Natalya
We head down the corridor toward Eva’s room, finding the door ajar. “Risky having her door open.” I push it open. “Get dressed. We’re going out,” I say as I walk into Eva’s room, with Azira and Adrianna following.
Eva looks confused. “Going out where?”
“Alexander has hired a minibus, and he’s invited us all to join him in town,” I say, shrugging. “As well as about ten other people.”
The look in Eva’s eyes is the same as my two other friends. She can’t understand why I’d go anywhere with that jerk, and I wish I didn’t have to keep the truth from them. “And you think it’s wise to accept an invitation from that nutcase?” she asks.
“We’re eighteen years old and stuck in this school twenty-four seven. I want out.”
I notice Eva’s eyes dart toward the two girls behind me. “Fine, give me time to dress, though.”
I shake my head. “Why do you think we’re here? To help you pick out your outfit and get ready.”
Eva’s throat bobs as she swallows. “Okay, I don’t have a lot of dresses with me, though.”
Azira walks over to her closet, pulling the door open. “I’m sure we’ll find something.” She’s a master at finding the best outfits as she sifts through Eva’s clothes uninvited. “Perfect,” she says, pulling out a Ruched cream mini-dress with sleeves and a plunging neckline.
Eva’s cheeks turn a deep red. “I’m not sure that will suit me.” She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, and I get the sense Eva isn’t used to dressing up or going out with friends.
“Nonsense,” Azira says, walking over with it. “You’ll look gorgeous in this.”
I nod, as she really will. “I have to agree with Azira. You will look hot in that.”
“Agreed,” Adrianna adds simply.
Eva sighs, glancing a few times at us and then the dress. “Fine, let me try it on.”
She strips off and slides the dress on, turning her back to Azira. “Can you zip me up?”
All the while my stomach is churning as I know that as each minute ticks by, the closer I get to facing Alexander.
Azira does up the zip. “There. Spin around and let us see.”
Eva turns around, and Adrianna whistles. “You look hot.”
I nod in agreement and Azira just stares with her mouth open.
“Drop dead gorgeous,” I say.
“I’m not sure about it.” She moves a palm over the ruched fabric. “It’s a little too revealing.”
Azira loops her arm with Eva’s. “Nonsense. It’s perfect, and we have got to go or we will be late.”
“How are we getting out of here without being seen?” Eva asks.
I grin at Eva. “You are going to learn a lot of SA secrets tonight.” I steer her right and deeper into the girls’ wing of the dormitories. Eva tenses against me the moment she sees Jeanie, Anita, and Kerry ahead.
“What the fuck are they doing here?” Eva murmurs.
Azira clears her throat. “Unfortunately, they’re friends with Alexander.”
Eva shakes her head. “I don’t like this.”
“Don’t worry, you’ve got us now,” Adrianna says.
Kerry notices us first, a sneer on her face. “Look who it is.”
Jeanie steps forward, eyes darting between the four of us. “When Alexander told me he’d invited you, I thought it was some sick joke.”
I lift my chin. “I’m not sure why the fuck he invited you.”
Jeanie shakes her head. “Come on then. Who is going first?”
“After you,” Azira says.
Jeanie’s eyes narrow as she pulls back the portrait on the wall and opens the door behind it to the laundry shoot. After one more hateful glare, she disappears down it. Kerry and Anita are quick to follow, as always, acting like her minions.
“What the hell is going on?” Eva asks, as Azira climbs in after them.
“Laundry shoot. It takes us right to the back exit of SA, where the minibus is waiting,” Azira explains, before launching herself down it.
“If I’d known those three were coming, I’d never have agreed,” Eva says, glancing at me.
I roll my eyes. “They’re all talk, no bite.”
“Tell that to my leg.” Eva nods to her injured leg.
I swallow hard, as they went to town on her. “Sorry, they really did a number on you.”
Adrianna climbs in and disappears.
“But that’s only because they’re threatened by you.” I nod toward the shoot. “You next.”
Eva gives me a reluctant look. “I’ll go last.”
I shake my head. “No, you won’t.”
Eva hauls herself into the opening of the shoot, glancing down. “Are you sure this is-”
I shove her in the back, knowing that it’s the only way to get her down it. Eva is stalling, as she doesn’t want to go out with those girls, but she’ll enjoy it once we’re in town. The scream echoes up the shoot, amplified by the metal tube.
I jump in after her and slide down, jumping out of the dirty laundry swiftly. My friends are laughing about something.
“I hate the landing every time,” I say, glancing at the dirty laundry. “It fucking stinks.”
Azira, Eva and Adrianna laugh.
Anita whistling at us stops their laughter. “Hurry. Everyone is already on the bus.”