Private (Private 1)

room, creating nooks for studying and one television-viewing area.

Now all the seating had been arranged in a wide V, facing the TV.

Dozens of girls crowded on and around the couches and chairs, chatting and laughing. The place was packed and the decibel level was staggering. A thick concoction of perfumes—and scented hair products and scented lotions—choked the air. Constance bounded right into the room and took a seat on the arm of one of the couches. The girl at the end, who now had a perfect view of Constance’s ass, rolled her eyes and pulled her arm in close to herself. I hovered by the door.

There seemed to be more oxygen there.

20

K A T E B R I A N

P R I V A T E

21

A young woman stood near the TV making notes on her clip-

studies last spring. After that, I am proud to say that Easton invited board. When Constance had entered, she’d looked up and smiled.

me back to be the first ever teacher of Chinese language and cul-Her long, smooth hair was pulled back in a plaid headband and if I ture. So if any of you are interested, it’s a beautiful language and bumped into her on the street I never would have pegged her for there’s still time to transfer into the intro class.”

any older than seventeen. She checked her gold watch and wrinkled Silence.

her nose quickly.

Ms. Ling blinked. It seemed like she had expected a few enthu-

“Okay! It’s about that time! Let’s get started,” she said. “Come siastic volunteers and our nonexistent reaction threw her. She

in, come in.” She waved me into the room and everyone turned

stood up straight and cleared her throat, checking her clipboard.

around to look. With no other options in sight, I walked around to

“Okay, onto the rules. I know some of you have heard these

the end of the V, dropped to the floor near Constance’s feet, and before, but bear with me,” Ms. Ling said. “I have to go over every-hoped that everyone would stop staring.

thing. Them’s the rules.”

“Hello everyone, and welcome to Easton Academy. I am Ms.

She flushed when, once again, no one laughed. Didn’t she realize Ling, your house mother.” She paused and laughed. “That sounds

that trying too hard was about the worst thing she could do if she so old. Do I look old enough to be your ‘mother’?” she added,

wanted us to think she was cool? I mean, according to her auto-

throwing in a couple of air quotes, made awkward by the clipboard biography she had been one of us only six years ago. Did people really and pen in her hands.

forget that quickly?

A few people laughed halfheartedly. Even more rolled their

“First, let’s talk about curfew,” she said, earning a few groans eyes. Ms. Ling didn’t seem to notice. She crossed her legs at the which actually seemed to perk her up. We were alive!

ankle and hugged the clipboard to her chest.