(TW: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS THEMES OF ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT.)

EVANDER

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THE ROOM EXPLODES into cheers.

I raise my chin, feeling taller.

The frat house party smells like spilled beer and sweat.

People squeeze past each other in the dim light, laughing, yelling, bumping into tables stacked with red cups.

Music pounds hard as someone yells at a video game on TV.

I barely notice any of it, eyes on the chessboard on the table in front of me.

I've just won a game. My sixth ...