That night I returned to my room after a grueling study session with Kiki and some other people from my AP chem class. We had our first major exam the next day, covering everything we'd learned so far this semester, and after listening to my classmates spout formulas and compounds and measurements, I was starting to think that I had, in fact, learned nothing. Maybe I could get Mr. Dramble to postpone the test. Did the Billings influence stretch that far? Exhausted, I dropped down at my computer to check my e-mail. There was one from my brother, Scott, titled "Nittany Lions Rule!" That could wait. Another from my mom--a forwarded message, which was probably one of those stupid poem/chain letters that had been circulating the Web for years. Mom had just discovered e-mail, so all those urban legends and dumb-blonde jokes and stories of undying love we'd all read a thousand times were still new to her. I bypassed that as well and went right for the message at the top of the list. Sent only minutes ago. From Dash. It was titled "Congratulations." I glanced over my shoulder, as always, before clicking it open.
Reed, I heard about your coup. Nice work! I knew you could do it. Whittaker is so excited I think he might have strained something. Is it too weird to say I'm proud of you? Is that something "just a friend" would say? WB Dash
So much better than that last e-mail. And see? This was the kind of response I had wanted from Josh. Pride. Congratulations. Was that so hard? My heart fluttered as I started to type a response, but then I paused, thinking of Noelle. Thinking of the fact that she and Dash were probably going to the Legacy together and that he still- had neglected to tell me. I deleted the first line and started over.
Dash, Thanks. And yes, I think just friends can be proud of each other. BTW, I heard you're going with Noelle. That's great. Reed There. That would show him how very unaffected I was by his-- An e-mail popped up almost immediately. From Dash. He was online right now. Why did that thought make my pulse race like I'd just sprinted the four hundred? Reed, Yes. She told me she got one of the money clips for me. Good thing. There are certain people attending whom I'd like to see.... Dash After that I couldn't stop smiling.
* * *
Our gowns were delivered the next day. All the other Billings Girls had received boxes from home or had ordered several dresses online so they could shop in the privacy of their own rooms. Even the ever- reluctant Sabine had received a gown from her mom. A gorgeous, modern white dress with a silk rope halter collar and an extremely low back. Everything was now in place, and everywhere we went, the Easton legacies were engaged in hushed conversation, speculating over where the party might be, who might or might not attend. The sense of anticipation was exhilarating. It put nearly everything else, classes, exams, Cheyenne, even Josh and Dash--out of mind.
But there was still one slight problem. "I checked the fence on my morning run," Noelle whispered, slipping into the seat across from mine in the library. "It's sealed up." "Damn. And with the security cameras on all the other entrances..." "The Crom's really covered all his bases," Noelle muttered, dropping her history tome on the table with a bang. "It's like we're living in Alcatraz." "You're not giving up, are you?" I hissed, leaning over the table. "Of course not," she snapped. "I'm just saying--" We both looked up as a shadow fell across the table. It was Amberly, looking pert and perfectly matching as ever, with Lara and her other omnipresent friend hovering behind her. "Hi, Noelle! Hi, Reed!" she said with a smile. "Hi, Amberly," I replied.
I still didn't know what to make of this girl. She seemed sweet enough, but there was something blank behind her smiles. "Omigod, Noelle, I just found out my family is going to be in New York for Christmas this year," Amberly said, clutching her books. "Now you can take me to all the good parties!" Noelle smirked. "I would, Amberly, really, but my family always goes to the islands for Christmas." Amberly's face fell like an anvil in one of those old Roadrunner cartoons. "Oh." And then it lit up again. "Well, maybe I can get them to switch their plans to the islands. My parents would do pretty much anything for me." "Good for you." "I know. They're fabulous," Noelle said. "What are you doing for Christmas, Reed?" Amberly asked me excitedly. "Are you going to the islands, too?"
