Rivalry
Chapter One: Delta Gamma
Rush Week
The first thing they taught Veronica Sawyer when she first joined Delta Gamma was to hate Kappa Kappa Gamma. Veronica didn't even want to join a stupid sorority but her mother, Alice Sawyer, was a legacy for the epsilon chapter at Ohio State University. One of the girls tracked Veronica down the moment welcome week arrived. Veronica fully intended to grab a quick bagel with cream cheese and one of those strawberry banana fruit smoothies from this Dunkin Donut knock off place on campus. She wanted to avoid the crowd of people who were literally leaking with enthusiasm to join a dumb club to enhance their college experience, when Heather McNamara cornered her. They call her Mac for short (a reason Veronica won't know for a good semester).
Veronica doesn't know how Mac hunted her down but she knows she felt way under dressed in her lazy Saturday sweatpants and oversized Ohio State hoodie while Mac wore a fitted long sleeve with a fluttering skirt.
"You should join Delta Gamma," Mac said with an alarming smile.
Veronica bristled, "how did you even—"
"You're Alice Sawyer's daughter. A legacy. It would be like, a crime, or something, if you didn't carry the torch."
And Veronica didn't have any better options so she begrudgingly agreed. "Fine, okay."
Mac then dragged her over to the Delta Gamma table to meet some of the other girls in the sorority to give her a feel of the atmosphere. Prissy wasn't the right word to describe most of the girls—privileged was a bit better (and a nicer). But Veronica supposed she fits into the category of privilege when she looks back on how it was her mother's connection that got her this position.
Veronica contemplated going to Cornell, somewhere far from her parents, but Ohio State was cheaper and easier to get in with her mother's help. But she promised herself she would break from her mother's shadow to blaze her own path. But, as she signed the papers that gave Delta Gamma control of her weekends and nights, Veronica felt herself conforming to the ideals of her mother.
"Don't look so sad," Mac brushed shoulders with her, grinning. "You're not signing your soul away."
Veronica smiled, "yeah I know. It's just—a lot of paper work."
"This stuff is just for clothing sizes so we can get a good head count on what to order. The important stuff is going to be emailed to you so you can do a quick signature electronically. It's way easier."
"Mac, can you help out with recruitment on the west side? Those damn Kappa's brought a speaker and shave ice." Regina George, their sorority president, said "they can't even recruit people without bribing them. It's sad really."
"Kappa's?" Veronica asked innocently.
"They are the scum of the earth and we hate them!" Regina shouted, red in the face.
Veronica blinked. "…uhm, okay? Why do we hate them?"
Regina's face looked pinched. "Mac," her voice was frighteningly low.
"Right," Mac jumped into action, latching on Veronica's shoulder "come on Veronica. You can help me recruit on the west side."
They didn't speak again until they were safely outside. "Did I say something…?"
"Oh, no, it wasn't you. Regina is just very passionate about her hate for the Kappa's."
"Is there a reason?"
"I'm only a sophomore so I know as much as you. But don't think of it as hate—rivals sound better."
It was definitely a circus over by the Kappa recruitment table. True to Regina's word, there was a large speaker playing pop music from one of the popular radio stations in their area (Veronica wanted to nod along but was worried Regina was watching her somehow; prepared to punish her for any form of betrayal). There was also the iconic shave ice machine with various syrup flavors at their disposal. A long unorganized line was cluttered around the table so Veronica couldn't see any of the girls who were supposed to be her rivals.
Mac seemed to have better luck spotting someone out. "Oh! I'm gonna say hi to a friend, are you—"
"I'm fine." Veronica smiled, "I'll see you at the next meeting? I have your number."
Mac pulled her into a tight hug. "Of course. I'll see you later!"
Veronica checked the time on her phone, it was a little past noon. She already had her classrooms located for tomorrow when classes began so there wasn't anything left for her to do. She was contemplating going back to her dorm to be antisocial, maybe curl up with a good Netflix show and a snack, when some tall guy in a…trench coat (it's like 60 degrees out) walked up to her. His black hair was pulled back, a small strand framing his forehead like a Superman curl but much more frazzled. He wore a simple grin, butt chin dimpling.
"Greetings and salutations," he did a lame bow; when he stood back up the hair that was pulled back fell just above his eyes. He nodded his head back and his hair returned to its former glory. That's when Veronica noticed the two cups of shave ice in his hands.
"Aren't you hot?"
He arched an eyebrow, "you noticed?"
"No, dude," Veronica spluttered "because of that coat."
He shrugged. "It's my thing. And I hope this is yours. I got mango over Swedish fish because only a monster would go for the ladder."
"…I agree." Veronica cautiously accepted the shave ice and took a quick taste (it's the best she's ever had but Regina can never know).
"I'm Jason Dean, but my friends call me JD…well, expect for one."
"Veronica, Sawyer."
"Ah, the new edition to the Delta's." JD gestured to himself, "I'm in Sigma Chi myself. So I'll probably see you around at some of the parties we're forced to show face for."
"Can't wait." Veronica huffed.
"It's not so bad. But this will be the only good thing you'll be enjoying from the Kappa's," JD said as he pointed to the shave ice in her hand. "I'm sure George has already told you how to feel about them."
"Rivalry isn't a bad thing," she said, "don't you guys have rivals?"
"Guys don't have rivals the way girls do." JD chucked back the rest of his shave ice at an alarming speed. "—ooohhh, brain freeze—" he squeezed his eyes shut.
Veronica frowned, "dude are you okay?"
JD held a hand up, "it feels great."
Okay, Veronica decided, this guy is insane.
"But…anyway," JD shook his head as the pleasure ebbed away, "my friend from Kappa gave me two shave ice cups to keep me away from her table while she's recruiting. I'm gonna make it look like I'm about to start crowd surfing so she gives me a whole tube of shave ice, preferably mango but I can opt for cherry if negations see fit."
