by Sherry Soule
Exchange witty banter? Sure.
Flirt and joke? Certainly.
Hook up and get my heart stomped on? No thanks.
Claire’s eyes narrowed. “Most girls think they can tame someone like Cole Prescott,” she said. “Because he’s...”
Ridiculously sexy? Rockin’ the cute dimples?
“He’s got that elusive, mysterious thing going on,” she finished. “But don’t be fooled by that underwear model-looking jerk. He doesn’t stay with any girl longer than a month.”
She stared at me attentively, as if determining my reaction to her opinion. Cole was gorgeous and funny and a commitment-phobe, but he seemed fairly nice even if he was a man-whore.
“I got that impression the first time I met him,” I said. “We’re just friends.”
“Hmmm, friends, huh? He might have ulterior motives…like trying to get into your pants.”
“Well, he’s out of luck. Cole’s not my type ,” I lied.
But even if I liked Cole, it was none of her business. Especially if she was trying to warn me away from him because Zeta Beta sisters weren’t allowed to date ATO brothers. Besides, the last thing I wanted to do was come off as boy crazy. I wanted to appear as intellectual and interesting and poised as the Zeta Betas.
“Then you’re smarter than most girls around here,” she said. “But here’s some advice, Zeta Betas don’t date Alpha Tau Omegas. They’re a lower-tier frat at Beaumont. They’re all major players and partiers, so any respectable Zeta Beta girl would never even casually hook up with one of them, got it?”
“Got it. Are you dating anyone on campus?” I asked.
“I was seeing this guy from Kappa Phi Nu, but he’s off to Harvard next year. Law students can be so boring. All he talked about was legal analysis and theories. Such a snooze-fest.” Claire tilted her head and those clear blue eyes drilled into me. “You should sit with us at breakfast on Monday.”
My heart didn’t beat for a good five seconds.
“Seriously?” I said, bouncing on my toes. “I thought only Zeta Beta sisters sat together.”
“And a few privileged potentials, and I’d like to get to know you better,” she said. “The other girls would, too.”
A thrill shot through me. I had to remind myself to act cool and aloof. This could be the in I needed. I inwardly forced myself to calm the jitters. Apparently, the ZB trio had noticed something that they liked in a potential sister even with that STD rumor and the social blunder at the Zeta Beta house. Though I had no idea what that might be.
“Thanks,” I said. “I’d love to have breakfast with you guys.”
“Great. We only have two open spots this year, Serena, and one could be yours if you survive Pledge Hell.”
And if I didn’t hook up with any ATO brothers.
But who cares? I was an official Zeta Beta pledge!
“I think I can manage,” I said. “Any advice?”
“Do everything we request without question,” Claire said, raising an eyebrow at my paint-stained fingernails. “You could be Zeta Beta material if you can hack it.”
My face split into a huge grin. “Okay, yeah. See ya Monday.”
When I got back to Stevenson Hall, I found my dorm room empty. A note left on the corkboard from Vanessa said she was going to be at a study group most of the night.
My phone buzzed in my purse. I pulled it out and checked the screen, then hit “accept.”
“Hello, Dad,” I said.
“Hey, princess, just checking in to make sure you’re keeping up your end of our deal.”
“Yup, I’m an official pledge of Zeta Beta. I’ve made a few new friends and my grades are great,” I said, only lying about that last part.
No need to share that I was in danger of failing Professor Evil’s European History class. Might be time to find a study group or tutor.
“Excellent! I’m pleased that you seem to be putting in a real effort. I’ll start inquiring about apartments in Paris for you,” he said, then cleared his throat. “And you haven’t told anyone about your indiscretion, have you?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, Dad. It’s not really a topic that comes up too often.”
“No need for sarcasm, young lady.” He sighed into the receiver. “I gotta run, princess. Keep me posted and if you need anything, just call my secretary.”
“You got it, Dad. I love you—” But my last three words were lost to static.
Talking to my dad was like a big fat reminder of my bad choices. One stupid moment of weakness had turned my life upside down…
I shook my head to clear the unwanted memories. I shoved them all down into my gut where they belonged—where I could at least tie them into a tight knot and live around it. I wouldn’t let my past dictate my future, or ruin my chances of pledging Zeta Beta.
