Episode #4: Working it All Out
Setting: About two weeks after the end of #3
Synopsis: The houses prepare for Big-Little Weekend, and an invite from Evan for an event the same weekend could help Rebecca begin to plan her future. Meanwhile, an incident puts KT's three newest alums back in the house temporarily, Rusty begins thinking about creating a legacy, and Casey begins her new job.
-GREEK-
"Thanks for letting us crash here, Spitter," Heath said as he, Wade, Beaver, and Katherine entered the KT house with suitcases.
"Yeah, who knew the apartment building would get infested with termites less than a month after we moved in," Wade said.
"It's no problem; it'll be great to have you guys back here for a little while," Rusty said, and then saw a few pledges pass by. "Pledges, grab their bags and take them upstairs."
"Sheila said the fumigation could take about a week," Katherine spoke up.
"Yeah, and being around the children smelling like hazardous chemicals is a bad idea for sure," Beaver said.
"What do you say we go make ourselves at home for a bit then round up some guys and hit Dobler's?" Wade asked.
"Sure," Heath said. Heath, Wade, Beaver, and Katherine went upstairs as Ashleigh came downstairs.
"I just got a call from Sheila," Ashleigh said to Rusty. "Apparently the apartment is being fumigated and everyone has to be out by tonight."
"And yes, you can stay here," Rusty smiled and kissed her. "That's why Beaver, Katherine, Wade, and Heath are here; I was just about to come up and tell you."
"I guess I better go back and pack," Ashleigh said. "I didn't even realize I was upstairs for over three hours; you know your room is a great place to study. It's more soundproof than my apartment."
"It's the best room in the house," Rusty said. "But its benefits extend way beyond studying, if you know what I mean."
"Oh I'm well aware of its many advantages," Ashleigh smiled at him. "Being president has its perks, eh."
"Dobler's time!" some of the brothers shouted, entering the room.
"That's my cue to go pack," Ashleigh said. "Don't forget we're Skyping with Casey and Cappie later."
"Don't worry, I won't," Rusty said. "But I'll come help you pack now if you want."
"I'll be fine; you go to Dobler's," Ashleigh said. "I'll take Katherine with me; we haven't hung out in a while."
-GREEK-
"You look like you need a drink," Rebecca said to Evan as she met him walking out of his law class.
"I always need a drink after a three hour Segal class," Evan said with a sigh. "Dobler's?"
"Sure," Rebecca said and they began walking.
"So, are you up for coming to a dinner on Saturday?" Evan asked her.
"What kind of dinner?" Rebecca asked.
"CRU Law is hosting its Student-Alumni Weekend," Evan said. "It's basically an event they host every two years where alumni come back to talk to students about their experiences, and where students can make connections to hopefully get jobs after graduation. So I'll be spending the weekend networking with legal professionals, but Saturday night there's a social and dinner, and I'd like you to be my date. If you're not too busy with it being Big-Little Weekend also, that is."
"I'll come," Rebecca said with a smile. "Besides, I don't have a little sister in the new pledge class, so I can take some time out."
"No more protégés for you?" Evan joked.
"No, between Heather who's determined to find herself a boyfriend ASAP and Kelsey who's love life I can't even begin to comprehend, that's enough," Rebecca said. "Two is all I can handle. Besides, you came to Pledge Presents last week, which was important to me. I'm not going to blow off something that's important to you."
"Thanks Rebecca," Evan smiled. "Plus, you're on the post-graduation plan search this year; you could make some connections, too. Not all the alumni are lawyers; some of them will have other backgrounds."
"Yeah, after my summer didn't go so well, I need a better plan," Rebecca said. "I'm thinking grad school for psychology, but I don't even know for sure what area I want to go into. I mean, there's psychology for practically everything and everybody; from children to old people to counseling to personality, and the list goes on."
"Have you thought about going to career counseling?" Evan asked. "If you're not sure, it wouldn't hurt."
