College Life: Freshman Year

28

Lauren's POV

It's 3 a.m. and I am woken up by the sound of someone breaking into my dorm room. Even though I'm half-asleep, my first instinct is 'I must protect Normani and the baby.' My wife is startled until she makes out the faces of the two people breaking into my dorm room.

"Zendaya?" she asks.

Thank goodness Normani and I decided to put our pajamas back on after we made love a few hours ago, otherwise this could have gotten really awkward.

"It's Hell Morning, bitch," Mistress Halsey says as she grabs me from my bed.

Hell Morning, the last and most painful step before initiation. I have been dreading this day since pledging began. As I'm about to kiss Normani goodbye, Mistress Halsey grabs me and places a blindfold over my eyes. "That just may have been the last time you'll ever see your woman, Pledge Jauregui," Mistress Halsey says to me. I could tell Normani is worried.

"Don't worry. We'll have your wife home to you in a few hours, Normani," Zendaya tells her before we head out the door.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"Pledge Jauregui, down on the ground, NOW!" Mistress Halsey says when we are in the quad area. "You know you aren't supposed to speak unless you are spoken to."

As I lay on the ground, Mistress Halsey wraps a leash around my neck. "Get up now, bitch," she tells me. "And walk us to my apartment."

This task is nearly impossible while blindfolded. Zendaya grabs my leash and starts to lead me because I have absolutely no idea where I'm going.

When I get to Mistress Halsey's apartment, I can hear the other pledges and my worries start to ease. At least I'm not alone.

"Pledge Jauregui, you're coming with us," Mistress Halsey says as she and Zendaya separate me from the other pledges and lead me into a room.

When we enter the room, my leash and blindfold are removed. It takes a while for my eyes to adjust. The whole room is dark except for two spotlights that are shining on a single chair. "Sit there," Mistress Halsey tells me in a stern tone of voice.

"Zendaya and I are about to ask you a series of questions. Answer them carefully. It is this interview, not the pledge tasks, that determine whether or not you are worthy of being in the sisterhood of Gamma Pi Delta."

"Okay," I say nervously, still trying to adjust to the two bright lights shining on me.

"Pledge Jauregui, you are not to speak unless spoken to!" Zendaya tells me. I know Zendaya is my friend and my Big Sis, but lately she has become a real bitch when she's forced to be separated from Naturi. Co-dependency is an ugly thing. I hope Normani and I aren't like that.

"So, let's get this started, shall we?" Mistress Halsey says to Zendaya.

"Pledge Jauregui, serenade us…" Mistress Halsey says.

"What do you want me to sing?"

"Sing the first song that comes to mind," Zendaya answers.

It's 4 a.m. and no other song comes to mind than, "In West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground was where I spent most of my days. Chillin out maxin relaxin' all cool, and all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school when a couple of guys who were up to no good startin' makin' trouble in my neighborhood. I got in one little fight and my mom got scared. She said 'You're movin' with auntie and uncle in Bel-Air.'"

Maybe I shouldn't have watched that Fresh Prince of Bel-Air marathon on Nick At Nite. Zendaya and Mistress Halsey start cracking up. So much for their intimidation techniques. "You're fucking nuts, Jauregui. I love this girl," Mistress Halsey says.