by Kate Brian
Ariana glanced at Kaitlynn in her elevator, and Kaitlynn smirked knowingly. Then she looked at Jasper just as the doors closed on him. His sour look wasn’t lost on her, but she chose not to think about what it might mean.
“What’s up?” she asked Palmer once the others were being whisked off to their floors. “The next group will be along any minute.”
The members of Stone and Grave had decided to leave the library in shifts since it was well past midnight, and four people at a time would be able to move a bit more stealthily than a group of thirty-plus.
“I know. C’mere,” Palmer said, smiling adorably and tilting his head toward the lobby’s common room.
Her heart skipping, Ariana followed him inside and let him tug her into a private corner. He slipped his arms around her waist, leaned down, and kissed her. It was a nice, long, deep, familiar kiss. The kind of perfect kiss a boyfriend gives to his girlfriend. When he pulled away, Ariana leaned into his chest and grinned up at him.
“So, I was just wondering . . . do you have a costume for the Halloween party yet?” Palmer asked, resting the back of his head against the wall behind him.
“No. Not really,” Ariana said with a sigh. “Lily and I were thinking about doing something together, but we haven’t come up with anything good yet.”
“Cool. Because if you think Lily wouldn’t mind, I was thinking we should do something together,” Palmer said, adjusting his arms on her hips and pulling her even closer.
Ariana, however, found herself stepping away from him. “You mean like a couples’ costume?”
Palmer’s brow creased. They heard the lock on the front door of Privilege House click and boisterous laughter followed. Ariana turned and moved further into the room toward the movie theater. She leaned back against the wall, out of sight of the lobby, trying to figure out how to turn Palmer down gently.
“Yeah, I mean a couples costume,” Palmer whispered, following her. He stood facing her, but a couple of feet away now—keeping his distance. “Why not?”
“I don’t know. Isn’t that kind of . . . public?” Ariana asked, shoving her hands into the pockets of her coat.
Palmer blew out a sigh toward his forehead, fanning out his bangs. “Is this about Lexa again? Because from what I can tell, she and Conrad are getting serious. They’re even dressing up together—as a married couple! The girl has definitely moved on.”
“I know, but . . . Palmer, I need to be careful. Especially now,” Ariana said.
“What do you mean, especially now? Because she’s president of Stone and Grave?” Palmer whispered, glancing toward the open door. In the alcove, the elevators pinged and the voices quickly disappeared. “Ana, she’s always been the president of Stone and Grave. The only difference is . . . now you know it.”
“Right. And now that I know it, I can’t stop thinking about it,” Ariana said. “If she still has any kind of feelings for you, I can’t make her mad. Not right now.”
Palmer laughed, tipping his head back. “Dude. After tonight you don’t even need to worry about that. There’s no way any of you are getting cut. Especially not you. The whole thing was your idea. You’re a lock.”
Looking down at the carpeted floor, Ariana felt the smile twitching at her lips again. But she couldn’t get complacent and rest on her laurels. She’d made that mistake in the past and it always got her in trouble. When she’d been less than vigilant back at Easton, Reed had ended up finding that stupid photo of Thomas on Kiran’s phone and before Ariana knew it she’d lost everything. Her friends, her school, her freedom—her whole identity.
Palmer stepped forward and tugged Ariana’s hand from her pocket, holding it lightly in his. “Listen, I’m going to go to the party as Frank enstein. I think it’d be cool if you dressed up as Frankenstein’s bride. We don’t even have to go together. Just come as the bride. Then I’ll know for sure that you’re into this,” he said, squeezing her palm.
Ariana swallowed hard. “And if I dress up as something else?”
He dropped her hand, stepped back, and shoved his hands into his own pockets. A chill dashed down Ariana’s spine.
“Look, Ana. This sneaking around thing isn’t working for me anymore,” he said. “All I want is to be with you.” He ducked his head, forcing her to look up into his eyes. “So just . . . be my bride . . . okay?”
Ariana stared back at him, unable to take the leap he wanted her to take. At least not yet. She needed Stone and Grave. And to get into Stone and Grave, she was sure she needed Lexa’s vote.
“I’ll see you there,” he said.
Then he turned on his heel and walked through the alcove, shoving open the door to the stairwell. Ariana heard it squeal on its hinges, then slam behind him. Her heart heavy, she walked out to the elevators and managed to get one on her own, before the next group returned. When she got back to her room, Kaitlynn was waiting for her on the edge of her bed, still wearing her black spy gear.
