Page 127 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“No thanks to you.” I groan and fall back onto the bed, throwing my arm over my eyes. “Now everyone’s calling me an illegal immigrant.”

“That’s nice of them,” Romi says sourly. “A lot of freshmen would have paid good money to be called that last week.”

I peek at her from under my arm. “What do you mean?”

“In case you forgot, you’re not the only freshman.” She turns her nails in to study them, kicking up a leg. “God, I remember my first week here. It was brutal. You’ve lucked out—classes started last week, so I doubt anyone but the Serpents have time to haze you this week.”

“Classes have already started? I thought school only begins this week?”

Romi shakes her head. “They don’t mess around in this place. There’s no such thing as orientation week. We started classes last week Monday. You’re seriously behind.”

“Great,” I say through another groan, and give her a push. “Go away and stop giving me bad news.”

“You skipping breakfast?”

My stomach rumbles noisily on my behalf. “No,” I mumble against my pillow. “But can’t it come to me?”

“Don’t let those goddamn elitist fucks get the better of you. Come on, get up.”

“Whoa,” I say through a laugh as I roll onto my back. “Romi has teeth, and she bites. Where was that sass yesterday when I needed it?”

Romi scowls at me. “Get up, Winters. I need to make sure you’re dressed properly so we don’t catch hell from the Serpents again.”

I’d felt icky after my run-in with Knox and his crew yesterday, so I’d taken a bath and tried to forget how miserable my life was. But I couldn’t forget—not even for a minute—so I crawled into bed and went to sleep without supper. In the morning light, I feel like my behavior was nothing short of childish. Also, Romi’s attitude gives me a little courage. She’s definitely not one of those who “worship the ground they walk on”, but it appears she’s one of those who “quake in fear” in their presence. I can’t imagine what my semester would have been like if I’d landed a Serpent worshiper as a roommate.

Oh God.

I’m stuck in this hell hole with three savage killers for a whole semester. I groan and rub my temples. I don’t know if I can do this.

Romi squeezes my hand. “Relax. If you arrived last week it would all be over already. They’ve probably already lost interest.”

This might look like simple hazing to her, but I know the real reason the Serpents are giving me shit. They need me to understand thatthey’rein control. Which, it seems, they are. From what I witnessed yesterday, they have the power of Gods.

“That Knox guy, is he like a hall monitor or something?” I say as I head into the bathroom to wash my face.

“No,” Romi says through a sigh. “He’s the Student Body President. It’s one of the many perks of being anelite.”

“Guys like that get away with all kinds of shit,”I say sourly.

Like murder.

“Preach, sister.” Romi’s voice changes as she moves around our room. “So which courses did you take?”

“Oh, I haven’t decided yet.” I grab my toothbrush and walk back into the other room. “I actually have no clue what I want to major in, in case you were wondering.”

“Nope, that’s pretty apparent,” she says, but at least there’s a hint of a smile on her mouth.

I didn’t think I was going to like Romi, not with how standoffish she was at first, but after yesterday it seems like we’re on the same page. Just two gals fighting off the elitist scum making our lives miserable.

Romi walks over to my closet and opens it. “Ta-da,” she says dryly.

I walk up beside her, eying the three rows of uniforms hanging up in my closet as I brush my teeth for a few seconds. “I’m guessing there’s no option for pants?”

Romi laughs. “Cinderhart is as patriarchal as they come. The Academy is no exception. Best get used to the fact,sweetheart.”

When I look at her, I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“Go on,” she says, waving at the closet. “Get dressed.”

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