And he wants to know who leaked the video. All of his "brothers" do as well. It's all they can talk about right now, according to Aiden.
I haven't talked to Joe. Sophie invited him over to our apartment, which is why I decided to leave. I can tell she feels stuck in the middleâ and she is.
I walk past a line of shouting protestors to go see my boyfriend.
"It's so crazy out there," I say when Aiden picks me up at the front door.
"Yeah, tell me about it," he says with a defeated sigh.
He looks exhausted. I haven't been able to see him since he found out about the video. He's been deflecting reporters, dealing with law enforcement, the fraternity council, the University.
"I'm so happy to see you," he pulls me in for a hug once we're in his bedroom.
I take in his embrace, holding him tight, hoping he can't feel my heart racing. I'm so on edge. "Me too."
"It's been hell," he says, pulling away.
I want to pull him back.
"What's going to happen?"
He shakes his head. "I don't know. I mean, we'll probably get shut down on campus. The other Sigma Tau chapters are so pissed."
I frown. "I'm sorry."
Aiden's bedroom door swings open.
"Dudeâ" Bradley stops when he sees me, his smile quickly turning into a frown. "Oh."
"Hi," I say softly.
"Hi," Bradley replies with that same frown. He turns to Aiden. "Uh, I came in to tell you that Mikey flooded the upstairs bathroom. It's actually kind of hilarious because he's trying to deny it."
Aiden shakes his head. "Duty calls." He places his hand on my arm gently. "I'll be right back."
"Duty literally calls," Bradley teases.
When Aiden leaves to go help with the flooded bathroom, Bradley stays. I didn't expect him to stay. We don't necessarily get along. I've always gotten a feeling Bradley didn't particularly like me, and he didn't like me being around so much.
"When's your last final?" I ask, innocently trying to start conversation.
He doesn't respond to my question. He clenched his hand in a fist, clenching and unclenching, debating what he's going to say to me next.
"Weren't you here that night?"
My stomach tightens. "What?"
"You slept over that night of the video," he says. "You're the only other person who was here." His voice is calm, pointed. It's almost terrifying.
"I-I'm not sure what you're saying..."
I know exactly what he's saying. He knows. He knows it was my video, and he probably thinks I'm the one who leaked it. I want to tell him it wasn't me, but I don't have the chance.
"Duty has been handled!" Aiden says cheerfully coming back into the tense room. "And no one make any jokes about me handling duty."
Bradley keeps his eyes on me for another tense second before breaking into a fake-warm smile to look at Aiden. "I'm heading to the library. See you for taco night, man." He turns to me once more, an anger in his eyes. "Brooklyn."
"Bradley," I say. When he's gone, I turn to Aiden. "I don't think he likes me very much."
Aiden shrugs and opens his laptop to his study notes. "That's just how he is."
"Really? Because when I first met himâ"
"Ignore it, Brooklyn. He's just on edge right now. This whole situation sucks for all of us."
"Yeah, sorry," I sigh and stretch my arms over my head.
Aiden's laptop dings and he checks his notification. "Shit."
"What's wrong?"
"Another alumni just emailed me. This guy was big, Brooklyn," he says, sadness in his voice. "He helped me get my internship last year. He said it's best we stop communication."
My heart hurts for him. This is my fault. It's affecting his future now.
The more I think about it, the more angry I get. I'm angry at Joseph for leaking the video, yes, but I'm even more angry at myself.
Why did I ever think this was a good idea? It was so selfish of me to want to write this article. I knew it was wrong the whole time. The minute I met Aiden I knew he didn't deserve this.
"Since I'm in that video," he says, "no one wants any connections with me. Bradley said everyone wants to kick me out, along with the other guys in the video. They think it might help our image or something." He shakes his head. "My dream of being re-elected is over."
He's so sad. I want to cry for him.
"I didn't even want to do it," he says, his voice at a whisper. "It's a stupid tradition... I humiliated those kids. Those poor kids."
Of course he didn't want to do it. Aiden isn't like the other guys in the frat. He's so caring, so gentle. But this frat is his whole life. It's everything to him, and he was using it to build his future.
"I know," I say, locking my eyes with him. I want him to know I don't think he's someone like who is shown in that video. He's so much better than that person.
"What am I going to do?" He asks, his eyes almost filling with tears. "Everyone hates me."
"I don't hate you," I say. "Your mom doesn't. Akira doesn't. And I don't think the Sigs really hate you. I think they're just as scared as you."
"My mom is so disappointed," he says. "Fuck, I never wanted to disappoint her."
"I'm sorry." It's almost the only words I know to say to him. He doesn't even know how sorry I am. "I know what it's like to feel like you've disappointed your parents."
He looks up at me with sad eyes. "You're literally the perfect daughter. How could you disappoint your parents?"
"I'm far from perfect. I'm both of my parents least favorite child... not that they've admitted it, but we all know. I decided to major in journalism. I didn't go pre-med like Olivia, my sister," I say. "I'm not talented at sports like my brothers. I'm really not anything special."
Except when I'm around Aiden. I feel like the most special person in the world.
Aiden, instead of responding, kisses me.
I pull away from the kiss. "Aiden, I'm so sorry all of this is happening to you. You don't deserve it."
"Maybe I do," he says. "Look at what I did in that video."
"Don't say that. You are an amazing person, and I..." I can't believe I'm about to say this to the president of a frat named after a sexually transmitted disease. "I think I might be falling in love with you."
I've been in love before, with my ex-boyfriend in high school. I was a lot different back then, however. Our relationship was very easy and was missing a lot of passion. Probably due to the fact that my ex actually was not attracted to me. Nevertheless, we did love each other.
His eyebrows raise in surprise. "Oh shit, Chapman!" His goofy grin almost seems to mock me.
I frown. "I take it back."
"No, no," he says, his voice softer. "Don't take it back, please."
I cross my arms over my chest. "Why is it so surprising to you?"
"No one has ever told me that before," he admits. "I-I mean, it felt really good to hear." He sighs. "I've never been in love before, so I don't really know what it's supposed to feel like."
"I don't think anyone really knows what it's supposed to feel like," I say.
"So, how do you know when to say you love someone?"
"Just when it feels right," I decide. "I mean, I didn't say I was in love with you. I said I'm falling in love. Don't get it twisted."
He laughs. "Oh, yeah? There's a difference?"
"I'm not in love yet," I say, a small smile on my face. "I'm just starting to feel... those emotions."
He nods and takes a second to consider his own feelings. "Well, in that case, I think I'm falling in love with you, too, Brook." A second later he adds, "Maybe."
â¢commentâ¢voteâ¢enjoyâ¢