Fic: Greek-The Following Semester; Chapter 7, Part 1: Coming Back and Moving Forward
Setting: About a week after the end of #6
Synopsis: Calvin and Heath return in the midst of dry weekend at CRU. Meanwhile, Cappie tries to deal with the disorderly chapter in Boston, and Ashleigh contemplates a possible career move.
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“So as you guys may or may not know,” Rusty announced at a KT meeting. “This weekend is the school’s open house for next year’s incoming freshmen. And due to an incident at last year’s open house where some high schoolers ended up getting drunk at a fraternity party, Pan-Hellenic and IFC have declared all of the houses will be dry this weekend.” Some of the brothers groaned.
“Every freshman who comes here knows this is a party school,” Beaver said. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“Yeah, but Pan-Hellenic and IFC could get in trouble with the administration if the same thing happens again this year,” Rusty said. “These kids aren’t freshmen yet; they’re still high schoolers, and some of them aren’t even 18.”
“All we have to do is keep the upstairs clear, and have an undercover party in the basement,” Wade said.
“We really have no room down there right now,” Rusty said. “But I think we can work with this. There’s going to be a bunch of next year’s freshmen here; this is the perfect chance to get some of the guys interested in KT.”
“That would be great if we could,” Spidey said. “But is IFC or the administration going to let us do that?”
“I think there’s a way to get them to let us do something,” Rusty said. “Since everything’s going to be dry anyway, maybe they’ll let us host a dry event.”
“But ‘dry event’ makes it sound way too boring,” Beaver said.
“Yeah, at least it should be called something that sounds remotely interesting,” Anthony Hopkins said.
“We can call it a ‘Very Interesting Non-Alcoholic Event,’” Spidey said. “Hey, we’ve got the best video game system on Greek Row, what about a video game tournament?”
“That’s a great idea,” Rusty said. “I’ll pitch it to IFC at today’s meeting.”
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“Ash, we really need to talk!” Casey exclaimed over the phone to Ashleigh.
“Whoa, what’s going on?” Ashleigh asked Casey. “I was just on my way to ZBZ. Bex just called; apparently she needs a favor for the house.”
“That can wait a few minutes,” Casey said. “Did something happen within the last week or so; something you and Rusty haven’t told me?”
“Uh, I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Case,” Ashleigh lied. “Can I call you back later?”
“I’m talking about Rusty lavaliering you and you not telling me!” Casey exclaimed. “Cappie just told me.”
“Sorry, we were going to tell you together later on,” Ashleigh said. “You’ve been busy lately, and Rusty went to a meeting with IFC a while ago. He had to ask Cappie about some IFC stuff earlier, so we just told him then. We thought we’d get to tell you before he did.”
“You guys know that April Fool’s Day isn’t for another few weeks, right?” Casey asked.
“You think I’m joking?” Ashleigh asked.
“When Cappie first told me, I honestly thought you guys were trying to pull one over on me,” Casey said. “So you’re not?”
“No, why would you think I’d joke about it?” Ashleigh asked.
“I guess I just never thought he’d do something like that to you, especially this soon,” Casey said. “You do realize what a real commitment this is, right? He wouldn’t have asked you if he didn’t mean something long-term. I think I took the whole lavaliering thing too lightly with Evan and Max, and I don’t want you to do that.”
“Case, I can tell this is some big sister instinct coming out,” Ashleigh began. “But trust me; we know what we’re doing. I already got the ‘make sure you’re ready to make a commitment’ talk from my mom. She was in a sorority so she knows what it’s all about. And I am ready, trust me. I wouldn’t have said yes if I wasn’t sure.”
“Well in that case, I’m happy for you guys,” Casey said.
“Thanks, Case,” Ashleigh said. “Sorry to cut you off, but I should really get to ZBZ now.”
“Okay, I’ll let you go now,” Casey said. “I still want to have a little chat with Rusty; have him call me when he gets out of whatever meeting he’s in. What’s going on with IFC, anyway?”
“Oh, he’s trying to get them to let KT host an event for the incoming freshmen open house this weekend,” Ashleigh said. “It’s been declared dry weekend for all the houses, but if they can host a dry event, they can seek out potential pledges for the fall.”
“It would be Rusty that thinks ahead like that,” Casey said. “Anyway, go see what Bex wants; I’ll talk to you later.”
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“Hey, what did IFC say?” Ashleigh asked, running into Rusty on her way to ZBZ.
“They loved the idea so much, that not only are they letting us put on an event,” Rusty began. “But IFC and Pan-Hellenic want all of the houses on campus to have one, and it’ll count for philanthropy hours. The only rule is we can’t talk about Rush procedures or officially recruit any pledges.”
