Chapter One
The first thing Lizzie saw when she awoke was light. The second thing she saw was the bottom of a trashcan, in which she promptly ejected the contents of her body in slow but violent process. Her head remained inside the turquoise bin, because although the smell in the bin may be repulsive, her splitting headache meant she couldn't move her head out of the bin and into the light.
"Good morning Lizzie, I see that someone is finally – oh," Jane stopped mid-sentence as Lizzie once again emptied her stomach contents into the bin. Lizzie managed a monosyllabic, feeble groan that echoed against the plastic in the bin.
"Ok, well I don't want to say I told you so again, but I will anyways. I told you to drink more water last night, honey. It's honestly amazing you made it back here and weren't forced to stay at some house or another. I'll go get some aspirin and a wet wipe." Jane closed the blinds in their room before swiftly walking out the door.
Lizzie couldn't help but wonder what exactly Jane was talking about. However, as soon as she attempted to think back on last night but her stomach let her know that this was not a good decision. Jane then came back with some wet wipes and handed one to Lizzie, along with a glass of water and a baby aspirin. Lizzie slowly drank the tepid water, doing her best to keep everything down, as Jane rubbed her back in big circles. Eventually Lizzie's eyes and head began to clear and she looked over at Jane adoringly. "Thank you Janie, you really are a saint," Lizzie managed to reply rather hoarsely. Jane certainly looked the part this morning, her blonde hair was braided into a soft grown around her head, which was somehow still shinning brightly in the now darkly, lit room. When Lizzie and Jane made eye contact Lizzie couldn't help but laugh, she could not for the life of her understand what she did to deserve Jane.
Jane was in all ways perfect: she was incredibly smart and beautiful but was so sweet that it was hard to even think half a mean thought about her before you would instantly feel guilt rise up and take over. Jane's good nature had instantly ensured that she had many friends, despite the fact that she was very shy. It was due to Jane's shy nature that her parents thought it best that she rushed a sorority at her school. Jane had her apprehensions but was urged on by her mother, whose closest friends to this day was in her sorority in college. Jane was quickly chosen to be in Xi Chi, which had the reputation of only taking the girls who fit their image. Xi Chi was mostly known for the more wholesome girls, but ones that still knew how to party. Jane fit in perfectly at Xi Chi and was quickly pegged to be a future leader within the sorority. While Jane loved all of her sisters, it wasn't until she met Lizzie that she truly felt like Xi Chi was her home.
On the surface, Jane and Lizzie could not have be more different. It was therefore a shock to everyone that Jane had, after meeting Lizzie once, decided that Lizzie would be a perfect fit for her organization. Jane was short, fair and shy, but Lizzie was tall, dark-haired and extremely out-going. Lizzie had decided to rush a sorority only to appease her father, who swears that his time in fraternity life had made him a better man. Lizzie respected her father greatly, and only because of that respect did she agree to rush. Her plan would be to just be herself, get in somewhere, maybe, and then drop after the first couple weeks. It would therefore look to her father as if she truly did her best to make it work but she wouldn't be stuck somewhere she hated. The first person Lizzie talked to during rush was Jane, who at first intimidated her. Jane seemed to have everything put together in her life, and not just her appearance, Jane had explained to Lizzie how she was studying to be a pediatrician and had already started studying for her MCATs even though she was only a sophomore at the time. In Jane, Lizzie saw someone she admired and perhaps in another life, someone she would aspire to become. However, as much Lizzie admired Jane, she knew it was unlikely that she would ever see her again since she was in Xi Chi. Lizzie knew that she was far more likely to be placed in Delta Rho, the tough yet laid back sorority, and after Lizzie's first rush party with them Lizzie decided that she would fit well enough there for a few weeks and the Delt girls made their approval of her clear.
However, Jane saw in Lizzie someone who she would be proud to call her sister so Jane used her clout within the organization to ensure that Lizzie was offered an official bid, which Lizzie accepted upon the insistence of Jane. As the bid process, the process by which a pledge becomes an official initiated sister, continued on Lizzie would tell Jane every day that she saw her that she was going to quit. Although Lizzie found herself convinced to stay every time under Jane's gentle but firm urging. Lizzie quickly made friends with the rest of the new members and found that even though they were quite different than her they did truly care for each other and Lizzie found it quite endearing. Jane was soon revealed to be Lizzie's big sister, in which their very close bond was formalized forever. When the time came Lizzie was initiated into Xi Chi, in a ceremony facilitated by Jane, and although Lizzie did not exactly fit in perfectly with the girls in the organization she was well-loved and widely accepted.
