This time, I knock. Neil’s voice invites me in and I open the door. He’s alone in his room, standing at an easel with his hands on his hips. His brows are furrowed in thought. They immediately relax as they see me.
I smile gently. “That’s pretty,” I say of the painting.
Neil looks back at it and shrugs. “Needs work,” he says. He looks to me. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, actually,” I say. “Archer freaked out on me because Coach White invited me to combat club.”
Neil frowns and c***s his head. “Combat club?”
“Yes!” I shout. “Literally a club. Absolutely no big deal at all.”
Neil sets down his brush and looks at me seriously. “Chloe,” he starts. “Combat club is traditionally all men. White uses it to weed out freshman interested in the Warrior program. I’d argue it’s a very big deal.”
“I wa
