Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
T he first week of classes is always so boring. Syllabi, grading scales, class procedures—I know I should appreciate the slow pitch start to the semester, but it’s so hard to focus.
I took the LSAT over the summer and got an admirable score. Between some credits from high school I transferred in and front-loading my first years of college, I arranged it so I’m only taking twelve credit hours this semester. That gives me time to get my law school application turned in early.
At least, that’s the theory.
I’ve decided to use some downtime this week to fill out the bulk of the application, and then hopefully I’ll have my personal statement essay finished by mid-September. I’ll feel good if I can submit my application to UC Davis by the end of September.
It’s risky to put all my eggs in one basket, but I really want to attend UC Davis. Maybe I’ll consider applying to a couple of other programs, but for the moment, I’m laser-focused on UC Davis early admission.
I made reasonable progress through the packet after classes. My Wednesday afternoon was shot after Amaya roped me into helping her with some projects for our first AOPi chapter meeting, even though I’m not on the leadership board this year. It was worth it though to see her proud, beaming face at the front of our sorority on Wednesday night. She’s such a dynamic leader; I can’t imagine a single thing going wrong in AOPi this year.
It's now Thursday afternoon, and I’m sitting at my desk alone in our room with a stack of chocolate chip cookies from the dining room, application open on my laptop. My Mindful Mellow Spotify playlist is keeping my brain tuned to the task before me, so I’m making great progress.
Ping.
The text notification sound from my phone summons, and I swipe it open.
Aaron
Hey Lana. Feels like it’s been forever. Hope I’ll see you at Arrow tonight
Aaron texted me. He’s thinking about me. He’s thinking about seeing me tonight.
I stand up to do a little happy dance.
Okay, I want to let him know I’m excited to see him too without seeming too eager—I don’t want to come across needy. I consider for a moment before typing back.
I know, right? Summer was long. I’ll be there tonight, so see you then.
I hit send and can immediately see that he’s read it. Which means he was waiting on the phone for my response.
Collapsing on my bed, I know I won’t be getting any more application questions finished. I shoot a text to our Beefs’ group chat.
Aaron just texted saying he hoped to see me tonight
Amaya
YAS QUEEN!
Teegan
heart eyes emoji
I’m picking out your outfit
I smile at my phone screen. Glancing up at my reflection in the mirror, I decide my day-three dry shampoo is not quite cutting it for my first time seeing Aaron again tonight.
After showering and blow-drying my hair, I’m wrapping chunks around my curling wand when Amaya and Teegan come in the door together.
Teegan beelines it for the closet. “No running shorts and oversized t-shirt for you today, missy.”
“But she can’t look like she’s trying too hard,” Amaya jumps in, joining Teegan by the closet. “Don’t overdress her—it’s still just a weekly Arrow meeting, not a night out.”
“I’m just going to wear these cut-off jean shorts and a shirt, chill out,” I say with more confidence than I feel. Adrenaline has already taken over as the number-one hormone coursing through my nervous system. My endocrine system is the one that needs to chill out.
“Fine, but make it a cute shirt,” Teegan says, pulling a few options out of the closet. She holds up a sleeveless, emerald V-neck blouse. “Here, to make your green eyes pop.”
I roll my eyes but accept the hanger from her hand. “We’re probably making way too big a deal out of this,” I tell them, turning back to the mirror and setting down my curling wand.
“Whatever, you’re just telling yourself that because you’re totally freaking out,” Amaya says matter-of-factly as she exits to the hall bathroom.
I change into my approved shirt and assess my appearance in the mirror. Whatever blend of European blood flows through my family’s veins allows me to get a decent tan over the summer that slowly fades during the winter months. However, not being at the beach this summer has left me a shade paler than usual. I’m a very average height at 5’5”, my body build also falling right around the fiftieth percentile for a 22-year-old, according to my annual physical this summer. My looks may be more average than extraordinary, but I did spend extra time on my most striking feature—thick, chestnut-brown hair flowing to my lower back.
I’m double-checking my makeup when Amaya calls at me from the hallway. “Stop stressing, Lana. You look great, and tonight is going to be fine. Now let’s go before we’re late!”
