They both nodded. “I thought Roger would make a better big brother than that,” Jeff said, taking a swig from his bottle of Coke. He sighed. “I thought he’d make a great big brother.”

“Roger hasn’t spoken to me in weeks,” I said, getting out the hamburger buns and putting two in the toaster. “Well, not really since Big Brother Night.” I shrugged. “I try, but he just won’t have anything to do with me, and you can only slam your head into a brick wall so many times.”

“That’s weird,” Blair commented. “Did something happen on Big Brother Night?”

I shrugged as I started slicing an onion. My eyes started watering. “I thought we were friends, but he really hates Chad York.” I cut the onion into thick slices. “And when I started hanging out with him—”

“Stop!” Blair interrupted me. He looked at Jeff. “I guess we should have been paying more attention. You’ve been hanging out with Chad?”

I nodded, getting out the jar of pickle slices. I flipped the burgers again, placing slices of cheese on them. “Yeah, right after Big Brother Night. I ran into Chad when I was leaving the house and we wound up going to the Iron Skillet for breakfast. We started hanging out. He’s really nice. He’s been taking me to Fusions.” I started spreading ketchup on the buns. My stomach growled. “But I guess Roger doesn’t want to be friends with me if I’m friends with Chad.” I rolled my eyes. It sounded kind of juvenile.

“But your buddy Chad didn’t feed you, either, did he?” Jeff asked angrily.

“Well, no,” I admitted. I’d hardly seen Chad all week.

“Some friend.”

“Look, guys, what’s going on here?” I asked crossly. My stomach growled again. “My brain is kind of fried right now, so you’re going to have to be a little less obtuse.” I took a bite out of my burger and moaned in pleasure.

It was the best cheeseburger I’d ever had.

“This is our fault.” Blair sighed. “We should have been more honest with you.”

“But in our defense, it’s not really cool to talk bad about brothers to pledges.” Jeff shrugged. “That whole brotherhood thing?” He shook his head. “The rules really suck sometimes. But, Jordy, you really need to stay away from Chad York. He’s not what you think.”

“You sound like Roger,” I said stiffly, taking another bite of the cheeseburger. Juice dribbled down my chin. “What is the deal, anyway? Why are you guys so down on Chad?”

“Did Roger ever tell you why he doesn’t like Chad?” Jeff asked. “You know Roger is my little brother, don’t you?”

“Yes, I knew that.” I rolled my eyes. “It’s one of the questions on the interviews we have to do. What difference does that make?”

“Because Roger doesn’t speak to me, either,” Jeff replied. “When I was his big brother, I blew it. I wasn’t there for him during Hell Week, or really any time he needed me.” Jeff rubbed his eyes. “I’m not proud of it, Jordy. But that semester was when Blair was doing an internship in London, and I wasn’t really paying attention to what was going on.”

“You fed him at least,” Blair pointed out.

“That isn’t the point,” Jeff replied. “The point is, Chad was horrible to Roger that entire semester, and I didn’t do anything.”

“What are you talking about?” I started wolfing down my second burger. My stomach was growling for more food. “You’re not making any sense.”

“Chad’s a horrible person,” Jeff said venomously. “If I’d known what was going on, I would have blackballed him. He doesn’t deserve to be a brother. Brothers don’t treat brothers the way he treated Roger.”

“What did he do that was so awful?” I finished the second burger and sighed in relief.

“This is going to sound mean,” Jeff replied. “But I can’t tell this story without sounding mean. Roger, if you hadn’t noticed, isn’t exactly the best-looking guy.”

“So? Neither am I.” I turned on the hot water spigot and started placing the dirty dishes in the sink. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Chad, on the other hand, is really good looking,” Jeff went on.

“If you like that type,” Blair snapped. “I personally don’t.”

Jeff smiled at him. “Never mind, Blair. Do you think Chad is good looking?”

I nodded. “I think he’s perfect.”

They exchanged another glance. “Roger was attracted to Chad. The way I figure it, Chad liked the attention—”

“He’s an attention whore,” Blair interrupted.

“And so Chad really led Roger on. He pretended like he was trying to help Roger—you know, helping pick out his clothes, helping him with his hair—”

My hand flew to my hair.

“—and letting him hang out with Chad and his buddies Brandon and Rees. Brandon and Rees aren’t bad guys really—”

“Just stupid,” Blair snapped. “Incredibly stupid.”

“—and they used to take him to Fusions on Wednesday nights—”

My God, Fusions. They used to take Roger to Fusions?

I remembered Chad saying teasingly to Roger, “Fusions isn’t Roger’s kind of place, is it, Roger?”

“—and then, after they were initiated, after leading him on for months, Chad told Roger he wasn’t interested in him that way, and because of Roger’s feelings for him, it was probably for the best they not be friends or hang out anymore. He cut Roger off at the knees. He told him on Initiation Night, which should have been a really happy night for Roger. Instead, Roger was devastated.” Jeff’s face set angrily. “I spent the whole goddamned night picking up the pieces. And the next day I confronted Chad. He just laughed in my face.” Jeff’s voice shook. “I should have punched him in the face, is what I should have done. Brothers don’t treat brothers that way.”

“Okay.” I bit my lip. “So Chad was mean to Roger.” Even as I said the words, I thought, But you only have Roger’s word for it. You don’t know what happened, and you never asked Chad for his side of the story. “I don’t see what this has to do with me.”

“It has everything to do with you,” Blair went on. He reached over and grabbed one of my hands. “I know I haven’t been around much, or had time to do anything other than say hi in passing, but I’ve noticed you’ve been dressing better. Has Chad been helping you pick out clothes?”

“Yes, he has.” I nodded, sticking out my lower lip. “So? So what if he has? Is it so hard for you to believe he’s just being nice? Because he cares about me?”

He kept on, ignoring what I’d just said. “And your hair, too, right? He helped you with your hair, didn’t he?”

“Yes. He taught me how to do my hair. But it’s not the same thing.” I felt nauseated. They’re wrong, they have to be wrong. Chad loves me. “I agree there are similarities, but—”

“Has Chad ever kissed you, or touched you in any way that could be construed as a pass?” It was Jeff’s turn now. He folded his arms. “Has there been anything other than a friendly hug, or a peck on the cheek?”

“We’ve never kissed, and he’s hugged me a few times, yes. But—”

“It’s the same thing all over again.” Jeff shook his head. “It’s exactly the same.” He leaned forward. “Please, please, Jordy, tell me you aren’t in love with him. Please.”

I looked from one to the other. I didn’t want to have this conversation with them. It was obvious they weren’t going to believe anything I said and were all too willing to believe the absolute worst about Chad. I was on the verge of tears. “I know it might be hard for the two of you”—I said, my voice shaking—“to imagine that someone like Chad might actually be interested in me, but—”

“No, that’s not what we’re saying,” Blair soothed. He got off the bar stool and came around into the kitchen. “What we’re saying is that Chad plays these kinds of games with people. He hurts people on purpose, Jordy. He’s going to hurt you, and we care too much about you to let that happen.” He tried to put his arms around me, but I pushed him away.

“Of course you’re good enough for Chad,” Jeff insisted. “You’re too good for him. He’s not good enough for you. You deserve better than him. Listen to us, Jordy, please.”