Page 57 of Riot Rules
I add this new curiosity to the list of weird shit that’s taken place since I snuck back into the academy. “No,” I counter. “What the hell areyoudoing, Chlo?”
She rubs her eyes. “Do you have any idea how long it took me to move all of this shit? Hours. I’ve only just gotten into bed, and I have to be up early for Chess club. I got everything. If any of your shit is missing, then come look for it in the morning. I’m tired, and I need to sleep. Now get out.”
I’m embarrassed by how long it’s taken for me to fit these pieces together. I get it now, though. Somehow, without my knowledge or consent, I’ve inadvertently switched rooms with Chloe Khan. Looking around my tiny box room, I don’t recognize any of the furniture. The dresser. The desk and chair. The bookshelf, or the books. The bed that Chloe’s sleeping onismine, but it’s made up with Chloe’s sheets, and Chloe’s comforter, and Chloe herself, tucked neatly between the two. This isn’t my room anymore.
“What…what was your room number again?”
Chloe smacks her head into her pillow, groaning in frustration. Her hair sticks up everywhere when she lifts her head again and glares at me. “Four-nineteen. Fifth door on the right. Directly above this one. Has an amazing view of the observatory. Now, please. I’m exhaust—”
“Alright, alright, I’m going.”
I was on the fourth floor earlier this evening, visiting Mara’s room, but I feel like an intruder as I climb the extra set of stairs. I expect the door to room 419 to be locked when I try it, but the handle turns easily to the right and it swings open.
In the three years that I’ve lived here, I’ve never been into this room. Chloe’s nice but she’s a private person. We aren’t friends. She isn’t really friends with anyone. I’ve often wondered what her room was like, and now I know: it's massive.
A huge picture window dominates the wall ahead, the three oversized panes of glass as tall as me and two feet wide apiece. Heavy orange curtains frame them, hanging all the way down to the floor. The bed to my left isn’t just a double, or a queen. It’s a freaking king. The lime green sheets are so bright and gaudy that I fall in love with them immediately. My small stuffed monkey, Archie, sits on top of the comforter amidst five or six small yellow, fluffy throw pillows. My books are all here, neatly organized along a mango wood bookshelf that’s much bigger than the one I had downstairs. My old dresser’s here. My clothes are hanging in the walk-in closet (I have awalk-in closetnow?). The dusky grey rug that covers most of the floor is brand new and still curling up a little at the corners from where it was unrolled. I kick off my shoes and nearly die from how delicious and soft it is beneath my feet.
Two mustard-colored bean bags; a small TV mounted on the wall; two grey and silver bedside tables; speckled silver glass lamps with Edison bulbs; an adjustable height desk, and a new, upholstered, pale green swivel chair. Apart from my dresser, it’s all brand new. All of it.
I’ve never dreamed of having a room like this. It doesn’t seem real, that any of this is mine. It becomes real when I find the small white envelope sitting on the left bedside table, marked with an elaborate C.
Inside, a note on flocked, expensive card-stock reads:
A dreamer needs space to dream.
LDL IV
LDL IV. Lord Dashiell Lovett the Fourth. I set the card down on the bed, spinning around, taking everything in a second time. How did he accomplish this in the space of four short hours? He must have been planning this all day. Most importantly, how did he get Chloe to switch? Principal Harcourt’s comment about coercion makes sense now. No one in their right mind would trade this amazing space for my tiny little box room downstairs, and yet Dash somehow managed to get Chloe to do it.
Oh, god.
What did he do?
Nausea tugs at my stomach. I pull my phone out of my pocket, remembering that I have his cell number now
ME: Did you blackmail her?
A moment later, three dots appear on the screen of my cell phone. Then:
LDL IV: You like it, then?
ME: Please tell me you didn’t threaten Chloe Khan.
LDL IV: I would never.
ME: Yes, you would!
LDL IV: Fair. Maybe I would. No threats required, though.
ME: How did you do this?
LDL IV: You really want to know?
ME: TELL ME!
LDL IV: Chloe’s family is broke. She was going to have to leave WH. I paid her tuition up to graduation. She was very grateful. Offered to trade rooms.
Oh my God. He didwhat?
