Sorority Sisters

by Tajuana Butler

  The girls changed into the matching T-shirts, which were gifts from the entire chapter. Then the prophytes put on some music and began to teach the neos the steps for the party. Tiara, Malena, and Cajen picked up the steps quickly, but Chancey and Stephanie had a tougher time.

  They had a good time learning the steps and trying to stay in sync. Once they picked up the moves, their sisters joined them, and they walked in line and stepped around the room. After they learned five different steps, they rested.

  Then everybody cleaned the meeting room and headed to Bigelow Hall. Because this was their coming out party, the neos didn’t have to work the door admitting people. They were told to just enjoy themselves and let the prophytes do the work for a change. Before the crowd came, some of the “old head” sorors, as they called anyone who had been in the sorority more than two years, worked with them more on all the new steps that they’d learned earlier.

  PART

  THREE

  Bless me to be a feminine woman;

  the kind of woman who is virtuous and

  who takes responsibility for her own actions.

  TWENTY

  By eleven p.m. Bigelow Hall was jam-packed. This was definitely not a party to be missed. All of the fraternities and sororities were “walking” (as they called stepping and dancing in line) around the party. The Phenomenal Five were in line with their sorority sisters and kept up as if they had been walking for years. Deejay Mel spun the most current hits, and the dance floor was crowded.

  “Whew, this is one of the most exciting nights of my life,” Tiara yelled in Cajen’s ear as they left the floor.

  “This has to be the party of the year,” Cajen responded, while she attempted to catch her breath from dancing and sheer excitement.

  “I can’t believe the number of people who’ve congratulated me tonight. I don’t even know most of them.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “But what set the night off was Ben asking me to save him a slow dance.”

  “Go, girl!” Cajen replied. She was happy for her soror, but wondered why Jason wasn’t at the party. “Have you seen Jason?” she asked.

  “Who?” Tiara couldn’t hear Cajen, because a popular song came on and the crowd was going wild.

  “Jason!” she yelled.

  “Oh, no, I haven’t. But he’s probably around here somewhere,” answered Tiara. “This party is so phat you might just be missing him.” Then she noticed her friends that she hadn’t talked to since rush several weeks ago. “Oh, there are my girls Gina and Sandra. I’ll catch up with you in a sec.”

  “All right. I’ll catch ya later,” Cajen said.

  As Tiara went to talk with her friends, Cajen saw Stephanie standing by the floor, dancing. She was moving to the music and looking around like she was trying to find somebody, so Cajen walked toward her, but was stopped by Eric.

  “Hey, Cajen, congratulations. You did it,” he said, and stretched his arms out for a hug.

  “Hey, honey!” she yelled. “Oh, and thank you. I can’t believe it myself,” she said as she reached to hug him.

  “It seems like a year since I saw you last.” He spoke in her ear so that she could hear him over the music.

  “I know what you mean,” she responded.

  “Listen, I got a gift for you. If you’re not too busy tomorrow, I’ll bring it by your room,” Eric said.

  “Thank you, but you really didn’t have to.”

  “Yes, I did. You wouldn’t let me live it down if I didn’t,” he teased. “But I saw that you were on your way to talk to your girl, so I’m not gonna hold you. I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”

  “Okay, but call me before you come.”

  “Don’t I always?” he asked, walking away. Cajen proceeded toward Stephanie.

  “Hey, Steph, I’m going to the ladies’ room, you want to go?” Cajen asked.

  “Okay,” she said.

  “Hey . . .” Cajen tapped her on the shoulder. “Look around on the way and let me know if you see Jason.”

  “All right,” she said, and rolled her eyes, then walked ahead of Cajen because she was taller and could see better. There was no sign of Jason on the way to the ladies’ room. Inside, Cajen and Stephanie checked themselves out in the mirror to make sure their hairstyles and makeup were holding up.

  “Doing our sorority walk has really caused me to perspire. I have never perspired this much at a party. But then again, I have never danced this much at a party,” Stephanie said.

  “But it’s fun, huh?”

  “It sure is. I’m already looking forward to the next party!”

