“You want to keep the egg for a while?” I asked Jacob.
“Sure,” he said.
“I forgot the notebook, so just write wherever you take it on paper and I’ll add it in,” I said.
He nodded and I sidestepped Callie, hurrying back to my table with Paige. I felt Callie’s glare burning into my back as I walked away. I sat across from Paige and gulped my smoothie to stop the flush in my cheeks.
“Let’s go,” Paige said.
We grabbed our plastic cups and walked out of the Sweet Shoppe. For once, I was glad Paige could read me so well. She just knew it was time to go.
“I’ve got to run over to Geena’s for a sec,” Paige said. “So, meet you back at Winchester?”
“Sure,” I said. “See you later.”
Paige and I split up and I started for Winchester, taking the prettiest route through the courtyard. I started to walk by the benches, but I felt so tired. What was my problem? I sat on one of the benches and drew up my legs, resting my chin on my knees. I closed my eyes for a second.
“Silver.”
I looked up and Heather was staring at me—arms folded.
“What?” I asked.
“You’ve been a hot mess for days,” Heather said.
“Wow,” I said. “Thanks.”
“So what’s your deal?” Heather asked, an eyebrow raised.
“Just … tired,” I said, honestly.
“Well, maybe it’s time to take it easy.”
“Whatever,” I said. “I’m fine.”
Heather sighed. “Clearly. Look, why don’t you come sleep over with Julia, Alison, and me.”
I almost fell off my bench.
“Not because we like you or because we’re going to do some big dumb girly sleepover,” Heather added quickly. “Just so you can relax. Just this once.”
“So you do care,” I teased.
Heather snorted. “Puh-lease. I just don’t want to be alone with Jasmine if you get sick or something and have to skip a lesson. At least she focuses most of her attention on you.” Heather gave me a sweet smile.
“Oh, nice,” I said.
“Are you coming over or what?” Heather asked.
I was surprised when I didn’t even pause. “Yeah, I think I will. I mean, I have to ask my dorm monitor, but if she says okay, I’ll pack a bag.”
“See you in, like, an hour?” Heather said. I nodded, not saying anything as she walked off.
I sat there for a second, stunned. What had just happened? And how was I going to explain to Paige that I was going to spend the night at the Trio’s?
When I got back to Winchester, I paused in Livvie’s doorway.
“Can I ask you something?” I asked.
“Sure,” she said. “What’s up?”
“I know it’s a school night,” I said, realizing that would be the first thing she’d question. “But I was wondering if I could go sleepover in Orchard. Just for one night. I … kind of need to get out of Winchester.”
“Are you and Paige having problems?” Livvie asked.
“No,” I said quickly. “It’s just Jasmine. If I sleep over in Orchard with Heather, Julia, and Alison, I won’t have to see her.”
Livvie nodded slowly. She was probably thinking about my past with the Trio. “It’s fine with me. But like you said it is a school night and you’d still have to follow the rules and go to bed on time.”
“Promise,” I said.
“Let me call Stephanie and see if it’s okay with her,” Livvie said.
I waited while she called Orchard’s dorm monitor. When she hung up the phone a few minutes later, Livvie smiled. “It’s fine with her. Have fun and relax a little, Sash. You’ve been working so hard lately.”
“I will,” I said. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning before class.”
Livvie nodded.
When I got to my room, Paige was already inside.
“That was fast,” I said. I’d needed more time to work out my I’m-staying-with-the-Trio speech.
“Yeah, I just needed to grab a recipe from her,” Paige said.
I walked over to my bed, trying to come up with what to say. But I had to say it—just get it over. There was no right way to tell Paige.
“So, about tonight … Heather invited me to sleep over in Orchard. You know, to get away from Jasmine and everything.”
Paige stared at me as if it was a joke, like she was waiting for me to laugh and tell her I was just kidding.
“Oh,” Paige said, sitting back in her chair. “If you think that’ll make you feel better, then you should definitely go. But are you sure? You can escape Jasmine by staying in our room. You don’t have to stay with the Trio to get away from her.”
