The Black Coats(12)

She stared at him for a long moment, her mind whirling. “I have to warn you, I might not be the most fun girl you’ve ever taken on a date.”

“Oh, I know you won’t be.” He gestured to her now-empty table. “I mean, you eat here.”

Thea frowned again as he shifted his feet. “Then why . . . ?”

Drew met her eyes, a blush running over his freckled cheeks. “Thea, I’ve taken lots of fun girls on dates.” I do not love this sentence already. “But I’m kind of over fun. Fun has a sheen on it that wears off in the daylight, you know? I’m looking for interesting. I don’t want my one year at Roosevelt to be exactly like all the years at my old school. And now that I’ve met you, that prospect is even more unfathomable.”

Thea hoisted up her own backpack as she stood, confused at the feelings coursing through her—attraction, excitement, but also annoyance that this handsome boy had wandered into her life just as something bigger had started. Where were you six months ago, when I could barely get out of bed? But he was here now, lacing up his sneakers, Thea trying not to notice his carved calves. “Need help to class?” he asked as he offered her his arm.

Thea declined. “Actually, I’m quite capable of walking there myself, but I’ll take the company.”

Drew’s grin lit up every dark corner of the library. “I accept your compromise.” Together they walked the halls, drawing the curious eyes of their classmates. Thea kept one eye on him and another on the clock.





Six


As soon as the bell rang, Thea shot out of the building and tossed her backpack into the car before gunning down the highway. She was thankful that this time she would be going through the main entrance, not jumping trenches filled with snakes or climbing cypress trees. She drove through the front gates marked by two pillars topped with green moss. From the front, Mademoiselle Corday loomed even larger: a witchy shadow that stood starkly against the barren trees that surrounded it.

Moving as fast as she could, she climbed into the back seat and changed into the black leggings and shirt that she had worn the day before. She leaped out of the car, her heart pounding—with fear or excitement, she wasn’t sure—as she ran up to the door. Four names were painted in gold above the door:

JOHNSON ? HAGEMAN ? ZINN ? CLEARY

Thea took a deep breath and reached for the knocker—a heavy iron ring that looked to be about a hundred years old. The door swung open, and Thea found herself staring at Nixon’s terrifyingly perfect face. Today she wore the same uniform as Thea: black leggings and a black shirt, though her shirt had a tiny black embroidered butterfly on the pocket.

Thea shifted. “Hi, I um—”

“You were almost late,” snapped Nixon. “Don’t let it happen again.”

“Yes, I’m sorry, I left as soon as school got out—”

“In the future you will have to move faster to get here on time. Do you have the envelope?”

Thea nodded and pulled it from her backpack, then handed it to Nixon. “Yes.”

“Good. Well, since we’ve already had our introduction, there’s really nothing more to do than welcome you to the Black Coats.” The president’s bright red lips curled. “Follow me.” Nixon closed the door behind her, and Thea had the distinct sensation of being swallowed by Mademoiselle Corday, of fading into her grand secrets.

Thea followed behind as Nixon wove through a narrow hallway, passing an elaborate modern kitchen on the right and a large, frilly sunroom on the left.

“New recruits such as yourself are confined to your classroom, your private bathroom, and the Haunt. You may visit other areas only if you are assigned them for chores.” She made a sharp right under a small wooden archway adorned with a mirrored dresser. On the dresser hung a white lace garland that read, “Team Banner.”

Thea looked at it with surprise. “You would think that Martha Stewart lived in this house,” she muttered.

Nixon raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at her. “That’s the general idea. And if you forget to call me ma’am again, we are going to have some real problems.”

Thea swallowed. “Sorry, ma’am.”

Nixon placed a hand on the ivory door handle, carved to look like a rose. “Welcome to Team Banner.”

Thea didn’t know what she was expecting, but an actual classroom wasn’t it. The room was a warm, cozy, windowless space. A small brick fireplace was tucked in the back of the room, and at the front sat a narrow walnut desk. Old-fashioned elementary school desks were lined up, and four were now occupied by girls her own age, with their eyes all trained on Thea. Nixon gestured to the empty desk, and Thea sat, her face flushing with embarrassment. She had driven as fast as she dared. How did they get here so fast?

Nixon stood at the front of the room, hands resting on slim hips, dark brown eyes staring down her new recruits. “Ladies, welcome to Team Banner. These women who sit around you will become more than your friends—they will become your sisters. Now, I’m assuming you all read your contracts thoroughly.” She looked at the girls, some of whom nodded. “When I ask you a question, you will respond with, ‘Yes, ma’am!’”

“Yes, ma’am!” the girls echoed.

“Good.” Nixon walked over to the door and returned with the black garment bag that had been hanging there ominously. With a hard yank, she pulled off the bag and held the hanger up for everyone to see. “Who knows what this is?” A mousy brunette with a pale face, upturned nose, and a smattering of freckles raised her hand. “Yes, Louise?”