build-a-story

[TechADPI]

...he asked me to meet him there because he was running late for our date.

When I arrived at the house there was a note on the front door that read "Susan, come on in I'll be down in a minute. -Mike" When I opened the door Mike was standing there in a suit with a single white rose in his hand.

He stepped to the side and behind him were the rest of the brothers also holding white roses. He took my hand and led me into the foyer, that's when they all began to sing the sweetheart song. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life... I know you'll love being a sweetheart as much as I did Cassie."

Susan smiled and gave Cassie a hug. Then both girls walked over to the pavilion where the church service was being held.

45 minutes later everyone walked back over to the Pi Theta Gamma house for lunch.

The backyard was filled with tables and chairs, and a long buffet table with different kinds of sandwiches, vegetables, fruits and desserts.

At the end of the meal all the sisters thanked the gentlemen of Pi Theta for providing lunch, and walked back to the ADPi house.

[polarpi]

As Cassie walked up the stairs to her room, she could her her cell phone going off. She raced upstairs and ran to her room, wondering if it was Spencer calling her.

"Hello?" she answered, out of breath.

"Hey, beautiful," Spencer greeted.

"Hey, Spencer. How's your Sunday going?"

"Pretty good....what have you been up to?"

"Well, we had chapter church with the Pi Theta gentlemen, and I just got back a few minutes ago."

"Sounds nice. Would you like to go grab some lunch over at the student union?"

"Actually, we ate lunch with the Pi Thetas, but if you're needing to eat lunch, I can tag along and grab some ice cream or something."

"Great...do you think you'd be ready in 10 minutes?"

"Spencer, I can be ready in 5 minutes....do I need to worry about staying dressed up in my church clothes, or are we going with the casual look for today?"

Spencer laughed. "Definitely casual. I'll see you in ten minutes, then. Bye, Cass."

Cassie quickly pulled out a pair of jeans and her favorite top, then pulled on her sneakers before heading down to the foyer to wait for Spencer to arrive.

[honeychile]

Brenda was also waiting in the foyer. "Congratulations, Miss White Rose!" she said, hugging her. Brenda pulled away, holding Cassie by the shoulders and said, "I mean it. I hope you have at least half the fun I had when I was named the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi!"

"You, Brenda?!" Cassie exclaimed.

"Yes, last year. It was glorious - and I really want the same for you. From the moment we bid you, I've been hoping...."

[trojangal]

"..that you would catch the eyes of the gentlemen on this campus. Sigma Xi was not the only group that was considering you as a sweetheart!!! Sigma Chi had you down as a potential, and so did Lambda Chi Alpha. Cassie, you are such a great young lady on this campus. Your friends from high school talk about how hard you worked in high school, and we've seen your commitment to grades and our chapter since you began your New Member period."

"Wow.." said Cassie. "That's a lot to take in...why?"

[emleepc]

"We see how wonderfully you represent our chapter, as well as ADPi as a whole. How could everyone else not see that as well?"

"Thanks Brenda. That means so much to hear you say that." Cassie said.

As Brenda walked up the stairs of the house, Cassie thought to herself, "I wonder why they picked me? Maybe I'll never know, but it feels really good anyway!!"
Just then, Spencer arrived. Cassie skipped down the stairs to meet him with a big smile on her face.

[polarpi]

"Well, don't you look like the cat who caught the canary," Spencer teased as he opened the passenger door for Cassie.

She laughed. "Maybe I did," she teased back.

Spencer closed her door and then rounded the hood to get into the driver's seat. "So what made you as pleased as punch this morning?"

"A great conversation with a sister. So, what have you been up to this morning?"

"Oh, chapter church with the Delta Chi Epsilon ladies, then a few things around the house," Spencer shared, although he kept a few things to himself, such as.....

[trojangal]

the picnic basket in the back and the acoustic guitar. Little did Cassie know what was in store for her on her first real date with Spencer.

As they drove off the campus, the young couple laughed and talked. Spencer drove for about 30 minutes, then turned into the driveway of a large estate-like property. Flowers adorned the sidewalks, and the sweet smell of magnolias filled the air. Trees provided shade over a beautiful Georgian style mansion located across the grass.

