RAE
I asked three different people for directions to the prep room before I finally found it. Each one looked at me like I’d grown a second head, but they all said the same thing I already knew from my handbook: most people stayed there to refresh and talk before dinner. The last girl, a sophomore with perfectly straightened hair, actually wrinkled her nose when she spoke to me.
The prep room was exactly what I’d expected from a place like Nocturne. The entirety of it was polished marble and gleaming mirrors, with clusters of girls touching up their makeup and adjusting their uniforms. The chatter died when I walked in, replaced by the kind of pointed silence that felt heavier than any noise.
I found an empty corner and tried to look busy, fidgeting with my fingers while pretending to
