“I actually get that,” one of the other girls interjected. “I saw Cats one night when I was really sick as a kid, and I had the craziest nightmares afterwards. Now I freak out whenever I see a cat, even though it’s been ten years. I can’t helpit.”
Camila let out a deep sigh and rubbed the back of her neck. “So… you really want back in?” she finallysaid.
I nodded. “Yes. I know you’ll probably say no, and I’ll totally understand if you do. But I just want another chance to do the ritual again and actually go through with it this time,” I said. “I even came up with an idea for how you could make it less intimidating forme.”
“What’s that?” she asked, raising abrow.
“Well, firstly, I’d want to do it sober,” I said. “I don’t want to risk having a bad reaction to those drugs again. And I was also hoping we could do it in a differentlocation.”
Camila frowned. “The initiation rituals are always on HarkerIsland.”
“I know, but I’m so freaked out by that place. I was really hoping we could do it in the other placeinstead.”
“What other place?” she asked, foreheadwrinkling.
“Remember at our first meeting, I told you that I accidentally stumbled upon one of the Network-Medusa events at the Connery mansion one night?” I said. “It was in a secret room upstairs, and it looked like a really good location for parties. So I thought it might be okay to have an initiation there for once, if it isn’t too muchtrouble.”
Her face brightened a bit. “I do love that place,” she said slowly, scratching her chin. “And I suppose it would be a lot warmer than the island. It’s crazy how cold it gets this time of year, even with the torches everywhere. I think it might even snow nextweekend.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Kiri said, incensed. “You’re actually considering letting her come back and dictate the terms of her initiation like this because of theweather?”
“We’re just talking,” Camila said, shooting her a venomous look. “I haven’t agreed to anythingyet.”
“Well, seeing as we’re just talking, can I say something?” Kirireplied.
“Sure.”
She turned to me. “Look, Laney, as far as I’m concerned, you had your chance and you blew it. Just take the twenty-five thousand, sign the contract, and go away. It’s probably the best deal you’re going toget.”
I lifted my chin. “I know I could just take the money and leave it at that. But I don’t want to. I wantmore. And that’s exactly what all of you offered me on Fridaynight.”
“Yes, I know,” she said stiffly. “But you turned it down, and you made Camila look like a total idiot in front of the Network. So all I have to say to you now is: too fucking bad. You’re not going to get any of the college scholarships or gifts you were promised, and it’s your own fault. You shouldn’t have run away likethat.”
“But it’s not just about the opportunities that the Network offered me,” I said softly. “All of you offered me lifetime friendship if I joined. Like a sisterhood. And instead of being grateful, I turned around and threw it in yourface.”
Kiri snorted. “Noshit.”
“I feel awful about it, and I want to make it up to you. If you’ll have me back, thatis.”
She went quiet and looked away. Next to her, Camila twiddled her thumbs on the table as she considered our conversation. Then she nodded curtly. “I can’t promise anything,” she said, rising to her feet. “But I can make a call foryou.”
“Really?”
“Yes. To be perfectly frank, I won’t trust you again until I actually see proof that you’ve changed. But I think we should still give you the chance to prove it,” she said. “Like you said before, we’re a sisterhood, and before last Friday, we were really looking forward to having you join the family. So if you can earn our trust and fix things, we’ll be glad to have youback.”
The majority of the other girls nodded in agreement. Only Kiri and Hazel seemed annoyed by the prospect of me returning to thefold.
“Thank you,” I murmured, hoping I looked and sounded sincereenough.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Camila said. “I have no idea how the Network is going torespond.”
She left the room without another word. I sat and waited in silence, face flushing with heat as the other girls stared at me and whispered behind theirhands.
Camila finally returned around ten minutes later. She cleared her throat and sat down again. “You’re in luck, Laney,” she said. “The Network guys would much rather have you as a member than have you out in the world on yourown.”
Gee, I wonder why,I thought, suppressing the urge to roll myeyes.
I feigned a joyous expression. “Really?” Isaid.