"I don't really want to, but I probably should," Rebecca said. "I've been denying for three years how unsure I am about what I want to do with my life, but I guess I can't let it go any more seeing as it's senior year."
"Also, if there's anyone I know who's dealt with career uncertainty," Evan began. "It's your big sister. Casey's been there you know; I'm sure she's got plenty of advice."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Rebecca said. "So what exactly happens at a law school social?"
"Well for one thing there'll be the lawyer alums who sit around debating legal issues and try to get students on their side," Evan said. "But other than that it shouldn't be anything out of the ordinary; just a normal networking event. I've never been seeing as they didn't have this last year, but a few people in the class had. They said it's a good idea to bring resumes; if someone likes you, they'll ask for one to remember you by and get your contact information."
"Honestly, I don't even have a real resume written," Rebecca said. "I've never needed one; the only jobs I've had are ZBZ president and my job this summer, and the first one I was elected for and the second one I got through a professor."
"I never had one until I needed one to apply for law school," Evan said. "I was actually planning on going to career services tomorrow to get mine revised before this weekend; you should come with me and talk to someone."
"Sure, why not I suppose," Rebecca said.
-GREEK-
"Hey Case," Ashleigh greeted Casey as she and Rusty answered her call on Skype.
"Hey guys," Casey said with a smile. "Cappie's in the shower but he'll be right out; he just got back about a half hour ago."
"Where was it again he went this time?" Rusty asked.
"A university in West Virginia," Casey said. "They're keeping their word in giving him jobs fairly close to home."
"Yeah they are," Cappie said, pulling up a chair next to Casey. "What are you guys up to?"
"Beaver, Wade, and Heath are staying back at the KT house for a while," Rusty said. "So are Ash and Katherine."
"The building's being fumigated," Ashleigh said.
"Is it crickets?" Cappie asked. "We almost had to have the KT house fumigated when that happened."
"Termites," Ashleigh said.
"Ew, that's worse," Cappie said.
"How's the new job going, Case?" Rusty asked.
"It's going really well," Casey said. "A lot better than my internship did. Being a former sorority girl herself, Aunt Carol knows how capable they can be, and I'm already doing more than just bringing people coffee. I'm already working on real legislative issues."
"That's great; anything interesting?" Ashleigh asked.
"You know the bill they're hoping to pass that would make it a crime if you don't report to the police if your child goes missing?" Casey asked. Rusty and Ashleigh nodded. "I've been doing some work on the legislation for that and some other things too."
"And you like it?" Rusty asked.
"I love it," Casey said excitedly. "I'm working in the U.S. Capitol building, which is incredible. A week of being there has shown me that this is the career I want to have and I want to work my way up. The only thing I'm trying to figure out now is the easiest way to get to work."
"It can't be as bad as New York, but I'm sure the traffic is insane," Ashleigh said.
"It is," Casey said. "I drove to work all of last week and I hated it. Drivers are just so rude and in too much of a hurry. Today I decided on taking a taxi but doing that every day would be way too expensive. So I'm taking the Metro tomorrow; I'll have to drive to get to the nearest station but at least it's not driving through the city."
"So I never got to ask you how Rush went," Cappie said to Rusty. "How are the new pledges?"
"They're great; we've got thirty of them," Rusty said. "Anthony Hopkins had them sleep in the backyard one night last week and surprisingly no one fell asleep. And this weekend is Big-Little Weekend."
"So any more little brothers in your future?" Cappie asked.
"I don't think so," Rusty said. "I'm doing well with the one I already have and I've got eight and a half months to get him ready to take over."
"Do you think that's enough time?" Cappie asked.
"Well I hope so, because that's all the time I have," Rusty said.
"I'm glad you're trying to create your own legacy," Cappie said. "And I really hope it works out for you." Then someone knocked on Casey and Cappie's door.
"That's probably Katie," Casey said.
"I'll get it; be right back," Cappie said and went to answer it.
"We're babysitting Katie and Tom's daughter Elizabeth tonight because they're going out for Tom's sister's birthday," Casey said.
"Oh, your neighbors?" Ashleigh asked.
