Initiation

by Jessica Burkhart

  I frowned. “That must have been frustrating. Did she switch roommates? Or . . .”

  “Isabella transferred to another school. She tried, but she couldn’t keep her grades up. She was put on academic probation and finally decided to leave. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to make it here.” Khloe sighed. “Or she just didn’t want to.”

  That made my stomach a little rumbly. I hoped that everything I’d put into Yates Preparatory—my old school—would prepare me for Canterwood. Yates had been hard, but it hadn’t been anything compared to the summer homework I’d done for Canterwood. I’d received e-mails from all of my teachers with books to read, terms to know, syllabi—my inbox had almost overflowed.

  “I heard that both classes and riding are tough here,” I said. “My riding team placement test is on Monday. What level are you?”

  Khloe paused for half a second. “Advanced. I was intermediate my first year, though. Mr. Conner is really, really strict, but he’s the best instructor. He teaches most of the intermediate and advanced classes.”

  Khloe pulled a pair of paddock boots from another suitcase and rummaged through a giant hot-pink bag until she found a pair of jeans.

  I thought about what she said—advanced. That used to be me. The girl on the fast circuit who competed at every possible show and never took a day off. Would Khloe ever know that girl?

  “Oh! I’m going to the stable,” Khloe said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “If you want to come, I’d love to give you a tour.”

  “You don’t mind showing the newbie around?” I smiled. “Really?”

  “It’ll be fun. Plus, I want you to meet my horse and some people at the stable. Did you bring your own horse?”

  An insta-smile took over my face. It always came whenever I thought about Whisper. “I did. My mare, Whisper. I just got her this summer, so we’re still in that getting-to-know-each-other stage.”

  “That’s an exciting place to be,” Khloe cooed. “I’ve had my mare, Ever, for almost three years.”

  “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  I got up, went straight to the plastic container labeled shoes and slid my pink-socked feet into my black Ariat zip-up paddock boots. I’d gotten the new boots for Canterwood and I loved how shiny and scuff-free they were.

  Khloe finished lacing up her paddock boots, shaking her head at me. “Okay, maybe I should have labeled a few boxes.”

  She shot a look of helplessness at her stack of luggage.

  “We can help each other unpack,” I said. “It’ll be my thank-you for showing me around.”

  “Deal.” Khloe smiled and I did, too. Just minutes ago, I thought I’d been assigned a nightmare roommate. Now, it felt as though Khloe and I could be friends. She wasn’t like any of my old friends—she was outgoing and theatrical. Her personality would take some getting used to, but I looked forward to getting to know her better.

  ACTING OUT

  KHLOE OPENED OUR DOOR AND WE STEPPED into the hallway of our dorm, Hawthorne Hall. I loved Hawthorne—it was even more beautiful than the online pictures. I’d only stared at them every five seconds all summer long.

  The building’s three stories hosted only seventh-grade girls. Hawthorne was adjacent to Orchard Hall. The dorm where Sasha Silver lived. Sasha—the superstar rider who happened to have also trained at Briar Creek before I got there.

  The eighth grader was a Briar Creek legend. Photos of her and her horse, Charm, practically wallpapered my old instructor’s office. I wanted to ask Khloe if she knew about Sasha, but I wasn’t ready to bring up anyone connected to my past. Not yet. Not until I was completely sure I could trust Khloe with . . . anything. Everything. Maybe even my secret.

  Hawthorne’s walls were soft yellow, making the place feel welcoming. Gleaming wooden floors had forest green carpet runners. A giant vase of vibrant orange dahlias decorated a long mahogany table near the office of Christina, the dorm monitor. The table had a stack of Canterwood handbooks, brochures on different electives, and course schedules. Green and gold pens (school colors) were in a GO CANTERWOOD! jar for students to take.

  Lots of dorm room doors were open and girls were hugging each other. Almost every one said something like, “Omigod! I missed you this summer!” or “You got so tan over break!”

  A few girls eyed me—a look I knew well. They were scoping out the new girl. I’d learned, as much as anyone could, not to be intimidated by that look. Instead, I smiled at them without batting an eye. Some even did the same back.

