Part 4 (1/2)
Accustomed to Libby's boldness, Bennett found himself impatient with this girl's bashfulness. But he played the gentleman and escorted her to her table, where she melted into her seat, her doleful eyes still glued to his face. ”Thanks for your help, Caroline.” He hummed a couple of bars from the song, grinning as Caroline fanned her still-red cheeks with both hands. Then he winked at her friends, who giggled hysterically, before he swaggered back to his own table.
Just as he lifted his tray, Libby and Pete entered the dining hall. He scowled at them as they approached. ”Now you show up. Where've you been?” He bounced his empty tray. ”I'm all done.” He didn't mention his impromptu concert. He also didn't ask why Libby was with Pete when he'd invited her to have lunch with him. you show up. Where've you been?” He bounced his empty tray. ”I'm all done.” He didn't mention his impromptu concert. He also didn't ask why Libby was with Pete when he'd invited her to have lunch with him.
”Sorry I'm late.” Libby stuck out her lower lip and blew, lifting the fine strands of hair along her forehead. ”It took longer than I thought it would to get to the newspaper offices in town.”
Bennett frowned. ”Newspaper offices?”
”I was seeking employment.”
They'd all need to find jobs to help with spending money. Their scholars.h.i.+ps covered school expenses but nothing else. And they didn't have parents to send them a monthly allowance. Pete was lucky-Mrs. Rowley had arranged for him to be a student a.s.sistant for the biblical professors. But of course the Rowleys hadn't bothered to set anything up for him or Libby; they were on their own. He wished he'd known that's what Libby'd been doing all morning-he could've gone with her and done some job-seeking himself. ”Find anything?”
A secretive smile creased her cheek. ”Yes. Something completely unexpected.” Before Bennett could ask her what she meant, she turned to Pete. ”Well, I'm glad we ran into each other. Since Bennett's finished, I'll just eat with you. a.s.suming there's anything left.”
Pete looked at Bennett. ”Do you want to stay and visit with us while we eat?”
Bennett snorted. ”Nah. I've been here long enough.” If he'd left sooner, he might have been able to avoid giving the concert. Of course, that hadn't been without its benefits. He glanced over his shoulder. Caroline and her friends continued to gawk at him, all looking moon-eyed. He couldn't resist waggling his eyebrows at the trio, which created another round of giggles, before turning back to Pete and Libby. ”I'm heading to my room-gonna enjoy my last afternoon of freedom before cla.s.ses start tomorrow.”
”All right. We'll see you at supper?”
Bennett nodded. ”I'll be here.” He dumped his tray in the bin and headed for the doors. He encountered Jim and Ted heading out at the same time. He clapped Jim on the shoulder. ”Hey, thanks for giving me the chance to sing.” He raised one eyebrow. ”The ladies sure like it when a fella sings to 'em. You did me a real favor.”
Ted cleared his throat. ”You're about the worst singer I've ever heard.”
Bennett laughed. ”Does that mean you don't want me to pledge . . . what was it again? Delta Cow Delta?”
Ted scowled. ”That's Delta Tau Tau Delta.” Delta.”
Bennett feigned embarra.s.sment. ”Oh. That's right.” He rubbed the underside of his nose with his finger, hiding his smile. ”Sorry, fellas.”
Jim said, ”You're welcome to pledge, but we're only taking three new members this year. So . . .”
Bennett knew what the man was intimating-his chances weren't good. Nothing new there. When had Bennett ever received a break? The two started to walk away, but Bennett dove into their pathway. ”Hey, before you go, can I ask you a question?”
Jim shrugged. ”Sure.”
”Do you know a tall guy . . . curly hair. Name's Roy?”
The two gaped at him. Jim said, ”Hey, you're the one who . . .” He grabbed Ted's arm.
Ted grunted and pulled away.
Jim gave Ted's arm a whack and grinned from ear to ear. ”You know who we've got here? This's the guy who socked Roy in the nose last night. Am I right? Wasn't that you?”
The admiration in the man's eyes almost made Bennett blush. Almost. He puffed out his chest. ”Yep, that was me.”
Jim shook his head. ”I've never seen anybody stand up to Roy like that.” He leaned forward and added conspiratorially, ”He's a big man around here, you know.”
