The Pledge by Laura Ward, Christine Manzari Read Free Book Online Page B

have daddies with fat wallets.”
    I smiled to myself. I didn’t even know my daddy, let alone a relative with a fat wallet, but I’d gladly take a compliment about being beautiful, even if it did come from a douche waffle making catcalls.
    ***
    “There! Perfecto!” Julie stood back to admire her handiwork. “Working at mom’s beauty shop every summer finally paid off.” Evidently, she was not only a fashion guru, but a genius with hair, too.
    She turned me to face the mirror, and I gasped. “That’s me?”
    Julie rested her chin on my shoulder. “You’ve looked like this all along little nugget. I just shaped you up.”
    Shaped up my ass. Julie had worked a freaking makeover miracle. I ran my fingers through my hair. She cut several inches off my long brown locks, added a ton of blonde highlights, and plucked my eyebrows into graceful arches.
    I took a moment and studied my reflection. I didn’t just look good. I looked like I’d walked off a runway. I didn’t recognize myself, and that was a damn good thing. I may have been queen of my nerdom in high school, but today I was ruling my makeover.
    Alexis stood next to me with her mouth hung open, staring into the mirror. Her face was pale, and her eyes wide with shock. “Liam’s going to be so pissed.” Those were her first words since Julie had finished with her. Gone were the barrettes that held back Alexis’ thick hair, followed by a few inches off the length. Now her hair hung down to her shoulders with flattering layers that made her look at least five years older.
    I moved behind her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. “Why? You look amazing.” She was stunning, and I was surprised she sounded more wary than ecstatic.
    “Oh, it’s just different. I’m not sure he’ll like the change.” Alexis’ brow furrowed, and she played with a strand of her hair.
    “How do you feel, Alexis?” Julie planted her hands on her hips.
    Alexis met my eyes in the mirror and spoke in a shaky voice. “I feel...I feel...renewed.” Renewed? What an odd choice of words. Her eyes were full of tears as she turned to face Julie. “And pretty. I do feel very pretty, so thank you.”
    “No tears! We want to make a good impression tonight.” Julie blew air in Alexis’ face and waved her hands manically in front of her. “Let’s do your makeup and get dressed, okay?”
    The rush informational meeting started in one hour. With altered looks and attitudes, we were almost ready to unveil the brand new Alexis and Taren.
    ***
    Julie yanked my arm, steering me toward the sorority section on the mall. The “mall” at the University of Maryland was really a long stretch of grass with a reflecting pool in the middle. It was housed in between several of the largest and oldest academic buildings on campus. Today all the fraternities and sororities, along with other clubs, were participating in the First Look Fair in an attempt to get freshmen to join.
    Julie was currently explaining the rush process and that “rushing” meant different things if you were a female than if you were a male.
    “Guys stop by fraternity houses during parties. They make the decision to pledge based on several factors.” Julie held up one finger. “Amount and quality of available beer.” She added a second finger. “Amount and quality of available girls.” She held up a third finger. “And amount and quality of interest in sports.” Julie rolled her eyes, and we giggled.
    “Girls have a formal rush. We’ll visit each sorority house on campus in rounds until we’re left with our top three houses. Then the Preference Ceremonies occur.” Julie talked like a cruise director. While Alexis and I studied for our classes at night, Jules studied the Greek system. “That’s when the rushees and the sororities rank each other and final matches are made.”
    After hearing the lengthy details, my brain hurt. Calculus was easier to understand than the complex, social algorithm that was the