  “Hey, Khlo!” a smiling girl called, as she rolled two suitcases down the hallway, expertly steering them around another girl’s luggage.

  “Lex, hey! Catch up after we get moved in and I’ll introduce you to my new roomie?”

  The girl—Lex—nodded, smiling at both of us. She had dulce de leche-colored skin and beautiful, curly black hair with reddish highlights that skimmed her shoulders. “Def.”

  Khloe and I walked the rest of the way down the hall. “I’ll introduce you to everyone when we get back from the stable,” Khloe promised. “Hawthorne looks big, but there aren’t a ton of girls who live here—hopefully you won’t feel too overwhelmed.”

  We opened the glass doors with HAWTHORNE HALL etched into them and walked down the pretty brick stairs, which were lined with iron railings.

  Khloe looked at me for a second. “You know, you look pretty together for being the ‘new girl,’” she said.

  “I moved a lot,” I explained. “Canterwood’s my fourth school, so I’m kind of used to the whole ‘new girl’ thing.”

  “Ah,” Khloe said as we walked along the winding sidewalk, past park benches and old-fashioned streetlamps. The black lanterns had glass lamps and gas-lit flames. I couldn’t wait to see them at night.

  “This place is the most beautiful school I’ve ever been to, though,” I said.

  “So, why’d you move so much?” Khloe asked. “I’ve only been to two schools—my local public school and then I enrolled in Canterwood last year.”

  “You’re from Boston, right?” I avoided her question. I was so annoyed at myself. How had I already brought up something connected to my secret? Especially a secret that could ruin my future at Canterwood if it came out before I was ready.

  “Yep,” Khloe said, answering my question and forgetting her earlier one. “I rode for a pretty good stable in Boston, but my parents and I thought a boarding school with an equestrian program would be better for me. And, bonus , Canterwood has riding and a fab theater program.”

  “Equestrian and actress—double threat,” I said.

  “Equestrian and glee club—also double threat,” Khloe said, grinning.

  We walked through an idyllic cobblestone courtyard. Benches circled a fountain and water streamed down a granite stone. I paused to read the quote on the stone.

  Education is the best provision

  for the journey to old age—Aristotle.

  “See how academic crazy they are?” Khloe asked, waving an arm at the fountain. “Even that’s serious about school.”

  I laughed. “If I start to see quotes in the sidewalk then I’m bailing.”

  “You didn’t answer my question before,” Khloe said. “Do you have a parent in the military or something? Is that why you move so much?”

  Just answer her, I told myself. I couldn’t avoid her question.

  “We moved if I found a stable that was better for my training and one where I could travel less. Family is big in my house.”

  Khloe nodded and I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe acting was in my future, after all.

  “That’s really great experience—being at all of those stables. I’ve lived in Boston my whole life. But every year for my birthday, I beg my parents for one thing.”

  “What?”

  Khloe flashed her had-to-be-Zoom!-whitened smile. “To move to Los Angeles so I could act.”

  “That would be quite the present,” I said. “I’m guessing they always say no?”

 
“Yep! Totally ruined my life!” Khloe put a hand over her forehead, sighing. “How’s my dramatic look?”

  “Your sigh could have been longer,” I teased.

  Khloe nodded as if she was taking my advice seriously.

  “Well, maybe they didn’t ruin my life,” Khloe said. “I love Boston and I’m not ready for L.A. Not yet. But after enough classes at Canterwood, I know I’ll make it. I’ve been in every school play. I’m so excited because auditions for Beauty and the Beast are on Friday. I ran lines with my friends all summer for the part of Belle. It’s the role of the play. I spent all of my allowance on voice lessons so I could sing.”

  “Auditions in the first week of school is intense,” I said. “Can anyone watch?”

  Khloe shook her head. “Anyone can try out, but auditions are closed. Why?”

  “I hoped I could come and cheer you on.”

  “That’s so sweet!” Khloe said, smiling. “Well . . . I bet I could sneak you into the back.”

  “I’m so there.”

  “Awesome! They’re at seven,” Khloe said. “We can go over together.”

  The smile stayed on her face. I was glad she wanted me there. Supporting her would be a good way to start off our friendship.

