sneaking to the fridge, downstairs was closed up, and most sisters were trying to get some sleep before their Friday classes, if they were foolish enough to take a class scheduled for Fridays.
Casey was not, though she might not be so lucky next semester, if she intended to go through with her poli-sci major. She would need four courses and would be at the mercy of the scheduling program of the university computer system. And she had to pass all of her courses—in some cases, do better than pass—this semester. Casey groaned and threw her textbook on the coffee table.
“Academic distress?” Rebecca Logan’s voice was like an uninvited guest at an exclusive party. “The pressures of graduation finally descending on big sis?”
“When did we agree to stop hating each other?”
“I don’t recall a formal agreement,” Rebecca said, revealingwith one hand her real quest—the bowl of popcorn in Casey’s lap. “Everything okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Casey said. And it was true—she had enough prerequisites to graduate with a few different majors, just not political science yet. Too much of her academic career was dedicated to her then-designated law school destiny. “Not only will my parents not pay for a fifth year, ever since the summer I’ve had this strange desire to…I don’t know…”
“Graduate? Get the hell out of ZBZ?” Rebecca sounded a little too eager at the proposition.
“ZBZ sisters share a lifelong commitment to their friendship and Zeta Beta Zeta,” Casey replied. “Something I must have said way too many times as pledge educator—I think I may have actually started to believe it. No, despite my lack of prospective careers or graduate school applications, there is something strangely compelling about not doing the whole college thing again next year.”
Rebecca decided to concentrate her efforts on stealing the popcorn by sitting down next to Casey on the couch. “And avoid the Five-Year Frannie stigma.”
“It was a stigma way before Frannie. It just sounds better that way because her name starts with an F. There was this Kappa Tau guy, freshman year—he was an active for, like, six or seven years. No…eight. Cappie’s big brother, Egyptian Joe.”
“A great example, no doubt. I assume Cappie is intending to follow in his illustrious footsteps.”
“No.” Casey raised her hands. “Or, I don’t know. I don’t really know what Cappie’s deal is right now. Or any guy’s deal. I used to have every guy I knew and cared about figured out—and maybe they felt the same way about me. And now there’s this…” She gestured to nothing in particular. “And despite being lavaliered by two guys—one who isn’t even in a fraternity—I had to scramble for a date to the formal. Totally last-minute.”
“At least you have one,” Rebecca said, showing a hint of weakness. “Surprisingly, going lesbian for a full week sends the wrong signals to guys.”
“Like, ‘don’t bother’?” Casey asked, and Rebecca nodded ever so slightly. “Yeah, coming out of the straight closet is a way less dramatic gesture. But you’re Rebecca Logan—just throw yourself out there. You’ve never had problems stealing guys from people. Like me.” They were at a point in their uneasy friendship where she could finally say it without fear of repercussion. Facts were facts.
“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Rebecca said, not rising to the bait. “Men are intimidated by female power. A whiff of senatorial fame—however infamous it may be these days—and they flee.”
“Trust me, you manage it all by yourself. Not the fleeing guys thing…well, yes, but I meant that as a compliment. Sort of. You can be terrifying. It’s a good thing—it makes you look smart. Not a dumb sorority girl.”
“Guys like dumb sorority girls,” Rebecca said. “ You have a date.” She gave Casey a look that showed she was joking.
“Yeah, and you’re not stealing him!” Casey insisted, but
Casey was not, though she might not be so lucky next semester, if she intended to go through with her poli-sci major. She would need four courses and would be at the mercy of the scheduling program of the university computer system. And she had to pass all of her courses—in some cases, do better than pass—this semester. Casey groaned and threw her textbook on the coffee table.
“Academic distress?” Rebecca Logan’s voice was like an uninvited guest at an exclusive party. “The pressures of graduation finally descending on big sis?”
“When did we agree to stop hating each other?”
“I don’t recall a formal agreement,” Rebecca said, revealingwith one hand her real quest—the bowl of popcorn in Casey’s lap. “Everything okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Casey said. And it was true—she had enough prerequisites to graduate with a few different majors, just not political science yet. Too much of her academic career was dedicated to her then-designated law school destiny. “Not only will my parents not pay for a fifth year, ever since the summer I’ve had this strange desire to…I don’t know…”
“Graduate? Get the hell out of ZBZ?” Rebecca sounded a little too eager at the proposition.
“ZBZ sisters share a lifelong commitment to their friendship and Zeta Beta Zeta,” Casey replied. “Something I must have said way too many times as pledge educator—I think I may have actually started to believe it. No, despite my lack of prospective careers or graduate school applications, there is something strangely compelling about not doing the whole college thing again next year.”
Rebecca decided to concentrate her efforts on stealing the popcorn by sitting down next to Casey on the couch. “And avoid the Five-Year Frannie stigma.”
“It was a stigma way before Frannie. It just sounds better that way because her name starts with an F. There was this Kappa Tau guy, freshman year—he was an active for, like, six or seven years. No…eight. Cappie’s big brother, Egyptian Joe.”
“A great example, no doubt. I assume Cappie is intending to follow in his illustrious footsteps.”
“No.” Casey raised her hands. “Or, I don’t know. I don’t really know what Cappie’s deal is right now. Or any guy’s deal. I used to have every guy I knew and cared about figured out—and maybe they felt the same way about me. And now there’s this…” She gestured to nothing in particular. “And despite being lavaliered by two guys—one who isn’t even in a fraternity—I had to scramble for a date to the formal. Totally last-minute.”
“At least you have one,” Rebecca said, showing a hint of weakness. “Surprisingly, going lesbian for a full week sends the wrong signals to guys.”
“Like, ‘don’t bother’?” Casey asked, and Rebecca nodded ever so slightly. “Yeah, coming out of the straight closet is a way less dramatic gesture. But you’re Rebecca Logan—just throw yourself out there. You’ve never had problems stealing guys from people. Like me.” They were at a point in their uneasy friendship where she could finally say it without fear of repercussion. Facts were facts.
“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Rebecca said, not rising to the bait. “Men are intimidated by female power. A whiff of senatorial fame—however infamous it may be these days—and they flee.”
“Trust me, you manage it all by yourself. Not the fleeing guys thing…well, yes, but I meant that as a compliment. Sort of. You can be terrifying. It’s a good thing—it makes you look smart. Not a dumb sorority girl.”
“Guys like dumb sorority girls,” Rebecca said. “ You have a date.” She gave Casey a look that showed she was joking.
“Yeah, and you’re not stealing him!” Casey insisted, but
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