Time: 8:15 A.M.
Date: 4 September, 2014
Location: Zeta Nu Delta Sorority House
Date: 4 September, 2014
Location: Zeta Nu Delta Sorority House
Kristen was quite pleased with herself. She'd gone to a party last night, didn't come home until two in the morning, and still woke up by eight without a hangover. Having already gotten dressed only a quarter after she drug herself out of bed, it was in her personal opinion that she get a medal for fastest prep time ever after only six hours of sleep. Granted all of that probably wouldn't fit on a blue ribbon but she'll digress. In the silent hustle and bustle about the House, no room was more quiet than Kristen's—which in itself was off considering hers was usually the loudest. The only sound that broke free was the sound of a Star Trek communicator as her phone suddenly vibrated across the surface of her dresser. A smile graced her cherubic features as she picked it up, needing only the sound to know exactly whom the text was from. Sure enough his name lit up on the screen of the iDevice, followed by a message:
♥ Kenny ♥
I'll assume you're not awake so count this as your wake up call
I'll assume you're not awake so count this as your wake up call
Giddy with the urge to prove her favorite little know-it-all wrong, she quickly dialed his number, holding the phone between her shoulder and her ear as she tugged on her Converse sneakers. As the receiving end picked up, Kristen jumped at the chance to speak, "Not awake, huh? I'll have you know I've been up since seven-fifty-something."
"Color me surprised," Kenneth remarked stoically on the other end, which brought an even bigger smile to the fiery-headed girl's face. Call her smitten but most mornings she just loved hearing the sound of his voice. Even when he sounded all posh like that, "Could it be that you're actually excited to meet the rushers at this morning's meeting?"
That had actually not been the reason. Kristen had totally forgotten. "That's today?" She inquired, voicing her ignorance. The young Zeta could practically hear her friend rolling his eyes on the other end of the phone. "I just thought I'd barge into your place and demand that you buy me Starbucks. I had no idea we had to meet the newbies." She pouted slightly, an act she was sure Kenneth could almost picture to perfection. "But they've only been here a week. I don't want to have to share my room with someone else. What if they don't like me?"
"You've never cared before," Kenneth retorted, "You're still a little sister so it's likely your superiors will force the new students to share a room with the sophomores, that much is true. However you might be fortunate enough this year. Perhaps no one will want to be a Zeta."
Kristen scoffed, "Are you kidding?" She laughed as she grabbed her bag, heading out the door, hearing Kenneth muttering a soft sentiment of gratitude on the other end followed by a soft chime of a store bell. "Being a Zeta is the best thing for the newbies, especially if they want that Hallmark card college experience."
The young Kappa Alpha humphed on the other end, "Pardon me if I'm unfamiliar with the company's principles but I don't recall ever seeing 'Sorry I threw up on your favorite high heels' on the front of a Hallmark card."
"That was one time!" Kristen giggled. She was meandering down the sidewalk where the sororities were lined up on campus, the sun caught in her orange and yellow strands of hair making them gleam like a flame. "Besides Immy forgave me for that so it's fine."
"I'll meet you by the tree."
"I know, I see you." Kristen waved, hanging up the phone as she jogged up to him beneath of the peach trees residing in the park. The park was placed snugly between the residential part of campus and the actual class wings. The tree was theirs because, during their freshman year, Kristen had carved their names in it so they'd always know where to meet. Kenneth had picked it, having calculated that it was exactly half way between her House and his frat. Craning her neck slightly to look up at him, Kristen beamed at Kenneth with the exuberance of a child. She was absolutely smitten. There was something about him, something she couldn't readily identify. He was tall, lanky, and he kind of looked like a praying mantis but he was perfect in Kristen's eyes. His chestnut hair was always so tousled—a stark contrast in comparison to his poise, his straight-laced attitude, and his stoic demeanor. His eyes too were the most amazing thing in the world to her. She could spend hours counting the flecks of gold and emerald swirling around in the depths of those topaz hues; she had once, however intoxicated she was at the time. "Good morning gorgeous." She greeted, seemingly headless to the way he shuffled in slight embarrassment.
"What do you mean?" he said. "Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"
She recognized this reference, her smile widening as she listed off the knowledge she'd recollected of it. "J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Gandalf the Grey-..." She recited, knowing well of their little game. Every day they've known each other, Kristen would have Kenneth buy her a venti mocha frappucino from Starbucks and for the first half of their freshman year she never paid him back. Being Kenneth, he would've never made her pay with money. Money he had. Instead, he'd make a reference from one his favorite books or movies and if she guessed the origin, she'd get her coffee. If she didn't, he'd drink it in front of her, regardless of his preference against the beverage. Kristen assumed by the smile on his face that she'd gotten today's reference correct.
"Good girl," He complimented, handing her the plastic cup. Kristen took it with a wink before quickly sipping at the straw. Kenneth watched for but a moment before he took a sip of his herbal tea, "Shall we go to the meeting then?" he asked listlessly
Lacing her arms with his, Kristen nodded towards the main campus ahead, "Lead the way."