“That’s a ‘look’?”
“I am the epitome of high fashion.”
“Yeah, Vogue will surely be calling you tomorrow for the fall spread.”
Scout snorted out a laugh. “What did someone tell me once? That they’re not above hitting a girl? Well, neither am I, newbie.”
“Whatever,” I said. “Let’s get back on track—the note.”
“Right, the note.” Scout crossed her legs, one booted foot swinging as she thought. “Well, clompy or not, someone saw us. Could have been one of our lovely suitemates; could have been someone else at St. Sophia’s. The path to the basement door isn’t exactly inconspicuous. I have to go through the Great Hall to get to the main building. That part’s not so unusual—going into the main building, I mean. Girls sometimes study in the chapel, and there’s a service in there on Wednesday nights.” She sat up halfway and looked over at me. “Did you notice anyone noticing us?”
I shook my head. “I thought I was caught when you stopped in the Great Hall. I sat down at a table for a second, but I was up and out of there pretty fast afterward.”
“Hmm,” Scout said. “You’re sure you didn’t tell anyone?”
“Did I tell anyone I was running around St. Sophia’s in the middle of the night, following my suitemate to figure out why she’s sneaking around? No, I didn’t tell anyone that, and I’m pretty sure that’s the kind of thing I’d remember.”
She grinned up at me. “Can you imagine what would have happened if one of the”—she bobbed her head toward the closed door—“you-know-what pack found us down there?” She shook her head. “They would have gone completely postal.”
“I nearly went completely postal,” I pointed out.
“That is true. Although you did have your flip- flop weaponry.”
“Hey, would you want to meet me in a dark alley with a flip-flop?”
“Depends on how long you’d been awake. You’re an ogre in the morning.”
We broke into laughter that was stifled by a sudden knock on my bedroom door. Scout and I exchanged a glance. I unknotted my legs and walked to the door, then flipped the lock and opened it.
Lesley stood there, this time in uniform—plaid skirt, oxford shirt, tie—wide blue eyes blinking back at me. “I’d like to come in.”
“Okay,” I said, and moved aside, then shut the door again when she was in the room.
“Hi, Barnaby,” Scout said from the floor. “What’s kicking?”
“Those girls are incredibly irritating. I can hardly hear myself think.”
As if on cue, a peal of laughter echoed from the common room. We rolled our eyes simultaneously.
“I get that,” Scout said. “What brings you to our door?”
“I need to be more social. You know, talk to people.” Still standing near the door, she looked at us expectantly. The room was silent for nearly a minute.
“Okaaaay,” Scout finally said. “Good start on that, coming in here. How was your summer?”
Barnaby shrugged, then crossed her ankles and lowered herself to the floor. “Went to cello camp.”
Scout and I exchanged a glance that showed exactly how dull we thought that sounded. Nevertheless, Scout asked, “And how was cello camp?”
“Not nearly as exciting as you’d think.”
“Huh,” Scout said. “Bummer.”
After blinking wide eyes at the floor, Lesley lifted her gaze to Scout, then to me. “Last year was dull, too. I want this year to be more interesting. You seem interesting.”
Scout beamed, her eyes twinkling devilishly. “I knew I liked you, Barnaby.”
“Especially when you disappear at night.”