2
The eight seventeen year olds assembled in the library. We talk quietly, waiting for our headmaster to arrive. We sit in a row, ankles crossed elbows on the table.
“I have deduced one thing.” Kyla whispers in my ear.
“What?” I whisper back.
“A test.” Kyla says. I raise my eyebrows. Cameron’s tests weren’t normal paper-to-pen. They were fly-and-steal-something, highly valuable and highly expensive. Oh, and we couldn’t get caught.
“I doubt that.” I say, “I don’t think we’re highly experienced for a major one yet.” I push my hair from my eyes as the door opens behind us.
As if on cue, we all stand and face our headmaster.
“Hello, Headmaster.” we say. I give him a quick once-over. His suit is impeccable, Armani. His black hair is close cropped. We sit down again as he sits across from us.
“Well, ladies,” He begins. He makes eye contact with each of us, an acquired skill.
“Do you mind telling us why we are here?” Kyla asks. He shoots her a displeased look. In my peripheral vision, I can see her go a pink to match her hair.
“I was getting to that, Miss Martin.” Overman says. His eyes focus on me as he continues.
“I would like you ladies to know that this is part of a test.” Kyla pinches my arm, her way of telling me she is right.
“What do we do?” Beth asks.
“Stop interrupting.” He warns. Beth looks down at the table. Headmaster Overman locks his eyes with mine. I stare back, trying my make my gaze go blank. This is his way of seeing if I’ll speak up as well. I’m not that dumb.
“you ladies know King Academy? The male equivalent of our school?” he asks. We all know about King, though we aren’t supposed too. We shake our heads.
“Don’t lie.” Overman says. We all nod. A hint of a smile appears on his face.
“Congratulations. The first part of your test will be surviving at King Academy. You leave tomorrow morning. Dismissed.” Headmaster Overman says. We stand up and collect our bags. We head towards the door.
“Ladies?” Headmaster Overman says before I could put my hand on the knob. We all pivot around.
“You aren’t going there to flirt. Remember that,” he says. We nod.
“Thank you, headmaster.” Beth says and we all leave the library.
One good thing about being so close to all these girls is that I know exactly when to cover my ears. As soon as I shut the door behind us, it was one of those times. Beth squeals and Kara Johnson claps, bouncing up and down.
“We’ll be surrounded by boys!” Kyla gushed. It was as if we were given another vacation.
“I’m gonna be a buzzkill here, but we aren’t there to flirt.” I say, “King Academy is even tougher then Cameron. We will die.” Kara rolls her eyes.
“Shut up, Tori,” Kara reprimands, “let’s just enjoy it.” I turn to face Kara. I stare right into her eyes.
“Enjoy what. We are about to be worked harder then before, surrounded by boys who will beat us up, and if we fail the test, what ever it is, we will be kicked out of Cameron and possibly arrested. Oh yes, Kara, enjoy that.” I snap and head back to the dorm that Kyla and I share.
