realized now had a stain on it, and eyed the laughing, dancing partygoers with a combination of awe and envy. Orientation week had begun just twelve hours ago. How had so many people made friends already? And how had every girl known to pack a flapper outfit? Across the crowded foyer, she spotted two girls she recognized from her dorm, but they were smiling and whispering confidentially, and years of being the new kid had taught Vivi what happened when you tried to sidle up to people midconversation.
Things at Westerly hadn’t exactly been going according to plan so far. Her roommate, Zoe, had finally arrived and promptly put a duct-tape line down the center of their room to delineate her space from Vivi’s. She’d also brought nearly a dozen candles, each of which had its own strong scent and none of which complemented the others, meaning that their room smelled like a mix of patchouli and sickly sweet vanilla. And when Vivi had finally mustered the courage to ask Zoe if she wanted to check out the dining hall with her, Zoe had barely looked up from her phone before mumbling, “Sorry, I have plans.”
The longer Vivi stood in the foyer of the bustling Kappa House, the warmer her cheeks grew. She’d spent so much time fantasizing about college, convinced that it’d be her chance for a brand-new start, and it turned out she was just as much of an outsider as ever. Maybe her chronic loneliness had nothing to do with always being the new girl. Maybe she was just too awkward, too weird to make friends.
She turned, about to retreat out the door, but someone barred her path. Vivi’s stomach flipped over like it used to during their stint living in LA when she’d spot a celebrity at the upscale mall in Calabasas. It was the girl with the mint-green dress she’d seen crossing the quad with two other Ravens.
She’d changed into a stunning white beaded dress, and her dark brown eyes seemed to glow with amusement beneath her long lashes, like she knew something that no one else did and enjoyed keeping the secret. “Hello,” the girl said, raising her eyebrows slightly as she gave Vivi’s outfit the once-over.
“Hi,” Vivi managed. It was the first word she’d said since her exchange with Zoe hours earlier.
The girl held something out—a sparkler, Vivi realized. “Thank you so much for coming tonight,” she said. “And I hope you don’t feel uncomfortable in your cute little outfit. Don’t worry about ignoring the theme. After all, not everyone can pull off a 1920s silhouette.”
Vivi’s cheeks flushed. “I didn’t think to pack for a cocktail party,” she said, reaching out for the sparkler.
The girl’s fake smile grew even stiffer. “A potential Kappa should be prepared for anything.”
“Oh, no, I’m not a—I mean, I wasn’t planning to rush.” It was a lie, of course. She would have loved to rush. But after having been here for all of five minutes, Vivi realized how delusional this whole endeavor was. The best she could hope for was to make sure this girl knew that Vivi recognized she was out of her league here.
“I see,” the Kappa said, pursing her lips.
“No offense to you all, of course. Kappa seems great. I’m just not . . .” Good enough, Vivi thought, cringing as she trailed off awkwardly.
“Usually when people say ‘no offense,’ they’ve just said something offensive.” The girl’s smile returned but her eyes hardened. “A word of advice? If you don’t plan to pledge Kappa, don’t waste anybody’s time. But if you are considering it, I wouldn’t leave this party just yet.” She spun on her heel, the white fringe of her dress swishing a wordless goodbye as she moved toward the back patio. Vivi stared after her, wondering how the girl knew Vivi had been about to bail and why she cared. Regardless, she decided to stay another few minutes, just to save face, and she trailed after the Kappa through the crowded front hall and out into the garden.
It was like stepping into a fairy realm. The yard was enclosed by a tall wrought-iron fence covered in ivy, and strings of tea lights swayed in the moss of the live oaks, suspended on wires Vivi couldn’t quite see. Hurricane candles stood on the small round tables scattered across the grass, casting a flattering glow on the faces of the unusually attractive guests. A line had formed at the bar, where a bartender was serving some