Phi Alpha Pi

by Sara Marks

  Lizbeth kept dwelling on that one brief moment between Jorge and Wil. After dinner, she and Jorge went down to a local bar together before spending the night in his hotel room.

  “I’m coming back through here on Halloween. Want to do something?” Jorge said between kisses.

  They were sitting at a back table in a dark area of the bar, kissing and touching. Lizbeth found herself smiling more usual.

  “I have a Halloween party that night, but maybe you can come to it,” Lizbeth said without thinking. “Wait, Wil will be there. The party is at his house. You said you would tell me about Wil.”

  Jorge stopped touching her and sat up in his chair. He leaned forward and put his forearms on the table.

  “I sort of grew up with Wil, but I’m a few years older,” Jorge said and started playing with the label on his bottle of beer.

  “Really?” Lizbeth said, sitting up herself.

  “My father worked for Wil’s father. He was property manager for the real estate Wil’s family owns. Our fathers were very close--childhood friends actually. My father was practically an equal business partner.”

  “Wow, it’s weird to think of Wil as a child.”

  “He wasn’t very friendly with me, but I was at their home nearly every day. His sister, Ginny, loved me. She’s very different from Wil. They’re like night and day. His father also adored me and when my father died, the family promised to take care of me.”

  “What about Wil’s mother? What about your mother?”

  “My parents are divorced and my mother ran off when I was very young. I haven’t seen or heard from her since. Wil’s mother died from a very aggressive breast cancer a few years after Ginny was born. When Wil’s father got sick with pancreatic cancer he told me he made sure I would be taken care of. Wil had other plans when it came time to make good on the promise. It had not been left in the will so I had no legal recourse. I got one lump sum and didn’t realize it was all I had. I was at an Ivy League school and ran out of money before I could graduate. I was lucky to get a full-time job with Duke. I take classes while I work, but I really only do one at a time.”

  “Wil refused to give you what his father promised?”

  “Yeah and he cut all ties with me too. Ginny tried to keep in touch for a while, but Wil shut that down when he found out. He threatened legal action if I didn’t leave her alone.”

  Lizbeth had heard Caroline mention Ginny when they were all at the townhouse working on the French project. Caroline explained that Ginny was at a boarding school about an hour away. Wil had transferred partly to be closer to his sister. Charlie and Caroline had come to keep him company. Now Lizbeth wondered if it was to make sure Wil could control his sister and keep Jorge away from her. She didn’t mention this to Jorge.

  “You should come to the party,” Lizbeth said after thinking about what Jorge had told her.

  “Really?”

  “Show him you’re the bigger person and can do fine without him.”

  “It’s a good idea. It’s not like I’m in the wrong. If he doesn’t like it, he can leave.”

  ***

  “Lizbeth,” Colin said sitting down right next to her with an over-eager look on his face. “I spoke with my mentor, Ms. Katherine de Bourgh, today. She is very pleased with the progress I have been making this year. She told me her nephew Wil is at school here this year, and is in this class. I must make a point of introducing myself to him. To make things better she has offered me an internship for class credit starting in the spring. I may have to head over to Gardner in Massachusetts this November to get set up and settled. There is a second internship available. Mother thinks it’s important for me to find a wife who shares my interests and will allow me to focus on my work. Katherine de Bourgh has offered to provide a second internship if I do have a wife. They both have convinced me a wife would, additionally, put me in a better social standing. My position would be one of great responsibility and prominence in her company. Ms. de Bourgh has often complimented my ideas on running her company. I really feel like this is my chance to put these ideas in action.”

  It was Monday, in their Gender class. Lizbeth was fighting the urge to start an argument with Wil. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with Colin. She was saved from both Colin and herself when Prof. Bennett arrived and began his lecture. Lizbeth focused on her notes and got out of class quickly before Colin could catch up with her. She remembered, as she walked back to the house, that her father, a well-known chef in Boston, knew Katherine de Bourgh. She was curious about a woman who connected Wil and Colin to each other. She texted both her father and Jorge, hoping one would tell her about this woman. She never heard from Jorge, but her father quickly replied.

