{"id":167,"date":"2013-07-21T12:04:33","date_gmt":"2013-07-21T12:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/?page_id=167"},"modified":"2013-07-21T12:04:33","modified_gmt":"2013-07-21T12:04:33","slug":"chapter-17","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/story\/chapter-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 17"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 17<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i>Everyone always told me:\u00a0 \u201cKayleigh, you\u2019re so dedicated.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cKayleigh, you\u2019re so helpful.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cI can always count on you, Kayleigh.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i>But they were wrong.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i>I would be there in a flash for a shopping buddy.\u00a0 I had any color of eye shadow anyone possibly needed.\u00a0 I knew several men in any of the fraternities, and I always knew when the best parties were going down.<\/i><\/p>\n

I would be there with every datebook committee, even if it wasn\u2019t mine.\u00a0 I sat in the chapter room for hours to make sure everything ran smoothly.\u00a0 I welcomed our newest members with open arms.<\/i><\/p>\n

I was a shoulder to cry on.\u00a0 An ear for listening\u2026\u00a0 A hug when it was needed.\u00a0 I could say any comforting word and mean it.\u00a0 And I was always there to laugh with.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI can always count on you, Kayleigh.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

That\u2019s what they always told me\u2026\u00a0 But there was that one time they couldn\u2019t count on me\u2026 and my grief has never let me forget that.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friday, April 13, 2012<\/b>
\n8:30 p.m.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

Kayleigh pulled the door open to the Tri Delta house.\u00a0 It was surprisingly quiet for 8:30 on a Friday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs something wrong, Pearl?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 no\u2026 sorry, Daddy.\u00a0 I was just thinking it was weird how quiet the house is\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She held her phone out in the entryway for a few seconds before putting it back to her ear.\u00a0 \u201cSee?\u00a0 It\u2019s silent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo screaming collegiates?\u201d\u00a0 He laughed.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right; that is cause for concern.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d she whined.\u00a0 \u201cBe serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pearl.\u00a0 Now what were you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen school\u2019s over, I\u2019m bringing Brad down to see you all.\u00a0 He wanted to know when a good time was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Kappa Sig from Mississippi?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Daddy.\u00a0 He\u2019s very nice; you\u2019ll love him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s a Kappa Sig.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yes, but you can\u2019t blame me, or him, for the Pi Kapps getting kicked off campus before we came to school.\u00a0 I had nothing to do with it, and neither did he.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just didn\u2019t stop themselves from getting caught,\u201d her father chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you\u2019d be happy to hear, my Little Bro is coming to visit about the time you\u2019re out for the semester.\u00a0 He\u2019s bringing his family with him, and his son\u2019s a Gamma Iota in Louisiana.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that I don\u2019t appreciate it, but we were discussing Bradley Lee, the Kappa Sigma from Mississippi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWere we now?\u00a0 Because I believe my precious Pearl was just about to tell me how much she wanted to meet a Gamma Iota.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, even if you don\u2019t want to meet him, they are coming out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll happen when it happens\u2026\u201d \u00a0She peered into the dining room and was surprised to find it empty, without a book in sight.\u00a0 \u201cAnyway, we can talk about Brad tomorrow.\u00a0 Can I talk to Mama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s been down with a headache all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh frowned a little.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not pregnancy complications, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she\u2019s just tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh shook her frown off quickly.\u00a0 \u201cHow about Chris?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s out being a star soccer player as usual.\u201d\u00a0 Her father chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe would be doing that, wouldn\u2019t he?\u201d\u00a0 Her phone gave a small beep.\u00a0 \u201cCan I call you back later, Daddy?\u00a0 I have another call coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Pearl.\u00a0 I\u2019ll talk to you tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo promises.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes, tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at her incoming call.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Bradley Lee.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was coughing in the background.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh cringed as she heard vomiting.\u00a0 \u201cBrad?\u201d<\/p>\n