I had to laugh. "Um, no." "Well, maybe," Noelle said, eyeing me. "Seriously?" I asked. "Why not? You should absolutely come along. I'm sure Christmas in Blahtown, USA, is 'superfun,' but you haven't lived until you've spent the holidays in St. Bart's." Okay. This was an unexpected turn of conversation. The very idea of living the sweet life with Noelle over break made my skin tingle. But could I really ditch the parentals and Scott for my mom's first sober Christmas in years? "I'll have to think about it," I said. "But thanks, though." "Oh, you have to come! Then we can all hang out together!" Amberly trilled. "I'm calling my mother right now." She whipped out a lime green phone, which perfectly matched the lime green stripe along the hem of her dark blue sweater, and flipped it open.
Noelle rolled her eyes as she shifted in her chair, turning to face Amberly's beaming face fully. "I don't mean to be rude, Amberly and... entourage," she said to the silent sentries standing behind her. "But we're kind of in the middle of something here." Amberly hesitated for a second, then closed her phone. "What? What's going on? " she asked. "You can tell me, Noelle. We're such old friends." "I know. We are," Noelle said smoothly. "But this is Billings business," she said. "Something you'll know all about in a couple of years, I'm sure." Amberly lit up like the Fourth of July. Noelle had just thrown her the bone every girl at Easton wanted to chomp on. The possibility of getting into Billings one day. Behind her, her friends started to whisper urgently amongst themselves.
"Really?" Amberly said. Then, perhaps hearing how desperately grateful she sounded, she cleared her throat. "I mean, I'm sure," she added, lifting her chin a bit. "Well, if you need any help at all, you know where to find me. And don't forget to call me about St. Bart's! It will be so much fun! 'Bye, Noelle! 'Bye, Reed!" She and her friends strolled away and I was about to launch back into our conversation when Noelle turned to me with her knowing smirk. "You have a plan, don't you?" I said, recognizing that particular glint in her eyes. "Not a plan, exactly," she replied. "But an inkling..." Before I could ask her what she meant, I saw someone hovering just on the other side of the stacks behind Noelle. My heart skipped a startled beat. Someone was spying on us. Listening in. I saw a flash of blue eyes, white skin.
I jumped up, shoving my chair back. "What? Reed? What's wrong?" Noelle asked, I held up a hand and darted around the stacks. Irrationally, I thought of Cheyenne. I thought of Ariana. As impossible as either of those scenarios might be, someone was following me. Someone was watching. Who else? Who else would want to keep an eye on me? I had no idea what I was going to say or do. No clue how I was going to confront who or whatever I was about to encounter. But in the next second I realized I didn't need to know. Because no one was there.
THE REBEL
Saturday. October 30. Every secret exit from the Easton grounds had been checked. Every one of them was inaccessible. Short of a team of Navy SEALs busting onto campus and smuggling us out, we were screwed. Noelle and I sat in the solarium that night, staring at each other across one of the smaller tables near the wall--a table a pair of sophomore girls had vacated for us the moment I started to eye it, saying they had been about to leave anyway. Everyone was watching us. Waiting for some direction. Some sign that we hadn't dangled the Legacy in front of them only to snatch it away at the last minute. But no one dared approach us. We were on lockdown.
"There has to be a way," Noelle said. "We have to call Suzel," I whispered. N
oelle sighed. "I told you. I want to keep her out of this. We have to be able to do some things on our own." "Noelle, the Legacy is tomorrow. Tomorrow. We still have to come up with a plan and tell everyone about it. There's no time left. And Suzel is not only on the board, but back in her day at Easton she was kind of a rebel." I had read her file and, though it was next to impossible to imagine she of the straight teeth and responsible hair tearing up Easton, she had come close to expulsion a good six times in her first three years, engaging in everything from hazing to drug use to talking back to teachers. Then, her senior year, she had somehow become the model citizen she seemed to be today. What, exactly, had turned her around? That was the one detail the file didn't divulge.
Noelle, of course, didn't seem surprised by my revelation. She knew everything about everyone already. "I'm willing to bet that she knows things about this campus that we can't even imagine," I said. Noelle's eyes were serious as she studied me. "The Legacy is tomorrow," I said. She sighed through her nose. "Fine. Make the call." I grabbed my iPhone and found Suzel's number on the contact list. She picked up on the first ring. "Hello, Reed," she said in a bubbly tone. "How are you?" "I'm fine, thanks. And you?" I said, sliding off my chair so I could pace out my nerves. I stuck to the wall so no one could hear my side of the conversation, but all around the room, people were noting my movement, pointing me out to their friends. It was like being in a cage at the zoo. "I'm fine as well, thank you for asking!" she replied. "Listen, Suzel, we actually have kind of a problem," I said.