"Yeah," Casey said. "Did I tell you Katie's a ZBZ alum and Tom's a KT alum?"
"Really?" Rusty asked. "So they're basically an older version of you guys?"
"I guess so," Casey said. "Cappie said that, too." Cappie came back in front of the computer, followed by Elizabeth.
"That's Rusty and Ashleigh," Cappie pointed to the computer screen. "Say hi." Two year-old Elizabeth just stood there and stared at the computer screen and said nothing.
"Aw, she's adorable," Ashleigh said with a smile.
"She's shy around new people at first," Casey said.
"That and she's probably confused as to why there are people talking from a computer screen," Rusty said.
"Play!" Elizabeth finally shouted.
"We better go entertain her," Casey said. "We'll talk to you again soon."
"Bye guys," Rusty said. "Good luck with the babysitting."
-GREEK-
"Hey, I need your help with something," Beaver said to Ashleigh and Rusty as they entered the kitchen, where he was sitting at the table with Katherine.
"What's up?" Rusty asked.
"I need you to be parents," Beaver said. Rusty and Ashleigh gave him very confused looks.
"What are you talking about?" Ashleigh asked.
"I know some people are having kids at my age," Rusty said. "But I'm not one of those people."
"I don't mean go make a baby," Beaver laughed. "I mean pretend to be parents so I can practice for parent-teacher conferences that are in two days."
"I've been giving him pointers on talking to parents for the past two hours," Katherine said.
"Oh, well we can do that," Rusty said.
"So who's our pretend kid?" Ashleigh asked, as she and Rusty sat down at the table.
"I'd say Johnny would be a good one to practice with," Katherine said.
"Okay, so there's this little boy Johnny," Beaver began, looking at Rusty and Ashleigh. "He's the most antisocial kid in the class. The other kids have tried to ask him to play, but he never does. His mom said in the e-mail she sent me that she and his father are really concerned since he's never been this antisocial at home, or at his grandma's where he goes for daycare."
"So for the next however many minutes this takes," Katherine said. "You're now Mr. and Mrs. DePuy."
"Okay," Rusty said. "Ready to be fake parents, Ash?"
"Let's do this," Ashleigh said.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. DePuy," Beaver said. "Come in."
"Here's the part where you should make casual conversation for a moment," Katherine spoke up.
"So it says on here that you both work in Columbus," Beaver said, pretending to look at Johnny's file. "That's a long drive to make every day."
"Yeah, we just drove back from there to be here," Ashleigh said. "And you wouldn't believe the traffic; we thought we were going to be late."
"At this time of day?" Beaver asked. "It's not even rush hour."
"There was an accident on Route 33," Rusty said. "If you're going that way, take a different road today."
"I'll keep that in mind," Beaver said. "About Johnny; he won't talk to any of the other kids. He's always by himself and no matter how much I try, he just won't play with anyone."
"We're really concerned," Ashleigh said. "He's never been like this at home or at my mother's. He was always friends with the kids at daycare."
"But now every time we ask him about his friends at school," Rusty said. "He just says he doesn't have any and walks off to his room."
"Mrs. DePuy, you said Johnny always went to daycare at your mother's?" Beaver asked.
"Please, call me, uh, whatever Mrs. DePuy's name is," Ashleigh said.
"Jolene," Beaver said.
"Okay," Ashleigh said. "Yeah, my mother runs a daycare center and he always went there. He loved it, and he and his grandma are really close. He still goes there for a few hours after school until I get back from work."
"It sounds like he's not used to being away from family," Beaver said. "Have you thought about setting up a play date for him and you being there? We're actually thinking about having a parents' day soon for all of the kindergarten classes, where you'll be able to meet some of the other parents."
"Is that where we'd come in and talk about our jobs?" Rusty asked.
"That might be a part of it," Beaver said. "But then we'd have fun things for the kids and parents to do."
"I think parents' day would be a great idea," Ashleigh said.
"You really think so?" Beaver asked, coming out of teacher mode. "Because I just thought of it off the top of my head."
