Greek: Best Frenemies by Marsha Warner

nominated—though I have to admit, Ashleigh is great. So we’re stretching ourselves in these stupid Greek contests because we need blue-ribbon points to add up to some prize that means we’re the best house on the block again, even if it takes all our spare time and dignity. And speaking of dignity, if the Gamma Psis can walk out on our party and accuse us of bribing them to come, which may or may not be true but doesn’t make it any better to do it in public, we should have at least come up with some revenge. But now we can’t, becausethey’re in their own perpetual pity party over their house burning down. Thanks, ancient sprinkler systems. Isn’t the university supposed to mandate these things? Don’t they care at all about student safety?”
    â€œDid you—”
    â€œIf the university had any sense, they would step in. It’s a blatant misuse of their power to try to stop us from having parties but let students embarrass themselves with ridiculous rituals which have no meaning beyond to be demeaning to the popular. Or one person, in particular.”
    Evan waited for the pause, then said. “Do you want to be sweetheart?”
    â€œAw, that’s so sweet. You know why? Because you’re the first person to ask me! Except when you nominated me, but how could I say no in front of two houses? That’s like rejecting an offer of marriage while on the stadium JumboTron. You say yes because you have to, not because you’re making deep considerations. And since Monday, I’ve barely had two minutes to consider anything before being asked if I like the color of a gift-box wrapper or if I want to go hang out totally conspicuously in front of the hall where some Omegas are known to have classes. I didn’t actually make a decision here.”
    Evan swallowed. “Well, now I am asking you. Honestly, do you want to be sweetheart?”
    â€œYou know what? I have no freaking idea.” Rebecca threw up her hands. “I know I should be grateful for the nomination and for all the support in the house, even if I could do without my eardrums bursting from the pledges screaming in excitement at the latest plan to win you guys over. But…” She shrugged helplessly.
    Evan stepped in. “But you’re annoyed. Because you don’t want the attention.” Though it didn’t sound like Rebecca, entirely. She did like attention, a certain kind. “When you were a pledge—and I know this because Casey talked about you constantly when we were still going out—you weren’t enthusiastic about ZBZ in the traditional way, but you were committed. You wanted to succeed there.”
    â€œMore like I wanted to crush Casey’s hopes that I would drop out.”
    â€œIt couldn’t have just been that. Nobody joins a sorority just to make someone else’s life temporarily miserable…right?”
    â€œWell, things were starting to look up since I’ve been leading the pledges. I don’t know. Why do people join fraternities?” she asked.
    â€œI wonder sometimes.” He thought about it. “Is this about your dad?”
    â€œEw. You’re my boyfriend. You’re not allowed to get Freudian on me. Instant deal breaker.”
    â€œSo I am your boyfriend?” He smiled at the admission. She rarely admitted to anything. “But seriously, about your dad. By your dad, I meant politics. Is it because it’s political? Campaigns and nominations and all that?” Senator Logan, before retiring from office and going on many self-awareness retreats, had been a corrupt philanderer, estranged from his wife and far less estranged from a prostitution ring. The scandal broke while Rebecca was at spring break, causing her to go on a drunken rampage while wearing a ZBZ T-shirt (or what was left of the wet T-shirt at that point). Her antics were captured by videophone and posted on the internet, making her a brief