Sweet Deceit

  “Okay. But if we’re coming, Jasper and Landon are coming too,” Ariana said, feeling benevolent.

  “Fine. The more the better,” Palmer said. “Now let’s do this.”

  Ariana, Kaitlynn, and the boys got up and gathered their things. As Ariana slipped past Lexa’s chair, Lexa made no move to shift her legs out of the way.

  “Are you guys coming?” Ariana asked Lexa and Maria.

  “We told Soomie we’d meet her here after her grief counseling thing,” Lexa said, waving a hand. “But I want to hear all the details.”

  Ariana glanced at Kaitlynn, who shrugged and tugged her coat on.

  “Okay. We’ll stop by your room later,” Kaitlynn said.

  Then she pulled Ariana away, following after the guys, who were already out the door.

  “Why did you do that?” she whispered to Ariana as they hurried out.

  “I want us both to get into Stone and Grave, Kaitlynn,” Ariana replied.

  Kaitlynn paused and narrowed her eyes. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah,” Ariana said, keeping her expression as frank as possible. “We’re in this together now.”

  With a ponderous frown, Kaitlynn started walking again. Ariana fell into step with her and was surprised when Kaitlynn knocked elbows with her in a tentative but friendly way.

  “Thanks, A,” she said simply.

  Ariana slipped her arm around Kaitlynn’s, her heart thrumming over a job well done. “What are friends for?”

  DARK SIDE

  Ariana couldn’t stop grinning as she sat against the cool wall in the grand hall, watching her plan come to fruition. She, Kaitlynn, Rob, Landon, and Jasper were all seated in a circle on the floor of the cavernous room, munching on gum and defiling the Fellows’ royal blue velvet robes. Palmer was certain the Fellows would have a ritual tonight, though he wouldn’t say why in all the secretiveness. But all they had to do was get the two dozen packs of gum chewed up before lights out. Ironically, all the chewing made them sound like a family of cows—which was kind of disgusting, but in a satisfying way.

  “This is so gross,” Kaitlynn said, tugging a wad of gum from her mouth between her thumb and forefinger. She placed it inside the royal blue hood on the velvet robe in her lap and grimaced.

  “Yeah. I guess it wasn’t so bad when it was just one piece of gum,” Palmer replied, leaning past Ariana to better see her.

  “Right,” Kaitlynn said, her cheeks pink with pleasure. “At least with one piece you don’t start to get lockjaw.”

  Palmer laughed as he tugged another of the robes toward him from the pile. “I can’t believe this was your idea, Lily. Who knew you had a dark side?”

  Ariana snorted a laugh and glanced at Kaitlynn. Her eyes clouded over for a moment, but then quickly cleared and she laughed as well. “Well, Ana was the one who realized it would work on the Fellows, so I guess we all have a dark side,” Kaitlynn said.

  Palmer looked at Ariana, his expression mischievous, and popped another piece of gum into his mouth. “I guess so.”

  Ariana felt warm all over, both from Palmer’s leading tone and over the fact that Kaitlynn was throwing credit back at her.

  “So, why do the Fellows use the grand hall for their rituals?” Ariana asked, glancing around at the expensive artwork that decorated the richly papered walls. “Isn’t it kind of . . . out in the open?”

  “Well, from what I’ve heard, the Fellows are dedicated to the memories of our founders, Atherton and Pryce,” Palmer explained, using his thumbs to press his freshly chewed gum into the hood of a robe. “Because of that they have kind of a big ego as a group and feel like the two big guys are constantly looking over them or something.”

  Ariana wondered how he knew so much about the other society. Was it because he was president of Stone and Grave? Did people in power get to be privy to information like this somehow?

  “That’s lame,” Kaitlynn said.

  The guys laughed. “Seriously,” Landon replied.

  “Well, they’re about to get their comeuppance,” Jasper said, folding up the robe he’d just gummed.

  “Comeuppance?” Ariana said with a smirk. “Who talks like that?”

  “Seriously, dude. Join us in the twenty-first century,” Rob joked, earning a hand slap from Landon.

  “Thanks, dude. But I prefer to sound like an educated man, rather than an imbecile,” Jasper shot back.

