Kate Andrews got into Malibu University on a scholarship. All four years of her pre-med prepaid. As long as she got into Delta Nu. Her legacy status had made her suitable and eligible for the award. The only iffy thing was actually making the sorority. She'd pretty much given up at that stipulation, but her mom insisted. Her plans for a gap year almost solidified, Kate went with faded dreams and one shot left. The one shot made with the help of one woman.
She'd always been the outcast, only going to sporting games as a part of the pep band instead of in cheerleading uniforms as the rest of the girls rushing.
The first meet and greet scared her. The perky smiles, pony tails and … skirts were not much of a competition against her blouse, trousers and barrettes. She had long ago slunk to the corner with her punch when she was found by a boisterous blonde. Kate had watched this girl flit from cluster of Delta's to rushers like a bee, flower to flower.
Her smile covered almost half of her face as she directed it at Kate. "Why are you way over here? Come join all the others."
Kate blushed. "I don't quite fit… do I?" She glanced at her clothes and gestured at the dress the blonde was wearing.
The girl frowned then squinted at her for a moment. "What's your name? I'm Elle." Kate shook the manicured hand daintily.
"Katherine Andrews. You can call me Kate."
"Andrews… Andrews…" Elle Mused over the name making Kate wrinkle her brows. Then a flash of clarity blossomed on the blonde's face. "The Legacy!" Her squeal hit a higher note than Kate thought humanly possible. "Pre-med right?" Without even letting her respond, Elle pushed on. "Oh my god! We've been so excited to meet you! I'm a freshman, joined about a month ago, I'm one of the summer enrollees. My major is fashion merchandising. I'm also BFF's with the Vice President. So you can trust me when I say that here at Delta Nu we do not judge people based on looks. You already have a probationary acceptance just on your application to Malibu U. We pride ourselves in recruiting girls with exemplary records and yours goes above and beyond. Besides, those hairclips, totally cute."
The brilliant smile directed her way never dimmed. Not until Warner broke it. So when Elle decided on Harvard, Kate decided to do everything she could to make it happen.
And it paid off. Elle's smile came back, slowly, but it was there.
It made juggling her finals, Elle's and prepping Harvard application, (plus helping anyone academically in the house who needed it) worth it. Even more so when the letter came, a few days after Elle's own LSAT scores.
"The National Delta Nu Sisterhood is proud to present a full ride scholarship to Katherine Marie Andrews, to the post- graduate school of her choice. This award is in honor of the time and dedication the recipient has put forth in building up the academic accomplishments of the Malibu University's chapter of Delta Nu, making it one of the most accomplished Sororities in America, all while maintaining a perfect academic record of her own. This honor was given after evaluating dozens of women chosen for consideration by their own sisters. Congratulations and good luck."
The rest of the letter and the following pages were filled with what the award consisted of and more basic information. But really, Kate couldn't even fully see it. Her eyes were blurred by tears.
Turning back to the house, she'd just made it to the entry way when she was bombarded by confetti.
"Congrats!" Elle and all the sisters echoed their salutations along with clapping, even one or two actual cheers, pom poms and all.
Stepping forward, Elle hugged her. "We knew you got it last week, but wanted to wait until you got the letter so it's be more concrete."
Kate sputtered and looked down at the papers. "What… how?"
This time Margo spoke. "Honey, you helped almost all of us pass at least once. And when Serena's step-mom, you know, the one who chairs the regional office, told her of the scholarship… well we all backed putting you up for it."
The tears were streaming now. Lurching forward she hugged Margo. Then Serena. Then all of her sisters, until she was passed back to Elle. Squeezing with all her might she leaned up and whispered her 'Thank you' into the blonde's ear.
"No. Thank you. You never doubted that I could get into Harvard. And because of you, I did. You deserve this and so much more. Plus, I know you were worrying about student loans. This solves it."
And it did. She was able to go to her first choice med school instead of the cheaper backups she thought she would have to settle with.
Princeton was the farthest from home she'd ever been but it had one of the best teaching hospitals in the country.
Though strangely enough, once she got to the school, the distance wasn't so much that bothered her. It was missing her friends, her sisters. Everyone she met was just a slightly different version of herself, studious, serious and slightly stuffy. Alliteration aside, she missed the cheer and warmth that surrounded the Delta Nu's.
So when Elle's Bi-weekly e-mail came in ranting against the evil Vivian, and harsh Callahan and extolling her new friend Emmett. The latter of who was tutoring her, Kate knew she could help. At least a little. Elle was too proud to accept too much help, so subtle was the name of the game.