Windsor's POV
The next morning, Pauline shook me awake with an enthusiasm that felt almost violent.
"Club recruitment day," she announced, pulling my blankets away. "You're coming with me."
I groaned and buried my face in my pillow. "I don't want to join anything."
"That's exactly why you need to join something. You can't just hide in our room forever, watching those ranking numbers mock you."
She had a point. Ever since discovering the Aftersound section, I'd been spiraling. The images of Weston with other women kept replaying in my mind, making me sick with a mixture of disgust and betrayal.
"Fine," I muttered. "But I'm not promising anything."
Some time later, we walked through the academy's labyrinthine gardens toward the sounds of music and laughter. Colorful banners hung between the ancient oak trees, each advertising a different student organization.
