I feel sorry for her, enough that I offer, “I have another leather jacket you can borrow.” I point over my shoulder at my room. “Fair warning, I got it from a secondhand store, and it has a tear inside, but it’s perfect on the outside, and if you wore it over that dress and changed your shoes, you can go with a punk princess vibe or something?” I look at Wren like,Are those the right words to persuade her away from this existential crisis?
“Oh, for sure,” Wren agrees, giving me a subtle nod before returning her attention to Lily. “I have these really cool blackplatform shoes you can borrow. And you can put on those lace tights.”
With her lips smashed together, Lily pushes away from the wall. “All right. Yeah, let me try that.”
“We can grab my shoes on the way?” Wren suggests then flicks a glance at me. “You want to grab that jacket, and then we can head out?”
“Sure.” I hurry back to my room and collect the jacket from the closet.
As I’m heading back out, I pause as I hear Wren talking in a hushed tone.
“Are you sure you did it?” she whispers to Lily. “Because it doesn’t seem like you did.”
“Oh my God, Wren, for the hundredth time, yes, I did it,” Lily gripes. “So, please, stop harassing me. You’re starting to sound like your mother.”
“I’m sorry,” Wren replies. “I know this sucks, but you know what will happen if you don’t … Things would’ve been so much easier if we’d been roomed together in the first place.”
“Shh …” Lily hisses. “I don’t want Maddy finding out.”
My stomach twists. What are they talking about exactly? And why do I have this sinking suspicion it has to do with me?”
I remain inside my room for another minute to see if they’ll talk more. When nothing but silence filters through the air, I give up, put on my best composed face, and exit my room with my jacket.
“Here you go.” I hand it to Lily.
She smiles.
I smile back, but it’s not real at all.
Finn said people here were made of plastic. He might be onto something. Because I’m already in day two, and I feel like I’m turning into a freaking doll.
CHAPTER 15
MADDISON
Fifteen minuteslater and a walk to the back of the campus, I find myself standing on a street lined with massive Victorian houses and lampposts, all of which are labeled with sorority and fraternity names. Most of the houses are quiet, but I can detect music flowing from someplace close by.
“Wow, this place is so pretty,” I remark over the sound of my boots scuffing against the pavement. The air has a slight nip to it, and the branches of the trees move lazily against the night. “It’s crazy it was hidden right behind those trees.”
“It’s so that all the dirty secrets lying behind these walls can stay hidden,” Wren states as she stares at the night sky cut with silver and purple stars.
“Not this again.” Lily shakes her head as she wraps the leather jacket tighter around her. She also has on Wren’s platform shoes. Between the two additions, she does look punk princess. She glances at me. “Wren is really into conspiracy theories.”
“They’re not conspiracy theories.” Wren tosses a dirty look at Lily. “They’re theories based on stories I’ve heard from people who’ve lived them.”
“What kind of stories?” I wonder, my attention drifting farther down the road where a handful of expensive vehicles are parked.
“I’ll tell you later, when we have more time,” Wren replies as she checks her phone.
I’m unsure if she will or not. After overhearing the two of them talking, I’m skeptical about the genuineness of this friendship. Not that I’m convinced they’re being malicious. It could just be that they wanted to be roommates and are bummed out about it. But it felt like they were intentionally keeping a secret from me. Not that I blame them. Everyone has their secrets. Doesn’t make me any less uneasy about it, though.
I might have overanalyzed this all night if I didn’t become distracted by the house we come to a stop in front of. If you can even call the two-story, column-lined, massive mansion in front of us a house. If it weren’t for the sign above the tall, double doors, I’d think it was a city hall.
“Okay, time for rules.” Wren slips her phone into the pocket of her jacket and directs her attention to me and Lily. “We’re going to stay together at all times, but if we do wander off to go hookup or something, let one of us know the where and the who.” She draws this triangle pattern between the three of us in the air in front of her. “No taking any drinks or pills from anyone. If you want to drink or get high, get that shit yourself. And most importantly, do not go back to the dorms yourself. Wandering around at night, especially when we have to cut through the woods, is a dumbass idea.”
Lily rolls her eyes. “Yes, Mother.”
Wren points her finger at Lily. “Hey, I’ve heard the stories about what happens at these parties, so don’t judge me.”