Veronica didn't know what to say to that.
"I'll see you around?" JD asked.
"Uh, yeah…have fun."
JD grinned, "always do! Later Veronica."
As he made his way back into Kappa territory, Veronica threw away her first impression of JD being cute and switched it for weird.
She thought it was much more fitting of an observation.
The same night Veronica found herself denying any kind of attraction to JD with her roommate, Martha.
"Eww," Veronica groaned into her pillow, "it's never gonna happen, Martha. You didn't see the way he scarfed down that shave ice!"
Martha, ever the romantic, squealed. "He can be the one, Veronica!"
"If he's the one then hell must be freezing over."
Veronica and Martha went to Westerberg High together. They've been best friends since diapers and while they hadn't planned on going to college together, it just happened. But Veronica was glad to have a friend while she was away from home.
"Only time will tell."
Veronica laughed, "yeah. I guess it will."
Parties
"Shot, shot, shot, shot…!"
The crowd burst into loud cheers as JD took his fourth (sixth maybe? She lost count) shot of vodka for the night. "Wooo!" he cheered himself on, almost tripping on himself when his body swayed.
"You the man!" Kurt Kelly (a face Veronica wished to never see again from high school) shook JD's shoulders violently. "Take another."
JD wrapped his arm around Kurt, slurring his words "only, but you, you, you have to take one with me. Because we're bros and I love you man."
"You heard my bro," Kurt yelled at once of his freshmen pledges, "get us some more shots!"
Veronica shook her head in bewilderment (with mild amusement). It's been a little over a semester and she's attending her first frat party. Regina throws a few parties here and there but Veronica has always managed to get out of them with some excuse about midterms or exams. Mac was the one who told her Regina's patience was wearing thin and suggested she attend this one party for at least an hour just to show face. Martha had encouraged it said it might be fun but Veronica wasn't very thrilled.
The Sigma Chi frat house was packed. People were bumping into her left and right, and of course Veronica foolishly wore a hoodie and was sweating bullets.
"Wow," Mac startled her as she slid up beside her with two red solo cups, "JD must be drunk if he's latching onto Kurt. He can't stand the guy."
The only fun thing about the party was watching JD drink himself into the ground.
"No thanks," Veronica said when Mac offered her a cup. "I'm only 18."
"And I'm 20," Janis, Regina's girlfriend (an art major), snuck up and stole the offered cup. "Thank you."
Mac blinked as Janis downed the contents of the cup. "Slow down?"
"No," Janis shook her head, "the Kappa's just showed up."
"Oh boy, where's Regina?" Mac looked frantic, "someone get her and tie her down, please? We cannot have another drunk dramatic sing off!"
Veronica frowned, "what the hell is happening—"
"I'll get her." Janis said over her shoulder as she pushed through the crowd.
Veronica turned to Mac, "who cares if the Kappa's are here."
"Regina does. It's complete disrespect. The Kappa's never go to any parties unless they're the best of the best."
"And—"
"They've never shown up to any of ours. Hence the disrespect."
Veronica had more contradictions listed but a blur of light and dark blue came bursting through the doors. Veronica didn't recognize any of the girls in her rival sorority except for this one girl with a ponytail who was in her creative writing class. It makes sense to her now, why the girl had given her a nasty look upon entry to the class.
"Hey," Veronica noticed an outlier, "shouldn't that girl be wearing blue with the rest of them?"
A stark red blazer stood out amongst the sea of blue.
"Of course she's wearing red," there was fondness in Mac's voice; it sounded strange compared to the hostile tone Regina usually had towards Kappa's.
"Who is she?"
Mac smiled, "that's Heather. She's one of the Kappa's but red is her favorite color so she doesn't do the blue thing. Her mother gives a large chunk into their funding so they don't say anything about it."
Veronica laughed. "That's kind of badass."
"Heather Chandler is not badass." Regina snuck up from behind her, "she's a demon spawn. As are the rest of them."
Veronica jumped, "where did you even—"
"Let me give you the run down, freshman." Regina silenced her. "Chandler is the worst. She's only a sophomore but she acts like she runs the place. Just because she's rich she thinks she can have anything and anyone—I heard she stole Cate's boyfriend over Spring Break last year and she still hooked up with Ram at some party! It's all a game to her."
"Pretty sure those were just rumors," Mac says; her face darker than Veronica's ever seen.
"You can never know with her," Regina shrugs. "—don't even get me started on Heather."
Veronica's head is spinning. "You just did."
"The other Heather."
"How many are there?"
"Me," Mac began, "and Heather Chandler in the red, and Heather Duke. She's right next to her. She's in Kappa too."
Veronica asked, "what's wrong with her?"
"What isn't wrong with Duke?" Regina scoffed. "She's a bitch."
As if on cue, Duke turned in their direction to fix Regina with a nasty glare.
"She's going down," Regina said, pushing towards the Kappa (wasn't Janis supposed to be on this?).
Veronica asked nervously, "uh, am I going to be forced to join a fight where we get our asses kicked by the Kappa's as some kind of team bonding thing?"
"Regina and Duke always battle it out to see who can win in kings. They usually pick five people from each of their sororities to join them—"
"Mac!" Regina shouted from across the room (there were three other unfortunate girls from their sorority beside her), "come on bitch, you're playing!"
Mac sighed, "and there's my cue. I think she's picking Janis as her fifth player so you're safe tonight."
"You sure? She can't force you to play."
"It's fine," Mac smiled. "I haven't seen Duke this riled up in a while."
Veronica leans into the banister and watches the game for a couple of minutes. She can't deny that it's interesting and fun to watch; there's a buzz of energy in that one area where the Kappa's and Delta's sit around in a circle with a bottle of beer, cards surrounding it, as it taunts them.
