“Thank you guys, but I’ll pass,” I said.
“Yeah, me too. I’m just . . . so tired,” Eva said.
Heidi bit her lip, her blue eyes scanning Eva. “Oh, right. I didn’t consider the emotional toll today would have on you. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Eva said. “Why would you consider that? You were worried about passing your own trial.” She smiled to show that she meant it.
“Seriously, you two have a blast,” I egged them on. “Drink a beer for each of us.”
“Dude,” Eva said after we parted ways with the girls and trudged up the stairs. “We passed up a party because we’re tired? We’re old AF.”
I slapped her shoulder playfully. “Speak for yourself, granny! I’m not—” I stopped walking and leaned over the third-floor railing to peer into the entryway below.
“Odie? You okay?” Eva asked.
I nodded and waved her over.
“What are you looking at?”
“Look straight down and to the left, right where the hallway begins. See that little alcove?” I pointed.
My friend followed my directions, and a frown spread across her face. “Is that David Chena talking to Holly? Likereallyclose?”
“Too close for comfort,” I confirmed, taking in David’s stance and how he was whispering in Holly’s ear.
Eva turned to me. “What are you thinking?”
Andrew’s words from last night and David Chena’s lie that the witch had died swirled in my mind.
I loosed a sigh. “I’m thinking I might have changed my mind about going to the party tonight. And although I know it’s the last thing you want to do, I’m hoping you’ll go with me.”
Because Eva was a trooper and the best friend any girl could have asked for, she accompanied me to the initiate dorm.
“How are you going to bring David up to Holly?” Eva asked for the tenth time.
“Just gonna wing it,” I said as we stopped in front of the tower and knocked.
“Waiting to be let in feelsweird, doesn’t it?” Eva asked as she readjusted her dress.
“Totally,” I agreed.
A young man who I’d never met opened the door a second later. When he saw that two Grind-year spymasters were waiting outside the tower, his eyes bulged. “Uh, hi. Are you here for the party?”
“Yup. Heidi and Holly invited us,” Eva said, her tone light and her smile bright.
“Wow . . . I mean . . . Okay. Come on in.” The door opened wide, and the familiar scent of the initiate tower and sour-smelling beer filled my nose.
As we walked through the common space, people stared, and a hush fell in a wave. It was strange, but I should have expected it. Other than Eva and me talking to Heidi and Holly, the upperclassmen ignored the initiates, so this was a first for most of them. That I was a school champion probably didn’t hurt either.
Eva and I approached the keg, and a guy who still hadn’t grown out of his acne phase leapt up to help us.
“Here you go,” he said, handing two plastic cups over with trembling hands.
“Thanks,” I responded and looked around. “Have you seen Heidi or Holly?”
“They’re getting ready in their rooms!” a voice called from the crowd.
“Oh, okay. I guess we’ll just wait.”
