My name is Jessica and I'm a freshman in college. Although it isn't my focus, I love music, and I'm drawn to band geeks and music kids. I'm in the marching band and concert band. I had an...interesting...introduction to college, as I lost my virginity during band camp to a trombone player named Dan, and then to a color guard girl named Cassie. All fall semester I spent my weekends at either Dan or Cassie's dorm room, and I even started to mess around with a tall trumpet player named Alex. Fall was a blast, but spring semester starts tomorrow and I am back at school. I'm excited to see what the semester will hold for me.
I'm writing in my journal and reflecting on the last semester when I get a text. I look at it. It's from Cassie.
"Hey girl!" it says. "I was wondering if you thought about coming to rush events for the fraternity. I'll invite you on facebook."
Interested, I roll over on my bed, open my laptop, and stare at my computer screen.
"Rush Alpha Lambda Beta!" it says. "Co-ed music fraternity! Events open to all!"
I text Cassie back to get more details. She says that Alpha Lambda Beta, a group she's a part of, is a lot of fun...filled with music kids who have similar interests, and both guys and girls are considered brothers. There are some rush events like bowling, going to an arcade, and going to a karaoke night. It sounds fun, so I decide that I will attend them. They start tomorrow, and I write a note in my planner.
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The next day, I show up to the student center where karaoke is held.
"Jessie, hi!" Cassie says, with total enthusiasm, but not acting like she's fucked me at least 20 times in various locations on campus.
"Hi, Cassie." I look around at all the brothers with their multi-colored letters and feel a sense of dread. "Actually, uh, I don't know if this is for me. I should go."
"No, stay." Cassie takes my arm. "These events are open for everyone. You don't have to rush, although I would love it if you did! It's completely up to you how far you'd like to go in this process. Today, you're just hanging out with some music kids. And doing karaoke, if you want."
I sigh. "Okay, let's do it." I can never say no to Cassie.
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The rest of the week, I attend all other rush events, including making a small pizza and hanging out with some brothers at the bowling alley. Everyone is really nice, and I decide to attend their special last rush event, invitation only.
I show up, invitation in hand, and wait in a room with 10 other nervous college students. Some guys, some girls, all music nerds.