"Shoot," she told me. "Well, tomorrow's the Legacy and we still haven't figured out a way to get off campus," I told her, biting my lip. Suzel sighed heavily, and for a moment I thought I'd messed up. That Noelle was right. That she was disappointed in us. "I was afraid of this," she said. "Headmaster Cromwell is such a tightass. But you didn't hear that from me." I laughed, both relieved and amused. Noelle's expression lightened considerably. "All right. There is one passage off campus that he would never expect you to know about," Suzel said determinedly. "Get yourselves to Gwendolyn Hall tomorrow night at exactly six p.m. There's a wooden door in the back that leads to the basement. It's the only one they never boarded up. I'll make sure it's unlocked." "Gwendolyn Hall?" I asked, glancing at Noelle. She eyed me, intrigued.
"Yes. There will be directions for you there," Suzel said. "And make sure everyone comes in shifts. A huge crowd is going to catch someone's eye. Understood?" "Understood," I replied. Her tone was so conspiratorial and no-nonsense, I half expected her to tell me that my phone was going to self-destruct at the end of this phone call. But instead, she just wished me luck and hung up. "Gwendolyn Hall?" Noelle said. "That's miles from the gate." "I know," I replied as I sat down again. "I told you. This woman's good." I took a deep breath and sighed. "There's still one problem." "The Crom?" Noelle said. "Yeah. He swore he was going to watch us all like a hawk," I said, running my hand through my hair. "I think we're going to need a distraction or something. Some way to keep him occupied while we all sneak out." "My thoughts exactly," Noelle said with a sly smile. "And I have just the thing." She sat up straight in her chair. "Oh, Amberly?" she said in full voice.
Amberly nearly knocked over her chair, she jumped out of it so fast. "Yeah?" The room was otherwise deathly silent. Everyone present was wondering why a non- Legacy freshman was being summoned by two Billings Girls. "Come over here a second. And bring your little friends," Noelle said. Amberly leaned down to whisper something to her girls and they all scurried to our sides like paid servants. I had no idea where this was going, but I liked it. "Amberly, Reed and I have a little favor to ask of you," Noelle said, looking up at her. The girl at least had the sense to appear skittish. "Sure," she said. "What kind of favor? " "The kind of favor that will put the Billings Girls forever in your debt," Noelle said meaningfully, looking at each of the girls in turn. All three of them turned beet red. They knew what this meant. Do this favor, and the Billings Girls will remember you. Do this favor and come junior year, you'll be invited to join the most exclusive house on campus.
"We'll do it," Amberly said. She didn't even need to consult the others. "Whatever you need." Noelle smiled at me mischievously and I instantly knew what she was thinking. A distraction. Amberly's dorm was clear on the other side of campus from Gwendolyn Hall. If she could somehow summon Cromwell and the security guards to her dorm, we would all be free and clear. But the timing would have to be perfect, and the distraction would have to be realistic. There could be no chance of Cromwell seeing through it. But of course, if there was one person capable of devising such a plan, it was Noelle. "Good. That's exactly what we wanted to hear," Noelle said to the unsuspecting freshmen. "Now, here's the plan...."
GWENDOLYN'S SECRET
Halloween night was frigidly cold. Our breath made steam clouds in the air as the sixteen Billings Girls stood, backs to the west wall of our house, and watched in silence as security guards flooded in from all corners of campus, racing toward Bradwell. I clutched the plastic bag that held my couture gown, my shoes, and my sparkling silver mask, chosen from a boxful of Legacy accessories Noelle had collected over the years. Aside from a few shouts, there was nothing but the sound of my friends' breathing.
