Games Frat Boys Play by Todd Gregory

in his closet and tossed me a pair of red sweatpants and a CSU-Polk sweatshirt. I took my wet clothes off, folded them, and pulled the sweats on. I sat down in his desk chair.
    Why didn’t Chad want me? What was wrong with me?
    You don’t look like Jacob, the insidious voice mocked me again. Why choose a Honda when you can have a Bentley?
    â€œAre you okay?” Roger asked again.
    I was about to say something about Chad when I looked at him. He was so happy I was his little brother, I knew I could never, ever tell him I’d picked Chad first. I just nodded instead and forced a smile onto my face. “I was worried you might not want me,” I said, hating myself for lying.
    He laughed. “Are you kidding me? I couldn’t believe it when Eric asked me if I wanted to take you. I was so sure I’d never get a little brother. I mean, it’s not like I’m the most popular guy in the house. And I got the coolest pledge out of the whole class.” He gave me a delighted smile, and I couldn’t help noticing how much better he looked. His entire face lit up when he smiled—and it was so much better than the perpetual scowl he usually wore.
    My disappointment started fading. So what if the big brother I’d wanted hadn’t wanted me? Was it a good idea to pick a big brother I was attracted to in hopes of getting to date him? No, it wasn’t—that was a stupid reason to pick someone. I remembered what Eric said about the role of a big brother. Roger filled that role far better, and he had been my second choice.
    It wasn’t like I’d been pawned off on someone I hadn’t picked.
    But I’d been so sure Chad would take me.
    You were sure, the voice mocked, you were hoping, and convinced yourself Chad would take you. Why would he?
    I shook my head.
    â€œI’m hardly the coolest pledge,” I said, watching as Roger pulled a box out from under his bed and expertly started rolling a joint.
    â€œYeah, you are.” Roger licked it to seal it before lighting it. “You’re not like the others—you’re not like the rest of the brothers here, either. You’re different.”
    â€œI don’t want to be different,” I said, watching as he inhaled. “I want to be like everyone else.”
    He laughed. “I meant different in a good way. Jeez, Jordy.” He took another hit. “You don’t want to be a lemming, do you? Different is good, man, really good. It makes you stand out, makes you get noticed. People who are like everyone else never get anywhere in the world, they just blend in. Who wants to blend in? I sure don’t.” He shrugged. “Do you know what usually passes for intelligent conversation around here? ‘Dude, I fucked the Delta Zeta with the huge tits.’” He shook his head and took another hit. “You, on the other hand, have a brain. You think.” He held out the joint to me.
    I looked at it dubiously. “I don’t know if I should. Marijuana affects your memory and kills brain cells.”
    Roger grinned. “You see what I mean? No one else around here would even think twice about smoking a joint.” He winked at me. “Just this once. For me, okay? To celebrate? Come on, Jordy, live a little. Just this one time won’t hurt you.”
    Never give in to peer pressure, I heard my father say. Never, ever do something to fit in. You’re your own person, and you know the difference between right and wrong. And anyone who tries to get you to do something you don’t want to do isn’t your friend in the first place.
    On the other hand, it was just this once. Roger was right—getting stoned once was hardly going to kill me.
    I reached over and took the joint from Roger. I looked at the thin line of white smoke curling up from the red ember. “So, what do I do?” I asked.
    â€œWell, you suck on the end, and then hold the smoke in until you can’t