At the start of the game, Regina goes first and draws a 2.
"Vodka," Regina says as she slips the first card between the cap of the beer can, "Duke."
"Obvious much?" Duke taunts before downing a shot. "My turn…6, everyone drink."
Veronica can see where this game is going and, with most of her sisters distracted or drunk, she slips out the front door.
711's
Veronica is contemplating calling Martha or a Lift to take her to the freshmen dorms when her stomach growls. There aren't a lot of options in the area near the Sigma Chi frat house but she does see a 711 looming at her in the distance and a bag of cheese curls sounds awesome right now. So, Veronica makes a quick stop at the shiny store before going home where she plans on detailing her night with Martha in vivid detail because she doesn't ever plan on going to another party.
Not her scene.
"Excuse me," Veronica asks the lady at the counter "where are the cheese curls?"
"Over there I think?"
"Thanks."
Veronica quickly realizes that the lady at the counter has no idea where anything is located. The direction she pointed her in led her to a stack of batteries and flashlights.
"…not trying to bury someone in the woods tonight, but thanks; now I know where to get my supplies," Veronica whispers to herself.
"VERONICA!"
JD almost trips as he slides over to her in his gray socks.
"Dude," she holds out her hand before he even thinks of hugging her and getting the smell of alcohol and sweat stuck in her clothes. "Where're your socks, buddy?"
"Oh, Kurt took them, he's babysitting tonight."
"Right…did you walk here? You shouldn't be alone."
"M'not alone. My best friend's getting me a slushie—" he whispered.
"Jason—"
"Hide me," JD uses her as a shield even though he's a good couple heads taller. "She'll make me wear shoes."
Heather Chandler turns the corner with a red slushie in her hand, she says "Jason," in a strained voice.
"Uh, does he belong to you?" Veronica jokes.
"Unfortunately," Heather says, "come on Jason. Your slushie's melting."
JD slips from behind Veronica to lean into Heather's shoulder. "Thanks Heather—can I stay at your place tonight?"
"No way, last time you wore my robe. Now it's all stretched out and smells like slushie syrup."
JD rolls his eyes dramatically, "I promise not to wear you robe."
"Hard pass. Now, go pay for you stuff so we can go. Then maybe I'll think about it." Heather turns to her when he's gone, "sorry about that. He doesn't usually harass strangers at 711."
Veronica laughed, "It's okay. He's not a stranger, I met JD at rush week in September."
Heather looks relieved. "Okay good…are you in a sorority?"
Veronica considers lying. Heather seems so normal; she wouldn't want their dumb rivalry changing her attitude towards her. But Veronica was also proud of her organization so she found the courage to say—
"Delta Gamma."
Heather laughs. "Scale of 1 to 10, how much of a handful is George?
Veronica's lip twitches. "…I don't think there's a large enough box to fit Regina into."
"I'm Heather," it seems like she passed some kind of test because Heather holds out her hand.
"Veronica."
"I've never seen you at any of the parties."
"This was my first," she curses her phrasing. "…parties aren't really my thing."
Heather nods, "same here. You're not missing anything, just Duke and Regina having a pissing contest. It's what—two o'clock? Right about now the rest of the girls are probably out of the game by default, Duke or Regina will win at kings but it won't matter because they'll each deny the game ending; at the same time, they'll both be too drunk to remember how it really ended so they'll just repeat the pattern at the next party."
"Wow…thank you for spoiling that for me. Now I know never to go to another party."
"It's not all bad," Heather says, "I'm usually there."
"Yeah but," Veronica cleared her throat, "I think Regina would faint if you and I hung out at a party together."
"So she already gave you the 'hate Kappa's' spiel."
"Pretty much."
Heather crosses her arms. "And what do you think about it?"
"…it's kind of, high school? Reminds me too much of Westerberg."
"You went to that shit hole too?"
Veronica blinked. "You went to Westerberg?"
"Sadly. But it wasn't too terrible. JD was there."
"JD too?"
"Ohio's a small place, ya know?"
"Yeah," Veronica laughs. "I guess so."
"—Heather," JD comes back with a receipt.
"I gotta take him home." Heather hesitates, "do you need a ride?"
Veronica doesn't know why she says, "sure."
Heather drops JD off at his dorm first. Veronica gets out of the Porsche (her parents let her take this to college?) to help carry JD despite Heather's refusal. She watches Heather push JD into bed but not before setting a couple bottles of water and some snacks on his nightstand for his hangover. She thinks it's kind of sweet when JD gives her a hug but Heather tries to act like it's a burden; but the red at the tip of her ears is telling.
They get back in the car and Veronica tells Heather she lives on the freshmen side. She thought the ride might be awkward since Heather's pretty much a stranger, but it isn't. She learns that Heather lives in the upper classmen side in the fancier apartments with two other girls with her own room. Heather's majoring in Biology because she wants to be a doctor with a minor in Cannabis Studies just to piss her mom off. Veronica respects Heather's desire to go against her mother because she wishes she had the courage to do the same.
"So Biology," Veronica changes the topic because apparently mothers are a touchy subject. "Tell me more about that."
For the rest of the ride Heather tries explaining to her the concepts of variation in species and recessive genes and how they're not necessary for survival but they bring about unique traits. Veronica has no idea what Heather is talking about but she likes the way her eyes light up as she explains something she's passionate about.
"This is me," Veronica feels bad for interrupting.
"Okay," Heather parks in front of her dorm. "Sorry if you're in one of your writing classes and suddenly you can't get Punnett squares out of your mind."
Veronica smiled, "don't worry. It was interesting."
"Maybe next time you can tell me about journalism?"
Veronica blushed. "Uh, yeah that's, we can do that."
