Page 68 of All These Beautiful Strangers
“Yes,” Drew said. “You could write for, like, the Opinions column. The newspaper has way more clout than the Debate Club. It’s not quite on par with joining a sport, but it’s close.”
“I don’t know,” I said.
“UPenn would eat that sort of thing up,” Drew said. “And it would get Mariah off your back.”
“Maybe,” I said.
“Ladies,” Leo said, coming up behind Drew and me on the quad and putting one arm around each of our shoulders.
Drew shrugged out of his grasp. “Gross,” she said. “I just showered.”
“Where’ve you been lately?” I asked Leo. “Your Xbox is getting lonely.”
“Sorry, my extracurriculars have been keeping me busy,” Leo said. “Speaking of which, how’s round two looking for you guys?”
“When did—?”
“This morning,” Leo said. “Check your mailboxes.”
“How’d you make out?” I asked.
Leo removed his hand from around my shoulder and reached into the pocket of his blazer. “Just swimmingly,” he said.
Drew and I both stopped to read the card he handed me.
Item #2: One fish sculpture from the Poseidon Fountain
Drew pursed her lips together into a fish face.
The Poseidon Fountain sat on the north lawn in front of the theater. It was a large stone fountain with Poseidon in the center, riding a frothy wave, brandishing his trident in the air. Five large bronze fish sculptures surrounded him, jumping out of the sea, their mouths pursed open and water pouring forth. Stealing the fish would be a tricky job if Leo didn’t have someone helping him, as I’m sure the fish sculpture was probably pretty heavy for one person. Luckily, Leo had me.
“Not bad,” I said, handing the ticket back to him.
Leo followed us into the mailroom of Rosewood Hall. He leaned against the wall next to my box.
“Wanna take bets on what you’ll get?” Leo asked. “The secret recipe to Mrs. Wilson’s biscuits?”
“Mmm,” I said. “Or Headmaster Collins’s prized pit bull—the whole dog this time?”
I withdrew the card from my mailbox and read.
Item #2: One compromising photo of you with Mr. Andrews
My stomach twisted.
Drew leaned over to read mine as she unlocked her own box.
“No fair,” she said. “You get to seduce Mr. Andrews for your ticket? I’d do that just for fun.”
“What’d you get, Reisling?” Leo asked.
Drew opened her box and withdrew her card.
“Fuck,” she said, reading it.
“That bad?” I asked.
“See for yourself,” Drew said, handing me her ticket.
