Chapter 27 – The contest soon ends.
Jason made it to class just in time for the exam. He had little time to contemplate what Mark had told him until after the test was over. As he walked back to the frat, his thoughts lingered on what to do now. Anything he came up with seemed implausible at best. He was really in a jam and most likely had to settle for a tie at nineteen cherries.
'Damn, must be a way,' he told himself as he walked along.
Time was not on his side. December 10th, the contest conclusion dinner, was just three weeks away. Besides that he only had two potentials left and both sucked. More pointedly, one hated his guts and the other was the roommate of his girlfriend.
'Of all the two women on campus, I have to have these two as my only prospects,' he lamented.
The contest rules were clear that the card files from the infirmary would be the only verification of the girl's virginity accepted towards the total count. Without any other verification method allowed, Jason was screwed. Even if he found several virgins to chase after, without the cards to show proof, they wouldn't count towards his total. The more he dwelled on it the more hopeless his situation seemed.
As he entered Theta Chi he decided, 'Oh, well. I guess I'll have to settle for tied with Mark and a couple of the others. Hell, $1.6 million is unbelievable anyway.'
Even as he tried to clear his mind and forget about it, the competitive side of him that made him such a phenomenal swimmer couldn't quite let go of the challenge. He finally managed to forget about it temporarily over dinner with Chad, Kyle, and some of the brothers.
Jason finished the rest of his exams the next two days. On Thursday, he called Beth like they had planned. The college was closing for a week including Thanksgiving break. He wanted to spend as much time with Beth as he could and forget about the contest. His thoughts never quite let go of the need for one more, but as each day passed, his interest in worrying about the dead-end he faced waned. He had all but accepted his fate.
"Hello," Beth said.
"It's me," Jason voiced over his cell.
"Hi, handsome," Beth replied.
"What's up, gorgeous?"
"Just waiting for my man to call?"
"And who's that?"
"Just this handsome guy on the other end of the phone."
"Oh, me. I get it," Jason said jokingly.
"Can you come out and play?" Beth mused.
"Yes, what do you want to do?"
"I don't care."
"How about dinner and a movie?"
"Sounds good to me," Beth said.
"I'll be by at six to pick you up," Jason informed.
"Great. See you then, stud," Beth stated before hanging up.
Jason searched online for a movie. He found one called "Hangover" that other guys had told him was funny. He checked the times before going to shower.
"Where're you going?" Jason asked Chad as he walked back into the room from the showers.
"Ah, Connie and Sophie are doubling with Kyle and me," Chad confessed.
"Oh, moving in quick on my friends," Jason queried with a frown as if mad.
"Well, I didn't think you'd mind and Connie and I are getting..."
"Chad...it's okay...I'm only kidding you...I don't care at all. I'm going out with Beth tonight and actually you're doing me a favor by taking over for me," Jason proposed.
"Yeah...what's with this fuck'em and leave'em deal anyway, roomie?" Chad asked.
"I'm done with that," Jason professed. "I'm a one woman guy from now on."
"Really...you're finally hanging up that big dick so as not to lose Beth?"
"Well, I won't say I'm hanging up my dick," Jason declared laughing, "but I'm out of the fucking other women pool."
"I'm glad...I'd hate to see you lose Beth," Chad stated.
"Me too, roomie. Me too."
Chad left before Jason when Kyle came to the room to get him. Jason left soon after to get Beth. He got to her room about ten to six. Haden answered the door for him.
"Hi, Jason," Haden said.
"Hey, Haden," Jason responded even as his thoughts drifted back to the contest upon seeing her.
Haden let him in. Beth kissed him and said she'd just be a minute and left to go to the bathroom leaving Jason alone with Haden. His mind and eyes mischievously checked her out as she offered him a drink of water.
Pretty and slender, Jason couldn't figure out why Haden wasn't beating the guys off. She did act shy but her brunette hair and blue eyes were a striking combination. Maybe it was the slightly nerdy nature that Haden exuded. Beth had told him often what a brain in math Haden was. Jason knew Math was her major too.
"How were exams?" Jason asked Haden as she handed him bottled water. "Thanks."
"Fine," Haden said. "And you?"
"Good. I think I did well on all of them," Jason proposed.
"Me too," Haden agreed.
"How do you handle that math stuff?" Jason said joking. "I'm glad I only have one more math class next year."
"Comes easy to me I guess," Haden said with a smile.
"What ever happened to that guy we double dated with?" Jason asked.
"I guess he lost interest," Haden replied with a weak smile.
"What!" Jason exclaimed. "You're beautiful."
"Thanks, Jason... but I'm not sure others feel that way," Haden espoused.
"They're nuts," Jason claimed.
"Thanks," Haden said, just as Beth returned.
"Thanks for what?" Beth queried them both.
"I was just telling Haden that I can't believe the guys aren't beating her door down."
"Oh, yeah?"