“Are you sure he’s expecting us?” Greer’s never been the type to prank me, but stranger things have happened in the last few months.
“Totes.” She lets herself into the vast foyer, seemingly un-put off by the lack of anyone to meet us. “Drop your coat. Everyone is this way.”
I slide the weight off my shoulders with hesitation, gaze roaming the vacant halls around us. Something doesn’t seem right. My gut screams to tug the security of my jacket back on and make a dash for it.
“Coming?” Greer calls from the left corridor.
I promptly drape my jacket on an empty hook to my left and then follow her into the bowels of the Shepcott mansion. She strides confidently before me, leading us toward what I remember is the library. I’ve only been here a handful of times since being welcomed into the Chosen; the majority of our parties are at either Libby’s or Christian’s.
“Greer,” I start as she pushes the solid timber doors to the library open. “Perhaps we should—”
The ear-piercing squeal of party horns grabs me first, followed by the rain of gold and silver balloons that swallow the room.
“Happy going away day!” my friends all holler in unison.
“What on earth?” I step gingerly into the knee-high carpet of balloons, taking in each of the six faces that I’ve counted myself lucky to be associated with in my time at Riverbourne. Libby, Greer, and Ingrid. Richard, Christian, and Arthur.
A seventh steps forward. “Since when has our mother had the final say on what we do?” Colt asks with a mischievous grin.
I can’t help myself—the stress of the past months, the uncertainty of our future, and the fear of the unknown spring forth. I swipe at my eyes with the side of one finger, laughing as I let gratitude for this bunch flow through me, replacing all the unwanted emotions. “You guys.”
“You didn’t think we’d let you slip out unnoticed, did you?” Christian asks.
“I honestly wasn’t sure.”
“Can I drink now?” Richard asks. “I need a refill.”
And as quickly as they sprung the surprise on me, they all go back to doing what they were before I walked in.
I feel Colt’s arm around my shoulders first, his welcoming warmth close behind. “I figured although it’s not an occasion to celebrate, it might make the change a little easier if we put a lighter spin on it.”
“You’re the best,” I dote, wrapping both arms around his waist.
He pulls me tight, leaning down to place a kiss to the top of my head. “Love you, sis.”
“Can I steal the girl of the hour?” Libby asks super-sweet as she glides to a stop before us.
The balloons all settle around her, kicked up by her feet while she crossed the room.
“Sure.” Colt unwraps himself from me, swiftly moving to talk to Christian.
I eye them a moment, wondering if they discuss Dad or something unrelated.
“Can we take a minute?” Libby asks, her ice-blue eyes sharp as a tack. “Alone?”
“Sure.”
I catch Greer’s watchful eye as we move toward the door. Libby leads us out of the library and down the corridor until we reach the picture window at the end. She stands framed by the yellow glow of the garden lights outside, her golden hair and sweeping princess-line dress quintessential to the self-made queen of our school.
“It’s not easy for me to say this,” she starts. “Especially on a night like this when emotions are already high.”
“But?” I smile, yet the movement feels as foreign as a third leg would.
“After tonight, we can’t associate anymore,” she states. “My parents have expressly banned me from seeing you. They’re worried what influence your father’s actions may have on you, and therefore me.”
“You can’t seriously believe that’s an issue,” I gasp.
She shrugs dismissively, lips in a thin line. “I honestly don’t know, Lacey. Without your place here in Riverbourne, without the luxuries you’re accustomed to, you honestly can’t tell me you think nothing will change—with you.”
“I’m still the same person.”
“But without the same advantages,” she knocks back. “No money, no future in our social circles? How would you make a name for yourself here? If you retain your place with us while living elsewhere, disadvantaged, people would talk.” Her brow pinches. “Could you imagine the things they’d say?”
I have nothing. Whatever I hit back with would only give Libby an opportunity to cut me down further, and I’m not sure there’s that much of me left to take a swing at.
“Don’t look so devastated,” she offers, arms folded across herself. “We’ll see each other at events. It just means you and I can’t hang out on our own.”
“Yeah, I know.” I turn away, unsure where exactly I intend to go.
I just need to get away from her—from this bubble of intense scrutiny that she’s put me in.
“I’m heading back to the others,” I limply offer, my feet carrying me forward before I’ve finished saying the words.
Her heels echo behind me—such a metaphor for life at Riverbourne. Everything I’ve done, everywhere I’ve gone, she’s been two steps behind, watching.
At first, I saw her as an enemy—a threat. But over time, we found common ground, and I convinced myself that she was simply misunderstood. Now, those old feelings surge back, leaving me to wonder if my initial instinct was so wrong, after all.
“What is it about me?” I ask suddenly, whirling to face Libby mere feet from the library doors. “Why are you so quick to dismiss me?”
“You’re moving away tomorrow,” she states evenly. “I’m not dismissing you; you’re leaving us.”
“Not by choice.”
“And my parents’ rules aren’t my choice either.” She flicks a lock of her hair behind her shoulder before setting the same hand on her hip. “Look. The truth may be hard to hear, okay? But it doesn’t stop it from being the truth.”
God. I’m so confused. On the one hand, this feels too cold, unlike what real friends