by Sara Marks
Phi
Alpha Pi
Sara Marks
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Illuminated Myth Publishing
https://www.illuminatedmyth.com/
Copyright © 2018 Sara Marks
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.
First Edition – September 2018
http://saramarks.net
ISBN-13: 978-1533288448
Dedication
To the two women who are my sisters; one in blood and one in spirit. Katie, the only person who can both love the same things as me, but for totally different reasons. Emily, who figured me out at the age of fifteen and still loves me anyway.
Other Books by Sara Marks
Modern Persuasion
A Little More Modern Persuasion
September
As one of the largest and oldest sororities on campus, there was usually someone in the Phi Alpha Pi two-story Greek revival style mansion. Members were eating, studying, or simply enjoying each other’s company. Today there were twenty women moving into their rooms and unpacking for the start of the school year. Lizbeth, as chapter president, had been one of the first sisters to arrive, but still hadn’t unpacked. She and the other officers were too busy helping their sisters move in. Lizbeth had already put out a small, literal fire from a fallen candle. Then she put out figurative fires of roommate mix-ups and fights about who got which bed. Now Lizbeth sat alone in her room, exhausted and anxious to get out of the house, if only for a few hours.
Lizbeth had never been this involved in the sorority. She had agreed to the position, for her senior year, to help keep the sorority off academic probation for low grades. This had been a looming threat in the past. Lizbeth had helped by teaching the sorority sisters ways to get organized, creating study schedules, and helping create an atmosphere that turned studying into social events. She was glad her best friend Jane, who was Membership VP, was helping with the move in. There were sisters that Lizbeth didn’t know and relationships she didn’t understand. Jane was good at soothing hurt feelings and mediating fights. She had to run a membership meeting later in the day. Rush Week, the week before classes started so potential new members could attend all events, launched tomorrow.
“Lizbeth, did you see the shirts she got the board members?” Marie said, entering her room.
Marie, the sorority treasurer, was holding a hot pink T-shirt up to her body. At twenty years old, she was petite and wore her black hair long with bangs that nearly covered her eyes. When she pulled them back she revealed bright hazel eyes and a nose just a bit too big for her face. Marie was Lizbeth’s “little sister,” a bond between sorority sisters that often lasted the rest of their lives. As their resident gadget geek, she always had the latest technology toy. She had the first Fitbit, the first GoPro, was also the first to adopt new social media, and had happily taken over the sorority’s web presence.
Lizbeth had seen the shirt Marie was holding in the gift basket their housemother had given each officer as they moved in. Mrs. C, as they were instructed to call her, was brand new this year and a bit over-eager. She had welcomed each of the officers with a huge hug and said basket, which had also included tons of candy, candles, and school supplies. She gave each sister a candle as she moved in. It was one of these very candles that Lizbeth had put out when it fell and burned the carpet. Their previous housemother had never been this excited to see them.
“Yes, I saw it,” Lizbeth said with a sigh.
“Lizbeth, it says, ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’”
“Well, she is up on her Austen,” Lizbeth said with a shrug.
Lizbeth sat down on her bed and let herself fall back on the bare mattress.
Marie put her hands on her hips and sighed before responding.
“You know that’s not the point. Some of us aren’t here to find rich husbands.”
“I believe it was the goal for many sisters in her day. She is new and excited. She will learn some of us aren’t like this anymore.”
“She asked me to wear it tonight.”
“No, you’ll wear an official sorority shirt; it’s tradition.”
Marie huffed irritably.
“Are we paying for this stuff? She hasn’t handed me receipts, but I’m worried she will.”
“Let me know if she does. I think this is her gift to us. She made these herself. I mean, the font is comic sans.”
Marie left the room and Lizbeth heard her door bang. All the bedrooms were on the second floor of the house, but the two officer bedrooms were adjacent, so they could all work together. Lizbeth lay back on her bed wishing she wasn’t living this close to Marie and her roommate Lydia. She closed her eyes for a few moments, hoping to catch a quick nap.
“I think we have everyone settled and don’t need to worry about anything until the meeting starts.”
Lizbeth opened her eyes to see Jane come into their room. The only good thing about having to live at the sorority house, as far as Lizbeth was concerned, was rooming with Jane. She had only joined Phi Alpha Pi so she and Jane could be together their freshman year. Last year, when the sorority had just come off an academic probation for low grades, Jane and a few graduates had begged Lizzie to run for president. The year had been difficult for some of the sisters, but Lizbeth had emerged as a leader. There was only one other candidate for president: Lydia. Lydia was the de-facto leader of the un-academic sisters and the worst of the lot. In the end, Lydia had taken on the Programming VP role, something she was very good at. Lydia had already planned so many mixers that Lizbeth had forced her to cancel some.
“Is it true there is a party tonight after the meeting?” Lizbeth asked Jane.
“Yes, Lydia planned with the guys at Alpha Pi. They have a few new brothers who transferred from another school and they want to make them feel welcome before Rush Week starts. Do you remember Caroline? Her older brother Charlie is one of those members,” Jane added.