  “Yeah, me too.” Cajen took a lipstick from her jeans pocket and freshened her lips. She asked Stephanie if she was ready to go back. She was anxious to get back out to the party to see if she could spot Jason.

  “Give me a sec,” Stephanie said, attempting to freshen her sweaty hair. “The party’ll be over at one, right? What time is it now?”

  “Twelve-thirty.”

  “Oh. So where are the rest of the neos?” Stephanie asked. “I want to walk some more.”

  “When I saw you, Tiara was talking with two of her friends. Malena and Ray were trying to outdance each other on the floor. I saw Chancey and Don. They snuck out about thirty minutes ago. You were dancing, and they didn’t want to interrupt you, so she told me to tell you bye,” she explained. “Girl, you look good. Now let’s go!”

  Stephanie inspected herself one last time and followed Cajen out to the hall. As they were walking toward the dance floor they ran into Malena and Ray.

  “I’ve had a blast, but we’re gonna call it a night,” Malena said.

  “One last time around the floor,” Cajen said, trying to convince her to stay.

  “Girl, I’ve overextended myself as it is. I’m gonna give it up to you single ladies.”

  “Couldn’t hang, huh? I can’t stand happy couples,” Stephanie joked.

  “But we love you,” Malena responded, and hugged Stephanie and Cajen.

  “Have fun, you lovebirds,” Cajen teased. The party atmosphere was upbeat, but seeing Malena and Ray together made it tough to keep her spirits up. She couldn’t believe Jason didn’t make it to her coming out party, and although it wasn’t mentioned on the party flyers, everybody on campus knew this party was to introduce them to the campus. Their sorors made sure to drop hints.

  An up-tempo song came on, and Tiara ran over to her line sisters. “Ooh, this is my song! Let’s walk.”

  “Cool,” Stephanie said, as she grabbed Cajen’s arm and pulled her onto the floor. They joined in line with six of their sorors who had already started.

  When the party was over, Tiara said good-bye to her two sands and other sorors, who were engaged in a deep conversation about the differences between men who commit and those who were naturally dogs. The sisters were waiting to make sure that campus security locked up everything properly.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for us?” Stephanie asked her. “We’ll walk back to Cajen’s dorm, where I’m parked, and then I’ll drive you to your dorm.”

  “Girl, I thought you knew. Ben is waiting right outside the door for me. He’s going to walk me to my dorm.”

  “Oh, really?” Cajen asked. “That’s so sweet!” she said somewhat insincerely. She had tuned out their conversation because the discussion that her sorors, who were waiting for the security guards, were having caught her attention. One of the girls made a point that committed men were proud to be in public with their ladies, but true dogs avoided publicly showing intimacy or any proof of being linked to one particular woman. Their words went right into her heart. She knew she’d never have with Jason what Chancey and Malena had with Don and Ray.

  “That’s not sweet,” Stephanie corrected her. “He’s just trying to get his groove on. Tiara, you’d better watch out for him. And don’t you move too fast. A man loves a challenge, you know?” Stephanie said.

  “Okay, Momma Stephanie. But you should know me
better than that. I’m still fond of my virgin status. And I’m in no hurry to change it.”

  “You’d better not be!”

  “I’ll talk to you later, Mommy. Bye, Cajen, I’m sorry Jason didn’t show up,” Tiara said apologetically. She tried to think of something to say to make her feel better. “Maybe something came up.”

  “Maybe . . .” Cajen sighed. “Bye. Have fun.”

  “I will,” Tiara said, and walked out the door to meet Ben.

  “Are they finished locking up?” Cajen asked Stephanie.

  “I hope so,” Stephanie replied.

  Just then Tracy and another one of their sorors, Missy, came around the corner with a security officer.

  “The building’s all secure. You ladies can go now,” the security officer said. They thanked him and walked to the door.

  “Does anybody need a ride?” Tracy asked her sorors. “I can take y’all over to the dorm.”

  “We’ll take a ride,” Cajen and Stephanie responded. Their other sorors, who were still discussing men, declined. They said quick good-byes, hugged, and continued their conversation outside the building, pausing only to yell out their sorority call to the three as they walked to Tracy’s car. Their sorors responded with the same.

