We finish eating and go our separate ways. My phone rings and I ignore it. Not even a moment later it rings again. I pull it from my pocket and wince.Just what I needed today.
I slide my finger on the screen to answer. “Hello,” I say with a cringe. After not hearing from him last week I thought maybe he was finally going to move on.“Jase, what is this I’m hearing from Arnold? He said Penny told him you were planning on dropping from the team. That is not acceptable. You know what my conditions are.”I find a seat along the stone bench in front of Jhonson Hall and smack myself in the forehead with my phone. Ignoring the rant my father is on.“Do you hear me son?”he roars. I close my eyes and try not to snap back. I’m exhausted, both physically and mentally. I wish I could just run away. Take Lay and go somewhere we can be happy and free. “Yes, Father. It was just a moment of weakness, a private conversation she must have overheard. I was never going to actually do it.” A clink sounds from his end and I know he’s already hit the scotch this morning. “Oh, well, good then. How’s your brother doing? Still dating that guy?”Fuck, how drunk is he? Does he know who he’s talking to, or does he think he’s talking to East?
“No Father, he has his eyes on someone new. A pretty little blonde from Kansas.”
He booms out with a laugh.“Oh I know all about that little minx. Arnold says Penny won’t shut up about her. If you ask me, I think she’s jealous. She’s always had a thing for your brother.”
I roll my eyes and try to get him off the line. I’m almost successful until my mother pops into the room, “Oh is that my baby?”The phone is handed to her and I lean back to get comfortable. My mother can talk for hours.
e
I hang up the phone and head towards my afternoon class. I need to start getting back into my schoolwork or my grades will slip and fuck knows what happens if I get kicked from the team. I’m so over football. It was fun in highschool, but now it’s becoming more of a chore. I spot Penny heading my way, so I turn down a side path to avoid her. I open the door to Masters Hall and quickly rush up the stairs and let out a breath of relief, I do not want to deal with her bullshit right now. I walk down the corridor towards my class and pause.Fuck.She caught me.
“Jase Hawthorne do not walk away from me,” she snaps, digging her press-on nails further into my bicep. I know I shouldn’t aggravate her, but I’m so over her dictator bullshit. I put a fake smile on my face and give her a kiss on the cheek, startling her to the point she shuts up. “Oh hi Penny. Sorry, my mind has been a million miles away. How are you today?” I ask, watching as she blinks repeatedly, trying to remember why she accosted me in the first place. “I was having a pleasant morning until Redneck Barbie showed up in my economics class. Why is she still here? It's been a few weeks now. What the fuck is the hold up?” I bite my lip to prevent the smile and laugh that threatens to come out at ‘redneck barbie’. She releases my arm and backs a few steps away. Her face reddens and I groan. “Working on it, Penny. East is planning something,” I say, she purses her lips and gives me a nod. “Get it done Jase, or I may just have to have a little talk with Daddy.”
I go to reply, but she flips her hair and walks off. The click of her heels on the marble matching the pace of my heart. I know what must be done, but it doesn't mean I approve.
Twenty
Carson
My phone wakes me from a bad dream, and I roll over, glancing at the text.
PMS:I need you to be at the house in fifteen minutes.
Yeah right. I roll back over and close my eyes once more, but my phone won’t stop dinging.Seriously? It’s a fucking Saturday.I throw the blankets off and climb out of bed, tripping over something, and start yelling at the book on the floor like it’s personally offended me. I need coffee and more sleep. I’m going to murder our neighbor. If he’s not blasting music until four a.m., he’s banging some whiny chick right against my wall. I don’t know how much longer I can put up with this.
I open my door, and the aroma of bacon pulls me out of my mood a little bit.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Sassy says with a piece in her mouth.
“No. Why do people insist on getting up so early on the weekends? Even my dad would let me sleep in till nine.”
She laughs and holds out the crispy strips to me. I take one and moan in contentment. “That is seriously good,” I say, covering my mouth as I chew.