Spencer parked the car, then walked around to Cassie's door, opening it for her. As she stepped out, he took her hand and kissed it. Goosebumps ran up Cassie's back as she smiled at her sweet beau.

"Where are we?" she questioned, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Well, why don't you see if you can figure it out for yourself.." drawled Spencer with a teasing glance.

Cassie looked around at the beautiful acreage and saw the buildings with the Greek columns. As she looked around she had a sense of deja vu....like she had seen this place before, somewhere. She closed her eyes, trying to think. "Now why does this look so familiar...?"

All of a sudden, the memory came to her....a small picture framed in a silver frame....with this exact same building! She gasped, then stood in awe as she glanced around the property.

"Spencer!!! Oh my goodness, why...why...it's more beautiful than I ever dreamed...But...how...what...why?"

"Are you surprised? It took a lot of work and I had to ask a favor of someone really really close to me..."

"What do you mean?..."

"Well, Cassie, I have a little surprise for you....you see, I've always held the highest respect for the women of Alpha Delta Pi. That's one reason why our fraternity usually chooses someone from your group as the White Rose. But there's another reason as well...see, these were also the values that I grew up with as well. A true lady, with gentle manners, strong morals, and respects the beauty within others...someone who always sees the finest in people. Even through the most turbulent of times in their lives, these women I grew up always conducted themselves as ladies. Cassie, darling,..My great-great grandmother, great-grandmother, my grandmother, my mother and all of my aunts were all members of Alpha Delta Pi, and are still very active today..."

CLICK!! Oh my goodness, thought Cassie, as she looked at Spencer closely. "Wait a minute...you mean..." she gasped, dazed at the thoughts flashing through her head as she realized why Spencer, and the building...looked so familiar.

[polarpi]

"You're related to one of ADPi's founders?!?!?!" Cassie exclaimed, too stunned to say anything more.

Spencer smiled, brushing a wisp of hair off of Cassie's face. "Yes, I am. Octavia Andrew Rush was my many-times great-grandmother. That's where I got my middle name from. You see, it's a very big family tradition for our family to go Greek....all the women go ADPi, and the guys all go Sigma Xi. I've been brought up knowing the history of the first secret society for women, and have had the utmost respect for every woman who is privileged enough to wear that diamond badge."

"I'm speechless," Cassie murmured. "Why me? There are SO many more wonderful women in my chapter - what made you and your brothers look closer at me? Don't give me "because you're the prettiest, or the smartest", or anything like that. What made you even give me a second look?"

[emleepc]

Spencer turned to Cassie and looked deep into her eyes. "Cassie, you exemplify all the values that I was taught since I was a boy that a woman should have. Kindness for others, encouragement, dedication and loyalty----you show these things and so much more. Alpha Delta Pi is just as privileged to have you as a member, as you feel that you are to be a member. Sigma Xi always looks for these outstanding characteristics to be the White Rose. And Alpha Delta Pi women traditionally have these characteristics."

"Wow......." Cassie said. She was speechless, and at the same time, lost in Spencer's gaze.

[polarpi]

Spencer gently tugged her along to walk around the grounds of the property, not saying a word. He allowed her to soak in the ambiance and experience the tranquility of the grounds, before leading her back to the car to gather up the picnic basket, blanket, and acoustic guitar. They walked back toward a large sycamore tree, and under the shade of the tree, spread out the blanket and placed the basket next to it. Before they dug in, Spencer asked Cassie, "Any special requests?" as he strummed a little on the guitar...

[honeychile]

...especially with Christmas around the corner?" Spencer smiled.

"Hmmm... now you're playing Santa Claus?" asked Cassie, with her shy smile.

"Santa Claus, Grinch, whomever you'd like to get a little something from."

"This works two ways, you know."

"Mais oui, my lady. But I asked first!"

"Well, in that case," she paused, "I'd like..."

[TechADPI]

"...all I want for Christmas."
"As you wish." Spencer replied with a wink.

At the end of the song, Spencer leaned over to Cassie and whispered, "All I want for Christmas is you!" Then he gently kissed her lips.
Spencer put his guitar back in it's case and leaned up against the tree. He wrapped his arms around Cassie and pulled her towards him. They sat there quietly watching the sun set behind the rows of magnolia trees. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.


