The Alpha Bet Page 14

  “Can I come home this weekend?” I beg. As bad as I want to see my family, I also want to avoid Charlie at the Monster Mash.

  “You are most definitely not coming home this weekend,” Mom says harshly.

  “You’re actually telling me that I can’t come home?” I ask amazed.

  “Not after I slaved all week at my sewing machine to make a costume for you.” She laughs.

  “What kind of costume?” I ask, afraid to know.

  “You’ll see. Just make sure that you send me a picture. I’m getting pretty good at opening email attachments since Jentry explained it to me. By the way, tell her that I deleted those pictures she sent to Sean. Your brother is in a heap of trouble. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what he was blackmailing you about? I couldn’t get it out of Jentry.”

  “Gosh, Mom. I can’t even remember,” I lie, smiling.

  “I hope that you know that you can tell me anything,” she says, getting serious.

  “I do, Mom,” I answer, tempted to spill everything about the Alpha Bet and the lie I told about being Edwina Fay’s niece to get into the sorority in the first place. But I don’t. I think baby steps to the whole truth are better for now.

  Chapter Eleven

  The day of the Monster Mash is finally here. I wish I could be as excited as Jentry and the other sisters but my stomach is in knots. I just know that Sloane will try to humiliate me by making out with Charlie right in front of me.

  Jentry and I spent the morning trying to hunt down red tights to wear with her ketchup costume. Now we are back in our dorm room getting ready for the party. I’m about to slice open a package from Mom with the infamous cheerleader panty box cutter.

  “Don’t you dare,” Jentry warns, stealing the weapon from my hand.

  She slides the blade back in then tosses it on her bed. Delicately she peels the tape off the box and pries it open.

  When Mom said she made me a costume I was expecting a blue and white gingham Dorothy costume complete with braids, not a floor-length satin ivory gown with matching elbow gloves, a candy cane striped sash, and fake diamond costume jewelry like Jentry just extracted out of the box. Mom also packed the satin pumps my grandma got married in that I have coveted for years but was too afraid I would end up in the ER if I wore. How in the world did she know that I wanted to dress up just like my favorite picture of Princess Grace of Monaco? I love that picture so much that I printed it off and taped it to my desk.

  “Wait…you told her?” I ask Jentry. She is holding the dress against me, shaking her head in amazement. And to think I used to be embarrassed to wear the clothes my mom handmade for me.

  “I might have mentioned it. You know, in between when I was giving her the 411 on you giving Charlie your panties, and making out with that girl,” she says teasingly.

  “Wow!” I gasp, spying the dress against me in the mirror.

  “Your mom rocks. If you ever talk shit about her again, it’s on,” she jokes.

  “I know.” I say, actually meaning it. As much as I love the dress, it makes me even more homesick but the fuzzy feeling knowing that Mom made this especially for me to attend a fraternity party overpowers the homesickness. I can’t believe how long it has taken me to realize how much my family, especially Mom, just want me to be happy. My family isn’t perfect, but they’re mine, and I’m lucky to have them.

  Jentry lays the dress gently across my bed and moves to her desk. I can tell by the way she is moving across the room that something is wrong. Jentry is pretty good about blowing off her true feelings but I know her change in mood has something to do with her family.

  “Why don’t you ever talk about your family?” I ask her nervously.

  “What’s to talk about? My mom and dad are both workaholics who don’t even care that they have a kid. The best day of their lives was the day I left for college,” she says, slumping down in her desk chair.

  “That can’t be true. I’m sure they are just keeping themselves busy so they don’t miss you so much,” I say, trying to reassure her. I glance at the photograph Jentry took of her mother swinging and wonder how that woman could possibly neglect her daughter. Jentry catches me gazing at the photo.

  “That’s my aunt. She’s the only one who has ever spent any time with me,” Jentry admits.

  “I’m really sorry, Jentry. I didn’t know. If it’s any consolation, I think they are crazy. There is nobody I’d rather spend time with than you.”

  “Thanks, GK. I’m sorry I dumped on you. It’s just that I’d give anything to have a mom like yours,” she says, working her red tights on one leg at a time.