  Rob’s eyes flashed and everyone fell silent. Ariana exchanged a wary look with Kaitlynn. What was Jasper doing? Just the fact that Rob was there with them meant that he was probably a member of Stone and Grave. Was it wise for a plebe to cut him down that way?

  “Whatever,” Rob said finally, backing off.

  Ariana let out a breath, but Jasper just went right on with what he was doing as if he hadn’t noticed the moment of tension at all.

  “All I know is, the barber in town is going to get a lot of business tomorrow,” Palmer said with a laugh, popping a few more pieces of gum in his mouth. “Thanks to Ana.”

  Ariana felt Kaitlynn tense up next to her. Unbelievable. She had nothing to do with the idea, but already she felt so proprietary about it that she was offended over being left out.

  “And Lily, of course,” Palmer added graciously. The other boys whooped their appreciation.

  Kaitlynn smiled. Ariana sighed in relief and allowed herself to bask in the attention. If she kept this up, she was going to get into Stone and Grave no problem. The future was hers.

  And it felt good.

  SHOO-INS

  Ariana could not stop laughing. All around her, her fellow Privilege House denizens—and probable Stone and Gravers—were doubled over at the table, or trying desperately to keep their faces straight. But it was next to impossible. Every few minutes another student with half-chopped hair would walk by the table with his head ducked and a new wave of laughter would burst forth. The oddest thing was, it seemed as if every badly shorn student was, in fact, male, which meant the Fellows were all fellows.

  “Omigod! Have you guys seen Martin Tsang?” Maria asked, slipping into a chair near the end of the table next to Ariana. “He looks like someone took a pair of garden shears to his head!”

  “While blindfolded,” Soomie added, cracking the first small smile Ariana had seen on her in days.

  Ariana glanced over at Martin’s table, giggling happily. He looked around and, finally unable to take the stares any longer, whipped out a gray skullcap and yanked it on over his hair. Ariana and her friends cracked up all over again.

  “ To Lily and Ana,” Palmer said, lifting his glass of orange juice at the head of the table.

  Ariana beamed across at Kaitlynn, who sat up a little straighter as the entire table full of students raised their glasses as well.

  “ To Lily and Ana!” they all chorused loudly, earning curious glances from students throughout the dining hall.

  Ariana and Kaitlynn grinned as their friends swigged their juice and coffee in their honor. Tahira and Allison both shifted moodily in their seats, clearly annoyed at having been left out of the fun.

  “Um, have I mentioned thank you?” Kaitlynn whispered, leaning across the table toward Ariana as she placed her juice glass down amid the many plates and bowls and cups.

  “You don’t have to thank me,” Ariana replied happily.

  Kaitlynn grinned back, and for the first time Ariana was truly certain that Kaitlynn was starting to believe in her friendship. She couldn’t stop smiling as she speared a piece of scrambled egg with her fork and popped it into her mouth. Then, from the corner of her eye, she saw Palmer get up and walk around the table toward her. She glanced over at Lexa, her heart pounding, but for the moment Lexa was deep in conversation with Conrad and April.

  “Hey, Ana,” Palmer said, arriving at the end of the table. “Can I talk to you?”

  Ariana felt Kaitlynn staring and her neck started to heat up. “Sure.”

  She pushed herself up from her chair, and she and Palmer shuffled over towar
d the wall.

  “What’re you doing?” Ariana whispered, glancing over her shoulder at their table.

  “I just had to tell you . . . this whole prank thing has really upped your stock with the members,” Palmer said, pride gleaming in his eyes.

  Ariana’s heart fluttered with excitement. “Wait, so are you telling me . . . ?”

  Palmer grinned mischievously.

  “You are. You’re actually telling me straight-out that you’re in—”

  “Yes, I’m telling you straight out that I’m in,” he replied flatly. “Which you already figured out, so really I’m not telling you anything you didn’t already know.”

  Ariana pressed her lips together, overwhelmed with happiness that Palmer was trusting her with such a huge secret.

  “After all this, you and Lily are practically shoo-ins,” he told her, dropping his voice to a whisper as a couple of tweed-clad faculty members strolled by.

  Ariana couldn’t wait to tell Kaitlynn. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  Palmer reached out and took her hand, holding it down by her side, where it was out of view of their table.

