The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 1

“Hurry up dude. We’re going to be late.”

Nick didn’t move. “Sorry bud, I need to study. I’ve got a big geology test on Friday.” Roger had been obsessed for weeks, but it was time to tell him the bad news. “I can’t go.”

“Fuck that. We’re talking about the Phi Lambs. Have you seen those girls?”

Nick nodded, “Yeah. I’ve seen them.” He sighed. Everyone had seen them.

Roger was a great roommate despite Nick’s initial misgivings. They hadn’t met before move-in day, and considering some of the other guys he’d met in the dorm, the pairing could have been much worse. Roger didn’t make a lot of noise. He had good study habits. He wasn’t messy. He didn’t snore. Nick’s roommate was a genuinely likable guy with two minor annoyances – his constant reminder about the size of his penis and an incessant chatter about every girl he wanted to bed.

To be fair, Roger wasn’t different than most guys on campus. Conversations with other guys usually revolved around the subject of girls but Roger took it to the next level. The first week of school Roger saw a girl in the quad and decided he needed to meet her but didn’t do it in a normal manner. He spent the next few days learning her class schedule then for the next week, positioned himself strategically to ‘accidentally’ bump into her again and again. After two weeks, his efforts ended with a threat to call campus security.
Now Roger wanted Nick to go with him to a girl’s sorority in hopes of stealing their panties?

“Sorry dude. You know I’m on scholarship. I can’t afford to get in trouble.”

Roger held up a flyer. “They invited us.” Roger read the words out loud. “All freshmen are invited to celebrate Phi Lambda Phi’s 28th Annual Harvest Moon Freshman Mixer. Gates open at sunset. Don’t be late or you’ll be shut out.”

Nick had seen the flyer. Everyone had seen the flyer. It was the main topic of discussion in the dining hall and whispered about in the hallways before class. Despite the lack of mention on the official brochure, it didn’t take long for upperclassmen to inform them of the event’s unofficial name – the Phi Lamb Panty Raid.

“I’ve got to study.” Nick said, “Stealing girls' panties isn’t my thing.”

“Seriously, dude?” Roger gave a look of disbelief. “You know … some of the other guys have been talking … I don’t care if it's true.” Roger stared at Nick.

“I’m not gay if that’s what you’re implying.” Nick said the words louder than intended. It wasn’t the first time in his life someone had accused him of being gay but it was the first time at this school.

Roger shook his head. “Why don’t you want to go? There’s a sorority full of the best looking girls on campus who invited us to steal their panties.”

Nick understood more than Roger knew. You couldn’t miss the Phi Lambs and their matching pink shirts with Greek letters in baby blue embossed across the front. He’d seen one up close every Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday from 10-11 AM in his Intro to Geology class. She was the reason he needed to study.

Nick had spent the last month working up his courage to get a name. He determined he had to meet her the first time he saw her. She was different from the girls back home. It had gotten to the point where he wondered if he’d been spending so much time with Roger that he was taking up his roommates’ obsessiveness.

A review of his geology notes showed he’d spent more time in class doodling about her than paying attention to the professor’s lectures. During Monday’s class, she’d caught him staring and met his gaze with a wink and a smile. He hadn’t dared to look up for the rest of the class.

Now Roger wanted him to visit this same girl’s sorority with a bunch of horny guys. Invited or not, Nick had already made a bad first impression. He was determined to do better the second time and her stealing panties was not part of the equation.

“I can’t…”

A voice boomed from the hallway. “Are you guys coming?”

A big guy popped his head into the room. Two smaller guys stood behind him.

Roger said, “Nick’s being a pussy. He says he has to study.”

Stanley said, “Seriously, Nick?”

Nick shrugged. He’d never been great at making friends, but for the last month he’d felt like a part of the group with Roger, Clem, Gary, and Stanley.

Gary held up his phone, “We need to get going. It’ll be dark soon.”

“Don’t worry. I got this.” Clem smiled, putting his two thick hands on Nick’s shoulders, pinning him to the chair.

Nick protested, “What the fuck, dude?”

Clem said, “You’re not making us late.” Nick felt the pressure of two strong arms lift under his armpits. “You guys grab a leg. I got his arms.”

Nick protested, “You’re going to carry me all the way across campus?”

