by Ruby Vincent
“I also can’t believe you’ll have to repack all of this stuff.”
Sofia’s dorm was amazing. She decorated her bedroom with pictures of us, her family, and the photos of her travels. The living room was my favorite. She hung up pink lights and curtains to match the couch. The area rug was so soft and plush that I loved squidging my toes in it.
“You’ve seen their rooms. They’re even better than this.” Sighing, she dropped her head back onto the cushion. “I needed this win, Val. I know it’s a small thing, but Evergreen was a nightmare. Not as bad as it was for you,” she added quickly. “I can’t pretend our experiences were close. It’s just I didn’t get the best years of my life that I was promised. It’ll be different here.”
Any lingering reservations about the Sallys evaporated. If my best friend wanted four years of fun, friendship, parties, and studying like regular college students, it wasn’t too much to ask. She stuck by me through hell. I’d stick by her.
“Yes, it will be different,” I agreed.
We finished lunch and headed out. Professor Bude’s English class was on the other side of campus. During our time inside, gray clouds moved in to threaten Somerset with the promise of rain and frigid winds. We drew our coats tighter and picked up the pace. Fat droplets hit the pavement just as we rushed into Classroom Building One.
The auditorium was filling up when we stepped inside.
“Let’s sit up front,” Sofia said.
We went down to the second row and claimed the two seats on the end. I took out my stowaway tray and set my notebook, pencil, and textbook on top.
“Can I be unbearably cheesy right now and take a selfie of us in our first college class?” I asked.
Sofia held up her phone. “This is why we’re best friends. I was literally about to ask you that. Say unbearably cheesy.”
Laughing, I stuck my face next to Sofia and cried, “Unbearably cheesy!”
“Maybe a little, but it’s also kind of cute.”
We twisted around. A guy stood over us, grinning like he meant what he said.
“Do you mind?”
Sofia and I picked up our bags and feet to let him pass. He scooted in and plopped down next to Sofia.
“I’m Logan.”
I studied him as he introduced himself to Sofia. Logan was cute. Thick, wavy hair. Blue eyes. Dimples.
He’s too cute. The kind of attractive that makes you laugh when people call you ugly because in no universe would it be true.
The kind of attractive that’s perfect for Sofia.
“What’s your name?”
I shook his hand. “It’s Valentina. You can call me Val.”
“What are your majors?”
“I’m psychology and she’s chemistry.”
“With a focus on cosmetics,” Sofia added.
Logan lit up. “No way. I’m psych too. Do you have General Psychology after this?”
“We both do,” Sofia replied.
Logan leaned back, grinning away. “Guess I’m sticking with you guys.”
A bang cut off my reply. A man in a blue blazer and khaki pants strode down the aisle and took his place at the desk in front of the room.
“Good morning, class, and welcome to English Literature.” He leveled us with a wide smile. “I’m about to be your favorite professor. Today, all we have on the docket is a review of the syllabus and the expectations for this class. After that, you’re free to go.”
“Whoo!”
The class burst into cheers and applause. Professor Bude shook his fists over his shoulders, yukking it up.
“I’m going to like this guy,” I said.
“All right, all right,” he called. “Let’s get to it.”
As promised, Bude’s teaching assistant passed out the syllabus and we went through it page by page. Online quizzes, assigned reading, one paper due at midterms and another for finals. All in all, it appeared to be a pretty straightforward class. We wrapped up in thirty minutes.
“Get out of here,” Bude ordered. “The torture begins on Wednesday.”
“We’ve got an hour to kill until psych.” I tossed my things in my bag and hitched it on my shoulder. “Want to grab some coffee?”
Logan grabbed Sofia’s backpack as she reached for it. He held it up for her to slip on and her cheeks pinked as she did so.
“Thanks,” she mumbled.
“Mind if I join you guys?” he asked. “I’m an out-of-state transplant and I don’t know anyone yet.”
“Sure,” said Sofia.
My bag vibrated with a text. Trailing behind them, I took out my cell and checked the screen.
Jaxson: What are you doing right now?
Me: Going for coffee with Sofia and Logan.
Jaxson: No, you’re not.
Me: Excuse me?
Jaxson: You’re grabbing coffee with me. Look up.
I raised my head and the saggy-pants, loose-shirted devil waved. Jaxson was posted outside the door, collecting appreciative stares from the girls walking by.
Sofia hugged him. “Hey, Jaxson. I’m guessing you’re here to steal Val away.”
“You guessed right.”
I slid up and took my best friend’s place. Jaxson’s spicy-sweet enveloped me as he molded me to his chest.
“I’ll catch up with you guys in class,” I said.
Logan and Sofia waved goodbye. They were deep in conversation by the time they hit the door.
“So, what brings you here, Van Zandt?”
He kissed my forehead. “I’ve been too busy at the studio. We haven’t spent real time together in a week.”
We set off out of the building.
“Is your father working you hard?” I said. “Lately, you don’t come home until after I put Adam to bed.”
“It’s crazy over there. We’ve signed a bunch of new talent and they all want to have their hands held and be coddled through the process—which is now my job. Dad said I’d be his unpaid grunt until I earn my stripes and he wasn’t kidding. I’m fetching lunches, stroking egos, and listening to them record the same track fifty times because the sound isn’t rich enough.”
