Characters belong to SMeyer. Inspiration comes from the Twilight saga and Patrick Sean Smith. Creativity is all I got to my name.

Hey! I've found this fic is much easier on the eye at the 3/4 setting. So, try that out. :)

But it was fun, fun, fun
When we were drinking.
It was fun, fun, fun
When we were drunk
And it was fun, fun, fun
When we were laughing
It was fun, fun, fun
Oh, it was fun.

5 years time - noah and the whale

Chapter Two: All The Best Heroes Have Sidekicks

"Here's to another year, boys! May your beds be full of females, your cups be full of beer and your hearts be full of love for this year's Phi Chi Kappa president - Edward Cullen!" Emmett McCarty raised his red, plastic cup in a salute to the boys crowded inside the poorly furnished living room and roped his free arm around me. He pulled me roughly into his side as the present members whooped it up and drained their own red cups. I did the same, savoring the bitter, amber liquid and familiar surroundings. I was home. And not only that, but this year I was in charge.

"First order of business," I announced seriously, shaking my plastic cup as the room quieted. "More beer!"

The group erupted into applause again then filed out of the living room and into the backyard where three cold, celebratory kegs awaited their demise. Only Emmett and I remained in the house, both of us grinning like idiots and sharing the feeling of infinite possibility. We'd waited a long time for this moment and now, finally, it was here.

"Ah, it's good to be back." Emmett sighed contentedly, finally releasing me from his crushing grip, and sank down into the brown, overstuffed arm chair behind him.

"I couldn't agree more," I responded and it was the truth. I belonged here and as far as I was concerned, it was home. I was also hell-bent on doing my chapter proud as president and I couldn't help but make my worries known. "Do you think I can handle it?"

Emmett looked up at me seriously for a moment, his eyes slowly studying my face. Then his lips cracked into a broad grin and he burst out into booming laughter, shaking his head dramatically from side to side.

"Do I think you can handle it?" he asked incredulously, rubbing his chin with his palm. "Are you serious?"

I shrugged and pressed my lips into a tight line letting him know the question stood. He huffed and shook his head again, pointing one of his large index fingers up at me from his place on the tattered arm chair.

"You're Edward-freaking-Cullen. You're practically a PCK prodigy. A Phi Chi legend. You've sweet-talked us out of over nine noise violations and eleven underage drinking citations. You led the great Zeta Pi Panty Raid of oh-eight." He paused dramatically then and bowed his head in reverence before looking back up at me, gesturing wildly back and forth with his arms. "You won the Greek Week beer chug during your sophomore year to clinch the victory over the four year reigning champs, Lambda Delta. Edward, if you can't lead us, we're fucked, 'cause no one else is nearly as qualified."

"Yeah, I guess I did do all that, huh?" I admitted with a nonchalant shrug. I scratched the back of neck attempting modesty, but couldn't help the proud smile that slid across my features. Emmett was right, if I let myself admit it. Of course, my achievements in beer drinking and panty snatching were not exactly qualifications for the job, but the respect and the trust those achievements had earned me from the other brothers most definitely was.

"Yeah," Emmett continued, leaving the greatest and most important of my accomplishments to be mentioned last, "and you convinced your poor, unsuspecting, incredibly hot and talented freshman roommate to pledge, which just might be your greatest feat to date." Emmett puffed out his chest comically and waved his hands.

"Yeah?" I teased. "Who was that asshole again?"

"Me, jackass! Please tell me you've still got enough brain cells to remember back that far!" He stood up quickly and slapped me hard on the back then took a swig from the red cup in his hand. I winced inwardly. For someone so observant, Emmett was completely lost to how much stronger he was than the average person. But rolling my shoulders as I mulled over his words, I had to agree. Getting him to pledge along side me could be considered one of my proudest moments.

Ironically, Emmett had been a fraternity poster boy from the start, but he was resistant to being pigeon-holed into one specific group so early on in college. Emmett's only qualm about partying was the fact that there was so much of it to do and so little time to do it all in. He wanted to sample all that Monroe Bradbury University had to offer, rather than committing to one specific niche.

The biggest surprise by far came in the form of what was his deciding factor to join me during rush.

Chance had made Emmett and I freshman roommates, but luck had made him someone I immediately got along with. It didn't hurt matters that he pulled my father into a bear-hug, practically lifting him and his hideous John Lobb loafers off the floor, within minutes of meeting him on move in day. I doubt I've ever seen my father's face grow red and puckered so quickly, which was really saying something. My parents left so fast after that I wanted to hug Emmett myself. Now that I think about it, I might have.

My parents and I never exactly got along. This was actually was the driving force behind my desire to join a fraternity in the first place. I knew they'd disapprove greatly and that was more than enough motivation for me to rush. My father didn't buy the 'bonds of brotherhood' and 'lifelong connections' that the flyers boasted. He knew what I was looking for.

I guess it occurred to me early on that my venture might be more fun with a friend. After three days as dorm roommates and one painful mattress wrestling match, Emmett was the closest thing to a friend that I had and so, without him knowing it at the time, I chose him to be my partner in crime.

