Marketta POV

Oh, she had this in the bag.

There were a lot of ladies at the MAX Rush. She was not surprised. They had taken the main stage after winning the step show. She knew they were more than that, but before that, they were nearly invisible to some on the campus. Now they were front and center.

"I thought it would be easy to get in because they are small, but look how many people are here," Laila said to her once they signed in and took their seats.

"Girl, we're good," she told her sister.

She did a quick scan of the room. There were at least twenty girls if not more. Some she was familiar with. Lots of seniors, so this was their last shot. A few juniors but mostly sophomores, in their first year of eligibility.

The requirements included twenty-four college credits, a three-point zero minimum GPA, community service, leadership experience as well as letters of recommendation. She already asked Lark to write her letter, and Laila asked Jossie. She saw that Amber was there and not Jade, so that was interesting.

They never discussed it amongst their BSU crew. Guess Jade was not interested in pledging like her twin. She would be a legacy, because of Lark, making it easier for her.

She saw Brian's girlfriend, J'Nae. Something was off about that girl to her. Everybody on campus knew that boy slept around. He did not even hide the fact, yet she stuck by his side. Couldn't be her.

"Hey, you two!" Amber came over to them and sat beside her. "Wish I would have known you were interested, we could have smashed heads about it."

"Well, here we are. Let's all be stressed out together," Laila stated.

"Whaaat? You got this, legacy," she said to Amber.

"Oh, there is no special treatment because of my sister," Amber said. "In fact, they will be tougher on me."

"Ouch!"

It was a good thing she was going through this with her sister. She saw the stress and turmoil Jordan and Manny went through while they pledged, and it was a good thing they were roommates. So she hoped it helped her and Laila become even closer.

"Welcome all to the Mu Alpha Chi Rush, I am Jameela Jackson, President and this is Anika Miles...excuse me, Anika Warner. My soror recently got married, let me adjust to that."

"Yes, hello, I'm Anika Warner, Vice President of MAX."

"And I'm Lark McCormack, I will be serving as Assistant Advisor to our fantastic, wonderful, extraordinary, super duper fly Advisor, and Founder, Jossie DeCosta-Smith."

"Well, that was a welcome." Jossie gave a wave to everyone. "Get to know me, ladies, get to know my sorors up here. We hope we answer any questions you have in helping to decide if MAX is the right fit for you. I don't take it too lightly for anyone trying to get into something I created. This is my baby. All the ladies that I have brought in are my babies."

Jossie went on. "We're small but mighty. And you all know we lost one of our beloved members last year, but Lindy will forever be in our hearts. Her legacy continues in everything we will do this year. We, along with the men of Alpha Phi Alpha plan on doing several activities in their honor this year, but that's another subject."

"Many wonder why I am here, not as the Founder of this sorority, why is the Advisor here. If you attend any sorority or fraternity function, the Advisor will be there. Even if they are tucked away in the corner somewhere watching you young people party, we're there. As Advisor, I sit back and advise, I don't have to participate."

"Black fraternities and sororities have a bad rep to many, heck, all the organizations struggle with this. Hazing, I'll just say the word. MAX is not about that life. Or they think we are some sort of gang, we are not. Some call us clique-ish, or we think we're better than someone...and is!"

That got a few chuckles.

"If I pick an organization, best believe I'm picking what I feel is best, so brag on that. Shout and scream about it. I'm not mad that the AKAs call themselves pretty girls, so be it. That the Deltas run the yard in size and strength, so be it. That the Zetas can tout their real sisterhood/brotherhood bond with the Sigmad, okay. And SGRho...okay, you get my point."

"I'm MAX till the day I die, and if you make it into my sorority, take this seriously. Lifetime commitment. It does not end after you graduate. It does not end when you're done coming down for Homecoming. It does not end when you get married and have a family. The work continues."

She looked around at every quiet girl, watching them intently. "Any questions?"

She was too nervous to say anything. Jossie was truly legendary and she gave a great speech. She was not nervous before, but suddenly she was. She had big shoes to fill. She glanced toward Lark, whom she bonded with when she was a GA for one of her classes. Last year she attended every MAX event she could and took time to talk to Lark and pick her brain.

But as Amber said, having a relationship with a MAX meant nothing. She still had to do the work.

"Let's get into the requirements," Lark stated. "The biggest, and one I struggled with, is GPA. Three-point zero and higher. The higher the better of course, but we not only look at that, but we also look at the complete application package."

"Yes, we rank them and assign a score," Jameela stated. "And then if your score is high enough, you are invited for an interview with us, and again, you are given a score."

An interview? Her armpits started to sweat.

"If you're selected, you are contacted and have to pay the initiation fee within forty-eight hours, so make sure you want this, for one, and two, make sure you have the funds on hand."

This was a lot. It was a good thing she had leftover scholarship money that she would use. She knew her sister was good for it as well. She looked around at others in the meeting, and a few groaned or sighed, maybe worried about the money.

That would take a lot of girls out of running she thought. That made her feel better.

After the meeting, there were refreshments, but she wanted to get out of there. Laila agreed with her. They grabbed the application packet from Anika and were right at the door when J'Nae came over to them.

"Hey, don't leave yet, we should discuss," she said. "Are you doing it this year? I can't. I don't have the GPA. I only have a two-point eight."

Ooh, that hurt. Poor her. She was more than qualified with her three-point five, and her sister with a four-point zero.

"All we can do is apply and see," Laila said. She knew her sister was not going to give her much.

"Oh, I wish I could apply now! I really want this. Then Brian and I can have this together. He is going to be so bummed," J'Nae went on.

Why didn't Brian tell her what the GPA requirement was before she came to Rush? Why even come if she knew she was not qualified? Brian was just a snake, and she did not like him. Maybe that's why Manny became a snake and Jordan was probably doing the same. And she did not care for this J'Nae girl either.

A/N: Always some drama. Well if J'Nae doesn't make it this year, there is always next year. Generally speaking, you only attend Rush if you are ready with all the requirements, but there are always a few that come anyway.

For pledging into an Alumnae chapter it's a bit different.