  “Stay away from her. She’s a judgmental control freak who thinks anyone that doesn’t fit her ideal is not worth her time.”

  ***

  The sorority sisters had spent weeks planning their costumes for Charlie and Caroline’s Halloween party. Most of the sorority sisters had decided to dress up as something sexy: cheerleader, witch, cat, zombie, pirate, along with some weird costumes that should never be sexy, like characters from children’s television shows. Jane had a current obsession with sewing. She had designed and made costumes for herself, Lizbeth and Charlotte.

  “We are going to be Regency era ladies!” Jane said as she showed her friends their empire-waist dresses.

  Charlotte’s was a lovely navy blue linen with light pink trims. Lizbeth’s was Chardonnay-colored with navy trims. Jane’s was light pink with light blue trims. Lizbeth had been instructed to provide bonnets and gloves. She had gotten all of them elbow-length silk gloves and straw bonnets thanks to the internet. Charlotte had picked out ribbons from Jane’s specifications and edged the bonnets with them. They looked right out of an Austen novel. Marie came into Lizbeth and Jane’s room as they were all getting ready.

  “I’m a ghost,” Marie said.

  “With a sheet over you?” Lizbeth asked.

  “No, more with make-up.”

  “A sexy ghost?” Charlotte asked.

  Marie rolled her eyes, but knew Charlotte was being sarcastic.

  “No, just a ghost. Well, a ghost bride. I found a cheap wedding dress on Ebay. I tore it up to look like I was buried in it. I need help with the make-up, though. I need eyeliner all around my eyes and I suck at applying it.”

  Jane helped Marie with her makeup and all four were very pleased with their costumes. Lizbeth drove them to the townhouse. She didn’t expect them all to return. She gave Marie an extra set of keys in case Lizbeth decided to go back to Jorge’s hotel room. Lizbeth wanted this party to reinvigorate Jane’s relationship with Charlie. Charlotte had commented that Charlie was likely to get bored if Jane didn’t spend more time with him. Both Lizbeth and Charlotte knew Jane had moved faster than she normally did, but then she had backed off recently and not spent much time with Charlie. Jane’s friends knew it was her shyness and anxiety. Lizbeth hoped Jane would drink just enough to help her nerves.

  The driveway was full when they got to the townhouse. Lizbeth took the last available guest spot. The party was in full swing when they walked in.

  “Jane! Lizbeth!” Caroline called to them from across the room.

  Lizbeth could barely see Caroline in the crowd. The two of them waved back and made their way into the kitchen. Lizbeth made a point of getting four unopened beers from the fridge.

  “Are you supposed to be Lizzy Bennett?”

  Lizbeth looked up to see Wil standing behind the fridge door. How had he snuck up on her so easily? She grabbed the beers and closed the door.

  “Well, my name IS Lizbeth. I AM dressed for the correct time period,” Lizbeth said and passed the beers to her friends who took them and walked away. “I guess that’s my costume.”

  Wil looked annoyed at her sarcastic response.

  “You do know I’m
Mr. Darcy,” he said with a sigh.

  Lizbeth looked Wil up and down. He was wearing his normal attire. He looked striking in a thin, light grey sweater, dark wash jeans, and his black Chucks. He had a knack for picking colors that made his eyes stand out.

  “Tonight?”

  “No, my last name is Darcy. I am William Darcy.”

  “My last name isn’t Bennett. If you’re not dressed as Mr. Darcy, then what is your costume: preppy, entitled, rich boy?”

  “I’m not dressed up. I do not like dressing up and pretending to be something I’m not.”

  “Why doesn’t this surprise me?” Lizbeth said, rolling her eyes.

  Wil stared at her.

  “Are you aware that your housemother is here?” he eventually said.

  “Excuse me? Mrs. C is at this party?”

  “Yes, she seems to have come with her son, who I was not aware was invited. I have to listen to him enough in class. I thought those two and a half hours of him a week was going to be my limit.”