Instead of studying, I set up an easel near the window, then took out my paints and brushes. After putting in my earbuds and cranking the volume on an indie rock song, I waited for inspiration to strike. Of course, it never came when you needed it. Like the last question on a final exam. Or standing in front of the closet minutes before a date was supposed to pick me up and still felt undecided about what to wear.
I painted the dark sky and twinkling starlight. I scrolled through my playlist and switched to a head-bobbing song that I could enjoy while escaping into my art. My muse stirred and yawned. With the brush hesitating over the canvas, I outlined the beauty of the Zeta Beta mansion beneath the stars. I lost myself for a couple of blissful hours, letting the creativity sweep over me.
A loud, quick knock on the door made me flinch. Vanessa must’ve forgotten something. I hurried to the door and flung it open. The corridor was empty. I stuck my head out and peered down the corridor. Vacant. As I went to shut the door, my gaze settled on a black envelope lying on our doorstep.
I picked it up and flipped the envelope over with a frown. No name. A shiver danced along my spine. It might just be a letter or invite from ZBs...
Shutting the door, I tossed the envelope onto the desk like it was a hot piece of coal. Taking several deep breaths, I tried to remain calm.
With shaky fingers, I pried open the envelope and removed a slip of black paper with writing in blood-red ink. Only five words that sent a chill to my heart: STAY AWAY FROM ATO BOYS.
FRIEND ZONE
I tasted bile. I tried to swallow, but couldn’t. Someone knew that I liked liked Cole Prescott. Someone who warned me with creepy notes to drop out of recruitment and demanded I stop being friends with him.
These threatening messages might mean the end of my Zeta Beta pledging if this sorority hater informed them that I was friends with Cole. The end of my dreams of Paris. It could just be another ridiculous prank on a PNM by the ZBs, or one of the other pledges.
I waded up the note and the envelope and stuffed them in the wastebasket. If we didn’t have that stupid fire rule, I would’ve burned them to a crisp.
I was just starting to hyperventilate when the door opened. Kicking off my shoes, I lay down fully clothed on my bed and pulled the comforter over my head, turning my back on my chatty roommate—on the creepy note and everything else going wrong in my life. I wouldn’t allow myself to think about the fact that I might have a real enemy at Beaumont. If I let myself dwell on it, I would go crazy. I’d wind up rocking in a corner of a padded cell, sucking my thumb. All I wanted was to go to sleep and put it behind me.
The bed shifted and Vanessa's weight sunk the bed. I peeled back a corner of the comforter to find her sitting near my feet, gazing at me with concern.
“What’s wrong? Is it the hazing?” she asked.
“No,” I replied. “It’s not ZB.” I think…
“Is it Cole? Because I know guys can be jerks sometimes. Or is that STD rumor getting to you?”
“No. It’s nothing to do with him,” I muttered.
“Well, I’m here if you want to talk,” she said softly.
I nodded. “Thanks. But right now I just wa
nt to sleep.”
I yanked the blankets over my head again and snuggled into my pillow. Mentally, I made a list of possible suspects.
Raven
Brooklyn’s cousin, Amber
The other two pledges, Jenny and Marisa
Roxy, the Psi Theta girl who knocked me down at the GAD party
Or one of Cole’s stalkerish ex-girlfriends?
Maybe it was just another way for the Zeta Beta to enforce their stupid rules on PNMs.
Politics, shmolitics. I would befriend whomever I wanted. Secretly.
I fell asleep trying to make sense of everything in my head without much luck. The next morning, I awoke with a start, my heart galloping. For a moment, I was seized by the disconcerting sensation of being watched. But the room was empty and the door locked. Out the windows, the afternoon sky turned shades of blue and gray.
I spent the day studying in my room since I didn’t have any classes. My phone vibrated with a new message on my desk beside my textbook. I snatched up my cell to read the text.
Cole: What are U doing, sexy?
A warm quiver danced over my skin as I texted back.
