rectify the situation posthaste.”
“Outstanding,” Headmistress Holly says, using another one of those headmistress words. “As you may or may not know, relations between Nightshade and the local townsfolk have recently become somewhat strained.”
“Is that right?” Dr. Haskins says, fishing.
Headmistress Holly opens her mouth, looks at us girls, tightens her lips, then says, “You know how townsfolk are, certainly. They see this ornate architecture, the stained glass, the gargoyles. They hear our chapel bells every Sunday, and they can’t help but spread gossip about our students and their various activities during off hours. I assure you it’s all unwarranted, and I mention it only so your girls can be aware that they must be on their best behavior and, of course, avoid being extra friendly.”
She looks at me again, this time not so subtly.
“Of course.” Dr. Haskins glances at her sleek Cartier watch resting on her elegant wrist.
The headmistress gets the hint and stands to signal the end of the meeting. “You do know that this late in the year, if one of your girls”—again with the eye roll in my direction—”were to get too friendly, as you so delicately put it, there would be no refund for the semester upon her dismissal.”
“Of course,” Dr. Haskins says, shaking Headmistress Holly’s right hand. “Now, girls, I must run, but rest assured I leave you in capable hands here at Nightshade. Headmistress, thanks so much for your time in meeting us today. I assume you will help the girls get settled?”
“Of course,” she says with a smile that doesn’t quite meet her eyes. “And I assume you can show yourself out?”
We stand as Dr. Haskins exits, her heels clacking down the hallway.
When we turn from the door, Headmistress Holly stands just to our right, three room keys and a map in her outstretched hands. “Ladies,” she says, her voice a tad more frosty than it was during her dealings with Dr. Haskins (not that we’re exactly surprised), “I’ve circled your rooms on this map, and here are your keys. Your first task will be finding your own rooms and getting settled. Your second will be making it to dinner on time, promptly at six thirty. And your third will be showing up to your first classes tomorrow morning, no excuses. You’ll find your schedules in your suite plus everything else you need. I hope you enjoy your … stay at Nightshade Conservatory for Exceptional Boys and Girls”—she looks squarely at me—”no matter how long or brief it might be.
“Good day, girls, and remember: here at Nightshade, you aren’t merely fellow students; you’re partners in learning.
“And never forget: if you need anything, my door is always open—from eleven till three Tuesdays and Thursdays, that is.”
She smiles as we file past her.
I turn to wave our good-byes.
The heavy wooden door slams promptly in my face.
Alice and Cara are already steaming ahead, studying the map in Alice’s hand.
This is definitely my last high school as a Sister. I don’t care what it takes.
Chapter 5
I don’t understand why she threw me under the bus this time.” I dump my single bag on the sterile claw-foot couch in the middle of our new dorm suite.
Cara and Alice are snickering as they check out the rooms, which look tiny and austere, perhaps because of all the dark wood flooring and creepy, gothic wainscoting along the entirety of the fourteen-foot ceilings.
Alice leans in her doorway, her long legs looking even longer in her skinny jeans. A big jeweled belt rests cockeyed on her model-narrow waist. “I, for one, am glad I won’t be playing the role of super tramp this assignment.”
I gape, about to say something snarky about how Alice couldn’t look less like a tramp at the moment, but think better of it.
“Oh, give her time,” Cara says to me from her own doorway. “Besides, Dr. Haskins did you a favor.”
“A favor? By setting me up as a tramp? How so?”
“Think of it,
“Outstanding,” Headmistress Holly says, using another one of those headmistress words. “As you may or may not know, relations between Nightshade and the local townsfolk have recently become somewhat strained.”
“Is that right?” Dr. Haskins says, fishing.
Headmistress Holly opens her mouth, looks at us girls, tightens her lips, then says, “You know how townsfolk are, certainly. They see this ornate architecture, the stained glass, the gargoyles. They hear our chapel bells every Sunday, and they can’t help but spread gossip about our students and their various activities during off hours. I assure you it’s all unwarranted, and I mention it only so your girls can be aware that they must be on their best behavior and, of course, avoid being extra friendly.”
She looks at me again, this time not so subtly.
“Of course.” Dr. Haskins glances at her sleek Cartier watch resting on her elegant wrist.
The headmistress gets the hint and stands to signal the end of the meeting. “You do know that this late in the year, if one of your girls”—again with the eye roll in my direction—”were to get too friendly, as you so delicately put it, there would be no refund for the semester upon her dismissal.”
“Of course,” Dr. Haskins says, shaking Headmistress Holly’s right hand. “Now, girls, I must run, but rest assured I leave you in capable hands here at Nightshade. Headmistress, thanks so much for your time in meeting us today. I assume you will help the girls get settled?”
“Of course,” she says with a smile that doesn’t quite meet her eyes. “And I assume you can show yourself out?”
We stand as Dr. Haskins exits, her heels clacking down the hallway.
When we turn from the door, Headmistress Holly stands just to our right, three room keys and a map in her outstretched hands. “Ladies,” she says, her voice a tad more frosty than it was during her dealings with Dr. Haskins (not that we’re exactly surprised), “I’ve circled your rooms on this map, and here are your keys. Your first task will be finding your own rooms and getting settled. Your second will be making it to dinner on time, promptly at six thirty. And your third will be showing up to your first classes tomorrow morning, no excuses. You’ll find your schedules in your suite plus everything else you need. I hope you enjoy your … stay at Nightshade Conservatory for Exceptional Boys and Girls”—she looks squarely at me—”no matter how long or brief it might be.
“Good day, girls, and remember: here at Nightshade, you aren’t merely fellow students; you’re partners in learning.
“And never forget: if you need anything, my door is always open—from eleven till three Tuesdays and Thursdays, that is.”
She smiles as we file past her.
I turn to wave our good-byes.
The heavy wooden door slams promptly in my face.
Alice and Cara are already steaming ahead, studying the map in Alice’s hand.
This is definitely my last high school as a Sister. I don’t care what it takes.
Chapter 5
I don’t understand why she threw me under the bus this time.” I dump my single bag on the sterile claw-foot couch in the middle of our new dorm suite.
Cara and Alice are snickering as they check out the rooms, which look tiny and austere, perhaps because of all the dark wood flooring and creepy, gothic wainscoting along the entirety of the fourteen-foot ceilings.
Alice leans in her doorway, her long legs looking even longer in her skinny jeans. A big jeweled belt rests cockeyed on her model-narrow waist. “I, for one, am glad I won’t be playing the role of super tramp this assignment.”
I gape, about to say something snarky about how Alice couldn’t look less like a tramp at the moment, but think better of it.
“Oh, give her time,” Cara says to me from her own doorway. “Besides, Dr. Haskins did you a favor.”
“A favor? By setting me up as a tramp? How so?”
“Think of it,