  Lizbeth looked back to see Colin and Mrs. C on the couch, each with beers in hand. Mrs. C was chatting with a group of girls who looked like they were trying to ignore her. Colin was looking around the room with a drunk expression on his face. Lizbeth could see him swaying and his entire face seemed relaxed.

  “He often comes to dinner at our house. I’m sure he assumed that a party discussed in his proximity meant he was invited,” Lizbeth said.

  “Why did his mother come with him?”

  Lizbeth sighed. She suspected Lydia had invited Mrs. C. She was annoyed that Wil seemed to think she was responsible for people at his party.

  “Who knows why people do what they do? Jorge wonders the same thing.”

  Lizbeth watched Wil’s green eyes narrow.

  “Good for Jorge,” Wil said and walked away.

  Lizbeth rolled her eyes and made her way through the townhouse looking for Jorge. They hadn’t talked much since he left campus. He had sent her a text message earlier saying he would be at the party and that she would be impressed with his costume. From what Lizbeth could tell, his costume was a cloak of invisibility because he wasn’t there at all. She had never been stood up and the feeling confused her. She stood alone in the middle of the party with nobody to talk to. All her friends had gone off on their own.

  “Lizbeth! I’m so happy to have found you,” Colin Collins said, coming up to her. He was dressed as a clown, which wasn’t too far off the mark in Lizbeth’s opinion.

  “What can I do for you?” Lizbeth asked.

  “I saw you speaking to Wil Darcy. His aunt is my mentor, Katherine de Bourgh. He has class with us.”

  “You don’t say.”

  Lizbeth knew her sarcasm was lost on Colin, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t uncommon for him to tell her things multiple times.

  “I’m going to introduce myself to him again and make sure he knows how important I am to his aunt. He and I are sure to become good friends given our shared admiration for his aunt.”

  “Colin, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Nonsense, he and I have a lot in common.”

  Lizbeth put her hand on Colin’s shoulder to steady him.

  “Wait, Colin. Why is your mother here?”

  “Lydia invited us. My mother is sure Jane and Charlie are going to announce an engagement shortly, and didn’t want to miss it if it happened tonight,” Colin said and left to find Wil.

  Lizbeth was irritated with Lydia, but wondered where Mrs. C got the idea that Charlie and Jane were getting engaged. Colin was staggering through the crowd, on his way to Wil, before she could ask him. Wil was speaking to one of the Alpha Phi brothers. From a distance, it looked like Colin had interrupted the conversation to talk to Wil. The look on Wil’s face was one Lizbeth had seen many times, but the more Colin talked, the deeper Wil’s frown became. Lizbeth felt obligated to rescue them from each other, but didn’t get a chance before Wil simply turned away from Colin and returned to his original conversation. Colin stood there for a few moments, swaying from intoxication, before walking away himself.

  The night just got worse from there. Charlotte had disappeared, Lydia was at the center of everything chatting with groups of people for a few minutes before moving on, Jane had run off somewhere with (hopefully) Charlie, and usually sober Marie was nowhere to be seen. The one person she did find, Mrs. C, was drunk. The housemother loudly explained to everyone near her that Jane was soon going to marry Charlie and all this would be Jane’s. Mrs. C took credit for the entire relationship. The weirdest part of the night was a conversation she had with Caroline toward the end of the party. Caroline stalked over to Lizbeth in a leather cat-suit with three-inch heels.

  “Wow, Caroline, you look amazing!” Lizbeth said.

  “You have no idea what you’re doing,” Caroline said with a small drunk lisp.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You don’t deserve him. You are just a little nothing. I don’t know what they all see in you,” Caroline said and then stalked off with a high-pitched laugh.

  Lizbeth knew this was the end of the party for her. Jorge was apparently never going to show up. She was annoyed that she wasn’t important enough to him for a text message letting her know. She was embarrassed by Colin and Mrs. C. She was still irritated from her conversation with Wil. She wanted to find Charlotte, Jane, and Marie. She roamed from room to room looking for her sorority sisters.

