Chapter 33 #2
“Hi,” I say weakly, clinging to the strap of my backpack, but neither of them replies.
“That’s your bed,” Stevie says. “Another new pledge took that one a few days ago.”
A moment later, a familiar face appears from the bathroom.
“Domino!” I exclaim, suddenly intensely grateful to see her.
“Hey,” she says with a grin. Silla and Cece ignore her.
“You two know each other?” Stevie asks, flicking a finger between us.
“Kind of,” I answer, and she nods like that satisfies her.
“Then stick together, because you’ll need it. Good luck.”
She nods at Silla and Cece, who give her a deferential bow of their heads. “I’ll see you all around. Try not to kill each other.”
With that declaration, she gestures for Rook to follow.
He pushes off the doorway as our eyes meet for a brief second. He scans me up and down, and I think he wants to say something but then changes his mind before turning to follow Stevie.
I face Silla and Cece, who are busy on their phones. That’s fine. This is hardly any different from my old roommates.
I actually have far more pressing things to worry about.
Trinity to start. Her desire to join E-squad.
And my father.
He must know by now.
“Everything okay?” Domino asks, and I turn around.
“Yeah, you?”
She nods and can’t seem to contain her smile. “My parents are thrilled I’m joining Society.”
A snort from the other side of the room blasts through her excitement, causing Domino’s smile to falter.
“Oh, shut up,” I say, and Silla rolls her eyes.
“I’m so happy to hear that,” I say, trying to muster some enthusiasm.
There’s a certain kind of irony in the fact that I’ve just fucked up my entire life, but Domino gets a real shot at something better. It’s a grim slap of reality and a reminder of the privileges I’ve been afforded . . . and possibly just threw away.
“I can’t believe we’re stuck with the losers and outcasts,” Cece says loudly, speaking to Silla.
“We’re accepting new members,” I say without missing a beat. “We meet on alternate Wednesdays. You’ll fit right in.”
My phone dings, and I see it’s a text from Edward, asking me to meet with him.
Cece scoffs, and I stuff my phone into my pocket. “I gotta go.”
I find Edward near the cafeteria. He looks terrible. His skin is pale and clammy, and his hair hangs limp in his eyes.
“Edward?” I ask, alarmed by his state. “What’s wrong?”
“Have you seen Trinity this morning?” he asks.
“Yes, about an hour ago.”
“She broke up with me last night,” he says.
Wait, what? Well, that explains his appearance.
“Why?” I ask. “What happened?”
“She found me after her test,” he says. “Said she was pledging to Aria and joining the E-squad. She said there was no future for us.”
I huff out a breath and lean against the wall.
“I’m so sorry,” I say. This is so unlike Trinity. What is she doing?
“You have to talk to her. Maybe she can still pledge to Fiama. This can’t be the end for us.”
“Edward, I don’t think she can do that. She’s made her choice. She seems pretty happy with it, too.”
“Why would she do this?” he asks, tears brimming in his gaze. “We love each other.”
I shake my head, wishing I had an answer. They don’t really have a future together. Breaching House lines will make things even more difficult, but I thought Trinity loved Edward. Would she really give him up so easily?
Watching him makes my stomach hurt, like it’s been filled with cement.
“Let’s go,” I say, throwing an arm around his shoulders. We’re accumulating an audience, and I drag him away, searching for a spot where he can have his breakdown in private.
I force him a few stumbling steps along a corridor and then duck us into an empty room. He slides to the floor and tucks up his knees, laying his head across his arms. I settle in front of him, bending a leg under me and giving him a moment.
I want to cry, too, but one of us needs to keep it together. It feels like my best friend changed overnight, and I wonder if this is my fault. Maybe I wasn’t paying close enough attention.
“Have you talked to her parents?” I ask. I wonder if they’ve been in contact with her. Did they notice something that I missed?
“They’re not answering my calls,” he says, wiping his nose with the palm of his hand. I press my mouth together. I’ve known the Robinses for years; I can’t believe they’d just abandon Trinity.
“I’ll try calling them,” I say. “Maybe they’ll talk to me.”
“Why would they talk to you?” Edward asks, his tone sharp. “You’re Aria now. Just like her. Did you plan this together? Did she do this for you?”
I try not to flinch at the harshness in his words. “It’s complicated.”
“What about your father?” Edward asks. “Could he help her? Get her back into Fiama?”
Edward isn’t thinking straight. He’s lobbing suggestions that have no basis in reality.
“I don’t think I can. As you just reminded me . . .”
His eyes darken. “Right.”
“Yeah,” I say, again swimming in the foggy repercussions of my reckless decision. Would my father have listened to me anyway?
“Well, that’s just great,” Edward adds. “What the fuck, Poet? I hope you understand what you’ve done.”
It’s an unfair statement, but he’s hurting, so I let it slide. He pushes himself up and gives me a dark look before turning and stalking off with his shoulders hunched.
I stare after him in surprise. Edward’s always been so kind and mellow. I’ll give him some time and then try to talk to him again.
I message Trinity, telling her what’s just happened, but she doesn’t respond.
My stomach rumbles, reminding me it’s been a while since I’ve eaten. Not since lunch yesterday.
I check the time. The cafeteria will be full by now. Do I skip meals forever?
But I’ll have to confront everyone at some point.
I’m a pariah. An outcast.
Technically, I’m still Society, but I don’t think that will matter much to anyone in that room.
Time to get this over with.