Chapter 8

Seraphina

I sat cross-legged on my bed, the soft hum of music filling my ears as I focused on the chaos taking shape on my canvas. Sharp angles clashed with sweeping curves, a reflection of the turmoil I couldn't seem to escape. Every brushstroke was an attempt to quiet the storm in my mind, to push away the lingering pull of the men from Sigma Phi. No matter how much I tried to shut them out, they remained in the background, an unavoidable presence I couldn't quite shake.

The mattress dipped beside me, and before I even registered her presence, Angie was talking.

“I swear, you’re missing out. Alpha Phi’s party this weekend was insane. Everyone was there—except you,” she said with a teasing grin.

I kept my eyes on my work, letting my brush glide over the canvas. “I needed some space.”

Angie huffed dramatically, flopping onto her back. “Space? You can’t hide from fun forever, Seri. You’re going to miss all the good stuff.” She hesitated before adding, “Rush week’s coming up. Why not pledge Alpha Phi? You’d fit right in.”

I finally glanced at her, the corner of my mouth tugging up slightly. “Why would I want to join Alpha Phi?”

She sat up, eyes sparkling. “Because it’s Alpha Phi, duh. You’d be part of the sisterhood, get to meet all these amazing people, and it’s kind of a big deal on campus. Think about it—the connections, the parties, the events. It’s the perfect way to build a network.” She leaned in, voice dropping to something softer, more genuine. “You’d have a whole group of people who get you.”

I didn’t answer right away. My hand moved automatically, but my mind was somewhere else. The idea had crossed my mind, but something about it felt... off. Too structured. Too predictable. I had never been one to follow the crowd. And the thought of being surrounded by people who expected me to fit in? That felt suffocating.

Angie didn’t seem to notice my hesitation. “Come on, Seri. You could be someone who has it all. You’re already that girl, but this would make it official. People would notice you.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Imagine all the perks—invites to everything, being seen with the right people, and they’d love your art. Seriously, it’s a no-brainer.”

I let out a slow breath, my brush pausing on the canvas. “I’m not sure,” I said carefully. “I’m not exactly the ‘joiner’ type.”

Angie leaned back, pouting. “You say that now, but trust me, once you’re in, it’s all about the sisterhood. You’ve got the personality, the style, everything. Just think about it, okay? You don’t even have to commit right away. Just check it out.”

I set my brush down, fingers tapping the edge of the canvas. “I’ll think about it,” I murmured.

Angie beamed. “You better! And seriously, the girls will love you. Just wait.”

I only half-listened, my attention already drifting back to my art. “Maybe… but I still have to finish this project first.”

Angie nodded, satisfied for now. “Alright, alright. But you’re not getting out of it forever.”

I didn’t reply. My gaze stayed locked on the unfinished piece in front of me.

The days blurred together after that. I kept my head down, focusing on my studies, avoiding unnecessary social interactions. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t ignore the fact that they were always there.

Monday morning, psychology class. Marius sat behind me, his presence as heavy as the weight of his gaze. It wasn’t obvious, but I knew he was watching. He had a way of making himself known without saying a word, a silent force in the background.

When the break came, he leaned forward just enough for his voice to reach me. “I see you’ve decided to keep a low profile this week,” he murmured. “No parties, no rushing… I’m surprised. Are you pledging?”

I kept my eyes on my notes. “Not interested in distractions.”

Marius didn’t push, but his silence was almost worse. It was like he was waiting for me to contradict myself, to let something slip. I hated how he made me feel like an enigma, like I was something to be unraveled.

Later that day, sociology class. Tyrone slipped into the seat next to me. He didn’t say anything at first, just glanced at my work with that quiet intensity of his.

“You’re doing the assignment on domestic violence, right?” he finally asked, his voice calm, thoughtful.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“Interesting choice,” he mused. “Most people avoid the heavier topics.”

I shrugged. “I like exploring what others won’t.”

Tyrone’s lips quirked, but his eyes remained serious. “You’ve got a way of looking at things… makes me curious.”

I flicked my gaze to him for a brief second before returning to my notebook. I wasn’t ready for him to dig too deep.

Tuesday, art class. Damon was sitting on the opposite side of the room, but his presence still pressed against me. I didn’t have to look to know he was watching. When he finally approached, I wasn’t even surprised.

“Nice work on your last piece,” he said, his voice smooth. “But I think you’re holding back.”

I stiffened for just a second before turning my head to meet his gaze. “Not everyone needs to go full force.”

Damon’s grin widened, but there was something else there—a challenge. “Maybe not. But when you do, people will notice. And you don’t strike me as someone who likes to go unnoticed.”

My pulse quickened, but I forced my expression to remain cool. “I’m fine being unnoticed.”

Damon chuckled, low and knowing. “Not for long, you won’t be.”

By Wednesday, they were everywhere. Marius. Damon. Tyrone. Their attention was suffocating, impossible to ignore. It wasn’t aggressive, but it was persistent, like they were waiting for something.

During psychology, Marius stood near my desk during the break. He didn’t give me a chance to speak first.

“You’re good at pretending to be invisible,” he murmured. “But we both know it’s a front. You can only hide for so long, Seri.”

I met his gaze, narrowing my eyes. “I’m not hiding. I’m just... observing.”

Marius raised an eyebrow, but didn’t argue. “Observing’s dangerous. It leaves room for conclusions. And I’m sure you’ve drawn your own.”

I looked away, trying to shake off the weight of his words. But they stuck with me.

By Wednesday evening, initiation night loomed. I stood outside the Alpha Phi house, trying to push down the unease curling in my stomach. I hadn’t committed, not really, but Angie’s persistence had dragged me here anyway.

Inside, the air buzzed with anticipation. The pledges sat together, nervous energy thick in the room. I kept my expression neutral, blending in, observing.

A blonde girl named Emily turned toward me, whispering something, but I barely heard her. My mind was elsewhere, locked onto a single thought:

They weren’t going to let me slip away unnoticed anymore.