by Blythe Reid
I’d heard the telling of the story three times before, and I knew it by heart. But I’d never told it myself. I’d always been in the audience, just one of the brothers listening and taking in the excitement. Now, it was my turn to create that excitement. I was nervous. This was my first real act as president, and I didn’t want to screw it up.
“You’ll be fine,” Adam said.
He walked over and picked up my headdress, placing it firmly on my head. Once it was in place, I immediately felt better.
The headdress was shaped like a wolf’s head, almost identical to the wolf head I had tattooed on my arm. The tattoo came before I ever saw the headdress, but I thought it was a sign that I was destined to run Delta one day. With the headdress atop my head, my confidence soared. I was ready to begin.
“I’ll be down in a second,” I said, waving Adam away.
He nodded and left without a word. I moved quickly to my mirror and made sure the headdress was straight.
I looked good with it on. The sight brought a cocky grin to my face as I remembered the night I earned it. This year, a new brother would take it from my head, and I would feel proud, happy to be a part of a never-ending tradition. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I stood up straighter, preparing myself for the story.
When I was ready, I left my room and walked slowly down the steps. The house was silent, and each of my footsteps sounded louder than normal as they echoed through the halls. When I reached the landing, I saw the candles were already lit. I nodded my approval and followed the line of candles into the common room.
My brothers were arranged in their spots, each holding a shimmering candle. There was no light other than the candles, and all the curtains were pulled tightly shut. Not a single ray of sunlight could seep through.
This was perfect, exactly as it had always been. I remembered the three other times I partook in this tradition. Before, I was standing beside the fireplace, holding a candle of my own. Now, I stood where countless others had stood before and cleared my throat loudly.
With a glance around the room, I reached behind me and picked a candle off the bookshelf. Holding it above my head, I recited the Delta Pi chant alone. Everyone listened patiently while I spoke each word slowly.
When I was done, they all repeated the chant back to me. Their voices blended together, and it gave me goosebumps. This was brotherhood. This was the stuff I lived for.
Once the opening rituals were complete, I blew out my candle and took a step forward. Looking from one face to another, I made eye contact which each brother. This wasn’t something other presidents did before, but I felt it was necessary. It was a way to bond me to them all, to show that I wasn’t just talking to the group, but to each of them individually.
A few of them grinned with excitement, and others shifted uncomfortably. Adam was right about one thing, this party had become a source of controversy over the years. Many brothers refused to actively partake, but most of us still saw the merit in participating.
“Most of you have participated in the telling of the story before,” I said, my voice carrying easily across the room. “For those of you who haven’t, welcome. This is the oldest tradition of the Delta Pi house. After tonight, you’ll be privy to one of our most important secrets. As brothers, we take our secrets to the grave. Nothing said in this room will ever leave it.”
There was a murmur of agreement throughout the room. I nodded and cleared my throat, ready to continue.
“Years ago,” I said. “The first Delta Pi brothers came up with an idea. An idea that would pave the road to what we know today as the Virgin Party. That name is never spoken outside of this room, but this is a party we’ve thrown every year for decades. Named for its intention, The Virgin Party challenges each of us to invite a virgin girl to the party. Once here, we will all mingle and flirt to our heart’s content. The goal of the evening is to leave with a girl you did not bring, to take her virginity, and bring her panties back here as proof. The first brother to succeed in this endeavor will be given the headdress sitting atop my head. Last year, I won this challenge and went on to become President of Delta Pi.”
I let my words sink it, staring intently at the freshman in front of me. I wanted each of them to find excitement in this party. The challenge was meant to motivate and inspire them. If they thought they could one day become the leader of our frat, then they would be more likely to participate.
“Now,” I said. “Not everyone who won has become president, but most have. Winning this challenge takes initiative, cunning, and intelligence. I for one, will be immensely proud of the next winner. Whoever I hand this headdress to will have my eternal praise.”
There was another murmur that spread quickly through the room. My eyes found Adam’s, and he fixed me with a disapproving stare. I looked away, not wanting him to ruin the day with his guilt trip.
When I looked around the room, I saw a few other’s wearing similar expressions. Not everyone approved of this party, and over the years, more and more brothers refused to participate. They would attend the party, but they wouldn’t invite a virgin, and they certainly wouldn’t take one home.
It was infuriating, but I couldn’t force them to partake. They were all capable of making their own decisions, but as more brothers took the moral high road, the number of available virgins decreased. We could only have enough women for all the brothers if everyone brought a girl, which hadn’t been the case for the past couple years.
“Listen,” I said as the murmuring died away. I knew it was time to address my brother’s concerns. “I know some of you have a few issues with this party. You feel it’s unkind or manipulative. In a way, it is. However, I want you all to remember that these girls are willing participants. Do they know about the party’s intention? No, they don’t. But, we do not ever force ourselves on these women. They are to be treated with respect and kindness. If someone says no, then you take that answer and you leave. If I so much as hear that any one of you pushed a girl into something she did not want to do, I will personally exile you from the house. Is that clear?”
