Page 12 of The Academy
Davi opens the door to find Charley sitting at her desk readingThe Talented Mr. Ripley.Davi blinks; she uses her desk solely for filming makeup videos. She automatically goes to plop down on what she can only think of as “Cinnamon’s bed” when she notices a tower of milk crates stacked into bookshelves and a whole corner ofthe room that looks like a greenhouse. There must be a dozen houseplants. A copper watering can sits on top of Charley’s mini fridge.
Cute?Davi thinks.Or weird?
“Sorry to bother!” Davi says. “Everyone’s getting ready for the dance, and I figured you might not have the right dress since this is your first year, so I brought you one.”
Charley doesn’t look up from her book.Rude,Davi thinks.
“Each class has its own outfit for First Dance,” Davi says. “Fifth-form girls wear… these.” She stares down at the neon mess in her hands.
Charley finally raises her eyes and grimaces. “That looks like one of the stress balls I used to beg my mom for at Five Below,” she says.
Davi smiles. “In London, we’d get them at Home Bargains. You’re right, they do have a certain…semblance.You’re quite clever, aren’t you?”
Charley blinks.
“Well, anyway, here you go. It’ll fit, I think.”
“Thanks,” Charley says. “But I’m reading tonight.”
“What?” Davi says.
“I’m not going to the dance,” she says.
“You can’t miss First Dance,” Davi says.
Charley turns back to her book.
Davi knows she can wear this girl down, though why does she want to? Charley issucha freak, maybe the biggest freak to attend Tiffin in Davi’s tenure. But there’s a challenge to it (and if Davi were honest, she would admit to being a little bored socially). She would love to post the transformation of Charley Hicks on her TikTok—from weird to normal in a few short weeks. Viral, for sure.
But… she only has thirty minutes left to get ready, and she hasn’t even started her body glitter. She leaves the dress draped across the bed; it really is hideous, but who is Davi to argue with Tiffin tradition?
“The dance starts at nine. It’ll be fun, I promise,” Davi says. Shetakes a beat. “Even East goes.” This is a flat-out lie. East never goes to First Dance.
Charley doesn’t move, but Davi notices a slight change in her facial expression at the mention of East’s name and rolls her eyes.
“Why did you come here?” Davi says. The words soundbelligerent(“hostile and aggressive”), but Davi is genuinely curious. Rumor has it this chick was a lock for valedictorian at her high school back in Maryland.
Charley gives Davi a decent stare down, and Davi feels a grudging respect. “There were some things at home I wanted to get away from,” Charley says.
Well, Davi thinks, she and Charley havethatin common. “Fair enough. Have a good night.”
Davi opens the door and hears A Boogie blasting on the JBL speaker, everyone singing along. When Davi pops into the bathroom, Olivia H-T turns down “My Shit” and everyone crowds around, waiting for the tea.
“She’s not going,” Davi says.
“What?” Olivia H-T exclaims. “She does realize who you are, right? She should be grateful you’re taking an interest.”
Davi shrugs. Olivia H-T is a suck-up, and Davi is weary of suck-ups (which are basically every one of her friends).
“She’s reading,” Davi says. Charley Hicks will probably get a perfect verbal score on her SAT, and for one crazy second, Davi entertains the idea of staying home and studying herself. Haha! Is she losing it? She turns the music up. She would like everyone else to back off and find their own pathetic weirdo to save.
As the girls sing lyrics into the mirror, Davi runs a hand through her bob. She misses her long hair; next to her, Tilly Benbow throws up an effortless messy bun. Olivia H-T blends out her contour and takes a selfie.
Davi sighs. She longs for Cinnamon.
5. Admissions
You’d like to apply for a spot in the Tiffin Academy Class of 2030?Cordelia Spooner murmurs at her reflection in the bathroom mirror as she fastens her turquoise statement necklace before heading over to the Teddy for First Dance.Hahahaha! You and everyone else in the country!
