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perfectly with the ruby studs in her ears. The shape of her eyes, her nose, and her high cheekbones said she had some sort of Hispanic blood flowing through her veins. Her bright hazel eyes that were focused directly on me said something else.
She continued to whisper to Barb, but her eyes stayed on me.
For a moment, I noticed her nostrils flaring as if she were trying to catch a scent in the air. My face grew hot. My stomach tingled, and I didn’t miss the fact that my underwear had suddenly become wet.
I swallowed nervously, all the while trying to catch my breath. I’d never had that sort of reaction to anyone.
It was the perfect moment for Barb to catch me staring. Feeling the heat of embarrassment crawl up my neck, I scampered back over to the couch and took my seat next to Amy.
The conversation continued to flow, but I couldn’t resist glancing back at this new mystery girl. I waited a few seconds then pretended to fix my ponytail. When I peeked back over my shoulder, she was gone.
“We should get going,” Amy suddenly announced. I was a little shocked. We were having such a good time. I had to agree though. I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost midnight. Danni and Cleo walked us to the door and hugged us good-bye.
“Do you guys need a ride? We can get the boys to take you.”
Cleo pointed across the street to the Omega Beta Alpha house. I hadn’t noticed, but the house where their brother fraternity lived was just as big and breathtaking.
“No. We’re right over in Cramer. We’ll be fine,” Amy said. I wasn’t sure I’d heard her right. I didn’t need “the boys” to drive us anywhere, but Amy seemed like she’d been waiting her whole teenage life to get into a car with a fraternity boy.
“Okay. Well, come back tomorrow around nine,” Danni said.
We happily agreed.
❖
• 23 •
reBekah WeatherspOOn
On the way back to the dorm, Amy explained to me how the rest of rush would go. Every night we would narrow down our options and skip the places we decided to drop off our list. Come Friday, Bid Day, we would get invitations to join whichever sorority wanted us for the next round of initiation, a round that Amy would go through solo. I agreed to keep her company through the rest of the week on the grounds she would actually back off after Bid Day and we would never set foot near the Xi O house ever again. She was more than okay with those terms.
So every night, we went to one less house, mingling with Jessicas and Kaitlins. I went through my colorful collection of low-cut, v-neck tees. Amy was smart and kept her mouth shut about my wardrobe choices.
We crossed the Betas off the list when one of the girls referred to my favorite talk show host as “a nasty fucking dyke.” The Kappas counted us out when I actually yawned out loud during their philanthropy presentation. The rest of the time, I nodded and smiled, just counting down the minutes until we could hang out with the girls of Alpha Beta Omega. Somehow, they actually made the idea of joining a sorority, well, at least their sorority, sound appealing.
I actually listened during their more informal info sessions and bothered to retain a few bits of history.
The sorority had been formed in 1863 as a literary club for ladies in Washington, DC. It was one of the oldest sororities around, but only counted twelve chapters at various universities across the country. Maryland University was home to the Alpha chapters of both ABO and OBA. Alpha Beta Omega had the biggest house on the Row, but the least amount of members. Danni told me they capped membership at thirty-six. This year they had room for only twelve new girls. Xi O boasted a roster of one hundred and seventy-four sisters. How did you get to know one hundred and seventy-four girls well enough to call them sisters?
Aside from the added bonus of small numbers, Alpha Beta Omega didn’t charge for membership. That included the semester dues the other sororities and
She continued to whisper to Barb, but her eyes stayed on me.
For a moment, I noticed her nostrils flaring as if she were trying to catch a scent in the air. My face grew hot. My stomach tingled, and I didn’t miss the fact that my underwear had suddenly become wet.
I swallowed nervously, all the while trying to catch my breath. I’d never had that sort of reaction to anyone.
It was the perfect moment for Barb to catch me staring. Feeling the heat of embarrassment crawl up my neck, I scampered back over to the couch and took my seat next to Amy.
The conversation continued to flow, but I couldn’t resist glancing back at this new mystery girl. I waited a few seconds then pretended to fix my ponytail. When I peeked back over my shoulder, she was gone.
“We should get going,” Amy suddenly announced. I was a little shocked. We were having such a good time. I had to agree though. I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost midnight. Danni and Cleo walked us to the door and hugged us good-bye.
“Do you guys need a ride? We can get the boys to take you.”
Cleo pointed across the street to the Omega Beta Alpha house. I hadn’t noticed, but the house where their brother fraternity lived was just as big and breathtaking.
“No. We’re right over in Cramer. We’ll be fine,” Amy said. I wasn’t sure I’d heard her right. I didn’t need “the boys” to drive us anywhere, but Amy seemed like she’d been waiting her whole teenage life to get into a car with a fraternity boy.
“Okay. Well, come back tomorrow around nine,” Danni said.
We happily agreed.
❖
• 23 •
reBekah WeatherspOOn
On the way back to the dorm, Amy explained to me how the rest of rush would go. Every night we would narrow down our options and skip the places we decided to drop off our list. Come Friday, Bid Day, we would get invitations to join whichever sorority wanted us for the next round of initiation, a round that Amy would go through solo. I agreed to keep her company through the rest of the week on the grounds she would actually back off after Bid Day and we would never set foot near the Xi O house ever again. She was more than okay with those terms.
So every night, we went to one less house, mingling with Jessicas and Kaitlins. I went through my colorful collection of low-cut, v-neck tees. Amy was smart and kept her mouth shut about my wardrobe choices.
We crossed the Betas off the list when one of the girls referred to my favorite talk show host as “a nasty fucking dyke.” The Kappas counted us out when I actually yawned out loud during their philanthropy presentation. The rest of the time, I nodded and smiled, just counting down the minutes until we could hang out with the girls of Alpha Beta Omega. Somehow, they actually made the idea of joining a sorority, well, at least their sorority, sound appealing.
I actually listened during their more informal info sessions and bothered to retain a few bits of history.
The sorority had been formed in 1863 as a literary club for ladies in Washington, DC. It was one of the oldest sororities around, but only counted twelve chapters at various universities across the country. Maryland University was home to the Alpha chapters of both ABO and OBA. Alpha Beta Omega had the biggest house on the Row, but the least amount of members. Danni told me they capped membership at thirty-six. This year they had room for only twelve new girls. Xi O boasted a roster of one hundred and seventy-four sisters. How did you get to know one hundred and seventy-four girls well enough to call them sisters?
Aside from the added bonus of small numbers, Alpha Beta Omega didn’t charge for membership. That included the semester dues the other sororities and
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