Let's do what we said, huh?

“Valerie?” you ask, coming up beside her. The little freshman looks at you like you just jumped out with a knife for a second before recognition settles in.

“Oh, hi,” she says, her voice quiet and a bit on the low side. “You’re one of the other pledges. The one with Eva.”

“You two know each other?”

“Not really. We’re in the same Civil Action group, but she’s … more to the middle. I’m off to the side.” She doesn’t sound annoyed, just … apathetic. It begs a few questions.

“So … you’re sticking rush out?”

“I guess. My sister was a Kappa. I thought it’d make our mom happy,” she answers with a shrug. That makes more sense. Though even as you think that, you can still tell there’s some kind of story there … but you’re already going to overstep on another topic tonight.

“Hey, do you remember the girl I was talking to Friday?” Valerie tilts her head, earnestly trying for a moment. “It’s fine if you don’t, I just didn’t get her number … or her name … and I’d appreciate it if you don’t think I’m a total hoe …”

“No, you’re good,” she sighs. “I kind of remember her? Long hair. Brown, but pretty dark. Pale, cute … didn’t get her name, though.”

“Not even when she talked to you?” Valerie makes a face at that, both confused and a little offended. “Sorry, I know: no room to judge. I was just hoping-“

“She didn’t talk to me,” Valerie cuts you off. “Are you sure you’re thinking of me?”

“Well, I don’t see anyone else in the house with purple hair, so I think so? I must be confused. Or dreamed it, which wouldn’t really be all that surprising …” You grit your teeth as you trail off, trying to sell your confusion. Eva could be wrong … and Occam’s Razor would suggest just that … but you also definitely talked to this girl and couldn’t remember the first thing about her. Maybe it’s something she did? I mean, you can Jedi mind trick people. Who’s to say a vampire who knows more than you do couldn’t take away memories of them.

“Yeah … I’m sorry, I just don’t really think I can help you?” She seems apologetic, but also a little put off. Whether by you or a silent wall of static in her memory like you experienced yesterday morning, you can’t tell.

A sudden blush of uncomfortable heat reminds you that you’re holding down material you … probably shouldn’t be. You start to look for a bathroom, but it becomes more apparent by the moment that the considerable lines to any of them are going to be a problem. As you dart through the main room, you almost run smack into a tall, imposing girl, dressed in a beautifully-patterned blue and gold dress.

“Oh, Jaq!” Atlee greets you with a smile. “I heard you made it through the gauntlet. Even after drinking all six cups. That’s pretty impressive!” She has dark eyes, like Eva, but unlike Eva’s, you never see a twinkle in them. There seems to be no limit to how far back they might go, sending you spinning for a moment as you focus on not vomiting on her. You still need to find out what happened Friday.

“Yeah, it was pretty rough. Think it might be getting to me now,” you admit, hoping it’ll give you an excuse to cut the conversation short.

“Well, you can use the bathroom in the guest room upstairs. It says ‘off-limits,’ but whatever,” she finishes with a roll of her eyes and a flourish of her hand. “God knows I want as few bodily fluids on the floor as possible come tomorrow morning.”

“Oh … thank you?” You want to question it, but the relief that there’s a bathroom nearby is honestly too much to ignore. You bolt upstairs, quickly locate the door marked “Guest Room,” by a very classy plaque on the outside, then dart in.

It’s a decent room, from the little attention you pay it while finding the toilet. The bed looks like a king size, which is probably handy if visitors come in groups. The lighting in soft and warm, dim enough to easily fall asleep in, but you have no intention of doing that as you charge to your right and into the attached bathroom.

Hacking to clear your throat, you wash your mouth out in the sink and are somewhat surprised how the water just tastes like water. You try to swallow, then the awful sensation from before makes you spit it back out. You finish washing up, glad you didn’t see a gout of blood come out of your mouth or go all Exorcist. It’s still far from a pleasant sensation, but the lack of burning and feeling hollowed-out is definitely a plus.

Eva: Hey cutie, just finished talking to Aida. She says she didn’t remember talking to the girl, but she remembers seeing you with her. She heard a name, Sabina? Savina?

Eva: It’s kind of weird, I KNOW I saw her talking to Aida. Can’t find Kurt, saw you talk to Valerie. I’m going to just kind of snoop, I think.

Eva: Let me know if you figure anything out. Stay safe, babes!

You put your phone back in your pocket, still recovering a little from purposely ingesting something distinctly not food. As you steady yourself with a hand on the sink, you can hear the door crack open just a little. You pin yourself to the wall quickly, barely able to look out around the corner as slow, steady footsteps proceed into the room.