Sorority Sisters (12 page)

“What else do you know, Chancey?” Tiara asked.

“The first two pages of the history. That’s all that I had time to go over this morning.” Everybody looked at Chancey in amazement. Most of them knew only a few facts, and even fewer dates.

“But how did you learn it so quickly?” Cajen asked.

“Well, I have a photographic memory, which means that I remember most things after seeing them once. But I don’t like to tell too many people, you know, because of the stigma that comes with it.”

“Stigma?” Malena asked.

“When I was in high school, some of the popular girls shunned me and called me ‘Goody Two-shoes.’ Not to mention that I had a lot of responsibilities with my family’s company at an early age and didn’t hang out much, so I didn’t have many close friends. Now that I’m in college I don’t want to be judged before you get to know the real me,” Chancey explained.

“Well, what I know of you so far, I like,” Stephanie said. “You’re intelligent and down-to-earth. Plus you pulled Donald. Do you know how many women on this campus would pay just to have a moment of his time? You must have something right going on. What’s the problem? And as far as the stigma with your memory goes, I see you as a breath of fresh air. You’re just the boost we need after these last couple of days.”

Everyone agreed.

Chancey had a good feeling that they were sincere. She was accepted by her new line sisters, and her intelligence was a plus to them. She was assured that she could be herself around them, and not be unfairly judged. That evening she opened up and made key contributions to their planning.

They spent an hour choosing line officers, getting the telephone numbers of all of their big sisters, and tending to other details, like setting scheduled routine meetings and group study hours, and planning a fund-raiser. They decided to have a male auction. Although it would be a bit risky, they were confident they could pull it off in a way that would be pleasing to their big sisters, and be profitable.

The five girls, who didn’t know each others’ names before rush, were now not only working well together, but bonding. Their paths had crossed, and they all felt confident it would be a good union.

FOURTEEN

“H—hello.” Cajen picked up her phone after three rings. She debated whether she should answer it, because of the chance that the person on the other end could be one of her big sisters, who would probably try to get her to say something that would get her into trouble during the night’s session. Plus, she and Chancey were supposed to meet downstairs at her car in less than ten minutes and she didn’t want to get into a long, drawn-out conversation with someone and keep Chancey waiting.

“Hey, Cajen.” Luckily it was Chancey on the other end.

“Girl, don’t ever scare me like that again. I thought you were a big sister, or even worse, Dean Big Sister Nina,” Cajen said.

“Nah. It’s just me. I apologize for scaring you.”

“We’re still going to meet at my car at five-thirty on the nose, right? You know, that’s eight and a half minutes from now.”

“Well, that’s why I’m calling. Cajen, we know each other pretty well now, right?”

“Yeah, of course. What’s up?”

“You know, I actually feel like you’re my real sister sometimes. It’s amazing how pledging makes people closer quicker.”

Cajen’s heart dropped. She didn’t know what Chancey was about to tell her. Did Jason talk to Donald and tell him what he gave her? And Donald in turn told Chancey? How dare he tell anybody! We haven’t even discussed it ourselves yet, she thought. She forced herself to ask, “What is it?”

“Cajen, I went over to Donald’s house last night, or rather this morning after the session, and spent the night. I skipped my classes today too. We just needed to spend some quality time together. I missed him so much, and I didn’t think I would be able to go another day if I didn’t get a chance to see him.”

“I thought you were gonna tell me something else,” Cajen blurted, relieved. “You deserve to spend time with him, especially after everything we’ve been going through. And who has to know you missed your classes? You didn’t even have to tell me that part.”

“Whew, I thought you would be upset.”

“Girl, please!”

“Well, I kind of lost track of time, and I’m on my way now. I’ll just meet you there at six, but I know everybody’s gonna wonder why I didn’t ride with you and Tiara. I just don’t want everybody to know where I am. Can you cover for me?”

“I don’t think anybody would be too upset if they found out you were spending much-deserved time with Don, but where can we say you’ll be coming from? By the way, tell him I said hi and that I can’t wait to meet him.”

She looked over her shoulder to face him. “Don, Cajen said hi.”

“Hey, Cajen! Thanks for covering for us,” Don yelled in the background. He was lying in bed next to Chancey, playing with her hair while she was talking to Cajen.

“I was thinking that maybe we could say I tore one of my contacts today and had to go get a replacement, and I called to let you know. How does that sound?” Chancey was looking for an excuse. She felt guilty because her and Don’s spending time together was more his idea than hers. He pressured her a little to skip her classes to spend time with him. She initially told him no, but later surprised him by showing up at his doorstep at three-thirty that morning. She felt better about her decision once he assured her that he appreciated her act of endearment, but felt guilty for not adhering to the pledgee rules and being disloyal to her sisters.