Clem lifted Nick out of the chair like he was nothing. “You think I can’t?”

Clem was 6’3” and weighed at least 275 lbs. Rumors said he’d been an all-state offensive lineman in high school and had a couple of D1 scholarship offers but turned them all down, preferring instead to attend Asher College.

Nick felt like a toy in the big man’s arms, “Put me down, Clem.”

Clem asked, “Are you coming with us?”

“I’ve got to study.” Nick said, “Why is this so important to you guys?”

Gary shook his head. “It’s the Phi Lambs, dude. Because they’re hot?” He stated the idea as if it were an impeachable closing argument.

Nick said, “I mean… Sure…”

Stanley said, “You’re coming, Nick. You’re part of the group. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

Nick’s throat choked up for a second when he tried to speak. He’d always found it difficult to make close friends and hated to disappoint them. Over the past month, he had more fun with these guys than in his four years of high school combined. It would be a lie to say the idea of going to the Phi Lamb house didn’t excite him. “If it’s important to you guys…”

“Awesome…” Clem said, loosening his grip. "... then it's settled." The others were already out the door.

Chapter 2

Lines of male bodies poured out of Allen Hall like someone had pulled the fire alarm. The same could be seen at freshman dorms all over campus with every freshman boy headed in the same direction. An outsider might think Asher College was about to have a football game but the football stadium was in the opposite direction.

Gary asked, “Have you seen the Phi Lamb house? That place is huge.”

Stanley said, “I can’t believe the fraternities let those girls snag the best spot on Greek Row.”

Roger said, “My grandfather told me stories about the Phi Lambs from his days at Asher. They were hot shit even back then.”

The buildings at Asher College were split into two groups. There was the old campus, constructed over a hundred years ago, with patches and updates that did their best to bring the structures up to code. Then there were the more recently constructed buildings that tried to keep the same rustic feel.

Nick fell in love with the place as soon as he saw it. He loved it even more now that he’d lived here for a month even if his situation was different from the other guys. Most everyone on campus came from money. Gary and Roger’s grandfathers had gone to Asher. They couldn’t relate to someone who couldn’t lose their scholarship.

Roger pointed. “I bet half our class is here.”

Stanley looked in the opposite direction, “There’s more behind us.”

Nick stared at the Phi Lamb house which grew larger with every step. It dominated the hill, standing between the college and the town of Asher. A small sign stood near the entrance of the town,

The Sisters of Asher met under the shade of an elm near this spot in June 1790, resulting in the founding of Asher Convent with a purpose of nursing the sick, aiding the poor, and teaching the uneducated. Word of their efforts caused people to flock to the area, the result being the village of Asher, a place where kindness to strangers still reigns supreme.
The people of Asher dedicate this plaque in recognition of these pioneering women on the 200th anniversary of the town’s founding – July 23rd, 1999.

Gary asked, “What time does the sun set?”

Clem pointed at the sky and the growing full moon. “I don’t know the exact time but it’s gonna be soon.”

Thick hedges surrounded the property on every side. At least two hundred freshmen already gathered near the front gate.

Roger pointed at a nearby girl, “What’s that chick doing here?”

The girl turned, “The flyer didn’t say ‘boys only’. It said ‘freshmen’.”

“Oh.” Roger said, not discouraged in the slightest by the girl’s tone. Thankfully for her, Roger was turned off by girls taller than him.

“Sorry, Kristy.” Clem said, “My friend doesn’t know his manners.”

Gary looked at Clem surprised, “You know her?”

“She’s in my calculus class.” Clem shook his head at Roger before looking at Kristy. “Sorry about my friend’s rudeness.”

“I’ve met worse at this school.” The girl was taller than everyone but Clem, and had a husky build Nick guessed outweighed him by thirty pounds. “It’s good to see you, Clem.”

It didn’t surprise Nick Clem knew this girl. His friend seemed to know everyone on campus but most here went to the same private high schools.

Nick didn’t need to see the gates open. A loud cheer told him before he noticed the crowd moving. The mass of bodies pushed through the narrow entrance as more guys continued to arrive. When Nick passed through the entrance he found a much bigger courtyard on the other side than he expected.

The clang of iron gates closing announced the party was about to start. A look around showed the place a veritable fortress, with the imposing building rising high in the night’s sky. Nick didn’t blame these girls for their obsession with security. The house was bordered on the other side by fraternity houses, with the guys there doing things twenty-year-old guys like to do.

