Page 8 of Lilies in Autumn

We’re the first ones at the party, which would be extremely uncomfortable under normal circumstances, but after the attitudes given by both Marina and Felicity, I think the three of us are just focused on getting wasted as quickly as possible. I grab CeCe and Serena’s hands and walk to the keg in the corner of the front room. Grabbing three cups next to the keg, I hold the nozzle and begin foamy pours.

“Aves, you’re pouring straight foam. It’s going to take an hour for this to settle and be drinkable.”

“I’ve never poured beer from a keg before, so just be thankful I’m trying.” I give CeCe a sideways glare. “I didn’t see you volunteering to pour the drinks.”

Serena laughs behind us. “Are you two always like this?”

“Like what?” CeCe and I respond at the same time.

“Like sarcastic jerks while still being extremely protective and supportive. I’m getting whiplash.”

I think about that for a moment. While I love to tease CeCe and provoke her, she’s my best friend, and I would bury bodies with her, if it ever came to that. “You know, Serena, we are now that I think about it. Sometimes, when I open my mouth, I’m not sure what’s going to come out: bitchy comments or positivity. It’s fifty-fifty on any given day.”

I hold up my cup of foam beer and motion for CeCe and Serena to do the same. “C, if you’ll do the honors and toast to our first collegiate night out.”

CeCe clears her throat. “Ladies, may the foam of these beers be the only disappointment of the night. May the meanwomenof Alpha Nu kiss our asses. May the good Lord above bless us with a hangover-free morning. May Ava not fall on her face and embarrass herself tonight. In his name, we pray.”

I clink my cup to CeCe and Serena’s. “Amen.”

Serena smirks. “Amen,women.”

Looking up from my cup—CeCe’s right, it’s all foam—my eyes wander around the room before settling back on CeCe and Serena. “So, how are we feeling about our first college party? Honestly, I thought there would be more to it, but it’s kind of depressing right now.” While a few more girls were dropped off, there are still barely any people in this house. It almost feels like we’re trespassers and not welcome.

“It’s still early, Ava,” CeCe responds. “My cousin, Brent, told me that no one shows up until at least eleven thirty, and it’s only eleven. Give it thirty minutes.”

She’s not wrong; I remember her cousin telling us that only freshmen and losers show up before eleven thirty. His words, not mine.

I shrug. “I guess, but it still seems weird since Felicity and Jordan made such a big deal of us getting to the pregame house and party on time.”

“They probably just didn’t want to be the first ones here.” CeCe looks at me and Serena. “Listen, I’m sorry that I was so excited and wanted to come here tonight. From what I heard about Alpha Nu and saw from their social media pages, they looked like really interesting girls—sorry, women—but how Felicity treated us when she met Serena and the fact that they invited girls—shit, women—like Marina, well, it turns me off from their entire organization.”

“At least we know who they are before recruitment weekend. There are nine other sororities on campus, so there must be at least one we’ll like.” And if none of them are a good fit, I’m fine with that, too. While CeCe and Serena look like sorority girls, I do not. At the pregame, there wasn’t a single girl above a size four, except me, and they all looked perfectly put together. I am messy. I have good days, days where I put on a full face of makeup, blow out, and style my hair. But then I have bad days, days where I look slightly homeless and entirely disheveled. On those bad days, I rarely leave the house, but they exist, more often than I’d like them to.

I laugh to myself. Felicity would probably have a heart attack if my size eight, occasionally size ten, body ruined the aesthetic of the sorority. I’m self-aware enough to know that my invitation was extended because CeCe looks like Scarlet Johansson and not because I offer any value to this group. It is what it is; I’m used to it.

I’m snapped out of my internal musings when a pair of hands snake around Serena’s waist, eliciting a gasp from her.

“Siren, I thought I told you, parties were no place for girls like you. Why are you here?”

I raise a brow at CeCe. Serena is apparently notorious around campus and having a very eventful night.

“Devin, get your hands off me. If Marina sees you, she’ll kill me.”

“Doll, I was yours before Marina’s.”

At this point, my eyebrows are to my hairline because what?

Serena lets out a sigh. “The last thing I need is for you to be next to me when she comes in. Please don’t make this night worse for me.”

“I told you that I didn’t want you at parties, especially at my house. You’re the one that didn’t listen.” He leans in closer, speaking right next to her ear. “You deserve to have Marina see me next to you. I wonder how much shit she’d give you if her perfect little stepsister was too close to her property. Does that make you angry, Siren, knowing that you fucked up and I’m hers now?”

Serena’s face contorts in anger. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, but I was never yours and you were never mine. You have no right to speak to me this way. I didn’t do anything to you to warrant your taunts and bullying.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You know exactly what you did.” Serena grits her teeth in response. His fingers flex against her hips before he releases her. “Now, be a good little girl and go home. You’re not welcome here.” With that, he turns and walks away.

I have questions. So many questions.

CeCe beats me to it. Grabbing Serena’s arm, CeCe asks in a worried tone, “Serena, are you okay?”

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