Page 31 of Blake University: HBCU Chronicles – Yon & Imole

The cheers from the crowd still echoed across the campus as the Veta Xi Neophytes stood tall beneath the glaring lights, their masks now removed, their identities revealed. Pride beamed across most of the line’s faces, but not ’s. Not Lala’s. And definitely not the last girl in line.

Stormii.

stood fourth in the line, her chin held high, her body still humming from the adrenaline of the ceremony. Her eyes had immediately found Stormi as the masks came off, she was last in the line, eyes darting, shoulders stiff, mouth locked in a trembling smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Stormi had the audacity to recite every pillar with flawless precision.

She had the nerve to step and chant as if she hadn’t betrayed the very woman standing four spaces ahead of her.

barely registered the synchronized movements or the proud cheers of the audience. She saw red.

Next to her, Lala gave a subtle nod. It was time.

The moment the crossing concluded and the ceremony transitioned into celebration, and Lala slipped through the crowd with practiced ease. They circled around Stormii like wolves, flanking her before she could escape into the sea of hugs and selfies.

“Come with us,”

said, her voice calm but firm.

Stormii blinked.

“Wha...what’s going on?”

Lala gave her a sweet, fake smile.

“Just a little heart-to-heart. Sister to Sister.”

Stormii hesitated, glancing around for an out, but was already pulling her by the wrist. “Now.”

They guided her down a quiet path toward a secluded side lawn of the administration building. It was far enough from the crowd but close enough that no one would question why three newly crossed sisters were together in private.

Stormii yanked her arm away once they stopped, suddenly defensive.

“Y’all dragging me like I did something wrong”

“You did,”

snapped.

“And you know exactly what. But I want to hear it from you.”

Stormii’s breath hitched. Her eyes bounced between them, and for a split second, saw the guilt flash across her face like lightning.

“You’ve been missing since the attack,”

Lala said.

“Haven’t come back to the suite. Haven’t checked on . Haven’t said a damn word.”

“Because I...”

Stormii choked.

“I didn’t know what to say. I was scared, okay? I didn’t ask for any of this.”

“Then why were you creeping out of the Phi Rho house the night it happened?”

asked, stepping closer.

“And don’t lie. Lala saw you.”

Stormii froze.

“I...I wasn’t...I didn’t know what Tree was gonna do.”

“But you knew something,”

Lala said, arms crossed.

“You knew he had it out for . You knew Shawna was involved.”

Stormii started to cry.

“It wasn’t supposed to go this far. He said if I didn’t help, he’d leak the videos. I didn’t know he was gonna…”

“But you knew he was planning something,”

interrupted, her voice shaking now.

“You were my friend, Stormii. You let him hurt me.”

“Hold on. What video?”

Lala interrupted.

Stormii sobbed uncontrollably with her head low, “Tree video taped me and him having sex. He said he would leak the video to everyone on campus.”

“Damn, that nigga foul as hell. But you should have come to us. We were your friends. We could’ve figured this shit out together. Instead, you up here teaming up with the ops.

“I know that now, but…”

“But what?”

“That’s not all, . He has tapes of me saying some pretty shitty stuff about you.”

Stormii confessed.

“I was jealous of you. It was stupid, I know, but I was just trying to fit in with some other people. I didn’t mean any of it.”

“So, not only are you a liar and a snitch, but you were never my friend?”

“That’s fucked up, even for you, Stormii.”

Lala chimed in.

“Don’t say that, . It was all before I really got to know you. I swear, I didn’t mean any of the shit I said. Besides, I did try to protect you!”

Stormii cried.

“I told him you’d be in the library because I thought Yon would be there! I figured you’d never be alone! I didn’t want..”

“You thought wrong,”

Lala hissed.

“And now you’re in it. All the way.”

Stormii dropped her head, sobbing now.

“Please don’t tell the sorority. Don’t tell National. Please, I’ll do anything. Just don’t ruin this for me.”

stared at her, emotions warring inside her. Rage, betrayal, heartbreak, and somewhere deep down, pity.

“You already ruined it for yourself,”

she whispered.

Lala put a hand on ’s shoulder.

“Let’s go. We got what we needed.”

Stormii collapsed to the grass, cradling her head in her hands. didn’t look back.