Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,27
Sofia. “The last one I don’t have to translate.”
The girls glanced away.
“I’d vote for that,” whispered Palmer. “I wish I knew how Leighton found out those things. She said she got it from me but that’s bullshit. Unless she tapped my phone or something.”
Sofia and I shared a look.
“We have no idea how she dug up that information,” I said. “Private family stuff to corporate secrets. It shouldn’t be possible which makes me think less than legal methods were used. One thing I can promise is I’ll never put the pledges or anyone else through it. They called it a test of loyalty but it was cruel plain and simple.
“Sororities are supposed to be fun. A group of women sharing memories, building friendships, being there for each other, and carving out a community on this big campus. If I become president, that’s what the Sallys will be about again.”
Palmer grinned. “Now that’s wow.”
“You’ll win over a lot of sisters,” agreed Mai. “But what if you run into a few who want to stick with tradition? They all had to go through the initiation. They might be happy to let it keep going in the name of proving trust and loyalty.”
I shrugged. “Then they’ll have to vote for someone else. I won’t do it.”
“Knock, knock,” a voice rang out. We looked toward the door as Blair walked in. “What’s going on in here?”
“Val’s telling us why she wants to be president,” said Mai.
“Then I should be here too.” Blair hopped on Mai’s and Keily’s backs, making them laugh. She could be fun when she was ready. “What do you got, Val?”
“My platform is fun, light sisterhood bonding,” I teased. “The sisters in this sorority work hard and play hard—which is great. But it’s possible to take it too far. If I become president, I’ll turn it down a few notches.”
“Meaning what?” she asked. “Leighton didn’t just go around making things up to suit her. She followed the charter like she was supposed to.”
“Bonding activities, maintaining our grades, and putting up with the Nu Alpha Thetas is in our charter,” I replied. “Our little initiation ceremony isn’t.”
Blair pressed her lips together. None of us had spoken to her about that night and what was revealed. Blair didn’t even speak up to deny it. Discovering she’d been carrying on an affair with her friend’s father as far back to it being illegal wasn’t something you brought up at the Sally movie night. We may have liked each other better now, but Blair and I weren’t close.
“Certainly a surprise,” she said tightly. “My mother could have warned me, but didn’t. She said it’s a test of a sister’s mettle and one we must face unprepared. It’s awful, but everyone goes through it. The older sisters might not go for someone coming in and changing everything the Sallys are built on.”
“The sisters will vote for whoever they’re going to vote for,” I said. “If they don’t want me or my changes, it’s their choice.” I put up my hands and Sofia tossed me a blanket. I snuggled in, getting comfortable. “What about you, Blair? Why do you want to be president?”
“My mother was president of the Sallys.”
“No kidding?” asked Palmer. “I didn’t know that.”
“She was.” Blair bunched up between Mai and Keily, facing me like the other girls. “Mom told me they were the best years of her life. She made a difference in her sisters’ lives and they made one in hers. I believe I can do good for the Sallys. Get us back to where we were.”
“Would you put the pledges through the test of loyalty if you were president?” Sofia asked bluntly.
Blair’s expression remained neutral. “I don’t think it’s up to us, to be honest.”
Keily spoke up. “What does that mean?”
“You guys were there the other day with Mrs. Kessler. We answer to people above us.”
I nodded. She might be right about that.
“The initiation aside,” said Sofia. “What else would you do?”
“Exercising and promoting healthy living is in the charter, but I wouldn’t confine it to running and jumping jacks,” replied Blair. “We could do yoga or Pilates. We could host cooking nights where we pick a healthy recipe and learn to make it together. Zeta Rho Sigma is about us growing together. That’s how my mom described it. It’s how I want it to be again.”
“Sounds great, Blair,” I said. “Really. Seems like either one of us would make a great president.”