Initiation by Jessica Burkhart Page A

made white pear tea for a little boost. I didn’t want to have green tea—I already had enough energy.
    I picked up my BlackBerry and opened my Chatter application to post a quick message.
    LaurBell: Getting ready 4 1st day @ Canterwood! So nervous.
    At my desk, I set up my makeup mirror and pulled out my bag from Sephora. The Canterwood handbook didn’t restrict seventh graders from wearing makeup, but it did say that we weren’t allowed to wear makeup or clothes that were “distracting.”
    Khloe’s alarm, her iPod plugged into a dock, suddenly started to play an upbeat morning mix. Khloe swiped at the snooze button and missed.
    â€œArgh!” she grumbled. She hit the clock and silenced the music. She fell back into bed.
    Biting my lip to keep from giggling, I rubbed tinted moisturizer with sunscreen onto my face then applied a light dusting of champagne-colored eye shadow over my lids. Finally, I rubbed Smith’s Rosebud salve over my lips,and used my angled brush to sweep a shimmery peach blush over my cheeks.
    My phone beeped and a smiley face icon lit up on my screen. I had a Chatter reply.
    BrielleisaBeauty: @LaurBell U r going 2 do GREAT, LT!u!
    I wrote her back and included Ana.
    @BrielleisaBeauty: Hope so! I miss u guys! Have a good 1st day @ Yates! @AnaArtiste
    Khloe’s music started again and, finally, groaning, she sat up. She brushed back her long hair and turned off the alarm.
    â€œMonday mornings suck,” Khloe grumbled.
    â€œWould coffee or tea help?” I asked.
    Khloe smiled, rubbing her eyes. “Thanks, but I’m okay. We’ll grab breakfast at the cafeteria—you don’t have to get me anything.”
    â€œOkay,” I said. “But I am a morning person. So if you ever want anything in the morning, let me know.”
    â€œThanks, I will,” Khloe said, getting out of bed and stretching. I loved her Xhilaration pj’s from Target—dark blue pants with multicolored dots and a hot-pink tank top with lace straps. “Do you need the bathroom? If not, I’m going in.”
    â€œNope,” I said. “I’m going to dry my hair out here in front of the big mirror.”
    While Khloe got ready, I dried my hair—taking my time to section it off and use a round brush to leave it smooth but wavy. I decided to leave it natural today—no flatiron.
    I couldn’t stop thinking about what could happen today. I vacillated between being nauseous-slash-nervous and excited-slash-terrified. I turned off the dryer and saw a fully dressed Khloe waving at me.
    â€œDo you want to set your hair on fire?” she asked, her tone light. “You’ve been drying that section for a while.”
    â€œReally?” I touched my hair and it almost burned my fingertips. “Oops. Thanks, Khlo. Must be nerves.”
    Khloe walked over. “Your hair looks great.”
    â€œThanks. Just a little more drying and—”
    â€œLauren.” Khloe cut me off and touched my arm. “It’s okay to be scared. Now, let’s stop drying your hair before it fries, put on your shoes, and then we’ll grab our bags and go. I know what you’re feeling—I was beyond nervous.”
    â€œBut you’re so outgoing! I can’t imagine you scared.”
    â€œWhen I’m onstage or playing a character, it’s easy to be like that. But when I’m just Khloe Kinsella, I’m not anyone who I portray onstage. I’m anxious about thismorning, too. Even though it’s my second year, classes are new and it’s like everything is reset to zero. I have to do things all over again, too, like getting used to the fast pace of Canterwood . . . and readying for my audition on Friday.”
    Khloe gently took the hair dryer away from me and placed it on the desk. “I just want you to know that I’ll be there for you today. You can always BBM me even if you just have a question or want to say hi.