Inside the dorms, I was still adjusting to everything-the smells, the people, the sense of mystery about this whole place-when Julia and Maeve nudged me toward the door with this look of excitement.

"Come on," Julia grinned, "time to see something special."

They led me outside, through the trees, and into a part of campus that looked like no one else even knew it existed. After weaving through a small forested area, we finally arrived at an enormous oak tree, with a wooden staircase spiraling up its trunk. High in the branches, I could just make out a massive treehouse. And by massive, I mean a full-on wooden mansion in the sky.

"Are you serious?" I asked, my mouth open. This wasn't just a place kids threw together with a hammer and some nails. The woodwork was intricate, and I could see glass windows reflecting the sunlight. "Who built this?"

"Friends with resources," Maeve said with a wink. "Welcome to our hideout."

Inside, the space was unbelievable. Low, plush couches filled the main room, and off to one side was a mini kitchen with a small fridge and stovetop. A balcony extended from one end, complete with a grill, and a bed was tucked into one corner, piled high with blankets and pillows. It was like a retreat-somewhere to escape the prying eyes of Kingsford.

"Whoa," I breathed, feeling like I'd just stepped into some kind of secret club. I could already tell this place held a lot of stories.

Dan chuckled from one of the couches. "Guessing you're impressed? We practically live here sometimes."

Just as I settled in, the door creaked open, and in walked a girl with a soft, almost hesitant presence. She had dark hair, and she seemed to shrink into herself as she entered, casting her gaze downward.

"Amelia!" Thomas waved her over, flashing a grin. "Come meet Evelyn. She's new."

I smiled, stepping forward. "Hey, Amelia. Nice to meet you."

Amelia's face lit up a little, and she offered a shy smile back. "Hi, Evelyn. Welcome," she said softly, her voice almost lost in the room's warm buzz. There was something incredibly sweet and genuine about her, a softness that made me instantly want to make her feel comfortable.

But then the door flung open again, and the energy in the room changed. A guy strolled in, loud and confident, with an easy grin. Dan's face lit up as he called out, "Look who finally decided to join us-James!"

James was tall, self-assured, and had this air of cockiness that immediately made him stand out. He caught sight of me almost instantly, and his eyes swept over me in a way that felt both thrilling and slightly unnerving. His gaze was intense, and for a second, I wasn't sure if I should look away or hold my ground. I took a half-step back, and he smirked, clearly amused.

"And who do we have here?" he asked, still eyeing me with a hint of mischief.

"Evelyn, meet James," Dan said with a smirk of his own. "Our resident football star and self-proclaimed heartthrob."

James grinned, giving me a nod. "Pleasure to meet you, Evelyn."

Before I could respond, the door creaked again, and in walked a blonde girl dressed head-to-toe in pink-a fitted jacket, matching skirt, the whole polished, high-fashion look. She barely glanced at anyone before sinking onto the couch with an air of complete ownership, crossing her legs and adjusting her skirt with a dramatic sigh.

It clicked. This was the golden girl I'd seen at the ceremony.

"Charlotte," Maeve said, crossing her arms, "you could at least say hi. We haven't seen you in two months."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "I've already shaken hands with fifty people today. Not doing it again." She leaned back, totally relaxed, and shot me a look, though there wasn't exactly warmth in it. I wasn't sure whether to feel offended or impressed.

Julia leaned over and whispered, "Yep, that's Charlotte, in case you hadn't guessed. She's just... like that."

I nodded, trying not to stare. Charlotte wasn't like anyone I'd met before-she didn't care about first impressions; she seemed to assume everyone would like her no matter what. It was equal parts fascinating and unnerving.

"Where's your brother?" Julia asked, sounding almost curious.

Charlotte finally looked up, a smirk on her face. "With my dad, handling... important business. Meeting the teachers, chatting with the headmaster. You know, preparing to run this place someday."u o

A flicker of surprise ran through me. Her brother was that golden boy too, the guy I'd seen briefly during the opening ceremony. I glanced around the room, realizing just how much weight this group carried around Kingsford. Not only did they seem to know every secret, but they had the golden kids with them too, which instantly explained why they were the center of everyone's attention.

This world was intense-full of unspoken rules, lingering glances, and hidden alliances. As I looked around, I realized I was in deep now, tangled up with people I couldn't quite understand yet. And somehow, I didn't mind.

