"Four??"

Xander threw the final questionnaire applications at Skeevo. "We pass out how many of these damn things and we wind up with only four genuine applicants?!"

Skeevo gestured to the piles of rejected questionnaires all around them. "Dude, it's not as if we only got four back. There are what, how many dozens of pages here that we went through?" Skeevo picked up the four keepers and waved them at Xander. "These are the only ones that fit the profiling. These are the only ones we can practically guarantee are gay and will get into rubberplay--if they're not already."

Xander shook his head, looking at the sizable discard pile. "Only four. Are you sure we distributed the forms to everyplace we decided around campus?"

"Positive. Xander, look at it this way: Only one in every ten guys is gay, right? Well, we hacked that ratio down even smaller 'cause we wanted guys who were gay AND into rubber. Who knows how small a percentage that is?"

Xander picked up a questionnaire from the discard pile. "What about this guy? You look at him?" He skimmed over the filled-in answers. "Into weight lifting. Poetry & Theatre Writing major. Enjoys choir. Favorite color's purple. And he's not seeing anyone." Xander flapped the sheet back and forth. "IIIIIII'm sensing a big ol' pink triangle here. Why don't we add him to--"

Skeevo rested his chin in his palm. "His fantasy is to have sex with Yasmine Bleeth."

"Oh. Well, that could be just a cover--"

"On top of his ex-girlfriend's hope chest."

Xander dropped the page like it was a turd. "Four, huh? Four whole potential rubberboys right here at this university. What're the odds, huh?"

"It's staggering."

"So", Xander said, opening his arms wide as the four freshmen applicants made their way into the frat house, "this is your big welcome to the house of Rho Upsilon Beta Rho." He flashed a slightly overbearing smile. "Welcome."

Both he and Skeevo were attired in very crisp denim jeans, black shoes, and brand spanking new sweatshirts bearing their fraternity letters. The four boys walked inside the house rather hesitantly, not quite sure what to expect. In the lead was a boy with dark brown hair and discerning eyes. He seemed to be the most no-nonsense of the quartet, as evidenced by the way he pushed his way to the front of the group when they were invited in. And he didn't walk in so much as stride. His name was Jesse.

The next young man had an impressive muscular build that was considerably offset by his humorous demeanor. He had sharp features, close-cropped dark hair, and a very wide smile. He looked a little too eager to please. Skeevo instantly pegged him as the type who would do the most humiliating initiation stunts without question or resistance if he thought it would ensure his acceptance. He was Jason.

The third boy looked as if he would have preferred to enter last, but was pushed along by the fellow pledge behind him. He had an innocent face, and his head was covered in a thick mop of very blond hair. He would occasionally flash a look with his eyes that made him appear much younger than he was. He looked as if he should have a large warning label splashed across his shirtfront reading: FRAGILE. He was Jordan.

And last was the adorable young man with the impish smirk that could transform without warning into a wry smile. His slightly bushy sandy-brown hair hung over his forehead and was trimmed short above his slightly oversized ears. His boyish face had beautiful eyes that shone with intelligence and guile. Skeevo almost did a double-take when he saw him. Almost. It was the cute boy from the Rush Week party who had lingered near the door. His name was Jonathan.

"When do the rest of the potential pledges get here?", Jesse asked.

"You're it", Skeevo said. Xander closed the door behind them.

"Waitaminnit...", Jason said. "You mean, we're the only ones who wanted to get into this frat?" You could see his hopes of campus popularity plummeting as his tone of voice rose.

"You four were chosen through a very thorough process designed to weed out all but the optimum candidates to help launch an all-new generation of this fraternity", Xander explained, trying his best to make it sound like a momentous event.

Jesse scowled. "Meaning--?"

Skeevo crossed his arms. "It's kinda like a secret society, only without all the car chases, murder cover-ups, and threats of blackmail. You guys will become the new elite of the fraternity of Rho Upsilon Beta Rho. If you pass the required tests, that is."

Jordan looked very concerned. Jason looked confused. Jonathan's expression was hard to define, beyond thoughtful. But Jesse was becoming irritated. "Okay, hold on. How do we know there even were other applicants? For all we know, you sought us out as some kind of joke, made us fill out those ridiculously involved question sheets that asked damn near everything except our dick length--"

"Damn those editorial cuts anyway", Xander muttered.

"--and we have nothing but your say-so that of all the guys on campus who want into a frat, you just happen to pick us--"

Skeevo upended a cardboard box he retrieved from behind the couch. Dozens upon dozens of questionnaires from rejected applicants littered the floor. Skeevo then tossed the box aside and gestured toward the pile. "Take a look."

Jesse squatted down and began examining the papers to ascertain their authenticity. Jordan followed him, as did Jason. Jonathan elected to stand and observe. "Are--are all these real?", Jordan asked.

"The answer to that would be a big ole 'Yup', I'm thinkin'", Xander responded.

Jason held up one paper with reverence. "Guys, they rejected Brad Stergell. The all-star with the track scholarship. H-he's been in the papers. They're talkin' Olympics for him!"

Jordan pulled out another one. "Oh, man. They eighty-sixed Avery Carlston, too. That guy's whole family is loaded. His weekly allowance is more than I make in a year."

Jesse picked one up too. "Well, they're not all impressive. Who the hell is Peter G. Runkoskorski??"

"I have no clue", Xander admitted. "But the important thing is, he's not you four. None of these guys are."

Jonathan finally spoke. "What makes us so special?"

Skeevo began to walk into the next room. "Follow us and we'll show you."