I arrived at the Chi Delta house a quarter after seven. I found a bunch of my sisters hanging out in the common room. They all called out a greeting as I came in. I couldn't help but feel warm at the recognition. It's not like the girls had ever been anything but nice to me. Otherwise I would never have pledged to begin with. But I had always felt a little outside of it all, despite my every effort to the contrary.

“Damn, Mays. You look hot!” Gracie called out, hopping up from the couch to give me a big hug. I did a little twirl and then a short little curtsy.

“You know it, babe,” I replied, grinning. Cira came up and put a cup in my hand. I took a tentative sniff. “What is this?” I asked cringing. Cira giggled.

“I think it's every liquor we had in the cabinet and a little bit of 7-Up. Drink!” I took a sip and coughed.

“Are you trying to give me instant alcohol poisoning? I think I'll just have a beer.” I handed the drink back to Cira who only laughed.

“Come on lets get you a beer then.” Gracie tugged on my hand and I followed her into the kitchen. We had about an hour before we were all heading over to the mixer. It was taking place at another off campus Pi Sig house. It was only a couple of blocks away, so we would be walking.

Olivia was in the kitchen embroiled in an intense looking conversation with Milla when we came in. “Hey Maysie,” she said, throwing me a distracted smile as she turned back to her discussion. I lifted my hand in a quick wave before grabbing my beverage. Olivia looked stunning, as always. She wore a purple halter dress so tight it looked as though it had been painted on her body. The bodice apparently had a push up bra built in because her boobs looked like they were about to spill out from the top. Her legs looked ridiculously long in her black hooker shoes.

She was beautiful and I felt anything but standing near her. Jordan's a lucky guy to have someone like her. I told myself harshly. Gracie was talking to me about some guy she planned to hook up with tonight, even though she was the date of Eric Lewis, a Pi Sig sophomore. I tried to listen but I was completely distracted by the conversation going on behind me.

It seemed that Milla was giving Olivia a pep talk. Olivia's voice sounded tight and when I took a peek at her, she looked as though she had been crying. “I just wish I knew what he was thinking. He's been so distant since I got back. I thought it was just me, that I was being paranoid. But it's not in my head. We haven't had sex since before I left for the summer.” I heard Milla gasp in surprise, though looking at the other girl's expression, she seemed pleased with the news. Who was that bitch kidding? She loved that Jordan and Olivia weren't doing it. For her it was the probably the best news of the night.

Olivia sniffed and rubbed her nose with her hand. “Last night, I went over to his house after he got off of work. I was wearing his favorite lingerie. You know the red one with the nipple tassels?” Milla nodded. Nipple tassles? Uh, gross.

“So, I'm all laid out on his bed when he gets out of the shower and he tells me to move over, that he needs to get some sleep. Can you believe that?” I felt bad for her as I could tell she had started to cry. Milla patted Olivia on the back.

“It's like he doesn't want me anymore. How could he not want me? He used to never be able to get enough! Don't you remember that time everyone walked in on us having sex on his pool table in the middle of the mixer?” Gag! I tried to control the upchuck reflex at her  p**n ographic reminiscing.

“That's how it used to be all the time. Now I can barely get him to kiss me. Do you think he's seeing someone else?” Olivia sounded terrified at the possibility.

“No way, Liv! How could ever look at anyone else when he has you? Put that thought out of your head.” Milla was saying exactly what a supportive friend should say. But I couldn't miss the fakeness of it. I knew with a certainty that had Milla been in my shoes with Jordan this summer, she would have been all over him like white on rice. Great friend there.

Gracie snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Maysie!” I blinked and stared back at her.

“What?” I asked, embarrassed at being caught snooping. Gracie sighed in exasperation.

“Never mind. Just drink up. You can't go to the mixer without a pre-buzz.” She put my bottle to my mouth. “Now drink.” Isn't this the very thing we were forced to watch videos about in high-school? It had been the subject a myriad of after school specials. But how many college aged student succumb to it each and every time? Gotta love peer pressure!

Olivia seemed to have gotten herself together and joined us in a round of Kings at the kitchen table. By the time we were ready to go, most of my sisters were well and truly lit. I hadn't ended up drinking that much, so I was still relatively sober. Gracie and Vivian held onto me as we made our way to the Pi Sig house off campus. They laughed a little too loudly and were told by some of our other sisters to shut up or we would all get busted for drinking.

“Shh,” Gracie whispered dramatically, putting her finger to her lips. Vivian and I laughed, earning us another glare from our less than tolerant sisters. The guys were waiting for us when we arrived. Jordan was at the door, holding it open for us. He looked ah-maz-ing. He wore a deep blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his toned arms. He wore a pair of dark jeans and had changed the barbell in his eyebrow for the hoop again. His hair had been freshly buzzed and the whole affect was heart stopping.

I gripped Gracie's hand tightly. Even though I was the one who was sober, I was I afraid I'd fall over.