Heather laughs. "I'll see you around?"
"Yeah, get home safe."
"I will, thanks."
Veronica isn't surprised to see Martha waiting in suspense beneath her blankets. "So? How was the party?"
"Where do I even start?"
She recounts her night to Martha but leaves out her encounter with Heather just because she doesn't know what to make of it herself.
Backyards
Veronica promised she'd never go to another dumb party but she's been to five this month. Martha is all for her getting the college experience, whatever that means, so she isn't the best influence when Veronica's looking for an excuse to bail.
"Drink?"
Veronica frowns.
"It's just water," Mac reassures. "I know you don't drink."
"Thanks."
Mac leans into her side as they stand near the kitchen. "You've been to a lot of parties lately. Are you actually having fun?"
"You were right. I need to spend more time with you guys." Veronica doesn't take her eyes off the crowd as she looks for any form of red in the sea of dancing people.
Okay. So maybe she's going to all these parties for the chance of running into Heather Chandler again. But it's not her fault. Heather's a Bio major so there's no way they'll ever have class together; this is the only way Veronica will get to see her.
"Is JD here?"
Mac shakes her head, "no, I haven't seen him. Why? Is he who you're looking for?"
If JD wasn't here then there was a lower chance of Heather showing up.
"Yeah, he owes me some money for a slushie I bought him."
Mac nudged her shoulder. "Maybe ask Heather? She'll get the message to him."
Veronica can only watch as Heather slips in through the living room. Once again, she's a red dot in a sea of blue. She's not wearing the blazer this time, instead she opts for a simple short sleeved shirt with a pair of tight blue jeans. Heather's talking to Kurt when their eyes meet across the room.
"Regina would flip if I went anywhere near the Kappa's."
Heather whispers something to Kurt before she sneaks between the crowd and slithers outside.
Mac frowns. "You're asking her a question not switching sides. Regina will live, it's fine. Just, maybe make it look like you're not having fun just in case she sees you."
Against her better judgment, Veronica uses the signature game of kings between Regina and Duke to go out the slide door where she'd seen Heather exit. It leads her to the backyard. There's a couple people she doesn't recognize smoking dangerously close to the pool but they don't seem intoxicated enough to fall in so she doesn't worry about it.
"Never thought I'd see you at another party."
Veronica is smiling when she turns to see Heather lounging on one of the pool chairs. She takes a seat in the one beside her, leaning her arms over the tops of her knees as she gives Heather her full attention.
"I'm trying to get the college experience," she jokes. "Why're you out here?"
"I knew by the time I got here George would be playing kings and then it'd be easier for me to get you alone."
Veronica flushes. "...and why would you need to get me alone?"
Heather smiles, "you owe me a lesson on journalism, remember?"
Veronica doesn't know why she's a little disappointed but it fades the longer she talks to Heather about her major. They spend most of the night like that, just relaxing near the pool, talking, and sharing stories. They joke about the teachers they've had in high school. They both seem to agree that Miss Fleming was a pain in the ass and cared more about her image as a guidance counselor than she did about the actual wellbeing of the students.
"You know that rumor about Fleming's water bottle having liquid laxatives in it?"
Veronica gasps "you didn't!"
"It was so easy. I just sneaked into the teachers' lounge and found which lunch was labeled hers."
"You're an evil genius."
"...that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
Veronica laughs so hard her stomach starts to cramp. She wipes the tears from her eyes and finds Heather staring at her softly before she looks away in a rush. Heather jumps to her feet and awkwardly stretches her arms above her head.
"I should probably head out."
Veronica looks at her watch. "Shit. We've been out here that long?"
"I would stay but I've got a midterm coming up. Just wanted to show face for the Kappa's. Do you need a ride back again?"
"No," Veronica sighs. "…tonight I'm the designated driver."
Heather raises an eyebrow. "Fun stuff."
"Ha, ha. No really, I have Regina's keys in my purse. Her plan to finally get me to stay the entire night at a party I guess."
"Plan or not, it wasn't so bad right?"
Veronica smiles up at Heather. From where she's sitting on the lawn chair, the light lining the roof makes her blonde hair glow like a halo. She looks angelic and pure, even her smile is delicate.
"Yeah." Veronica lets Heather help her to her feet but their hands stay together. Veronica suddenly realizes how close they're standing but her feet won't move. She can't look away from those gray eyes that look blue in the light of the moon. Heather's brow pinches together likes she's thinking about something.
"Can I kiss you?"
"Yes," Veronica surprises herself again.
Veronica squeaks (so embarrassing) when Heather tips her chin up. Her face feels hot, and she wishes the world would just swallow her whole, but Heather's smiling so sincerely that her eyes are gleaming; so, Veronica guesses she doesn't make too much a fool of herself.
She's never kissed a girl before just a couple guys in high school. Those kisses have always been quick and sloppy—hard. Heather's lips feel like they're barely touching her. The finger on her chin digs in just a bit when Heather applies pressure. She doesn't realize it's over until Heather lets her hand fall.
"So," Heather digs her hands into her pockets, "…I'll see you around."
Veronica waves to Heather's retreating back. It isn't until the screen door closes does she fall back into the lawn chair. She sits there until Regina finds her, ready to go, and can't stop tracing her lips with the tips of her fingers.
"You what?" Martha gasps.
"She—I—we kissed?"
Martha shakes her head. "…you met this girl once at a sketchy 711 and now you're making out with her at parties?"
"It wasn't sketchy, it had some nice reviews, and she's not some girl. Heather went to Westerberg and she's one of the Kappa's."
Martha suddenly looks thrilled (she almost gets whiplash). "…forbidden love," she whispers.
"No." Veronica frowns. "It was just a kiss—I've never even kissed a girl. Isn't this one of those things that just happens at college parties sometimes?"
