Bedfellows

 

I stood mouth open, speechless for a beat too long. I had made this awkward. I finally caught myself, but it was still too late. “Leslie, yes! It’s so great to finally meet you. Aunt Mary and Mark both have told me such wonderful things.” I looked from side to side nervously. “I am so happy to be in the Beta house. It’s really an honor.”

Leslie grinned. She escorted me to the chapter room where we sat and talked. Luckily we had a lot of things in common, so the conversation wasn’t forced at all. I almost forgot for a minute who I was talking to. However, I was quickly reminded anytime she’d mention her brother, family, or growing up. I was a nervous wreck.

As Leslie showed me around she introduced me to the Vice President, the social chair and the ritual chair. I was floored by how they didn’t even try to hide that they knew a lot about me. I am fully aware that they’d been scanning my resume all summer, but it was weird seeing how they didn’t try to act like they didn’t know. I’m assuming I’m a special case since Leslie already knows my aunt and I’m kind of dating her brother.

As we were leaving, she leaned in and got really close to my ear. “I am so excited you’re here, and I cannot wait for you to come home to Beta on bid day!” She smiled so politely, and nodded. I know she was trying to act like she hadn’t just given me a verbal bid, but she and I both knew that was what just happened.

I opened my mouth excitedly. She patted my back and leaned in once more. “We’ve got to make this look like it isn’t planned, so please don’t tell your friends. Mary and I have it figured out. Just trust us.” She smiled again, and then before I knew it, we had made it to the door and we were hugging goodbye.

I couldn’t believe that just happened. I had seriously just had the best time at the tea at the Beta house. I never understood what Mary and Mom were talking about when they said it was home. But I get it now. It is home. It’s our home. It’s where I belong. I will not stop until I am initiated Beta. I made my mind up.

Next, all the girls went to a computer lab on campus and ranked the houses in order of favorite to least favorite. Some girls were crying. Some were sullen. Some wanted to drop out. I was just taking it all in. I felt like I was on cloud nine. I left relatively quickly as I didn’t have a hard time ranking the sororities.

As I walked home from ranking the houses (Beta was first, naturally), I got nervous thinking about how I would tell Mark I’d met his sister. When I got back to my room Candace was already back from ranking and ferociously typing away on her laptop at her desk.

“Hey!” I said cheerfully. “Did you enjoy tea?”

She gave me a short hmmph noise. I realized then to give up. I didn’t understand why she didn’t like me, really. But I also didn’t have time to delve into the situation. I’m going to toss it up to whoever this Jarrett character was. She’s definitely been more moody since he stepped on the scene, but I am not even going to bother asking.

I looked over at my phone and say five texts. One from Mary and one from Mom each were wishing me luck and telling me to stay calm. Two were from Ree saying she’d just gotten back to her room and was ready to never hear another chant or song again. And lastly one from Sweet Mark.

Hey Kathleen, good luck. Also, if you want to come over tonight I wouldn’t hate it. Let me know. ;)

I melted. I had blown him off the night before. It seemed fair to go see him. I text him back.

Sure thing. Let me change out of this tea dress and I’ll come see you.

Almost instantly he responded. I was thinking you could just sleep over if you wanted. So you could just wear pajamas. If that’s okay.

I grinned. He had this terrible ability to make me blush or smile in an instant.

In no time, I found myself knocking on Mark’s door. He opened the door and let me in, but before he even shut the door completely, he had his arms around me in a kiss.

He pushed my back against the door, and stared at my eyes intensely. “Hey you.” He sang sheepishly.

I looked up and pecked him on the cheek. “Well, hello yourself.” I paused for a beat. “Thanks for asking me over. It’s nice to not sleep next to Candace.”

He looked at me, “Well,” he joked, “you can just sleep here every night. I have no complaints with that.” He winked.

I scoffed playfully and walked towards his impeccably made bed. I don’t know if this was for show or if he was really one of those people who made his bed. I sat down cautiously, and he sat next to me with our back against his head board and feet stretched out along the bed. He picked up my hand gently and started fumbling with it and stroking my palm. He then reached his other hand over my face and started kissing me. I quickly stripped him off his shirt. He looked at me cautiously, asking with his eyes if I was really sure I wanted to do this.

I smiled. He was so thoughtful and careful. It was nice to know that he wasn’t just in this for one thing. Or, if he was he hid it well. He brought his hands to the bottom of my shirt. He tugged at the top painstakingly slowly. I thought I might combust right then. When he finally got my shirt off, he whispered softly, “You are gorgeous.” I blushed as I ran my fingers through his hair. He kissed me up and down my body. We were a jumbled mess of limbs and discarded clothes as we continued. No one was in a hurry, but neither of us wanted to wait any longer.

As we finished he collapsed on me with calculated poise. “I am so glad I asked you over, Kathleen. This has been wonderful.” He pecked my cheek and rolled off me. I was worried he was going to put on his clothes or leave me for a moment. I hated when guys did that. You just slept them with, the least they could do is act like they enjoy your company. I had this surge of anger and distress in the one second he was moving. However, I was entirely wrong. He just scooped me into him. He held me close, not wanting to be apart. It was so sincere and intimate. Just like that, and we fell asleep listening to each other’s breath.