“It’s one night,” I said guiltily. “I kind of just want to get out of Winchester. But not because of you.” I added the last sentence quickly. “I know we’d have a great night, but you know how a change of scenery can help sometimes.”
Paige blinked a few times, then smiled. She was trying to make me think she was okay, but I could tell she probably wasn’t. I’d hurt her feelings. But I couldn’t stay here. I had to get out of Winchester.
“It’ll be good,” she said, getting up. “You’ll come back with tons of awesome stories about the Trio that we never knew.”
“Exactly,” I said. “I’ll sneak into their bathroom to text you if something awesome happens.”
I went to my closet to pack. I took out my pink bag with a silver star in the middle that was the perfect size for an overnight trip. Paige was at her desk working on homework—at least I’d gotten mine done in between classes.
My toothbrush, hairbrush, makeup, and other bathroom stuff fit into a cute bag with anime kittens on it that I’d bought from Sephora a few weeks ago. I looked outside and saw it was starting to drizzle. I grabbed my umbrella and put on my shoes.
“So, I’m going to go,” I said. “Maybe you could get Geena or someone to sleep over tonight. If Livvie’s letting me go, she definitely wouldn’t mind.”
Paige smiled. “Yeah, maybe I will. Have fun with the … Trio.”
I nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I walked out of our door and hurried out of Winchester. So awkward! I knew poor Paige didn’t understand why I was staying with the Trio and I was sure I’d made her feel bad, but I had to go. I stepped out of Winchester and stopped under the overhang. The drizzle had turned to a downpour.
I opened my purple mini-umbrella and walked down the sidewalk toward Orchard, not having a clue how tonight was going to unfold.
A CRITICAL MOMENT
MY PACE SLOWED WITH EVERY STEP AS I walked toward Orchard. I tried to imagine what we’d talk about. There was no way Julia wanted me to sleep over. Alison would be nice to me, but she’d never be too friendly with me when Julia was around.
And then I stopped. I’d forgotten something. Something important. Orchard was Callie’s dorm. What if I ran into her in the hallway?
I forced myself to keep walking. If I ran into Callie, I’d figure out what to do in the moment. I pulled open the glass door to Orchard and stepped into the hallway. I wiped my rain boots on the doorway carpet and shook out my umbrella.
I walked down the main hallway, my shoes squeaking on the glossy wooden floor. I climbed the stairs to the second floor where Julia, Alison, and Heather lived. Last semester, Julia and Alison had roomed together and Heather had a roommate I’d never met. This semester, the girls had managed to wrangle a triple and they’d all moved in together. Over summer break, Paige and I had talked about asking Callie to apply for a triple with us in Winchester, but we’d decided not to at the last minute because we liked how things were. Now I was so glad we hadn’t asked Callie to move in with us.
I stopped in front of the last door on the second floor and my hand hovered in the air. I’d never slept over in anyone else’s room other than Callie’s. I hoped the entire night wouldn’t be weird.
I knocked on the door and Alison opened it
. “Hey,” she said. “C’mon in.” She ushered me inside.
OMG.
I almost froze in the doorway.
Their suite was gorgeous. They actually had a small living room and three doors that led to separate bedrooms. The living room walls were a fresh off-white and two black pole lamps cast a soft yellow light over the room. There was a square espresso-colored coffee table in the center of the room, directly in front of a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. The entire room was covered in thick, lush, dark brown carpet. And as if that wasn’t enough, there was a tiny kitchen area with a counter, mini-fridge, and a microwave.
Paige and I were obviously living in the wrong dorm.
“You guys each have your own room?” I asked.
Alison nodded. “Yeah. Heather must have pulled some strings to get us in. I think they’re really meant for high school students. But isn’t it insane? I’m still not used to having my own room after sharing with Julia last year.”
I glanced around, still taking in their suite. Black-and-white photos of the NYC skyline, a park, and a horse made the room feel sophisticated.
“Want a tour?” Alison asked.
“Uh, yeah!” I said. “But where are Julia and Heather? Did they change their minds?” I was only half-joking. I shifted my bag over my shoulder.
