Meeting you Ch. 5

October 1st

"Jen, I told you he wants nothing to do with the traditional Greek theme," Emily said as they talked about the Theta/Sigma crush party. "And I agree with him about having a casino theme; it would be cool. We could do blackjack, roulette, poker, a couple miniature slot machines, and a dance floor."

"But isn't that going to be expensive?" Jen asked as she looked at the budget that Emily had in front of her.

"Not really. We have $5,000 set aside for this crush party already. I bet if I asked Aaron if they had a poker table around their house, we wouldn't have to put anything down for that," Emily said as she grabbed her phone to call a few casino table rental places. "Besides most of the deals include the dealer's fees, as well."

"How do you have all the information on this stuff already? Haven't most of the parties that you've planned been the traditional Greek theme?" Jen asked as she watched Emily work her magic.

"Yes all of them have been the traditional Greek theme but when Aaron handed me his list of ideas, I started right on finding things out for a casino theme," Emily said as she wrote down figures next to her notes about a blackjack table and roulette wheel. "Give me ten minutes then I'll call you back with an answer about whether we are going to want your deal."

"He's offering a deal?" Jen asked.

"Yea, he'll throw in the poker table and slot machines for free," Emily said as she looked for Aaron's number in her phone. "I need to call Aaron to see if they have a poker table or not first though."

"Ok, if they don't then go ahead and take the deal," Jen said as she walked into the kitchen.

"You're seriously ok with us doing a casino crush party?" Emily said with a chuckle. "Hey, Aaron, it's Emily. I have a quick question for you about the crush party. Do you guys have a poker table at your house?"

"Not that I know of. Why?" Aaron asked as he looked at Sam.

"Because one of the rental places that I'm talking to is willing to throw in the poker table and slot machines for free if we rent the blackjack table and the roulette stuff," Emily said as she looked at her note pad. "I just wanted to check with you before I decided on this deal. Thanks, I'll let you go."

"Any clue when this party is going to be?" Sam asked as he took the phone from Aaron.

"I believe we are set on November 19th around 8 p.m. here in the backyard of our humble abode," Emily said as she looked at her watch. "I'll talk to you guys in class on Tuesday."

"I take it we're taking the deal?" Jen asked as she handed Emily an apple.

"Yea, as far as Aaron knows there is no poker table at the Sigma house," Emily said as she waited for someone at the rental place to pick up the phone.

October 31st

"Here are the invites for the party," Emily said as she handed one to Aaron and one to Sam. "Take a pack to give out to the guys in your house. I've even sent out ones to the guys who don't live on campus."

"These are great. How much did they cost you?" Aaron said as he placed the proffered pack in his backpack.

"Nothing except cardstock," Emily said as she grabbed her developmental psychopathology textbook. "We have a girl who is good with graphics and she offered to do them during her down time."

"Thank you for doing this," Aaron said as he looked at Emily.

"It was no problem. Now we best study because the next two weeks are going to be jam packed with making sure everything goes right with this party," Emily said as her cell phone rang. "Sorry, I have to take this. What, mother?"

"I'm coming into town for Thanksgiving this year and want to spend some time with you," Ambassador Prentiss said. "I'm having a big Thanksgiving dinner with a few other ambassadors and would like you to at least be present for that. I would also like it if you brought someone with you."

"So you really don't want to spend time with me; you just want to show me off to your friends," Emily said as she caught the double meaning from her mother. "Fine but I can't make it home until Wednesday afternoon and I'm not sure if I'll be bringing someone with me."

"Thank you, Emily," Ambassador Prentiss said before Emily hung up the phone.

"Great, just absolutely fucking great," Emily said as she sat back down with the guys. "Hey guys, I'm not feeling so great tonight. How about I leave you with my note cards to study, since I feel like heading home?"

"Everything ok?" Aaron asked surprised that Emily wasn't going to study with them tonight.

"Yea, just a phone call from my mother," Emily said as she packed her book and note book. "I'll see you both in class tomorrow."

November 14th

"Ok, the caterer is fine with the list of foods I sent over to him," Emily told Jen as they looked over the list of things that still needed to be rechecked for the party. "Sigma is bringing a couple kegs and we have all the stuff for mixed drinks. Now I have to go because I'm going to be late for my study group."

"Go, I think there are only a few things that can wait until later on this week," Jen said as Emily grabbed her bag. "You have done a great job on this and I thank you for helping."

"It was no problem. I knew that Aaron wasn't going to have time to plan while getting ready for graduation," Emily said as she left the house.

As Emily walked to the library, her cell phone went off.

"What mother?" Emily asked as she answered her phone. "I already said that I'd be at your party. What more are you going to ask of me?"

"I just wanted to know if you are going to be bringing someone with you," Ambassador Prentiss said as she held the phone away from her ear. "Ambassador Steffy, told me that Bianca is bringing her boyfriend home for the holiday with her."

"Yes, I know that Bianca is bringing her boyfriend to your dinner, mother," Emily said as she stood outside the library. "As of right now, no I am not bringing anyone with me. Now I have to go because I am late for my study group."

"Did you get the email about our test being tomorrow instead of next Tuesday?" Aaron asked Emily as she sat at their table.

"What?" Emily yelled.

"Quiet in the library," the reference librarian said from her desk.

"You have got to be kidding me," Emily said as Aaron showed her the email.

"Thanks for the invite to your Thanksgiving feast," Sam said as he watched Emily read over the email for a second time.

"What did he do to warrant an invite to Thanksgiving with the Prentiss family?" Aaron asked as Emily finally sat down.

"Looks like tonight is going to be a long one," Emily said as she pulled her textbook, notes, and note cards out. "And, Aaron, Sam happens to be Ambassador Steffy's daughter's boyfriend. That's how he managed to wrangle an invite."