"Yeah, you're thinking like a real teacher, Beav," Rusty said. "You should pitch the idea to the other kindergarten teachers and the administration. I'm sure the parents would like to see what their kids are doing at school."
"I think I will," Beaver said. "Great fake parenting, guys. I think I just might be ready for this now."
"Ready for what?" Wade asked, entering the kitchen.
"To talk to little Johnny's parents," Beaver said. "Along with about fifteen other sets of parents."
"He had you guys be fake parents, too?" Wade asked Rusty and Ashleigh. "I was Mary Anne's slacker dad a little while ago."
"I think you're definitely ready for this now," Katherine smiled at Beaver. "And if you can impress my parents like you did over the summer, then you can handle the parents of a class of five and six year-olds."
-GREEK-
"Dale!" Laura called out to him as she saw him walking out of the engineering building after a class.
"Hey there," Dale replied, smiling at Laura. Then he noticed there was another person with her. "And you're with my sister."
"I do have a name, ya know," Rachel scoffed. "Anyway, I'm off to class."
"In one of the science buildings?" Dale asked. "You?"
"Lab science requirement, duh," Rachel said. "Intro to biology, it's the easiest lab science offered here."
"Mainly because the professor who teaches it doesn't make his students work hard at all," Dale said.
"Don't care," Rachel said. "All that matters is it gets the requirement out of the way and it's a GPA booster. See y'all later! And Laura, think about what I told you." Rachel gave a wave over her shoulder and walked off toward her class.
"Ever notice how she has a much more obvious Southern accent than you?" Laura asked as her and Dale began walking in the other direction.
"Yeah, she always has," Dale said. "What did she mean by think about what she told you?"
"Don't tell her, but I'm going to be her big sister at ZBZ," Laura said. "She asked me if I would, and of course the sisters can't tell the pledges for sure until Big-Little Weekend, but I'm going to do it."
"Really?" Dale asked. "I didn't think you ever had a little sister at ZBZ."
"I haven't," Laura said. "I never really wanted one. But hey, it's my last year and she really wants me as her big sister, so I figured why not."
"How come you two get on so well?" Dale asked. "Why do you like her so much?"
"I could ask you the opposite of that question," Laura said. "Why do you two not get along?"
"Sibling rivalry I guess," Dale said. "How different we've always been. I was always the kid who wanted to go to church, and she was always the one sneaking out of church and getting grounded for it."
"So you don't like each other because she didn't like to go to church?" Laura asked.
"Not just that," Dale said. "That's just one of many things we're different on. So back to my question now."
"Okay, I'll give you the truth," Laura said. "I like her because she likes me. She acts like she actually wants to be my friend. No one's ever asked me to be their big sister, and when she did, it meant a lot."
"So you like the attention she gives you?" Dale asked. "I thought she was trying to be friends with you to spite me."
"When we first started talking last year, I think she was," Laura said. "But after we've gotten to know each other, she told me that's not why she wants to be my friend. Are you mad that we're friends?"
"No, if you want to be friends with my sister and be her big sis, I won't judge you," Dale said. "I just want you to know that she's screwed over some of her friends in the past, and I don't want to see the same thing happen to you."
"What, like the time she stole her best friend's boyfriend in eighth grade?" Laura asked. "She told me about that and she's not proud of it. I did some things in junior high I'm not proud of. Besides, it's not like she's gonna steal my boyfriend."
"Yeah, you're right about that," Dale said with a laugh. "And maybe you're right; I really haven't seen much of her in the last three years except for holidays, so maybe she has changed a little. Go ahead and give her the benefit of the doubt if you want, but I'd still be careful."
"Well, now you two are both living on the same campus," Laura said. "Which means this could be the chance for you to spend some time with her and see for yourself who she is now."
-GREEK-
"So until their building is free of termites, they'll be staying here," Rusty announced to the KT brothers and pledges. "Next, this weekend is Big-Little weekend, where pledges, you'll find out who your big brother is." One of the pledges raised his hand.