Alison grinned. “No, they’re getting snacks in the common room. They’ll be here in a sec.”
I followed Alison to the bedroom on the far right. “That’s Heather’s room,” Alison said.
I peered through the doorway. Heather’s room was gorgeous. White, round paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, her platform bed had built-in drawers on the side and her comforter was dark brown with white stripes. She had photobox frames on the walls and they had oversized pictures of the Trio, Heather standing in front of a castle somewhere and Aristocrat. She had a bedside table with a clear lamp with a soft pink shade. A docking station was plugged in and charging her pink iPod. Her desk had a black halogen lamp, a Mac that was in sleep mode, and a stack of papers and textbooks.
“Cool,” I said. “I love her room.”
I’d imagined before what Heather’s room might be like, but had never known it would be so pretty, clean, and simple. I’d pictured it like a queen’s bedroom—very royal and pretentious.
I stepped out of the doorway and walked to the next room.
“This is Julia’s,” Alison said. “Cute, huh?”
Julia’s taste was so different from Heather’s. Her bed had wicker baskets tucked underneath. Her bedspread, white with flowers bursting with bright colors, made the room feel cheery. Her desk chair was purple and her rug was striped with a zillion fun colors. A giant heart poster hung over her desk.
Hanging from the edge of her closet, though, were four complete outfits. The hangers even had bracelets, a necklace, or a pair of earrings attached.
“Is Julia trying to find the right outfit for something?” I asked.
Alison shook her head. “Nope. She always picks out her clothes for the next four days in advance. It’s her thing. She can’t deal with choosing clothes the night before or in the morning. So, she watches the Weather Channel and figures it out.”
“Wow,” I said. “Never would have guessed that.” I smiled to myself. “Her room is so cute.”
Alison and I moved out of the doorway and walked a few steps.
“And finally,” Alison said. “My room. You’re staying with me, so I hope you like it.”
Alison’s walls were covered in her sketches and she had a stack of sketch books in one corner. She had art supplies—paints, paintbrushes, pencils, markers, and chalks in a bin by her desk. Her comforter, lavender with no designs, set off deep purple pillows that matched her rug. She had a whiteboard above her desk and in neon dry-erase markers, she’d written a couple of notes to herself—Get new pens, Talk to math teacher abt ex credit.
“Your room is amazing,” I said, immediately noticing her ladder bookcase. I walked over and looked. Every shelf was full of books—some were even stacked horizontal.
“You read a lot, huh?” I asked.
Alison nodded. “Yeah, I guess. Heather and Julia keep joking that I’m going to fill my entire room with books. I’ve got more in plastic bins under my bed.”
I grinned. “My room at home is like that. I had the worst time picking my fave books to bring.”
“Because even though the library has everything, there’s something different about reading your copy,” Alison said.
“Ex-actly,” I said. “I knew I couldn’t come to school without National Velvet and My Friend Flicka. Best horse classics.”
Alison reached over and plucked a book from her shelf. “I just got this one over the summer and I’ve read it a million times already.” She handed it to me.
“Omigod. The cover is pink,” I said. “I love it already.” The title, Dork Diaries, had a supercute smiley face in the O in Dork.
“It’s only my new favorite book,” Alison said. “It’s a graphic novel about this girl, Nikki, and how she tries to fit in at her new school.”
I flipped through the book, smiling at the adorable drawings and the diary format of the book. Nikki seemed a lot like me during my first year at Canterwood—trying to fit in and find a place at a new school.
“I’m going to get this,” I said. “It looks awesome.”
Just as I handed the book back to Alison, the main door opened. I put down my bag and Alison and I walked into the living room. Julia and Heather stood there looking at me. I smiled at both of them—trying not to let them see how nervous I was. I sat down at the far end on their sand-colored couch and tried to stop my stomach from swirling.
Julia set down four cans of Coke on the coffee table and stared at me.
“That’s my seat,” Julia said.
“Oh,” I said, jumping up. “Sorry.”
