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“Well, it’s true!” he says, doubling down. “If you go, you’ll just be humiliated. You’ll get all nervous, won’t talk to anybody. You’ll get no stickers. You’ll end up sitting in the corner, doing the wallflower thing like always. It’ll be just like prom all over again. We’re all thinking it.”
Dana stands still. “Is that true?” she asks us.
Ben shrugs, agreeing with his brother.
I do nothing, the memory of prom night still fresh enough to feel.
Dana sat alone on the bleachers in the gymnasium, her lavender dress clinging to her like a second skin, tiny sequins reflecting light like a disco ball. Classmates passed her by, barely glancing up. She checked her phone over and over again.
Ask her to dance, I thought to myself.
Dana exhales through her nose before silently turning and walking upstairs.
I didn’t.
I should have.
“Whatever.” Alex waves a hand, brushing her off as he faces us. “It’s her funeral. I’m hungry.”
He walks off into the kitchen, Ben following a few steps behind him.
My gaze pulls toward the front door, the now empty street visible through the surrounding windows. Dylan is long gone now, but he’ll be back. He’ll be at the Delta Xi party. With her.
And so will I.
CHAPTER 10
DANA
My skin tingles as I approach Alpha Delta Xi.
Greek Row is alive — and loud. Each house is lit up with warm lights and smiling faces. Current members gather on their lawns wearing matching shirts showing their houses, holding rolls of stickers in their palms to hand out to prospective pledges who make a good impression.
I make a note of Beta Kappa’s color. Red.
I breathe deeply, determined to earn my stickers tonight. Sure, Courtney’s sponsorship will go a long way, but I won’t make any friends by cutting lines. And that’s what joining a sorority is all about. Making friends and connections. Creating memories. Being a part of something big and wonderful.
My pulse pounds, my brother’s hateful words from the other day still echoing in my head. Nervous. Alone.It’ll be just like prom all over again.
We’ll see about that, Alex.
For starters, I’m not alone.
“Well, this is just...” Dylan tilts his head, his overgrown bangs hanging to one side,“festive.”
I chuckle. “It’s nice, though.”
“Indeed.”
“We should get in line,” I say, pointing at the slow-moving group extending across the front lawn of Delta Xi waiting to have their IDs checked.
“If we must.” He walks with me down the sidewalk, clad in a long-sleeve black shirt and black pants. Actually, I don’t think I’ve seen him wearing anything else. Must just be his style. “Beta Kappa, huh?”
I look at him, his sharp eyes having seen me staring at the house across the street. “Beta Kappa,” I say.
“Why them?” he asks.
“I never had a sister,” I say with a shrug. “Always thought it be nice to have a house full of them, if that makes sense.”