“That’s fine with me. But I still think you shouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure everybody will be cool about it.”

“Maybe, but just this one time . . .”

“Okay, if that’s how you want to deal with it, then no problem.”

“Thanks, Cajen. See you at six. If I’m late, it’ll be no more than five minutes.”

“I’ll see you then. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Well, I’m sure you already did!” She joked. “Bye.”

Cajen was relieved. Why would Jason tell Don anything that personal anyway? It wouldn’t have made sense. They’re not even close. “I am bugging!” she said aloud, and picked up the phone and tried to call Jason. She got his answering machine. “Where the hell is he? I’m so sick of this. I can’t leave a message. I hate him! I don’t even know what I’d say if I left a message. His roommate would hear it and that won’t work. This entire situation is just ridiculous.”

Her mood changed. She didn’t feel like going to a stupid meeting tonight. She felt like a fake at times because she was holding back secrets. Tiara spilled her guts in their last session about growing up in poverty and how her mother dates a drug dealer and how there were times when her family didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. And I can’t even tell anybody that I was ever involved with Jason, let alone reveal that he gave me herpes. She slammed the phone receiver down, grabbed her keys, pledge property, and black backpack, and stormed to her car.

I hate life!” Cajen screamed, as she pulled out of the parking lot. She, as well as her other line sisters, had been spending all of their time either in class, with one another, or with their big sisters. She totally understood why Chancey needed to get away and spend some time with Don. She needed so badly to confront Jason for all of the hurt he had caused her, and after that she would need a full day to cry and release all of her pain and stress. But when was she ever going to find the time to do that?

She pulled up beside Tiara’s dormitory, then watched her walk through the entrance doors and toward her car. Tiara had her black backpack over her right shoulder and was bouncing like she didn’t have a care in the world. All five line sisters carried the same kind of black backpack, which were filled with matching outfits that they wore to session every night. They also kept an extra outfit that would be presentable to wear in public, just in case they didn’t make it back to their dorm room after session, in addition to a comb, brush, toothbrush, and other necessities.

Tiara got in the car. She was in an annoyingly good mood. “Can you believe that we have made it three weeks without anybody dropping?” she bragged. She then realized she was sitting in the front seat; the backseat of the car, which was officially hers, was empty. “Where’s Chancey?”

Cajen tried to answer, but couldn’t focus because she was still in deep thought about Jason.

“I can tell by the way you’re looking past me that you’ve got a case of the zombies. I felt that way earlier today too. But between you and me, I skipped my two-thirty class and slept until just a few minutes ago. Girl, it helped me out so much. I feel refreshed. I’m a new woman. It was the deepest sleep I’ve experienced in a long time,” she said. “So, where’s Chancey?”

“Oh, she had to pick up a new contact. She tore hers this morning. She’ll meet us at Stephanie’s and will probably be five minutes late.” Cajen’s tone was dry and her face was expressionless.

“I know you like a book and something is wrong. What’s up, Cajen?”

“Nothing really. I just got a lot of things on my mind right now. That’s all.” While Tiara celebrated their three successfully completed weeks of pledge period, Cajen was mourning that it had been over three weeks since she had spoken to Jason. While he was enjoying his happy life, she was walking around with a secret so awful, she couldn’t even share it with her new sisters. She felt close to each of them, but wondered if they would ever look at her the same way if they found out.

“I’m supposed to accept that as an answer? Cajen, we’ve seen each other every day, at least ten hours each day. I know most of what you’re gonna say before you start talking. Just spit it out. Let it go! Let it go!” Tiara joked, trying her best to sound like a psychologist, hoping to get a laugh out of Cajen.

“Tiara, some things are just too difficult to discuss.” Knowing that answer wouldn’t be good enough for Tiara, she lied. “I’m having family problems. My mother got on me just before I came to pick you up. She says I don’t call her as much as I used to and that she and dad are worried about me. I didn’t even realize I had gone so long without talking to her.” Cajen couldn’t believe that she’d been lying since Tiara got into the car. But it was true that she hadn’t talked to her mother in a while.

Realizing that Cajen wasn’t going to expose whatever was really going on, Tiara changed the subject. “I got something that’ll cheer you up,” Tiara said, while pulling out a sheet of paper from her backpack. “Lots and lots of sexy, sexy fine men for the auction.”

“Who did you get?” she asked, trying to sound enthusiastic.

“I can’t announce the list until we get to Stephanie’s.”

“Thanks a lot, Tiara. That really helps my mood,” Cajen said sarcastically. They sat in silence until they got to Stephanie’s apartment.

Chancey pulled up at the same time they did. Good, Cajen thought. Now maybe I won’t have to tell any more lies today.

“You get your contact?” Tiara asked Chancey.

