Page 2 of The Friend Zone

A few girls murmur that they’re alright, the mood is somber after what we just witnessed.

“Funny how you call ittemporary housing,” Bianca snorts. “It’s not like we’re going to move into a new sorority house any time this year. And no, we aren’t happily settled down. The disasteryoucaused meant I had to move back in with my parents. Do you know how annoying it is living with my dad again? This isn’t the college experience I signed up for and it’s all your fault, Bay.”

I can hate Bianca as much as I want, but the Dean’s daughter is right. At least about the fact that our housing situation at this point is going to be permanent.

She’s also right that technically, as president, I’m responsible for what happened to our sorority house.

“I understand your frustration,” I drawl, fighting to keep my tone as calm as possible. “And I agree that technically rehousing you was my responsibility. However, I feel that it’s a little unfair to blame me for what happened.”

Bianca arches a thin eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. “Is it though? It was one of your cheap hairstyling tools that caused the fire.”

Liv comes to my defense. “It might be so,” she points out. “But the curling iron was left plugged on in a shared bathroom. We all know that the president’s room has an en-suite. So don’t make it sound like Bay personally set the fire.”

Viv backs her up. “That’s right. Actually, I’ve been thinking about this and whoever left that curling iron plugged in should come forward.”

People react with varying degrees of defensiveness and I realize this meeting is getting out of control before we even have the chance to discuss the most important issues.

“Sisters,” I yell, to be heard over the overlapping voices. “Yes, it would be honorable for whoever left that plugged in to admit it. But this isn’t why I called this meeting. Zeta Theta Beta doesn’t have a blaming culture and we aren’t going to start pointing fingers at each other. Can I remind you that the most important qualities of a Zeta woman are her grace and her compassion? If we can’t treat each other that way, then maybe we don’t deserve to be Zetas.”

Bianca’s lips curl into a cruel smile. “There’s only one person here who doesn’t deserve to be a Zeta. You’re going to go down in history as the president who lost the Zeta house. Did you know,” she looks at the other sisters around the room. “That without a sorority house, we aren’t allowed to accept any pledges? Thanks to Bay, next year our ranks will be weakened. With no pledges and a number of sisters graduating at the end of this year, there’s going to be barely a dozen Zetas left. I guess with no house that’s a blessing in disguise, but we were the most prestigious sorority on campus. I hope you’re all going to remember under whose tenure we lost everything.”

I close my eyes, fighting to compose myself. Bianca isn’t totally wrong. “I know and I’m sorry. The best thing we can do for our future sisters is to make sure that we begin rebuilding the house as soon as possible. I?—”

Kylie, Bianca’s sidekick, interrupts me. “I know and I’m sorry? Am I the only one who thinks Bay’s apology isn’t good enough? I personally don’t feel like Bay represents me as a president. Am I the only one?”

Tami narrows her eyes, immediately suspicious. “If I didn’t think this is crazy and totally uncalled for, I’d think you’re staging some kind of coup.”

The look that passes between Bianca and Kylie confirms that Tami is right. “A coup? Don’t be dramatic, Tami. But yeah, I don’t want Bay as a president anymore. Now, she could show us some of that poise she keeps talking about and resign. Or we could vote on that.”

Bianca stands up. “I call a vote of no confidence. I agree with Kylie that I don’t feel represented by Bay Woods.”

“Wait a minute,” Viv intervenes. “You can’t just call a vote to replace the president at this point in the academic year without just cause or unless the president resigns.”

The Dean’s daughter snorts. “If burning the house down isn’t just cause, I don’t know what is.”

Liv doesn’t let the new ‘master of ceremonies’ intimidate her. “Unless a president is impeached, suspended from the university, or put on academic probation, you don’t have recourse. There are very specific rules about impeachment and they don’t apply here. The only way you could move to replace Bay against her will, is if you had proof that she willingly set the fire.”

Bianca doesn’t relent. “She might as well have. That curling iron had her fucking name on it.”

Several voices echo their agreement.

This isn’t Bianca’s first attempt to have me deposed. She already tried by calling a sneaky meeting in my absence when she had the bare minimum number to make the vote legal.

“Let me guess,” I say, standing up to face her. “If you get the vote of no confidence, who would run to replace me aside from you? Anyone?” I look around the room and no one else comes forward.

“Then it’s settled,” Liv says. “Unless you have proof, you aren’t entitled to a vote without the president’s resignation.”

The situation is untenable. We have enough challenges ahead of us with having to live apart and a house to rebuild.

“Sisters,” I look around the room. “I don’t want to be in charge if I don’t have your support. I would love to be the one who helps transition the Zetas into their future and give our next generation a bigger and better house. But not if you don’t think I’m the right person to guide us through these difficult times. Fine, Bianca. You get your vote. It’s obvious you want the presidency for yourself. Sisters, let’s vote by show of hands. Who wants Bianca to replace me as president, raise their hands now.”

“Hey hold on,” Bianca objects. “We can’t vote this way. Votes should be secret ballots.”

I smile. “If you know our bylaws so well, you should know that a show of hands vote is perfectly legal in this situation. You can’t impeach me and I’m not resigning. The only way you get your no confidence vote is if I agree to it. That, according to our charter law, gives the president the right to ask for an open vote. If the sisters don’t want me to stay as president, I want them to say it to my face.”

I know it’s a risk, but at this point I have nothing to lose. Even if I didn’t leave that curling iron plugged in, I feel responsible. Not because it has my brand on it, but Bianca isn’t wrong that my personal problems have gotten in the way ofmy responsibilities. She’s right that I disappeared for the entire summer without warning and that my focus has been elsewhere.

“Sisters,” I say, looking around the table. “I owe you an apology. It’s no secret that finding my boyfriend cheating in my own bed was more than I could take,” I look at Bianca. It’s not a glare, it’s a direct look at her.

---