"You weren't drunk—"
"She might have been—" Martha gives her a look "—okay she wasn't. This doesn't have to be a thing."
Martha notices her distress, "you're right. It doesn't have to be a thing."
"…thank you—ack!" a pillow hits her head.
"That's for waiting over a month to tell me about her."
Through the grapevine
A couple days later Veronica is too swamped with trying to finalize her midterm essay for creative writing to think about anything let alone Heather Chandler and how she's haunting her with the memory of their kiss. She's in the library outlining the characters and plot for her story when two girls from the table next to her speak louder as their excitement rises. Veronica's contemplating going back to her dorm, since Martha is in class around this time, when she hears—
"Chandler's been MIA lately, wonder if she has someone new keeping her busy."
Veronica stops writing.
"Last semester was Ram, heard she even hooked up with his cousin Liz for a while."
"She's always messing around with someone, it's disgusting."
"Yeah, but she's hot as fuck so can you blame her?"
"Not really…and even if she's hooking up with someone else, I'm gonna change that."
One of them whistles, "you're finally making a move?"
"At the Alpha Phi Alpha party they're throwing to kick off spring break. Best place to do it, everyone's gonna be fucked."
Veronica doesn't stay to hear the rest of the conversation.
"You look great," Mac tells her on Friday night as they walk up the steps to the Alpha's frat house.
Veronica brushes her hair back, grinning "thanks." She's not wearing anything over dramatic, just a cute black dress. But after wearing nothing but sweatshirts and hoodies to these parties, anything is an upgrade.
They move as a group like always and head to the kitchen for drinks before anything else. Regina's in charge of mixing because she knows everyone's limits. Veronica stays close to Mac like she usually does and waits.
She doesn't wait long before—
"Ugh, who dragged the Kappa's in." Regina huffs.
Janis asks, "can we not have a dramatic game of kings tonight? Spring break is literally days away."
"No games. Just fun tonight ladies. Let's toast." Regina gives a green tea shot to all of them. "To spring break and Delta Gamma!"
Her sorority drinks to Delta Gamma but Veronica drinks because of the girl flirting with Heather. She easily recognizes her as the library gossip from earlier. She's basically latched onto Heather's arm while she leans close, laughing and whispering in her ear. Veronica knows it's not an accident when the library gossip's chest presses against Heather's arm.
"I thought you didn't drink?" Mac asks.
"Celebrating; spring break is next week and my midterms are all submitted." Veronica reaches out for a solo cup, "let's dance!"
Mac seems surprised but she never passes up the chance to dance and follows her to the floor. They jump with the crowd when one of their favorite songs come on, sharing goofy dance moves, and competing to see who's the worst. Regina is more than a little tipsy, borderline drunk, when she starts trying to moon walk. It doesn't go well; if anything she's just sliding her heels into the floor (Janis takes that as her cue to remove Regina's shoes).
"Nice moves Sawyer," JD sneaks up behind her being all tall and mysterious.
"Hey," she smiles, "what's up?"
JD points his finger, "everything in that direction."
It's about the same time she notices how sloppy his shirt looks, wrinkled around the edges. His v-neck is lower than it should be, like someone's been pulling on it. "You okay buddy?"
"Oh yeah, I feel great…" he holds onto her shoulders as if he's about to ask a serious question. "Have you been drinking?"
Veronica frowns, "just a couple of shots—"
"I can tell." JD smiles sweetly before walking away, "I'm gonna get more drinks, find me when you're on my level!"
Veronica's seen him in worse states so she doesn't follow to make sure he's okay. It's definitely not because she gets distracted when she sees Heather slip down one of the hallways. She tells Mac she's going to the bathroom and follows the direction she saw Heather go. A tail end of a red shirt is shown going into a room but before the door closes, Veronica sneaks in.
"What the fu—oh…" Heather's faces goes from rage to surprise. "Veronica? There's another bathroom down the hall, I can use that one if you need to—"
"Stop talking."
Heather's brow cuts in "excuse me?" and Veronica thinks she looks so cute when she's confused. It's enough logic, mixed with alcohol, to make her pull Heather down by her shoulders and place a hard kiss on her mouth. Heather makes a startled sound but moves swiftly; she grabs Veronica's hips and kisses back.
Heather presses her against the door and Veronica's grateful because when she feels a tongue swipe her bottom lip her knees go weak. She opens her mouth and moans, gripping Heather's arms tighter, when their tongues meet. Veronica's mind is numb she doesn't hear the other person knock on the door until Heather pulls away.
Veronica's eyes open slowly; she's blessed with a flushed Heather staring down at her in awe—
"Are you finished in there?"
Veronica curses her luck.
"Can I piss in peace, George?" Heather's voice is dripping with sarcasm.
Regina growls, "stupid Kappa's" before her steps disappear.
Heather clears her throat, "so…do you want to—"
"Let's go to your place."
"I…" Heather blinks, "have you been drinking?"
"Just a couple shots."
Heather frowns. "I thought you didn't drink."
"It's almost spring break." Veronica says, "your place?"
Heather doesn't need to be told thrice.
"Shit," Veronica whispers as she violently tries to find her bra. "…where is it?"
A rustling in the bed is her only warning before a rough voice says, "I threw it near my hamper."
"…thanks…" Veronica blushes when she finds her black lace bra hanging from Heather's hamper. She pulls it on, nervous under Heather's sleepy gaze, and then chucks her dress on. She makes sure she has her phone and keys before she awkwardly stops by the door.
There was something she planned on saying but seeing Heather, hair disheveled with telling marks scattered below her neck, brings back memories from last night. Veronica suddenly doesn't remember why she's leaving.
"Veronica," Heather purrs, "you have class at 8:30."
Veronica nods, "Yeah, okay, uhm—I'll see you later, thanks for…never mind that sounds weird."
