Sylvie had bigger worries.Why does the Apple of Discord have my name on it? Who was the man in the diner?Suddenly, her life was like a scattered puzzle, where none of the pieces seemed to fit.
Sylvie tried her best to look serious. “Of course, Miss Kitty.”
With that, Kitty gave a satisfied nod and left.
Georgia toyed with a lock of hair. “What was that about? I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree if you’re already breaking rules.”
Anger bubbled up. Sylvie did her best to ignore the comment. “It was nothing.”
Georgia shrugged and examined a nail. “Suit yourself. But if you want my opinion—”
Not really.
“You’ll do better with the instructors if you kill them with kindness.”
That’s what I’ve been trying to do.Sylvie dumped her things onto the bed.
She hadn’t bothered to pack much. A toothbrush, a few shirts, jeans, and the skateboard her parents had given her for her fourteenth birthday.Thirty-two-inch maplewood board with a double-kick surface.
Georgia gawked at the skateboard. “This is a magiccookingschool. What are you going to do with that? I would’ve thought a pair of oven mitts would’ve been more useful.”
“Skating helps me relax,” said Sylvie. She’d imagined gliding around Brindille’s paths between classes.
“My mama says ladies don’t ride skateboards,” continued Georgia. She gestured to Sylvie’s hand. “Is that how you got that scar?”
Georgia was like a pubescent rottweiler, hiding behind a mask of glossy lipstick and soft curls.
Sylvie crossed her arms. “Think you’re being funny?”
“No.” Georgia looked surprised.
Sylvie wasn’t buying it. “Your friends were gossiping about me just a minute ago. Now, you expect me to believe you don’t know what happened to my hand?”
Georgia’s eyes narrowed into sapphire slits. “Believe what you want. Iknowthe CCS put you on probation, ’cause of your mom being a cheat. But that’s it.”
Sylvie glared back. “For someone starting the preparatory program, you sure seem to think you have all the answers. My mom didn’t cheat! So why don’t you go back to playing with your makeup and piping bags.” It wasn’t a very good comeback, but it seemed to do the trick.
“Now who thinks they know it all?” Georgia snatched one of the magazines from the stack and flung herself onto her bed. “Apparently I should be reading up on avocado facials and berry lip stains.”
“I didn’t say that,” Sylvie started.
“You kind of did.” Georgia kept her nose buried as she slapped another page down.
Sylvie’s mom had warned her about letting other people’s opinions get the better of her. Now it was too late.
“Just forget it,” said Sylvie. She stuffed the snickerdoodles from her mom into her pocket and headed for the door.
“Suit yourself,” Georgia shot back. “But no one is allowed outside after dark. Hopefully you’ll get busted. Then I’ll have the room to myself!”
Sylvie ignored the comment and headed down the hallway.
She took a seat on the floor next to the vending machines and gazed at the butterfly peas, resting peacefully on the vines. That’s what she should’ve been doing.Relaxing.Instead, she’d been here less than an hour and already had gotten into a fight. Georgia’s words had been no worse than what she’d expected, and yet, they stung.
Sylvie pulled a snickerdoodle out of her pocket. Once she had her Blade, maybe they’d realize they were wrong.I deserve to be here.
The first step toward proving that would come tomorrow at orientation.
The Daily Leek