"You don't have to raise your hand; it's not a kindergarten class," Rusty said. "What is it, Pledge Barney?"
"Do we get to pick who our big brother is?" the pledge asked.
"You'll each write three names on a slip of paper," Rusty said. "Then we'll match you up as best we can. That's it for today. Pledges, Anthony Hopkins will give each of you a piece of paper; give it back to him when you're done. Meeting adjourned."
"Is it just me or does it seem like there's more of them than us?" Spidey asked Rusty. "Are we gonna be able to match everybody up?"
"We've got thirty pledges and thirty three of us," Rusty said. "So we should just be able to do it. Because we lost some brothers the last few years and you were the only pledge we could have last year, the pledge to brother ratio is way up this year. But it's what's going to help the house get back to normal membership."
"So next year we'll have about double the brothers of this year," Spidey said.
"Well minus those of us that are graduating," Rusty began. "I'd say you should have about fifty to fifty five."
"So is everyone from your pledge class actually graduating?" Spidey asked.
"Most of us are," Rusty said. "There's only a few planning on coming back next year. But let's not worry about next year right now. I wanted to talk to you about something for this year. Like you taking a bigger role in the house."
"Really, like what?" Spidey asked excitedly.
"How would you feel about doing IFC?" Rusty asked. "No one else has said they wanted to do it, and you may be a new active, but I think you'd be great for it."
"Yeah, I'll do it," Spidey said. "Talk about really making the jump from pledge to active!"
"You deserve it," Rusty said. "By the way, have you thought about who you might want as a little brother? You can get one, you know."
"Get one?" Spidey asked with a laugh. "Sounds like you're telling me to go pick up a stray dog."
"Or a stray pledge," Rusty said. "I was what you might call a stray pledge at first, and Cappie picked me up."
"And you did the same for me," Spidey said. "I don't know; I guess I haven't really thought about it. I mean, there's a few of the pledges I've talked to a lot, but it's up to them to pick now and not me. Hey when's the first meeting of IFC?"
"The first one you'll go to is next week; and here, take this," Rusty said, and handed him a clipboard. "Casey always said having one of these makes you look more serious."
-GREEK-
"Thanks for coming with me and helping me get the supplies for Big-Little Weekend, Rick," Calvin said to the pledge that was walking with him. Both of them were armed with bags.
"Yeah, well I'd rather be shopping than doing what the other pledges are doing right now," Rick said.
"You'd rather be shopping than cleaning the house while watching the game?" Calvin asked.
"I'm not big on football," Rick said. "I'm not much of a sports guy, except for baseball. That's about the only sport I watch."
"Yeah, you played, right?" Calvin asked.
"In little league," Rick said. "Then after sixth grade, my life totally changed and I never got back into playing. Do you remember what I was saying to you during Rush?"
"I'm pretty sure I know what you were trying to tell me," Calvin said. "If you want to tell me for real, I promise I won't tell anyone at the house."
"Well I'm gay," Risk said. "Like you."
"I was right," Calvin said happily. "Well I'm happy for you, and I'm here for you."
"I have to say that's the best reaction I've gotten all my life, aside from my family," Rick said.
"So I'm guessing that had something to do with why your life changed after sixth grade," Calvin said.
"Yeah, the summer after sixth grade I finally got up the courage to tell my best friend since kindergarten that I was gay," Rick said. "I told her not to tell anyone and she said she wouldn't. But when we got back to school in the fall, she told a few of her girlfriends, and before the first day of school was over, the entire school knew."
"And they didn't take it well?" Calvin asked.
"Not at all," Rick said. "I went to a private school and the majority of people in that school and in my small town are anti-gay. I told my parents sometime during my sixth grade year, and they accepted it. They said that I was their son and they would accept me the way I am. The support from them was what helped me tell my so-called best friend in the first place. Let's just say she and I went our separate ways after all this happened."
"Do you think she might have liked you and she was upset?" Calvin asked. "Do you think that could have been why she outed you?"