"Bye Veronica," Heather puts her out of her misery.
"Bye Heather." Veronica squeaks out before closing the door. She gives herself a moment to gather her thoughts before she rushes through the living room before Heather's roommates can see her.
"I thought this wasn't gonna to be a thing."
Veronica says, "it's not!"
"Really?" Martha looks at the clock, "then why are you doing a walk of shame at 8:00 in the morning?"
Sometime after her class Veronica gets a follow request from Hessa_Chandler on Instagram.
Questions
Veronica may or may not be avoiding the whole 'I slept with Heather' thing. But it's not like Heather's doing her part, she hasn't reached out to Veronica (asking to follow her on Instagram doesn't count). Part of Veronica is thrilled with Heather giving her space to figure this out though. She doesn't know what she wants or what's best for her.
Heather is great when they're together but the things she hears are startling. Veronica wants to hear from someone else about Heather, someone not bias. She would ask JD but he's her best friend and would likely relay the information back. And Veronica doesn't want Heather hearing that she's asking around about her.
Instead, Veronica goes to the only person she can think of.
"Hey Mac."
She smiles, "hey Veronica! What's up? Excited for spring break?"
"I'm not going anywhere, just staying home to work for a while." Veronica says as she sits beside her in the cafeteria. "You?"
Mac nods, "I'm going to Florida with friends. I'm super excited, we don't get to hang out a lot."
"Cool." Veronica drums her fingers on the table, "…I wanted to ask you, what's Regina's deal with Heather?"
"Which one?"
"Uhm…Chandler, I think? Is that her last name?"
"Yeah, Heather. Regina doesn't have it out directly for her, it's just because of her Kappa association I'm guessing."
Veronica says, "oh, I thought it might be because Heather and Janis were a thing or—"
"What!" Mac splutters, "where did you hear that?"
"Nowhere! But I've heard people talk about Heather and how she hooks up with a lot of people so I just assumed. But you've been around so I wanted to get your take on it."
"I don't have a take on anything, just…look. Don't believe everything you hear, Veronica." Mac stands up and shoulders her purse. "I've got to get to class. Have a good break. I'll see you in a week."
Veronica's put off by Mac's sudden cold shoulder but doesn't doubt she deserves it.
It takes Veronica a couple hours of procrastinating before she builds the courage to message Heather on Instagram.
Vee_Sawyer: Hi
Martha pushes her. "It took you four hours to come up with that!"
"You've got something better?"
"Anything is better than that! It's so vague!"
Her phone vibrates.
Hessa_Chandler: Hi yourself
"Holy molly, it worked!" Martha cheers, "she actually understands your awkwardness!"
"I'm not that awkward." Veronica huffs.
"Don't mess this up, if you're a dry texter then she won't answer and then you'll be at square one again." Martha says, "ask her something that'll start a conversation that can last."
Vee_Sawyer: anything planned for spring break or are you returning to the trenches of Westerberg as well?
"Geez, you're such a writer it's apparent."
Veronica rolls her eyes. "I'm not that—"
"She's typing!"
Hessa_Chandler: alas, I will not be returning to the trenches
Veronica smiles while Martha squeals.
"She's just as awkward as you, it's adorable."
Spring Break
"Why do you wear red every time you're out with the Kappa's?"
Heather laughs over facetime. She's cooking pancakes on the stove so her phone in her other hand, tilted at an angle that barely lets Veronica see her profile.
"One, blue isn't my color—"
"Anything is your color."
"True," Heather grins, "and two…I don't know, I like to stand out sometimes. I give so much of my time to them and money but they still expect us to do everything together. When that happens it's hard to remember who you are so I wear red as a reminder."
There's a thick pause.
"That's dumb—"
"No I like it, it's cute."
Heather snorts. "Words no one has ever used to describe me as."
"Be quiet." Veronica says, "but hurry up your pancakes because I have a serious personal question for you."
"Okay, give me a second."
It's day five into spring break and Veronica and Heather have been talking nonstop since their Instagram messaging. They'd been going back and forth through the app before Heather sent her number to her and said it was faster that way. Veronica was hoping to get some time with Heather in person but she was in Florida with friends for break and wouldn't be back until early Sunday morning.
"What's up?" Heather must have her phone leaning against something because finally Veronica can see her face and not just the side.
"Don't feel offended by this, and you can choose if or if not to answer—"
"Ronnie, what is it?"
Veronica can't forget about the conversation she heard. "…I've heard things, from people."
"Vague. Love it." The sarcasm is rich.
"I know people talk but I'm curious. I've heard that you kind of…get around?"
Heather doesn't seem fazed. "And?"
Veronica looks away. "Nothing, I guess."
"…sorry if that sounded like I didn't care." Heather says after a moment. "I'm just used to the rumors, high school prepared me for it so I'm kind of…immune? But it's bothering you so…no. I have never hooked up with Kurt and Ram, I just tutor them in stats on the weekends, and same with Liz; she's on my track team so I'm just around her a lot. And I've never messed around with Janis to get under Regina's skin or anything dumb like that. And no to anything else you've heard from those idiots who think they know a thing about me."
Veronica thought she'd feel better about getting the truth but she somehow feels worse.
"I'm sorry," she sighs, "I feel like an asshole for even asking."
Heather shakes her head. "No, I get it…I probably wasn't even going to reach out to you until you messaged me."
"Why not?"
"It's college." Heather shrugs, "I thought maybe it was like a one-night stand or something and you didn't want it to happen again."
"So you followed me on Insta?"
"I was testing the waters. You didn't reach out to me until like four hours later and all you said was 'hi'. I thought you were looking for a booty call or something."
Veronica blushes, "did it really seem like that?"
"I wasn't complaining either way."