Everyone nodded and I smiled. I felt that my warning would assuage anyone’s cause for concern. This party wasn’t the most gentlemanly thing to do, but it was fun for everyone. When I took Sarah Harvey’s virginity the previous year, she was thrilled. We had fun rolling around together, learning the feel of each other’s bodies. We even stayed friends afterward. To this day, if I saw her around campus, I threw my arms around her and hugged her close.
She wasn’t hurt by what I did. In fact, she liked me more for it. As long as our brothers remained respectful, no one should have a problem with the party.
When I was done with my speech, I sought out Adam’s eyes again. He just looked at me and shook his head, silently telling me that my speech wasn’t good enough. He was still worried, and he still disapproved.
I shrugged and moved on. If Adam wanted to be a killjoy then there wasn’t anything I could about it.
The ritual ended, and we all sat around to plan the details of the party. We agreed on the alcohol, the day, and the time. Everyone was ready and excited, save for the few brothers who were deadly silent.
They sat together in the corner, not speaking and barely looking any of us in the eye. They hated this idea, and we all knew it, but it wouldn’t change anything. The Virgin Party was tradition, and I would be damned if I let a few guys ruin it for the rest of us.
When we finished the planning process, I dismissed everyone to their Saturday night plans. Many of them slapped me on the back and looked longingly at my headdress as they passed. As was my custom, I remained in the common room until the last brother was gone. I half-expected Adam to stay behind and voice his disapproval again, but he didn’t. He was the first one out when the meeting ended.
I stood in the deserted common room for a while longer. There were things I wanted to do tonight, but I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. This would be the very last time I ever wore the wolf headdre
ss, and I savored everyone second of it. Finally, I took it off and placed it on the mantle. I stared at it for a few more minutes before I turned and left it behind.
14
Scarlet
A week had gone by, and I’d only seen Lucien in class. Every Wednesday and Friday, we sat together in Professor Davidson’s class and chatted. Sometimes we were flirtatious, and other times, we were just friendly.
Seeing him was by far the best part of my day, but I wondered if he was ever going to ask me out again. I was desperate for another kiss, and my daydreams were spinning wildly out of control.
When we said goodbye that Friday, I lingered for a few seconds, hoping he might ask me out for the weekend. He didn’t. He just smiled and walked away, leaving me alone to walk to my final class of the day.
It was a Literature course that I found interesting. There were only about ten people in the class, and I learned everyone’s name quickly, but I hadn’t spoken to them. Making friends wasn’t my forte. Being homeschooled most of my life prohibited me from learning certain social skills. At NYU, I felt shy and awkward.
The class went by quickly. There was a lively debate about Pride and Prejudice, in which I finally voiced my opinion. It was the first time I spoke in class, and I was happy with myself.
Pride and Prejudice wasn’t my usual brand of romance novel, but I’d read it countless times and felt I could converse intelligently. My professor seemed pleased with my responses, and when class ended, the guy who sat two rows away from me walked over to me with a smile. He stopped in front of my desk, and I tried to remember his name.
“Hi,” he said. “That was a great discussion, don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” I said. “It was.”
“I’m Bryan,” he said, holding his hand out to me. I shook it politely. “You’re Scarlet, right?”
“I am.” I smiled.
I was surprised that he remembered my name. My cheeks felt warm as he continued to smile down at me. He wasn’t as attractive as Lucien, but he was good-looking in a dumb-guy-with-a-dream sort of way. His eyes were bright blue and very pretty. He had a round, boyish face that made him seem trustworthy.
“So,” he said. “I’m in the Delta Pi fraternity. Have you heard of it?”
“Actually, I have,” I said. “My friend Lucien is your President, I think.”
“Lucien Wolfe?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I smiled.
“Lucien’s a great guy,” Bryan nodded. “He’s probably the best president we’ve had in a long time.”
I couldn’t tell if Bryan was being sincere, but I chose to trust him. His eyes were soft when he spoke, but his tone seemed strained. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought he was jealous that I mentioned Lucien. I was oddly flattered.
“He’s cool,” I said, shrugging as if I didn’t really care.
In truth, I was still very much interested in Lucien, but Bryan seemed close to asking me out. I didn’t know if I was attracted to him. He seemed nice, and I was determined to experience new things at NYU. I knew I wouldn’t say no if he asked me out.
“Well,” Bryan said. “We’re having a party tomorrow night at the house, and I wanted to see if you would come. It’ll be really fun and totally low-key. The perfect introduction to the Deltas.”
Bryan’s invitation brought a smile to my face. I was happy that my instinct was correct, but I was also excited about the party. This was finally an opportunity to meet new people and set myself free a little bit. I would be able to drink and dance. It sounded like fun, but I also knew it would be a chance to see Lucien outside of class.
“Sure,” I said with a grin. “I’ll be there.”
“Awesome!” Bryan smiled back. “Well, I’ll see you there.”
“See you there,” I repeated.
Bryan waved and walked away, leaving me to pack up my things slowly.
