I’d been asking myself that question since I read Macy’s email. Though I guess I’d really been asking it since I opened my big mouth during my appeal. I didn’t want to pursue this for a petty reason. I wanted to be sure that I could be the president Zeta Eta Chi deserved, instead of the one they got when Aamee stepped into the role.
There was no mistaking the hopeful look on Drew’s face. He wanted me to go for it. He had wanted that since he found the rule in the first place. But I couldn’t do this just because I didn’t want to disappoint him. The reason needed to be bigger than that. Bigger than him. Bigger than even me. It had to be for what was truly best for the sorority that I’d been pressured to join but loved nonetheless.
I leaned back in my chair and regarded him for a second. “I guess I’m going to draft a letter to the dean of student affairs.”
Drew punched the air with his fists. “Yes!”
And while I watched him celebrate, I dared to let a tendril of excitement unfurl inside me. This could happen. I could become president of Zeta Eta Chi.
And for the first time, I truly wanted to be.
Chapter Thirteen
S O P H I A
I expected to have more than a few days to get ready for the next sorority meeting, but if I wanted to become president, I was going to need to perform under pressure. And preparing a written statement outlining my qualifications was my first test.
I’d had much of what I planned to say floating around in my head, but getting it down on paper proved much more difficult. How did I make myself seem fit for the position while showing Aamee’s weaknesses without looking like a spiteful bitch? There was a gentle finesse to it that I hoped like hell I got right.
I glanced around the living room of the sorority house I hadn’t been in for weeks and tried to mentally settle the acid moving around in my stomach. I hadn’t had an appetite since the previous night, and it was almost five.
Aamee sat across from me, both of us in hard chairs brought in from the dining room table, while the rest of our sisters made themselves comfortable in furniture of their choosing sprinkled around the perimeter of the room. It made me a little happy that Aamee didn’t have her throne tonight.
Emma and Gina gave me small smiles, and a few other girls nodded in my direction, probably in an attempt to give me confidence I didn’t exactly feel. Since Aamee was going to be part of the meeting, the other officers suggested the vice president, Sam, run the agenda so as not to have a conflict of interest.
As Sam looked down at her iPad, it struck me that Aamee hadn’t brought anything formal. She had no notebook or tablet in front of her, and I momentarily felt more adequately ready than she was. Maybe she’d underestimated me.
Even if she had an idea of what she was going to say, showing up empty-handed made her seem ill-prepared. At least to me. I could only hope the other girls would notice it and think the same.
Finally Sam spoke, breaking the tense silence and causing all of us to sit up a little straighter. She addressed the rest of the room first.
“The secretary has taken attendance, and as we are only missing three members, this meeting shall come to order and proceed as planned. Sophia Mason has prepared a statement of her intent. We’ll let Sophia read her statement first, and then Aamee will have an opportunity to respond. We will continue with the meeting in a debate style to evaluate each candidate’s presidential qualifications.”
Then Sam’s attention turned to Aamee and me. “You will both get sufficient time to respond to any questions asked by chapter members, as well as thirty seconds to rebut any comments made by each other. Other members may ask questions as they see fit, and you must answer them honestly. Do you both understand the rules as they’ve been outlined for you?”
Aamee and I nodded, both of us clearly eager to get started.
“Good,” Sam said. “Do either of you have any questions?”
“Does this really need to be so formal?” Aamee asked. “We all know Sophia’s only challenging my position in office as retaliation for a punishment.”
Sam looked directly at Aamee, a sternness to her face that I hadn’t expected to see. Sam and Aamee had always seemed to be friends, and they were, as far as I could tell. But I was thankful to see Sam was approaching this meeting seriously and with an unbiased attitude.
“While that may be true,” said Sam, “it is a challenge nonetheless, and we’ll hear Sophia out. She’s still one of our sisters, and she’s entitled to this meeting.”
Aamee rolled her eyes but had nothing more to say. That was a first.
Sam turned her attention to me. “Sophia, you may begin whenever you’re ready. Please address Aamee directly, as she is your opponent.”
Clearing my voice, I glanced at my notes, which I’d spent most of the morning trying to memorize, and then looked up at Aamee. I wouldn’t let her intimidate me.
“I’m here today to formally voice my intention to run for the office of president of Zeta Eta Chi,” I said.
Aamee glared at me, her light eyes barely blinking.
“You’re right that I originally sought this presidency because of retaliation, but I’m seeking it currently for reasons beyond that. I believe that I am better qualified to run this sorority than you, and I hope that after this meeting, the rest of the group will agree with me.”
I looked back to Sam to signal that I was finished with my opening.
“Let the record indicate that Sophia Mason has formally identified her intent to run for president.” Sam looked to Macy, who was transcribing the meeting on her laptop. “Aamee, what, if anything, do you have to say in response to this challenge?”
Aamee stood, her hair flipping around as she looked back and forth at the other girls. “This challenge is a joke, but if Sophia thinks she can prove her competence as president, let her. The burden of proof is on her to show she’s better qualified to hold office.”
“Actually,” Sam said, “that’s not entirely true. Even though you currently have the title, once she challenges you, it’s as if you are both running for office. Everyone should vote based on who is a better fit for the position, not whether you have done anything worthy of being removed from your position. This isn’t the same as a courtroom, where there is a ‘burden of proof,’ as you say. You are not innocent until proven guilty.”
Aamee looked pissed and sat back down. I tried not to smile. Essentially, we were equal candidates running for the same position, and I hoped the other girls understood that.
Sam continued. “But since Sophia is the one challenging you, I think it’s fitting that she be the first one to outline her qualifications.” She looked to me. “Sophia.”
I stood this time, though I really didn’t know if I was supposed to. “After my removal from the house, I spent some time going through the sorority handbook.” I looked down at Aamee. “Thank you for bringing that to my attention, by the way. I hadn’t thought to read it closely until then.” Aamee rolled her eyes again and crossed her arms in a huff. She was so mature. “The handbook highlights some of the qualifications and traits of an effective officer, and I’d like to quote from that section if I may.”