  “I’m pretty sure she’d swap you for Sean,” I tease.

  “I’ve always been afraid to trust people because of my parents,” Jentry admits. “You’re the first really close friend I’ve ever had. I knew you were different the first time I saw you.”

  My cheeks flame up remembering how I accidentally busted in on Jentry and Aaron. It seems like that all happened a million years ago. A lot has changed in ten weeks.

  “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.” I tell her, knowing that I’ll never be able to repay her.

  “I don’t believe that for a second, but you’re welcome,” she says smiling again. “We better quit screwing around and get ready for this big party.”

  “Tonight is going to be hard,” I admit, referring to seeing Sloane and Charlie together as a couple for the first time.

  “Charlie is going to be panting when he sees you in that,” Jentry laughs. I can’t help but hope she is right even though I know we can’t date.

  “I’m sure he’ll be too busy making out with Sloane,” I smart off, slipping out of my jeans. I unbutton my oxford and slip into the dress. Jentry zips it up for me and it fits like a glove. I step into my grandma’s heels and arrange the sash over my dress.

  “Will you quit? You don’t even know for sure that they are dating. Ron said that Charlie doesn’t like her,” Jentry says, piling my hair in an up-do. She grabs the tiara my mom put in the box and carefully slides it on my head. I sit patiently as she applies my makeup. I don’t really need her to anymore but it is kind of fun being pampered.

  “Is that why they left together the other night?” I ask, unconvinced.

  “I guess she told him that some guy had been following her around all night and she was scared to walk home alone. Sounds like our girl, huh?”

  I can’t believe I was naïve enough to fall for one of Sloane’s tricks. Why doesn’t she just move on and quit trying to torture me?

  “You know what sucks?” Jentry asks, stopping her eyeliner in mid-air. “She’s almost done with her tasks already. God, I hate overachievers. Present company excluded, of course. She’s being such a kiss up to Lindsay because she wants to be initiated before we are.”

  “That’s pretty funny because Lindsay told me that there would only be one ceremony for all three of us.”

  “We should have wrecked her car,” Jentry laughs.

  “Let’s not even worry about Sloane tonight,” I say even though I know that I’ll be thinking of nothing else, besides Charlie, all night.

  “Smile,” she says, pointing her Blackberry at me. In seconds it is on it’s way to my mother’s email account.

  “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I say, pushing her cushiony condiment body through our doorway. We start giggling as we move through the hallway. To my surprise, I’m actually starting to get excited about the party. I decide to start the evening off right before we even get to the Omega house. As we pass Sloane’s door I grab the marker off her wipe board and cross out her self-professed love for Charlie. I recap her marker and throw it against her door. Then I prance out of the dorm like a true princess.

  The Omega house is decked out in fake cobwebs, giant spiders, skeletons arranged in obscene positions, and mangled jack o’lanterns. Jentry and I step very carefully over pumpkin guts strung on the front step and let ourselves in the front door. We are g
reeted by vampires, witches, fairies, guys wearing regular clothes and terrifying masks, black cats, and one guy who is completely naked except for a tube sock over his thing.

  “That is so wrong.” Jentry laughs, nearly toppling over pointing at the guy. I will be really happy to meet up with Ron so that he can take responsibility for keeping Jentry upright all night.

  As if on queue, Ron waddles up looking jaundice in his mustard costume. They attempt to kiss each other and nearly plow each other over.

  “You two have fun now,” I laugh, heading off to find the sisters and to try to spot Charlie. I can’t wait to show off my costume.

  Everyone’s costumes are so elaborate that I can barely recognize anyone. It makes me really nervous to think that Charlie could have already seen me without me realizing it. I’m just about to push open the door to the kitchen when an arm draped in black pulls me into a side hallway. I spin around to a face full of fur.

  “Jeez, April, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” I say, taking in her terrifying werewolf/vampire hybrid costume.

  “Oops, sorry, Grace Kelly,” she says, removing her fake fangs. “I know this is a party and all but I was wondering if you would consider doing my task now?”

  I suppose doing a task is one way to avoid running into Charlie and Sloane, although I’m hardly dressed for it. The thought of annoying Sloane by completing another task perks me up though.

