It wasn’t
quite time for students to be panicking over their finals so the library is
lightly attended by its usual full semester residents. Most at their own tables
where they have been all semester, claiming their space in preparation for the
rest of the student body to realize the campus library is a genuinely useful
resource. Clay and faith were sitting together at a large table. Their books
and study materials had long since intertwined and become quite the mess. Clay
had spent most of his evening reading from the last chapter of his psychology
text, taking notes and highlighting important passages. Faith had her book open
but was flipping through flash cards, testing herself on the contents of the
previous chapter. Clay finished highlighting a sentence and looked over at
Faith as she flipped through card after card. Reading them silently to herself,
then flipping each to check her answer and moving the card to the back of the
pile. Almost without thinking he reached over and drew a neon yellow line on
her arm. Causing her to glance at him over her the top of her cards. He is trying
not to smile and failing miserably and before he registers her movement she has
her own pink highlighter out and they are locked in a silly game of highlighter
tag.
Clay got
a hold of both her wrists and tried to give her a stern look. “We should be
studying young lady.” He said in his deepest ‘adult’ voice. She twisted her
wrist and drew a long pink line on his hand. Their battle began again.
Their
table wasn’t far from the fiction section of the library, Where Tanya had been
wandering the stacks looking for the library intern from her analysis paralysis
class. She found them instead. Her mind immediately started counting broken
rules she was witnessing and she felt herself getting angry until she saw the
Rho Sigma Gamma patch on his backpack and her field of vision went red.
Faith and
Clay were still playing with each other, and the fight had gotten ridiculous as
attempted tickling had gotten involved. The temperature at the table dropped
five degrees when Tanya approached. “Faith?” She asked with mock surprise.
Faith
looked at her and dropped the game as if she had touched a hot burner. “Tanya,
Um, Hi, What’s up?” She asked feigning ignorance.
Tanya’s
facial expression fit like a cheap Halloween mask. Her smile was painted on and
didn’t match the rage in her eyes. She shot Faith a look that landed somewhere
between psycho murderer and Stepford Wife. “I’m not, interrupting anything, am
I?” She asked with all the intensity of a grease fire that’s just hit a second
burner.
Faith put
her highlighter down on the table and shook her head. “No, no of course not,
not at all Tanya.” She said, moving her chair away from Clay.
Faith
repainted her smile which only made her look crazier and looked at Clay. “Can I
steal her for just a second then?” It was structured like a question but
sounded like a rattle snake warning him off. “Just need to chat with you for a
moment dear.” She said looking back at Faith.
Faith
quickly grabbed her purse and stood up. “I’ll be right back.” She said without breaking
the gaze Tanya had her locked into.
Tanya
held the glare and piggybacked on Faith’s comment. “Won’t steal her for more
than a minute or two.”
The girls
quickly and quietly disappeared into the fiction section. Clay was left,
sitting awkwardly by himself. In front of studying he no longer had any
interest in.
The
second the girls were out of ear shot Tanya spun on Faith. “What the Hell was
that Faith?” She spat.
Faith was
no longer hiding her annoyance. “None of your business Tanya.” She fired back.
The shred
of composure that Tanya had was beginning to fade. “When it comes to the
sisterhood everything is my business.”
She hissed.
Fury was
boiling behind Faith’s eyes now. “You never wanted anything to do with me
before we came to college, what makes you think that being in the same sorority
would create a stronger bond than the biological one you’ve turned your nose up
at.” She spat.
The
judgement slid off Tanya like she was coated in Teflon. “As a member of Nu Tau
Delta every sister, including you,
has the responsibility of maintaining our image on this campus. I don’t know
why mom thought the sorority would somehow make you care about how the world
sees you when you have never, not once cared about your personal image. Faith
that person is not a part of the Nu
Tau Delta lifestyle. You may not care in the least about that lifestyle but as
long as I am president of the sorority you will abide by the guidelines of the
sisterhood. You aren’t just damaging your own reputation here.”
Faith was
barely keeping her rage in check during Tanya’s speech. “Really Tanya?” She replied.
“I’m the one putting our precious reputation in danger?” She continued. “Then
please tell me why I keep hearing that Nu Tau Delta means Never Turn Down a guy,
because it sounds more like I’m pulling us out of the mud.” The slap was like
lightening. Faith knew it was coming and was still shocked when it hit her
cheek. By the time she registered the pain her face was turned to the side.
Tanya
leaned in to whisper in Faith’s ear. “Unless you want me to call mom and have
her yank your spoiled, judgmental ass out of this school I’d watch that mouth
of yours. No one speaks negatively about Nu Tau Delta, nobody.” Her voice had the same tone as a revving table saw and it
made Faith flinch. She nodded quickly. Having finally made her point Tanya
collected herself. “Now, as your big sister I am willing to forget what I just
heard, if, you are willing to go before the chapter to apologies and recommit
yourself to the sisterhood.”
Faith slowly
turned back to face Tanya, she wiped a tear off her cheek and smeared her
mascara slightly. Tanya clicked her tongue. “Oh honey, we need to get you
cleaned up. Come on, let’s go say goodbye to your friend and we’ll get some ice
on that cheek also.
Faith was
more intimidated by the now sickeningly sweetness Tanya was exuding than she
was by her fury. She followed behind her sister quickly and quietly as they
headed back to the table. When they got back to the table she immediately began
to pack her bag.
Clay
instantly saw the redness on her cheek, as well as the sadness in her eyes. “Are
you ok?” He asked softly while moving closer to her. She moved away from him
and shook her head at the same time. Clay looked to Tanya who flashed him a
poisonously sweet smile. Clay ignored her and turned back to Faith. “Faith what’s
going on?” He asked, trying to look in her eyes. She avoided his gaze and
zipped up her bag and slid it over her shoulders. Walked over and stood a step
behind and step to the right of Tanya, wanting desperately to leave the
library.
Tanya
didn’t move. “Say it.” She hissed at her sister.
Faith’s
shoulders slumped and she reluctantly made eye contact with Clay. “I, I don’t
want to see you again Clay. It’s, not working out between us. Please just,
leave me alone.” Her voice was barely above a whisper and wavered like she
could cry at any second.
Clay
nodded dumbly and sat back down for no other reason than the air conditioning
pushed him off his feet.
Pleased with the exchange Tanya made her way out of the library and
Faith followed one step behind and to the right.