I didn’t realize the girl who sat beside me was still in the room until Bryan was already gone. As I tucked my notebook and my copy of Pride and Prejudice safely into my bag, I caught her eye and saw that she was watching me.
I smiled nervously and looked away. I knew her name was Lexie, but we hadn’t yet spoken. She seemed eager to talk to me now.
“Listen,” she said, her tone serious. I glanced around the room to find that we were the only two left. “I know we don’t know each other, but that party is not a good idea.”
“Your name is Lexie, right?” I asked, not paying attention to her warning.
“Yes,” she nodded, clearly impatient. “And you’re Scarlet. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” I said, trying to smile.
She continued to watch me closely, and I quickly became uncomfortable. With a nervous smile, I pushed myself to my feet and made my way out into the hallway. Lexie followed me closely. I glanced at her, letting her know it was okay to talk to me.
“I’m sorry to be so pushy,” she said. Her tone was softer this time, more kind. “I just… You’re new here, right?”
“I am,” I nodded. “This is my first semester.”
“You seem really sweet,” she said sincerely. “But you also seem kind of innocent. I don’t mean that as an insult, just an observation.”
She wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t appreciate her bluntness. Lexie seemed like a good person, but she was being pushy, and I didn’t understand why. Bryan invited me to a frat party, it wasn’t the end of the world.
She was starting to get on my nerves as she followed me outside. We walked together until we reached a coffee cart. I stopped to buy a latte, and Lexie got herself something too.
“It’s just a party,” I said when we both had our coffees. “I mean, it’s not a big deal.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m sure it won’t be, but since you’re new, I just thought I should warn you.”
“About what?” I asked.
“Delta Pi,” she answered simply.
“What about them?” I asked.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her eyes searching mine. Lexie had deep grey eyes that were unlike any I’d seen before. Her short blonde hair was cut in a pixie cut that made her look slightly edgy. She was pretty, but not in an obvious way. I got the feeling that she wrote poetry or played the guitar.
“They just don’t have the best reputation,” she explained. “You wouldn’t know, but they’re notorious for being the bad boys on campus.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. Lucien didn’t seem like a bad boy, and Bryan seemed even less the type. “The guys I know from Delta seem okay.”
“How many do you know?” she asked.
“Just two,” I admitted. “But they’re both really sweet.”
“I’m sure,” Lexie said, but she sounded anything but. “I just wanted you to know what you’re getting yourself into. Obviously, it’s up to you if you go or not, but I thought you should have all the information first.”
“Thanks,” I said with a smile.
I meant it. At first, Lexie annoyed me, but the more we talked, the more I began to appreciate her. She was honest in a refreshing way. I got the sense that she really was just trying to help me out. She didn’t want to impose her opinions on me, but she felt an obligation. It was nice, in a weird way.
“No problem,” she shrugged. “Us girls have to stick together, you know?”
“I do,” I smiled.
It was nice to have a fellow female to talk to. We found a bench and sat down to enjoy our coffee. We were both done with classes for the day, so we spent a few hours just sitting and talking.
I found out that Lexie was from Boston and moved to the city when she was just seventeen. She started college early, but she took a couple years off to travel around Europe. She was twenty-two and about to graduate.
From the way she spoke, she was worldly and extremely smart. I was happy we met. Finally making a friend on campus felt amazing. It was different than with Lucien or Bryan. They were both sweet and slightly flirtat
ious, but I wondered about their intentions. With Lexie, it was just fun.
“Listen,” I said after a couple hours of talking. “You should come with me tomorrow.”
“Hell no,” Lexie said. “Didn’t I just tell you how much I hate Delta Pi?”
“I know,” I said. “But that’s why you should come. I told you, I was a horribly sheltered child. I have literally no social experience. I could use a babysitter.”
“Nope,” Lexie said. “I like you, Scarlet, but there is no way I will set foot in that house. Not a chance in hell.”
“Fine,” I said.
“Are you still going to go?” Lexie asked.
She wasn’t pushing me one way or the other, but her eyes were anxious as she waited for my answer. I knew what she wanted to hear. She wanted me to say I wouldn’t step foot in that house either, but I couldn’t promise her that. Aside from the fact that I already told Bryan I would go, I wanted to see Lucien again. I knew he would be at the party, and I hoped I might even be able to get another kiss out of him.
“I’ll think about it,” I promised her, but I knew I wouldn’t.
She was my new friend, and I wanted to make her feel better, but I was excited about the party. It would be my first ever frat party. There was certain to be a ton of people, and I was eager to make new friends.
Now that Lexie and I had met, I felt less lonely. I knew I would have at least one friend on campus, but more couldn’t hurt. Even if Lucien didn’t pay attention to me at all tomorrow night, at least I could use the party as a way to meet new people.
“You’re totally gonna go,” Lexie sighed.
“What?” I asked, surprised that she could see right through me.
“You’re practically drooling with excitement,” she teased.
“I am excited to see Lucien,” I admitted.
“Lucien Wolfe?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “He was actually the first person I met here. Him and his friend Adam. They were on my plane from France.”
“Wow,” she said. “That’s an interesting introduction.”