“Welcome to Phi Lambda Phi.”

A look showed the second story balcony bathed in the faint glow of candlelight. Behind each candle stood a hooded figure in a silken robe colored pink and baby blue. They’d appeared out of nowhere, and the light appeared all at once. Scanning from one end to the other showed no signs of ‘geology girl’, the outfit making each girl indistinguishable from another.

A single voice called out.

“Welcome to the 29th Annual Harvest Moon Celebration. Our doors will soon open and remain so for exactly thirty minutes. You may enter, you may explore, and you can touch but I warn you … despite what you may have heard … taking items from our premises without our express permission is not allowed.”

Groans of disappointment echoed from the crowd below.

“… isn’t taking panties the point …”
“… this is bullshit …”

The Phi Lambs exited the balcony into the darkness behind them as the guy's complaints grew louder…

“… I’m leaving …”
“… not me … I’m getting me some …”

The crowd was divided into three groups. Some headed for the exit. Others ignored the warning and began sprinting for the house’s front door. Nick found himself in the third group who hadn’t moved. They found Roger near the stairs.

“I’m surprised you aren’t inside.”

Roger sounded panicked as a stream of guys filed past. “We’ve gotta move. Those assholes are going to take everything.”
Stanley and Gary looked at Clem and Clem looked at Kristy. Kristy said, “Don’t look at me. I came here to see the house.”

Clem shrugged, “They did invite us to go inside. There’s no reason we can’t take a look.”

Roger took off at a sprint with Gary and Stanley close behind. Nick watched the trio and shook his head.

Kristy said, “Your friends are assholes.”

Clem smiled. “They aren’t bad once you get to know them.” He took a position near the stairs, blocking off the paths of guys who tried to cut the line. “After you, Kristy.”

A shiver crept up Nick’s spine as soon as he entered the building. “It’s cold in here.”

“You think?” Clem said, giving Nick an surprised look.

The interior didn’t match Nick’s expectations. The oak moldings, parquet floor, and brass fixtures looked brand new, not shouting girl as much as it screamed money. A look at the stairs showed guys of every size and shape running up and down the halls with no Phi Lambs in sight.

Roger shouted from a balcony. “Come on guys. We’re headed to the third floor. No one has gone up there yet.”

An entry stairwell rose around one side of the room and wound around to the second floor then circled again leading to the third floor. Kristy pointed to an open door as they passed the second floor, “Isn’t that the entrance to the balcony?”

Kristy popped her head outside then looked around the stairwell. “I wonder where the Phi Lambs went?”

Nick tried to get a lay of the land. “They can’t be far.”

“True.” Clem nodded, “Some of those guys were really moving when the doors opened.”

Guys ran in and out of every room with some already running towards the front door holding as many pairs of panties as they could carry.

Stanley shouted down from the third floor. “We found a room no one has hit.”

Roger greeted them with a shout as they entered, “You guys won’t believe what we found in the bedrooms.”

Nick scanned the room before looking at Clem. “Aren’t you going back there?”

“Nah. They said not to take anything.” Clem replied. “I’ll guard the door.”

Unlike the entrance area, this room looked exactly like Nick expected. The walls were painted in a pastel color and the picture frames were full of smiling Phi Lambs engaged in the sorts of activities you’d expect of girls at college. The decor itself was nice and tasteful. The comfy looking couch had more pillows than cushions. The small dining table had actual place mats and a centerpiece. The kitchenette looked spotless.

“What are you doing in the living room, Nick?” Roger ran into the living room, holding a pair of panties in each hand. “The good stuff is back here.”

Roger pulled on Nick’s arm, dragging him to the back. “You’ve got to see this.” As he did so, the shock of a soft silk thong in Roger’s hand pressed against Nick’s arm causing him to fall to the floor.

Roger held out his hand. “Dude? Are you okay?”

“Sorry.” Nick told his hand and picked himself off the floor.. “I … musta tripped.”

Roger laughed, “I can’t take you anywhere.” He pointed to one of the bedrooms in the back. “They’ve stacked panties on their beds. I told you this was a panty raid. We hit the motherfucking motherlode.”