"I don't know, and I didn't really care why," Rick said. "She betrayed me and that was that. I haven't spoken to her since. After seventh grade I never even saw her again, and then my mom told me later that she and her family moved away."
"My friend was the person who accidentally outed me to the entire Omega Chi house freshman year," Calvin said. "But all's long been forgiven now."
"It wasn't an accident when Gina outed me, though," Rick said. "She purposely did it."
"Ouch," Calvin said. "I'm sorry to hear about that. What happened after that?"
"Everyone at school basically shunned me," Rick said. "And some of the adults in the town even shunned my family when they found out. My best friends from there on out were my cousins, and my friends from the summer camp I went to every year. I eventually told them and they were cool about it. The only reason I stayed in that private school was because my parents said it would give me a good education, and it did. I graduated third in my class."
"Well let me tell you, if and when you choose to come out at CRU," Calvin began. "It won't be like it was at your school. People are a lot more open-minded here. Guys at Omega Chi weren't always tolerant, but we've made some changes over the past few years and we don't tolerate intolerance in our brothers."
"I got that feeling, and that's what I love about it here," Rick said. "You being president of Omega Chi and the feeling I got from the house during Rush just told me that this is where I belong. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about coming out, but when I'm ready at least I know I can count on you for support."
"Absolutely," Calvin said.
"And I know you can't tell me until this weekend," Rick began as they walked back into the Omega Chi house. "But it would be really awesome if you were my big brother." Rick walked over to some of his pledge brothers in the living room, and Dale walked up to Calvin.
"Do you realize how much our pledge educator seriously sucks?" Dale asked. "He's off gallivanting with his new girlfriend yet again, and these pledges were doing too much watching the game and not enough working."
"Yeah, I need to have a talk with Kyle," Calvin said. "He was supposed to run the pledge meeting yesterday and wasn't here, so I had to do it. I just haven't seen him since yesterday to be able to talk to him."
"You know if I was pledge educator, I could whip these guys into shape," Dale said. "I was junior rodeo champ growing up."
"Do you want to be substitute pledge educator?" Calvin asked.
"What do you mean by 'substitute'?" Dale asked. "I'd take the job for real."
"We have to have a vote to elect someone new at the next meeting," Calvin said. "But hey, give it a shot through this weekend. And what does being junior rodeo champ have to do with the pledges, by the way?"
"Because if they don't do what I say," Dale began. "I can hogtie each one of them in under eight seconds flat."
"Just no injuries or deaths, okay," Calvin said half joking. "Oh and guess what? I think I just might have my first little brother."
"Cool, me too actually," Dale said. "Remember Chris? I took him to church on Sunday and introduced him to Pastor Dan. I'm helping him see that he can be in a fraternity and still have a relationship with God."
"That's great," Calvin said. "I'm meeting Heath over at KT; you got a handle on the pledges then?"
"Yep, I've got 'em," Dale said.
-GREEK-
"I must be in the wrong house because I've never seen anyone as hot as you here, except for me," Pledge Barf said to Rebecca when she entered the KT house. Rebecca gave him a disgusted look.
"One, I have a boyfriend," Rebecca began. "Two, I'm just here looking for my friend. And three, you're never going to get a girlfriend with lines like that." Rebecca left the pledge and began walking upstairs.
"You were in way over your head, man," Pledge Alfred Hitchcock came over once Rebecca left. "That's the president of ZBZ and former senator's daughter, Rebecca Logan."
"Hey Ash," Rebecca greeted Ashleigh as she met her on the stairs.
"Hey, Bex," Ashleigh greeted. "I think they're staring at you." Ashleigh pointed to a group of pledges that were standing down the stairs, seemingly staring at Rebecca.
"Seriously, what is their problem?" Rebecca asked. "One of them used a really bad pick-up line on me when I walked in."
"They're just freshman boys trying to make eyes with hot senior girls," Ashleigh said. "Although the staring is creepy. Let me grab my purse and let's go out for a while."
