Babydoll

“I know I am,” Lucia replied, a smile spreading across her face. “Ew. That sounds terrible. I’d never introduce my family to any guy. Those are two facets of my life that can stay entirely separate. I wish I was like Athina. Popped fully into being. None of that growing up stuff. Family would be a hell of a lot easier then.” 

“What a lucky bitch.” Avery shook her head and smiled. “It nice to be back here with all the girls, though.”

“Are you allowed to use words like that?” Lance questioned, twined with jest and taunt as he glanced up at the blonde who stood on the chair. “Easy, I left the cage open for a while —- turned my attention back to other things, and this campus is a big place so god knows where he could be. He’s probably off hunting some short, five foot, blonde zeta girl for lunch.”

Avery’s brow furrowed and her mouth hung open slightly. “Rude!” The blonde said as she put her hands on her hips. “Not gonna lie to you, kinda seems like you should get a different, more manageable pet.” Avery crossed her arms. “The snakes seems like it’s gonna result in a law suit.” 

“Yeah, yeah, totally.” Adrian shrugged. He didn’t know if being sick to death or depressed to death because of Zach was actually worse. “Didn’t your parents say anything when you didn’t go back?”

Avery smiled. “No, cause I went back for Christmas. That was plenty. I love em, they’re just a lil’ crazy. I just couldn’t stay any longer cause none of my siblings were there.”

She shrugged, poking at her shrimp. “I’m going to try and get an event planning internship back home with my parents. They really want me to stay there until I can really get back on my feet.”

“Oh, my family members stopped asking me about that one once I went on a rant and ripped them a new one about how a man does not make them woman, and I’d get married as a last resort, if and only if I was happy with my career first. I don’t need a man distracting me from what’s important. So at least I avoid those conversations.”

“You’re a genius! That seems highly effective. I’ve gotta try that sometime.” Avery smiled. “But they’re so hypocritical. I’m sure if I brought a guy home, they’d be like ‘Oh, Avery! Our little baby!’ So I really just can’t win with these people.”

“Of course! How do you think Kappa initiation works?” Nate snorted. “You can outdrink all of them, they’re just a bunch of sissies. But me, that’s a challange you don’t wanna take.” He laughed. “Pft, sounds like classic parents to me. I’m actually lucky that I don’t have parents like that; they’re pretty chill with everything.” Nate explained.

“My size and appearance are gonna help me here. They’ll underestimate me and then I’ll surprise them!” Avery smiled. “Look out, Harris, I’m coming for you.” She said with a smile, knowing she probably couldn’t beat him. “That is a blessing. My parents are actually crazy.”

Lance pivoted his gaze from the petite blonde briefly as he ran his tongue along the back of his pearly whites to suppress a roll of his eyes, before shortly turning his attentiveness back to her with a sugary sweet smile. Pulling out a nearby chair, the male beckoned to it with his head. “Call me your knight in shining armour. Stand on this, I mean, if you get any closer to the floor than you already are then he might take you as bait which isn’t necessary a bad thing but for you, it is. One lock of his jaws, and he can have you for lunch.”

“So much for studying in a quiet space.” Avery said under her breath as she walked over to the chair. The blonde continued to muttered inaudible words under her breath as she began to stand on it. Avery crossed her arms and pursed her lips. “I’ve just got one question. How the fuck did you lose a snake this big?”

“Feel free to bring me along next time, I’ve heard I make for a great date.”

“Perfect! You can come to New York with me for my sister’s wedding!” Avery laughed. “You could start a business! Boyfriend for hire!”

“Yeah, I was conceived at the cabin in Aspen. I think god everyday it was the beach house on Cape Cod, you know? I’m in Tri Pi.”

“Yeah, it would suck to be named after a fish!” Avery laughed. “Oh, sorry about that." Avery said with a cringe and then quickly changed the subject. "What’s your major?

“Aspen. It’s nice to meet you to, even with the case of mistaken identity.”

“That’s a pretty name. Are you in a sorority?” 

“— There’s not a great potential that there’s a missing snake that could be in here?” Lance voiced, with a sluggish shrug as he pivoted himself round to face the nearby blonde once he was finished looking under one of the tables. “But there’s also that little bit of potential that there might be. But, all you can do is stay calm and breath. If you panic, they’ll panic.” 

Avery stood up from her chair abruptly. “I-I don’t think I can do this.” The blonde stuttered. “I am really afraid of snakes.” She pushed her hair behind her ears and started breathing heavier.

“Not bad, waaay too short.” Ethan replied, shrugging his shoulders slightly “but I can’t complain too much. I got to indulge in my mom’s cooking. How about you?”

“That’s so nice.” Avery smiled. “The family was slightly critical, a lot of ‘Avery, why are you single?’ and ‘Avery, sit up straight.’ but I survived.” 

“You couldn’t have known!” Adrian laughed. “You asking me? I had the best and most peaceful days of my life without anyone around.” He said. “I mean… of course it wasn’t the best since I was sick, but at least it was an opportunity to clear my head.”

“Nothing worse than being sick though.” Avery smiled. “But I feel ya, the quite is nice.”

“Damn straight,” She pointed her fork at her and bounced her eyebrows. Jelena pouted, “I’m not leaving you, I’m just leaving this shit hole.” She joked, giving her a smile. “You still have me for five months so make the best out of it.”

Avery ate another pot sticker and frowned. “I certainly intend to.” The blonde threw some of her hair behind her shoulder and smiled. “What are you planning on doing afterwards, babe?”

“Those are lies but I’m honored that you think I’m fun.” Rohan chuckled softly. “Well that’s good. I was about to head to the diner to get something to eat, do you want to join me?”

“That sounds great! I’m starving.”

“Sure is,” he smiled as she laughed. “That’s because you haven’t. It’s biology, actually. Might come as a surprise, I know. I’m hoping to go to med school next year. What about your major, Avery?”

“That’s so cool! What kind of doctor do you want to be?” Avery asked. “For now, I’m business, but we’ll see. It doesn’t really matter cause I’m planning on law school.”