Initiation by Jessica Burkhart Page B

Okay?”
    â€œThanks, Khloe. That makes me feel a lot better. It’s weird—I’ve changed schools a bunch of times. But Canterwood feels so overwhelming. I really want to do well and fit in.”
    â€œYou will,” Khloe said. “You’ve already got Lexa and me. I think you and Jill will get along really well, too. Everyone in our grade is going to like you. It’ll be the same at the stable; Lexa introduced you to Cole, so you already know one more person there!”
    I nodded.
    Khloe’s brown eyes were so sincere. After knowing me for a weekend, she was already trying to comfort me and be a good friend. Guilt settled into my stomach. You should have told her this weekend about your competition past, I scolded myself.
    Khloe was my roommate and fast becoming my friend—she didn’t deserve to have someone keeping a giant secret from her. I even wanted to tell her—I just wasn’t ready quite yet. It had taken me a long time of getting to know Ana and Brielle before I’d even told them.
    I realized I hadn’t answered Khloe. “Um . . . y-you’re right,” I stammered. “I do know people, and I will definitely BBM you if I need to.”
    â€œYou better.” Khloe smiled. “Let’s get to the assembly.”
    I put on my ballet flats and picked up my bag. And Khloe slung her leather satchel over her shoulder, a spiral notebook in her arms.
    Together, we walked down the hallway in Hawthorne with other students around us. I felt as though I could breathe a little better after Khloe’s pep talk.
    â€œDoes Canterwood provide a rolling cart for us to carry all of our books?” I said, only half joking. “It feels like I’ve got bricks in my bag.”
    â€œIf only,” Khloe said. “But you can swing by our room between classes if you have time.”
    I thought about how strange that would be—how strange it was to be at boarding school in general.
    Khloe and I walked to the auditorium full of students. A few plush red seats were left. The huge stage had amicrophone stand set up front and center. Red curtains were raised, and I glanced around at all the lights. The room was huge. Cherubs had been carved into the beautiful cherry wood moldings.
    â€œHow many grades are here now?” I asked Khloe, still in awe.
    â€œSeventh and eighth.” Khloe said, scanning the room. Someone waved; I could only see an arm. “There’s a separate auditorium for the high school.”
    â€œWow,” I exhaled.
    â€œLexa and Jill are over there,” Khloe said. “Bet they prob saved us seats!”
    We walked down the aisle, the stairs well lit by the overhead lights and ropes of lights along each side.
    â€œExcuse me,” Khloe said as we entered the aisle where Lex and Jill sat. We made our way past a few students, trying not to step on toes or backpacks. There were two empty seats—one beside Lexa and the other next to Jill.
    Jill had her shoulder-length, light brown hair in a low side ponytail that had been curled at the end by a curling iron. Jill’s hair was très chic. Plus, I loved the pretty spray of freckles across her nose. She wore black-plastic-framed glasses (très belle!) that drew attention to her bright green eyes.
    â€œThanks for saving us seats,” I said, walking past Lex and taking the seat next to Jill. Khloe settled in the seat by Lexa.
    â€œNo prob,” Jill said. “I got here first. Lex couldn’t find one of her books, so she told me to go without her.”
    The auditorium lights dimmed as the collective noisy conversations simmered to occasional whispers as Head-mistress Drake walked up the stairs, her heels clicking across the wooden floor. My smile brightened as I caught a flash of the vibrant red on the unmistakable Louboutin heels. Headmistress Drake looked all business in a black skirt, blazer, and white shirt. A gold pin with the school’s crest