When I consider everything that’s happened—from Allie, to the paternity tests, to the Harrisons and now Ashton—Brendan is at the center of all of it. Always the one with the information. How’s he getting it? And what’s he planning to do with it?
I stop by Ashton’s, but there’s a sign on her door: Do not disturb. Sleeping. I leave her and decide to go for a walk to clear my head. Figure out what to do next. Or what not to. Because some of it … I shouldn’t know. Some secrets are meant to remain buried.
While passing by the birch forest, I hear Dr. Kendall’s sugary voice. “How did the tour go?”
“I think he’ll like it here,” Sophia responds.
I sneak closer, wondering who the new student could be. But it’s only Sophia and Dr. Kendall.
“Wonderful. What would I do without you?” Dr. Kendall pats Sophia on the head like she’s a pet.
I cringe. So weird.
“Oh, here’s the key card.” Sophia holds out a white electronic card attached to a black coiled bracelet.
“I already locked the office, and I’m late for a dinner reservation. Why don’t you give it to Mrs. Seyer to return to the office in the morning?”
I eye the small rectangle dangling from her fingers, and a plan begins to form. Maybe I can finally get some answers … while sinking to Brendan’s level.
I wait until Dr. Kendall disappears inside before pretending to notice Sophia. I smile. “Hi, Sophia.” She jumps. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay,” she says, averting her eyes and moving to enter the Court.
“What are you up to?” I walk beside her, trying to sound as cheerful as possible, but I kinda suck at it. Which is obvious when she eyes me warily.
“Um, nothing. I was going back to the dorm.” She stops, concern suddenly widening her eyes. “Why? Did something happen? Is Ashton okay?”
The reaction seems a little odd, but so is Sophia. “No. I mean, she’s still not feeling great. But she’s getting better. I was just asking because I wanted to talk to you about something. Except it needs to stay between us. You can keep a secret, right?”
“Of course,” Sophia exclaims like I just asked her if the sky was blue. “Whatever I can do to help.”
We enter a garden with a hidden daybed tucked into a shrubbery alcove.
I direct Sophia to sit next to me and lower my voice conspiratorially. “You warned me about Brendan. That I shouldn’t trust him. I should’ve listened to you.”
Sophia peeks around the hedge like someone could be lurking. “I thought you should know. To stay away from him. He’s not a good person, Lana.”
“I know.” I take her hand, coaxing her gently, like pulling at a loose thread. “And I’m afraid he’s going to do something terrible unless we stop him.”
“What do you mean?” Sophia’s smoky eyes round in alarm.
“I think he’s planning something, but I need proof before I can say anything. Will you help me get it?”
“What kind of proof?”
“It’s in his dorm room.” I shift my eyes to glance at the key card still in her hand. “Can you get me in?”
Sophia hides the card in the pleat of her yellow-and-turquoise striped skirt. “I’m not supposed to use the master key card for anything, except the tours.”
“How would anyone know? I mean, would they even check? They trust you, right?”
“Yes. I take my responsibilities very seriously.” She looks horrified by even the suggestion of breaking the rules.
“As you should. But what about our responsibility to protect the students of Blackwood? Like … Ashton.”
Despite their obvious differences, I know Sophia looks up to Ashton. Admires her for her brazen, outspoken demeanor. And Ashton looks out for Sophia, including her in our group whenever possible so she has a sense of belonging. I’ve seen it. It’s the craziest pairing but kinda endearing at the same time.
“You know Ashton’s in love with him, don’t you?” I say this like it’s a sad admission and I pity Ashton.
Sophia makes a disgusted face. “I have no idea what she sees in him.”
“Me either.” I replicate her expression. “So, will you help me? For Ashton?”
Sophia is quiet for a few seconds, battling with her inner morals. With a deep exhale, she concedes, “Okay. But we can’t get caught. My parents will disown me if I get kicked out of Blackwood.”
“No matter what happens, I promise to take all the blame.”
It wasn’t as difficult as I imagined, convincing her to break the rules, and all I had to do was tell the truth. Or twist my way around it.
Convinced he was mine. But he never was. He belonged to no one but himself.
Do you know where he is right now?” Sophia whispers, looking over her shoulder every other second like she’s expecting to be caught.
“No.”
“How are we going to get in?” I can practically hear her heart pounding out of her chest.
“Through the back doors.”
She wrings her hands while chewing her lip. “Is Mr. Walters awake?”
I guess everyone knows that the guys’ dorm monitor sleeps during the day, oblivious to just how much trouble teen boys can get into when the sun’s out.
“I don’t know.”
Her breath comes in wheezes.
“Sophia, you don’t have to do this. You can wait for me in our dorm’s yard, and I’ll return the key card when I’m done.”
“I want to help,” she answers feebly.
Just before I cross the wooden bridge that leads to the guys’ dorm, I turn to face her. “Try to relax. I won’t let anything happen to you. Okay?”
She nods and gulps visibly. Her eyes are huge. I look into them, wondering if she really can handle this without having a panic attack. Last thing we need is for her to pass out in the middle of the stairwell.
Sophia doesn’t blink, just stares back at me with a petrified expression, like she’s prepared to be the next victim of a slasher flick.
I grip her shoulder. “We can do this. For Ashton.”
“For Ashton,” she squeaks with a tight nod.
We turn and march across the bridge and through the double doors like we’re taking over. At least I do. Figuring the bravado might give Sophia some confidence. But it doesn’t work. She cowers next to me, trying to hide in my shadow.
A boy passes us in the foyer. He walks blindly toward the Court, wearing headphones, his attention absorbed by a game on his phone. Not sure how he has access to the gaming site. But I’m grateful his obsession keeps him ignorant of our presence.
We fly up the stairs as quickly as we can, the navy-blue carpet absorbing our footfalls. A door shuts on a floor below us, but we keep moving without hesitating. Sophia is breathing heavily when we reach the fifth floor. My breath is even. Thank you, Mack, for torturing me; evidently, it’s paying off. Although I doubt he meant to train me to be a stealthy thief. Or whatever it is we’re doing. Still hate running—that’s not about to change.
When we reach Brendan’s door, I step aside, so Sophia can swipe the card. She looks up at me, silently asking if we’re really doing this. I nod. He could be in his room right now. We have no idea.