  “And totally count me in to be there for your glee club audition,” Khloe said. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

  We passed the guidance building—I recognized it from the student handbook. If I remembered the campus map right, the brick building meant we were close to the stable.

  I couldn’t stop questioning Khloe. Maybe because, to me, acting felt like an extension of glee.

  “So, what do you want to do?” I asked. “Stage? Big screen? TV?”

  “Soap operas. I’ve watched Pretty in Port Royal with my mom since I was in, like, second grade. All summer, I taped it and practiced my favorite character’s lines— Skylar Storm.”

  Before I could reply, Khloe made a swooping motion with her arm. “And I give you the best stable in Connecticut.”

  UNDERSTUDY NOT-SO-BUDDIES

  WE STOPPED. UNLIKE THE FIRST TIME I’D been here today, I took it all in. The black stable with white trim was pristine. Numerous paddocks with dark brown fences surrounded the stable. Dirt and grass arenas fit like puzzle pieces near the stable.

  Dressage markers were set up in one of the smaller arenas and another had a jump course. Behind the stable, a couple of guys took their horses through figure eights.

  “There’s another big arena off to the right side,” Khloe said, her eyes following my gaze. “Mr. Conner and his two main stable hands, Mike and Doug, built a permanent cross-country course on the other side of that hill.”

  There was so much more riding space here than at Briar Creek. I didn’t even know where I wanted to ride first. I’d visited a lot of stables, but none of them even came close to this.

  Khloe walked onto the gravel toward the entrance. The open giant double doors allowed a slight breeze to go through the stable.

  When we stepped inside our boots tapped against the concrete. Horses stuck their heads out over their stall doors on both sides of us. Wooden tack trunks lined the aisle and gold name plates shone from every stall door. The stable buzzed with people—there was activity everywhere.

  Horses were being led in and out of stalls, clipped to crossties, and put on a large hot walker in the stable’s center.

  This place was très amazing. I couldn’t wait to tell Brielle and Ana all about it.

  “Let me give you a quick tour,” Khloe said. “If you’ve already explored and know where everything is, just say the word.”

  “I put my stuff in the tack room earlier,” I said. “But I was kind of in a haze.”

  “Ah, yes—the first-day-of-Canterwood haze. Follow me.”

  Khloe took me to the stable’s tack room, filled with rows of gleaming saddles and bridles. She pointed out Mr. Conner’s office and pushed open the door to a spacious bathroom so I could see inside. Khloe showed me the entrance to the hayloft that was forbidden to students but where “everyone went anyway to gossip,” and the feed room.

  “Want to meet Ever?” Khloe asked.

  “Of course!”

  Khloe led me toward the end of the aisle.

  “Whisper’s down here, too,” I said. “I like this part of the stable—it’s so quiet. I’m glad she’s here since she’s new.”

  “And keep in mind the stable’s not always like this,” Khloe said. “It’s usually a lot calmer. Everyone’s here at once because they’re moving back in. This . . .” Khloe unlatched a stall door and motioned for me to follow her inside. “. . . is Ever.”

  “Oh, wow.”

  Khloe’s mare was gorgeous.

  The big bay mare’s dark brown coat gleamed evidence of meticulous grooming. Her beautiful face had a star— the white stark against her coloring—and her black muzzle looked velvet soft. I reached out a hand.

  “She’s a Hanoverian,” Khloe said. “And the sweetest.” Khloe wrapped her arms around the mare’s neck. Ever leaned into Khloe, blowing out a breath of contentment. Their bond was evident. I couldn’t wait until Whisper and I were that close. We were closer every day, but we weren’t Khloe and Ever. Not yet.

  The mare reached her muzzle toward my hand and I stroked her face. “I love her,” I said. “I can tell how tight you guys are. She’s in amazing shape, too.”

  The mare’s muscles were taut and toned in all the right places. She had the look of a dressage horse.

  “She’s my baby,” Khloe said, kissing the mare on the cheek. “I want to meet your horse.”

  We stepped out of the stall and turned toward Whisper’s.

  “KK!”

