Ritual - Palm South University

“Lei,” Erin says sadly.

“I was just trying to make a joke,” Ashlei says, holding her hands up. “But, honestly? I’m doing okay. I think I’m starting to accept it… at least, a little bit. I wish he would talk to me, but I can’t force him to.” She shrugs. “There’s nothing left to do, really, but to pick myself up and move on. Starting with a new job.”

“Have you been putting in applications?” I ask, letting her avoid the fact that I know she’s not okay. Ashlei is a lot like me in that regard — when she’s hurting, she doesn’t want to make a big show of it. She just wants to pretend like everything is fine and that she’s moving on to bigger and better things.

But we’ll be here when she needs to fall.

“I haven’t had to. As soon as word got out that I was leaving Okay, Cool, my phone started ringing off the hook. I’ve got offers all over Miami and in other states, too.”

Jess leans up and glares at Ashlei. “You’re not allowed to leave. Not right now.”

Ashlei chuckles. “I’m not going anywhere, Bossy Pants.”

Jess face plants into the pillows with another grunt.

“You’re going to be amazing, no matter where you end up,” Cassie says to Lei. “And, I agree with Jess. I just want you all to stay here. Forever.”

“Says the one who will leave for med school,” I point out.

“Well, when that happens, you all have my permission to leave, also.”

We laugh at that, and Erin catches my eyes from across the bed. “So, a little birdie told me that Kip is transferring here for the spring semester?”

I bite my lip, nodding. “That little birdie would be correct. And, he’ll be here for the summer, too.”

“How?” Cassie asks with a frown.

“He’s going to be working on his show… about us.”

“As in, how you two met?” she asks.

“As in everything — how we met, our crazy dating story, the tournament, all of it. His professors loved the concept and want him to bring it to life. He has through the end of the summer to shoot the pilot season, and then he’ll submit it to compete for the chance to turn it into an online series hosted through the university.”

“Holy shit!” Ashlei says on a grin. “That’s a big deal.”

“It is,” I agree. “I’m so proud of him.”

“So, do you get to help with casting?” Erin asks.

I laugh. “Oh, whether he knows it or not, I will be casting director — especially when it comes to who plays me.”

“They’ll never find anyone who comes close to the real thing,” Ashlei says.

“What about you, Little? What are you doing for the holidays?” I ask Cassie.

“Adam and I are going to see our families… it’ll be the first time for him meeting my parents and me meeting his aunt.”

“Wow, big step,” Erin says.

“It is… but we’re ready. We’ve both decided this is it — no more games, no more letting other people get between us or standing in our own way. We just want to be together. Zero drama.”

“Good luck with that,” Jess says, her voice muffled by the comforter.

I pat her ass sympathetically.

“But there’s something I wanted to tell you guys…” Cassie continues, biting her lip. “I’m going to graduate early.”

Erin cocks a brow. “Really?”

“Yeah. I’m ahead in my classes. My GPA is killer, surely enough to apply to my med schools of choice. Adam graduates next semester, and Big,” she says to me, smiling. “I think I want to graduate with you. Next fall.”

I beam. “One last year together.”

“One last year to raise some serious hell,” she agrees.

“I’m proud of you.” I wrap her in a hug, and then Erin takes her turn.

“Oh, and I was thinking… I know I’m a little late now, but… what if I did take a Little next fall? I’d only have one semester with her, but then she could start her own family, carry on our line.”

At that, Erin sits upright, her eyes welling. “Wait. Are you serious? You really want to take a Little?”

Cassie nods. “I really, really do.”

Something of a squeal comes from my Big, and then there’s more hugging, and Jess makes a comment under her breath about us being entirely too mushy for her current depressed state.

She gets the next round of smushes.

For a long time, we just lie there in bed, cuddling and reminiscing on the past few years. Sometimes we laugh, other times we cry, and through it all, we hold onto each other and the memories we’ve made.

Everything is about to change.

It feels that way at the end of every semester, but this one is unlike any I’ve felt before. I’m officially the president of Kappa Kappa Beta — a responsibility I won’t take lightly — and with Jess, Lei, and Erin graduating, it’ll just be me and Cassie left.