“I don’t think I will ever get over how much you enjoy your food,” Sassy says with a hint of lust in her eyes. I laugh nervously and snatch another piece. My phone dings again and I groan. “Why won’t she leave me alone?” I glance at the phone and snort, “Yeah I am not going to be there in five. Chick is seriously crazy.”
Sassy stands up from the couch, setting the plate on the coffee table. “Who’s blowing up your phone?” she asks, moving to the kitchen to get me a coffee, before walking my way and handing it over. I take it with a grateful sigh. “Penny. She wants me to show up at the house and bake cookies with the girls. I guess it’s a bonding exercise. The other pledges arrive today for an orientation, or a meet and greet. I don’t know. I am not awake enough for this shit,” I grumble, taking a large sip of the milky sweet coffee. Sassy laughs before backing away with her hands in the air. “That’s all you babes, I burn water.” I laugh and finish off the mug.
“Thank you. I better go get dressed,” I say, handing the cup back to her and turning towards my bedroom. The guy next door is moaning and a headboard is slamming. I bang my fist against the wall, yelling, “Does your mother know how much of a slut you are?”
I hear some swearing and a girl saying, “Baby, what’s wrong?” Someone grumbles and I burst out in quiet chuckles.
“She mentioned my mom. Fucking bitch, total boner killer.”
I move over to the closet and pull out some jeans and a T-shirt of my mom’s from her Kippa Nu days. It’s faded, but the material is so soft. I get ready and throw my hair in a messy bun, before grabbing my bag and walking out the door. The lobby is empty when I reach the stairs and I can’t help but glance at the small room by the door. My cheeks heat as I remember what Connor and I did there. I bite my lip and descend the steps. I may need to have a repeat with that boy.
e
“Hey, Cara,” A pretty redhead says to me. I think her name is Denise. She comes over to my station and helps me set up. “How are you doing? I know this hazing thing is a pain. I was a legacy last year, but once the other pledges are chosen they’ll get Hell Week over with, and you will officially be one of us,” she says with a soft smile. I give her a smile in return and continue to mix the batter for sugar cookies. I was told I needed to bake one hundred Kippa Nu sugar cookies for the mixer today. We’re going to meet some more ‘sacrifices’. My word. They call them pledges.
I bake for hours and I am finally almost done. I take out the last tray of cookies from the oven and set them on the cooling rack. So much for this being a bonding experience. So far all the work has been thrown my way. I’m hot, sweaty, covered in flour, and my feet are killing me.
I turn back to decorate some more when the kitchen door swings open. “Um, Courtney, what the fuck is this?” Penny says, coming up to me with one of the cookies I’d made. I look at her in confusion and she screams, “You fucking imbicile the icing is supposed to be hot pink, not this pale pink monstrosity.” She throws the cookie in my face, and the not-yet-hardened icing smears all over my mother’s white cotton T-shirt. Some of the girls behind her laugh, and I feel tears prick my eyes. “I-- I’m sorry Penny. I’ll make some more,” I say quietly, moving towards the counter to add some coloring to the icing and scrape off the other so I can hand pipe them all over again. Talons grab my hair and tugs me back. “I wasn’t done talking to you. You already ruined today’s mixer, so don’t bother. Just leave. You're lucky you're a legacy or you would never be welcomed again in my house,” she snarls, before releasing my hair and shoving me towards the door. My hip hits the door jam and I wince. Her eyes brighten with glee, then she glances above my head. I watch as a mask slips over her features. “Oh hello, please come in, ignore the maid. Would you like a cookie?” she says to a few girls walking up the steps. I turn and quickly walk away, praying the tears don’t fall until I’m in my room. I hate them so much, but a promise is a promise.
e
A few days later I’m walking to class when my phone buzzes. I pull it from my pocket and, not paying attention, accidentally bump into one of my sorority sisters. “Oh I’m so sorry,” I tell her, but she just rolls her eyes and keeps walking. I sigh and lean against the wall. Why can’t I connect with any of my sisters? I thought Denise was nice, but turns out she just wanted me to do her English paper. It seems the girls don’t care much for grades, just landing a hot, successful husband. My phone buzzes again and I finally read the messages.