  Khloe and I’d barely turned around before a girl with wavy red hair and blue eyes grabbed Khloe in a hug.

  “Clare!” Khloe threw her arms around the other girl. They almost knocked each other over.

  “Omigod, I missed you all summer!” Clare said, stepping back from Khloe. Her pale skin was accentuated by bright blue eyes. Her clothes, preppy-chic, had a fashionable flair. She’d put a heather-gray three-quarters sleeve cardigan over a plum-purple tank top. Her black leggings were tucked into tall boots. Magnifique.

  “I missed you, too! Skype was sooo not enough. Oh, Clare.” Khloe reached over and pulled me toward them. “This is my new roomie, Lauren. She’s a rider.”

  Clare shot me a smile. “Hey. Welcome to Canterwood.”

  “Thanks. I’m excited to be here. Khloe’s been showing me around.”

  “Of course she has,” Clare said, shooting a sideways look at Khloe. “You never know when the role of ‘campus tour guide’ will show up in the classifieds. Now Khloe’s prepared for that part.”

  Khloe punched Clare’s arm. “Oh, puh-lease!” She raised her index finger in the air. “First of all, you don’t find acting gigs in the classifieds. That’s what Backstage magazine is for. Second, I wouldn’t need to practice for that. And as if I’d try out for ‘tour guide.’ When I start auditioning, it’ll be for the role of a beautiful, young ingénue who falls in love with a guy she can’t have and does anything she can to get him anyway.”

  Clare and I looked at each other—a grin passed between us at the dreamy look in Khloe’s eyes.

  “Um, come back from soap opera land to Canterwood, please,” Clare said, waving her hand slowly in front of Khloe.

  We all started giggling. I liked Clare, and if she was friends with Khloe, maybe we’d become friends, too.

  “Clare!”

  Clare, Khloe, and I turned as a petite Asian-American girl with long black hair in a French braid walked up to us.

  “Riley!” Clare hugged the other girl. “When did you get here?!”

  The girl smoothed her red and white striped, capped-sleeve shirt. “A few minutes ago. Mom forgot to set her alarm, shocker, so we left late.”

  Riley didn’t hug Khloe. The girls exchanged smiles, but there was something . . . odd between them—I could feel it. The moo
d changed from bubbly to flat.

  “Is Adonis in his stall?” Khloe asked, her tone light. “I’d love to see him.”

  Riley shook her head, shimmery light green eye shadow accenting her dark brown eyes. “He’s being his difficult self about getting out of the trailer. Mr. Conner’s unloading him—he told me to come and make sure his stall was ready.”

  Riley’s eyes turned to me as if she’d noticed me for the first time. She looked me up and down.

  Slowly.

  “You must be new,” Riley said.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry, Lauren!” Khloe said. She smacked her forehead. “That was so rude. Riley, this is my new roommate, Lauren. Lauren, this is Riley Edwards.”

  She didn’t introduce Riley as her friend, I noted.

  “Hi,” I said. “Nice to meet you.”

  Riley’s eyes stayed on my face. It felt as though she was studying me. Sizing me up. Deciding if I was a possible friend, someone to ignore, or a potential enemy.

  “I know we just met,” she said, tilting her head. “But you’re so familiar. I feel like I’ve seen you before.”

  Panicky beads of sweat formed on the small of my back. Keep it together. I scolded myself. Riley could be mistaking you for anyone.

  Besides, it would be très arrogant to think she knew me from the show circuit. Just because Riley thought she’d seen me before didn’t mean she knew who I was or anything about my . . . secret.

  I forced myself to smile. “I’ve moved around a lot. Where are you from?”

  “Maine,” Riley said.

  “I’ve never lived there,” I said.

  Riley stared again for what felt like forever before a tiny smile passed over her face. “Hmm. My bad.”

  She turned to Khloe. “Khloe, you hear about the auditions for Beauty and the Beast?”

  Khloe straightened, pushing her shoulders back. “I got the notice from Mr. Barber over the summer. Practiced every day.”

  Riley smiled. “Me too. My parents got me an acting coach and I had lessons twice a day. I’m going out for Belle. I mean, I did get the lead in Into the Woods last year.”