The bedrooms looked as spotless as the living room, each a mirror image, holding two beds, two desks, and two dressers. Shelving units circled the walls of the room. The occupants of this room chose to fill their shelves with stuffed animals.

Roger clapped his friend on the back. “There’s hundreds of them. There’s so many I’m having trouble choosing.”

Stanley held up his hands filled with various colors of cotton and silk cloth, “Why bother choosing? Take them all.”

Nick stared at the bed. Panties of every variety lay side by side and in separate rows. He never claimed to be an expert on panties, but he did know more than most guys from his time working inthe department store. When he turned he saw Gary wearing a pair of granny panties over his head.

Stanley held up a pink thong. “Isn’t this amazing?”

Roger picked up a g-string and covered his face with it before taking a big whiff. “It’s too bad they did the laundry.”

“Dude. Seriously?” Nick said, “You need help.”

Roger didn’t answer as he took another sniff.

Stanley stood at the door of the bedroom, a grin on his face and a g-string in each hand. “You guys ready to get out of here? That chick said they were closing the gate in thirty minutes and I don’t want to be late.”

Roger nodded before grabbing a final pair, this time crotchless panties made out of black lace.

Gary pulled the granny panties off his head and shoved them into his pocket. “Are you getting anything Nick?”

“I don’t know.” The Phi Lamb warning stuck in his head.

Roger said, “Don’t be a pussy, Nick. They put them here -- they want us to take them. Just grab something so we can go.”

Stanley looked at his watch. “That leader chick sounded serious about the thirty-minute time limit. I have no idea what they’re planning but the whole idea of a panty raid is quick in and quick out.”

Roger popped his head around the corner. “Sounds like something your girlfriend would say.”

“Ha. Ha.” Stanley replied with his trademark dry wit. “Very funny, asshole.”

Nick couldn’t take his eyes off the bed.

Gary said, “I don’t think there’s any way those girls can make this mob leave any time soon.”

“I don’t care about the others.” Stanley said as he held up two pairs of red panties. “I got everything I came for.”

Gary pointed to the granny panties. Several others hung from his pockets. “Yeah. Me too. I’m ready to go.”

Roger joined the others. “Are you ready, Nick?”

Nick stared at the bed. Dozens and dozens of pairs of panties remained. He saw briefs, thongs, and g-strings. There were bikinis, boyshorts, and a dozen other kinds. He had no idea a girl could own so many pairs of panties.

Stanley shouted from the doorway, “Pick something, Nick.”

Gary laughed from down the hall, “Maybe he’s looking for a pair that might fit.”

“Nice.” Stanley held up the granny panties. “But now that you say it, I bet these would feel good on my balls.”

Roger said, “You would think that.”

Nick didn’t bother to respond as a tingingy feeling grew inside. When he reached forward to touch a pair of pink cotton briefs, he passed out, falling head first onto the bed.

“Ha. Ha. Great idea Nick.” Gary laughed, “That’s one way of choosing.”

Stanley said, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Roger laughed, “I’m going to the other bedroom to do the same.”

Nick struggled to move as the tingles from the pieces of lycra, cotton, and satin pulled at him from every side. Only a panicked cry freed him from his cage, sending panties flying in every direction.

“Nice.” Roger said, giving a thumbs up. “That was boss.”

A look back showed he’d thrown most of the panties off the bed.

Gary laughed, “Whoever has to clean up this room is going to be pissed. We need to get out of here quick.”

When Nick stood he realized his right hand held the pair of pink cotton panties.

Years of cleaning up messes at the department store kicked in. “I need to clean up the mess I caused. It won’t take long.” Nick took one step before being yanked backwards.

“No time, dude,” Stanley said, pointing to his watch. “We've got to go.”

Nick fought Stanley and Gary with every step, the pull of the bedroom no match for the combined strength of his friends.

“Dude, stop fighting us.”

Nick knew he had lost when Clem joined the fray, and seeing the pandemonium outside realized his friends were right. It was time to leave. Clem pointed the way. “Follow me. I’ll take the lead.” As they waited, Nick watched several guys pass wearing panties on their heads, screaming and shouting joyous cries at their haul.

Clem waited for a break in the mob then led his friends through the hysteria, the fevered pitch of the others no match for Clem’s bulk. Nick took his place at rear, the pull of the room lessening with every step.

