Page 121 of The Friend Zone

It would be nice if I actually could find Lakyn. We got separated after we arrived and I introduced her to Rachelle, and she’s nowhere to be seen.

“Will you excuse me?” The Zeta president says. “I need to make sure I talk to all the potential pledges. You’ll receive an official invitation to pledge tomorrow, but consider yourself invited. We’re the only sorority who’s worth your time on campus, Bay.”

I couldn’t agree more with her. My course load is going to be demanding with two majors and I decided cheerleading isn’t where I want to focus my attention in college. I want to build connections that will go beyond my college years and the Zetas are the place to do it.

Lakyn is probably hiding in a corner and I could bet all my social media endorsements that she isn’t mingling and meeting people.

As predicted she is hiding in a corner and she isn’t paying attention to the party. Her face is down, her entire focus on her phone.

“Please tell me you aren’t spending our first real college party texting Dipshit?” I ask her when I finally reach her.

“God!” She jumps, startled. “You should wear a bell around your neck or something. You scared the shit out of me, you almost made me drop my phone.”

It’s impossible to stifle an eye roll. “If only. At least then you’d give the Zetas a chance. Your boyfriend will still be there tomorrow.”

My twin sister frowns, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “You don’t understand. Jon and I miss each other. It’s not my fault if you and your boyfriend decided to break up rather than try to make it work long distance.”

I don’t have a problem with long-distance relationships. My problem is with her boyfriend. Jonathan is a little selfish,manipulative prick who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. They barely even kissed anyway, so I don’t get why Lakyn cares so much. He does nothing but tell Lake that what she wants and everything she does is wrong.

Love should never be controlling, I wish my sister understood that. I guess I should count my blessings and just be glad he didn’t manage to convince her to abandon her dream to come to school in California and to follow him at Princeton.

“Long distance?” I shake my head. “That would imply somedistance. But Dipshit doesn’t even leave you alone long enough to hang out with me at a party.”

It’s Lakyn’s turn to roll her eyes. “Bay, I came here tonight because you begged me. And there’s no circumstance in which I wouldn’t show up to support you. But you know better than me that this isn’t my scene. I belong in a sorority just as much as I belonged on a cheerleading squad.”

I know all that. “I’m sorry, Lake. I was just trying to find something we could do together.”

Her expression softens. “I know. Look, you and I might look identical, but we’re very different people. And that’s ok.”

I pull Lakyn into my arms. “You’re right. Thank you for coming here with me tonight, even if it’s not your scene.”

She squeezes me tight. “Are you kidding? I’m the one who should thank you. You came to Star Cove because coming here was my dream. You’re paying my tuition and living expenses with your social media business. You know there’s no way Mom and Dad could have afforded to send even one of us here, let alone both. So I owe you.”

I know all that, but it’s not the point. “Lakey-Lake, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You’re my twin. You owe me nothing.”

Lakyn shakes her head. She’s so stubborn. “I’ll pay you back every cent.”

“Don’t you dare,” I scowl. “If you really feel like you owe me, why don’t you give the Zetas a real chance?”

I know that was pushy of me and I’m not surprised when she sighs.

“I would do it for you, but you don’t really need me, Bay. We’ve done our own thing before in high school. It’s ok to be different; but going to school at the same place means that we get to see each other all the time. Think about it. We get the best of both worlds.”

I hate it when she’s right.

“When did you become so wise?” I chuckle. “I’m the oldest sister, I should be the one dropping nuggets of wisdom left and right.”

Lakyn laughs. “God, you’ll never let me live it down that I was born seven minutes after you.”

It’s our inside joke, she knows I’m just being a brat. “Seriously though,” I tell her. “Even if you don’t want to pledge, you’re here now. Can’t you at least try to have fun tonight?”

“I really want to go back to my room, Bay. There was a guy earlier staring at my boobs rather than my eyes while he was talking to me. He was cute, but he was such a douche. Do you know what he said when he asked me to dance and I told him I have a boyfriend? He answered ‘I’m not jealous.’”

I snicker. “Ok, yeah. That’s the lamest line I’ve heard in a while. But I’m sure the guy’s harmless.”

Lakyn’s eyes drift to her phone again. “He might be harmless, but Jon would freak out if I told him, and you know I don’t like lying to him. Besides, no offense but this party is full of popular girls and douche bag jocks. You’re the only person I care about talking to in here.”

I can’t blame her. I tried to bring Lakyn out of her shell, but this was a long shot. It really isn’t her scene. “Ok then, let’s go home.”

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