Amaya and I walk over to the student union for the Arrow meeting together. Teegan is picking up freshmen from the dorms, but I have to get to the meeting early because I’m in charge of the welcome team. A handful of us stand out in the lobby to greet students as they arrive, Sharpies at the ready to write name tags. I need to come up with the question of the week to ask—we’ll write students’ answers to the question below their name, giving people an easy conversation starter.
We arrive at the union and greet the other students and Arrow staff who are there setting up. Amaya heads into the room to place announcement fliers on the chairs, and I open up the box of name tag supplies.
Rachel, the Arrow director’s wife, comes over to greet me. She gives me a quick hug and says she missed me this summer before heading into the room to make sure everything is ready to go with the band. I write my name and Washington D.C. on a label. I’ve decided the question this week will be, “What was your favorite place you went to over the summer?”
The rest of the girls on the welcome team arrive, and I share the question for the night. Everyone grabs sheets of labels and disperses throughout the lobby to catch all the students coming in from multiple entrances. In a few short minutes, a steady stream of people starts arriving. The lobby buzzes with the excitement of friends greeting each other after summers apart and new introductions being made.
I’m in the middle of writing name tags for a group of girls when, out of the corner of my eye, I see a large group of OG guys coming in the side entrance. My heart beats a little faster, but then I see multiple welcome teamers already poised to write their name tags.
Turning my focus back to the girl in front of me, I write her answer. “That is so cool that you got to go to California with your family,” I tell her. “I’m hoping to be there this time next year!” She smiles brightly, and the group heads through the doors to the meeting room.
I feel a tap on my shoulder, and an oh-so-familiar voice asks, “Hey, can I get a name tag?”
Turning with a smile on my face, I look up to see Aaron grinning down at me. He pulls me in for a quick side-hug and asks, “What’s the question this week?”
I’m already writing Aaron (and resisting adding a heart) as I tell him, “What was your favorite place you went to this summer?”
“Well, Florida, obviously. I wish that could have been your answer too—we missed you at Summer Project this year,” Aaron answers, and I fight back a blush as I smile to myself. He points at my name tag. “D.C. huh? I thought you were just staying home for the summer.”
Resisting the urge to unload how my summer was so much more than just a summer at home and give him every thrilling detail, I simply respond, “I know, I wish I could have been in two places at once. I was in KC for most of the summer but got to spend a couple of weeks in D.C. working with an advocacy group. I?—”
I’m cut off by one of Aaron’s fraternity brothers half-tackling him as the rest of the group comes toward the doors. Aaron is swept up in the current of OG bodies, but he calls back to me, “You’ll have to fill me in at After Party!”
Losing the fight against the blush in my cheeks, I wish I could take a quick breather in the bathroom and relive our conversation in my head. But strums of guitar music are welcoming people to the first weekly meeting, so I quickly collect all the supplies from the rest of the team. I stash the box under a table and head in the back door to find where Teegan saved me a seat.
After the first couple of songs, the band introduces the emcee for the year, none other than Bailey Williams. If you picture a stereotypical college sorority girl in your mind, you’re picturing Bailey Williams to a T. She’s the president of TriAlpha (short for Alpha Alpha Alpha, of course), the self-proclaimed top sorority on campus. She’s been a student leader in Arrow along with Amaya, Teegan, and me, and although we all share a common faith, there’s still an undercurrent of friction between us. Probably because Amaya is so determined to make AOPi the best it can be, while Bailey is always making low-key jabs about AOPi being a “less-than” sorority from her high-and-mighty roost.
Of course they picked her as the emcee this year.
Bailey bounces up on stage and grabs the microphone. “Welcome to the first Arrow meeting of the year! We hope your time with us each week points you closer to God and community with each other.”
She launches into the list of announcements in her singsong voice, punctuated with wide smiles. Her hair is so flawlessly highlighted that you can’t quite pinpoint if she’s a blond or a brunette, and it catches the light in all the best ways.