“That’s great,” Ashleigh said. “At least you can seek some out.”
“Then after I got done with IFC, I had to go talk to Dean Bowman,” Rusty continued. “He and the administration were surprisingly on board with the idea, too. He said it’s because they want to show the side of the Greek system that isn’t all about partying. And they needed more social events for Saturday night. He and the other members of the administration are going to be patrolling Greek Row and the houses that night, though.”
“Bex called me over to ZBZ,” Ashleigh said. “I’m guessing this is probably what she needs help with. Oh, and Casey called. Cappie already told her our news, and she wants you to call her. He thought we’d already talked to her.”
“She didn’t sound like she was going to lecture me I hope,” Rusty said.
“I kind of got a lecture,” Ashleigh laughed. “But everything’s fine; I told her I was truly happy and she understood.”
“I’m glad you are,” Rusty smiled. “I’ll go call her back. See you back at the house.”
“Yeah, I’ll be over after I’m done at ZBZ,” Ashleigh said.
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“Hey Bex, Laura,” Ashleigh greeted, walking into the ZBZ kitchen. “What’s up?”
“I got a call from Pan-Hellenic,” Rebecca said. “Did you hear that now every house on campus has to put on a ‘Very Interesting Non-Alcoholic Event’ Saturday night for freshman open house weekend? Well of course you did, because your boyfriend is the one who started this whole thing.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Ashleigh said. “At least it counts for philanthropy hours. And you can seek out pledges for the fall without it being called dirty rushing. Just get some girls interested in ZBZ.”
“Or get some of them un-interested in ZBZ,” Dale said, entering the kitchen.
“What are you so bitter about?” Rebecca asked.
“My little sister is coming here in the fall,” Dale said. “And she’s going to be at open house this weekend. She wants to rush, and if she pledges here she’ll give me total hell.”
“Your sister’s actually not bad, and she likes me,” Laura said. “Ever since that time I met her over Skype, we’ve talked. She even called me yesterday and asked me to pick her up from the airport on Friday.”
“She’s just being friendly to you just to spite me,” Dale said. “She’s conniving; I wouldn’t be surprised if she tries to get you to give her an early bid this weekend.”
“No matter how conniving she is, it’s not like we can do that,” Laura said.
“Anyway, what did you decide on doing for an event?” Dale asked.
“We’re going with karaoke night like we did last dry weekend,” Rebecca said. “Which brings me to why I called you, Ash. My grandma’s on vacation this week with her friends in Vegas, so we need a substitute house mom for the event.”
“Sure, I’ll do it,” Ashleigh said. “But why do you need a fill-in house mom just for one night? I thought it was okay with Nationals as long as the house mom isn’t away for more than a week.”
“Normally it would be, but it’s also a Nationals requirement that all events held inside the sorority house need a house mom on duty,” Rebecca said. “And Pan-Hellenic and the administration are going to be patrolling all the houses, so if anyone asks, you’re the temporary house mom until my grandma gets back.”
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“Hey Ash, Clarissa wants to see you in her office,” Kelsey said to Ashleigh at work.
“Okay,” Ashleigh said. “I’m not in trouble, am I?”
“No, she said it’s nothing bad,” Kelsey said.
“I’ll go see what she wants,” Ashleigh said. “Can you work on this ad some more when I’m gone?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Kelsey said, mock saluting her as she walked away.
“Clarissa, Kelsey said you wanted to see me,” Ashleigh said, walking into Clarissa’s office.
“Yes, have a seat,” Clarissa said. “I just wanted to say you’re an excellent worker, and even though I’ve only worked with you for about three months, I can tell you have real potential.”
“Wow, thanks,” Ashleigh smiled, caught slightly off guard from her boss’s sudden praise. “I do enjoy working here and I like the projects I’ve done so far.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying your work,” Clarissa said. “What I mean is I think you have the potential for a lot more than what you’re doing right now. Have you ever considered marketing on an international level?”
“I haven’t really thought much about it,” Ashleigh said. “I mean, someday I’d like to do more with my career, but I don’t think I have the background or experience to jump in further quite yet.”
“You could gain the background through a graduate program,” Clarissa said. “Why I’m asking you is that I’m looking into expanding my business internationally within the next couple of years. If you keep up the good work and consider a graduate degree in international marketing, then I’d like to put you on some overseas projects when that happens.”
“Wow, that sounds like a great opportunity,” Ashleigh said. “Honestly, I never really thought about graduate school.”
