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“May I speak with you?” I ask, standing up.
Isabel nods and leads me off toward Sheila’s room. “She’s away visiting family. I use her office rather than schlepping upstairs.” Isabel shuts the door as soon as we’re in the office. “Why are you here?”
“I want to pledge Gamma next year,” I reply without emotion.
Isabel scoffs, but not at my pushy assumption. “If there’s a Gamma,” she replies. “We’ve had some slipups, and you might be the only one pledging next year.”
“I also want to buy Gamma house for Gamma,” I reply as if I didn’t hear her. “If you co-host my charity event.”
Isabel is tall enough to look me dead in the eye. She’s not intimidated by money, status, or threats. Isabel has terms, and they better be met. “What’s the catch?” she asks.
“I want to get even with Theta,” I reply sincerely. “They wanted to parade me around like a lost cause they rescued. I’m not tossing the glory over to them after I did the struggling. I want this event to overshadow my scandal. And the sisters I trust are here.”
“Thank you for being honest,” replies Isabel. “I hate wading through bullshit. We had an unpleasant mixer and no takers for future events. A charity event will turn it around. Plus, I’d love to inform the school it no longer owns the house.” Isabel extends her hand. “We accept, and welcome back, pledge.”
We shake. “And I’m sorry for being a shit.”
Isabel laughs. “I would’ve been worse.”
***
My old dorm room becomes a place to hang out between classes, and I invite Gamma to use it. Also, having them there keeps Theta away. One day when I’m alone, Wren hurries in without knocking. She places her hand on her chest but has no time to speak before Helen barges into the room.
Helen glares as if she could strike me down with an evil look. “You two-faced slut.”
“Are you talking to yourself?” I ask sweetly.
When Helen notices a shocked Wren, she catches her temper. News travels fast, but gossip strikes like lightning. It’s insane to keep a secret around here. After all, what can Helen do to me? Throw me out? I was never in Theta. Besides, I’d have to deal with a whole new set of sisters in charge next year, and Helen’s flimsy promise may not be honored.
I shrug my shoulders and go back to my phone. “Gamma liked the suggestion and ran with it.”
Helen scoffs. “So you played us against them. That was a bitch move.”
“I wanted to throw my event,” I reply. “That’s all. Nothing sinister or calculating. The dean of students is allowing us to use the president’s house, and all sororities are invited to take part. Everyone has said yes except one.”
Helen can’t get any satisfaction out of me, so she focuses on Wren instead. “Did you know, pledge?” She doesn’t wait for an answer. “I hope you have the stomach for the task I have planned for you today.”
Wren seethes, and her scowl is spiteful. “Will it be the same as Prisha’s? What did you make her do?”
Helen’s expression goes blank, and then her jaw ticks. “We don’t discuss house business away from the house. You know that.” Helen swiftly leaves the room, but before I can ask Wren what she meant, Wren disappears hot on Helen’s heels.
CHAPTER 15
Charlotte
At first, the apartment is quaint until I spend my first weekend there and realize that living above a bar only sounds cool. I can hear the murmur of voices late into the night and smell cigarette smoke seeping up through the floorboards. In the end, I spend more time at Gamma than at my new apartment.
The guys love the apartment, and more and more of their stuff shows up daily. Jaxon’s guitars in the corner of the bedroom, Hudson’s PC set up in the living room, and Asher’s smelly gym clothes in the bathroom closet. My sweet, cozy home downgrades into a man cave. I welcome them. It’s a relief after Eddie Kessler, and though I don’t mention the creep, the experience has left me shaken.
Asher spent last night claiming the Oak is a dangerous place. I refrain from laughing at his transparent excuse. I’ve become a regular at the Oak, and Marshall keeps chicken soup on the menu because it’s my favorite. Gossip also travels around the bar, but no one bothers me. One day, a man refers to me as Marshall’s niece, and I like that.
Marshall leans toward the bowl. “I hope you don’t mind, but they won’t mess with family.”
“I don’t mind,” I laugh, dipping my crackers in my soup. “Let them think that.”
I like that Marshall likes me being around. Genuine friendship can’t be bought.
Unfortunately, classes have become grueling after an especially brutal world history midterm. Ten pages and an essay. It was a three-hour exam. Who does that? I consider dropping out again. It’s an idle daydream that gives me comfort, especially when I’d rather stay in bed or go away for the weekend and not come back. But I don’t talk about dropping out around Asher. I’m afraid that mentioning it will remind him that he’s fed up too.
