Megan Rochester felt ready. These last few weeks had been a chaotic swirl of social events and endless meetings, pulling the young college freshman away from her studies, but Megan didn't care. This was more important. This was everything.
She had come all the way from upstate New York to attend Tennyson College, a small private, liberal arts school stuck out in the middle of nowhere, just south of Indianapolis. Both Megan's mom and dad had attended Tennyson, so there was never a question of what Megan would do. But more importantly, Megan's mother had been a member of the Kappa Gamma sorority. Megan had been feeling the pressure for months, well before leaving for college. She would have to pledge Kappa Gamma, as well. And be accepted.
The Greek system dominated the tiny Tennyson campus and upwards of eighty percent of the students belonged to either a fraternity or sorority. You were either Greek, or a geek. And Kappa Gamma, the oldest sorority on campus was number one in the pecking order. Only the best young women became KG sisters. The best looking. The most successful. Every woman at Tennyson wanted to be in KG. Every guy at Tennyson wanted to be in a KG.
Megan had played the game all semester and played it well. After all, why shouldn't she be a KG? Yes, her mother had been a member and that certainly carried weight, but Megan knew she was good enough on her own. She had been a straight "A" student in high school, spoke three languages, had traveled extensively throughout Europe, was well-mannered and socially comfortable from all her time at the country club back home.
And as Megan stood in her dorm room that afternoon, staring at herself in the mirror, she was reminded of something elseβshe was beautiful. Absolutely drop-dead desirable, blessed with champagne glass-sized 34-B breasts, long chestnut brown hair and, thankfully, one of the smallest butts ever to grace an 18-year-old. At 5' 7" Megan looked like a young Emma Stone and she cultivated that comparison at every opportunity.
Yes, standing there in her purple bra and matching thong, applying her make-up, Megan felt ready. She had breezed through Rush and been invited to join the Kappa Gamma pledge class, along with seven other women.
Only one last item remained on Megan's pledge list. Kappa Gamma was the official "Lil Sisters" to the most powerful fraternity on campus, the Delta Tau Sigma house. Half the rugby team belonged to infamous "Delt house" β most of them heading to Wall Street or Harvard Law after graduation. Delta Tau Sigma and Kappa Gamma co-sponsored social events together throughout the year.
Megan's final instructions had been clear. She was to present herself to a committee of Delta Tau members at four o'clock at the fraternity house. They would ask her a few questions, have some friendly chit-chat and give their blessings to her initiation. All pro forma. Back at the dorm in plenty of time for dinner.
She debated what to wear. Nothing too formal, but certainly no jeans. That might be considered disrespectful. And she was a lady. Reaching into her closet, Megan pulled out her nice brown pleated skirt, her favorite white cotton blouse, a tan sleeveless sweater and brown tweed jacket to help keep her warm in the crisp November air. Some simple jewelry completed the outfit. She glanced at her watch. 3:37. Time to move.
At precisely 3:58, Megan Rochester stood in the entry foyer at Delta Tau Sigma, taking everything in. Loud music - Three Doors Down - drifted down from upstairs. The dark wood-paneled walls added a warm feeling. Large, overstuffed chairs filled the living area to her left and the trophy case near the fireplace dominated the room. Towards the back, Megan could see in to the dining room. Photographs hung everywhere. If only these walls could talk, thought Megan. What a history this place must have. She waited anxiously.
She didn't have to wait long. A young black man, smartly dressed in gray dockers and a ski sweater came bounding down the steps, humming to himself. Not a hair out of place. One look at Megan and he broke into a huge smile.
"Bonjour, mademoiselle,"
Megan returned the smile, suddenly feeling comfortable. "Bonjour."
"Welcome to Delta Tau Sigma, Pledge Megan. I'm Colin."
Megan extended her hand to shake.
"Yes, I know. Colin Fey. Chapter president. Captain of the rugby -"
Colin brushed aside her hand and instead wrapped his arms around her in a warm hug.
"Stop. Stop. Today isn't about me. It's about you."
Megan did not resist and returned the hug. Colin didn't seem in a hurry to release her. "You look beautiful, Pledge Megan. Kappa Gamma is lucky to have you."
Megan felt embarrassed by the comment. "Thank you."
Colin took her by the hand. "C'mon, let me see if we can find those other jokers and get this over with."
They walked down the main hallway and turned to the right just before the dining room. Colin opened the door and ushered Megan inside. "This is the library. We'll meet in here," Colin explained.
Megan was impressed. Shelves brimming with books lined the room and the plush beige carpeting added a nice touch. A small oak conference table filled the front of the room, but there was certainly space for a long leather couch and two matching love seats. A chandelier dangled from the ceiling and the long, dark drapes were mostly closed.
"Ah, here's Pete," said Colin, referring to the only other person in the library. "Pledge Megan. This is Pete Steele. He's also one of the Inquisitors."
Instinctively, Megan made a beeline for him on the leather couch, her face already beaming. She didn't get far. Unlike the dapper Colin, Pete wore only a T-shirt and shorts. No shoes. He looked over towards Megan and waved half-heartedly, but the stoic look on his face threw Megan for a curve, but she got his message instantly: Back off. Megan knew Pete was a senior and an Econ major.
"Um, Pledge Megan, take a seat. Let me see if I can go locate Seth and we'll get started."
Colin disappeared and the room took on an uneasy silence, broken only by the loud ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner and the music muffled by the closed door.
Megan sat down on the love seat opposite from Pete, crossing her legs. She smiled over at Pete, trying her best to be friendly. He, in return, locked on her like a laser beam, staring right at her. He's staring at my breasts. Oh my god, he's undressing me mentally. I can tell.
Staying calm, Megan tried to strike up a conversation. "You must be looking forward to graduation?"
No response. Pete just kept staring at her breasts.
Megan decided not to press the point. She could not afford to have any votes against her. Colin seemed to like her. Colin would take care of things.
The door opened again and in walked Colin, a third male student in tow. "Found him. Pledge Megan, say hi to Seth Twisselman."
The cavalry had arrived. Megan sprang to her feet and walked to greet Seth as Colin closed the library door and locked it.
"So wonderful to meet you, Seth."
They shook hands. Seth, dressed in jeans and a Delta sweatshirt, seemed taken aback by Megan's beauty.
"Um, hi. Jesus. You're hot," he gushed.
"Down boy," said Colin, with a laugh. "OK, let's get started. Pledge Megan, please take a seat opposite of us."
Megan walked back to the love seat, not seeing Seth turn to Colin and mouth, "She's fucking hot!" Colin put a finger to his lips and motioned for Seth to sit next to Pete on the leather couch. He sat between them. Megan sat comfortably less than five feet away.
"Well, here we are with Pledge Megan," Colin began, still smiling. "No need to be formal with us. And anything said today stays in the room, OK?"