Page 317 of A University of Betrayal

I wouldn’t show up there in a white wedding dress, which is why I slipped past Julie and looked around to see if there were any less flashy colors.

Of course, Larissa made her way to the red dresses and her eyes literally sparkled as they glided over the fabrics, and within a few minutes, she had the first dresses hanging over her arm.

I just sighed.

I would never find anything here.

“Ugh. Everywhere we go,youmust be hanging around.”

I wheeled around and came face to face with a scowling Vivienna, perfectly styled as always and apparently in search of the ball gown of her dreams.

I hadn’t expected to find her here, but rather that she would drive to the nearest big city to buy designer clothes.

But what I had expected even less were her annoying sidekicks.

I’d got used to Amber following her everywhere she went, and Barbie too, of course. But Grace?Never.

Four months ago, when I had moved here, she had spoken poorly of the three of them, but now they seemed like four besties killing time together, going to expensive coffee shops and thinking they were better than everyone else. Even Grace’ clothing style had changed. Still a lot of black and earthy colors, but more expensive-looking.

“Come on, girls, we’ve got things to do. Don’t let them stop us here,” Vivienna hissed, and Amber acknowledged me once more with thatcome-not-too-closelook. Then she also turned away and went to the black dresses, passing Larissa, who confirmed to me with a roll of her eyes how much she enjoyed this encounter.

They didn’t bother me as long as I had my peace and quiet, so I continued with the dresses. But I couldn’t even find anything in the blue dresses section. Baby blue was definitely not for me, and the bright dark blue only made my already pale skin stand out even more.

“You’ve gone mad,” I laughed when Larissa turned up with at least ten evening dresses in her arms, all red and black. “Are you even allowed to take that many into the changing room?”

Larissa grinned mischievously and lifted the pile, showing off what she got.

“Nothing risked, nothing gained. Besides, this Winter Ball is only every three years and this will probably be my only one. So I don’t want to wear anything that doesn’t fit me or that Camille has picked out for me. I mean, she does pick out nice things, but I want to decide at leastonething for myself.” With a radiant smile, she made her way toward the changing rooms and called out. “Go check on Julie, she looked pretty desperate a minute ago.”

Larissa had told me about Camille. According to her description, a very pretty and elegant Ruisangor woman who had taken care of Larissa’s well-stocked wardrobe and worked as a lawyer for the town when she wasn’t traveling the States.

I exhaled in despair that I couldn’t have this Camille as a consultant for today, and looked around for Julie.

If I wasn’t going to find anything fitting, maybe I could at least helpher.

I wasn’t surprised to spot her among the cream and light dresses near the bridal section and I was about to walk toward her when Grace’s curly afro appeared in the aisle, and I wondered if I should join them or wait.

I decided to stop and pressed myself against the dresses so I could eavesdrop.

Confrontation

Christopher Tyng

“We should stay away from them,” I heard Grace say quietly, and Julie turned to her as if she had been startled.

“Grace,please.Bayla is one of us,” she replied, not at all softly and unusually tense.

A shadow crossed Grace’ face, and she lowered her voice, stepping closer. “She’s not... Vivienna told me to be careful because she could be a spy for the Senseque.”

I winced.

Vivienna had told Grace something. Was it only a matter of time before she told her what she had witnessed? What if she told not only Grace but Amber or Kelly... or worse, someone else of higher rank?

Julie’s expression remained cool. A look I only knew from her.

“I don’t care what Vivienna says. You know how I feel about her behavior, and you shouldn’t forget how she treated you back then.”

Grace fell silent, then her expression darkened further.