A sudden flash of light ended all thoughts of panties. When the light subsided, Nick saw the room had turned to darkness, now every step more hesitant than the last. Shadows danced in the distance but none resembled his friends. As gray light turned to black a sense of impending doom pressed him forward as the sound of disembodied male voices filled the air. When Nick found his feet no longer able to move, one voice drowned out the others.

“You must lose that which belongs in this house if you wish to leave. That trinket is a mere bauble compared to what I can give you.”

Nick turned around to find the source of the voice but the darkness was too thick. His right hand had a vice grip on the panties so Nick used his left to force his hand open, allowing him to toss them towards a corner wall. His strength returned as soon as the fabric left his grip, allowing him to rush forward towards the door and the night’s sky.

“Made it.” Nick shouted in triumph as he exited the house, not understanding the gravity of the moment. Another two steps showed the true state of affairs, the forgotten series of steps resulting in a tumble that knocked Nick unconscious.

Chapter 3

“You may rise.” The voice sounded from above as Nick woke from his stupor.

Movement echoed through the courtyard though Nick couldn’t see much. The only light came from the balcony, where the speaker held the only flame.

“What the hell…”

A woman’s voice cut through the chatter. “Silence. You are not allowed to speak until given permission. Anyone who breaks this rule will find the hospitality of this house at an end.”

Nick’s knees wobbled as he attempted to stand so he decided to remain seated. A look in every direction showed not one familiar face.

The voice on the balcony said, “You have passed the first test and showed you can respect our requests. As a result, we now give you a choice.”

A light revealed a large box near the exit overflowing with what appeared to be pink panties. “You may leave with a parting gift and our thanks.” A second light revealed another box near the entrance of the house. “Or if you wish, you can re-enter the house, but only if you take off your clothes and change into this.” She revealed a cotton garment, each hand holding a thin strap.

“… is that a dress?”
“… fuck that shit.”
“… I’m outta here, dude.”

Three groups formed. Some headed for the exit. A few headed for the house. The undecideds huddled in the courtyard.

One voice braved the demand they remain silent. “Boxers too?”

Laughter sounded in the leader’s voice. “Boxers too. After all, this is a panty raid.”

“… they’re trying to humiliate us.”
“… I bet they want pictures …”
“… No fucking way, dude.”

Nick tried to stand, stumbling at first before regaining his balance. A search for his friends proved unsuccessful until he saw Clem’s hulking frame in the shadows. Nick rushed through the crowd overcoming his desire to hug his friend to give a simple greeting instead.

“Heya Clem!”

Clem put a finger to his lips when he saw Nick then pointed to the balcony.

Nick nodded. Of course. No talking.

A look around the courtyard showed the place in chaos over the options given to them. Many guys hurried for the exit. A few were removing their clothes. One person walked towards Clem and Nick.

Kristy smiled when she arrived, holding a dress in each hand, offering one to Clem and the other to Nick.

Clem smiled at Nick before taking the dress with a nonchalant shrug. The garment look tiny in his name. Nick took the other, the shock of the cotton blend tickling his toes as soon as it touched his hand.

Nick inspected the dress – double stitched, quality material, pink of course, and like everything else Phi Lamb, a sorority emblem sewn in baby blue over the left breast. Clem was naked by the time Nick looked back at his friend.

Nick tried not to look. He always tried not to look. It had been a month since his first communal shower in the dorm. For the first week of school he showered at odd hours but fear of this practice making him an outcast got him to join the others.

The first time was downright embarrassing. How could anyone be expected to have a normal conversation with all those dicks hanging out? It didn’t take long to understand the unspoken rule of keeping eye contact even if everyone knew the practical impossibility of averting your eyes completely.

And now, Nick did his best to avert his eyes again.

Of course, Kristy had no such restriction – her low whistle of approval sent a blush to Clem’s face as he finished putting on the dress.

Kristy turned to Nick and seeing him fully dressed pointed at the dress then back at Nick.

Nick shook his head.

Kristy nodded her understanding as did Clem and a second later the pair walked towards the front door leaving Nick all by himself. A look around showed the front courtyard emptying quickly. A look at the balcony showed the Phi Lambs had disappeared. Soon, he was all alone.

