Dana hesitated before answering. It was clear that she didn’t quite know how to handle her new roommate. “Eight-thirty.”
“Mmm-kay. Is anything going on tonight?” It had been a while since she’d been social. She needed it.
“Anything … like what?”
Becca sighed. “Like, a party or something?”
“No one really parties here.”
Becca laughed. “Now that is just not possible. It’s a boarding school. That is the only thing that makes these places tolerable.”
And then Becca was out the door. She stuck her head in the doorway of the next room over. Two girls were chatting and unpacking.
“Hey, I’m Becca.” She smiled winningly at them in an omg-we-r-about-2-b-bffs! kind of way.
“I’m Julia.” The taller of the two girls ran a hand through her caramel highlights.
“I’m Madison.”
“Great. So, what’s going on tonight?”
“What?” Madison asked.
“Any kind of party or anything?”
Madison looked confused. “No …”
Becca looked to Julia, who shook her head.
“Well, we should have one. Is there anywhere we can go?”
Madison shook her head, but Julia raised an eyebrow in consideration.
“I’ve always said we should do something down at the boathouse, but we never have. They have cameras. Not on the actual beach, but in the hall on the way there and stuff.”
“Hmm … who watches the security tapes at night? Is it a student or, like, a security person?”
“He’s a security guy, but he’s kind of …” She looked uncomfortable. “He’s just kind of off ….”
“What, like, retarded?”
“Mentally challenged. Yes.” Madison nodded.
“Let’s go talk to him. What time’s he go on to his shift, anyone know?”
“I always see him in there at night. He might be down there now.”
Becca smirked. “Lead the way.”
Madison looked nervous.
“Come on,” said Becca, “don’t be spineless.”
Julia straightened up almost imperceptibly and walked out of the room. Madison followed. Then Becca. They led her to a wing off the great hall.
“That guy?” Becca pointed to the lanky, red-haired boy in the small, all-windowed office.
“That’s him….” said Madison meekly.
Becca adjusted her hair, pulled down her shirt a little and knocked on the door. When he turned to look at her, she smiled and waved. “Hi!”
“Come in?”
“Hi, I’m Becca.” She leaned down and held out a hand, which he took. “What’s your name?”
“Danny.”
“Danny? I like that name.” She smiled again when he did. “So, Danny, I was wondering if you could help me.”
“Help you with what?”
“Some people want to have a little get-together tonight, but we don’t want to get in trouble.” She stuck out her lips a little. “We just don’t want to get told on. And we were just sure that you would be the right person to talk to about that.”
He groaned. “I don’t know….”
Becca smiled. “Oh, come on … it’ll be our little secret! And maybe one of these times when we do it you can come down? Maybe?”
Danny laughed. “That would be nice.”
“Good. So when you see everyone walking down the stairs to this boathouse, you won’t say anything?”
He bared his teeth in worry, but shook his head. “I won’t say anything.”
“Good. Good. That’s very, very sweet of you.” She took his hand. “Thank you so much, Danny. If you ever get in trouble, I’ll take full responsibility. But let’s not let that happen, okay?”
He nodded eagerly.
“I’m going to go now, but I’ll stop by soon to say hello, okay, Danny?” He nodded again.
She walked out and looked at the girls. “Okay, we’re all set.”
“Oh, my God, how did you do it?” Julia asked.
Becca shrugged. “Okay, now we need people. Guys.”
“That’s going to be difficult,” said Madison.
“Why?”
“We’re not allowed in the boys’ dorms.”
“Ugh, are you serious?”
Both of the girls nodded, looking somber.
“Okay, well then I’ll do it. I’m new. I didn’t know.” She gave a wide-eyed dumb-girl look and then smiled.
Madison laughed. “You’re so … ballsy.”
“Take me to the boys.”
Their next stop was a door directly across from the one that led to their own dorms. While Julia and Madison stayed put, Becca walked through it, nonchalantly as could be, and into a long hallway, where she knocked on a door at random.
A chubby but okay-looking guy opened it. He looked surprised to see her.
“Hi, I’m Becca.” She smiled.
“Cam. What’s … what’s up?”
“Hi, Cam,” she said, looking up at him. “We’re having a party at the boathouse. Get as many people as you can to come. I have a bunch of tequila and stuff.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “Tell everyone.”
“Sure. Are you new?”
“Yes, I am. Okay, so tell people. I’ll see you tonight.”
“I will. Nice to meet you.” As soon as he shut the door, she walked to another room a few doors down. She had to tell someone who at least