  “Sure, April. What do you need?”

  “Every time the Omegas have a party my boyfriend disappears. I pretty sure he’s cheating on me, but I need you to get proof.”

  “How am I going to do that?” I ask, praying she isn’t asking me to use myself as bait.

  “I’m pretty sure he’ll lure somebody back to his room. I was thinking you could just sit in his closet and watch. W for watch,” she says, weirdly unaffected by the fact that we are discussing a plan for me to spy on her boyfriend having sex with another girl.

  “I have to actually watch them,” I ask, disgusted. This is really going above and beyond.

  “I don’t want a play by play. I just want to know who he’s with,” she clarifies. Like that is so much better.

  “So I have to hide in his closet all night just hoping he’ll bring a girl back?” I ask, not exactly thrilled about missing out on the entire party.

  “You’re right. That is pretty lame. Never mind,” April says, defeated. She pops her fangs back in and starts to walk away. I grab her by the scruff of her werewolf neck.

  “Hold on, I’ll do it.”

  “Yay!” She squeals through her fangs sending a spray of spit toward me. “Oops, sorry.”

  April explains to that the Omega house is set up just like the Alpha house with a hidden staircase off the kitchen. At least I don’t have to worry about anyone seeing me, even though I actually wanted to be seen for once. She agrees to give me ten minutes by keeping him distracted. I continue toward the kitchen area scanning for Charlie. As bad as I don’t want the awkwardness of seeing him with Sloane, I wouldn’t hate it if he caught a glimpse of me in this amazing dress. I have no idea what I will even say if I find him but I’ve got to at least try.

  “Dang, Princess Di. You’re smoking,” An Omega dressed up as the Incredible Hulk says as he passes me. I smile and don’t even bother to correct him.

  I swing the kitchen door open to find Charlie, dressed as Fred Flintstone, manning the keg. He is staring off into space and doesn’t even look up when I come into the kitchen. Two of his friends standing near him exchange looks when they see me. I smile at them as they leave the kitchen to give us some privacy. Charlie finally looks up at me. His face stays blank.

  “Yabba Dabba Do,” I say sweetly.

  “Hi,” he says flatly.

  “Are you mad at me?” I ask, knowing this is about way more than blowing him off to answer a trivia question. God only knows what lies Sloane has filled his gorgeous head with.

  “I just don’t understand why you lied.” He takes a giant swig of his beer and seems to sway a bit.

  “Lied about what?” I ask, my palms sweating. I’ve told so many lies since I got to college I can’t imagine which one Charlie found out about.

  “You’re amazing,” he yells. “You put on this whole klutzy naïve girl act. Meanwhile you’ve got everybody on campus eating out of your hand.” He slams his cup of beer onto the counter and foam sloshes over the edge. He is a blur of orange and black as he storms past me out of the kitchen.

  That went well. I don’t have time to figure it out right now though because I have to get upstairs to spy on April’s boyfriend.

  I make my way to the back of the kitchen to find the staircase. I quietly climb the stairs and begin looking for the door that April described. It isn’t hard to spot with its door-length poster of Megan Fox. I knock lightly, just in case. When no one answers I slip inside and close the door behind me.

  It is pitch black with the exception of a small nightlight. I scan the room for the closet, finding it on the other side of the room. I start walking that direction when my heel gets caught in some clothes piled on the floor. I try to shake it loose, lose my balance and fall right on my face in a pile of dirty clothes. And by dirty, I mean if I looked at them under a microscope I’m sure they would have an entire germ subdivision living on them. At least they broke my fall.

  I’m trying to untangle myself when I hear someone whistling out in the hallway. I scramble to my feet and make my way to the closet. I’m pulling the rickety door open when I hear the doorknob turn. I crouch down in the bottom of the closet and pull the door closed behind me.

  “Home sweet home,” I hear a male voice say. I can barely hear anything over the roar of my own heart beating in my ears. If this guy doesn’t bust me in his closet it will be a miracle. Charlie would really think I’m a freak if one of his frat brothers found me hiding in his closet. I close my eyes and hope that I can pull this off.