"There goes Cromwell," Noelle whispered. Sure enough, the tall, hulking figure was slipping through the back door of the freshman and sophomore dorm. "Now's our chance." I turned to the group, my pulse pounding through my temples, my wrists, my chest. "The first eight go now. The rest wait exactly three minutes, then run." Everyone nodded. "Okay. Let's go." Sabine reached out and clutched my hand. We turned as a group and rushed toward the back of the dorm, then behind the trees toward Gwendolyn Hall, its crumbling edifice rising up against the starry sky like a haunted mansion. As we sprinted toward the back of the building, every footstep sounded like a cannon shot, every breath like a whoosh of howling wind. There was no way we could do this without getting caught. No way in hell. I was the first to get to the back door, which was partially obscured by a century's worth of ivy and weeds. I released Sabine's hand, said a silent prayer, and pushed at the door. It swung open with a creak that could have raised the dead.
"Let's go!" I whispered, ushering everyone inside. As soon as the seven of them were through--Noelle, Sabine, London, Vienna, Tiffany, Rose, and Constance--a group of boys from Ketlar appeared, already dressed in their tuxedos. Josh gave me a quick kiss as he slipped by, and I ducked in after them, leaving the door open for the next wave. "I don't like this," Sabine said, hovering just inside the entryway. "This feels wrong. It's spooky down here." "It's okay," I told her, stepping into the freezing cold stone basement. The ceiling was low--Tiffany, Noelle, Gage, Josh, and I had to duck--and there was a three-inch layer of dirt and grime on every surface. Dozens of ancient wooden desks were stacked and shoved haphazardly against the walls. "I gotta go with Sabine on this one," Josh said. "Maybe we should just bag this idea."
I said nothing. I was not turning back now. As we stepped deeper into the room, squeaking and scurrying noises caused London and Vienna to yelp and clutch each other. "Ew! Mice! I hate mice!" Constance cried. Then she screamed at the top of her lungs. Gage had used his fingers to creepy-crawl across her shoulder. "Constance! Shhh!" I whisper-shouted. "Gage! Grow the fuck up," Noelle snapped. The rest of the Billings Girls entered at that moment and the basement started to feel claustrophobic. "What do we do now?" Tiffany asked. "Directions. Suzel said she'd leave directions," I said. Noelle and I and a few others spread out to look in the dim light pouring through high windows. The longer we looked, the harder my heart started to pound. What if she hadn't been able to get here? What if Cromwell had caught her? What if-- Then a lighter flared on. At that moment, I noticed a sweet, acrid scent filling the air. "Who the hell is smoking in here?" Noelle blurted.
London and Vienna giggled. Several sophomores came in through the basement door. Okay. Now I was pissed. Pot? As if breathing in here wasn't difficult enough already. "You guys! You're going to get us caught!" London
took a long hit on a skinny joint and passed it to Vienna. "Sorry, Reed. We've smoked in every other building on campus, but we could never get in here."
"Gwendolyn's our holy grail," Vienna agreed, holding in her smoke, which made her face all flat and squinty. "We have now completed our toking tour of Easton!" London and Vienna cheered, blowing smoke at the ceiling. "Very mature," Noelle said, as Gage and a few others produced their own stashes from inner pockets. "Like you won't get enough of whatever you want at the Legacy." "I think we're safe," Lance said, peeking out one of the low windows. "At least it doesn't look like anyone's coming." "Guess Amberly's catfight was really convincing," Noelle said happily. "I found something," Rose said. Suddenly a flashlight blazed in the dark. "It was over by the door." At least someone was focused on the task at hand. "Shine it around," I directed. She did as she was told, and I saw a flash of white. "There!"
Noelle and I lurched forward. Pinned to a warped wooden door that had been invisible in the darkness was a handwritten note. Girls, No one knows about this route other than the board and the school caretakers. And now you. Take the tunnel to the end. I'll have cars waiting for you there. Be safe. –Suzel "Take the tunnel to the end?" Noelle repeated. I reached for the side of the door and had to dig my nails into the rotting wood to get a grip on it. It took some effort to pry it open, and it kept getting caught on the stone floor. Finally Josh stepped forward to help me, and together we shoved it all the way back to the wall. Rose shone the flashlight into the opening, revealing an impossibly tiny tunnel with dirt walls and floor. At the entrance were several more flashlights.