“Yes, I wasn’t about to wear my glasses to session tonight. I learned my lesson the last time, when everybody rode me out about how old they are. I really do need to get some new ones.” Chancey had a glow on her face. She looked as relaxed as Tiara.

“Girl, you look like I feel. You sure you didn’t sneak off and spend some time with your man?” Tiara questioned. Chancey didn’t answer because she was speechless about how transparent she was. They were at the door, and Cajen was doing the secret knock.

Malena answered the door. “Shhh . . . Stephanie is in the kitchen talking to Big Sister Tracy on the phone. She’s pissed about something.”

“What’s new. They’re always pissed about something,” Tiara commented.

They all took their shoes off at the door as they walked in, and stacked their backpacks in the hall closet.

“What’s bugging her?” Chancey asked.

“I don’t know, but I think she’s just trying to create drama because we’ve been on our shit lately,” Malena said.

“And you know that’s right,” Tiara said, and gave Malena a high five. “They can’t handle the progress we’ve been making. I ran into Big Sister Kim yesterday, and she said we’re one of the sharpest lines that has gone through this chapter.”

Stephanie covered the receiver and shushed her line sisters.

They stopped in their tracks, gave her apologetic faces, sat down in the living room, and waited for her to get off the phone. They were all quiet because they didn’t want Big Sister Tracy to know they were meeting before sessions. Dean Big Sister Nina had warned them not to let their big sisters know about their meetings, for their own safety.

Stephanie hung up the phone and walked over. “I’m not gonna take her seriously, but she claims she knows what we’re gonna do for our fund-raiser, and she said we need to come up with something else because it’s a stupid idea.”

“How would she know? Has anybody told any of the big sisters?” Malena asked.

Everybody answered, “No.”

“Let’s not worry about it. I think it’s a ploy to make us try to change what we already have planned. We’re going to continue as scheduled. Let’s not change anything. And if she really knows, who cares anyway at this point?” remarked Stephanie.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Chancey asked in a calm, carefree voice.

“You look like you just came off vacation,” Malena commented. “As a matter of fact, you look just like I would be looking if I just saw Ray. Did you see Donald today?”

Do I wear my emotions on my sleeve or what? she asked herself. “Well, I wasn’t gonna say. Sorry, Tiara, but I did see him for a little while.” Chancey confessed the half truth.

“I knew it. There’s no other way to get that glow that you have,” Tiara said.

“I am so jealous,” Malena blurted. “I have only seen Ray once since we’ve been on line. How did you find the time? I need some of what you just got,” she joked.

Glowing and smiling from ear to ear, Chancey said, “I’ll fill you in after the meeting.”

“So what are we single women supposed to do to relieve our stress?” Stephanie asked.

“I can’t help you on that one, but we’ll talk, Malena,” Chancey said.

“Cool,” Malena said.

“Okay,” Stephanie interrupted. “Since none of you can produce a man worthy enough to accommodate me, let’s get the business part of this meeting out of the way. Then we can do a little more bonding, like we did last night. You know, talk about all of that personal business that nobody really wants to share.” She knew that she, for one, had no intentions of sharing her little secret.

“We won’t meet our honorable big sisters until eleven,” she joked, “so we have plenty of time to plan, study history, and just talk.”

“We’ll start by discussing the auction. Malena has come up with an excellent introduction for the auction—one that will blow the big sisters away. Tiara claims to have signed up the finest men on campus.”

“No, honey, I ain’t blowing smoke. The men I signed up are deliciously gorgeous!” Tiara interrupted.

“My bad, Miss Tiara. I stand corrected,” Stephanie said, and continued. “Cajen and I have got the theme, mood, and background drafted. We even found a deejay who is going to do the introductory music for each contestant. Malena and Chancey have the promotion side of the event worked out. They have flyers and programs completed and ready to print. They also have a press release ready to send to the student newspaper. Looks like we’re almost there,” Stephanie said proudly. “So, Miss Tiara, who do you have signed up for the auction?”

“Thank me later, ladies, but before I let you know who the fine—and did I already say fine—brothers are that I have signed up, I have taken it upon myself to make an addition to Malena’s introduction. Before anybody says anything or gets offended, Malena, the intro is all you. I just enhanced it in a way that only you and Chancey can appreciate.”

“What are you talking about, Tiara?” Chancey asked.

“Well, I thought it only appropriate, since you and Chancey never find time to spend with your men, that we incorporate them in the show somehow. And I definitely didn’t think y’all would want them to be auctioned off to the man-hungry females on this campus. So I said to myself, ‘Self, how do we work out this little dilemma?’ ”

“Tiara, what did you come up with, girl?” Malena asked. “Ray hasn’t said anything to me.”

“Neither has Don,” Chancey added.