Lizbeth nodded, vaguely recalling the woman who had transferred to the university and wanted to get involved at this chapter of Phi Alpha Pi.
“Mrs. C is all abuzz about them because they are so rich.”
“Exactly. She thinks Caroline’s brother could be a boyfriend for one of us. It is so sweet of her to want to help us.”
Lizbeth wished that Jane was being sarcastic, but she knew otherwise. Jane was the kindest person in the world. Jane liked almost everyone, so Lizbeth knew there was something wrong with you if you were the rare person Jane didn’t like (and vice versa).
“You’re too sweet,” Lizbeth said.
“Lizbeth, she’s recently widowed. Her children are all off living their own lives. She wants to take care of someone and we need someone looking out for us.”
Lizbeth rolled her eyes.
“I understand, and I feel horrible for her. I mean, you saw the shirts. God forbid we learn to take care of ourselves rather than hunt for rich men to marry.”
“Some members actually want to meet their future husband. Let her get used to us and learn what we need. I’m sure she’ll calm down. If not, well... you’ll certainly be a good balance for her. That is one of the strengths we value in you.”
Lizbeth tossed a stuffed bear at her best
friend before getting up and organizing her half of the room.
***
Lizbeth watched as Lydia twirled in front of the mirror in the officers’ shared bathroom. With bright red hair and green eyes, Lydia was hard to ignore and loved dressing up to get attention. She insisted red-heads had the most fun and made sure to prove it to everyone around her.
“Lizzie, you should totally wear a cute little dress,” Lydia said once she stopped spinning long enough to put on her makeup.
“I need my cute little dresses for Rush events. It will just have to be jeans and a shirt,” Lizbeth said, pulling her brown hair back in a ponytail.
“At least wear a cute shirt! I can loan you something. I mean, who knows who will be there?”
Lizbeth didn’t consider the offer. All of Lydia’s shirts were far too tight for Lizbeth’s comfort. She was happy to stay in the hot pink sorority shirt she had worn to their earlier meeting.
“It will be the same guys who were there last year and we will outnumber them because most of them aren’t back yet,” Lizbeth said.
“Caroline’s brother will be there! I heard they are filthy rich-- importing and exporting out of New Orleans or something like that. Plus, I heard a friend transferred with him. I know you, Lizzy; once you have a beer or two, you’ll be dancing with the rest of us. Maybe one of the new guys will dance with you.”
Caroline had been at the earlier meeting and had not impressed her much. As a Phi Alpha Pi member at her previous university, she was entitled to join their chapter without going through Rush week like all new members. Lizbeth hoped Caroline’s cold, calculating demeanor was just reserve until she felt more comfortable. Lizbeth seemed to be the only one who didn’t like Caroline. She hoped Charlie wasn’t anything like his sister.
“Mrs. C thinks Jane and Charlie are perfect for each other,” Lydia said as Jane walked into the bathroom.
“When did Mrs. C meet Charlie?” Lizbeth asked.
“He came over with Caroline. You were busy helping people move in,” Jane said.
“Did you like him?” Lizbeth asked Jane.
Jane and Lizbeth made eye contact in the mirror.
“I didn’t really get to meet him either. I just saw him in passing. Even if he isn’t The One, it would be nice to have a boyfriend this year instead of random dates with guys who just want to get laid,” Jane said with a small sigh.
“Maybe there will be someone in your classes,” Marie said from outside the bathroom.
“I’m an education major, Marie. Most of the guys in my classes are gay or married,” Jane said.
***
The some of the residential sisters walked to the Alpha Pi house together. Lizbeth enjoyed the company of her sorority sisters in small amounts, like this brief walk, and before they started drinking. Lydia was completely unpredictable once she started drinking, oscillating between mean girl and sweet angel. Then there was Marie, who had offered to be sober sister before they left the house. Others were with them, but having their own conversations as they walked.
“My parents were in China most of the summer, so I had the house to myself. I had a ton of pool parties,” Lydia said as they walked.
“I spent the summer in L.A. with a cousin who is making YouTube videos out there. I got to hang out at the Nerdist offices a couple times,” Marie said.
They could hear the music playing at the house as they got closer. The Alpha Pi house was one of three fraternity houses on this street. The other two had lights on, but were quiet. The fraternities didn’t take Rush Week as seriously as the sororities did. The members would show up on campus tomorrow, open the doors and potential members would just come around. The sororities had constant events: teas, meet & greets, dinners, ceremonies, and more. Tonight, anyone from the fraternities was probably hanging out at the Alpha Pi house because there was nothing else to do. There were so few guys on campus that the Phi Alpha Pi sisters would still outnumber them easily.
The party had started on the lawn of the fraternity house, but was pretty tame so far. Guys were just hanging around. Other women were there, mostly girlfriends. Most of the other sororities were deep into Rush Week prep. Lydia and Jane had assured Lizbeth everything was done for their opening tea. Lizbeth suspected Lydia had suckered Mrs. C into helping set up while they partied.
