The Naturals, #1
The Naturals
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
Chapter 15
Overview
Cassie spends a relatively quiet Saturday seeing more of her housemates’ personalities: Sloane’s mathematical brilliance, Lia’s manipulative mischief, and Michael’s constant reading of people. The chapter shifts from downtime to impending chaos when Lia reveals Judd is gone and summons everyone to the living room, suggesting the Naturals are about to act outside normal supervision.
Summary
Cassie wakes late Saturday to find Sloane playing Solitaire with every card facedown, relying on her ability to track the deck after a glance. Lia emerges from Cassie and Sloane’s closet wearing Cassie’s dress, explaining that she bribed Sloane with coffee to gain access.
The coffee makes Sloane hyperverbal and intensely statistical for hours. After dinner, Cassie tries to watch a medical drama in the media room, but Sloane keeps supplying statistics and Michael keeps reading the actors’ body language and criticizing the show’s characterization.
The group shifts from television to a discussion of psychopaths after Michael suggests reality TV. Sloane says being a psychopath is not a crime and notes that psychopaths are statistically more likely to become CEOs than serial killers, prompting Michael to tease her about defending them.
Lia interrupts and announces that Judd has left for a night out with an old friend, leaving the house to the teenagers. She orders everyone to meet in the living room in fifteen minutes and to come prepared, making Cassie realize Lia is the kind of person who pulls others into action. When Cassie asks Sloane what to expect, Sloane predicts trouble.
Who Appears
- Cassie HobbesNarrator observing her housemates during downtime and anticipating Lia’s unsupervised plan.
- SloaneBrilliant statistician and card tracker whose coffee-fueled facts dominate the day.
- LiaMischievous liar who takes Cassie’s dress and summons everyone after Judd leaves.
- MichaelReads actors’ body language, jokes with Sloane, and readily joins Lia’s summons.
- JuddLeaves for a night out, giving the teens the house to themselves.