𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔,
thrown together by 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 or some 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 sense of irony, in a private all-girls school where rules and control were 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 to keep everything in line.
But she was the chaos I couldn't escape. Co...
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Dinner.
The word alone feels suffocating. I've barely had a chance to breathe in this place, let alone prepare for the inevitable social circus. Sitting in a room full of girls who've probably been groomed for this lifestyle since birth doesn't rank high on my to-do list. But skipping dinner? That would only make me a target, and I can't afford that. Not yet.
I'm leaning against my doorframe, debating my options, when I notice her.
She's sauntering down the hall like she has nowhere important to be but makes it seem like she owns the space. Her hair is dark, her uniform slightly disheveled—tie loose, blazer unbuttoned, and her skirt looking like it's been worn for days. She's the opposite of the polished, high-strung girls I've seen so far, and for that reason alone, I don't trust her.
"You're the new girl, right?" she asks, stopping a few feet from me. Her voice is casual, maybe even bored, but there's a sharpness to it, like she's sizing me up.
I straighten, folding my arms across my chest. "Vivienne Astor," I say, letting my name hang in the air.
She doesn't look impressed. Instead, she leans lazily against the wall, her gaze flicking over me like I'm an overpriced handbag she's not sure she likes. "Alice Caldwell," she says, finally offering a smirk. "Dinner's starting soon. You can walk with me if you don't feel like being the awkward loner in the corner."
Her words hit with a mix of amusement and condescension that makes me want to laugh and slap her in equal measure. "And why would I be an awkward loner?" I ask, arching an eyebrow.
She shrugs. "Because you're new. And the dining hall's full of people who've already decided whether or not they'll like you. Don't take it personally—it's just how things work here."
I hesitate, narrowing my eyes at her. "How generous of you to offer your company."
"I'm generous like that," she quips, pushing off the wall and gesturing for me to follow. "Come on, Astor. You don't want to be late."
Against my better judgment, I fall into step beside her.
The hallway feels longer than it should, every step echoing against the marble floors. Alice doesn't say much at first, and I can't decide if that's a relief or an irritation. She has the air of someone who's comfortable in silence, which only makes me more aware of how I hate it.
"So," I start, glancing at her as we turn a corner. "Is there some unspoken rulebook I should be studying? Or are you planning to drop more cryptic warnings?"
Alice smirks again, her eyes flicking toward me. "The only rule that matters is staying out of Scarlett Delacroix's way. The less she notices you, the better off you'll be."