  “Listen. I want to take you out somewhere,” he whispered, his voice sending pleasant tingles down the backs of her legs. “Like on a real date.”

  Her eyes instinctively darted to Lexa. She and Conrad were whispering to one another, their heads bent close together. “Palmer—”

  “I know. I know. You don’t want to hurt Lexa,” Palmer said. “But she’s been going out with Connie for weeks already, and I’m getting tired of sneaking around.”

  “I kind of like the sneaking around,” Ariana said.

  Palmer grinned. “I like it too. But still. Don’t you want to be able to do this”—he squeezed her hand—“without feeling like it’s somehow wrong? Don’t you want to be my actual girlfriend?”

  Ariana’s whole body responded to the question. “Of course I do. It’s just . . .”

  She glanced over at the table once more and this time her heart skipped a wild beat. Conrad had turned to talk to Christian, and Lexa was watching them, her eyes filled with anger. Ariana had never seen her look that way before. The second Lexa’s gaze met Ariana’s, she looked away, but the damage was done. Ariana slipped her hand out of Palmer’s and took a step back. The fact remained that Ariana wanted—needed—to get into Stone and Grave, and Lexa was a member. Most likely a powerful member. If there was even the remotest chance that Lexa could block her membership, that she might blackball Ariana for the offense of going after Lexa’s ex, then she had to be careful.

  “Can I think about it?” she asked.

  “Sure,” Palmer said, standing up straight and taking a step back as well. He smoothed his APH tie. She could tell he was upset over being put off yet again. “Just don’t keep me waiting too long.”

  As the tone sounded to end the breakfast period, Palmer smiled before loping off—which made Ariana feel better. He wouldn’t have smiled if he’d been too upset. She took a deep breath to calm her nervous, excited heart, and walked back to the table to grab her coat and bag.

  “What was that all about?” Kaitlynn asked suspiciously as Ariana pushed her arm into the sleeve of her leather jacket.

  “Nothing,” Ariana said. “He actually just wanted to congratulate us on the prank,” she added quickly. “He said we’re shoo-ins.”

  “Really,” Kaitlynn said skeptically, narrowing her eyes. “Then why didn’t he tell us both?”

  “I don’t know,” Ariana said, lifting the strap of her bag onto her shoulder. “Maybe because he and I have been friends longer?”

  “That’s crap, Ana,” Kaitlynn said as they walked away from the table. “There’s something you’re not telling me and we both know it.”

  “Lily,” Ariana said. “There’s not. I swear.”

  “Uh-huh,” Kaitlynn replied, her expression sour as she looked Ariana up and down. “So much for all this talk about being friends.”

  Then she turned on her heel and stormed away. Ariana heaved a sigh and followed her toward the door, her giddy sense of victory all but evaporating. Sometimes dealing with a paranoid psychopath was hard work.

  PRETENDING

  “What was your best Halloween costume ever?” Maria asked, glancing over her shoulder at Ariana as they walked into the Hill with Lexa and Soomie that evening.

  “I don’t know . . . one year when I was little I dressed up as Fancy Nancy,” Ariana said with a shrug.

  “Like from the children’s books?” Lexa exclaimed. “That’s so cute! You should do that this year.”

  Ariana gave her a cautious smile. After the episode with Palmer in the dining hall that morning, she had expected the cold shoulder from Lexa. Had she somehow imagined Lexa’s suspicion and jealousy? Would Lexa actually be fine if she found out about Ariana and Palmer’s relationship?

  “Um, I think we’re a little old to be going as Fancy Nancy,” Soomie said moodily, tugging her black scarf from around her neck as they crossed the room.

  Ariana, Maria, and Lexa exchanged looks. Ariana knew that all of them were still sad, but while the others were trying to move on, act normal, cheer up, Soomie just couldn’t seem to snap out of her depression.

  “Right. Because Raggedy Ann is so much more sophisticated,” Maria joked, clearly trying to keep the mood light as they joined the line at the coffee counter. The other girls fell in behind her. Every one of them knew that when it came to coffee, Maria went first.

  “Whatever,” Soomie sniffed, checking her BlackBerry.

  Another look darted between Maria and Lexa.