Me: Studying. U?
Cole: Missing my blondie.
Me: That’s sweet.
Cole: Can Serena come out to play tonight?
I wanted to see him, but being seen in public with Cole might stir up more trouble than it was worth.
Me: Sorry. I can’t.
Cole: Please! I won’t take no for an answer.
Crap. I had a bad feeling that telling Cole a simple no wouldn’t work. Maybe telling the truth for once might be the safer bet.
Me: This is going to sound crazy, but…as a ZB PNM, I can’t date an ATO.
Cole: What?! LOL Why not?
Me: I have no idea. But it’s a rule. Hope you understand.
Cole: This will not be a date then. Just a hang out. Away from Beaumont.
Now that sounded very tempting. The ZB rules didn’t state that it was forbidden from being friends with an ATO—just no dating. No need to hide and sulk in my room alone when a cute guy wanted to take me off campus and have some fun. Still, I should not be going. I should stay home and study. I should stay away from Cole.
But I could explain that we needed to stay in the friend zone while I was pledging.
Me: What did you have in mind?
Cole: Only dinner and conversation. Pick U up @ 6pm.
I went into the bathroom and showered, then traipsed back to my room to do another hour of studying. Around five o’clock, I closed my books and shut down my laptop, then hurried to my closet.
Vanessa breezed into the room with books in one hand and an energy drink in the other. She plopped on the bed and took a gulp of her drink. “Awesome! You’ve finally decided to get out of bed. I’m so happy I could dance nude in the light of the full moon!” she exclaimed.
I smiled. “Shut up. I’ve been awake for hours.” I scrutinized the contents of my closet. “I should’ve gone to the mall,” I grumbled. “I have nothing decent to wear. I haven’t been on a real date in months.”
She sat up. “With Cole? He asked you out?”
“Yeah, he sorta did.”
“Then why don’t you look happy about it?”
I hesitated to tell her about the notes and warnings, and that my depressed state was due to someone trying to ruin my life at Beaumont. Instead, I did what was becoming second nature—I lied.
“I was just, um, feeling homesick yesterday so I threw myself an overnight pity-party. But I’m feeling like myself again today.”
“It happens. I miss Levi all the time.” Vanessa crossed the room and reached into my closet, pulling a black dress from its hanger. “What about this?”
I bit the corner of my lip and eyed Vanessa skeptically. “It’s kinda dressy.”
“Come on,” Vanessa urged. “Just try it on. You’ll look awesome in it.”
“But if it screams slutty ho-bag, you’ll tell me, right?”
Vanessa nodded once. “You can count on me.”
I took off my clothes and slipped on the supercute Diane Von Furtstenberg’s kaftan-style mini-dress, and added a bunch of chunky necklaces, then turned to face her. “Well? How do I look?”
Vanessa nodded with approval. “You look hot. Now for shoes…” She crouched and dug through the floor of my closet, then pulled out a pair of strappy Prada heels. “These are cute! Put them on.”
I slipped on the heels and gazed into the full-length mirror. “You’re right. These go perfectly. It does have a certain ‘hot damn’ factor.”
“Plus, sexy. Never underestimate the power of a little black dress my mom always says.”
Vanessa went back to her side of the room and flopped on her bed with her laptop and books to study while I finished getting ready. I applied more makeup than usual and curled my hair until it fell into soft waves down my back. After spraying on some perfume, I was ready to go.
Downstairs, I spied Cole leaning casually against the wall outside the dorm. He was dressed in his usual V-neck shirt, Lucky Brand jeans, and black vintage Doc Marten boots. His head turned in my direction when I stepped outside. A slow smile lifted the corners of his mouth that made my insides turn molten.
He leaned down to kiss my cheek. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks. You look nice, too.”
Taking my arm, he led me to a 4x4 truck parked in the student lot. “Here’s my ride,” he said, then helped me inside the cab.
The restaurant was a safe ten miles away from campus and we made small talk on the drive. Once there, Cole opened my door and helped me down, then escorted me to the main doors in a very gentlemen-like flourish.
