Reenter the Sigma Phi Manor, Unsuccessful

You and Brandon can't help but slump and stumble as you approach the Sigma Phi house after midnight. When you do, you find that the lights are on, and they've been waiting for you. Much to your surprise, despite it being a fraternity house, only Taylor is still sitting at the couch, on her phone.

She looks up at you, sees your exhaustion, and smirks again.

"Ethan," she calls out. "You totally ran them ragged."

Brandon just lets out a sound halfway between a moan and a groan.

There's a lot of things you could ask her, as a comeback. What are you still doing here, without Jordan? But for now you're too exhausted. And any invitation to trade barbs with her would just lead to her hammering it in harder: you lost.

Her brow furrows as she watches you. Pity. Worse than mocking. She says. "Honestly, I'm too in the know about this stuff, but...no pledge ever completes this challenge. It's impossible. You don't have enough time."

While you suspected as much, you can't help but give her a **** stare in return as you hold her gaze.

At this point, Ethan enters. He claps both of you on the back supportively, as if you haven't just failed. Brandon almost falls over.

"It's okay, really," he says. "Our party won't be until after the big Delta Gamma party. So we have a lot of time to get those invitations out, still. You really cut through our list, though."

You frown. "Wait. How much time did we actually have to give out those invitations? As in: If we're saying that we can invite people up to the last day?"

"We're having our party next month!" Ethan says, his smile unflinching.

Slowly, you look at Brandon, and see that his face is as white as yours no-doubt is. Then you turn and look at Ethan again.

"Nothing personal," he says. "We just want to work the pledges. You know how it is. There are more challenges to come."

"More. Challenges." Brandon says, each word with the weight of a giant's footstep.

"Don't take it personally," Taylor says. "I'm sure you did a great job."

You don't look at her. The pity is not needed, right now.

You and Brandon don't stick around for much longer. You're both going to the same place, and both doing the same thing when you get there: crashing.