Turn

9

Whenever Virginia sat at her desk, the binding of the volume from the Piers plantation looked her right in the face. She had tucked it between Moby Dick and Catch 22 with the hope of ignoring it until she'd come up with something to do with it. Quinn had asked her about the volume she clutched to her chest on the ride back to the college but she had only said something dismissive, and no one had mentioned it again. She almost wished they would, so that she could share what happened and ask for help with the obsession that was starting to plague her. In the last week, she had read everything she could on that plantation and what had happened there, but she found very little more than the first article had told her.

Once, out of desperation, she had even opened the book to see if the pages contained any clues. It was all in the same, strange script that looked almost like it might make letters, but none that she could discern. After that particular escapade, the book had sat in its place and she hadn't touched it. On that Saturday, as she sat at her desk attempting to pen an analysis of Much Ado About Nothing for her literature class. Her focus was on Shakespeare's continual play on the words of "nothing" and "noting" throughout the script, but she was stuck as to what she wanted the point to be. Why did anybody care? She was sure that a good half of the problem was her inability to focus on anything except for that book. It was almost as if it was calling to her.

Her phone buzzed with a text that she hoped was from Greyson and she shut her laptop. Catherine glanced up from where she was reclined on her bed as Virginia read the text. It was from Tracey.

There's a party at Delta Phi tonight. Want to come?

Virginia chewed her lip and glanced up at Catherine. She wanted to go, but she knew Catherine wouldn't approve.

Yeah, what time? She replied.

Then she opened her and Greyson's texts. Writing a new one, she began: Hey are you going to that Delta Phi party tonight?

Tracey answered: I'll probably head over at nine. Come by my room.

Ok, Virginia texted back.

She walked over to her closet, waiting impatiently for Greyson to get back to her. Shoving her phone in her back pocket, she opened both sides of her closet to search for something to wear. Her phone buzzed again.

Are you? Greyson replied. Then: If you are, I'm there.

Smiling involuntarily, Virginia replied, Yeah. I'll see you there.

Awesome. The text came back almost immediately.

"Wow, you are certainly popular today," Catherine said, having set her homework aside, obviously mining for information.

"Yeah, I'm going to the Delta Phi party tonight," Virginia had considered lying, but she couldn't come up with something believable in time. "Want to come?"

She wrinkled up her nose. "I don't do parties, you know that. It's not a good idea."

Virginia sighed and crossed the room. Catherine moved her feet so that her roommate could sit on the bed with her.

"You never told me why you're so antsy about that kind of thing," Virginia crisscrossed her legs.

Catherine shrugged. "Because there's lots of stupid college kids drinking to make themselves stupider. It's not a good combination, and bad things happen at those parties. We watched that video about sexual assault—"

"I'm not going alone. Tracey will look after me, and Greyson's going," Virginia blurted.

Her best friend frowned. "I'm not sure if Greyson's the guy you think he is, Ginny."

"What's that mean?" Virginia demanded.

"I've just heard some things," Catherine shook her head. "I'm not saying anything about him for sure, it's just that he has a bit of a reputation with girls."

Looking away, Virginia nodded. "People aren't ever that simple."

"Sometimes they are," Catherine replied, flipping open her book.

Virginia slid off the bed. "I know you're trying to help, but I'm going to this party. I'll be careful, but I want to have some fun."

"I guess that's all I can ask," Catherine thumbed to a new chapter of her textbook. "Call me if you need anything. I'm going to study in Alexa's room tonight."

"Thought she'd be at the party," said Virginia.

Catherine shot Virginia a look. "Tate is going to be there, too."

"Of course," Virginia started pulling out clothing en masse, trying to find something that gave off the perfect vibe. "Wait, does that mean Dakota's coming with him?"

"I don't like Dakota!" Catherine snapped before Virginia could accuse her of anything.

Laughing, Virginia pulled out a lime green, cap-sleeved, full-skirted dress that was covered in dark green lace that went down an inch or two past the hem, to the middle of her thigh. Turning to Catherine, she held it to her body.

"What do you think?" Virginia asked.

Catherine's eyes flicked up. "Only if you wear that emerald necklace you have and pull up the top of your hair."

Virginia nodded and did exactly as Catherine had advised. By the time quarter-to-nine came, Virginia was dressed to the nines and perfectly accessorized, her hair curled with the top half pinned back with a silver barrette. She used her fingernail to fix the smudge of eyeliner at the corner of her eye and grabbed a pair of silver sandals out of her closet.

"You look great," Catherine said as she shoved her laptop into her backpack.

"Thanks," Virginia glanced over herself one more time in the mirror.

"I'm headed to Alexa's. It's 89, remember," it was a command, not a question.

"I'll remember," Virginia nodded quickly and pulled Catherine into a hug. "Thanks for caring so much about me."

"You could still not go. Just come down and study with us," Catherine suggested.

"Nah, Tracey is waiting for me, and—" she stopped herself.

"And Greyson's going to be there, I know. Have a good time, but not too much fun, okay?" Catherine adopted her mothering tone as she stepped out the door. "Love you."

"Love you too," said Virginia before Catherine shut the door.