  “Do you need something, Lizbeth?” Wil said when she accidentally walked into his bedroom on the second floor of the townhouse.

  Wil was sitting at a desk with a book open and a pen in hand.

  “I’m looking for the friends I came with. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this was your room.”

  “I last saw Jane with Caroline. Marie was outside in the back drinking and being very Socratic with a bunch of Alpha Phi brothers dressed in togas. Charlotte was kind enough to distract Colin, who appears to be my aunt’s latest protégé. Jorge is not here.”

  Lizbeth looked around the room. She was trying to decide what to do next, but was distracted by how bare the room was. There were no posters on the wall, but Wil had put up bookcases and loaded them with books. The full-size bed was covered with a fluffy down comforter. Wil’s laptop sat on the bed and Lizbeth wanted to do the same. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

  “Lizbeth are you okay?” Wil asked.

  “What? Yes, I’m fine, thanks,” Lizbeth said, leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

  She found Charlotte talking with Colin. Technically, Colin was talking and Charlotte was listening.

  “I hate to interrupt, but I think it is time for us to leave,” Lizbeth said

  “Why?” Charlotte asked.

  “Things are getting weird.”

  “Well, you are the designated driver. You’re sober and everyone else is drunk.”

  “Are you drunk?”

  “No,” Charlotte said, “what’s wrong?”

  “I’m irritated about a bunch of things.”

  “Like Jorge not showing up?”

  “Can you help me find Jane and Marie? I want to let them know I’m going and see if they want a ride.”

  “I think I’m going to stay a little longer,” Charlotte said.

  “Really?”

  “I am happy to make sure Charlotte gets home safely, Lizbeth,” Colin offered.

  “We’ll help you find Marie and Jane,” Charlotte said and the three of them went through the house together.

  Marie was at the center of a group of Alpha Phi brothers dressed in togas, singing drinking songs loudly and poorly. She was so drunk she was slurring her words and could barely stand up. Lizbeth knew enough about rape culture to know the look in the eyes of these brothers. She had to get her friend out immediately before something bad happen
ed.

  “Come on, Marie, let’s get you home before the car turns back into a pumpkin,” Lizbeth said wrapping her arm around Marie’s waist to support her.

  Lizbeth could hear the groans of disappointment as they walked away. Marie continued to try to sing the drinking songs. They found Jane standing by the front door.

  “Oh, fantastic. I think it’s time to leave,” Jane said.

  “Did something happen? You don’t have to leave with me. I can take care of Marie.”

  “No, I want to go home.”

  The two friends helped Marie to the car and pulled away from the townhouse. Only Marie talked during the trip back to the sorority house as she tried to figure out more lyrics to drinking songs. Lizbeth had never seen Marie so drunk before.

  “Did something happen?” Lizbeth asked Jane once they got Marie into her bed.

  “Nope, I just was bored.”

  “Where was Charlie?”

  “Being the host. We spent some time together. Did you know Mrs. C and Colin were at the party?”

  “Yeah, Wil pointed them out,” Lizbeth said and then told Jane some of what happened to her that night.

  Jane didn’t share anymore. Lizbeth knew it would take a little time, but eventually Jane would tell her all the details.

  November

  The Phi Alpha Pi house continued to be busy in the month of November. Mrs. C, who had not gone crazy decorating for Halloween, came out with endless Thanksgiving decorations. Marie had to fight with Mrs. C about the appropriateness of also hanging Christmas decorations on November first. Lizbeth felt like she was waiting for things to happen: for Lydia to gloat at how she had planned such an amazing Halloween party, for Mrs. C to celebrate Jane’s relationship with Charlie, for Jane to start spending time with Charlie again, and to hear from Jorge about his absence. Instead, the sisters were busy writing papers and studying for mid-terms. None of the events Lizbeth anticipated actually happened.

  The only change came from Colin, who became clingy. He walked Lizbeth to and from the one class they had together. He came over every night for dinner with his mother and made a point of finding Lizbeth to talk to her. Colin finally found her at the library, showed up during her shifts, and was asked by a librarian to leave Lizbeth alone during work.