  I hear April’s boyfriend rattling around in his room whispering things every now and then but I can’t quite catch what he is saying. Not that I probably really want to. I sit very still and try hard not to peek out of the slats in the closet doors.

  “Finally,” he says, sighing deeply. I hear what sounds like clothing dropping to the floor. I try to block out the image of a half-naked girl standing in the middle of his bedroom. I hear him plop down on the bed, messing around with something.

  It is quiet for a few minutes and I’m thinking I lucked out and they are just going to take a nap or something.

  “Sweet! Score!” He yells, making me bang my head against the back of the closet. Luckily it only makes a loud noise inside my head. I’m tempted to peek because I haven’t heard another person yet, but on second thought, I don’t really want to see him going at it solo either.

  Maybe I’ll just tell April I looked. But she did say that she wanted to know who he was with. I guess I could lie and say they still had on their costumes. That wouldn’t be very sisterly though. I think I hear some grunting and I immediately have the urge to throw up in one of April’s boyfriend’s shoes. I just have to look really quick then squeeze my eyes closed again. I push myself up to one of the slats in the door and peer out.

  I almost fall through the closet door laughing at what I see. April’s boyfriend is sitting alone on his bed in his underwear, his Superman costume pooled at his ankles, playing some kind of boxing video game. He has a controller in one hand and a punching glove on the other and he is egging on the opponent like he is standing right in front of him. So this is who he is cheating on April with. She’s going to get a kick out of this.

  “David, are you in there?” April’s voice says from in the hall. She bangs on the door causing David to jump off the bed, turn off the video game, and slip back into his Superman costume. He waits for her to go back downstairs before sneaking out.

  I pull myself out of the closet and head downstairs to give April the good news. I slip past a vampire couple making out in a corner of the kitchen. A
costume contest is starting and people are arranged in groups according to gender and year of college. Cheers erupt as the winners are announced. I cheer the loudest when Ron and Jentry win best couple. They look adorable trying to hug each other while jointly holding their trophy.

  “Who is she?” April storms up, definitely not as laid back about the possibility of her boyfriend cheating as she was earlier.

  “You are not going to believe this,” I say. “I was really afraid to look out…”

  “Just tell me who the bitch is,” April says viciously. I take a step back.

  “He isn’t cheating on you, April. He was playing video games the whole time.”

  Her face is contorted with anger and slowly begins to return to normal.

  “He didn’t have a girl with him?” She asks amazed.

  “Nope. Maybe he just doesn’t like the party scene.” I suggest.

  “Yeah, he’s always saying he would rather it just be the two of us.”

  “He seems like a good guy. You just might want to mention that he should keep up a little better on his laundry.” I laugh.

  “Thanks, Grace Kelly. You’re the best,” she says, hugging me then tearing through the crowd to find her Clark Kent.

  I make my way over to where some of the sisters are listening to the winners of the costume contest. They are both dressed like Lady Gaga, one in a meat dress and the other in a seashell bikini, and I can almost hear their brains whirring trying to figure out who I am dressed like.

  “Princess Di,” I respond, saving myself the trouble of explaining who Princess Grace is. They ooh and ahh at my tiara before turning their attention back to the winners.

  The sisters and I are still laughing about the sock costume guy who just walked by when I notice people start to stare at me. I get the feeling it has nothing to do with me not winning the costume contest.

  The weight of their stares bear down on me. I notice that several of them are holding white pieces of paper. I watch their eyes glance down at the paper then back at me. Within seconds the scrutiny is over as most of them ball up the papers and toss them around the room. They go right back to dancing and talking and I almost wonder if I imagined the whole thing. Just as I am about to reach down and get a balled-up paper, I lock eyes with Sloane. She is standing alone in a corner of the room dressed in a skintight red bodysuit, red stilettos, and red horns protruding from her perfect blonde locks. I drop my eyes immediately, fearful that her eyes might singe my soul. I squat down and grab a wadded ball of paper. I straighten up and smooth it out. A blown-up picture of my state identification card with the words, ‘Not Legal to Drive’ blare up at me. My birthdate is circled in black marker just in case someone would dare miss it. This cannot be happening.