"I don't know how you can stand living in this place," Rebecca said as she and Ashleigh walked upstairs to Rusty's room. "I'd rather take my chances with the termites."
"It's not like I haven't slept over here enough times," Ashleigh said.
"Sleeping here is one thing," Rebecca said. "But having to share a bathroom with a bunch of fraternity guys. Gross." Rebecca gagged. "You know you can come and shower at the ZBZ house."
"It's not as bad as I thought," Ashleigh said. "I just wear shower shoes and since there are so many pledges, the bathroom gets cleaned every day. So what do you want to do?"
"Let's go shopping," Rebecca said. "I was hoping you'd help me find something to wear for this dinner I'm going to on Saturday with Evan."
"What kind of dinner?" Ashleigh asked.
"It's Student-Alumni Weekend for CRU Law," Rebecca said. "They're hosting a social and dinner on Saturday and it's not just Evan who needs to network. I need to start putting together my own life plan."
"Getting serious about post-graduation, are you?" Ashleigh asked.
"I guess I have to," Rebecca said. "I'm not going to get any kind of good job or get into grad school as just the former senator's daughter who's never had to work a day in her life."
"You worked this summer; even though it might not have been the best experience, it was still a job," Ashleigh said. "And you're ZBZ president; that counts for something on a resume."
"I was at career services today and those were the only two things I had to put on my resume that didn't involve my father," Rebecca said. "My father basically helped me get into CRU when I applied, but now with everything that's happened it's not like I can depend on him, nor do I even want to."
"Are you more worried about your resume, or are you just worried about being judged because of your dad's scandal?" Ashleigh asked.
"Funny, that's what the woman at career services asked me today," Rebecca said.
"And what did you say?" Ashleigh asked.
"We were done writing my resume, so I said I had to get to class and left," Rebecca said. "I really don't know the answer to that. I mean, people have judged me based on my dad all my life, and now there's even more reason for people who don't know me to judge me, which sucks for me. And then I don't have much to prove that I'm more than just Ken Logan's daughter."
"It's a fact that people are judgmental," Ashleigh said. "It's not right, but that's the world we live in. Not everyone is like that, though. Look at Casey when she had her internship in D.C.; she was judged as being dumb just because she was a sorority girl. But of course that wasn't true and now she's found a job with people who know she's capable. It's all about finding the right fit for you for a job, grad school, or whatever, and finding people who will accept you, and you will."
"I talked to Casey the other night," Rebecca said. "She was babysitting some kid so we didn't talk long. What she told me though was that if I decide to be done being identified by my dad, then I will be."
"She's right," Ashleigh said. "You can prove yourself, just like you've been doing at ZBZ. You've grown up and changed, and now's the time to show that. A good personal statement can really help you get into grad school, you know. And you've got a good GPA, leadership, and philanthropy."
"I am done," Rebecca said with assertion. "This is my life, not my father's, and I'm going to make something for myself."
"That's the Rebecca I know," Ashleigh smiled. "Now come on, let's go find you a dress for this dinner."
-GREEK-
"Knock knock," Calvin said as he entered Heath's temporary room in the KT house, where Heath was on the bed studying.
"Hey, I'm glad you're here," Heath said. "I can really use a break right now."
"So could I," Calvin said. "I've been doing house stuff all afternoon."
"How's the Big-Little prep going?" Heath asked.
"Great," Calvin said. "And I'm going to have a little brother."
"That's cool," Heath said. "What's the story behind this guy?"
"His name's Rick and there's a story behind him," Calvin said. "I really want to tell you, but I think I should introduce you first. I will soon."
"Awesome," Heath said. "I had lunch with my sister today and she was all excited because she's going to have a little sister. I just wish she wasn't so gung ho on finding a boyfriend; it kinda freaks me out."
"Don't say 'gung ho'," Calvin said with a chuckle. "And all you can do for your sister is look out for her; you can't stop her from being a normal college girl."