I can’t help but smile at the memory of Bailey’s face last year when homecoming results were announced and AOPi had knocked TriAlpha off their long-standing first-place position. I know Amaya is gunning for a repeat, although I don’t know if that’s more about keeping AOPi’s positive momentum or rubbing it in Bailey’s face.
The band starts playing again, and Bailey exits the stage. I push her out of my mind and focus on the music, then the message given by Kent about making the most of your college years to grow in your faith. It reminds me how extremely grateful I am to have found this community that has helped me deepen my relationship with God so much.
The meeting ends with an announcement that the After Party will be at the bowling alley in the basement of the union. Teegan is the After Party chair this year (because of course she is), and she called ahead to reserve the entire space for Arrow. Cheers go up at the announcement, and everyone starts chatting with friends or heading out the doors.
Teegan turns to me. “So?” She waggles her eyebrows at me.
I smile sheepishly and lean in with a low voice. “Aaron made a point to come over to me to get his name tag. Aaaand said we’d catch up more at After Party.”
“Let’s go then!” Teegan says, pushing me out of the row of seats and motioning for the other AOPis to follow us.
We stop to chat with people a couple of times, but eventually follow the crowd of students heading down the two flights of stairs to the bowling alley. Music is pumping, and black lights accentuate any bit of white or neon. All the bowling lanes are already full, so the AOPis decide to congregate at one of the tables and order pizza from the snack bar.
I’m doing a reasonable job of staying engaged with the conversation among the AOPis, especially trying to get to know some of the freshmen who came, while simultaneously scanning the crowd for Aaron every couple of minutes. I’m hoping to see an opportunity to casually join his conversation group.
Unfortunately, he’s deep in a (loud) bowling competition with the OGs and another fraternity—not exactly a great situation to insert myself into without being totally obvious.
With the pizza finished and no bowling lanes opening up, our group decides it’s time to head out. My heart sinks a little, but Teegan gives me a knowing look as we’re gathering up to leave. She leans over and whispers, “Don’t worry, you’ll have time soon, LaLa.”
I force a weak smile and follow the group of girls toward the exit. At the last second, I look over my shoulder and find Aaron staring straight at me. He grins and holds his hand up in a guy wave, so I give him a small wave back.
Smiling to myself, I turn around and give my full attention back to my sorority sisters. Teegan drives a crew of freshmen to the dorms, and I walk with Amaya and the other upperclassmen to the AOPi house, discussing what we learned from the message at the meeting along the way. Several of the girls are still hyped up with social energy and decide to watch a movie together, but I realize how tired I am and head upstairs instead.
I’m in our room getting ready for bed when Amaya comes in, followed by a tearful Teegan. I immediately jump to my feet. “What’s wrong, Teegs?”
She sniffs and then blurts out, “Jake is wrong, that’s what!”
I glance quizzically at Amaya, and she saves me from my confusion. “Jake from Nebraska.”
Ohhhhhhh right. Jake was one of the student leaders from a Nebraska college at Summer Project. He flirted with Teegan all summer, and they’d kept in touch texting and on social media after returning to school.
“I just opened up Instagram to see Jake with his new girlfriend, ” Teegan moans, practically spitting the final word. She turns her phone to me, and I see a guy who must be Jake with his arm around a smiling redhead. There’s a sappy caption about how he’s liked her for so long and they’re so happy, blah blah blah.
“I guess I was just his distraction to keep himself from openly flirting with the girl he really liked, who was also there,” Teegan sniffs. “He never actually liked me at all.” She wipes her eyes, and there’s a murderous flash in Amaya’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if she secretly drives up to Nebraska tonight so she can kick him.
Abandoning all hope of early bed, I crush Teegan in a hug. “You know what this calls for, right?”
“Slushies?” Teegan whispers.
“You know it! Get some sweats on, and I’ll drive us over,” I look meaningfully at Amaya. “You, too. No road trips for you tonight.”
She rolls her eyes but agrees. After all, there’s no boy drama that a giant Styrofoam cup of frozen sugar can’t fix.
We stay up late watching movies on my laptop and drinking every last drop of syrupy goodness. I know I’ll be exhausted tomorrow, but for tonight, it’s worth it to be there for Teegs, the way she always is for me.