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Chapter 31
Astrid
“I’m bored with the teasing,” I confide in Roni as we walk to the dining hall. It’s smarter to keep Charlotte and my father a secret, but I tell Roni about the rest of it. And it doesn’t matter if I do or don’t tell. Everyone knows about the tasks, but not everyone cares. Hazing is part of being a Stonehaven.
“Fortunately, my teachers don’t seem to care about my trashy reputation,” I tell Roni, “I hear a few rude whispers in the hallways, but for the most part, I’m ignored. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
Roni looks down at the leaves on the path as we walk. Her thoughts aren’t as forthcoming as her facial expressions. She knows that people are ignoring me, and my reputation has taken a serious hit. A good reputation at my old school meant people didn’t pester you because they respected your strength. At Stonehaven, people leave me alone, too, but for a very different reason. I’m being ostracized, and I thought I wouldn’t mind, but deep down, I care.
Roni smiles. “You’ve made a few friends, Astrid. And the athletic department loves you.”
“That was Charlotte’s idea,” I reply proudly, and Roni gives me a curious look.
“It’s weird that the two of you are getting along,” she says. “It’s like Cinderella hanging out with Maleficent.”
“I’m sure a lot of people think that, but we ignore them,” I reply.
Charlotte thinks it’s cool to have a friend that’s not in her debutante clique. And I appreciate Charlotte’s advice. It’s so obvious the things she says, but I’m so wrapped up in my drama that I can’t see solutions. She suggested that I join the track team after my run-in with Dr. Rawlins.
“Forget the Investors Club,” she told me one night while painting our nails in her room. “Join a team and get a college scholarship.”
“Holy fuck.” I blinked my eyes at her brilliance. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Charlotte beamed her happy smile, just like the photo. “Daddy gave me the extra-smart gene. Don’t worry. We share it.” She winked.
It makes me a little sad that I can’t tell Roni about Charlotte and me. Roni is far from stupid, and the secrets I’m keeping are putting a wedge between us. She just doesn’t know why there’s a wedge.
Dinner is uneventful as school becomes more of a routine. Now that I’m aware that I’ve been staring longingly at the assholes’ table, I switch seats and sit with my back to them. Out of sight and out of mind actually does work as I spend an entire meal focusing on Roni and Terri’s bizarre conversation.
“He is desperate to recruit girls to role-play,” says Roni, popping a chunk of broccoli on her mouth.
“Role-play?” I glare at Terri in disgust. “What kind of kink are you into?”
Roni laugh as Terri stares at me for a good thirty seconds. Instead of turning red, he slowly begins to laugh until he doubles over. I have no clue what the fuck is going on until Roni explains it to me in between gasps.
“You have to play one weekend,” she says, and then she grabs Terri’s shoulder, “We’ll have a wholesome weekend for Astrid. No cursing, drinking, smoking. Just all the G-rated stuff you’ve been deprived of, like pony rides and chocolate with nuts.”
Terri snaps his fingers. “We’ll make a list of wholesome activities and offer you tips on how to succeed at them.”
“What kind of things are you thinking about?” I ask cautiously.
“We can go to my grandmother’s farm,” explains Terri, “It’s not a working farm, but she has an orchard and invites guests there on the weekends to bake. You can mingle with people worth meeting.”
I’d rather hang at the Pit, but this might help me out. I imagine myself in a flannel shirt, sipping cider while smart, rich people sit around talking about the times they met other smart, rich people who do interesting things. A part of me is excited, but another part of me is calling myself a fool. “Rubbing shoulders” is what Dr. Rawlins called it. I can rub all the shoulders I like, but it won’t rub any high class off on me.
“Okay,” I shrug, poking at my baked potato. “Maybe.”
Roni and Terri look delighted that I said maybe. To them, it’s an adventure, and I smile, thinking about the adventures I used to go on with mom. Maybe I won’t need the Pit anymore. Maybe I can go to college. Maybe I’ll meet my dad and he’ll like me. Maybe I’ll wake up from this dream.
I shake the thoughts out of my head and check my phone. “I should head back to the dorm. Coach expects us to run laps before class.”
“No more sneaking out?” asks Roni.
Terri’s eyes widen. He stares at me like I’m the excitement he craves in his life of whittling wood and picking apples. One day, I might take them both to the Pit to see how the other half lives. I stand up and say my good nights and head for the door.
I step outside and pause under the granite archway, looking up at a half-moon and trying to figure out if it’s waxing or waning. Three months ago, I used to wipe the tables in that hall, and though I resisted change, I’m starting to realize how lucky I am to be at Stonehaven.
“Once again, we meet.”
