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“Well, get on with it already,” a big guy from the back shouted.
“Shut up, Brewster,” Deacon shot back.
Bishop looked out at the guys seated throughout the living room. “First order of the day… Rector has had to take a leave of absence and has left me in charge.”
“What?” Trenton shouted. “The fucker didn’t take a leave of absence.”
“Yeah,” Brewster said. “Our fabulous leader was expelled.”
“If you want to put it that way,” Bishop said. “Either way, the important thing to consider here is that he left me in charge.”
“You?” Trenton said. “Why you?”
“In case some of you might have forgotten,” Bishop said, “I’ve been second in command for quite a while now. It’s only fitting that I should take over in Rector’s absence.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Trenton leaned back. “So long as you don’t go making any radical changes around here.”
“Don’t worry,” Bishop said. “I have no intention of doing anything of the sort.”
“What do you intend on doing?” a smaller blond boy from the front asked.
“Well, Greg. Thank you for asking.” Bishop looked out at everyone. “My first task as president of the House of Saints is to introduce you to our newest Senior Saint.” He gestured towards me and everyone in the room gasped.
I stood and went to Bishop’s side.
“Everyone,” he said. “I know that you’ve already met Brook and I also know that you all love and appreciate her. With that said, I’d like you all to join me in congratulating her on so quickly becoming a Senior Saint.”
Beaming with surprise, I brought my hands over my mouth and looked at him with wide eyes.
A faint murmuring of congratulations flickered throughout the room while many exchanged questioning glances.
“Well,” Trenton let out after a few moments. “She sure is easy to look at.”
A wave of nodding heads filled the room.
“All right,” Bishop said with a chuckle. “Yes. Yes. We can all say that Brook is very easy on the eyes, but I also want you to know that it had no bearing on our decision. Brook is a smart, hard-working student here and she fully deserves the title of Senior Saint.”
Everyone grumbled their acceptance of his statement.
“You would like to address the pledges?” Bishop asked me.
I nodded and faced the room of men. I smiled at them all. It wasn’t just a smile. I was positively beaming, thrilled and so proud. It was what I had set out to do, and things had worked out even better than I’d anticipated.
“I want you all to know just how much this means to me,” I said. “As a little girl, I always felt like I didn’t fit in. I was never part of the in crowd… and now look at me. You’ve all made me feel so welcomed, so appreciated. And I have to tell you how I appreciate that.”
They applauded gently.
“Not only have you embraced me as the first woman to be a part of your fraternity, but to now make a Senior Saint… Ah. You have no idea how touched I am… how honored.”
More quiet applause.
“Well,” I said, “thank you all so very much. I’m thrilled.”
I stepped back, leaving the fireplace to Bishop.
“So,” he said in closing. “With that settled, I will once again reassure you that I have no intention of making any major changes to the House of Saints, so… please… everyone… Let’s enjoy ourselves, all while respecting what the House of Saints represents.”
Greg was the first to come up to me. “Miss Brook,” he said, shy but determined to speak to me. He held his hand out to me. “I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on making Senior Saint so fast.”
