Diff'rent Strokes (revisited, edited and updated)

Under The Surface

James Ardent

Eli introduced me to his dread-headed twin, Luke. And then there was Kayden—I'd seen him around campus a few times, but we'd never properly introduced ourselves. He had the prettiest teeth, and from what I could tell, he definitely liked attention. I was curious about what the night was going to bring.

As soon as we walked into the frat party, Kayden wasted no time in making sure we had a good time. He made sure we got drinks as soon as we stepped inside. I wasn't big on drinking, so I just sipped on my drink all night, watching it get warm in my hand.

Kayden was all over the place, dancing with girls, bouncing from one group to another, talking, dapping people up, and clowning around. He had a way of drawing attention without even trying. It was effortless. But I couldn't shake the feeling that behind all the flashing lights and loud music, there was more going on. Kayden didn't just enjoy the chaos of the party—he thrived on it, like it was a shield to keep whatever else was brewing under the surface hidden.

Luke was over at the bar, chatting with some people, but his posture was off—slumped, like he was trying to make himself smaller in a space that demanded confidence. Eli was sitting on the couch, surrounded by girls who were clearly eyeing him. But Eli wasn't really paying attention to any of them. His eyes kept darting to Kayden, almost like he was looking for a sign from him, something to tell him how to behave in this new world.

Me? I was trying to keep to myself. I hated these frat parties. Fights always seemed to break out, signaling the end of the night. I couldn't help but notice how quickly things could shift from fun to hostile in this environment. The minute I saw an argument start at the back of the room, I rounded up the guys, and we headed to the next party.

I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but I could feel something simmering between us, something unspoken. Every time Luke glanced in my direction, there was a flicker of something—like he was searching for something, but didn't know what. And Kayden... he was hard to read, always on the move, always surrounded by people. But there was something behind his eyes that didn't match his carefree attitude.

Eli was loving the school already, his energy high, but Luke seemed different. The buzz around him wasn't the same. He looked like he was forcing a smile, like he didn't really want to be here, but didn't know how to say it.

"I'm not feeling well," Luke said, his voice a little off. "I'm going to crash for the night."

Kayden didn't hesitate. He reached over and pinched Luke's cheek with a grin that almost felt too warm for the moment.

"Awe! You want me to come home with you, baby boy?" Said Kayden in a mockingly babyish tone.

Luke looked at him, a mix of gratitude and irritation flickering across his face. "No, I'm good. I don't wanna ruin your fun."

"Nah, real talk. If you want me to leave with you, I'll go. No cap. You're my roommate. I'm not gonna let you go home alone sick," Kayden insisted. It was almost like he was trying to convince himself as much as Luke. His tone was playful, but there was something behind the words—something that didn't quite match the easy-going mask Kayden usually wore.

"I'll go with him. I'm pretty much ready to call it a night," I said before Luke could protest.

"It's only 10:45 pm," Eli protested, clearly trying to keep the night alive.

"I got an idea," Kayden said, pausing for a second. "Y'all go grab some clothes, and then you and Eli can spend the night at our apartment instead of going back to the dorms."

Eli nodded. "That's cool. We'll see you when we get there."

Luke gave a small nod, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Guess we'll see you soon." And just like that, we went our separate ways.

As I walked with Luke and Eli out of the party, I couldn't help but feel that the night had shifted, almost without anyone noticing. It wasn't just a frat party. There was something more happening beneath the surface. Maybe it was the way Luke didn't seem to want to be there. Maybe it was how Kayden had insisted on coming with him. Or how Eli was always watching them, just a little too closely. Whatever it was, I knew I wasn't the only one who could feel it. Something was building, and I wasn't sure what it meant yet. But it was only a matter of time before everything came to light.