Private (Private 1)

lanterns near the lectern. These lanterns gave off a surprising

“Up there are the frosh, behind us are the juniors. and then the amount of light and bathed everyone in a warm, cozy glow.

seniors are in back.”

As soon as the lanterns were lit, there was a hard rap on the

I nodded. So Kiran and Taylor were juniors and Ariana, a senior.

door. Dean Marcus stood up and walked slowly down the aisle. He I assumed Noelle was as well. But where had she disappeared to?

stood, regal and wise, in front of the double doors.

“It’s so archaic, separating us,” Missy said, glancing across at

“Who requests entrance to this sacred place?”

the guys. “What are we gonna do, have sex while they’re reading off I might have laughed if I wasn’t in such awe. And if everyone else the morning announcements?”

wasn’t so rapt with attention.

“Well, you might,” Lorna joked. She glanced at Missy warily

“Eager minds in search of knowledge,” came the answer. Missy

after making her joke, waiting for her reaction.

mockingly mouthed the words along with the hidden speaker.

Missy scoffed, but smiled. Lorna looked relieved.

Lorna gave her a stern look. Missy rolled her eyes.

Sitting on benches up near the lectern were at least two dozen

“Then you are welcome,” the dean said.

adults, including Ms. Naylor, Ms. Ling, and Dean Marcus, whom I

“They don’t do this every day,” Diana whispered to me. “Only at recognized from his picture in the Easton catalog. Clearly the oth-the first service.”

ers were teachers, advisors, and deans. Most of them looked stern, The doors swung open and in walked Noelle, chin held high.

judgmental, sour, and wrinkly. A no-nonsense group.

Next to her was her boyfriend, Dash. His blond hair was slicked

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K A T E B R I A N

P R I V A T E

41

back from his face and he wore a serious expression. He and Noelle I turned and did the same, biting down on my lip and trying

both carried large, antiquated volumes in their arms and kept their hard not to laugh. There was something about boys being boys that eyes trained directly ahead as they walked down the aisle to the always made me giddy.