I bumped his shoulder. “But you love it.”
Jaxson cracked a smile. “Shit, yeah, I love it. I’m listening to the best music of this generation, Val, and I’m not exaggerating. We’ll be playing these bands while our grandkids run around in the backyard.”
My heart fluttered. I loved it when he spoke of our future as an inevitability.
“I’m trying to get you in to listen,” he continued. “Dad’s tightened up the rules since... you know... sophomore year. Outsiders aren’t allowed past the lobby and recording devices don’t even make it through the door. But don’t worry, I’ll get you in.” Jaxson draped his arm around me and pressed his lips to my ear. “Maybe we’ll even finish what we started the first time.”
I poked him in the side. “If you’re lucky, and you won’t get lucky for a while if you never come home. How long are you going to be doing these hours?”
“It won’t be forever. Dad is working on hiring a new intern to back me up when I’m stuck in the recording studio or on the road.”
“Good, because I need my Jaxson time.”
Our stolen hour at the campus coffee shop was short but sweet. We talked, shared a chocolate macchiato, made out in the back booth, and then Jaxson walked me to Classroom Building Two for my final class of the day.
I paused on the bottom step of the building and drew him in for a kiss. “Here’s some incentive for you to come home early tonight,” I whispered. “There will be a hot, sudsy bubble bath waiting for you if you do.”
“Will you be in this hot, sudsy bubble bath?”
“I will.”
He hummed, nodding his head. “And in this bubble bath, will I be doing things to you that aren’t allowed in pornos?”
“You better be.”
“Then I’ll be home at eight o’clock, and you’ll be naked and wet at eight oh one.”
Jaxson peppered my face with kisses until I giggled.
My feet were encased in lead. That’s the effort it took to drag myself away from him and go to class.
General Psychology was held in another big auditorium. The room was packed with freshmen on their first day, all sporting that wide-eyed hopeful look Dior mentioned.
Sofia and Logan beckoned me over to their seats in the third row.
A woman stood behind the podium, giving herself away as Professor Trough. She busied herself sorting through papers and setting up the presentation as the last of the class came in.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Professor Trough and this is”—she pressed a button and her presentation appeared on the screen—“General Psychology. If you’re in the wrong class, make your exit now.”
I might have chuckled, but two guys actually stood up and shuffled out of the room.
“Today is an easy day,” she went on. “I’ll tell you a little about myself and my background. Afterward, we’ll delve into the course requirements. Any questions?”
No one raised their hand.
“Excellent. Let me take this opportunity to introduce you to my teaching assistant, Mason Brown.”
A guy in the front row stood and saluted us. Mason was a rather plain package in his gray sweater, simple jeans, and professional haircut. His most charming asset was his smile. He flashed us one and returned to his seat.
“Okay,” said Professor Trough. “Let’s get started.”
An hour later, Sofia, Logan, and I packed up our things to go.
“Wow,” Logan said. “And people say college is hard.”
Sofia laughed. “Hopefully tomorrow is like this too.”
“Our day isn’t over yet,” I reminded. “It’s our first day as pledges.”
“Then I’ll see you both on Wednesday,” said Logan. “Good luck.”
I waited until we were outside and halfway to the Sally house to open my mouth.
“So...?”
Sofia made a face. “So what?”
“So, what did you think of Logan?”
“I think he’s nice. Why? What should I think?”
“You should think he’s a solid candidate for breaking your dry spell.”
She tripped up, coming to a stop. “My dry— Val, I’ve known that guy for exactly four hours. Moving a little fast, aren’t we?”
“How long do you need to know a hookup? I saw him sneaking glances at you through both classes. He thinks you’re hot.”
She rolled her eyes. “And? It’s way too soon to think about hooking up with anyone. I’m not even ready to watch romantic comedies.”
I put my hands up. “No pressure. I’m Team Sofia all the way. I just want you to be happy.”
The line between her brows smoothed. She looked just like her mom when she wrinkled it like that, but I wasn’t dumb enough to point that out.
“I am happy,” she replied. “Daddy’s doing better. Mom and I are going to dinner tonight. And we’re going to crush pledging. How could I not be happy?”
She linked our arms and started pulling me. “Stop worrying about me and let’s go. We can’t be late on the first day.”
We picked up the pace. Cutting through the quad, I spotted Ezra ahead of us, going in the same direction. He was surrounded by four guys.
“Sof, look,” I spoke up. “See those boys with Ezra? He told me about them.”
“Who are they?”
“All sons of people hoping to get their segment on channel forty-eight. They latched on to him to get close to his mom and they don’t even bother to hide it.”
“I bet he’s used to that.” She nudged me. “You better get used to it too. You’re an official Evergreenian now. Everyone is looking at their neighbor for what they can get and how it’ll improve their status. People have tried to use me to get close to Mom since I was three.”
“Are you for real?”
“I wish I was kidding.”
“But I won’t get caught up in it. It’s not like my mother owns two news stations and a restaurant.”
