Page 7 of Exordium

“I’ll be right out!” I yelled back. Well, that sounded promising. Maybe I lucked out in the roommate department. The donuts at Java and Jam were to die for. I’d tried them when mymom decided to get donuts to surprise Grumpy on his birthday. Getting out of my comfy bed, I threw my long hair up in a messy bun, grabbed my pink fluffy robe, and headed into the living room.

“Hey Hawthorne Hottie! I’ve been so excited to meet you!” The cutest redhead ever squealed as she bounced on the sofa.

“Hello to you too.” I grinned. “Even though I sincerely appreciate the hottie title, my name is Reverie.”

“Duh! Everyone knows who you are. Your Mom is Adelaide!!” The redhead screeched.

“Yes. Yes, she is.” I laughed, she was too precious. “Can you tell me your name? I can’t keep calling you 'the redhead' in my head.” I ran that sentence back through my head, I guess it made sense because she answered.

“Oh crap! My name is Chloe Moon. I should have begun with that. I tend to get excited when meeting the daughter of my hero!” She screeched once again.

“The important part of that was daughter. My mom is awesome, but I’m just Reverie. No big deal.”

“No just, about it! You are now the roommate of Chloe Moon. We’re destined to be best friends. We’ll be right up there with the Dynamic Duo, the Wonder Twins, and Brennan and Dale. Do you play the drums? Never mind, that’s not important. Are you ready for initiation?!” She patted the couch for me to sit down beside her.

This girl did not just reference the Stepbrothers movie! I think I just met my soulmate. Goodbye, my sweet Psycho, you’ve been replaced. Side note: do not say that out loud in front of Nathan. Chloe would disappear.

“I’m as ready as possible, considering we don’t know when or what,” I sat down and was swallowed immediately by the soft cushions.

“My brothers have been training me like crazy! They’re in their third year, so they went through initiation a couple of years ago. Since the Academy itself decides on the initiation, no one knows what it’ll be. The size of their class went from two hundred and fifty to one hundred ninety-four.” Chloe grimaced.

“My parents put me through insane scenarios. Some were things they went through, and others were just things they heard from other years. No one knows what Emberhold will design. I questioned them about why we’re put through such harsh and deadly trials, especially when our numbers aren’t great,” I frowned. “They told me it was necessary to weed out the weak or mediocre.”

“That seems like a shitty thing to say, but it’s basically what my parents told me when I asked them the same question,” Chloe said.

“I thought so, too. But when I said that to Grumpy, he got a haunted look in his eyes and replied, ‘You can’t imagine the horror war brings. You only want the strongest guarding your back, and even then, sometimes, it’s not enough.’” I gave Chloe a solemn look.

“Well, damn! That just gave me cold chills. And think, if we survive initiation, we get to start training with our Faction if we’re lucky enough to find one. That’s when the S.H.T.F.!” Chloe shivered.

“What the hell is S.H.T.F.?" I asked.

“Shit hits the fan, of course!” Chloe laughed, “Girl, you’re going to have to get with the program!” We both started cackling. “Who’s this Grumpy character?” Chloe asked still laughing.

I wiped the tears from my eyes, “It’s what I call one of my fathers, and believe me he fits the name.” I smiled, missing my parents already. “We better dig into these donuts before they getcold and, more importantly, the coffee. I can tell I’ll need to be caffeinated to deal with you.”

“You have no idea,” Chloe grinned mischievously.

“So, do your brothers have a Faction?” I bit into my donut. “Yum! That is amazing!!!” I groaned out loud as the flavors hit my tongue.

“Right? Stick with me, kid, and I’ll keep you hooked up!” Chloe winked at me. “No, they don’t have a Faction yet. Last year, against my advice, they let the queen bitch of their year talk them into doing the ritual. I knew they didn’t mesh, and so did they, but the boys were so tired of waiting they went for it.”

“Do they expect to be Faction or Nexus?” I took a sip of my coffee.

“Everyone always wants to be Nexus, but they’re identical twins and would prefer to be Faction so they can stay together. Of course, little miss, my-shit-doesn’t-stink, Kristine thinks she’s Nexus.” Chloe sneered.

“Well, she did make it through initiation. There must be a little badass inside her.” I leaned back and took a long sip of my coffee.

“Maybe a little, but she probably passed by stepping on the bodies of her dead classmates,” Chloe scowled.

“I’m sensing you don’t like this girl.” I smirked.

“I really don’t. Kristine got on my bad side when she acted like she wanted to be friends. I’m used to girls trying to hang out with me because of my brothers, but she laid it on thick. Then, I overheard her talking to one of her followers saying how annoying it was to hang out with Zeke and Zane’s little sister, just to have the twins in her Faction. Truly, I’m mad at myself for falling for her crap!”

“Well, I’m here now, and I think you’re amazing.” I grinned at her. “And I haven’t even met your brothers.”

“Maybe you’ll be Nexus, and the boys will be in your Faction. Then we can be family.” Chloe grinned. “That would almost make Adelaide my mom!”

“Slow your roll, I haven’t even met them yet!” I laughed. Damn, this girl was something else!

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