Erin
“Okay, we have a few visitors tonight before we end chapter,” I announce to my sisters Sunday evening.
They’re all a bit cranky after a particularly long chapter, so I put on my best smile to help them get through the last half hour.
It’s been a hectic week since our date auction, and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, every sister has more pressing things on their mind.
Like who will be bringing them roses.
“Please welcome the lovely ladies of Zeta Pi Alpha.” I initiate the applause, which my sisters mirror as the ZPA girls make their way into our house.
They’re the first in a line of visitors who want our attention tonight.
Now that the semester is in full swing, we’re getting invited to participate in philanthropic events, dances, socials, and more.
Once the girls leave, the Omega Chi Beta brothers enter, and my stomach knots when I see Clinton for the first time.
He’s dressed in his chapter best, donning charcoal gray dress slacks and a relaxed, cream button-down with the top button undone. The sleeves are pushed up his massive forearms, exposing the muscle there, and I can’t help but notice he’s been bulking up since the last time I saw him.
There’s always a kind of magnetism I feel around Clinton, like no matter the time and place, I could always depend on him to be there when I need him.
I can close my eyes and still see him in the soft light on the garden balcony at our semi-formal, feel his arms around me as I finally let out every tear I’d been holding back over what had happened.
He told me to go see someone, begged me to talk about it.
But it’s not that simple.
His dark eyes are soft as he smiles and sings along with his brothers, but those eyes have seen darkness. They’ve seen horror, they’ve seen hardship, and yet he still finds a way to smile bright enough to light up an entire room.
I don’t know how he does it, and I can’t watch anyone but him as they make their way through the room, handing out roses as they sing.
They sound terrible, but they look nice — and that’s all that matters when it comes to fraternity serenades.
I’m at the front of the room, so Clinton makes it to me last, and he pauses in front of me, offering me the very last rose from his bundle. He’s still singing, though his eyes are different now — tinged with sadness at the corners instead of the joy I’d watched moments before.
I wonder if he’ll ever be able to look at me without feeling sad, without experiencing some sort of pity.
After what I put him through, I can’t imagine how he ever could.
I take the rose from his hands, my creamy fingers brushing the rough skin of his dark hand, and he finally offers me a soft smile as their song ends. Then, he turns to face the room with the rest of his brothers.
“Ladies of Kappa Kappa Beta,” their president says. “I am pleased to inform you that our national chapter has granted us permission to attend Spring Break with you, thanks to our good behavior last semester.”
All the brothers make lewd gestures at that, and everyone laughs.
“We can’t wait to party with you like we always do, and until then, feel free to use our new pledges to do your homework or rub you down with tanning oil — whichever item is most pressing on your to-do list.”
A few whistles ring out at that, and I shake my head, hurrying them along with a few snaps of my fingers.
Once they make their way out of the room, it’s Alpha Sigma’s turn to come in, and if I thought the pull I felt to Clinton was strong, it’s nothing compared to what I feel when Kip Jackson walks into the room.
Kip Jackson.
The only boy I’ve ever loved, the only boy I’ve ever wanted to save me.
The only chance at happiness I have left.
His blue eyes barely even skirt to mine before he’s turned around, facing the rest of my sisters as his president introduces them, but just that tiny glance has me reeling back to the summer we were together.
I can still see those eyes outlined by a black night sky, his smile bright and wide just before he kissed me.
I’ve seen him around campus a few times since I heard he was here, but we still haven’t had the chance to speak. I’m not even sure if he knows I’m here, but being that he’s in Greek life, I don’t see how he could not have heard of me. I’m the president of the top sorority.
Still, whether he’s heard of me being here or not, he hasn’t searched me out, which confirms my suspicion that he probably doesn’t really care to see me. After the way I acted at the end of our relationship, fueled by jealousy, I can’t blame him.
All my money is on Skyler.
Just like I suspected, he outbid everyone at the date auction to “win” Skyler. But, to my knowledge, they haven’t gone on the date yet. Once they do, the plan will be in motion, and my last-ditch effort to get Kip back in my arms will either do just that or blow up in my face entirely.
Am I crazy?
The thought passes my mind, just like it has several times since I asked Skyler for her help. I even gave her an out at the auction, right before she went on stage. But, she assured me she was fine, and she was all in to help me.
Sometimes I’m sure I don’t deserve her.
Staring at the back of Kip’s head doesn’t make him turn around to look at me again, so I scan the faces of my sisters. When I spot Skyler, I see her eyes are fixed on Kip, too.
And I know without a doubt that he’s looking right back at her.
“The brothers of Alpha Sigma would like to welcome back the lovely ladies of Kappa Kappa Beta to Palm South for spring semester,” Adam says, gleaming at the new additions to his fraternity.
