Sean had been looking for Jesse all morning. He had asked everyone in the house it seemed, and no one had seen him. ‘Where the hell is he?’ Sean thought irritably. Finally, at around 2:00, he saw Jesse’s roommate as he was crossing campus. “Hey Dave!” Sean called. “Have you seen Jess, today?”

“Yeah,” Dave shouted back, “I think he’s at the bookstore, getting his books for next semester.”

“What, are they having a sale or something?” Sean quipped.

“No,” Dave grinned, “but I think the newest edition of ‘Growl’ is out.”

“Oh, I see,” Sean smirked.

“Yeah, I think it’s the special ‘Year in Perspective’ issue,” Dave simpered. “Grrr!” He assumed the customary stance of ferocity all the team players assumed when referring to the college sports periodical, and Sean couldn’t help laughing. His little brother was one of the few who took the magazine seriously.

“Thanks for the information, Man!” he returned.

“Not a problem,” Dave replied. “Tell Jess that we will not be coating our walls with the pictures this year.”

“Ok,” Sean grinned, “I’ll tell him.” He switched directions and made his way towards the campus store, and as he walked the anxiety he had previously been feeling settled over him once more. Finally he stood in the doorway of the thronged shop, scanning it for signs of his little brother. ‘It had to be something special to bring Jess in here today,’ he thought grumpily as people pushed and shoved to get by him. He started in the direction of the stairs, greeting friends and acquaintances in a half-hearted manner as he went. He took the steps two at a time and at last the crowd became thinner as he neared the top. ‘He probably has the sports section to himself,’ Sean thought ironically. Sure enough, he found Jesse comfortably ensconced in an armchair by the window, surrounded by all the latest magazines, detailing the heroics of the South Bend University Bulldogs. The newest team sweatshirt was draped over his knees and his class book list sat idly on top of the magazines at his feet. He was completely absorbed in the article he was reading, and Sean grinned again despite himself. “Getting a jump on next semester, I see,” he cracked.

Jesse looked up and smiled sheepishly at his big brother. “My intentions were good,” he returned. “Look at this!” he held up the magazine he’d been perusing. “Is that a great picture or what?” Sean came forward and took the magazine from his brother, and as he examined it closely and saw the picture Jesse was referring to, the smile faded from his face. It was a picture of Jess and Danny together right after Jesse had scored a much needed touch down. “What’s the matter?” Jesse asked. “You don’t think it’s good?”

“It’s a great picture, Kid,” Sean replied, handing the magazine back to him. Jesse looked at him, dismayed.

“What’s wrong?” he finally asked again.

Sean sighed and sat down in the chair across from him, looking steadily into his little brother’s now worried eyes. “It’s going down today,” he said quietly, glancing around to make sure no one they knew was in hearing range. The blood drained from Jesse’s face.

“Oh, no! He summoned them?”

Sean nodded. “Five o’clock,” he said softly. “I was with Ryan when he checked his mail. He tried to hide the slips, but those things are so damn bright. I think he knows I saw them.”

“Fuck!” Jesse exclaimed. “I guess I thought Steve would wait until next semester now, and I was really hoping he had changed his mind.”

“So was I,” Sean replied softly.

“Who else knows?”

Sean shrugged. “I haven’t seen Pat or Andy at all. I don’t know about anyone else. I haven’t heard anyone talking, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Mcarthy knew.”

“Oh, I’m sure he does,” Jesse replied bitterly. For a moment they were both silent. Then at last Jesse spoke again, “What about Kevin?”

“I don’t know,” Sean returned worriedly.

“Well, I guess we better find him one way or another,” Jesse replied glumly. “Him hanging on their coat tails is just about the last thing Danny and Ryan need right now.”

“That’s for damn sure!” Sean returned. “I just can’t believe Steve’s going to do this less than a week before the semester ends!”

“Yeah,” Jesse chewed his lip resentfully, “I wonder if he told them.”

For a moment Sean was quiet. “I think he probably told Ryan,” he admitted finally in a soft voice. “Ry didn’t seem too surprised this morning, and Steve never really has played by the rules where his little brother is concerned. I’m sure this is killing him, and if it weren’t for Mcarthy, he’d undoubtedly let the whole thing slide.”

“It does always seem to come down to that slimeball doesn’t it?” Jesse agreed.

Sean was quiet again, and after a moment Jesse got to his feet. “Come on,” he said worriedly, “we better find Kevin.” He bent to pick up his sweatshirt, booklist, and the issue of ‘Growl,’ he’d just been looking at.

“Aren’t you going to put the rest of this stuff away?” Sean asked, as he too got to his feet.

Jesse shrugged and looked around, unconcerned, at the mess he was leaving. “That’s what these people get paid for,” he responded.

“Jeeesss,” Sean reprimanded.

“What?” Jesse looked at his big brother. “Oh, all right!” he retorted as Sean raised his eyebrows. “Here, hold these,” he shoved his sweatshirt, magazine, and booklist at Sean and bent to pick up the remaining piles of magazines, carting them away one on top of another. Sean’s lip twitched as he tried to hide his amusement. The kid was incorrigible. A moment later Jesse came back and took his stuff from Sean, and they headed down the stairs to the front of the store. The line was huge and Jesse stared at it in dismay.

“Come on, Jess, we’ve got to go,” Sean prompted impatiently.

“I’m just going to have them hold these,” Jesse replied and Sean looked at him in exasperation. “What?”

“Jesse, there’s a million copies of that magazine and twice as many sweatshirts. They’re not going anywhere. You don’t need the store to hold them.”

“But these are mine,” Jesse protested. “Back in a jiffy!”

“Jess!” Sean called after his brother, but Jesse was already gone, and Sean shook his head, biting his lip once more. He glanced around the store while he was waiting to see who else he might recognize, but there was no one. ‘That’s strange,’ he thought. Ten minutes ago, it had seemed like everyone he knew was here. He looked uneasily at his watch, and then peered into the crowd at the front again in an effort to catch a glimpse of his brother. As he did his heart froze. To the right of the register, in the corner, was a whole pack of his fraternity brothers. They were all looking at him, some sympathetically, and some with maniacal mirth. Gregg Mcarthy stood at the center.

Two seconds later, Jesse was back and pulling at his arm. “Come on, we’ve got to go,” he said, following his brother’s horror struck gaze. “I don’t know how that bastard found out, but he’s telling everybody he knows. We’ve got to find Kevin.” Absently, Sean allowed his brother to pull him towards the door.

“Hey, Mcnally, Triviani!” Gregg called just as they were leaving. Jesse and Sean glared back at him. “You better hope you find him before I do,” Gregg smirked. Sean clenched his fist, and started in Gregg’s direction, but Jesse pulled him back.

“He’s not worth it,” he cautioned quietly, scowling once more in Gregg’s direction. “Come on, let’s just go.” Jesse pulled on his brother’s arm once again, and with one more scathing glance at their rival, Sean followed.