EVIE
I’VE FINALLY FOUND MY DREAM VOLUNTEER JOB ATALPHAZ.I’M ON THE DECORATING COMMITTEEfor our upcoming fundraising dance with the theme of the Roaring Twenties.I get to combine my love of historic research with my love of crafting.
Okay, does everyone have their responsibilities?Birgit Jansen asks at the end of our first meeting.We all dutifully nod.
Sorry, I missed which charity we’ll be donating the proceeds to,I say.Isn’t that the most important part?
Oh, we haven’t determined that yet.But we’ll know before the posters are created.Birgit gives us a sunny smile.Anything else?No?Then this meeting is dismissed.
I gather up all my notes.Cecily waits for me so we can walk back to Humphrey together.
It’ll be so much easier once we actually live here,she declares as we head for the front door.
Don’t you find it weird that we haven’t chosen the charity yet?I ask.
Excuse me,says a voice behind us, and we both turn.
Can I grab Evie for something?Angelica is smiling, but I’m instantly suspicious.
Oh, sure.Will you be long?I can wait,offers Cecily.
No, you go on back to residence,Angelica urges as she steers me back towards the parlour room.All my instincts are telling me to flee, but how can I?Her glossy gel nails are digging into my shoulder.
Inside the room are Des and Jordan, and both look uncomfortable.
Angelica closed the door firmly behind her.I’m calling this meeting of the Revenge Squad back in session.
Where’s Mia?I ask.
Mia’s out on a date,Angelica replies.
But can we meet if we don’t have quorum?I insist, my unease growing.I really want my biggest ally here.
Quorum, shworum,says Angelica with complete disregard for Robert’s Rules of Order.She sits in the chairwoman’s seat where Des sat at our first meeting.
It has come to our attention that you arestilldating Vik.How long have you been going out now?
I’m not sure.I mean, there’s no real start date,I stammer.Was it that night at the party?Or the night he first messaged me?Either way, it’s more than two months, which is an eternity in Viktor World.
Oh, don’t give me your innocent act.Well, you’ve been seen together at a hockey party, Peggy’s Restaurant, the Student Union coffee shop, and—Angelica recites from notes on her phone.
Is this necessary?Des interrupts.Since Evie was actually there, she already knows all the dates.
Angelica glares.Fine.Let me summarize.All signs point to Vik being really into you.And it’s an opportunity for you to fulfill the contract that got you into Alpha Zeta Mu in the first place.
I stare at Angelica, not quite comprehending what she means.Her eyes glitter and her red lips are set in a feral grin.
What are you talking about?I ask.
Am I the only one who gets things around here?You need to break up with Vik.Now.
Why?I ask.
Because he cares about you, so he’ll finally get hurt.Like we all want.She motions towards Des and Jordan, but they don’t seem as rabid as she does.
I need to put out this spark before it flames.I keep my tone soft and reasonable.Look, we were all here before.First, we decided that we weren’t going to hurt Viktor.Later, we decided I could date him.I haven’t done anything behind your backs, so why is this a big deal now?
Because no one in the history of Vegas odds would have guessed that he’d fall for you!Some clueless nobody that we had to completely make over just to be presentable.Angelica shakes her head, as if she still can’t believe my existence.Face the facts, Evie.You would never have had a chance with Vik if not for what all of us did for you.You owe us, and it’s time to pay up.
