I followed Vivienne through the hallway, past the disapproving ancestors and into the east wing. My brain was already cataloging escape routes because this felt like a terrible idea.
"Is this smart?" I asked as she stopped at a door. "What if your mom catches me in your room alone?"
Vivienne turned, one eyebrow raised in that way she had that made me feel like I'd just failed an exam I didn't know I was taking.
"I requested your assistance with something. There's nothing weird about that."
She pushed the door open and walked inside without waiting for my response.
Her room was exactly what I expected. Everything had a place. The bed was made with hospital corners. Her desk held three perfectly aligned notebooks, a pen cup, and a closed laptop. Even her throw pillows were arranged at identical angles.