Nick took a deep breath. He preferred being alone. That’s why he loved working second shift at the department store after school. It took a year before he gained the manager’s trust so he could close the store by himself. This gave Nick the freedom he craved.

It wasn’t like he didn’t want to wear this dress. Every strand of its fabric called to him but another part recoiled at the idea of being found out. He never liked being an outcast and now he’d found a bunch of friend who didn’t judge him. Then again, one of those friends was Clem and Cle had already gone inside.

The group elected Clem as their leader the first time they’d met though it wasn’t like anyone put the matter to a vote. Genetics made the decision long before any of them met. People naturally gravitated to Clem and he appeared to enjoy it. He was the kind of friend everyone wants to have at their back and if Clem could wear a dress…

Nick stared at the bright moon shining down from above, revealing a swirl of dark colors circling the house. He’d felt darkness as he’d descended the stairs. Every fiber of his being screamed, but nothing mattered once he pulled the dress close.

Nick’s pants hit the ground after he loosened his belt, the sudden loss of clothing sending a jolt up his legs. A double check showed no one looking as he removed his shirt and not seeing a soul, Nick let his briefs slide to the ground as well. The warm feeling of acceptance crept up his body despite the chilly night air, the warmth growing as the dress settled into place.

Was it wrong this felt so right? This was a college party after all. Crazy things happened at college parties.

Light from dozens of bronze candles showed above the entry hall, a marked difference from the courtyard. Once his eyes adjusted, Nick saw at least two dozen boys milling about the entryway with Clem easy to find.

A voice announced from above:

“Congratulations. You have passed our second test and are allowed to speak freely. Come upstairs and meet our membership. We have drinks and food waiting.”

Most of those waiting ran up the stairs but Nick saw Clem and Kristy hadn’t moved. “Did you guys feel anything weird when we were in the house earlier?”

Clem nodded, “I had trouble seeing as I walked down the stairs. I think they set off a smoke bomb to get us to leave.” Nick watched as his friend pulled at the straps of the pink dress, trying to make it longer.

Kristy added, “Things went hazy for me too.”

“I could barely move inside the house.” Nick said, deciding it best to avoid the subject of panties, “I fell down the stairs running out the front door.”

Clem shrugged, “We passed their test. Now we get to party.”

“I suppose that’s a good thing.” Nick looked around. “Have you seen Roger, Stanley, or Gary?”

“Nah but given the choice of panties or wearing a dress? I bet they’re halfway to Allen House by now.” Clem laughed. “Can you imagine one of those guys wearing this?” He looked at Nick. “To be honest, I’m surprised you’re here.”

Nick’s face flushed, “I … well … I followed you.”

Clem’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you needed to study?”

“Yeah … uhhh…” Nick felt his face flush.”… well … uhh … I mean the Phi Lambs invited us inside their house. How can you say no to that?”

“I can’t argue with that logic.” Clem nodded as he looked around the room, “It looks like 90% of our original number bailed. I’m not sure what that says about us.”

Kristy shrugged. “Who cares? We’re having fun.” Nick saw she kept looking at bulge straining to remain hidden at the bottom of Clem’s dress.

Nick looked around, wondering about ‘Geology girl’. “I had to stay. What kind of idiot wouldn’t want to party with the Phi Lambs? Roger is going to be so jealous when he finds out…” He looked down at the dress that ended at Nick’s mid-thigh. “… though I think it best if we leave out a few details.”

Clem smiled. “Sounds good to me.”

The Phi Lambs had scattered throughout their party room, most chatting amiably with each other. It didn’t take a genius to realize they’d hid in this room while most of the freshman class ransacked their bedrooms.

“I think that’s the last arrivals.” A tall blonde strode to the center of the room. “Feel free to grab a drink and some snacks while I talk. I promise to make it as short as possible.”

The few of the other Phi Lambs groaned.

She gave her sisters a look, “I’m serious. I’ll keep it quick.”

Gone were the Phi Lamb’s formal silk hooded robes. The Phi Lambs now wore clothing similar to the casual-wear Nick had seen on campus, a mix of t-shirts and sweatshirts.

“My name is Mitsy Roberts and I’m president of the Alpha Chapter of the Phi Lambda Phi sorority. We have a long storied history at Asher College, established in 1862 with a stated purpose of bringing young women of high moral standing together in bonds of friendship.”