“This is not happening all night,” Heather said, shooting a glare at Julia. She put down a tray of snacks—pretzels, yogurt-covered raisins, grapes, and Cheez-Its. “Sasha’s staying here—deal and stop the comments.” She turned to me. “Sit.”
I sat and Julia knew better than to argue with Heather. She plopped onto the opposite end of the couch and folded her arms.
“Your suite is awesome,” I said.
Heather nodded. “Duh. Like we’d live anywhere that wasn’t this cool. So, I vote that we order pizza, watch TV, and save the snacks for later tonight,” Heather said.
I nodded. “Fine with me.”
Julia nodded and started dialing on her cell phone. “Half cheese, half pepperoni?” she asked.
Everyone nodded and she placed the order. When Julia hung up the phone, we all kind of avoided eye contact. Maybe I’d made a mistake. I could be hanging with Paige right now, watching a DVD or something. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my current obsession—Lip Burst in juicy watermelon. I took my time applying a coat of the clear gloss and waited for someone to say something.
“Let’s start watching something while we wait for the pizza,” Heather said. “I just got the latest season of Carrington Heights on DVD. It’s ridiculous that they don’t offer that channel at school.”
“Oooh, yesss!” Alison said. “I forgot about that. There weren’t even any reruns on this summer. So rude. Put it on right now!”
“You probably haven’t seen it before, but you’ll figure it out,” Julia told me.
“Actually, I own all of the other seasons except for this one.” I grabbed a soda.
Julia mashed her lips together and didn’t say anything.
Heather put in the DVD and we all focused on the TV. Soon, everyone’s attention was on the teen drama. We jumped when someone knocked on the door. It was Stephanie, Orchard’s dorm monitor. Delivery guys weren’t allowed to come to our rooms, so he’d brought the order to her office.
“Hi, Sasha,” Stephanie said, smiling at me. She was short and sweet-looking with shoulder-length light brown hair that hung in loose waves.
<
br /> “Hi,” I said, remembering that I’d first met her before when I’d been at Orchard with Callie.
Stephanie handed over the pizza to Alison and waved as she left. “Enjoy, girls!”
Julia grabbed a handful of napkins and four paper plates. We all sat around the coffee table. Heather opened the steaming box and each of us grabbed a slice. Alison hit play and we watched the DVD while devouring the pizza.
“So. Good,” Alison said, her mouth full. “I looove pizza.”
“Alison!” Julia said. “Watch it—don’t get crumbs on the carpet. I just vacuumed yesterday.”
“Sorry,” Alison said. She leaned carefully over her plate.
In seconds, we were absorbed in the show again.
“Can you believe that Cristian left Miranda for Zoe?” Julia asked.
“Shhh,” Alison said. “This. Is. A. Critical. Moment.”
Julia and I actually traded grins and watched Alison lean closer to the TV. Soon, there was nothing left but pizza crusts. I had almost forgotten that I was with the Trio—it felt just like watching TV with Paige. The mood was relaxed and the weirdness from earlier had slipped away.
After we finished a disc of Carrington Heights, Alison turned to all of us. “I know this is clichéd and whatever, but want to do our nails? My sister got me a gift certificate to Sephora and I bought tons of nail polish.”
We all looked at our nails—they were bare, jagged, and gross from being in the stable all of the time.
“I think we kind of have to,” Julia said. “Mine are a mess.”
“Mine too,” I said.
“Let’s do pj’s first,” Alison said. “Then we’re cozy and ready for tonight.”
Alison and I walked to her room and Julia and Heather went to their rooms. Alison and I changed into our pajamas. I’d picked light blue pants with a matching T-shirt that had a cloud in the center. Alison had chosen purple leggings and an oversize gray T-shirt.
We walked into the living room and Julia and Heather soon joined us on the couch and recliner. Julia’s pj’s, a bright pink T-shirt that had matching shorts with white hearts, reminded me of the color scheme of her room.
Heather looked comfortable, but still perfect somehow, in black drawstring pants and a white tank top. I’d never seen any of them in pajamas before—just regular clothes or riding gear.
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