Initiation
Authors: Jessica Burkhart
To Drew for being the first guy cool enough to e-mail me and say you're reading Canterwood. Keep reading and being exactly who you are.
I hope you like the character named after you, as promised!
Chapter 1: Lauren Towers, Insomniac
Chapter 5: Understudy Not-So-Buddies
Chapter 6: Sweet Treats (Of Many Varieties)
Chapter 12: Whisper, We're Not At Briar Creek Anymore
Chapter 13: The Towers Family Work Ethic
Chapter 17: Monday Mornings Suck
Chapter 18: Second Chances Don'T Exist
Chapter 19: Someone's a Little Too Comfy
Chapter 22: Fear Monsters And Lurking Losers
Chapter 23: Finally Finding . . . Whisper
Chapter 24: My Reason To Live!
Chapter 25: Decisions, Decisions . . .
Chapter 26: Lt And Rotten Reiler=Bffs 4 Eva
Chapter 28: Miss You, Love You, Mean It!
Chapter 29: E-Vitation And TGIT
Chapter 30: Beware Of Sharks In Indoor Pools
Chapter 32: Step Away From The Coffee
Thank you to everyone at Simon & Schuster, especially those who have been initiated: Fiona Simpson, Bethany Buck, Mara Anastas, Dawn Ryan, Carolyn Swerdloff, Craig Adams, Jessica Handelman, Nicole Russo, Russell Gordon, Karin Paprocki, Lucille Rettino, Courtney Sanks, Alyson Heller, Deane Norton, Virginia Herrick, the fantastic sales team including Mary Marotta, Jim Conlin, Christina Pecorale, and the countless other people who support Canterwood.
Thank you, Stephanie Voros, for working so hard on the rights for the series.
Thanks to the fantastic models, stylists, makeup artists, and to Monica Stevenson.
Special thanks to the bookstores and employees who have introduced Canterwood to readers.
Jill Cikowski, thank you for being a part of Team Canterwood! Horse Mystique board members, you all are THE BEST. Big
s for the support and love you've shown to Kate and me! The get well soon banner you
created for Kate, among other things, we'll never forget.
Brianna Ahern, your texts and kitty pics got me through some rough spots. Thank you for being there at all hours. Lauren's blog was your ideaâthank you! Hug A for me!
Lauren Barnholdt, you're a constant source of support.
Thank you, Katherine Devendorf, for being the world's best Jane of all trades: managing editor, cat sitter, and kitty photographer.
Alex Penfold, the offers of a home-cooked meal were so sweet, as were the flowers from you and Paula Wiseman. Thank you both.
Thanks to Becca Leach, Kelly Krysten, Jennifer Rummel, Mandy Morgan, James Booth, Carrie Ryan, and April Aragam for the encouraging Tweets.
Josephine Piraneo, thank you for keeping the Canter-wood Crest website looking so lovely.
Joey Carson, thank you for offering business advice and being a wonderful new friend. Hugs to Lexi and Grace!
Ross Angelella, I loved our late-night UES write-a-thons. We got some
serious
work done.
Shout-outs to the music/TV that I used for inspiration while writing this book:
Pretty Little Liars
,
Switched at
Birth
,
The Nine Lives of Chloe King
,
The Glee Project
,
The Voice
, Lady Gaga, 2am Club, Andrew Belle, and Keane, among others. Find my complete
Initiation
playlist on my blog.
Julia Reed at Sakura of America, thank you for offering Gelly Roll® pens for a contest. The prizes are greatly appreciated!
Thank you, Hana Johnson, for providing Pro Hair Tinsel in a variety of colors as a giveaway during the book's release. I heart Hair Flairs!
Kate Angelella, Canterwood is a fifty-fifty product cultivated by both of us. You are not only a wickedly talented editor, but also an author, a business owner, and the best friend a girl could hope for. I'm honored to co-own Violet & Ruby with you. I'm so excited to see what the future holds. My wish came true when you came to the dark side and started writing full-time. I remind myself every day how lucky I am to have you in my life as more than just my BFF. LYSM.
11:59 p.m.: Days left: 1!
Tomorrow morning (!) I leave home and Briar Creek for Canterwood Crest Academy. I got up to blog because I could
not
sleep. Usually, I'm up late on Fridays anyway, but not like this. Blogging is better than talking sometimes because I can sit down and let all of my thoughts come out unfiltered on the page. I've been blogging all summerâDad's suggestionâand now I'm totally addicted to it.
I'm scared about tomorrow.
So
scared. I'm still second-guessing all of my decisions about everything. I'll admit it: All of these questions keep rolling around my brain, like:
Am I leaving Briar Creek too soon?
Am I ready for the competitive riding life again?
Are Whisper and I prepared?
Will anyone find out my secret before I'm ready to talk about it or any other part of my past?
That last question is the one keeping me awake. Tonight and every night.
Posted by Lauren Towers
THIS WAS REALLY IT.
My breath caught, forcing me to sit on the bare twin bed. My parents and older sister, Becca, had dropped me off in my new dorm room only an hour ago.