"Shut up—"
"If I was in Ohio I'd definitely visit you so we could do it again."
Veronica's throat feels dry. "Really?"
"Yeah. I'd probably visit you more than once. Couple times a day."
"Then," Veronica finds her confidence "maybe we should meet up when you're back in town."
Heather nods. "I think that's a good idea."
Noise from the kitchen breaks their heated eye contact. Heather looks past the camera to glare in the distance, she mumbles something that sounds like stupid troll before turning back to Veronica.
"I've gotta go Ronnie. I'll text you."
Veronica smiles. "Okay, sounds good."
It's been two long, trying, days but Sunday morning has finally arrived. Veronica didn't want to sound too eager about seeing Heather when her plane touched back down in Ohio; she wanted to give her time to unpack and be with family before they met up again. She isn't complaining however, when Heather texts her a couple hours later asking if she wants to go on a late-night Wawa run. She sends her location and finds that their houses are only a couple minutes away. It's not long before Heather picks Veronica up in her signature Porsche.
Veronica doesn't know how they end up in the backseat.
"Hey." Heather stops kissing her neck to ask, "what're you doing tomorrow afternoon? Around five."
"You, hopefully." Veronica jokes, slipping a hand under Heather's lace panties.
"Ah—" Heather's hand that's not holding herself up presses into the glass. "…seriously. Are you free?"
Veronica joins the conversation if only it means they can concentrate on more important issues. "I should be, why?"
"I'm having some friends over at my house. We're just gonna hang out before school starts up again. JD will be there—"
Veronica frowns. "Please. Don't ever. Mention that goofball when my hand is between your legs again."
"Sorry." Heather kisses her, "so?"
"Can I bring Martha?"
Heather mimics her, "Please. Don't ever. Mention that hopeless romantic when your—"
"Shut up." Veronica laughs, "we'll be there at five."
"I knew you were rich but I didn't know you were this rich."
Heather rolls her eyes. "Can we be done with the awe? The ice cream is gonna melt."
"I recommend the slushies!" JD shouts from the couch.
"Thanks again for inviting me, Heather." Martha says.
"Any friend of Veronica's is a friend of mine."
JD shouts, "and mine!"
Heather runs into the living room to start a violent pillow fight with JD to get him to shut up. Veronica is highly amused when Heather lands a hard blow that knocks him to the ground. She's only a little jealous when Heather straddles him and proceeds to take no mercy (cue multiple pillows blows to the face).
The door bell rings during their wrestling.
"Ronnie can you get that?"
"Ronnie," JD mocks her.
"Shut up, slushie breath!"
Veronica doesn't want to miss the rest of the fight so she rushes to the door. "Hi—Mac? What are you doing here?"
"Veronica?" Mac looks just as startled. "…I uh, didn't think you'd be here."
Duke huffs. "You gonna let us in or what? These bags are heavy."
"So-sorry," Veronica lets them in. "Heather, Mac and Duke are here?"
Heather looks up. "Yo."
"Yo," Duke replies. "I got the clothes you bought in Florida that you couldn't fit inside that tiny car of yours."
JD pushes the pillow out from his face, screaming "Mac! Help me!"
"Heather."
"Fine," she rolls off him to slump on the couch.
"Uhm…" Martha frowns. "Aren't you in Delta Gamma with Veronica?"
Mac nods.
"And you two are Kappa's?"
Heather and Duke nod.
"Then why are you…not trying to kill each other or challenge the other in a game of kings?"
"They're my roommates," Heather says.
"What?" Veronica frowns, "but I thought we had this thing where we're supposed to hate the Kappa's? Does Regina know you're living with two of them?"
"Does Regina know you're sleeping with one?" Duke shoots back.
"Damn," JD whistles.
"I'm so confused." Veronica mumbles with a red tint coloring her face.
"We've all been friends since high school," Mac explains. "Heather and Duke joined the Kappa's but the Delta's fit in better with the career I want. A lot of people in the fashion industry were Delta's so I chose them."
"How does Regina not know you live with Kappa's?"
"We have to go to events together not each other's apartments."
"So…Duke, you don't hate Delta's?"
"Nope. I just like annoying Regina. I don't know where this rivalry thing came from."
Veronica scoffs. "This is so dumb. If no one even knows why this exists then we should just get rid of it. The Kappa's shouldn't have to avoid parties just because Delta's are throwing them and we don't have to play that stupid game just to prove a point."
"Maybe you should."
They all turn to Martha.
"You said no one ever gets to see the outcome of the game." Martha says, "how about we record it. One final game. But this time, when someone pulls the Queen you ask questions that hit a little too close to home."
Heather grins. "Or if we draw a King—"
"—we can end this rivalry rule once and for all." Veronica says with a smile.
"Are they finishing each other's sentences now?" Duke makes a puking sound.
Veronica pays her no mind. In the heart of the moment, she jumps onto the couch and raises her hand.
"Delta Gamma will be throwing a party the night before spring break ends and this time, the Kappa's will come. We're all gonna be playing on different teams, but we'll have the same goal in mind. Martha, will you do us the honor of recording this sure to be shit show?"
"Shit show!" JD cheers, always in the mood for chaos.
"I'll do it," Martha agrees.
Veronica grins. "operation king is a go!"
Operation King
It's halfway into the party and Veronica's getting worried. Heather said she'd try and get the Kappa's to show face so they can carry out their plan but it's close to 3 am and they're still not here. She can't even find Mac so Martha's next to her trying to keep her calm but she's slowly losing it.
It's not until Mac walks through the front door with Heather, JD, and the other Kappa's, does Veronica calm down. And seeing them stand together, united, is a much better image for what they're about to do.
"Mac," Regina meets them in the middle. "What're they doing here?"
