Head downstairs to "help" with the welcome baskets

You descend the stairs, the purple satin underwear secretly caressing Eliza's skin beneath her regular clothes. The common room has transformed into a hub of activity—sisters arranging pillows in a circle, others hanging the last of the fairy lights, and Becca directing it all with precision from the center of the chaos.

"There you are!" Becca's voice cuts through the commotion. Her copper hair is pulled into a tight ponytail, glasses perched on her freckled nose. "Did you check the welcome baskets? The pledges are literally walking up the driveway right now."

"Just heading to do that," you reply, trying to mimic Eliza's conscientious tone. "Which room were they in again?"

Becca narrows her eyes. "The study, where they always are? Are you feeling okay?"

"Just distracted," you say quickly. "Lots on my mind with midterms."

You follow her pointing finger to a room off the main hallway. Inside, eight wicker baskets sit arranged on a large oak table, each wrapped in cellophane with a name tag attached. Through the clear wrapping, you can see folded pajamas, face masks, chocolates, and—there they are—custom underwear with the sorority's Greek letters embroidered on them.

"Remember," Becca calls after you, "each basket goes to the room where that pledge is staying tonight. The room assignments are in your folder."

You close the study door behind you and quickly scan the room to ensure you're alone. The folder from Eliza's backpack reveals a neat chart showing which pledge is assigned to which sister's room for the night. Perfect.

Working methodically, you check each basket against the list. The underwear is high-quality cotton with delicate embroidery—exactly the prize your fraternity brothers would consider worthy of their challenge.

You glance at the closed door, listening for approaching footsteps. Hearing none, you carefully open one basket labeled "Emma," removing the custom panties and slipping them into the pocket of Eliza's jeans. You move to the next basket for "Taylor," doing the same.

"What am I doing?" you whisper in Eliza's voice, feeling her heart race with the thrill of theft.

You've pocketed underwear from four baskets when the door handle turns. You quickly reseal the last basket and pick it up, pretending to be checking the name tag as Madison walks in.

"How's it going?" she asks, grabbing two baskets herself. "The pledges are here, we need these distributed now."

"All set," you say with Eliza's smile. "I was just double-checking the names."

Madison nods approvingly. "This is why you're my assistant. Always thorough."

You follow her out, carrying baskets while feeling the stolen underwear pressed against your thigh in Eliza's pocket. As you distribute the baskets to the assigned rooms, you spot a group of younger women being led upstairs by Vanessa—the new pledges, looking excited and nervous.

"All the baskets delivered?" Becca checks as you return to the common room.

"Mission accomplished," you confirm, patting Eliza's pocket discreetly. "What's next?"

"Pajama time!" Becca announces. "Everyone changes and meets back here in fifteen. The pledges need to see us all in uniform for the welcome ceremony."

You feel a tap on your shoulder and turn to find Vanessa, her long hair now tied in a messy bun. "Come on, let's get changed," she says, linking her arm through yours. "And maybe you can tell me why you're wearing sexy underwear on initiation night."

As she leads you back toward your shared room, you feel the weight of the stolen panties in Eliza's pocket—halfway to completing your fraternity challenge, but suddenly faced with a new dilemma as you realize you have no idea what Eliza's "uniform" pajamas look like.