Next Semester

by Cecil R. Cross

  “So this is the guy who hit you with the sucker punch out there in Miami, huh?” he asked.

  Here we go, I thought.

  “Yeah,” Dex said, still eyeballing me. “This is him. What you think I should do to him?”

  “If I was you, I’d whoop his ass!” he said. “Straight up. But you know you can’t do that here, because we don’t mix frat business with personal business. Plus, you were wrong in the first damn place. You know better than to put your hands on a lady.”

  “I know,” Dex said. “I could take him outside and wear him out, though.”

  “You could do that, but there are still people coming and going upstairs,” the older Kappa said. “We need to keep our hands clean. You know our chapter stays in enough trouble as it is. Plus, he looks kinda frail. You might break this little dude in half.”

  “You’re right, he does look hella frail,” Dex said. “As a matter of fact, all of them do. I hate to see y’all like this. I really do. I remember, back in the day when I was prepledging, I used to be hungry as shit! I was gonna eat this myself, but I guess I will share with y’all. Here you go. Share this with your buddies here.”

  Dex handed me what I thought was a baton. It turned out to be an eggplant. This time, since it was our last night, I didn’t even put up a fight. I just closed my eyes and took a big-ass bite. I tried to chew and swallow before the taste set in, but it was no use. It tasted like spoiled milk. The soft seeds inside it tasted like black licorice. The taste made me heave as if I was going to vomit, but nothing came up. It came back around twice. Each time the taste was just as bitter. It felt like a midget was inside my stomach doing cartwheels. All of a sudden, I felt a strong urge to take a number two. Once I gulped down the last of it, I exhaled a sigh of relief. That’s when the older Kappa flinched like he was going to hit me. Instinctively, I threw my guard up in defense. That’s when he leaned in and whispered in my ear.

  “I ain’t gonna hit you,” he said. “You are so lucky this ain’t ninety-three, though. I woulda been caved your little bird-chest in. Oooooh, you lucky!”

  The older Kappa then walked toward the back of the room, leaving Dex in the front by himself again. I just knew Dex was going to come up with something else crazy for us to do. It seemed like he just sat up thinking of ways to torture us in his spare time. To my surprise, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

  “Well, that does it, fellas,” he said. “When you started out, there were eight of you. Now, there are only four. I guess we know who really wants to be here. So far, at least. I know all of you have finals coming up and you need to study for them. And in this frat, education comes first. So we’re gonna let y’all study for them, because without at least a 3.0 GPA, you can’t even apply to become a member of this organization. That being said, all of you in this room who meet the academic requirement will automatically be on line to become a member of Kappa Beta Psi.”

  Me and the fellas tried to hold our smiles in, but none of us could. I had mixed emotions. I was elated that this phase of the process was over, but saddened by the fact that we’d done so much, yet we technically weren’t even on line yet. And on top of all that, I still had to pull of a 3.0 GPA without the help of Timothy or Leslie. It would take a miracle. More than anything, I was relieved that my fight with Dex in the club in Miami hadn’t cost me my opportunity to join the frat. I still had a chance.

  “All but one of you, that is,” Dex continued. “It has been brought to my attention that we have a snitch among us.”

  My heart started beating fast. I hoped he wasn’t talking about me.

  “Unfortunately, I’ve been informed that J.D. has told others that he is prepledging,” Dex said. “And as we all know, the first thing I told y’all is that Kappa Beta Psi is a highly esoteric organization and we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to loose lips. So, J.D., I’m going to have to ask you not to bother applying for Kappa Beta Psi next semester.”

  I felt like I’d just been run over by a sixteen-wheeler. I was hurt bad, but I couldn’t say I didn’t see it coming. I knew Dex had it out for me ever since that fight we had in Miami. Still, the news hit me harder than any punch he could’ve thrown. More than anything, I was pissed he’d waited until now to tell me he’d heard I’d snitched. If he knew they weren’t gonna put me on, they never should have invited me back in the first place. I could have been studying for my finals.