“CRU offers an excellent program,” Clarissa said. “It’s a two year program; during your first year, you’d take classes here at CRU. And then you’d spend your second year in London taking classes through the University of Oxford, as well as gaining field experience internationally. If you’d like to apply for the fall, they’re still taking applications for about another month, and of course I’ll write you a letter of recommendation.”
“Thanks so much, Clarissa,” Ashleigh said. “I’ll definitely think about it.”
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“Hey Case, are you at the airport yet?” Cappie asked.
“I just got here; I was just about to call you actually,” Casey said. “My flight’s been cancelled due to bad weather up there in Boston. Is it still snowing?”
“Yeah, I was hoping I’d catch you before you left because all flights in and out of Boston have been cancelled,” Cappie said. “We got about a foot of snow overnight, and it hasn’t stopped yet.”
“I guess I should have checked the weather up there before I checked out of my hotel,” Casey said. “Are you at the fraternity house right now?”
“I’m still here, and I think I’m starting to see what the problem is with these guys,” Cappie said. “I’m pretty sure their president is a malevolent dictator bent on world domination. It’s his way or the highway, and he won’t give an inch. He doesn’t care about the rest of the house at all; he’s basically using them to get what he wants. Their last president flunked out of school in the middle of last semester, and last year’s president was involved in a sex scandal with a faculty member and got kicked out of school.”
“Wow, how do these people even get elected president?” Casey asked.
“I’m not sure if I really told you about this, but the CRU chapter of KT has been somewhat like a dynasty since the 1970’s,” Cappie said. “In 1974, Brother Hound Dog became president, and when he graduated in 1976, he passed the presidency to his little brother. And it’s just happened that way ever since. We try to keep it as much of a secret as possible; only the direct descendents of Hound Dog, like me, know it’s been going on this long. I didn’t tell Rusty about it until after he became president because I didn’t want him to just expect the presidency was going to be handed to him. Now I’m sure you’re wondering what this has to do with the chapter I’m working with.”
“Yeah, just a little,” Casey said with a laugh.
“It’s been the same dynastic ruling with the chapter here,” Cappie said. “While our line of succession at CRU has been relatively successful over the years, that’s not the case here. Here, it’s only been like this since about five years ago, and there were a few good presidents the first few years, but then their descendents were not so good and everything started spiraling out of control, starting about two years ago.”
“How is this place even still running?” Casey asked. “If it were ZBZ, Tegan and Lizzie would have shut down the chapter a long time ago.”
“We’re sometimes a little slower at KT,” Cappie said with a laugh. “Nationals likes to give the chapters some time to work out issues themselves and with the help of their school’s IFC, but when things keep escalating, that’s when they send someone out.”
“What do the other guys in the house have to say?” Casey asked.
“They’re getting really fed up, and some have even left,” Cappie said. “I want to break this dynasty. The little brother of this president is a pledge who’s already gotten community service for vandalism and is on the brink of being on academic probation. One person I’ve been talking to a lot is their pledge educator, Chuckles, and he’s the reason there’s actually still a pledge class, and probably the reason there’s even still a fraternity. I can tell this kid would make a great president and would get things going in the right direction again.”
“Sounds like building up a resistance might be the way to go,” Casey said. “Maybe then this guy will resign and avoid impeachment.”
“I highly doubt he’ll resign,” Cappie said. “But as for the resistance, that’s the direction we’re going. Chuckles and I are contacting all the brothers who have deactivated as a result of all of this, as well as some recent alumni, and we may have to petition the National Board for an impeachment.”
“I don’t care if it’s still snowing out!” Casey heard someone shout from over the phone. “I want the snow shoveled and I want it done now! How else am I going to get my morning latte?”
“We’re in a freaking state of emergency!” someone else shouted. “The coffee shop, and all the roads, are closed! You’re not going anywhere!”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Casey said. “What’s going on?”
“That would be the president ordering the pledges to shovel the snow,” Cappie said. “And Chuckles trying to defend them. I better go break it up, then Chuckles and I can start to build up a resistance. Well, we can call people at least; we can’t do much else until this snow stops. But call me whenever you can get a flight out.”
“Good luck,” Casey said. “And I will. A few of my co-workers are here too; they went to try to get us on another flight, but that’s probably not going to happen just yet. We may end up spending another night here if it’s as bad as it sounds.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry to say, but it’s still snowing pretty bad,” Cappie said. “But it’s supposed to stop by early this afternoon, so hopefully you can get a flight out tonight or early tomorrow morning. But let me know whenever, and I’ll be at the airport to get you.”
“Can’t wait,” Casey said. “Love you, and see you soon.”
“Love you too, Case,” Cappie said. “See you soon.”