  Tracy pulled up to Cajen’s dorm, hugged the neos good-bye, and pulled off. They knew she was going be a cool person to get to know.

  “Cajen, can I use your phone to check my messages?” Stephanie asked.

  “Yeah, but you’re on your way home now, right?”

  “Yeah, but I want to know now. Plus, I’m not quite ready to go to my empty apartment just yet. I already miss the pitter-patter of pledges’ feet.” she joked.

  “We knew you would miss us!” Cajen teased. They laughed. “But I know exactly what you mean. I’m not getting to my answering machine fast enough either.”

  They saw a black truck with flashing hazard lights parked in front of the dormitory. “I know that’s not Jason’s truck!” Cajen said. But she knew it was. Who else had dark tint on the windows of a compact black truck, and a vanity plate that read “Shaky”?

  “Oh, I wonder if he’s looking for me,” she said, trying give him the benefit of the doubt.

  “I hope so, because if not, he has to answer to me personally,” Stephanie said, turning up her nose. She did not like Jason and was honest about it.

  “There you go again, Momma Steph. Don’t you say a word either way. Let me handle it.”

  They got to the door of the dorm and ran right into Jason, who was also walking toward the door with his arm around Shanika, the girl who had paid sixty-one dollars to buy him at the auction. She had on Daisy Duke short shorts and a bra top that showed more than it covered. He whispered something in her ear, and she giggled and nodded her head. He looked ahead to find Cajen and Stephanie standing in front of him. Stephanie did everything she could to keep her mouth shut; she was trying to honor Cajen’s wish.

  “Hey, Cajen, congrats on crossing!” he said in his usual cool voice. “Oh, hi, Stephanie. Congratulations to you too.” He couldn’t look either of them in the eye, because he knew that if looks could kill, he would be dead instantly.

  “Where are you going?” Cajen asked Jason.

  “Well,” he struggled.

  “Well, actually . . . we’re going to get a late-night snack!” Shanika butted in with a high-pitched, annoying voice. She wanted it clear to Cajen that Jason was with her. She grabbed Jason’s arm to further prove her point.

  “Is that so, Jason?” Cajen asked, barely acknowledging Shanika.

  “Well.”

  “Jason, I’m hungry. Let’s go,” Shanika whined, while tugging at his arm.

  “Here, Shanika, take the keys to my truck, and I’ll meet you there.”

  “Okay, but don’t keep me waiting too long. You know how I get when I don’t get my way,” she pouted, and grabbed the keys out of his hand. Cajen’s blood boiled. She could not believe what she had just witnessed.

  “Who the hell is she?” Cajen asked.

  “Nah, nah, it’s not what you think, so don’t be getting all upset until you hear my side.”

  “You must think I’m some kind of fool, huh?”

  “Nah, baby, listen. I’m just taking Shanika to get something to eat, then I’m bringing her right back and going back to my dorm, alone.”

  “So why didn’t you come to the party? Didn’t you even care?” Cajen asked.

  “Baby, I got a big test on Monday, and I’ve been studying all weekend, so the party thing was out for me.”

  “Oh, but you can stop your studying for Queen Shanika.”

  “Listen to how you’re sounding, Cajen. I’m not gonna stand here and take your nagging. If you don’t trust me, how can we say we have anything?” he said, and started heading for the door.

  “Jason, why are you doing this to me?” Cajen pleaded. She ran behind him and grabbed his arm as he jerked away. “I need you, Jason. Please don’t leave!” she cried.

  He put his hands on her arms. “I gotta go. Shanika is waiting.”

  “Don’t you love me?” Cajen asked. He didn’t say anything. He just gave her a blank look and jerked his arm away.

  Stephanie couldn’t bear to watch any more of this. “Cajen, fuck his trifling ass!” she said, as she grabbed Cajen’s hand and tried to lead her to the elevator.

  “No. Jason, answer my question,” she demanded.

