Page 104 of The Academy
“Join us!” Miss Bergeron cries out. She’s always dialed up on Saturday nights, as though she’s trying to compensate for how dull Tiffin is on the weekends.
Olivia is tempted. The petit fours look good, though she’s just had a Reese’s milkshake. Charley declines—she hates Bergeron, as everyone knows, and she never sets foot in the common room. Davi yawns, or fakes a yawn, and says, “Thanks, but I’m going to sleep.”
Olivia doesn’t have to answer because she is, as ever, invisible. She goes into her room, closes the door, and begins her vigil.
She lies in bed on her phone. She could easily stay up all night scrolling Instagram and TikTok, even her mother’s patheticFacebook account. Tonight, this bad habit serves her. TheBridgertonbinge ends, and Olivia H-T hears Miss Bergeron bidding everyone good night. Olivia pops into the bathroom to execute her skin care routine, which revives her. She then goes back to her room and keeps her door cracked until Bergeron calls out,“Bonne nuit, mes chéries!”and, one by one, all the lights go out.
Olivia continues to scroll—fashion, makeup, singing pit bulls—until her eyeballs feel like they’re bleeding. She closes them for just one second, then jolts awake. She checks her phone: it’s one thirty.Shit!she thinks. She eases open her door and peers into the dark, quiet hallway.
When she tiptoes down to Davi’s room to press her ear against the door, she hears nothing, but what did she expect? She cracks the door and peers in. Davi has room-darkening shades, but even so, Olivia can tell she’s not there. She hits the light on her phone. Davi’s covers are pulled back; her Roller Rabbit pajamas are on the floor. The room smells freshly of perfume.
Olivia closes the door, then heads to 111 South: Charley’s room. Olivia opens the door with no idea of how she’ll explain what she’s doing… but she doesn’t have to. Charley’s bed is empty.
Ditto Taylor. Ditto Willow Levy. Ditto Madison J. Madison J., who is Head Prefect next year, isgone?
Olivia H-T opens the door to Tilly Benbow’s room, fearing everyone on the floor has been included in the sneak-out except her. Or maybe she’s having a waking nightmare where all the other girls on her floor have been abducted? But Tilly is in bed, wearing a silk bonnet to protect her precious blond hair, and snoring like the old man in the children’s song.
Olivia returns to her room, her whole body buzzing. How should she handle this? she wonders. She has so many choices.
It’s during their seventh consecutive Saturday night at Priorities when East chimes a spoon against a glass and makes an announcement: This will be the final gathering of the school year.
The girls all groan, except for Charley, who must have been warned this was coming. “We can squeeze in one more time before Prize Day,” Willow says.
“We could,” East says, “but we won’t.” He offers no further explanation, nor does he need to: He’s the boss. Dub feels as crushed as the girls but he nods along in agreement. In some sense, it’s a relief. They’re fucking lucky they haven’t been busted. Dub could have lost his scholarship, if he was even allowed to stay. His mother would have killed him.
“We’ll resume next year as sixth-formers,” East says. “For tonight, let’s drink up.”
Dub doesn’t have to be told twice. He sidles up to the bar for another Ranch Water, his third. Hakeem and Cassie Lee had broken up, and Dub knows this means Hakeem and Taylor will get back together eventually. They’re on the sofa now, talking.
Dub downs his third drink, then his fourth, and he’s not alone: Everyone else is drinking more—and tonight, East pours with a heavy hand.
Royce hoots and everyone turns to see Hakeem and Taylor making out on the sofa. The other girls check for Dub’s reaction, but he’s careful not to give one. Hakeem and Taylor together are as inevitable as death.
Dub wonders if East will push back last call. He hears Davi say, “Just thirty more minutes, since it’s the last time?” But at two forty-five, the lights of the Ice Palace chandelier flicker, the cue for everyone to finish their drinks.
As usual, East stays behind to clean up, but what’s unusual is that Royce leaves with the girls. He and Willow are going to join the Harkness Society tonight.
Dub can sense Hakeem wondering if he too should leave with the girls, but Dub nudges him toward the door of the north tunnel. “It’s not worth getting caught, man. You’re Ivy League bound this time next year.”
“So is Royce,” Hakeem says.
“Not if he gets Honor Boarded.”
This lands. Hakeem turns on the light of his phone, which illuminates their way down the tunnel. It’s been a long time since the two of them have been alone like this. Hakeem must be thinking the same thing because, as they climb the stairs up to the cellar, he says, “Dude, if I ask you a question, will you tell me the fucking truth?”
Dub’s gut suddenly turns to liquid; he burps up tequila. “Yeah, bruh, of course.”
“Did you fuck Taylor? Because she’s telling me she’s still a virgin. I just find it hard to believe that the two of you didn’t…”
“Nah, man,” Dub says. “Taylor and I never even kissed.”
Hakeem starts laughing; he punches Dub’s shoulder, which throws Dub off-balance and nearly launches him down the stairs. Hakeem reaches out to steady him. “Whoa, bro, sorry, but you’re kidding me, right?”
“I didn’t kiss her, didn’t touch her,” Dub says. He pushes open the door at the top of the stairs. “I told you, we’re friends.”
“Dub, stop…”
“I’m serious, Hakeem.”