The group of sisters had split up once they got to the lawn. Lydia had a beer in hand and was on the back of some fraternity brother, riding him around the lawn before the other sisters got into the house. Lizbeth ended up with her friend Charlotte, who met them at the party. Jane and Lizbeth had known each other as children, having spent summers at the same sleep-away camp. Charlotte had been one of their suite-mates their freshman year. Lizbeth, Charlotte, and Jane had all joined the sorority to be able to hang out together. Charlotte was nowhere near as involved as Lizbeth and Jane. She only did the minimal activity to stay active. This meant coming to weekly meetings at the house and the occasional event. Charlotte was tall and lanky with skin the color of milk chocolate. Her big brown eyes dominated her face and she wore her curly black hair cut close to her head, making her look mature and sophisticated. Charlotte, a painter, frequently looked like she had just come from her studio. Lizbeth could see the paint splattered on her jeans.
“It looks like Jane has a new friend,” Charlotte said as she and Lizbeth sat down on a bench on the back deck of the fraternity house.
“That’s Caroline, who just transferred here with her brother. She was at the meeting earlier.”
When Lizbeth looked at Caroline she thought of southern women from the 60s. Caroline was tall and rail thin with long blond hair that had dark roots. Her almond-shaped hazel eyes gave her an exotic look. Lizbeth wondered if Caroline had done a small amount of plastic surgery --especially her too straight nose. She had been in clean jeans and a white blouse at the earlier meeting, but now she had changed into an A-line black skirt and put a black cardigan over the blouse. She also wore two-inch black wedges that made her tower over most of the other women in the room.
“I must have missed her,” Charlotte said. “Is her brother the cute blond guy talking to them?”
Lizbeth looked back at the two men standing with Caroline and Jane. Caroline was wearing an expression that Lizbeth’s younger sister Becca (her biological sister) called resting bitch face. Lizbeth suspected this was her default expression. One of the two guys looked like Caroline and could only be her brother, Charlie. After all the fuss Mrs. C had been making, Lizbeth expected Charlie to be some golden Adonis. He was cute, but not Lizbeth’s type. He had a huge, dopey grin on his face, and was staring at Jane like a puppy dog. His hair was straight, blond, and worn longer in the front than back. He had a tall, athletic, stocky build, and was wearing distressed jean shorts, a grey T-shirt and flip flops. The other man was the same height as Charlie, but had a slender build. He stood very straight and very still. His expression was a mix of annoyance and boredom. Lizbeth thought he would have been cute if it wasn’t for the sour expression. He had dark brown hair that curled just a little at the edges as if it was ready for a quick trim. He was wearing dark jeans and a black button-down shirt. He had rolled up the sleeves of the shirt because of the heat. Lizbeth noticed he was wearing maroon Chucks on his feet.
“I assume that’s Caroline’s brother since they look so much alike. I don’t know who the other guy is, though,” Lizbeth said.
“His name is Wil and he is super-duper rich,” Lydia said, coming out of nowhere and dropping down on the bench between Lizbeth and Charlotte.
“Is he the other transfer?” Charlotte asked.
“Yep, he is some orphan from New York. His family was like huge in real estate. Like Trump-huge. They have oodles of money. He might be richer than Caroline and Charlie. He’s a pill though. He won’t talk to anyone except Charlie and Caroline. You have to meet them, Lizzie!” Lydia said, and pulled Lizbeth to he
r feet.
“Hi!” Jane said with a smile as they approached the group. “This is Charlie and Wil. They’re the new Alpha Pi brothers who just transferred here. Charlie is Caroline’s brother. Lizbeth is our sorority president and my best friend. Charlotte is our former roommate and a sorority sister.”
“It’s really nice to meet you,” Charlie said to the pair.
Charlie had an easy smile and was clearly used to enjoying himself. Wil, on the other hand, looked incapable of smiling. His lips were thin and Lizbeth wondered what he would look like if he just smiled a little. Now that she was close enough she could see that his eyes were green with dark rings around the iris. She found herself drawn to his eyes, glancing back at him to look into them again.
“It’s great to meet you too,” Lizbeth said to Charlie. “Welcome to campus. Are you living at the house?”
“No,” Charlie said. “The three of us are sharing a townhouse just off campus. Our parents didn’t want us to worry about dorms and felt more comfortable with Wil as our roommate.”
“Did you all grow up together? I thought someone said you were from New Orleans. Jane is from New Orleans, too,” Lydia asked.
“We’re from New Orleans. Wil and I have been friends for years. Our mothers went to college together. We all wanted to keep the tradition going, even as far as transferring schools together. Wil’s family is from New York, though,” Charlie said.
“Lizzy has family in New York!” Lydia said.
“In the city?” Caroline asked.
“Yes. My father’s parents live there. We visit them a few times a year.”
“Where does your family live?” Charlie asked.
“Boston. My mother’s family has lived in Boston since the pilgrims. They still live on the out in Central Massachusetts on the family farm.”
“Boston is a long way from Georgia,” Caroline said.
“It was in the middle between Jane and me. We wanted to go to college together, so we picked middle ground. It’s a long way from New Orleans too,” Lizbeth said.