A smattering of laughter echoed from the members of Phi Lambda Phi. Mitsy pretended not to notice.

“For most of our history our gatherings were chaperoned by men. After all, everyone knows we women are too addle-brained to run our own affairs.”

A few of the sisters laughed. A few of the guys laughed too.

“To be fair, the administration’s concern about our safety isn’t totally without merit. Violence against women is rampant on college campuses and in response we started our annual Harvest Moon party with a goal of helping us find the nature of those we can trust to respect women’s wishes and those who do not.”

Nick looked at Clem. He had no doubt where their friends ended up.

“We consider everyone in this room a ‘friend’ of Phi Lambda Phi. This is not a designation we bestow lightly, nor should you receive it as such.”

Nick looked around the room. He counted thirty-two guys and one girl.

Every member of Phi Lambda Phi raised their glasses high. “To our friends.”

Mitsy raised her glass, “Welcome friends. This is a party so I invite everyone to mingle with our members, get something to drink, and most of all, have some fun.”

Clem looked at Kristy and then to Nick, “I need to talk to someone.” He didn’t wait for a response as he headed towards a group of girls.

Nick looked at Kristy who gave him a shrug. “Clem knows everyone.”

“So I’ve noticed.”

Kristy looked over at the table full of food. “I’m going to get something to eat.”

She didn’t wait for an answer either. A second later, Nick found himself alone. A look around the room showed everyone talking but he saw no one he recognized. Not wanting to appear like a wallflower, headed for the table with the drinks.

The first sip told the red punch didn’t have any alcohol, a surprise considering movies showed someone always spiked the punch at college parties. Even worse, the punch wasn’t very good.

A voice called from behind. “Don’t you understand the meaning of the word mingle?”

Nick jumped at the sound, the scare temporarily giving his punch the ability to fly. A second later red punch splashed down across the front of Nick’s dress and down his legs.

“What the???” Nick turned in anger then froze when he saw Geology Girl.

Geology girl gave him a mocking look. “Girls find shy boys cute, but the act gets boring after a while. Sometimes a girl is forced to make the first move.” She smiled and pointed at the splotches of red now staining Nick’s dress. “Though perhaps I misjudged you. It appears you can make a splash when the situation demands.”

A thousand ideas sparked in Nick’s mind but he’d lost the ability to speak. He’d practiced dozens of ways he might introduce himself to this girl. Being surrounded by the laughing faces of most of the Phi Lamb sorority was not on that list.

The girl said, “We better get that dress in the wash or it’s going to stain.”

“Uh … umm …” Nick tried to speak but instead grew faint as the beginnings of a panic attack took hold.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door. “The laundry room is this way.”

Nick couldn’t feel his feet as she led him from the room. Her hand felt so soft. Her voice sounded like an angel’s. Her body looked even more fit when viewed up close. Somewhere in the depths of his brain, Nick wanted to find something witty to say but the best he could do was to remain quiet as the beautiful girl led him down the stairs.

“We have more dresses in the laundry. We didn’t know how many would take up our offer of friendship.”

Nick did his best to keep up as they went down the stairs into the lobby, then followed her down another set of stairs to a room lined with washers and dryers.

The girl held out her hand. “Gimme.”

Nick attempted to speak. “What? … no … I … can’t.”

“I’ve already seen you naked if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“What?”

The girl smiled. “I watched from the shadows of the balcony when you put the dress on.”

“You what?” A surge of anger gave Nick the power to speak. “That’s … that’s … not right!”

The girl said, “Neither is staring at a girl in class every day for a month.”

All of Nick’s confidence disappeared in a flash. “Well …”

The girl’s hand grabbed Nick’s arm. “I’m teasing. To be honest, I was hoping you’d come and talk to me, shy boy. You’re kinda cute in your own way, Nick Wilder.”

Nick replayed the word ‘cute’ in his mind several times. “Wait … you know my name?”

The girl grinned. “I try to make a point of knowing the names of all my stalkers.”

“Stop messing with me.”

She smiled. “I’m not kidding. We need to get you out of those clothes or that dress will stain.”

Nick looked down the length of his dress, aware of a growing problem. “I can’t.”

“Nonsense. You can. If you want to be a friend of Phi Lambda Phi, you should know we are very body positive. The naked body is nothing to be embarrassed about. Would you like me to take off my top?”

