Sister Circle✔️

12. Too Annoyed

Lark POV

She never thought it would be easy. Pledging MAX was hard work. Besides having her regular school work, and her extra activities, now she had to study MAX like it was another class. Make that like a job. It was seriously a lot of work.

They met up with the three ladies of MAX three times a week, as that was the best way it fit everyone's schedule. They met for two hours, but for Lark and her fellow pledge, Essence, off days were study days for them.

They had to know and recite the Greek Alphabet, be familiar with all the Divine Nine organizations, know the six MAX Founders, and the history, and learn of all their programs through the years. It was a good thing the sorority was only twenty years old, which meant less history to learn compared to the other organizations. They also had to know all the undergraduate chapters and what campuses they were on. There were only seven right now, so that was not hard. There were four Alumnae Chapters: Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and right there in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

Of course, they had to know all eight members of the Bloomington-Normal alumnae. It was a good thing Lark researched and already had that information. She impressed the MAX ladies with the knowledge she already gathered on her own.

They did not feel the same way about Essence.

Every session with MAX, they were to dress professionally, not in any specific colors, just professional attire and looking professional, so make-up and hair were done. Essence struggled with having the right clothes. All her clothes were jeans and sweats. Too bad Essence was average-sized and shorter than her, she could not fit any of Lark's clothes. She did not have money to buy new clothes either, so Lark loaned her some money and they went thrift shopping.

"When will I ever need to wear this stuff again? Suits? I'm a college sophomore, not ready to dress up like I have a job," Essence complained while they shopped.

Sometimes Essence was so negative, she wondered why she decided to pledge. She did not know much about her, only what she learned while they were on line. She was bi-racial, and her mother was white. She had a sister that also went to ISU, who was white. She was from a small city not far from Chicago she never heard of, and she did not have any friends at all.

That is why she tried her best to develop a friendship with her. After all, they would be line sisters once they crossed.

"Sure you will Essence. Job interviews, sometimes teachers want us to do special presentations, or maybe you want to dress up for an awards ceremony or-"

"Never business attire! I mean, basic black pants and a blouse, maybe that's all I need."

"And a skirt. Oh, and a nice dress that we can dress up with a blazer or scarf or a belt." She never did much thrift shopping herself. Why? Her parents were loaded and owned a store that sold clothes. She was always up on the fashions.

"Sounds like you want to dress me like an old person."

"Old? What, no!" This little girl was getting on her nerve. She was nineteen, about to be twenty, and she had so much attitude it was like she was a preteen, twelve-year-old, or something. What was the big deal about dressing up?

"Why can't we dress like we want to? I thought this sorority was different than the others."

They did not have to wear the same thing or dress in the same colors, and she thought that was different. If Essence was going to keep complaining, she would let her shop on her own.

"What would you like to wear then?"

Essence looked over some racks of clothes for a while before pulling out a black tube dress. Not business attire, more like club attire. Was she serious?