“Okay, I’ll be right back.” She walks off, and it’s only after she disappears toward the bar that I realize that Kaya and Jessica are gone too.
I look for Jase again, but he’s gone.
Relief floods through me.Good.That’s really good.
We go to the same school again, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to keep running into each other. He’s a year ahead of me. At most, we might bump into each other in the corridor.
We don’t have to talk to each other. We can just walk past each other. It’s as simple as that. No big deal.
Taking a deep breath, I smooth back my hair and put any thoughts about Jase to the back of my mind. I reach for the water bottle on the table in front of me, which I haven’t touched yet.
“Hey.” Someone appears next to me, and I flinch so badly that I almost drop the bottle. Because of my frantic movement, water sloshes out the top and leaves a clearly visible wet mark on the tablecloth. I blush.Shit.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?” The voice, which is soft and melodic, sounds worried.
I look up and see a pair of unnerving green eyes that seem strangely familiar. With golden-blond hair that falls down her back in waves, a cute button nose, and finely formed features, the girl looks like a Disney princess. She’s more than just pretty.
“It’s fine, I’m good. It’s only water,” I say.
“All right, then.” She smiles at me. “I’m Lia.”
“Zoe,” I say, wiping my hand inconspicuously on my dress.
“Nice to meet you. You’re one of the new ones.”
It’s an observation, not a question. That’s not surprising. There are only eighty students living on campus altogether. As a newcomer, you can’t hide here. We stand out.
“Right.”
Her smile widens, and that also seems strangely familiar, even though I have no idea why. “Then you can come with me.”
“Where to?” I frown, unable to quell the wave of skepticism I feel.
“Just go with it. We’re getting all the newbies together. But don’t worry, it’s not for sorority hazing or anything like that,” she adds when she notices the apprehensive look on my face. “It’ll be great. I promise.”
She puts a hand on my shoulder and turns me gently but firmly toward the exit, where a small crowd is gradually forming. I’m too surprised to protest, and I let Lia guide me toward the others. I spot Mae with Kaya and Jessica. There are two other girls with them. They look older than us, just like Lia.
“Have we got them all?” Lia asks when we reach them.
One of the girls, her dark hair in two thick braids, nods a hello to me. Lia introduces her as Katie.
“Susannah is gathering the last few. Then we can go.”
“You’re really not going to tell us where we’re going?” Mae says, looking curious.
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore,” Lia replies enigmatically.
“Let’s go,” says an excited voice behind us. We all turn at once to see a girl with hair so pale it’s almost white. Her blue eyes shine just as brightly. Everything about her seems to glow. “I’ve spoken to Pearson too. We’re officially excused.”
Lia nods with satisfaction. “Thanks for sorting that out, Suzie.”
“Sure. Pearsonlooovesme,” she says so sarcastically that we all have to laugh.
Katie groans. “Oh, stop. It sounds like you have a thing with him. Please tell her not to do that, Lia. Especially in front of the newbies.”
“That’s nonsense. Besides, he’s too old for me anyway,” Susannah says dismissively. “Now get your sweet butts in gear. Follow me!”
Katie looks like she’s about to say something else, but then sighs and shoos us out of the theater.
