Page 14 of Requiem

“And I’m supposed to know what that is exactly?”

“Senior year commencement. First Night isthemost legendary party of senior year.”

“Apart fromLastNight,” another girl pipes up.

Mel pulls a face at her over my shoulder. “Well of course Last Night is a bigger party, Noelani. It’s Last fucking Night.”

I shake my head, unsuccessfully trying to dislodge the sounds of the bickering that ensues. “Woah, woah, woah. I’m sorry. It’s super late, and I—I don’t know any of you. I’m not going to any party right now.”

“You have to,” Mel says evenly. There’s no threat or malice in her voice; she says this as if it’s just obvious.

“I’m sorry, but—”

“If you don’t, you’ll be marked as an outsider. Someone who sees themselves as…” She cocks her head to one side, a small smile forming at the corners of her mouth. “…Too goodfor the rest of us. Do you think you’re better than the other students at this school, Sorrell?”

Iaman outsider. I won’t be here long enough to change that, even if I do go to some stupid party. Do I consider myself better than them, though? There are plenty of reasons why I might: my insanely difficult childhood. The fact that I’ve had to work for every single advantage I’ve ever had in this life. The fact that all they’ve ever had to worry about is where their next designer dress is coming from….

No. None of that makes me feel like I’m better than them. Honestly, it only makes me jealous of them. Giving her a wan smile, I shake my head.

“All right then,” Mel replies in answer. “Then we need to get you ready.”

“Look, I’m sure everyone will understand. I’m tired, and I’ve barely unpacked, and—”

Mel straightens, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “They won’t understand. They’re elitist pricks with massive egos andverylong memories, unlike some people I know.” She laughs at this like it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard. “If you don’t come, you’ll separate yourself from the rest of us. Once you’re on the outside, there’s no getting back in. No social clubs. There’ll be no dates,”she stresses. “Like,none. Any guy caught dating an outsider automatically gets kicked off the football team. The lacrosse team. Whatever team they’re on…” She motions with her hands. “Booted. They get kicked out of their AP programs. Their clubs. Their friends all turn their backs on them. It’s a fate worse than death.”

“That’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard. The teachers wouldn’t allow that.”

“Hah!” Mel throws her head back and laughs. She sounds positively amused. “Ahh, fuck. Of course. You’re still under the impression that theteachersrun this place. I hate to break it to you, Baby, but that just isn’t the case here at Toussaint.”

“Who runs it, then?”

She grins at me, wolfish, and I realize that I’ve just fallen straight into her trap. “Whoever wins the vote at tonight’s party, of course,” she says. “One guy. One girl. Together, they decide how we’re going to live our lives for the next year. You wouldn’t want to miss that now, would you?”

Dumb. So, so fucking dumb.

I should be packing up and getting the fuck out of here, not unpacking. Theo’s little revelation in the hallway earlier is a massive spanner in the works, no matter what Ruth says. I promised her I’d stay the course though, so what choice do I have? It’s not as if I can just walk myself out of here.

I have no idea what Mel means by this vote, but arguing with her seems futile, so I give in. When Jess returns with a purple sequin dress and a heavy make-up bag, brandishing a curling wand in her hand like it’s an offensive weapon, I let Mel coerce me into getting changed. I sit very still while she curls my hair, and Noelani, a beautiful girl with almond shaped brown eyes, applies make-up to my face. They buzz around me like busy little worker bees around their hive, and they’re finished with me in a mere matter of minutes. I stand in front of the mirror on the wall by the window, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me. She looks older than me. Less haunted. I suppose that has a lot to do with the full-cover foundation Noelani applied to the bruised shadows beneath my eyes, but still. The girl in the mirror looks healthy. Happy. I didn’t even know my face looked like that when I smiled. There aren’t many mirrors at Falcon House.

Mel stands back to admire her handiwork. “Perfect. Honestly, I’m impressed with myself, even if I do say so myself. Not everyone can work miracles under such duress.”

Duress? She’s the one who barged in here and demanded I let her poke and prod at me like I’m some kind of dress-up doll. If anyone’s doing well under duress, it’s fuckingme.

She smiles benevolently, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Trust me, Sorrell. You’re gonna be glad you came to this party tonight. You’re gonna be really glad you let me work some magic on you first, too. I am literally your fairy godmother. Come on. We gotta go.”

Seriously, Sorrell. Relax. Loosen up! What’s the worst that can happen?

‘Uhh, I could get drugged and assaulted anddielike you?’I mutter under my breath, answering the sound of Rachel’s voice in my head.

My best friend’s taunting laughter rings in my ears as I traipse down the hillside toward the darkened forest, following behind a group of girls I do not know, heading into a situation that will more than likely blow up in my face.

Our breath kicks up in clouds of fog, billowing up into the night sky. The crisp winter air smells of wood smoke and is so cold that it burns my lungs and nostrils.

“Sorry? Did…you say something?” The tall, quiet girl walking closest to me blinks at me like an owl in the dark. Her name is Julia. Her lush, blonde hair hangs in a thick braid down her back, almost reaching her waist.

I shake my head, shoving my hands into the deep pockets of the winter coat Gaynor gave to me. I told her the thick Parka with the sheepskin lined hood was overkill, but she’d insisted I take it. I’m eternally grateful that I did now. “Just talking out loud,” I say. “Bad habit.”

“You know what they say…” Julia laughs a little uncomfortably. “Talking to yourself is the first—”

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