Read Online Dark Companion by Marta Acosta - Free Book Online Page B

fantasy!” Mary Violet said. “Bebe got up only ten minutes before class. She was hardly ever a mess. Well, there was that time—”
    The group became quiet, and Hattie said quickly, “We don’t need to gossip.”
    Mary Violet pouted. “Why can’t I mention Bebe? She’s the one who dumped us after promising we’d go to the Ivies together and stay BFFs.”
    “MV, we don’t want Jane to feel that she’s a replacement.” Hattie looked at me. “Bebe was here on full scholarship, too. She moved overseas at the end of last year.”
    “And she’s never written to one of us, not even me!” Mary Violet said. “That is utterly heartless. All our slumber parties and cram sessions meant nothing, nothing, nothing to her. She was all talk-to-you- never -biatch!”
    “Stop being so self-centered, MV,” Hattie said. “Bebe’s too busy. Mrs. Radcliffe’s heard from her twice this summer and she really does miss us.”
    “Huh!” Mary Violet twirled a silvery gold curl around her finger. “Where did her mysterious uncle come from anyway? I thought she didn’t have any relatives.”
    Constance said, “ Everyone has relatives, Mary Violet. We don’t appear out of thin air. You might know that if you paid attention during biology.”
    This was enough to divert the girls onto Mary Violet’s study habits.
    Hattie remembered that I was there. “Jane, how’s your class schedule?”
    “It’s okay, except that I was supposed to be in AP Chem, but it says Honors Chem on my schedule.”
    “It counts as the same as AP Chem, but Birch Grove doesn’t offer courses that ‘teach to the test,’” Hattie answered. “Honors Chem is more in-depth and ex—”
    “Exceptional classes for exceptional girls!” the others said together, and cracked up.
    Mary Violet told me, “The joke is that we pretend we don’t believe it, but we totally believe it.”
    “Well, you are exceptional, MV,” Constance said. “Exceptionally absurd.”
    “You’re exceptionally no-fun,” Mary Violet retorted, and stuck out her tongue.
    I tried to step away as the girls teased one another, but Hattie kept me in the conversation by addressing comments to me. I was herded into her group as they left the cafeteria and went to the auditorium for the welcome speech.
    “Juniors get balcony privileges,” Hattie told me, and we went upstairs and into the first row of the balcony.
    “You can see everything from up here.” Mary Violet peered over the railing. “I’m so glad I’m not a lowly underclassman. It’s tragic we can’t haze them and make them grovel like the miserable worms they are.”
    “Mary Violet Holiday, you’re the most appalling girl I’ve ever known.” Constance shook her head, which caused her glasses to slide down her elegant long nose. I could see she was trying not to laugh.
    “Can’t I ever say anything?” Mary Violet huffed. “What about freedom of speech?”
    Hattie stared at her friend. “Mrs. Radcliffe always says, ‘Freedom of speech does not excuse freedom from thought.’”
    A bell chimed and Mrs. Radcliffe walked in front of the blue velvet curtains to the podium. “Good morning, ladies.”
    As one, the students answered, “Good morning, headmistress.”
    “Let us rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
    After we recited the pledge, an elderly woman in a boxy blue suit came from the wings and stood center stage. She blew a little round whistle and then began leading the students in the school song about the birch trees that ended:
     
Let us bend in the storm, yet never break
Let us offer others more than we take
Let us live for the truth and act for the good
Hail, Birch Grove, hail!
    Mrs. Radcliffe returned to the podium. “Students, I am honored to be the headmistress of this exceptional school and all of you exceptional girls. I know you have come back to Birch Grove refreshed and ready to meet the challenges of this year. It will be intellectually stimulating and often emotionally demanding. The