The group began murmuring excitedly about getting ready for their "semester initiation," a tradition they'd apparently been doing since high school. That was when it hit me-these people had been friends for years. Childhood friends, practically a family of their own, bound together by shared experiences and secrets I could only begin to imagine. And here I was, stepping in from the outside.

I found myself seated on the floor next to Max, his familiar presence a small comfort in the middle of all this. I glanced at him, taking in his shaggy, just-long-enough hair that he always managed to keep behind his ears. He had those broad, solid features, the kind that suggested he spent summers surfing-if we weren't so far from the coast, I might have believed it. I'd known him for as long as I could remember, practically grew up with him, and I usually saw him as that slightly annoying cousin-type, always there and always just a little too cocky for his own good.

Around us, the others found seats-on cushions, the couch, some sprawled on the carpet. Maeve was the first to move, flashing a smirk as she pulled open the fridge and grabbed a couple of bottles. Dan reached for a dusty set of books on the wall, and to my surprise, he pulled them forward to reveal hidden bottles. They had an entire setup here. I tried not to look too bewildered, but I could feel a hint of apprehension creeping in. Was I seriously about to play truth or dare with them?

Dan caught my expression and laughed. "Are you scared already, Evelyn?"

Thomas grinned, leaning forward. "Yeah, Evelyn, you think you're ready for what's about to come?"

Before I could answer, Max cut in. "Don't underestimate her," he said, giving me a smirk. "She's tougher than she looks."

Dan raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? Maybe the scholarship girl is finally the match for James."

That got Charlotte's attention. Sitting like royalty on the couch next to James, she eyed me up and down with an almost bored expression. "And who exactly are you?"

Dan quickly explained, "She's Max's friend, you know, the one who got the scholarship."

Something in the word "scholarship" seemed to spark a flicker of distaste in Charlotte's eyes, but before it could become more than an awkward silence, Maeve plopped down a tray of bottles and red plastic cups onto the table in front of us.

"Alright, who's in?" Maeve announced with a grin, practically bouncing on her seat. Thomas cheered, and everyone else joined in, shifting eagerly into the circle.

The game kicked off in seconds, and Thomas, as if born for this moment, leaned forward with a mischievous look. "Truth or dare, Julia?"

"Dare," Julia replied confidently.

Thomas grinned. "Alright, I dare you to make out with Dan for... let's say, thirty seconds."

Julia's eyes flicked to Dan, who smirked, as if he'd known this was coming. Without hesitation, she leaned over and kissed him, laughter breaking out from the rest of the group. They didn't even care that the dare was bold or that everyone was watching. These people really had no boundaries.

When Julia's turn came up, she dared Amelia to chug an entire cup. Despite her shyness, Amelia surprised everyone by taking the dare in stride, downing the cup in one go. The group cheered, impressed.

Then Maeve dared Thomas to give them all a strip tease. He went for it, pulling off his sweater with exaggerated moves and tossing it aside, shooting finger guns as he danced around, until everyone was in stitches.

And then, it was finally my turn.

Thomas leaned in, his smile a bit too excited. "Truth or dare, Evelyn?"

They all looked at me, waiting. There was only one option if I didn't want to look like a total outsider. "Dare."

Dan clapped his hands, clearly delighted. "Alright, let's give her a real one. Evelyn, I dare you to go out to the woods-alone-and scream 'I love Kingsford!' as loud as you can. Then come back without looking back."

The dare sounded ridiculous, but I could feel their eyes on me, daring me to back down. So I forced myself up, shrugging nonchalantly even though my heart was pounding a little. "Fine. I'll be back."

I made my way down the steps of the treehouse, out into the chilly night. The woods surrounded me, shadows stretching long and dark. I could still hear the laughter and music echoing behind me as I moved further into the trees, but it quickly faded, leaving just the sound of my own footsteps crunching on fallen leaves.

After a few minutes, I reached a clearing and took a breath, rolling my eyes at myself. "I love Kingsford!" I shouted, hearing the echo bounce through the trees.

Just as I turned, I froze. A figure was standing a few feet away, almost hidden in the dark. I stumbled back, heart racing, wondering who on earth would be out here at this hour.