There was another cough.\u00a0 \u201cSorry, Kayleigh.\u00a0 I was trying to call for a couple minutes without you answering.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, I was talking to my Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s the family?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom just has a headache\u2026 but they\u2019re fine.\u00a0 You sound worse than when I left you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike in most cases, the fresh air didn\u2019t do me any good.\u201d\u00a0 He forced a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you laying down?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He paused.\u00a0 \u201cIt seems like a couple of the other brothers have the flu too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we do live in Greek mansions\u2026\u00a0 It happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot as bad as the dorms.\u201d\u00a0 He forced a laugh again.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe worse\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He started laughing again, followed shortly by vomiting.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh cringed a second time.\u00a0 \u201cBrad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKayleigh\u2026\u201d\u00a0 The voice was faint from within the door next to her.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh stared at the door with two handmade dolphin nametags.\u00a0 One read Kayleigh Shane<\/i>, and the one underneath it read Samantha Anne<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\u201cKayleigh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m here\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She hesitated as she pushed open the door lightly.<\/p>\n

The shock came when she opened it on her roommate vomiting into a trashcan.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh turned away and cringed.\u00a0 She\u2019d dealt with vomiting people countless times before.\u00a0 But there was just something different about vomiting because you were drunk and vomiting because you were sick.\u00a0 When someone was only drunk, it seems like there was less agony involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cKayleigh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh tottered between running out of the room and talking on the phone with Brad in library or running to the bedside of Sammy and smoothing back her platinum hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad, do you think you can take care of yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

His response was a small chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cYou tucked me in so tight, I think I\u2019ll be here for days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if you run out of water, a brother can get it for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot everyone is sick\u2026 just a few of the other guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to call you back in a half hour, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly a half hour?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly a half hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be by my phone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI tucked you in so tight, where else are you going to go?\u201d Kayleigh laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you\u2026\u201d Brad mumbled.<\/p>\n

Out of surprise, Kayleigh dropped her phone.\u00a0 She hurriedly picked it up off the floor.\u00a0 \u201cBrad?!?\u201d\u00a0 There was no answer.\u00a0 She stared at the phone for a moment before shaking her head.\u00a0 \u201cIt hung up when it hit the floor\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did Brad say?\u201d Samantha asked weakly.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh threw her phone and purse on her desk and sprinted over to Samantha.\u00a0 She sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed back her hair from her face.\u00a0 The ends of her long hair were dripping with vomit.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it\u2026\u201d Kayleigh quieted her.<\/p>\n

\u201cGossip always makes me feel better.\u201d\u00a0 Samantha gave her a weak smile.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh stood up lightly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be right back.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to get a washcloth to clean your face.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the bathroom\u2026\u201d Samantha started.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, in your drawer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh left the room and hurried to the bathroom.\u00a0 Upon entering it, she found two sisters in an open stall.\u00a0 One was throwing up; the other was holding back her hair with a sickened look on her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cJamie, is Alison okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s just a little sick\u2026 I tried to take her to the health center, but they say they\u2019re booked\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSammy has it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

A worried look crossed Jamie\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd some of the Kappa Sigs do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes Brad?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you heard anything about Matt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn TKE?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jamie nodded with concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t, but I can call him\u2026 Or you could call him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe only met me once\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a nice gesture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKayleigh!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh grabbed the vermillion washcloth out of Sammy\u2019s drawer.\u00a0 She smiled to herself.\u00a0 She had called it purple once, and Sammy had replied, \u201cNo, it\u2019s vermillion.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Alison looked up at Kayleigh.\u00a0 \u201cCall Zack for me\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Her head started to droop as her eyes closed.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh put an arm on her shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cAlison, stay awake for me while we get you to bed, okay?\u00a0 Let\u2019s call Zack\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She turned to Jamie quickly.\u00a0 \u201cCan you help me carry her?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jamie gave her a small nod, and the two girls picked up their sister lightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are we going?\u201d Alison asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry to walk, Alison.\u00a0 We\u2019re just taking you to your room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alison\u2019s steps were slow and labored.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Zack at home today?\u201d Kayleigh continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw him in Econ\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we\u2019ll call him when we get you settled.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two girls got Alison safely into bed.\u00a0 She started to close her eyes slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay with me for a little while, okay, Alison?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCall Zack\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we\u2019re going to call Zack\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Kayleigh turned to Jamie again.\u00a0 \u201cCan you go check on the sophomores?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah!\u201d\u00a0 Jamie nodded.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh pulled out her phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Kayleigh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cZack, are you at home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m just getting back from dinner.\u00a0 Orlando is a ghost town\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the waiter said they\u2019ve quarantined the university, and no one was around, except for Josh, Christian, and me\u2026 well, and a few other people\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the medical center is full\u2026\u201d Kayleigh whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn.\u00a0 What\u2019s up otherwise?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlison wants you to come over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t she just call me herself?\u201d\u00a0 He started laughing.\u00a0 \u201cIt says something when your own girlfriend has your mutual friends call you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh turned to Alison again.<\/p>\n