The next morning Cassie woke up beaming. She lay in bed and replayed yesterdays events in her mind. She had butterflies for the first time since Graham. She wasn't one to fall for a guy so easily. Graham had pursued her for weeks before she finally gave in and accepted a date. "Spencers special," she thought, "I've never met a guy who made me swoon." Cassie laughed to herself.

Determined to not let anything ruin her day, Cassie decided to skip her 9:30 statistics class, to enjoy a late breakfast in the Student Union instead.

[trojangal]

As Cassie entered the building, humming "All I Want for Christmas" to herself, she noticed Spencer's car sitting in one of the parking spots.

"Hmm.." she thought. It must be my lucky day!

Entering the food court area, she scanned the crowd quickly.

Suddenly, her stomach lurched. There was Spencer sitting down in the food court and sitting next to him was a beautiful brunette. They were laughing and talking, and Spencer sat close to her. The young woman hugged Spencer and held up a necklace from a small package. "It's beautiful...I love it..!!" she squealed. Spencer hugged her and gave her a peck on the cheek, smiling at the beauty.

Cassie was frozen just long enough for Spencer to see her.

"Cassie, come here... I want you.." Spencer started when
Cassie, with tears in her eyes, turned around, and walked out of the door.

As she walked back towards the house, she heard the gravel crunch behind her and the low hum of a car engine.

"Cassie, wait..!!" Spencer called as he pulled up beside her.

She continued walking. "Spencer, I need to get ready for classes. I don't have time to talk right now."

"No..I think you do have time to talk right now. You moved out of the food court pretty quickly. Get in the car so we can talk and not freeze!" Spencer said firmly.

"No...I'm perfectly fine" said Cassie, not fine at all. "You were with someone else, so I didn't want to bother you."

"I wasn't with someone else...What? Oh, for heaven's sake..."Spencer grinned and laughed. "No..Cassie, you don't understand..." he laughed even harder.

Cassie, now fuming slightly, didn't understand why Spencer was laughing at her.

"Cassie..." he choked on his laughter. " Darlin', you need to stop..you don't understand..that was Mary Grace.. my.."

[honeychile]

"...niece! Now, please get in the car!"

"Look, I don't want to sound nasty or anything, but she looked a little 'grown up' to be your niece!" Cassie said, still walking.

Spencer pulled the car just a little too close to Cassie, causing her to gasp and stop. Jumping out, he grabbed Cassie by the shoulders. "My niece, you goof! My eldest brother is almost 37, Mary Grace is a junior in high school and thinking of going to school here! Hell, I'm hoping she'll get a bid from ADPi eventually!"

"Oh," Cassie said, embarrassed. "Your niece. High School. ADPi Super Legacy."

"I love the way you can see the gears turning in your head when you're deep in thought!"

Cassie smiled - almost smirked - up at Spencer. "I really blew it, didn't I?"

"No way!" Spencer insisted. "Now, jump in the car, and let's meet Mary Grace." Taking her elbow, he led her to the passenger side, and opened the door. "I promise not to tell her that you're the jealous type."

Cassie crossed her arms across her chest, as Spencer put the car in gear. "I'm not jealous. I'm just... very self-protective." She gave a wry smile to Spencer, who was laughing.

"Oh, man, Mary Grace is SO much like you! I hope y'all hit it off!"

"Why would you say that? I mean, why is Mary Grace like me?" asked Cassie.

[polarpi]

"She tends to jump to conclusions very quickly as well. But, she does know how to laugh at herself when she's been wrong, and she's got a kind and caring heart, just as you do," Spencer said, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek.

He pulled into the student union parking lot, and after letting Cassie out of the car, the two of them walked into the building hand-in-hand. Stopping at the table Spencer had been sitting at before Cassie ran off, he said, "Cassie, I'd like you to meet my niece, Mary Grace. Mary Grace, this is Cassie, the girl I was telling you about."

"It's so nice to finaly meet you!" Mary Grace exclaimed. "Spence has done nothing but talk about you incessantly!"

"Oh, really," Cassie drawled, shooting a grin at Spencer. "And what, exactly has he been saying about me?"