“And again, I must remind you who your boyfriends are.”
I didn’t say anything. Her point landed.
Ezra pulled too far ahead of us to catch up. It was okay. I’d see him later.
We found our way to Greek Row and fell in line with the pack of new pledges going to their frats and sororities. Music poured out of a few houses. Apparently, the first day warranted a party. The lights were on in the Sally house, and through the curtains, people flitted in and out of view, but there was no party.
Sofia and I climbed the porch. My hand closed over the knob just as it swung open.
“Hello, new pledges.” Reagan, of all people, beamed at us over the threshold. “Please, shoes off and join us in the living room.”
We toed our shoes off and pushed them toward the pile. A low murmur of voices floated out of the next room along with a heavenly smell. We walked into the living room and almost a dozen heads snapped up. Three of them Keily’s, Mai’s, and Palmer’s. One of them Blair’s.
“Sit,” Reagan said. “We’ll be with you in a minute.”
Mai, Keily, and Palmer squished up tighter to make room for us. I let Sofia sit and perched myself on the edge of the couch.
The aroma came from the yummy spread on the coffee table. Drinks, chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, and other treats.
“I swear, it’s like, just ask me to marry you already,” I said under my breath. “This wooing is making a girl blush.”
Sofia stifled a laugh. “Do all pledges get treated this well?”
“The movies say no.”
She picked up a slice of banana bread and handed it to me.
“So, they gave you a bid.”
I froze with my mouth half open. Blair eyed me from across the room, her face unreadable.
“Looks like it,” I replied.
She wrinkled her nose. “Then we need to talk.”
“Do we?”
“Yes,” she snapped. “After the meeting. Meet me outside.”
“Are you going to beat me up?”
She pulled a face that—annoyingly—made her look cute. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Sofia and a few other girls clapped their hands over their mouths, hiding their amusement.
At least some people think I’m funny.
“Fine,” I said aloud. “We’ll talk after the meeting.”
“As will we.”
The room snapped to attention as Leighton strode into the room. She struck me with a smile.
“Speak to me after this, Valentina.”
How am I in trouble on the first day?
“Okay.”
Leighton turned her attention on the room. Reagan and two other girls fanned out behind her. They were each holding boxes. With those three at her back, the height difference was stark. She wasn’t the shortest person in the room, but she didn’t have much on the girl who was.
Despite this, Leighton surveyed us like she was ten feet tall. The breath-stealing smile was gone. In its place were a firm set to her lips and serious eyes.
“Hello, ladies,” she began. “You are our lucky dozen and I believe that deserves a round of applause.”
Blair clapped enthusiastically and the other girls quickly joined in.
“If you were fortunate enough to have syllabus day,” Leighton continued, “you’ll be happy to know this will be more of the same. The real work starts on Wednesday.”
Leighton snapped her fingers and her entourage sprang into action. They went around passing something out. When Reagan got to me, she placed a booklet on my lap titled “Zeta Rho Sigma.”
“For the next ten weeks, you’ll endure tests, training, studying, and bonding. The Sallys are the best sorority on campus for the simple reason that we seek, cultivate, and acquire the best. At the end of these eight weeks, the best among you will become our sisters,” Leighton said. “I wish I could say it will
be all twelve of you, but this year, we are only looking to add six new additions to the Sallys.”
Whispers broke out among the girls. I wasn’t fazed. A part of what made groups like these so popular was their exclusivity.
“I'm sure your next question is: How do I ensure I’m one of them?” Leighton pointed to my lap. “This is the first step. You’re holding our charter, history, values, and rules in your hands. This is what makes the Sallys, the Sallys. Study this book like there’ll be an exam, because there will be.
“At any time, in or out of the Sally house, sisters will approach you and test you on the information in the book. If you answer incorrectly, you can trust that will count against you. Any questions?”
Palmer raised her hand. “When will you start testing us?”
“You have a one-day grace period. Wednesday, come prepared.”
My eyes bugged. I had to be ready to spout this thing by heart after one day?
“One more thing, we’re hosting a joint activity with the Sams the weekend after midterms. It’ll be a weekend trip to a ranch an hour away. You have to get yourself there, but we arrange a carpool. It’s mandatory, so put it in your schedule now. Any questions about that?”
Palmer’s hand flew up again. “What are we going to do there?”
Leighton smiled. “It’s just a fun boys-versus-girls game we like to do. There’s a course, some challenges, and you’ll win prizes at the end.”
“Sounds fun.”
“You all will love it.” She clapped. “That’s all I have for now. Spend the rest of the hour snacking and getting to know each other. Valentina.”
I jumped.
“Can we speak outside?”
Leighton left the room, expecting me to follow. I did.
We stepped out onto the porch and she turned those unreadable orbs on me.
“Please, sit.”
We moved over to the deck chairs. The whole of the street spread out before us. Students darted across the pavement going in and out of other houses. Skateboarders chanced their tricks. Girls walked arm in arm talking about what, I’d never know. A flurry of noise and activity, but the silence on this porch was profound.
What could she possibly have to speak to me about already?
Her first sentence went straight through me. “You’re probably wondering why we gave you a bid.”