  “Last year Soomie and Brigit went as Raggedy Ann and Andy,” Maria explained to Ariana. Soomie scoffed, like she didn’t want to hear it. “What?” Maria pressed on. “It was hilarious with the big red noses and the red yarn wigs and the red-and-white striped tights.”

  “I only did that because it was Brigit’s favorite toy as a kid,” Soomie explained flatly. “This year was supposed to be my turn to pick a costume. We were going to be Batgirl and Robin. The costumes just came in the mail yesterday.”

  Ariana’s stomach dropped. So that explained Soomie’s new wave of melancholy.

  “Well, at least you can still be Batgirl,” Ariana suggested tentatively.

  “You can’t be serious,” Soomie snapped. “You really think I’m going to wear that now?”

  Ariana’s throat prickled. “Sorry, I just—”

  “Whatever,” Soomie said, closing her eyes for a moment. She took a deep breath and looked Ariana in the eye. “I’m sorry. I just . . . I guess I’m not feeling very comic booky these days.”

  Ariana swallowed hard as the line inched forward. Maria looked down at her boots for a moment before flicking her long brown hair back and trying again.

  “So . . . what’re you going to be?” she asked Soomie.

  “I don’t know. I’m thinking something gothic,” Soomie said.

  “But Batgirl is gothic,” Lexa said.

  “No. I’m talking seriously gothic,” Soomie said, ducking her chin. “Right now I’ve got it narrowed down to (A) Hester Prynne, (B) Jane Eyre, or (C) Joan of Arc.”

  Lexa looked at Ariana and whistled. “Yeah, I’d say that’s gothic.”

  “Where is this party, anyway?” Ariana asked. “Did you rent out a club or something?”

  “No. It’s at my house,” Soomie replied, sending a quick text on her BlackBerry.

  “I thought your parents lived in California,” Ariana said, her brow knitting. “Do they have a house in DC?”

  “No. It’s her house,” Maria said with a grin.

  Ariana blinked. “You have your own house?”

  Soomie shrugged and slipped her PDA back into her bag. She looked up and narrowed her eyes at the chalkboard menu behind the coffee counter. “My parents know that I sometimes need my privacy, especially when I get stressed and need to concentrate. They want me to do my best here, so they bought it for me when I first started at AP
H. It’s nothing big. Just a row house near the Capitol.”

  Ariana shook her head. Nothing big. She would have killed to have her own piece of real estate to retreat to. “That’s incredible. I can’t wait to see it,” she said as they finally reached the counter.

  “Can I help you ladies?” the guy behind the register asked with a smile.

  Maria ordered her usual double espresso, then stepped aside so the rest of the girls could place their orders.

  “I’ll have a caramel latte and a pecan scone, please. Black coffee and a blueberry muffin for Soomie, and a regular latte and cinnamon scone for Ana,” Lexa said, taking out her wallet.

  “Oh, Lex, that’s okay,” Ariana said. “I got it.”

  “Please. You’ll get the next one.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and eyed Ariana. “Maybe you should stick with the children’s book theme. Go as Winnie the Pooh or Thomas the Train or something?”

  “Okay, Lex. She’s not a toddler,” Soomie said.

  Ariana smirked and scanned the room. Over at a table near the wall were three guys with seriously bad haircuts, which just made her smirk wider.

  “Oh! What about Hannah Montana?” Maria said. “Or a Barbie doll?”

  “Um, no,” Ariana replied. “Why are you guys trying to saddle me with some juvenile costume?”

  “Cuz it’s fun,” Lexa said with a half-shrug as the barista delivered their order.

  “Ha ha,” Ariana said to Lexa. “And thanks,” she added, picking up her coffee and scone.

  “Yeah, thanks, Lex,” Soomie added.

  Just then, Ariana caught a glimpse of Kaitlynn at the back of the line. Her face was buried in a book for English class and she was trying to look like she was oblivious to Ariana and the other girls, but Ariana knew better. Kaitlynn was wishing she was part of the conversation, and probably trying very hard not to horn in on it. Her usual style was to force herself on Lexa and the others every chance she got, but Ariana had a feeling that the whole Stone and Grave thing had Kaitlynn so freaked that she was rethinking her every move.