Chapter 2: Introductions are in order

Chapter 2: Introductions are in order

Casey laughed.

"I told you not to interrupt" Cappie scolded.

"I'm sorry. Why yes Sire? Come on, Cap, could you be more fictional? You can do better than that!"

"Casey, if you want to hear the rest of the story, you have to respect my imagination. I can't have you laughing at what I believed could have been."

"Alright, alright, there's more? Obviously Evan doesn't have a part in all this anymore"

"Oh contrary my dear Casey, every story needs a villain. He just enters a bit later than expected. You see, with that night out of the way, Mr. Chambers and I remain friends, or civil at least. He becomes the main man of Omega Chi, and I go on into becoming Kappa Tau's president in my junior year. You and I are still together of course. Then, Evan pulls a big one and sleeps with one of your prospect pledges. You, being the pledge adviser become aware of this little mishap, and your paths cross yet again. This time, the two of you are friends, but he's still in love with you. And with your heart busy with me, your head busy with the house, not to mention your unknown younger brother, you wouldn't have noticed. Fast forward to the beginning of last school year"


"Rebecca, I'm so glad you chose to pledge with us" Casey shook Rebecca Logan's hand.

"Of course Casey, now about that room you promised?"

"Oh, it's all set. I've spoken to Frannie and she said she'd be happy to give you a room in the house. You can move in tomorrow."

"Great" Rebecca chirped as she walked out the door of the ZBZ house. Exhausted, Casey collapsed into one of the sofas.

"You do know Rebecca Logan only chose to pledge with us because of you, right Case?" it was Ashleigh. She had a cup of strawberry yoghurt in one hand and a spoon in the other.

"What are you talking about, Ash? I just met her yesterday"

"Ah yes, but sources tell me she slept with Evan Chambers last night, and everyone in campus knows you have his heart in your hands, once you decide to claim it, that is" Ashleigh took a spoonful of yoghurt

"That's ridiculous. Evan knows I'm in love with Cappie, and they're old friends. Besides, people misinterpret our friendship. We're only close because Frannie keeps on giving me the errands that involve Omega Chi." Casey was seriously confused. She knew people were teasing her and Evan behind their backs, but a student pledging because of the rumors? This was too much.

Ashleigh shrugged. "Maybe you should talk to him, ask him what he knows about Rebecca?"

"Maybe"

Casey decided to go to the Omega Chi house that night to straighten things over with Evan, but when she got there he wasn't home she went to the KT house instead.

"Casey Cartwright, the love of my life. I'm sorry, but the beans are spilled. Everyone knows about Rusty now. And I think, no, I believe, he had decided to pledge with the Kappa Taus" it was Cappie who greeted her at the door. She responded with a kiss, but stopped as she realized his words.

"Wait, what? I'm sorry Cap you lost me at the love of my life. You said something about Rusty pledging?"

"Indeed I did. He came to me yesterday afternoon complaining about this lame Polymer Science party and that he has decided to Rush. He came over last night and was branded Spitter by yours truly."

"Spitter? What kind of? You know what I don't even want to know. Can we just go to Dobbler's and spend some quality time together? I missed you" she said hugging him, forgetting all about Rusty, Rebecca and especially Evan.

Dobbler's was packed, with all the Rush excitement over with, the Greek students of CRU decided to kick back a bit before all their classes started.

Cappie and Casey made their way to the bar where Cappie ordered a beer for himself and a lemon drop for Casey.

"Why thank you" she said as he handed her the drink.

He simply kissed her cheek as a response

"Oh brother" she heaved

"Am I not supposed to kiss my adoring girlfriend?" Cappie laughed

"No, I mean, oh brother" Casey pointed to the direction where her brother, Rusty was deep in conversation with none other than Evan Chambers.

"I told you the beans are spilled. Now even Evan knows about little brother Cartwright" Cappie laughed.

"Shut up Cappie. This is such a nightmare. I can't believe he's here. He should be in Brown, or Yale or Stanford, anywhere but here" she buried her face in Cappie's chest.

Cappie laughed harder. "If you hadn't brought me home the summer after first year, I wouldn't have known about Rusty either, would I?" his eyes still locked on the two guys talking across the room.

"Of course not! Even Ashleigh has no idea about him!"

"About whom?" as if on cue, Ashleigh walked up behind Casey

"Oh, about her little brother who isn't so little anymore and is by there talking to Evan" Cappie said nonchalantly.

"What? You have a little brother you never told me about? That's your little brother? What's his name? Ooh I can see he's sucking up" Ashleigh gave Casey the wide- eyed nod

"Sucking up to Evan? No way. Why would he want to pledge for Omega Chi when KT's receiving him with hands wide open? Spitter has potential, I'm telling you"

"Who's Spitter? And anyway, I meant, Evan's sucking up to Rusty, not the other way around."

"Give it up Ash, Evan is not in love with me. They're all just rumors, right Cap?" Casey turned t her boyfriend for assurance.

He couldn't meet her eye.

Just then, they saw Rusty on his way towards them, but before they got to their destination, Cappie whispered "It's kind of obvious, Case" into her hair.

"Hi Casey, hi Cappie" Rusty greeted

"Hi Rusty," Casey said forcing a smile

"Ahem, I believe introductions are in order. Hi Rusty, I'm Casey's best friend, Ashleigh." Ashleigh stuck out her hand and emphasized the best friend part for Casey's sake.

"Hi Ashleigh, I've heard about you" Rusty said taking her hand

"I wish I could say the same" there was a hint of bitterness in Ashleigh's voice

"Don't worry Ashleigh, I had no idea that Casey had a little brother either" Evan said approaching. And gave a high five to Cappie with a "hey man" and a simple hi to Casey.

"I am so excited with all this. College, fraternities, drinking, parties, girls" Rusty beamed at his sister

"Russ, I really don't think it's such a good idea to be joining a fraternity. This is my thing. You have you dorky camp thing, you wouldn't survive this life."

"But I need this Case, seriously. Brothers for life, and all that. I really want this Casey."

"Case, I think you should let him join. It's not going to hurt him or you for that matter." Cappie persuaded

Casey looked at the people around them. Then to her brother who was looking at her pleadingly, and sighed.

"Alright fine"