"I know," Heath said. "It's still weird though; I'm just like my dad in that we both still see her as the little pig-tailed five year-old girl." Heath's computer beeped, signaling a new e-mail. "Sheila just sent a message; she said the apartment should be back open this coming Tuesday."
"Hey, how come you didn't just stay with me when you had to leave the apartment?" Calvin asked.
"I don't know; I just didn't think to ask you I guess," Heath said. "Beaver showed up and said we could all stay here at the KT house, so I just went along with them."
"You know you don't have to ask to stay with me," Calvin said. "But come to think of it, you've never stayed over at my room. I always stayed here last year or now at your apartment."
"I guess I still would feel a little weird being at the Omega Chi house," Heath confessed. "It was always an unspoken rule that KTs don't set foot in the Omega Chi house, and I guess I'm still stuck on that."
"You know that's all over, for good," Calvin said. "I told you about it. Sure, there still aren't many KTs that come to Omega Chi; well, Rusty's pretty much been the only one; but if they do, it's not like they're in danger of being attacked anymore. If you want to stay here with the guys this week, then go ahead. But I just want you to know that you don't have to be afraid of coming to Omega Chi. You can at least drop by and not have to text me to meet you somewhere on campus every time you want to meet up."
"No, you're right," Heath said. "You're my boyfriend and I shouldn't be afraid of your house; it's obvious you're not afraid of having me there. I'll stay over there tonight, I promise."
"I'd really like that," Calvin smiled and kissed him.
-GREEK-
"How's it going?" Evan asked, approaching Rebecca, who was talking with a woman near the bar before the dinner started.
"This is my boyfriend, Evan," Rebecca said to the woman. "Evan, this is Dr. Taylor; she's a CRU Law alum and now a legal psychologist who works in Columbus."
"Props to you for asking Rebecca to come here," Dr. Taylor said. "I think she's got some real potential for a career in legal psychology."
"So we'll be in touch," Rebecca said to Dr. Taylor.
"Absolutely," Dr. Taylor said. "I'll set up a meeting with you at my office in Columbus, I'd say in about two to three weeks."
"Thank you, that would be great," Rebecca said.
"It was nice talking to you," Dr. Taylor said. "And nice meeting you, Evan."
"You too," Evan said, and Dr. Taylor walked over to what looked to be a group of alums.
"I think I just successfully networked," Rebecca said to Evan as they began walking toward their table to sit down for dinner.
"It looked like you did," Evan said. "So legal psychology, is that your thing now?"
"It seemed interesting when Dr. Taylor talked about it," Rebecca said. "We're going to talk more when I meet with her in Columbus. I'm glad you invited me here; thanks."
"Hey, you're welcome," Evan smiled, putting an arm around her. "I'm glad you're on your way to figuring things out."
"What about you; any connections?" Rebecca asked.
"Yeah, I got business cards from some alums who work in D.C.," Evan said. "And I was also talking with my advisor about the possibility of graduating early."
"Really, you could do that?" Rebecca asked. "How early?"
"Next December," Evan said. "If I take an extra class next semester and again next fall, and take classes over the summer, then I can graduate a semester early. I've been feeling lately that I'm really ready to leave Cyprus. I'm not just going to up and leave until I'm done with school, but I'd really like to finish early."
"I think you should do it," Rebecca said. "When you're done with law school, nothing's going to be holding you back here anymore."
"So I'm guessing that means you want to leave, too," Evan said.
"After I graduate, yeah I want to leave," Rebecca said. "I don't know where to, or exactly when, but I don't plan on making a living in a college town."
"If I do this, then I'll have to spend more time on studying," Evan said. "But I promise you that this won't turn into a repeat of last year with you and I."
"Look, I understand now," Rebecca assured. "I mean it when I say you should do it. You'll work your butt off for a year, and you'll save a semester's worth of tuition and get out of here six months early. You and I are going to be fine, and I truly believe that this time."
A/N: Hope you like this chapter and the mix of fun and serious moments! :) I promise more Cappie and Casey interaction soon; I think you'll like where I'll be going with them in future chapters.