Quote 1
"That cell block over there is Augustine. It's where we have our so-called Social events on Wednesday nights. And all of our classes," [Arriane] said, pointing to the buildings the color of yellowed teeth, two buildings to the right of the dorm…It was dismally square, dismally fortress like, fortified by the same barbed wire and barbed windows. An unnatural looking gray mist cloaked the walls like moss, making it impossible to see whether anyone was over there. (1.116)
Arriane, ever the helpful tour guide, tells Luce all about the various delights that Sword & Cross has to offer. So far, it sounds absolutely charming, even if it's meant to intimidate and keep its students in line.
Quote 2
"Over here you'll find our state-of-the-art gymnasium," she said, assuming a nasal tour guide tone of voice. "Yes, yes, to the untrained it looks like a church. It used to be. We're kind of in an architectural hand-me-down Hell here at Sword & Cross." (1.139)
In another of Arriane's wonderful tour-guide moments, she points out the church-nasium to Luce, a building that is a combination of religious sanctuary and athletic facility. Only at a place like Sword & Cross would buildings like this exist.
Quote 3
"Are you afraid of who you really are, Luce?"
"No," Luce said again quickly. It must be so obvious that she was lying. She closed her eyes. All she wanted from Sword & Cross was a fresh start, a place where people didn't look at her the way Arriane was looking at her right now. (1.108-109)
Luce's desperation to get away from her past—rather than own it and move forward from it—is very apparent here. She sees Sword & Cross as a clean slate, a place where she can remake herself and forget the horrors of her past. What Luce doesn't seem prepared for is the fact that everyone here has his or her own horrors, and everyone is pretty big on sharing.
Quote 4
"Avoid the chicken-fried steak at all costs," [Arriane] coached as they followed the crowd into the din of the lunchroom. "The pizza's fine, the chili's okay, and actually the borscht ain't bad. Do you like meatloaf?"
"I'm a vegetarian," Luce said…
"Vegetarian, huh?" Arriane pursed her lips. "Hippie parents or your own meager attempt at rebellion?" (2.50-52)
This interaction shows two things. First, we see that Arriane is a good person to have around because she can walk you through the inner workings of the lunchroom with ease. Second, we see that Luce doesn't fit in here. The fact that she just doesn't like meat sets her apart from the other students—and it also makes it really, really hard for her to find suitable dinner options.
Quote 5
Arriane shrugged and produced a giant bag of popcorn from her carpetbag. "I can only look after so many new students," she said, tossing a buttery kernel at Luce. "Lucky you." (5.69)
Not only can Arriane get access to things that the other students might not—like the popcorn, for instance…probably courtesy of Roland or Cam—but she also chooses whom she'll trust with her information and her attention. By inviting Luce into her social circle, she's making her privy to the secret parts of Sword & Cross.
Quote 6
"Detention buddies does not equal real life buddies."
Arriane looked back at Luce, who could feel her face falling, despite her bet efforts to appear unfazed.
"Look, Luce, I didn't mean…" she trailed off. "Okay, aside from the fact that you made me waste a good twenty minutes of my morning, I have no problem with you. In fact, I think you're sort of interesting. Kinda fresh. That said, I don't know what you were expecting in terms of mushy-gushy friendship here at Sword & Cross. But let me be the first to tell you, it just ain't that easy. People are here because they've got baggage. I'm talking curbside-check-in, pay-the-fine-cause-it's-over-fifty-pounds kind of baggage. Get it?" (4.59-61)
Here Arriane lays it all on the line for Luce, telling her straight out that Sword & Cross is not Dover Prep: making friends will not be as easy as swapping phone numbers and sitting together at lunch. People here are here for real reasons, not just supernatural reasons, and Luce has to understand that just as she doesn't necessarily want to open up to anyone, the other students might not want to open up to her. Communication is a two-way street, and all that. Except here is sometimes a no-way street.