After dinner, I have a clothing crisis.As I discard my third outfit onto the bed, Annie finally intervenes.
Why are you getting all excited about this?If they were going to admit you, her email would have stated that.This must be something else.
But what could it be besides a bid?I ask.
She shrugs.Maybe they want you to perform some menial chore for them, like sweep their floors or help them study for a history exam.I don’t understand why you didn’t join Sigma Phi with me.
But I’ve dreamed of this for so long, it’s hard to give up.I pull on my final outfit: a floral blouse with navy velvet jeans.Okay.I'm off.Wish me luck.
Ugh, good luck.But be careful,she cautions.
They’re not going to kidnap me,I scoff as I swallow down a bubble of nervousness.
I walk swiftly to the beautiful sorority house on the edge of campus.It’s glowing in the twilight, the large home draped with fairy lights.The Greek letters are spotlit on the pediment.It’s a place with glamour and authority.
I knock on the door, and it’s flung open by a very pretty woman in pale pink sweats with dark auburn hair.I try to smile, but my lips aren’t cooperating.
Hi.I’m here to see Destiny,I say.
Her bright smile flows easily.Hi, I’m Mia.You must be Evelyn.
Yes.Evelyn Smith.Then I curse myself for just repeating her words instead of saying something casual and witty.That’s the kind of member they want here, not someone who gets tongue-tied at hello.
Right this way.I follow her bouncing ponytail down a hallway to a closed door.She raps on the door, opens it right away, and motions me inside.
It’s a plush sitting room with upholstered chairs and love seats positioned around an unlit brick fireplace.There are three women relaxed in the chairs, and they all stare intently at me, their eyes raking up and down my body.I feel like a prize cow at auction.
I recognize Destiny, who’s tall with waves of dark brown hair.I instinctively smooth my unruly curls.There's another other woman here I've met before, Jordan.She's an athletic-looking brunette with wide, thickly-lashed eyes.The third woman has black hair and pale, luminous skin.
Nobody says a word for a moment.I’m not sure if I’m supposed to sit or not, so I waver at the edge of the carpet.
Have a seat.Destiny motions to an armchair.As I nervously lower myself, I stumble and my large purse vaults into the lap of the raven-haired woman.
Oh, I’m so sorry,I gasp.
She lets out a loud sigh as she hands the purse to me.Then she turns and murmurs to Destiny,There is no way that this is going to work.
Have faith, Angelica.You must see the potential.Destiny smiles at me, and introduces everyone: Jordan Krause, Angelica Ford, and Mia Hamilton.
So, Evelyn.I’m sorry that you didn’t get a bid to Alpha Zeta Mu,Destiny begins smoothly.You were so close, but we had very limited numbers this semester.
Angelica coughs into her hand.
Destiny leans closer.I think we were your first choice, right?
I nod energetically.I was inspired by my mother.She went to Monarch and thought that Alpha Zeta Mu was by far the leading sorority.She praised all the charitable work that you do.
Jordan starts and picks up a pale purple file folder with my name on it.Wait, your mother wasn’t a legacy, was she?What was her name?
Diana Gardiner.But no, her father forbade her from joining a sorority.Perhaps that’s why she admired yours so much.
Angelica frowns at me.Forbade?Where did you go to high school?
I was home-schooled,I explain.
Her eyebrows disappear under her dark bangs.For high school too?I would die.
I rub my sweaty hands over the soft velvet of my pants.I didn’t have many options.We moved a lot…in Europe.
