Page 16 of Dirty Princess

I sort of feel right at home.

But that’s more about where I came from than who I really am.

Meaning, I fucking hate where I lived so anything is an upgrade.

Especially a place like this.

“You need a place to stay,” Maz says to me. “You can crash with us. Even if they tell you to sleep somewhere else.”

“You mean like a dorm?” I ask.

“Amazing dorm,” Birdie says. “They’re like apartments.”

“Are you all rich?” I ask.

Both Maz and Birdie laugh.

They don’t answer me.

Instead, they point to a building with a round entranceway.

The sidewalk is an oddly shaped pattern.

I mean, if I’m judging a little here, everything about this place screams that anyone involved with it has to come from money. Or have money. Or make money.

I don’t even have two bucks in my pocket.

So, what the hell am I doing here?

“What is this place?” I ask Birdie.

“The main office,” she says. “Get your paperwork from Linda and then we can go to the dorm.”

“Oh, shit, Birdie,” Maz says. “What about tonight? There’s a thing up atSentral.”

“What’s that?” I ask.

“Code forSavages Central,” Birdie says. “That’s where they have the craziest parties and shit. It’s a wild time.”

“I’m in,” I say.

“Jaci, you just got here,” Maz says. “That’s risky.”

“Why is it risky?”

“You don’t really get it,” Maz says. “Fuck.”

“What is there to get here? Huh? Am I not supposed to be here or what?”

“It’s not that,” Birdie says.

“Then what is it?” I growl.

Birdie slips her small hand into mine.“You really have no idea who you are.”

Linda looks over her glasses at me.

She frowns.

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