  “What you mean, I can’t apply next semester?” I asked. “I ain’t never been a snitch. You got some bad information, man.”

  “I can vouch for my guy,” Fresh said. “You know we’re together all the time. Somebody must have lied on him, ’cause I know he ain’t said anything about this prepledging stuff to nobody.”

  “That ain’t what I heard,” Konceited said.

  “Trust me,” Fresh said. “I know for a fact…”

  “Look, Fresh,” Dex said, cutting him off. “Unless you wanna be in your boy’s shoes, you might wanna let this one go. I heard from a very credible source that J.D. was running his mouth, so he can’t be down with us. That’s all there is to it.”

  I left the Kappa house alone. I smelled like a mixture of sweat, eggplant and ass. I felt like an idiot. I’d allowed myself to be taken advantage of, so as bad as I wanted to whip Lawry’s ass for telling on me, but in the end, I only had myself to blame.

  FIFTEEN

  THE BIG PAYBACK

  Finals were unrelenting. I found it hard to study. I kept having flashbacks of all the things I’d done while I was prepledging. The thought of not even being able to apply was sickening. And it really wasn’t getting any better with time as I hoped it would. I pressed on anyway. I figured I’d come too far to turn back, so I set my mind to still shoot for a 3.0 GPA. That way, even if I fell short, I’d still make the 2.5 that I needed to be able to return to U of A for my sophomore year. But even that wasn’t going to be easy. I needed help, but couldn’t find any to save my life. Kat was busy with her sorority business and the election. Timothy still wasn’t talking to me, and Leslie wasn’t returning my calls. Now that I was sure I didn’t have a shot at Kappa Beta Psi anymore, I figured if I could talk to her, I could explain things. But she wouldn’t even respond to my text messages. I was distraught. I had nobody to look over my papers and nobody to let me look over their shoulder during the final exams. This time, I was going to have to buckle down and do it on my own.

  I had two fifteen-page papers to write—one for English and one for African-American history, and two final exams to take. Somehow, after a couple consecutive all-nighters, and excessive use of Microsoft Word’s cut-and-paste tools, I managed to pull both of the papers together on my own. Although they were probably littered with grammatical errors, the fact that I completed both of them on time was enough to put a smile on my face. With Leslie’s help, I’d done so well in those classes earlier in the semester that even though my final essays were mediocre at best, I still managed to sneak out with a B in English and an A in African-American history.

  Now, algebra was another story. Quite frankly, math bored me. Mostly because I never really understood the point of solving mathematical equations, when I would probably never have to use them again for the rest of my life. I figured, as long as I could count money, I was straight. And for that very reason, no matter how many times I showed up for algebra, I could never stay awake for the entire class. It was by God’s grace that I was able to squeeze by with a low C in that class.

  When it came to biology, I knew it was a wrap for me. Timothy hadn’t shown up to tutor me for biology anymore. In fact, he hadn’t said more than two words to me since that night in club. I expected that. But I didn’t expect him to sit in the exact same seat he’d sat in all semester when we took our final exam. There were so many seats to choose from, I was almost sure he’d pick one clear on the other side of the classroom. I was fully prepared to eeny-meeny-miny-moe my way through the test and take as many educated guesses as possible. But with Timothy sitting right
in front of me filling out his Scantron with his answers in clear sight, I couldn’t help but cheat off him. I would have been stupid not to. When I turned in my test, I was certain I’d aced it. I left that class feeling like I was on top of the world. And that feeling stayed with me all day, until I checked my test score on the Internet later that night in our dorm computer lab. Dub-B and his girl were sitting beside me checking theirs.

  “Zero?” I screamed, slamming my fist down on the desk, viewing my score on his computer. “What the?”

  “A zero, son?” he asked, looking over at my screen.

  “Unless I’m looking at this wrong, it looks like I scored a zero on my biology final,” I said.

  “That’s definitely a zero,” he said. “And that C next to it is your final grade in the class. If you would’ve just got a couple of the answers right on the final, you might’ve coulda got a B in the class. That’s hurts.”

