Page 8 of Crush

“How could I resist such a warm invitation?” My breath billows out in small clouds highlighted by the flashlights. I’m slightly out of breath after traversing the length of the rec center and its backyard. Warily, I peer through Winthorpe’s property line, where forest and cliffs dominate the darkened horizon.

Aurora purses her lips. “You’ll wish you were warm soon enough.” She shoves heavy, rolled-up material into my arms. “Here. Your cloak.”

I stare down at the creamy velvet, made gray under the starlight. “Aren’t I supposed to receive a robing ceremony or something?”

Aurora shrugs. “I’m not in charge of your initiation. Take it up with Thorne.”

“But—”

“God, you’re worse than the freshmen,” Aurora cuts in. “Shut up, and let me instruct your ass.”

I press my lips shut, despite the urge to demand that Thorne no longer be in charge of me. I’m a Virtue, not a Noble. That has to mean something.

Aurora directs her next statement to the group. “You’ve all been brought here as part of your orientation into the Virtues, now that you’ve completed your robing ceremony.” She hits me with a sidelong look. “If you thought your initiation was tough, understanding the world of the Virtues is much harder. We’ll fashion you for domination, strength, control. In order to do that, well … put on your robes and follow me.”

The girls—I can see them clearer now that Aurora’s spotlighted each face with her flashlight—murmur to each other as they bend to pick up a folded robe piled at Aurora’s feet.

I stifle a smile at the image of Aurora lugging a mountain of weighted velvet robes across Winthorpe’s lawn. She would’ve had help—in reality, she’d never willingly enter the role of a sherpa, but that’s why imagination’s so fun. You can place anyone in any role. Including the self-entitled Auroras and Thornes of the world.

“What’s your problem, Cum Bucket?” Aurora snaps. “Just because you’re not one of the four freshmen here doesn’t mean I can’t treat you like one. Put on your fucking robe.”

Everybody waits as I tie the golden cowl around my neck and lift the hood. “Where’s yours?” I ask.

“At the bottom,” she answers, then pivots toward the forest line. “Let’s go.”

She doesn’t have to elaborate. My mind’s doing enough of that for me. On second thought, maybe imagination isn’t that fun.

The other girls dutifully fall in line behind Aurora, taking the makeshift trail into the forest with hesitant steps. I happily take the back, using everyone else’s flashlights to reveal the path. Aurora didn’t say to bring a flashlight—probably deliberate on her part and stupid on mine. My trials into the Society were in nothing but darkness. I make another mental note: When the Virtues or Nobles summon, pack for a midnight hiking trip.

A crunch, then oomph, sounds out as the girl in front of me slips and lands on her butt. She’s small, barely reaching my shoulder as she led the way in front of me. Her stature reminds me of Aiko, and my heart twangs in empathy when I cup her elbow and help her up.

“Thanks,” she whispers, though it comes out as more of a stutter.

“You okay?” I ask in a low voice so as not to aggravate the Taskmaster up front.

“Yeah. Fine. Nervous.” She stumbles into a walk. Her sneakered heels catch in the too-long hem of the robe, and she trips again. I catch her before she collects more mud.

I suppose accounting for height and robe length is below Aurora’s title of Virtue princess.

“Here,” I say, collecting the bottom of the fabric and holding it. “It should be easier to walk, now.”

“Y-You don’t have to do that. Aurora will be—”

“Fuck Aurora.”

I say it so succinctly, the girl’s jaw drops, then she breaks into a grin. “I’m Charlotte, by the way.”

“Ember.”

“I know who you are.” The path thins and slopes, causing Charlotte to look ahead and delicately navigate the loose rocks and branches. I do the same. “Everybody knows you.”

“Great,” I say on an exhale. “Aurora’s doing or Thorne’s?”

Charlotte ponders this. “Well, Aurora’s spreading rumors that you’re a broke-ass slut smearing the Weatherby name, which half of Winthorpe believes, and the other half is jealous and heartbroken that you’ve caught Thorne’s attention, so … both?”

I’m caught so off guard that I bark out a laugh. “If the Winthorpe student body only knew the truth, they’d love me. Because they can have Thorne any which way they want.”

“If you two bitches are done bonding over your loser status.” Aurora’s hair glints in the bobbing flashlights as she turns. “Shut the hell up. It’s about to get dicey as we go downhill, and I’m not going to be responsible for any moronic dives off the cliffside.”