Free Dark Companion by Marta Acosta Page B

family. She won’t be able to get rid of us!”
    I stared at Hattie in disbelief. “Hattie, you know, I’d be more comfortable if you were straight up with me. I’m not interested in being a charity project.”
    “I told you that inviting Jane to lunch was overkill,” Mary Violet said to the others before turning to me. “Mrs. Radcliffe asked us to include you in things so you won’t hate Birch Grove. I want her to give me a letter of recommendation for college. She only gives out a few each year so we’re being completely extorted to be your new bestest friends. I only hope Mrs. Radcliffe doesn’t ask me to murder someone for her, although I’m sure I’d commit the perfect crime.”
    “Mary Violet!” Hattie gave the girl a hard look.
    “Wasn’t that you five minutes ago yodeling about living for the truth?” Mary Violet answered obstinately. “Jane, another thing is that we’re so tragically bored with one another that we’re thrilled to meet anyone from the outside world. Greenwood is like one of those luxury prisons, where inmates can decorate their rooms and play tennis, but only get day passes.”
    “I wish Mrs. Radcliffe hadn’t done that, because I’m fine on my own and besides, I’m not that exciting.”
    Constance said, “I’m not doing it for the letter of recommendation.”
    “Well, Constance, you’re friendly to everyone, ” Mary Violet said critically. “You’re such a friendship slut and I find that deeply disturbing. Jane, I hope you aren’t as wildly promiscuous with your friendship.”
    “No one’s ever accused me of that,” I said, which made her giggle.
    Hattie shook her head. “I’m not doing it for the letter, either—”
    “Because you already know you’re getting one, headmistress’s pet,” Mary Violet cut in. “You always do everything Mrs. Radcliffe wants.”
    “Excuse me, but you were ready to plot the perfect murder for a letter of recommendation!” Hattie said. “So, Jane, we’re happy to show you around and if we all get along, fine. If not, that’s okay, too, and we’ll act friendly in front of Mrs. Radcliffe so she lets it go. Deal?”
    I shrugged. “Sure.”
    “Good. Have you met Mrs. Radcliffe’s family yet?”
    “I had dinner at their house. They were really nice.”
    “Especially one of them.” Mary Violet pinched Hattie’s arm. “Your loverrrrr!”
    Hattie looked away. “It’s not that serious.”
    My heart dropped, but I kept my expression even. “Lucky seems like a cool guy.”
    “Not Lucky,” Hattie answered. “His brother, Jack.”
    “Jack? Really? He doesn’t seem…” I paused awkwardly.
    “He’s really smart and talented,” Hattie said. “And mature.”
    “Why do you think he didn’t go off to college?” Mary Violet asked. “He’s psychotically in lust with Hattie. There’s something terribly intriguing about him, as if he has a dark and depraved secret.”
    Constance sighed. “Mary Violet, if we cut open your skull, I have a feeling all we’d find would be hair products and chick flicks.”
    “And silk lingerie and chocolate truffles!” Mary Violet said.
    Constance asked me, “What do you think about our no-tech rules?”
    “I think that because older people grew up without all the technology, they’re incapable of multitasking and refuse to believe that we can.”
    “If you say that to Mrs. Radcliffe, she’ll show you a dozen studies that say that technology is destroying our cognitive and analytical skills. We always agree with her and do whatever we want anyway.” Constance shuffled through her tote and lifted out a silvery blue phone. “Let’s all sync up. What’s your number, Jane?”
    “I only have the phone in the cottage.”
    “Oh, we’ve already got that,” Mary Violet said. “It’s Bebe’s old number. She didn’t have a real phone until last spring. We have to sit through an assembly once a year about how it’s more important to live life than text it, blah, blah, blah, because