Lizzie looked around the room she shared with Jane, and laughed. Their two halves of the room really could not have looked more different if they tried; yet still somehow they fit together perfectly. While Lizzie's side of the room was fairly neat: LSAT books on one side of the desk and photos pinned to a large over-full corkboard above her bed. Jane's side was immaculate. All photos were not only framed but also organized into a fashionable gallery wall that displayed Jane and Lizzie's initials as well as several references to Xi Chi.
"Lizzie, are you all right sweetie? You had quite a night last night, well at least I think you did…" Jane probed and Lizzie was brought out of her reverie for a moment. Lizzie turned to look at Jane, obvious confusion displayed across her face.
"I did?" she questioned. Lizzie thought back to last night she remembered that her Jane had their bi-weekly Wine is Fine night that consisted of a bottle of chardonnay and a sappy romantic comedy, but the last thing Lizzie remembered was that they had not only opened a second bottle but had decided to start their third and after that everything was rather blank. Then all at once Lizzie started to get flashes from the evening before, but they were all quick and muddled together and did not really make any sense. "I remember… Lydia and Kitty? Vodka? Oh lots and lots of vodka… And uh… Half naked guys from Kappa Nu? Oh god. What happened last night?" Lizzie looked over at Jane for help.
"Sweetie do you not remember? You went out with Lydia and Kitty last night, in fact you insisted upon going out with them. After our, well really your, third bottle of wine you decided that you needed something a little harder." Jane explained slowly. Jane was nervous about Lizzie going out last night and told her as much, but Lizzie was Lizzie and insisted that she was fine. While Lizzie got along well with their other sisters she was never really interested in the partying aspect of being in a sorority, especially since she was now a sophomore. She was more known for going out every once in awhile, but usually remained fairly sober to watch after her sisters to ensure their safety. However, last might she seemed determined to go out and have fun and Jane certainly didn't want to be the one who prevented Lizzie from letting loose, since that was so rare for Lizzie.
"Well Janie can you fill me in on the rest of the evening? What happened after I left?" Lizzie went up to scratch her head only to realize that her hair was impossibly tangled and sticky with what she could only assume was party punch, which was a strong mix of vodka, rum, Kool-Aid and most importantly regret. Jane saw Lizzie struggling and went into the bathroom to grab her hairbrush and quickly nudged Lizzie around so she could start untangling the mess sitting on top of her head.
"Well Lizzie, I really don't know what happened to you after you left. Lyds and Kitty promised to watch out for you as I had an early shift at the hospital this morning. You assured me that you would be fine. Oh Lizzie did I make a mistake by letting you by yourself? Oh sweetie, I am so very– " Jane began, but Lizzie quickly interrupted her by waving her hand, assuring Jane that everything was alright.
"Alright well I guess I better find out from Lydia and Kitty what exactly happened last night. But first I think I need a shower. Please excuse me Janie." Lizzie got up and walked towards the bathroom, but not before turning back around to Jane and kissing her on the head as a thank you.
After Lizzie showered and brushed her teeth she instantly felt a thousand times better. She braided her dark hair away from her face. She went back into the room where Jane was sitting on her bed looking at her phone. Upon seeing Jane's phone Lizzie was reminded that Saturday morning meant that it was time for her weekly phone call to her dad. She looked at the clock and realized she only had five minutes before it was time to call; she quickly began to look through her stuff to find her phone. "Jane, sweetie, have you seen my phone anywhere?" Lizzie asked hopefully, Jane nodded in the negative and offered to help look. Lizzie waived her off and continued on her search.
Lizzie was in the middle of tearing up her bedding when she heard Jane speak, "Oh yes, Hi Mr. Bennet, Lizzie is right here… uh-huh. It's nice to hear from you too… Oh well you know same old, same old, still studying for the MCATs and working shifts at the hospital… Oh yes, being the new member educator for Xi Chi is really quite amazing, but a little stressful. Oh don't worry about me… Alright I'll put Lizzie on the phone now." Jane handed Lizzie the phone with a smile. Lizzie quickly explained to her father that she just woke up and that her phone was dead, and definitely not lost, which is why she hadn't called yet. Lizzie remained on the phone with her father for a half-hour before she made her apologies and explained that she had to go.
"Well, shit. Let's hope Lydia knows where my phone is," Lizzie stated after she ended the call with her father.