Bennett snickered. ”He didn't look so big all bent over, holding his nose.”
The other two laughed, although they glanced around as if afraid someone might overhear them.
”So are you friends of his?” Bennett withdrew a slice of bread from his pocket. He munched while he waited for an answer.
”Oh, not friends exactly . . .” Jim scratched his head. ”But we know him.”
”You mean, know of of him,” Ted added. ”He's in Beta Theta Pi, like most of the athletes. We, um . . .” He cleared his throat, looking at the ground. ”We don't mix much with that group.” him,” Ted added. ”He's in Beta Theta Pi, like most of the athletes. We, um . . .” He cleared his throat, looking at the ground. ”We don't mix much with that group.”
Bennett swallowed a smirk. ”Oh. Well, thanks.” He stepped off the porch.
”Wait!” Jim stumbled after Bennett, Ted on his heels. ”Are you going to pledge Delta Tau Delta? You can even bring your friend-you know, the one Roy was pestering. His wooden leg's no problem for us.”
Bennett's fist formed without effort. So Pete's wooden leg wouldn't bother them, huh? For reasons he didn't understand, the statement rankled. He pressed his fist against his thigh to keep from popping Jim right in the mouth. ”As I said, I don't know if I'm going to pledge. I'll let you know.”
Without waiting for a reply, Bennett turned and headed for his dormitory. By the time he reached the rock building, he'd made a decision. He would pledge to a fraternity. But it wouldn't be Delta Tau Delta. He had his sights set on Beta Theta Pi. And he intended to bring Pete in with him.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
His fingertips grazed her cheek. She gasped. ”Oh please, sir, how forward you're being! You mustn't . . . mustn't . . .” She gulped as his firm, cool hand curved along her jaw.
”I cannot resist,” he whispered. His breath stirred the errant curls falling across her forehead. ”Your exquisite beauty, my darling, is”- ”h.e.l.lo, Elisabet!”
The cheerful greeting sent the imaginary characters in Libby's head scrambling for cover. Libby slapped down her pencil, whirled on her seat, and glared at her roommate.
Alice-Marie's bright smile faded. She dashed to the desk and perched on its edge. ”Why, what's the matter? You look so cross.” Her focus flitted to the pad of paper on Libby's desk.
Libby smacked the pad of paper facedown and rested her linked hands on it. ”I was . . . busy. You startled me.” She nudged Alice-Marie's leg lightly with her elbow.
Alice-Marie missed the hint. She folded her hands in her lap and beamed at Libby. ”Oh, I do apologize most sincerely. Mother says I really must stop rus.h.i.+ng into rooms and calling out, but I can't seem to stop myself!” She hunched her shoulders and t.i.ttered. ”I'll try, though, so I don't keep you from . . .” Once more, she turned a curious look toward the pages.
Libby scooped the pad off the desk and dropped it into the desk drawer. She closed the drawer with a firm snap. ”What time is it?”
Alice-Marie glanced at her dainty wrist.w.a.tch. ”A quarter to six.”
Libby jumped up. ”I'm meeting my friends for supper.” After missing lunch with Bennett, she shouldn't keep him waiting.
Folding her arms over her chest, Alice-Marie affected a pout. ”Oh, but I hoped you might eat with me. That's why I came up here before going to the dining hall.”
”You're not eating with Kate and Myra and . . . ?” Libby couldn't remember the name of the third girl from breakfast.
”Margaret,” Alice-Marie supplied. Her lip poked out farther. ”I've made no plans with anyone . . . except you.”
Libby nibbled her lower lip. She and Alice-Marie were roommates, but she didn't fancy forming a friends.h.i.+p with the girl. Yet, looking into her disappointed pale blue eyes, Libby couldn't refuse. She knew how it felt to be rejected.
”Well then,” she said through gritted teeth, ”why don't you join my friends and me?”
Alice-Marie's bright smile returned. She bounced up and slipped her hand through Libby's elbow. ”Oh good! I hoped you might introduce me to your friends friends.” Her giggle rang as they headed down the hall to the stairway. ”So which one is your beau? I wouldn't want to accidentally flirt with the one you've already claimed.”