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Helen’s pleasant voice takes on a sharp edge. “Consider it your task for today.”
I leave the room with Wren and follow behind her. “Sorry, Wren,” I whisper. “I didn’t think she’d put you on the spot.”
Wren shrugs. “It’s okay. Come on. I’ll show you around the first floor.”
She walks quickly in front of me down the hallway. The house doesn’t have an open layout like Gamma’s. It’s an ordinary house with narrow hallways that lead into oddly shaped rectangular rooms. Laughter rings out before we walk into the kitchen. Three pledges are hanging out at the island—none of them have I met before. The smiles rip off their face when they see us. Wren doesn’t bother to introduce me, and the other girls slip out of the room without acknowledging us.
“Well, that was subtle.” I wander further into the kitchen and admire the gray walls, white tiles, and granite on every surface.
“Some of the girls don’t understand why you’re here,” says Wren.
“Or want me here, it seems,” I reply.
“You wonder why?” she asks, a slight tone creeping into her voice. “You step right without doing a task.”
“I’m not pledging, so what’s the problem?” I ask, taking a seat at the island and crossing my legs. It’s only a kitchen stool, but I turn it into a throne. “Never mind, I get it. I’m the Goodwill slut. People have been gossiping,” I explain.
Wren unfreezes and eyes me. “And you’re okay with that label?” she asks.
“No, I’m not, or with this chilly welcome.” I toy with a spoon on the counter and avoid her judgy gaze. “Am I right? Are they going to parade me around in front of the ladies who lunch?”
Wren presses her lips together and drops the niceties completely. “Charlotte. Were you really expecting to be a queen here at Ivymore? You’re just another poor little rich girl.”
I swallow hard. “I prefer to be a team player nowadays.”
Wren smirks, pleased with my quip. She stares over her shoulder at the kitchen door, shuts it, and returns to the island. “Theta is using you.”
“For my money?” I ask. “Or for notoriety?”
She scoffs. “They have plenty of both here. They want you to stop helping Gamma.” Wren crosses her arms. “Gamma’s last mixer was with Kappa and it was a disaster.”
I frown. “Kappa is second to Alpha, though they think they’re first.”
“They’re trash,” Wren whispers. “Do you know what a Westminster is?”
I shake my head.
“The guy who fucks the ugliest girl wins the challenge,” replies Wren. “But Gamma disappointed them. They don’t put out, no matter how hard a boy begs.”
My face flushes as my brows meet. “They did that to Gamma?”
“Why do you care? They kicked you out. You have Theta now.” The sarcasm is thick in her voice.
Helen strolls into the kitchen, not expecting to see us. “Didn’t get far on the tour?” She looks at my seething expression, then at Wren’s side-eye. “Anything wrong?”
“I’m out. I can handle it, but I’m not watching you tear my friends down.” I rush past Helen toward the front door and leave Wren to explain.
Fury shakes my whole body, and my heels pound the pavement as if I want to stab the ground. How dare a bunch of assholes like Kappa diss Gamma? They are the sweetest, smartest women I know on campus. They have integrity, not like the fools flooding campus who can barely spell the word. I have to pass by Gamma house to reach campus, and I hesitate at the end of the walkway.
From the outside, the charming house looks quiet. And the only thing moving are the squirrels in the budding maple trees. I’ve developed a soft spot for the little guys and refuse to watch them go down. I close my eyes and force my pride down my throat, march up to the front door, and knock. The rapping echoes inside, and in a few seconds, the door opens. Heather stares at me, and a shy grin passes over her pretty face before a look of worry masks it.
“Can I come in?” I ask her.
She steps aside, and in a few more steps, I’m in the living room.
Heather walks past and motions toward me. “Look. Charlotte’s back.”
The reactions range from shock to delight. And soon a swarm of girls surrounds me, giving me hugs and asking me questions. I’m pulled down onto the couch, and soon, we’re all laughing. At first, Raine is standoffish, but she sits down to join us. The mood tanks when Isabel walks into the room. Her vexed expression doesn’t crack as she glares at me.