We followed the hostess to a secluded booth within the wood-paneled room and sat opposite each other. Beneath a glittering chandelier, each table was covered with crisp, white linens and held crystal glasses and silver cutlery. Aromas drifted from the kitchen—sugary-sweet desserts, along with the scent of basil and roasted chicken—making me hyper-salivate.
When the waitress came by to bring us two waters and take our order, I went with the roasted chicken and Cole ordered steak and potatoes. He also asked for two iced teas and the waitress scurried off to fetch them.
Positioning his elbows on the table, he steepled his fingers in front of his mouth. His eyes implored mine as if he was trying to read my thoughts. The waitress returned with our drinks and placed them in front of us.
He leaned forward. “Still pledging Zeta Beta?”
“Yeah. And I can informally say that hazing sucks.”
He laughed. “It can’t be that bad. I think it’s much worse for guys. How was the pledge ceremonies at the sorority houses?”
I sipped my iced tea and fiddled with the straw. “Um, it was interesting. I had already met some of the Zeta Betas at this unofficial” —I made air quotes— “meeting so it wasn’t too bad when we stopped there on the tour.”
“That’s cool. My ceremony consisted of playing beer pong and doing shots while reciting the ATO motto on command.”
I laughed. “Mine was nothing like that. No booze or ping-pong. It was more like going on fifty job interviews in one night.”
“So true. Guess I never thought about it like that.”
“I didn’t put too much effort into it because I figured since I’m a legacy, I am pretty sure I’ll automatically get into Zeta Beta. I did get a nice pledge pin from Zeta Beta. But I’m not gonna psych myself out about it.”
“Legacy, eh? So was I at Alpha Tau Omega. Both my dad and my uncle went Greek.”
I nodded. “I’m a second generation. My mom was a Zeta Beta sister.”
“Huh. You know, you don’t really seem like the sorority type.”
He wasn’t the first person to point that out. Raven and Vanesa had basically said the same thing.
“Haven’t you heard the saying don’t judge a book by its cover?” I asked.
He shook his head. “That is the lamest saying! It�
��s not like almost everyone doesn’t do it, anyway.”
“True.” I sighed. “But I noticed girls from all walks of life pledging the different houses.”
“I just meant that it seems like you’re forcing yourself to do this.”
I glanced at him. “At first I was, but now that’s changed. Now I really want to join and I’m going to be crushed if I don’t get in.”
“I wouldn’t stress it. You’ll get a bid from Zeta Beta. They’d be nuts not to take a sweetheart like you,” Cole replied with the cutest freakin’ grin on the planet.
“Good because it feels like I’m fulfilling my destiny by joining a sorority. It’s why I left the womb,” I joked.
His expression grew somber. “I already think destiny is at play right here. Tonight. I’ve never felt as drawn to a girl as I am to you and I can’t even explain it…it’s like watching you discuss something you’re passionate about pulls me toward you even more.”
Heat flared up my chest, neck, and over my face. Cole reached for my hand and laced our fingers. Still holding his hand, as though my life depended on tethering myself to him, I sunk back into the leather cushions.
“It’s nice to get off campus,” I said, changing the subject. “Away from the whispers and stares. I keep hoping that STD rumor will die down once some new scandal rocks the campus, but so far nothing major has happened.”
“Give it time.”
Cole scooted out of his seat with a gleam in his eyes. He stood at the side of the table, indicating I should scoot over with a wave of his hand. For a minute, I didn’t move. If we sat beside each other, it might look like we were actually on a real date. And I had to keep up the appearance that we were just friends in case anyone from Zeta Beta happened to see us.
“Please sit back down,” I whispered, glancing around the restaurant. “On your side. If we’re seen by anyone—”
“I get it. Sorry.” He slid onto his seat again with a deep frown. “I don’t want to spoil the evening.”
Cole’s hand reached for mine again and I didn’t pull away. His fingertips trailed down my arm, raising gooseflesh. My breathing hitched and my heart stuttered, trying to maintain a normal pattern. Not into big displays of PDA or the risk of being seen, I slid my arm from beneath his hands and placed it in my lap. A glimmer of hurt crossed his expression.