Page 2 of Freshmeet
“I know, I know, but I ran out of gummies.”
Rae tapped her empty water bottle against the window frame and looked out on the alley as if it would save her from what I had planned. Ever since I’d mentioned our little bonding activity, she’d been treating me differently and asking if “everything’s okay.” The sister of professional athletes, she had no idea what it was like to be rejected and ignored.
Must be nice.
I placed a silver bowl in the middle of the pentagram and counted the number of pink candles. Despite all the bitching and moaning, the girls had pulled it off, and everything was perfect.
Thank God for small miracles.
I checked my phone and smiled. “It’s time.” Gathering the pre-cut pieces of paper and pens from the tote, I handed one toeach of my sorority sisters. I leaned into the window and passed Rae the last. “Are you coming out or . . .”
Rae groaned but swung her long legs out of the window. “So, what are we doing?”
I checked the book for the millionth time and nodded. “Write down your deepest heart’s desire. Really think about it.”
Kat huffed, but Mona elbowed her in the side. “Just do it,” she said, then gave me a small smile, like she was doing me a favor.
Which she was, but goddamn, why was Mona so smug? She was the only other girl in the running for president of Beta Alpha Epsilon, and boy, did she make sure I didn’t forget it.
While they quietly wrote, I took the slip of paper out of my pocket and ran my thumb over the carefully written words.
I want my love to be obsessed with me.
Glancing at Sarah, there was that familiar pang of jealousy. It had hurt when she’d gone to formal with Carter, but it was even worse when I found out she didn’t even want him.
But did that stop him from chasing her?
No.
It didn’t matter that Carter and I had been shacking for months or that we were both next in line to be president of our respective organizations. It didn’t even matter that Sarah was a chubby, boring loser because she was a rich girl and he was a rich boy.
“Okay, now what?” Kat asked, waving her intention around.
“Set your papers in the bowl.”
They all shuffled into the circle of candles and dropped them in the bowl. Turning to me, they waited for further instructions.
Time for the real razzle-dazzle.
“Now, a couple of drops of your blood.”
“Wait a minute,” Rae said, nearly stepping out of the ring of candles.
“Stop! You have to stay in the circle.” When I was sure she‘d stay put, I took a needle and lighter out of my BAE hoodie pocket. Heating the end, I waited until it cooled and then pricked the tip of my pointer finger. “See, no big deal,” I said as I squeezed my finger, forcing a few drops of blood into the bowl.
“Hell no,” Kat snapped, crossing her arms.
Mona looked at her roommates and rolled her eyes. “I’ll go first.”
“Mona!” Rae shouted, reaching for her with her freakish arm span.
Mona shook her off and took the needle and lighter from me. “Relax,” she sighed. Without any fuss, she pricked her finger and added her blood. She held the needle and lighter out to Kat and said, “Come on, Ms. Tattoos.”
Kat’s eyes narrowed, but she would never back down from Mona’s goading. “Whatever,” she mumbled, violently stabbing her finger—a move that was both aggressive and unnecessary.
“I know we’re in a sorority, but this is so dramatic,” Britta said, taking her turn. Her delicate features pinched when she poked herself, but she didn’t make a sound.
Olivia, Morgan, and Sarah followed suit without a word, which was so unlike them. They always had something to bitch about.
