Ruthie looked at the two of us in the mirror. “Let’s do this thing,” she said, pulling the door open quickly. I followed her before I could change my mind. Before I could wipe off the makeup and change back into my pants and pack my things and trek back home. Ruthie had an immediate confidence about her—like merely being in her presence made you more self-sufficient, more accepting of your own decisions. At least, that’s how I felt. I felt invincible in her jeans and her makeup and her direction. Maybe with Ruthie I really was.

I followed her through the wide archway and into the second-floor common room, sneaking in and taking a seat in the back, behind the crowd. Sixty students scattered around the square linoleum space—squished on couches, leaning on walls, perched on windowsills. They were all different. A girl with dark curly hair sat in the corner, her hair puffing up around her face as she leaned back into the wall. A girl with skinny legs sat crisscrossed on the floor like a pretzel, next to a girl scanning the Covenant Code like she was afraid we were about to be quizzed.

Brigid entered just seconds after us and made her way to the front of the room like Pastor Ryan during the procession at my hometown church. She was still in her green polo shirt, but it was a little more wrinkled and a little less tucked than it had been a few hours ago.

“You guys excited to be here?” She clapped her hands together, which made me jump.

She was received by an unenthusiastic smattering of yeahs. “Well, that won’t do!” she said, through a smile so wide it looked like it could rip right through her cheeks to her temples. “I’m going to ask again, and now I want you to yell so loud the guys in McKinley Hall next door can hear you! Ready!” She took a long pause there, as if she sincerely needed to give everyone time to prepare themselves. “Are y’all excited to be here!”

The room erupted with hoots and hollers; woohoos that could have pierced the glass windows. I opened my mouth to join them but before I did, Ruthie caught my eye, opting to simply clap and nod. So I shut my mouth and did the same.

“Well, we are so excited for y’all to be here,” she continued once everyone calmed down. “We’ve been waiting all summer!” Behind her were two other women: a brunette with unbelievably long eyelashes, and a woman with black hair and a dirty white rope bracelet hanging off her thin wrist. “You all know me. I’m Brigid. I’m the head RA here in Willits Hall. This is Marie and Lucy, my two second-in-commands.” They both smiled and waved, but the brunette seemed bitter about it.