Presidents Forum tonywrestles2

It was Buzz's turn to chair the Forum, but he, to no one's surprise, declined. Brian was next in line, but he too passed, to similar nods of expectation. Thus, the gavel fell to Rick. "Any new business?" he asked in a dry voice.

Brian stood up. "I formally challenge Buzz for the campus title," he declared.

"Now THERE's a surprise," Garrison muttered.

Brian shot an annoyed glance at the Beta king, then went on. "I should get the shot for three reasons. First, I've got one of the longest winning streaks on campus. Second, I've faced the best competition of anyone with a streak as long as mine. Third, Buzz is just itching to get me in the ring--you know you are, Buzz, admit it."

"And you worked all that out on your own?" Garrison scoffed. "Please. You spend twenty minutes every day trying to figure out how to put on your underwear. Scott, did you help him?"

Scott's face remained mostly serious, but everyone in the room could see the corners of his mouth twitching slightly upwards.

Brian was not am used. "You know, Garrison," he said in a dangerous voice, "when I win the title, I'll give you first shot. It's going to be a real pleasure to see whether your blood really is blue."

"If we're done," Rick interrupted. "Brian, you're so predictable it's sad. I knew you were going to pull this tonight. So, in order: first, there are a lot of other guys on campus whose winning streaks are as long or longer than yours. I should know, since I happen to be one of them. Second, Bruce is big, but he's one of the worst fighters on campus--no offense, Buzz." At the champion's shrug of acknowledgement, Rick continued, "And third, Buzz...."

"Hasn't said 'yes' yet," Buzz interrupted.

Seven pairs of eyes turned slowly to Buzz. "Are you saying," Rick began carefully, "that you're turning down Brian's challenge?"

"Nope," Buzz replied. "I've already lost one vote to you clowns. I'm not going to force another one tonight. But you jerks need to keep in mind that I can turn down any challenge I want. All I need to do is get four of you to agree with me.

"But Brian's right," Buzz continued. "I'd get in the ring with him right now if it wasn't booked for the next week. But Scott, you're the one who sleeps with the rulebook. Isn't there something in there about how the champion gets to pick the rules?"

Scott almost liked Buzz at that moment. "Why, yes, Buzz," he grinned viciously, "as a matter of fact, there is. Unless there are special circumstances, the format of the match is determined by the person answering the challenge, including the champion."

"What did you have in mind, Buzz?" Rick asked.

Buzz stood up. He'd thought long and hard about this, and while Scott hadn't helped Brian, he HAD helped Buzz come up with the idea. "First of all, the match is submission only. No pins. Second, no time limit. Third, no falls. We slug it out until one of us is just too wasted to go on."

"No way!" Brian yelled. "That's not a match."

"It's unusual," Rick admitted, "but I don't think there's anything in the rulebook against it, is there, Scott?"

"Not a thing," Scott answered immediately. "Not that I looked or anything."

"Well, then," Rick said reasonably, "all it needs is a majority vote to make it okay. All in favor?"

Seven hands shot into the air. "That's it, then," Rick nodded. "Brian, if you want to withdraw your challenge, you're free to do so."

"No way," Brian snarled. He pointed at Buzz. "You just bought yourself a fight, asshole," he spat. "If you think what happened to you at that bar was bad, wait until I'm done with you."

"Speaking of which," Rick said, as John and Garrison each grabbed one of Buzz's shoulders and forcibly kept him in his seat, "Damien and I were in the Dean's office this morning." He looked at Buzz. "They know about what happened, and told us that the bar is off-limits, even for those of us who are legal."

"What's the 'or else'?" Blake asked. "There's gotta be an 'or else.'"

"Anybody caught there either gets expelled from school," Damien replied, "unless...." he cast a slightly nervous glance at the grim-faced Buzz, "the administration decides that anything that happens to the guy is worse than expelling him."

"So that's it, guys," Rick said. "Spread the word, and try to explain to the hotheads that they aren't kidding. Anything else?" No one said anything. "Great. Meeting adjourned."

On the way out, Blake grabbed Buzz by the arm. "Can I talk to you?"

"You already are. What do you want?"

"I had an idea over the weekend, wanted to see what you thought."

"What kind of idea?" Buzz asked.

"A bet," Blake replied. "One of my guys, one of your guys, determined at random. Winner's frat gets the loser."

Buzz smirked. "I like it," he grinned. "I actually like it. Wow. You're just as bent as the rest of us." He clapped Blake on the shoulder. "And you go around looking so squeaky-clean! Who'da thought it?"

"It'll have to be next semester, though," Blake pointed out. "There's no way we'll get the ring by finals."

"No problem," Buzz said, "Most of my guys will be here right after New Year's anyway."

"So it's a bet?" Blake extended his hand.

Buzz took it in a firm grasp. "It's a bet."