term’s president begin when we return from winter break. I’ve decided to run for a second term.” She pushed her black bob behind her pointy ears.
Most of the girls in the room lifted their fingers into appreciated snaps. Bianca and I rolled our eyes. Layla was part of one of the cliques that steered clear of mine. She hadn’t liked me from the very first moment, because I was a legacy in this house thanks to my mom and Layla felt that meant I hadn’t earned my spot like she had. It didn’t matter to her that my mom was dead and this was the closest I ever felt to her.
“That’s because she doesn’t have anyone to live with next year,” Bianca whispered under her breath. I giggled. Presidents always got the biggest single room in the house with the en suite bathroom.
Layla’s eyes shifted to us, narrowing to slits. A few of the other girls turned their attentions our way. Blood rushed to my face. We pressed our lips together, staring straight ahead as if we did nothing wrong.
“I hope you all choose to vote for me.” It sounded more like a threat than a campaign. Layla smoothed down the front of her fitted blue sweater. “And now: formal.”
More snaps erupted from the audience.
“If you haven’t booked your room already, make sure to do so immediately. The room block ends tomorrow. And for the sophomore girls, remember seniors and juniors get first dibs on king bedrooms. I’ve been informed by some of the upper girls that there were no more kings available when they tried to reserve. So if you have one, please give it up.”
My throat tightened. Bianca had called and reserved the rooms for me, her, and Erin, even though Erin didn’t quite have a date yet. She’d booked me a king. I turned to her and bit my lip.
She shook her head. “Don’t you dare switch, this rule has always been stupid.”
It didn’t seem stupid to me though. The older girls had seniority. I would get their privileges when I paid my dues at the bottom of the ranks. Sometimes I felt my place in the sorority wavered on a flimsy foundation, like the three little pig’s house. One giant gust of wind and everything would crumble to the ground, leaving me no place to call home.
“And I must remind everyone—the Greek Organization has issued a strict formal safety policy to all fraternities and sororities. No drinking for anyone under age twenty-one.” A few snickers erupted under low breaths in the room. We all knew Layla only decreed this because our alumni officer sat next to her on the ornate couch. But the alumni officer wouldn’t be at formal. “And no one—drinking or not—is allowed to get into a car once you arrive at the hotel. We’re providing transportation to and from the venue for a reason. If you leave, there will be consequences.” She paused for dramatic effect. “Snap if you understand.”
My fingers involuntarily joined each other until the friction between them sounded off my term of agreement.
Bianca and I spent the days before formal getting ready. We raided the sorority kitchen and mixed homemade facials out of olive oil, oatmeal, and egg. We filed our nails and covered them in pattern wraps that matched our dresses. I did thousands of sit-ups that left my abs pissed off at my body. Fancy new lingerie arrived at my dorm via two-day shipping.
On the day of the actual affair, Bianca, Erin, and I took a cab to the mall to get our hair and makeup done. Erin had turned down all of Corey’s offered potential dates, claiming it was too incestuous for three Rho Sigs to be dating Beta Chi brothers. She opted instead to take a guy named Harrison Wagner, who Holly McKenna introduced her to. Holly’s name stung every time I heard it even though Corey claimed he’d only gone to her formal as a favor.
I could barely sit still in my chair at the salon. Anticipation bubbled in my belly. Since I usually blew dry my hair stick-straight like the rest of the cookie cutter girls on campus, I asked for soft
Most of the girls in the room lifted their fingers into appreciated snaps. Bianca and I rolled our eyes. Layla was part of one of the cliques that steered clear of mine. She hadn’t liked me from the very first moment, because I was a legacy in this house thanks to my mom and Layla felt that meant I hadn’t earned my spot like she had. It didn’t matter to her that my mom was dead and this was the closest I ever felt to her.
“That’s because she doesn’t have anyone to live with next year,” Bianca whispered under her breath. I giggled. Presidents always got the biggest single room in the house with the en suite bathroom.
Layla’s eyes shifted to us, narrowing to slits. A few of the other girls turned their attentions our way. Blood rushed to my face. We pressed our lips together, staring straight ahead as if we did nothing wrong.
“I hope you all choose to vote for me.” It sounded more like a threat than a campaign. Layla smoothed down the front of her fitted blue sweater. “And now: formal.”
More snaps erupted from the audience.
“If you haven’t booked your room already, make sure to do so immediately. The room block ends tomorrow. And for the sophomore girls, remember seniors and juniors get first dibs on king bedrooms. I’ve been informed by some of the upper girls that there were no more kings available when they tried to reserve. So if you have one, please give it up.”
My throat tightened. Bianca had called and reserved the rooms for me, her, and Erin, even though Erin didn’t quite have a date yet. She’d booked me a king. I turned to her and bit my lip.
She shook her head. “Don’t you dare switch, this rule has always been stupid.”
It didn’t seem stupid to me though. The older girls had seniority. I would get their privileges when I paid my dues at the bottom of the ranks. Sometimes I felt my place in the sorority wavered on a flimsy foundation, like the three little pig’s house. One giant gust of wind and everything would crumble to the ground, leaving me no place to call home.
“And I must remind everyone—the Greek Organization has issued a strict formal safety policy to all fraternities and sororities. No drinking for anyone under age twenty-one.” A few snickers erupted under low breaths in the room. We all knew Layla only decreed this because our alumni officer sat next to her on the ornate couch. But the alumni officer wouldn’t be at formal. “And no one—drinking or not—is allowed to get into a car once you arrive at the hotel. We’re providing transportation to and from the venue for a reason. If you leave, there will be consequences.” She paused for dramatic effect. “Snap if you understand.”
My fingers involuntarily joined each other until the friction between them sounded off my term of agreement.
Bianca and I spent the days before formal getting ready. We raided the sorority kitchen and mixed homemade facials out of olive oil, oatmeal, and egg. We filed our nails and covered them in pattern wraps that matched our dresses. I did thousands of sit-ups that left my abs pissed off at my body. Fancy new lingerie arrived at my dorm via two-day shipping.
On the day of the actual affair, Bianca, Erin, and I took a cab to the mall to get our hair and makeup done. Erin had turned down all of Corey’s offered potential dates, claiming it was too incestuous for three Rho Sigs to be dating Beta Chi brothers. She opted instead to take a guy named Harrison Wagner, who Holly McKenna introduced her to. Holly’s name stung every time I heard it even though Corey claimed he’d only gone to her formal as a favor.
I could barely sit still in my chair at the salon. Anticipation bubbled in my belly. Since I usually blew dry my hair stick-straight like the rest of the cookie cutter girls on campus, I asked for soft
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