  “Who you tellin’?” I asked, a lump forming in my throat.

  “I know it’s not funny,” he asked, chuckling, “but how did you manage to get a zero on the final? There were one hundred questions on the test! That’s like humanly impossible, yo. Stevie Wonder could’ve circled one right answer.”

  “I know,” I said, looking at the screen in disbelief. “This must be some kind of mistake. What did you get?”

  “I got a 76,” he said. “But you know science isn’t really my thing. Did you study?”

  “Yeah, I studied,” I said. “But when I saw Timothy sit in his usual seat, one row in front of us, you already know I was getting my cheat on! That dude knows biology like the back of his hand. I copied his scantron answer for answer.”

  “Wait a minute,” Jasmine said. “You’re talking about your roommate, Timothy, right?”

  “Yeah,” I said.

  “What time did you take your final?” Jasmine asked.

  “Eleven this morning,” I said. “I’m in the same class as Dub-B.”

  “That’s what I thought,” she said. “Hmmm…that’s strange. I wonder why Timothy took the final twice.”

  “What you mean twice?” I asked.

  “Well, I took my biology final at nine o’clock this morning and I saw Timothy taking his exam in my class,” Jasmine said. “Which was really weird because I’d never seen him in my class before.”

  “Are you sure it was him?” I asked. “Why would anybody take two final exams for the same class, back-to-back?”

  Before I could even finish my sentence, I knew exactly what had happened. I’d been set up. Cold. It seemed too good to be true because it was. And Timothy flew through the test like he’d already taken it because he had. He said he’d get me. And he got me in the worst way. He knew I needed to pass biology in order to keep grades up, so I could get off of academic probation. And he knew I’d copy off of his test if he let me. He threw the bait, and caught me hook, line and sinker. My own roommate stabbed me in the back.

  I was staring at my screen, shaking my head in disbelief when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw who was calling. It was Dex. He’d never called before. The only time he’d ever contacted me was via text. At this point, I had no idea why he’d be calling me, but I decided to answer anyway.

  “J.D.,” he said. “I’ve got Konceited and a couple of my other frat brothers here with me. And we got you on speakerphone.”

  “Okay…” I said as I walked out of the crowded computer lab to the laundry room, where it was secluded and quiet.

  “First of all, I want to let you know that it is highly irregular for me to even be reaching out to you at all,” Dex said. “I don’t call GDIs. Secondly, let me assure you that my frat does not need you in it. However, as a group, my frat brothers and I have come to the conclusion that we didn’t give you a fair shake. It has been brought to our attention that the guy who dropped the dime on you is also going against you in the student government election. And after doing our due diligence, we found that he unsuccessfully attempted to pledge Alpha last semester. In other words, we think he may have had multiple motives to hate on you. That being said, we would like to extend the opportunity for you to be on line next semester, under one condition of course.”

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “You still have to meet our academic requirement, which is a 3.0 GPA this semester,” Dex said.

  “No problem,” I said.

  “Oh, you’re gonna have major problems if you don’t address me the way you know I’m supposed to be addressed,” Dex said.

  “My bad,” I said. “No problem, sir.”

  “That’s more like it,” Dex said. “Good luck with the election. We’re rolling with Kat.”

  When I hung up the phone, I was overcome with emotions. I fought back tears. I was so excited that all of the hard work I’d put in prepledging wasn’t in vain. Even though Leslie was AWOL, Timothy hated on me and Lawry snitched, I still had a chance to make a 3.0 GPA. And if I did, I’d be able to pledge Kappa Beta Psi next semester. But there was only one way for that to happen. Kat had to win the election. That was the only way.

  SIXTEEN

  THE DEBATE

  The final debate was the most pivotal point in the election, especially for our team, since Kat missed the preliminary speeches. Thank God for Dub-B’s pops. He really came through for us when it was time to prep for the debate. Without his help, Kat didn’t stand a chance. Howard was a seasoned, polished politician. And Dub-B’s dad was our secret weapon. Dub-B’s pops knew everything there was to know about how to win a debate. After going over the potential debate questions on our conference call with him, I felt confident Kat had what it took to dethrone Howard Harrell.