\u201cZack\u2026\u201d Alison mumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cShit!\u00a0 Alison\u2019s\u2026?\u201d\u00a0 There was running in the background.\u00a0 \u201cI was just walking up to Sig Chi.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be right over!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cZack, where are you going?\u201d a muffled voice replied in the background.<\/p>\n

\u201cTri Delta!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you need help?\u201d a second muffled voice asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sure!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cZack\u2026\u201d Kayleigh started.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not going to yell at me about boy hours, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s only just before nine.\u201d\u00a0 Kayleigh swallowed.\u00a0 \u201cI was going to say thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem!\u00a0 Be right there!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have someone let you in the back door.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh ended her call and stroked Alison\u2019s hair.\u00a0 \u201cZack\u2019s coming soon with Josh and Christian\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d she whispered quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you stay awake for him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you be okay if I go back to Sammy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Alison gave a weak nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you better.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be back later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh shut the door lightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is she?\u201d\u00a0 The girl was pulling her auburn hair into a bun.<\/p>\n

\u201cZack\u2019s coming for her, Megan, so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long ago?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just started running from Sig Chi\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Megan crossed her arms.\u00a0 \u201cSo if he ran through Sig Ep\u2019s parking lot\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe should be here now.\u201d\u00a0 Kayleigh nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go get him then.\u201d\u00a0 Megan headed for the stairs.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh walked back to her room lightly and opened the door.\u00a0 \u201cSammy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh laughed as she saw Pretty in Pink<\/i> flash across their television set.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t judge me\u2026\u201d Samantha whined.\u00a0 \u201cI watch it every time I\u2019m sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh sat on the bed.\u00a0 \u201cI know, I know\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She ran the washcloth through the ends of Samantha\u2019s hair.\u00a0 \u201cSorry that Ricky is abroad right now\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing I hate about Ricky being abroad is that I can\u2019t go to Sig Ep\u2019s formal.\u201d\u00a0 Samantha laughed weakly.\u00a0 \u201cTell me what Brad said.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh swallowed as she kept running the washcloth through Samantha\u2019s hair.\u00a0 \u201cHe said\u2026 \u2018I love you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Samantha used all her energy to sit up.\u00a0 \u201cAnd instead of saying it back, you dropped your phone?!\u201d\u00a0 She flopped back on the bed.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh folded up the washcloth and put the clean side against Samantha\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 \u201cSorry, Sammy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, are you going to call him back?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m calling him around nine-ish, but what do I need to say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell him that you love him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I love him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust because he\u2019s not a Pi Kapp\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Samantha shook her head weakly.\u00a0 \u201cKay, you\u2019re absolutely smitten with him\u2026 so much so that you\u2019re willing to tell your Daddy that you want him<\/i> to meet and<\/i> approve of a Kappa Sig.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess.\u00a0 I\u2019ll call him\u2026 and I\u2019ll say it back\u2026 unless he thinks I didn\u2019t hear him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows you heard\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Samantha waved her hand in front of Kayleigh\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cShh, shh, shh.\u00a0 This is my favorite part.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAndie\u2019s meeting Blane at TRAX.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t that a little far into the movie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI paused it right before you came in to throw up\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though you\u2019ve seen this movie like ninety times?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though I\u2019ve seen it like ninety times\u2026\u00a0 Now, shh!\u201d<\/p>\n

The two girls laughed, albeit one more weakly than the other.\u00a0 Sometimes it was okay to watch movies you\u2019d seen ninety times and laugh together.\u00a0 Because when college was over, when could you laugh together, curled up in bed, again?<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

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Chapter 17 \u00a0Everyone always told me:\u00a0 \u201cKayleigh, you\u2019re so dedicated.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cKayleigh, you\u2019re so helpful.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cI can always count on you, Kayleigh.\u201d \u00a0But they were wrong. \u00a0I would be there in a flash for a shopping buddy.\u00a0 I had any color … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":17,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"onecolumn-page.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":168,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167\/revisions\/168"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}