“No … no… that would make my problem worse..” Nick tried to focus on something … anything … stepping on shards of glass … bamboo shoots under his fingernails … toothpick in his eyeballs …

The girl said, “I’ve seen you Nick. You're perfectly average sized.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“Ok, you’re bigger than most guys down there. Does that make you feel better?.” The girl grinned., “Everywhere else you’re a perfectly average guy. Not too tall. Not too short. Not too fat. Not too skinny. On a scale from 1 to 10, I’d give you a 5. I haven’t gotten to know you but if you have a good personality you could bump it up to a 6. You’d easily be a 7 if you hit the gym a few times a week.”

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?” Nick asked.

The girl smiled. “Was I being too mean? Was I being meaner than a person who stared across a classroom for a whole month without a hello?”

Nick sighed. She had him dead to rights. “Look … I’m sorry for staring in class. I knew it was wrong and I tried to stop but you …“ He weighed his words, knowing only a fool would complete that sentence. “The truth is I’ve never been good at talking to girls.”

“So you'd rather scare them.” The girl stared for a moment.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

She offered her hand. “My name is Gwen Bradford. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Gwen…” Nick repeated the name over and over in his head. “Hi Gwen, I’m Nick Wilder.”

“See…” The girl smiled. “Was that so hard?”

“What do you mean?”

Gwen said, “If you’d done that four weeks ago, we might be geology study partners.”

“Seriously?” Nick couldn’t stop his nervous laugh. “Study partners?”

“That could still happen but you’re going to need to take off that dress.”

“That’s not fair.” Nick tried to explain. “It’s not close to the same.”

Gwen asked, “How so?”

Nick said, “You weren’t naked when I stared at you in geography class.”

“True.” Gwen nodded, “But you came to my sorority house. I didn’t force you to come here and I didn’t force you to take your clothes off in our courtyard. All of this is your choice. If you’d rather, we can find your clothing, but I’m afraid to say someone with your attitude might not be a good fit to be a ‘friend’ of a Phi Lambs.”

“Seriously?” Nick said.

“I told you.” Gwen nodded, “Those who associate with us need to be comfortable in their own skin. If you can’t deal with that, it’s best if we part ways now.”

“But I’m not comfortable in my skin.” Nick closed his eyes. “I’ve never been comfortable in my skin.”

“Obviously.”

“Maybe I should go.”

Gwen said, “If that’s what you want.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“Then give me the dress.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because…” Nick hesitated. “…I have my reasons.”

“I’ve already seen you naked. I was teasing you about the average comment. You have no reason for shame. Don’t you want to be part of the Phi Lambs? Don’t you want to be friends with me?”

“I’m nothing like you.” Nick closed his eyes. “Everyone knows the world stops spinning when a Phi Lamb enters a room. I could never be someone like that.”

“Ahh…” Nick felt the warmth as Gwen’s lips kissed his cheek. “That’s sweet. If you keep saying things like that, I might bump you up to an 8. But you’d still need to hit the gym.”

Nick felt the warm spot where Gwen had kissed his cheek. This girl was so far out of his league it wasn’t funny. He continued stared at Gwen until he realized what he was doing.

“Sorry. Bad habit.”

“It’s ok. I liked it when you stared.” Gwen took Nick’s hand. “You need help losing your fear and I can help you if you’ll let me. The first step is giving me that dress.”

Nick sighed as he slowly pulled the stained dress over his head. Gwen took the garment and threw it into the washing machine before turning back to Nick, her stare ending at his crotch. “You’re going to need to take care of that before we go upstairs.”

“Take care?” Nick looked down to see his growing problem had gotten worse. He smiled. “Are you offering to help?”

“Ha … ha … very funny.” Gwen said as she ran into an adjacent room. “I’m not that easy but I do like this Nick with a sudden burst of confidence. You pass the test.”

“There’s a test?” Nick tried to swallow but found his throat dry.

“Haven’t you been paying attention? You boys have been tested since you walked through our gates.” Gwen pointed towards a door. “The bathroom is over there.” She held up a clean dress.

Nick took the dress then looked down. “What about my … uhh … problem?”

Gwen held up a bottle of lube. “Don’t take too long. The real party is about to start.”