Vincent has found me.
I think about fighting him here in the dorm, but decide against it. The noise would wake people up and then they would all be in danger.
As soon as we get outside, I attack.
I use my elbow to give him a shot to the ribs, then pull his arm down hard, knocking him off balance. When I feel him start to fall, I push my shoulder into him, knocking him down the stairs.
I quickly pull off the hood.
“What the fuck are you doing, Monroe?” Jake yells at me.
My insides stop shaking.
“Jake!? What the hell are you doing?!”
“I’m trying to kidnap you.”
“Why?” I say, suddenly looking around in every direction. Did Jake out me to Vincent?
“Because I’m taking you somewhere special. I’m sorry, I’ve just been excited to do this since I got kidnapped last year.”
“Jake, what the fuck are you talking about? When did you get kidnapped?”
He sits up and rubs his back. “I just told you I got kidnapped last year. It’s an honor.”
“Getting kidnapped is an honor? Are you serious? You know why I'm here, right?”
“Oh my god. I didn't even think of that. I'm sorry. I’m not supposed to tell you. But maybe, under the circumstances, I'd better.”
“Ya think?”
“You are about to be kidnapped, teased, and then inducted into Eastbrooke fame.”
“Fame?”
“Yes. You, Monroe, are about to become a prefect.”
“But, I . . .”
“No buts.”
“I don't know if I'll even be here next year.”
“Whatever. If you don't come back, we’ll deal with that later. Enjoy tonight. It's kinda corny, but it's kind of special too. And I'm not telling you anything else. I don't want to ruin the surprise. Now, will you let me put the hood back on you without kicking the shit out of me?”
“Sure.”
He puts the hood back over my head and leads me down the sidewalk.
“I have to spin you around,” he whispers. “So you don’t know where we’re going. The prefect room’s location is supposed to be a secret.”
“But you know where it is. If I’m a prefect, I’ll know where it is. Why the secrecy?”
“Fuck if I know. But if you don’t play nice with the all the old prefects who are here for the ceremony, they might change their minds.”
“Okay, fine. Spin me.”
Jake spins me around a few times and then leads me up the hill on the concrete, which makes it quite obvious what direction we are heading.
And, now that I have my wits about me and my heartbeat has slowed down to a reasonable rate, I kind of want to jump up and down and scream.
Because, me . . . a prefect?
I’m led into a building that I’m pretty sure is the student center and then down a set of stairs. We go into a room and then down another set of stairs.
Jake leads me a bit further then grabs my shoulders, turns me around, and positions me in a line. I can feel someone’s shoulder next to me. Based on his cologne, I’d guess it’s Dallas.
“Brothers and Sisters of Eastbrooke,” a deep voice announces, “we welcome Keatyn Monroe into the fold.”
My hood is pulled off, revealing a huge stone room, lit only by the candles being held by what I assume are years’ worth of prefects, all dressed in red robes.
It's like a scene out of a movie where college students are taken to a dark basement and inducted into a secret society.
They take the hoods off the students one by one and announce them.
“Brothers and sisters of Eastbrooke, we welcome Dallas McMahon into the fold. Brothers and sisters of Eastbrooke, we welcome Logan Pedersen into the fold. Brothers and sisters of Eastbrooke, we welcome Ariela Ross into the fold. Brothers and sisters of Eastbrooke, we welcome Riley Johnson into the fold. Brothers and sisters of Eastbrooke, we welcome Maggie Morgan into the fold. And, lastly, brothers and sisters of Eastbrooke, we welcome Aiden Arrington into the fold. Seven prefects. A divine number for a divine responsibility.”
He moves to address us directly. “Prefects, you have been chosen because of your leadership and sense of community. You are the new faces of Eastbrooke. The hearts and souls of this magnificent place. Those who will guide our students, be their collective conscience, and uphold all the traditions that define Eastbrooke. The video with the seven of you has given our school faces for students to identify with for years to come. That, combined with your philanthropy, leadership, and social efforts are why you were chosen to best represent our school for the coming year.”
Each of the current prefects move to stand in front of the student they brought, with Jake stopping in front of me.
The main prefect announces, “Current prefects, please remove your robes and present them.”
Jake unzips the black robe he’s wearing and helps me put it on. Then he receives a red robe of his own.