Duke steps forward. "We're here for one last game. Kings. Let's find out who the real winner is. I already have my team lined up: me, Heather, Lonnie, Amanda, and Jodie."
"…fine." Regina crosses her arms, "I'll take Mac, Susie, Janis and—Veronica."
JD sets the game up. He puts the beer can in the middle of the scattered cards before stepping away from the soon to be war zone. He sits with Martha, and Kurt and Ram, in the kitchen where she's discreetly recording.
Regina picks first. "5, useless," she sticks it under the beer cap.
Duke goes next. "8, you and me George."
They each take a sip from their cups and the game continues. Veronica's glad she listened to Heather and ate something before this game because they're not even five minutes in and she's already had a couple drinks. One for not touching the floor fast enough when Janis pulled a 4 and another for not having a word to rhyme with orange after Mac drew 9 (you try rhyming when your words keep slurring).
Veronica was quickly forgetting what her mission was when Duke's turn came again and she pulled a Jack. Her lips turned up into a devious smirk.
Veronica's glad she's on her side.
"Never have I ever…" she holds up three fingers, "slept with a Delta."
Veronica takes it back. Duke has no sides.
She's terrified to see Regina's face when Heather drops a finger so she stares at the carpet instead. All she hears is Regina's scoff in disgust. "Why am I not surprised."
They're halfway through the circle when Veronica sees Duke and Mac give a subtle nod in each other's direction. Veronica can almost hear Duke saying maybe this next one will surprise you. And when it's Mac's turn, Veronica realizes there was never gonna be a right way about confessing this.
"Never have I ever slept with a Kappa."
Veronica can't believe she got herself into this situation. But, it was necessary to break the cycle of hate…even if she ended up sacrificing herself.
"What?" Regina's voice sounds dangerously high. "Veronica—"
"Never have I ever jumped into a pool with socks on," Janis steers the game quickly.
Veronica's glad when the game finally ends with Mac winning the mini round. Veronica refuses to look in Regina's direction and only focuses on the players who draw cards. It isn't until Regina takes her turn does she look at her and finds a terrifying glare meeting her head on.
"Queen."
Veronica cursed. This meant Regina got to ask anyone a—
"Veronica." Regina asks, "who's the Kappa you slept with?"
Veronica doesn't have to answer the question. She's not supposed to. But it should be obvious by now. And if they're going to break this stupid wheel they shouldn't care about its stupid rules.
"Heather Chandler" she confesses before drinking.
Regina shoots up. "You can't—she's a Kappa!"
Veronica isn't paying her much attention. There are five card left on the table. It's her turn. She knows the cap will break when she places her card under. There won't be another chance: she has to pick the right card.
"Are you listening?" Veronica pulls a card that seems different from the rest, "that's not allowed. We hate Kappa's. That's the first thing you learn! It's our motto, we stand by it, it's the rule—"
"It's a dumb rule," she finally looks up.
Regina turns red with fury. "What did you just say?"
Veronica holds up a King of Hearts.
"I have a king. This means I get to make a rule that everyone has to follow." Veronica slips the card under the can after she proclaims, "the new rule is—Delta's and Kappa's will learn to coexist on this campus and forget about their stupid rivalry."
The can explodes under the pressure of the last king.
Veronica plucks the card out from under the cap so she can chug the beer and end the game. It's the best slightly warm beer she thinks she'll ever have.
"Regina," Veronica says. "We have no reason to hate the Kappa's. They've never done anything to us so why should we?"
"It's the rule—"
"There's a new rule now." Janis says softly.
Veronica nods. "…I don't hate Heather or Duke, and I'm sure they don't hate you—"
She's very proud of their will power when they don't object and simply make a disgruntled face.
"Who even told you to hate Kappa's?"
Regina, outnumbered, falls back into her seat. "…my sorority president when I was a freshman—"
"We have this rule because four years ago some bitter chick made you hate some girls you've never met?" Mac frowns.
"It was tradition!"
Veronica says, "now we have a new tradition…Regina?"
"Fine," she sighs, "I guess we can start a new tradition."
New Beginnings
They're having lunch outside on the grass on one of the warmer days when Heather asks, "you wanna get dinner tonight?"
"Sure," she looks up from her journal. "I'm feeling pizza for takeout."
Heather makes a face. "…I was thinking we could eat in. Maybe dress up a little? We never go anywhere."
It takes her a moment to realize—
"Are you asking me out?"
Heather looks away, she pushes her shades up higher on her face. "Is that a problem?"
"So romantic."
"Is that a yes or no?"
"It's always a yes." Veronica leaps up to press a lasting kiss to Heather's lips. "But I still want pizza."
"Fine. Compromise. You better wear a dress."
A shadow blocks the sun and forces Veronica to look up. She smiles when she finds Regina waving down at them.
"Hey guys."
"Hey."
Heather mumbles, "George."
"What's going on?"
Regina hands them each a flyer. "Birthday party at my house next week. It's supposed to be a surprise."
"But you're handing out your own invitations?"
"I'll be sure to act surprised."
Veronica laughs, "I'm sure you will. And we will definitely be there. Right Hessa?"
Heather grunts and it's the closest Regina's going to get to a yes. "Thanks. I'll see you guys at game night."
"Bye Regina."
Veronica moves up to lean into Heather's side as their backs press against the tree. She laces their fingers together while she reads the details of the party; Heather tilts her head back and attempts to take a nap before her next lecture.
These days, the sun seems to shine brighter on Ohio State now that the Delta's and Kappa's live in peace.
Next chapter we do everything again but from Heather's perspective? I already have a few ideas.
Also: I have no prior knowledge of sororities or fraternities so forgive me if I'm off base here. I took this prompt from (1 additional vote from Jase) so the idea about the rivalry was theirs. It was really fun to write and I'm excited to share Heather's side.