Half a bell later, we’re walking amid dusk’s lengthening shadows toward the Academy, gowns in hand. We spot Caeo and Reid as we near the outskirts, their voices carrying on the chilly breeze as they approach.
Alexis jumps in front of me. “Don’t let him see the dress!”
Caeo jogs over with a smile that quickly gives way to confusion as Alexis continually moves to block the dress folded over my arms, and therefore me, from his view.
He frowns. “What are you doing?”
“You donotget to see her dress. You have to wait until the ball.” She pulls me around and forces me to continue walking, keeping herself between me and Caeo the entire time.
“But—”
I press closer to her back, imagining his face when he sees me wearing it. She’s right—I don’t want to spoil the surprise. “Tomorrow,” I say, just as I’m forced to look where I’m going to avoid tripping.
Reid slows down as he nears us. “We’re heading to The Duck. You should come.”
“We have to get our dresses home safely first,” Alexis says, then pauses. “You think Emmrich will be there?”
“That’s the hope.”
Her mouth twists into a smile. “Then I suppose we will. Can’t let you have him all to yourself.”
Reid rolls his eyes. “See you then.” He strolls past us with his hands in his pockets. A few seconds later, his voice drifts from further away. “Come on, man. She’ll be back soon.”
Curious, I glance behind me to see him looping his armaround Caeo, pulling him along. A smile blooms across my face before I continue on my way.
* * *
Sophie’s curled up on our settee, reading a book, when Alexis barges into our sitting room with me in tow, excitedly detailing her plans with Oliver for the next day. Since night has fallen, firelight blooms from the lanterns hanging on each wall, a hint of brown coloring the gray smoke stains above their flames.
“—and after we tour the gardens, I’m coming back to get ready for the ball. You need to be here, too, so I can do your hair.”
I rub my eyes. Keeping up with Alexis’s energy is exhausting. “I can do my own hair.”
“No, honey. No. This dress deserves better than a messy bun. Now go hang it up before it gets wrinkled.” She pushes me toward my room.
I shut the door behind me, then take a moment to collect myself. Sitting on my bed, I slide the dress’s soft fabric between my fingers.Can I really be brave enough to wear this?
Something coils within me, either nerves or anticipation; I’m not sure which. My lungs sink with a heavy sigh, then I steal a hanger from my coat and shove the dress into my wardrobe.
When I return to our sitting room, Alexis is leaning arms-crossed against the wall, watching Sophie gather herself up. She tucks her book under her arm and grumbles, “I can’t believe you actually have dates.”
As frustrating as she can be, I sense an opportunity to smooth things over. To prove I’m not as conceited as she seems to think.
“I don’t,” I say, sitting against the back of an armchair.
Alexis snaps her head toward me. “What are you talking about? Aren’t you going with Caeo?”
“Caeo?” Sophie asks.
“Reid’s friend. You know, he’s probably in some of your classes. Black hair, kind of messy. Probably has girls fighting each other to sit by him.”
“Him?” Sophie looks to me, her brow arched.
I blink, unsure of what she’s talking about. “I don’t—”
Alexis steps away from the wall, closer to Sophie. “So youdoknow him?”
“Not really. He sits in the back of a few of my classes. Doesn’t seem to be very good at anything.” She shoots a smug glare in my direction. “A good choice for someone who needs to feel superior to everyone else.”