My efforts had been going well. Not stellar, but I was making progress. I had planted the seed and was watering it lovingly. I had, of course, been neglecting to mention the minor philanthropic duties of a fraternity as required by the MBU Greek Council for fear that any reference outside of alcohol and hot girls would send Emmett running for the hills. Convincing him to join me on my plight for brotherhood had become somewhat of a challenge and besides my affinity for challenges, I realized I was really starting to like the guy, beyond his ability to fluster my father and eat a large pepperoni pizza in eight minutes flat.

In what I had assumed at the time was a major slipup on my part, I'd asked him to come to the sorority Powder Puff tournament hosted by the Phi Chi Kappas, hoping to continue to show him a few more of the finer points joining a fraternity had to offer. Half-naked chicks playing flag football in the mud was probably Emmett's single most favorite thing in the world and he seemed more than willing to join me until I innocently mentioned the ten dollar cover fee to get into the stadium.

"They're charging you to get in?" he'd groaned, scrunching his face up in disgust as he'd thrust his hands into his empty pockets. "Are we getting full frontal nudity or something?"

"No. No nudity. And yes, they're charging. But it's only ten bucks. I'll cover you if it's a problem," I'd quickly offered. I was not going to let a measly ten dollars undo all the progress I'd made. "Consider it your first college date," I joked, puckering up my lips. "I'll even buy you a hot dog."

I could see the way his eyebrows had knit together on his forehead as he considered it. "I don't know man. I mean, I'm flattered you feel that way about me but, the whole thing seems shady." Much to my frustration I could tell that resistance was imminent.

"Shady? Em, it's for charity!" I'd blurted out, somewhat desperately and more than a little annoyed. Almost immediately, however, I'd realized my mistake. I had been pretty confidant that charity work detracted from partying and meeting chicks, which, according to Emmett's philosophy, would be a supreme waste of time.

Emmett's expression, however, had changed completely in that moment His left eyebrow had crept so high up his forehead I'd thought it would cross over his hairline. He'd pressed his hands together and cocked his head at me thoughtfully.

"Charity, huh?" he'd asked, drumming his fingers against one another. "They're involved in stuff like that?"

"Yes," I'd admitted with a sigh, rubbing my eyes and wondering how I'd ever be able to undo this damage and convince him now. There'd been no use in lying or trying to backtrack. "Besides drinking and bedding females, fraternities are required by the Greek council to participate in charities and community service. The latter is awarded much less time, but it is a part of the Greek life nonetheless."

At that point I'd assumed my campaigning was void and that my explanation was only digging a deeper hole, but Emmett had surprised the hell out of me by beaming like a fool and nodding excitedly. After retrieving his wallet from one of the dirty pairs of jeans strewn across our dorm room floor, he'd roped an arm tightly around my neck and lead me towards the door.

"Well, I guess we'd better go then. Get a feel for our future brothers," he'd announced, pulling me along, and I'd all but fallen over in shock. In fact, I might've done just that if his hold around my neck wasn't crushing me into his side.

Up until then, I had been entirely unaware of Emmett's soft side and his subsequent affinity for aiding the less fortunate. Now, just as my Presidential seat had come as no surprise, something I'd been groomed and prepped for since the day I received my pledge pin, Emmett's position as Philanthropy chair was a natural fit. It didn't hurt that food, beer and half-naked girls could easily be factored into most charity events. Though, to his credit, Emmett could take a bottle of vodka and a Zeta Pi in a bikini and turn out a thousand dollars for children's cancer research faster than you could say body shots. It was a talent and even with the obvious perks, it took tons of compassion.

"So, when does Jazz get back?" Emmett asked with a shake of my shoulder, breaking into my thoughts and pulling me back into the present.

"Tonight," I answered, grinning at the mention of the missing piece of our trifecta.

Jasper Hale was another PCK brother, entering his third year at Monroe Bradbury and my little brother according to the Greek system. He was also my best friend. My other best friend.

Jasper and Emmett were opposites both in appearance and tastes. Where Emmett was tall and broad with the athletic build of a football player, Jasper was much shorter and thinner, all long limbs and bony shoulders. Emmett was bright blue-eyed with a shocking short crop of jet black hair against pale skin. Jasper's eyes were a deep dark brown color and his blond hair hung down over his eyes and ears. Emmett played football in the backyard and drank the remaining swigs of beer left in the cups scattered around the living room after parties. Jasper played the guitar and sipped Bourbon from a goblet he kept tucked away in his room. Despite their odd quirks and differing affinities they were both laid back. They both wanted to have a good time and make the most of what college had to offer them. And they were both fiercely loyal to both me and Phi Chi Kappa.

It was surprising that what had began as a simple ploy to piss of mommy and daddy would lead to such a defining and meaningful part of my life. My parents' indirect hand in my decision to pledge Phi Chi almost made years of butting heads and mutual rejection worth it. Almost.

A sudden resounding chant of "Cullen! Cullen! Cullen!" filtered into the living room from the backyard and tore me once again from my thoughts. Emmett drained the remaining liquid from his cup, flipping it over to prove that it was empty, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Shall we, Mr. President?" he asked, gesturing towards the propped open set of shabby French doors leading out back.

I nodded with a wide grin and tossed the rest of my lukewarm beer down my throat before letting him lead me out. It was bittersweet to know this would all be ending in such a short amount of time, but I was determined to make the best of every remaining minute. I was still in the dark about what life held for me after MBU, but one thing was certain: it was going to be quite a year.

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:)