Saying Goodbye, Part One (Passports and Promises Book 1) by Abigail Drake Page B

in my hand. “I know, but they all seem so nice. And eager.”
    She raised a perfectly arched blond eyebrow at me. “Being a Theta isn’t just about being nice. We have an image, and it has to be upheld. Speaking of which, where is Gabriela? She’s supposed to help tonight.”
    “She was just here.” I looked around with a worried frown. I hadn’t seen her since dinner. I snuck a glance at my watch. It was after midnight. “I haven’t seen Bethany in a while either.”
    Mary Grace sighed. “I guess it’s just us, then. It’s going to be a long night. Put on your comfiest clothes and meet me back down here in twenty minutes. We have to send out the first round of bids tomorrow.”
    I checked my phone on the way up to my room. Dylan had called several times, but hadn’t left a message. Bethany and Gabriela had both texted me. Bethany apologized for leaving me alone with Mary Grace, even though she wasn’t even on the committee. Gabriela encouraged me to leave, mostly using emoticons. Gabriela was fluent in what might be the texting form of hieroglyphics.
    I sighed and tossed my phone on the bed. I’d have to deal with Mary Grace and all the bids on my own. I pulled on some yoga pants, stuck my hair into a ponytail, and sped down the steps. I didn’t want to keep Mary Grace waiting, and after hanging fall leaves and twinkle lights all day, I was exhausted. Finishing up quickly would send me back to my warm, soft bed sooner rather than later.
    We sat in the conference room, munching on leftover snacks from the party and going over the list of PNM, Potential New Members. The other sisters had already turned in their nominations, and left notes about each candidate. It didn’t take as long as I’d expected. I didn’t want to leave anyone out, but Mary Grace had a ruthless streak. She also selectively ignored chapter rules about not saying anything negative about any of the girls, which seemed odd considering she should set the standard as president. I decided we were both too tired to be overly concerned about rules at the moment. We wanted to get done and go to bed. Mary Grace’s eyes scanned the papers in front of her as she divided the applications into piles.
    “She’s a moron. No.” She reached for page after page. “Too slutty. Too chatty. Too…annoying.”
    I laughed out loud at that one. “What are we looking for exactly?”
    She sighed. “People you can stand being around on a daily basis for the next few years or your life. Think about it, Sam. Would you want to have to deal with this for the next two years?”
    She held up the application and I looked at the photo, remembering how that particular girl had interrupted others repeatedly during dinner and bragged about her father’s business.
    “You’re right. Too annoying. But I liked this girl.”
    I held up a photo of a girl named Emma. Tiny, with curly blond hair and big blue eyes, she’d been sweet and friendly and really funny, too. And she was a Japanese major. We’d clicked instantly.
    Mary Grace’s eyes lit up. “Emma Turner Tinsdale. Exactly. She’s the kind of girl we’re looking for. Now you’re catching on. Nice job, Sam.”
    After that, it became easier. There were several legacies, most of them really nice. We finished their applications first, and all of them got a bid. Then it was just a matter of figuring out which girls definitely showed Theta potential. We filled our quota for early bids in only a few hours. 
    “I’ll hand these off to Candace tomorrow, and she’ll notify the girls right away,” said Mary Grace. Candace was our secretary, and very on the ball. 
    I stood up and stretched. “Thanks, Mary Grace. That proved to be a lot less painful than anticipated.”
    She laughed, and then her face grew serious. “I’m going to have to give Gabriela demerits for this.”
    “I know.”
    She stood and put the applications into separate folders, one for the girls who would get bids tomorrow and respond with