The Aldean Chronicles: Spotlight (Part 2)

I get back to my room before Sara and drop my schoolbag on my desk.

I put my hair in a bun and glance down at my bed. There's a strange envelope in it.

It's completely black with a single blue rose on the front.

"No," I whisper. "Absolutely not." I don't open the letter, I just store it in my top drawer.

At 4, I get a text from Tristan. He wants to meet at the student hall.

It's a big activities room in the main class building. It has chairs, tables, sports tables, snacks and drinks, and a big TV hung high on the wall.

I've only been in there once on a tour. It's for all the students but only third years and above use it.

I text back that I'm a second year. Tristan says he'll be there in five minutes.

I remove my blue shirt and put on a white cardigan with yellow flowers. I switch the bun for a low ponytail and go back to the main school building.

I walk past the double door of the students' hall and am hit by the natural light.

One wall is made entirely out of glass. It's a special kind that lets you take all of the light but none of the glare or heat.

I walk past several seating arrangements and ignore the stares I'm getting.

According to social rules, I shouldn't be here. But is anyone going to actually kick me out?

Two girls sitting on a brown sofa give me evil looks. One gets up and starts walking toward me.

"Cass." It's Tristan. He's sitting at a table close to the window.

The girl rolls her eyes and walks past me to the refreshments area for a drink.

I sit beside Tristan. "Hey."

He leans forward to kiss me. "Hey."

I lean back. "Should we?" I ask.

He laughs. "It's school. Who cares?"

I smile, lean forward and we kiss for a minute.

"I have a surprise for you," I say when I pull away.

"What did you get me?"

"Check your school email."

He takes his phone out of his pocket and checks his emails. "An ad for new trainers. Are you getting me shoes?"

"There should be another one."

He laughs and swipes his screen. "There's one from the Admin office. You're not getting me expelled, are you?"

"Just read it!"

"Alright, I will." He's still laughing. "Dear, Mr. Oisin. We have reviewed your application to join the Brimstone Lacrosse team. Please come to the Lacrosse field Thursday at 4 pm for tryouts." He looks up at me. "What is this?"

"You mentioned last year that you couldn't join because you spent your Saturdays training me. So I signed you up." My smile is triumphant. "Don't say Cassandra Harrington never did anything for you."

He's silent for a long time. I'm scared I did the wrong thing by signing him up without asking first.

He drops his phone, takes my face in his hands, and kisses me deeply.

I lean into the kiss and place my hands on his chest.

A minute later, someone clears their throat behind us. "Excuse me." It's the girl from earlier. "School rules. PDA is not allowed here. The rules apply to everyone. Even Princesses and Lieges."

Tristan wipes his lips. "Thank you, Collette. We'll be sure to follow the rules from now on."

She scowls and trots off.

I struggle not to laugh. "Who was that?" I glance at her retreating frame. "And isn't she a little small to be giving out orders?"

"Do not let her hear you say that. Also, five foot one or not, she can still kick anyone's ass."

"Wait, who is she?"

"That is Collete Nicholson, she is a fifth-year Combatant, and the new head of Blue Rose."

"Wow," I say. "She really can kick all our asses. Good for her."

He takes my hands in his. "Speaking of Blue Rose, what do you think about it?"

I shrug. "I don't know. It's too much stress."

"Yeah. But it's worth it. At least come on the first day if you get a letter."

"I got one."

His eyes widen. "Really, when?"

"This afternoon."

"That was quick. Collete must really want you."

"I'm sure I changed her mind a few minutes ago." I laugh and lean forward to kiss him again.

He leans back slightly. "Cass."

"Let's get out of here." I stand up. "If I remember correctly, Fourth years get their own dorms."

"Yeah. We also get security cameras in our front room. If you go in, they'll know."

"That is so stupid." I sit back down.

Tristan thinks silently for a while. "Why don't you want to do it? Join Blue Rose, I mean."

I sigh deeply. "Honestly, it just feels like another stupid Harrington thing I'm forced to do."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"Kind of. Being a Harrington has its many downsides, you know that."

"I do." He leans in closer, not to kiss me, but to whisper. "That's why I'm wondering why you called yourself a Harrington just now."

"What, when?"

"You said," his voice is even lower now. "Don't say Cassandra Harrington never did anything for you."

"Oh." I adjust my hair. "I did, didn't I?" I wave my hand dismissively. "Summer conditioning."

"Let's call it that."

"It's almost time for dinner." I get up.

He gets up as well. "Let me walk you to your building."

The walk there is silent. I keep thinking about what he said. Do I see myself as a Harrington now? I dress like one, I eat like one, I'm acting like one. Is that who I am?

We arrive at my building. "Hey, Cass," Tristan calls. "I'll tell you a secret."

"What?"

"My building has a back door."

I roll my eyes. "I hate you."

"I know."

I begin to walk away, but he takes my hands and gently pulls me back. "Promise me you'll at least open your envelope."

"Why do you care about that?"

"Because being in the same club means I'll get to see you more."

"What about Lacrosse?"

"You can come to my games."

"If you make the team."

He winces. "You doubt my skills."

"Goodbye, Tristan." He doesn't stop me from walking away this time.

When I get to my room, it's empty. Sara is still not back from wherever she went.

