Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,46
stony-faced silence as I waxed on about changing the Sallys suddenly made sense. She was thinking up the ways she’d cut me off at the gate.
Why? Why is it so important that we exercise this way and only this way? Is she really that determined for the Sallys to remain the same?
“Fine,” I said. “This list still gives us more choices than last year’s backyard drills and two-mile runs. I’ll let the sisters decide what they want to do.”
“The reason your predecessors chose runs and drills is that all the girls did it together,” Ortega replied. “Limiting it to those and making them pick designated group times ensures the sisters actually complete the weekly requirement.”
I smiled. “Smart thinking on their part, but we’re all grown women and we don’t need babysitters. If a sister says she did her exercises, I’ll believe her.”
“Oh no,” Ortega cried, clapping a hand over her chest. “Please, don’t think of it as babysitting. Certainly I can appreciate the thought of observing morning and nightly runs, gym trips, and afternoon drills is daunting when you have a lot on your plate, Valentina. It would be easier to operate on an honor system, but I can assure you the girls will let things slip.
“It’s only natural when you’ve got a big test to study for, your homework is piling up, and your friends want to go out that night, that the trip to the gym gets canceled. Signing up for mandatory sessions is the only way we can be sure the girls remain in good standing.” Ortega matched me smile for smile. “If you’d like, I can set up and maintain the sessions. I’m here to make everything easier.”
I studied her, eyes narrowing slightly. Jade emailed us all a bio detailing her work, travels, and fondness for everything dipped in caramel. One thing was left out.
“Miss Ortega, were you in a sorority in college?”
“Of course.” She laughed. “This one right here. Zeta Rho Sigma.”
Just like that, it all clicked into place.
“Cool,” I said simply. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t want to put more on your plate either. It’ll be too much coordinating mandatory runs, jogs, hikes, and basketball games. Since it’s important to me that the sisters have a choice, what I’ll do is put it up for a vote each week. The sisters will decide if they want to hit the court or swing by the gym.”
“Love that,” said Blair. “I’ll handle collecting the votes and choosing times that work with everyone’s schedule.”
“That’s why you’re the number one VP.”
“Excellent compromise,” Ortega said.
I couldn’t tell if she truly meant it. Her face read nothing but polite support.
“Next on the list: social calendar.”
Our treasurer, London Morgan, broke in. “We’ll have more money this semester since we’re not hosting pledges. We can have more parties. Get creative with our bonding activities. Also, we don’t have to do the obstacle course this semester. We can go somewhere fun on our end-of-year trip.”
Blair and I gushed over her idea.
“Can’t,” Aiden said. “You won’t have pledges but Nu Alpha Theta will. You’re supposed to help me evaluate them on the course.”
“They won’t have anyone to compete against,” I said.
“They’ll compete against each other.”
“You seriously need me there?”
He shrugged. “This is how it’s done.”
I blew out a breath. “Fine. But the other sisters don’t have to go. They can have their trip.”
“That’s not fair,” London cried. “Why should you be stuck at the camp?”
Lowering my head, I said, “A good president sacrifices for her subjects.”
“I’m pretty sure they say that about queens,” Blair said.
“I’m that too.”
We laughed, breaking the tension. Aiden didn’t join us.
“Back to the social calendar,” he said. “Let’s do a joint party in two weeks and a party on Halloween. Forget the ‘close enough’ thing. That was Leighton’s idea and the other houses ripped us off quick.”
“Fine. I’m not bothered either way.”
“Oh, and that fun trip everyone is taking at the end of the year, the Sams want in.” Aiden spread out his hands, leaning back in his chair. “We’ve got extra money in the budget too.”
“Didn’t we just talk about the boot camp trip?”
“Move yours to a different weekend and we’ll all go.”
I opened my mouth to shove his suggestion down his throat.
“A lot of the Sallys are dating the Sams,” he continued. “When you put it to a vote, I bet they’ll be on board.”
“We don’t need to vote,” said Blair. “I hear them cheering about it now.”