Jordan POV

Hell week was just what it sounded like, hell.

But that just meant the other side was close. After challenging them physically, they were put to the test mentally with several tests on what they spent weeks learning.

The end was near

"Lil brothers, we brought you here tonight to meet the other half of your family," Brian stated to them as they stood inside the MAX house to meet their pledges.

It was the first time he was ever inside their infamous house, the only Black Greek organization on campus to have an official house. It was bigger inside than it looked outside, and just like the EU house, MAX paraphernalia was everywhere around the room. Everything in their colors. Orange and khaki. It was nice. He knew it was something that the Alumnae paid for yearly with dues, and he wished the EU had a similar network like that.

Maybe that was something he could work on once he crossed.

He knew to look over the pledges, but not stare. There were four of them, the shortest that dancer chick that one the talent show. Man, she was fly. He would not mind trying to get with her.

"We're bringing you all together so that you can meet the other half of your family. It's not just about Epsilon Upsilon," Brian said. "We have love for the ladies of Mu Alpha Chi Sorority."

They learned a bit of that over the weeks. Though their bond was not official like Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta, they were connected being that they were both founded within a few miles of each other in the same state. When MAX began twenty years ago, Epsilon Upsilon was still fairly new so they assisted the ladies because the bigger more established ones were not trying to step up.

"I see we have most of the school talent here with us," Jill said with a chuckle. "Anika, your two guys, well all right!"

"They should put on a show for us, all together," Lark said.

"Yo, that doesn't sound half bad," Taj said.

Thus began their work on a joint probate show. A probate show was the first-see at new initiates on the college campus. They usually donned masks to cover their faces till their pledge names were revealed. He had been to a couple last year and watched more on line. He could not believe they were at this stage of the process.

The end was definitely near.

They let all pledges assemble in the basement with anything they needed to work on their show.

"Are we supposed to dance and do all that, cuz-" Daysha, with the loud purple hair, asked.

"No, haven't you seen a probate show?" Anika asked her.

"Uh, not sure," she said.

"And you're a senior?" Jameela asked. "Lark probated by herself last year, and so did Brian, but not together. All the Black Greek organizations do it. You know, reveal themselves."

"Oh yeah, I think I saw the Deltas or the Alphas my freshman year or something. But if I didn't know anyone crossing, I wasn't trying to go," she said.

"I haven't told anyone I'm crossing," Jordan said. "Good thing I'm doing it with my roomie."

"Aw, that's pretty cool," Anika said to him. "And you guys were good in the talent show...I mean, not better than me."

He liked a cocky girl. Turned him on. He shook the thought of her out of his head so he could focus.

"Didn't you guys already get all the info you're supposed to say? All we have to do is put it together in a show. Any cool moves we want to do, Anika and I can come up with. And my boy can help with singing."

"I can't sing!" Daysha said.

"Cool, when we perform as a team, all you need to do is harmonize and blend in," Manny told her.

They spent about two hours working things out then their Bigs wanted to see what they had so far. The show was tweaked a bit, and then they were dismissed to work on it some more on their own.

They all left the MAX house and walked to their cars nearby.

"Aye," he said to the girls. "We should all practice together again, I mean if that's cool with y'all."

"No, we straight," Daysha said, dismissing them.

"No wait, Jordan, Manny that sounds cool." Anika stepped closer to him, holding out her phone. "We all should get together and hang out and learn to work together. Let's exchange info."

Was she trying to get his number on the sly? Anika was fine as hell, and the way she danced...nope, nope, nope.

"Uh, yeah, sure."

He gave her his and Manny's number, but then he let the girls go on their own. He did not need to spend more time with her. The temptation was very...tempting.

Manny and he walked to their car and got in. Manny didn't start the car for a moment.

"You like her, huh?"

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Anika."

"Man! You're tripping. I don't like her." But he did.

"She's pretty. That tall one, the light-skinned one, I think she's hot."

"Well go on Manny boy, look at you, eyeing another girl while you have a whole girlfriend."

Manny started the car and brushed him off. "Naw, don't get it wrong. Laila is the only one for me. I can appreciate different honies when I spot them."

Jordan looked his boy over. His roomie, his line brother he'd been stuck like glue to for the last few weeks. He even talked differently now. Either the pledging was changing him, or winning the talent show and having all those people yell his name was. Either way, maybe this was a bad thing.

"Look, bro, you have a good thing going with Laila, stop feeling yourself over these girls giving you attention."

"Do you know girls are sliding into my DMs now? And not just saying hey, what's up."

Again, this was a surprise to him.

"What are they saying?"

Manny gave him a sly chuckle. "What are they doing, you mean? Sending me pics. And I'm not talking selfies, bro."

Part of him wanted to see them. Naaa, that wasn't for him to see. It amazed him there were girls that forward out there, yet, when he tried to talk to one there was nothing but attitude, Never knew what you were getting when you talked to females.

Instead of hanging out in his dorm room with Marketta like he always did, he decided to do something different. Hiding out in their rooms was a bore, especially if all they could do was make out and study. Not that he was complaining.

"Have you ever just walked around this entire campus?" he asked her, taking her hand as they walked out of their residence hall.

"Umm, not really. Me and my sister didn't even get a tour when we were thinking of coming here. We applied, we got in, we came here."

"Yeah, and they don't even show you around the hidden jams during those tours. I rode the train down twice before school started and familiarized myself with the campus and surroundings. It's quite a quaint city, here in Bloomington...or Normal...sometimes I forget."

"The campus is in Bloomington, but the cities just combine for most things."

"I love it here. Yes, it's not a big city like St. Louis, but that's what I like about it. There's no constant gunfire and fear that I could get mugged or killed when I walk the streets. I mean, still can happen...it's just not as prevalent.

He walked with her to the end of campus one way, then turned the corner so they could circle the campus. He may be tired and weary but he needed something to clear his mind.

"What about you? What do you like so far at college, freshman?"

"Just getting away from my family sometimes. Sheesh! There is a lot of us. Oh, and being somewhat independent, but having my big sister here to help me." She smiled at him. "And you."

His thoughts went to Anika, wondering if she was thinking about him. Now that they were about to both be in Greek organizations, maybe he would give her the time of day. Girl that fine, was not lacking on male attention. The fact that everyone knew her from dance and that he could dance, they would be the perfect couple.

Then again...he had a perfect girl right now. He had to stop thinking about another girl.

"Ketta, I'm trying to be the perfect boyfriend I can. I'm not used to this, just dating and holding hands shit."

She stopped walking and pulled her hand from his. "You want to see other people?"

"No! No, that's not what I'm saying." He did not know what he was saying. "Look, just be patient with me. Tell me if I suck as a boyfriend."

"I never asked you to be a perfect boyfriend Jordan. But if you're thinking about cheating or doing something stupid-"

"No, no, listen..." He grabbed her hands in his. "You're the only girl for me. I'm happy just where I am. And I'm going to be that perfect boyfriend, just watch."

"We'll see," she said, playfully pushing him.

He planned on sleeping late Saturday morning, but the Big Brothers called them up early to meet at the EU house. He was tired as hell, staying out late talking with Marketta. Now he was going to pay the price doing extra work with the fraternity.

Hell week was over, now what?

A/N: Just a note, I know we're a bit of the ways in, but I hope my readers are reading Brother's Keeper's chapters FIRST and then Sister Circle, that is the proper order. They will cross in that Sister Friend's chapter, so yeah, don't want to miss that.