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?"
"Yeah...she's definitely cute enough," Jason added.
"You hot for my roommate, big boy?" Beth questioned but with a smile.
"I'm just saying that I think she should have more guys after her."
"Maybe so," Beth agreed, but not with as much conviction as Jason would have expected.
Jason looked a little puzzled at Beth but she didn't seem to notice. When he turned to Haden, she just smiled weakly at him and moved to her desk.
"Ready," Beth said.
"Okay."
"We'll be back later," Beth informed Haden.
"Okay," Haden answered.
"Bye, Haden," Jason said as they walked to the door.
"Later, Jason," Haden replied.
Beth and Jason hurried to his car. The movie started at 7:45, so they needed to eat dinner fairly quick. They decided on the diner which was close to the theater anyway. Within ten minutes, Jason was wheeling the Camry out of campus and down the road.
They talked about school and swimming mostly over dinner. Jason mentioned Haden again, trying to draw Beth into a conversation about her but she seemed reluctant to discuss much about Haden so Jason dropped it.
The movie was hilarious and they both were still laughing about it as they exited the movie around ten. By 10:25 they were back in the parking lot at the dorm. As they walked into the dorm, two other people approached from another direction in the dark. They arrived at the entrance and into the light there at the same time.
"Oh my, look who it is," one of the two women said.
"Hi, Sierra," Jason responded.
"You still up to your old tricks, Jason?" Sierra asked amused.
"No," Jason stated.
"What's she talking about, Jason?" Beth asked.
"Yeah, Jason. Why don't you tell her," Sierra said laughing. "Bye."
Jason held the door as the two women quickly passed by Beth and him. Sierra gave him a big smirk and the other girl looked at him curiously as they entered. He could imagine the smile on Sierra's face as she walked away down the hall as Beth spoke loud enough for her to hear.
"What is she talking about? Isn't that the woman I saw you getting into your car with?"
"Yes."
"Well?"
"I gave her a ride, remember?"
"Yes, you told me that."
"Well, turns out she hates my big brother, Mark for something he did to her. She's basically painting me with the same brush because of what happened to her with Mark."
Jason left out the whole part about the orgy going on in his room.