  As we prepared to leave the conference room in Club Woody and head down to the student center auditorium for the debate, I had second thoughts about going. After thinking about the way I’d hammed it up last time I was at the podium delivering the speech in Kat’s absence, I questioned whether showing up would actually hurt Kat more than it would help. I was sitting there at the conference table in my suit and tie, mulling over the pros and cons in my head, when Fresh rescued me from my inhibitions. We’d spent so much time together, he knew how I was feeling without me ever even saying it. And he knew just what to say to get me up.

  “C’mon, man,” he said, tapping me on the leg. “Lets go! Nobody’s asking you to speak this time…. Thank God!”

  The two of us laughed about my podium meltdown all the way to the student center. I couldn’t believe how many students were filing in. The scene outside the student center looked like a clip from a desegregation rally during the civil rights era—except everyone was black, of course. Outside the doors, there was Kat’s large group of supporters, comprised mostly of Greeks, faced off with Howard’s. The groups stood across from each other holding signs supporting their candidate and trading chants back and forth.

  “Don’t be a coward, vote for Howard!” one group shouted.

  “Be a leader, vote Katrina!” the others responded.

  I couldn’t help but laugh on the inside as I made my way through their makeshift gauntlet. I had no idea people got so into student government elections in college. The scene literally looked like one you’d see on an old rerun episode of A Different World. Inside the auditorium, the ruckus grew to a fevered pitch. You could almost cut the tension in the room with a knife. Our group was ushered into a small, makeshift greenroom backstage. Kat looked nervous as hell. It was the first time I’d seen her look unnerved since that day last semester when she sat in her room with a gun to her head contemplating suicide. Just looking at her, I could tell she was on the verge of a breakdown.

  “I’m so nervous, you guys,” she admitted.

  “It’s gonna be okay, girl,” Destiny said, patting Kat on the back of her hand for reassurance. “You’ll do fine. Didn’t you see all of those people outside cheering for you?”

  Kat didn’t respond. Instead, she checked the time on her watch, then reached
in her purse and brought out about four bottles of medicine. I watched as she effortlessly popped two prescription pills about the size of my thumb.

  “What if they don’t accept me though, y’all?” Kat asked. “I mean with the whole HIV thing and D getting in trouble with the law. I just…I don’t know if I should go through with this.”

  “Now you know we’ve come too far to turn back now,” Timothy said. “Your steps are ordered. Your destiny has been prearranged. It says that right in…”

  “Romans eight and twenty-nine,” Kat said in unison with Timothy, finishing his sentence. “I know.”

  “Well, act like it!” Timothy said.

  “Yeah,” Dub-B said. “We’ve got a debate to win, ma!”

  “Thanks, y’all,” Kat said. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Just got the jitters, I guess.”

  Even though Kat was saying she was cool, she still seemed rattled to me. And truthfully, I probably had more riding on her winning the election than she did. I knew I had to do something. In less than two minutes, Kat was going to be standing before the entire student body. And I needed to help her pull herself together before she went out there.

  “You guys mind letting me and Kat have a moment to ourselves?” I asked. “Save me a seat. I’ll be out there in a sec.”

  After everyone cleared the room, I cleared my throat. I pulled up a chair and looked Kat straight in the eye. I knew I didn’t have long to say what I had to say, so I got straight to the point. Although I already had my academic probation requirement in the bag, I decided to overdramatize the stakes a bit. I knew Kat performed well under pressure.

  “Look,” I said, “between me and you, the only way my grade point average will be high enough for me to come back to U of A next year is if I get an A in public policy class. So if you don’t win this election, I’m out for good. And truthfully, I ain’t tryna go back to Oakland on a one-way ticket. The way my homies are getting killed in my hood…”