I open my top drawer and bring out the envelope. On white embossed paper, in black ink and fancy font, is the following words:

To Cassandra Harrington,

The Blue rose society has noticed potential in you and would like to invite you to our Society's Initiation Process. Be at our building on Friday by 4 pm and you will be given further instructions.

I take a picture of the letter and send it to Tristan. I then put it back in the envelope and back in my drawer.

When it's time for Dinner, I head to the dining hall.

I see Grey standing outside the door and staring at his phone.

"Hey, you."

He looks up. "Hey."

"What are you doing?"

"Finding out which of my friends aren't pieces of shit."

"Friend troubles?"

"You can say that."

I snap my fingers and rack my brain. "Ashford, he threatened to beat you up last year."

"Ashton." He corrects. "And he and Mira are solid now. But I'm awful cause I kissed her."

I nod. "When you start the search for new friends, try to stay away from violent people, cheaters..."

"Haha." He rolls his eyes. "And I still have friends. Lance and Stick are solid. It's the rest of the guys."

"I'm sorry, you have a friend named Stick?" My laugh is long and loud.

"It's Stanley, we call him Stick."

"Those are two equally shitty names."

"Just leave."

I ruffle his hair as I walk by him. Before he can complain, I dash into the building and close the door.

***

I dread my Blue Rose initiation meeting all week. Why do I even have to do this? It's not like I want to be a member of the club.

"Wow, Cassandra, I have never seen anyone complain as much as you do." I'm sitting at Kat's table during lunch on Thursday.

"I do not complain."

"Yes, you do. All the time." Tristan says from my right.

I scoff. "That is not true. I cannot believe you guys would say that."

"You are literally complaining about us saying you complain too much." He points out.

"Whatever," I mumble.

Kat taps the table. "I almost forgot. Did Caroline text you?"

"Ew, no."

"She's been texting me since Wednesday. Her little sister, the funny-looking one."

"Kat!"

"You saw their family pictures too. She has a giant nose and the tiniest ears."

"Please stop."

"Anyway, she's starting school on Saturday."

"I thought she was going to some backwater school in a neighboring town?" Tristan asks and I laugh.

"Her parents refused to pay for it. They said she's either going here or nowhere."

I think immediately of Arin. At least his parents didn't give him this ultimatum.

"And you have to show her around and help her make friends." Kat finishes.

"Caroline texted you." I accuse.

"What will I say to her? I'm a fourth year, she's a first year. Besides, we've never gotten along." She shakes her hands. "Can't you introduce her to those friends of yours?"

"Kat!"

"I'm not doing it." She says with finality. "You either do it, or she'll be on her own."

I groan. "Fine." I lean closer and whisper to Tristan. "This is why I avoid your table."

"Sure," he winks. A minute later, he clears his throat. "So, will we be seeing you tomorrow at the Blue Rose building?"

"I don't wanna do it."

Kat chimes in. "Why not?"

"It just doesn't feel worth it."

"Then you'd be the only person not in."

"Yeah but," I squirm on my seat. "I don't actually care."

Kat bites her bottom lip. "Okay." She goes back to her beef dish.

"That's it? You won't try and convince me?"

"No."

I nod. "Okay."

"I mean..."

"Seriously, Kat?"

"People will wonder why you're not a member. And they'll start jumping to conclusions."

"Like what?"

"Like you're not strong enough. Or not good enough. Or just scared. Tristan, help me with one."

He gives her a hard stare. "There are perks to being a member. You'll get to go to the alumni party."

"I can just go with Sebastian." I point out.

"True," Tristan admits. "But being a member is a good way to show people how strong you are."

"Also, if you don't. I will tease you constantly about it." Kat threatens.

I get up. "And that's my bell, see you guys later."

No one stops me from leaving even though I still have fifteen minutes of lunch left.

I go to my next class early. It's Potions.

Whoever put potions after lunch should be jailed. If I still had a weak stomach, I wouldn't be able to survive this class.

Sara slips in beside me at our usual table. This is the first class we've ever had together.

"Hey,"

I smile at her. "Hey."

She taps the table repeatedly. She does that when she's nervous. And she's almost never nervous.

I raise an eyebrow. "What?"

She reaches into her bag and pulls out a black envelope with the blue rose insignia.

"Crap, you found my letter."

She stops shaking. "No. This is mine."

"Oh." My eyes widen in shock. "You got invited."

"Yeah. I saw it on my bed after dinner on Wednesday." She's smiling. "I wasn't even thinking about it. I thought after Unity Day last year, I'd never get in. But then I got this."

I hug her. "I'm really happy for you."

She sniffs. "Yeah, I'm just sad cause I feel like I'll be taking Jace's spot."

I frown. "How have you been? With him being gone and all."

She plays with her fingers. "I'm good. It's alright. He just had to stay back in Calais with all the Rypper stuff and his dad's reelection. It's fine. Everyone in the group is good."

"Yes, well not everyone in the group had a crush on him."

She looks away. "Can you stop talking?"

"You guys were so cute together. I thought you'd date this year."

"Can't date someone who isn't here."

I give her another hug. "It'll be okay."

"I know." We pull apart and the class quickly fills up. "It'll be nice to be members together."

"Yeah, it will be," I say half-heartedly.