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“Considering what we do here, perfecting the art of deception is probably the most important skill you can have.”
My head grows woozy, like all the oxygen’s been sucked right out of the room.
Well, that explains just about everything I know about her.
My gaze returns to the slithering serpent on the medallion she wears. Snakes are known for shedding their skin, emerging unscathed and brand new. But then I also remember what Song said about venomous snakes—how she used them as a sort of metaphor for dealing with Elodie.
While I’m pretty sure I haven’t done much to heed Song’s advice, the fact is, I’m still here, in Elodie’s room, on a night that’s considered kind of a big deal. So, I must’ve done something right.
After a prolonged beat of silence, my gaze lights on Elodie’s, and I say, “And yet, while I managed to fool everyone else, I didn’t fool you.”
Elodie’s eyes flash on mine. “Not to worry.” She shrugs. “Few people do.” Then swinging her hair over her shoulder, she says, “Now, how about a toast before the others arrive?”
I watch as she crosses the room, plucks an expensive-looking bottle of champagne from a silver ice bucket, and expertly pops the cork.
“This is nothing like the house parties back home,” I say, as Elodie pours us each a glass. “The fanciest we ever got was a case of black cherry White Claw.”
Elodie scrunches her nose. “You have no idea what that was like for me. Having to slam shots and pretend that I liked it.” She shudders and hands me a glass. “Growing up at Gray Wolf, I was raised on the good stuff. You should’ve seen the way I gagged when Arthur gave me my first sip of beer.” When she sees my startled look, she says, “It took a lot of training to learn how to fit in at a modern-day high school.”
“I never even thought of that,” I say, unable to hide my surprise. “And you made it look so easy. Everyone pretty much worshipped you from the moment you arrived.”
All except Mason, of course.
When Elodie turns to me in shock, I realize it’s the first truly nice thing I’ve said to her in the month since I’ve been here. Still, there’s no point in withholding the compliment when we both know it’s true.
“Well, after hours of watching TikTok, scrolling through Instagram, and bingeing some really bad reality TV shows, I guess all that research started to kick in.” Elodie laughs and raises her flute.
Careful to pinch the stem and keep my pinkie slightly crooked, just like the etiquette instructor taught me, I raise mine as well. This is the first time we’ve been alone since I arrived on the island, and there’s no telling what she might say.
“To your first Trip!” she says.
I start to lift my glass, then pause when I sense she’s not done.
“You’ve come a long way, Natasha Antoinette Clarke, and you’re about to go so much further. Way beyond your wildest dreams.”
Her lips curl into a wide, knowing grin.
I grin back.
Then, after tipping our glasses toward each other, we drink.
And for a few brief moments, it feels like the old days.