They’re all dressed in the same khaki pants, light blue button-ups and navy and white striped bow ties. “We proudly present our new pledges.”
He reads off all their names before telling us that they’ve all prepared a little something to introduce themselves. The next ten minutes is pure laughter, with each pledge using poem, song, or stunt form to tell us their hobbies and interests — most of which include meeting girls.
Kip is the last pledge to perform, and when he steps forward, I feel all the oxygen available in the room pull toward him, like he’s the only source of life.
“Hit it, boys!” he says, which cues his pledge brothers to break into a chorus of beatboxing.
I have to stifle a laugh at their ridiculous movements, each of them acting like a B Boy right out of the 90s as they circle my sisters and add to the rhythm, whether it be with bass, snaps, or some other sound.
And then, with his eyes on Skyler, Kip starts to rap.
Let me tell you a story about this girl I met,
She had the bluest eyes that were hard to forget.
She challenged me to a game of foosball,
Little did I know that I would lose all.
I scoff at that. Lame.
Cinderella stole a kiss and then she ran away,
So I gave her some space for a couple of days.
Then I took a thousand bucks and I played my cards right,
I bought a date with the princess last Saturday night.
My stomach drops at the mention of that kiss. I knew he’d taken a shot off her body, and even though no one specifically said it, Jess had eluded to Skyler having her tongue down Kip’s throat. Still, it stings to hear him say it, to hear him rap about it like it was the best kiss of his life.
I want to be the best kiss of his life.
And now here I am to collect my prize,
No more running and no more lies.
It’s been over a week and now I’m ready for my date,
So what’ya say, Skyler Thorne, can I pick you up at eight?
His brothers make the beat drop and the entire chapter room goes wild. I’m a little delayed, my eyes glued to the back of his head as everything around me morphs, the cheers muted, claps in slow motion. Shaking my head, I join in on the applause, my eyes finding Skyler along with everyone else.
She seems just as shocked as I am, her bottom lip pinned between her teeth as she watches Kip. I can’t tell if she’s pissed or swooning.
When Skyler’s eyes find mine, I nod toward Kip, urging her to accept his date. As much as it makes my stomach curdle like an Irish Car Bomb not taken fast enough, it’s the only way to get the plan in motion.
If I want Kip, this is part of it. Skyler will have him coming around us more, and then once she breaks things off, he’ll be looking for someone to lean on, someone to confide in.
Enter: me.
“About time you did this the right way, pledge,” Skyler finally says, appearing as confident as ever. “I guess you can take me out. Friday night. And seven, not eight.”
She winks at him as everyone cheers, and I watch them staring at each other as Kip makes his way out the door with the rest of his brothers. His gaze never leaves her, and her eyes stay fixed on his, and I feel a little like celebrating and a little like throwing up all at once.
I adjourn chapter as soon as they’re gone, rushing up the stairs after Skyler and the rest of the girls. Ashlei’s pouring out of her room as soon as I make it upstairs, and we squeal together before bursting through the door to Jess and Skyler’s room.
“This is so perfect, Little!” I say immediately as Ashlei pops up into Jess’s bed with her. “I knew you would come through. I’ve been so busy getting everything situated for the semester that I haven’t had time to check in and here you are outperforming what I could even imagine!”
My chest tightens, but I smile through the discomfort.
Pulling Skyler in for a hug, I assure myself again that this will work — this will be worth it.
“I knew there was a reason I picked you as my Little. You’re a bad ass, just like me.”
Skyler squeezes me back as the girls laugh, and I hold her a little tighter, thanking her as much as I can in that embrace for what she’s doing for me. Even though I truly do believe Skyler is a bad ass, I know what I’m asking her to do isn’t easy.
“Where do you think he’ll take you on the date?” Ashlei asks, her eyes wide as I release Skyler.
“The better question is what are you going to wear?” Jess chimes in.
I launch into theories with them, the excitement and giddiness taking over me. When Skyler says she wants to get some sleep, Ashlei and I skip down to my room and rummage through my closet, trying to find the perfect outfit for Skyler to wear.
Sitting there on my bed, watching Ashlei pull out dress after dress, I finally let it hit me.
This is it.
In less than a week, they’ll go on their first date, and it’ll all start.
I’ll be one step closer to being with Kip again.
My smile falters, brows pinching together as the reality of it sinks in.
Kip will be on a date. With Skyler. And then, because of me, she’ll pull him in, get him close enough to care about her, and then break his heart.
For me.
I should be happy. That giddiness I had before, that smile, it should be all I can register.
It’s working, the plan is in place…
So then why do I feel like the scum of the Earth?