  “Stephanie, why don’t you take your friend upstairs, because she’s causing a scene for no reason. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Cajen. Maybe by then you won’t be so outta control,” he said in a cool tone, and opened the door.

  “Don’t bother calling her tomorrow, and don’t you ever say another word to her again . . . I mean it. Just stay out of her life, because she doesn’t need anybody like you,” Stephanie said.

  “Answer me, Jason,” Cajen yelled. But Jason didn’t answer, and didn’t bother to turn around as he walked out the door.

  “See what you did!” Cajen turned to Stephanie. “You let him leave. I need to talk to him. I need to tell him to come back so we can finish talking,” Cajen began to cry as she walked toward the door.

  Stephanie grabbed her, put her arms around her, and said, “Let him go . . . it’s over.”

  Cajen knew Stephanie was right. Jason would never love her the way she wanted and deserved to be loved. He didn’t care about her, and if anything, he briefly felt guilty for what he had done to her, but not even that could make him care for or love her. She knew she couldn’t make him respect her, because he didn’t even respect himself. She accepted it and stopped crying, but she was still hurting inside and couldn’t move. She stood at the door and watched Jason pull off with Shanika as if nothing had happened.

  “Cajen, it’s late and you need to get upstairs before somebody sees you down here like this.”

  “Yeah,” she whispered. “You’re right. I guess I’m lucky the lobby is empty, because I really did cause a scene.”

  “Yeah, you did,” Stephanie said, nodding her head.

  Stephanie walked Cajen to her room and stayed with her while she got all of her feelings about him off her chest. She went from needing Jason to wanting to kill him. Stephanie listened to Cajen cry, scream, cuss, and fuss her poor little self right to sleep. Once she was sure that Cajen was sound asleep, she tiptoed out the door.

  TWENTY-ONE

  After the party, Chancy and Don went back to his apartment for a private party of their own. He asked her to have a seat on the couch in the living room, and then ran to his room and brought back a bag filled with goodies. He set the bag beside him, got on his knees in front of her, and presented her with each of the special gifts, watching intently as she opened them.

  She tore into each gift, and under the pink wrapping her surprises got progressively better and better. She was overwhelmed as she opened a gold clip with her sorority’s letters. She uncovered a matching T-shirt and boxers, a book bag, custom-embroidered warm-ups, a pink lea
ther organizer with her sorority’s letters tastefully printed in the lower-right corner, and a watch. When she thought he was finished, he pulled out yet another box, stating that it was his personal favorite. She opened the box lined with Victoria’s Secret paper, and inside was a pink bra and panties set.

  “I want you to try that on now,” he announced with a smile. “But first, tell me, did I do a good job? Do you like your gifts?”

  They were special to her, and she could tell he put in a lot of time shopping. He had spent too much money, she thought.

  He saw the concern on her face and assured her, “I got a good deal for purchasing so many items, and the lingerie was on sale. But, you know what, if I overspent, it’s because you’re worth every penny.”

  Chancey forgot about his overspending and clung to his sincerity. She got on the floor with him and kissed her beautiful man wherever she could find bare skin. They touched, caressed, and then moved their celebration to Don’s room to complete the moment.

  Chancey awoke to Don kissing her shoulder. I love this man, she thought.

  “How’s my Diamond this morning?”

  “Refreshed, relieved, replenished, and revived!”

  “Did I do all of that?” he teased.

  “And then some,” she responded, and reached over to hug him tightly. Their morning hugs were always passionate and filled with a feeling of closeness and oneness that neither had ever felt with anyone else. Before they untangled themselves, she kissed him on the forehead, knowing how much he loved it.

  “Why don’t I make breakfast for my sexy Mandingo?” she joked.

  “Why don’t we both cook?” he suggested. “Since you always burn the toast,” he joked.

  In the kitchen they prepared bacon, eggs, grits, and biscuits. Don didn’t have any orange juice, so he poured two cups of Coke. They talked over breakfast and caught up on the important moments they had missed in the other’s life over the past several weeks. They laughed a lot and could barely eat, because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

  “You make me happier than anyone I’ve ever been with,” he expressed.