“What was that all about?” she asked, her eyes bright.
Ariana sighed hugely and shrugged off her coat. “He wants to dress up as a couple for the party.”
“What did you tell him?” Kaitlynn asked.
“I told him I was dressing up with you,” Ariana said, putting her coat on its hanger, then sitting down on her own bed to kick off her shoes.
“No way. You have to dress up with him,” Kaitlynn said, scooting around on the bed to face Ariana. “We haven’t come up with anything yet anyway.”
“I know, but we had a deal,” Ariana said, lying back to look up at the ceiling.
“So what? There’s always next year,” Kaitlynn said, a statement that almost brought a smile to Ariana’s lips. “I don’t mind. Really. I actually saw this Catwoman costume the other day that was totally hot. I can just get that.”
“Okay. But it’s not just you I’m worried about,” Ariana said, rolling over onto her side and propping her cheek up on her palm. “It’s—”
“Lexa,” Kaitlynn said. “Screw her. She has Conrad.”
“I know, but—”
“Ariana Osgood, this is no time to lose your spine,” Kaitlynn said, standing up.
“Shhhhh!” Ariana said, glancing at the door. Kaitlynn had shouted her real name a bit too loudly for comfort.
“I’m just saying,” Kaitlynn hissed. “Palmer does not belong to Lexa. Besides. It’s about time someone around here put that uppity bitch in her place.”
Ariana’s gut twisted. Her instinct was to defend Lexa. She’d never agreed with Kaitlynn’s negative assessment of her friend. But lately . . . all that had changed a bit. Lexa had started acting kind of uppity over the past week. Like she was better than Ariana.
“Maybe you’re right,” she said noncommittally.
“I know I am,” Kaitlynn replied, walking into her closet to change. “And by the time Halloween rolls around, I’ll convince you I am.”
Ariana laughed. “We’ll see.”
“You will,” Kaitlynn said, peeking her head out from the doorway of her closet. “I’ll convince you if it’s the last thing I do.”
THE LAST WORD
There wasn’t much Ariana hated more than jogging, but when Lexa had stopped by her room early that morning wearing her running gear, she couldn’t turn down the invitation. It was the perfect opportunity to feel her out. To see if last night’s success had done the job and gotten her excused from her task. So now her lungs were burning, her legs were quivering, and her nose was starting to drip from the cold. But it was all going to be worth it. If she could only find the breath needed to converse.
“We should probably get together later and finish our Spanish project,” Lexa said, taking the path that led downhill toward the water.
Ariana tried not to groan. Going downhill required strength her legs simply did not possess. Not to mention the fact that going down meant that at some point they were going to have to run back up.
“Definitely,” Ariana said breathlessly. “It is due tomorrow.”
&n
bsp; Lexa glanced at her from the corner of her eye, her arms pumping. “I’m aware. That’s why I brought it up.”
She added a laugh to cover up the obnoxiousness of her statement, and jogged ahead. Lexa was, of course, not in the least bit winded. She did this run almost every morning, rain or shine. Ariana narrowed her eyes at the girl’s back and pushed herself to catch up as they reached the concrete jogging trail along the riverbank.
Okay. Just ask her, Ariana told herself, glancing at Lexa out of the corner of her eye. “So Lexa,” she practiced silently. “I don’t really have to complete my task now, do I? Saving the whole chapter has to count for more than one little chore. . . .”
She was just opening her mouth to speak when Lexa interrupted her.
“So. How’s your task coming?” Lexa asked, slowing her steps slightly to keep pace with Ariana.
Ariana’s stomach dropped and she stopped running completely. She bent forward at the waist, bracing her hands above her knees and fighting for breath.
Sonofabitch, she thought, squeezing her eyes shut. Her lungs felt as if they were on fire and about to launch themselves up her throat and out through her mouth.
Lexa couldn’t be serious. She just couldn’t be. Ariana had saved the collective ass of the chapter last night. How could they possibly hold her to that stupid task after that?
Lexa ran a few steps ahead before noticing Ariana had dropped off. When she did, she turned around and jogged back, then ran in place next to Ariana, waiting. Ariana stared down at Lexa’s Asics sneakers, imagining what might happen if she reached out, grabbed Lexa’s ankle, and pulled. Would Lexa fall on her butt? Go sprawling? Crack her head open on the concrete walkway?
“You okay? Did you cramp up?” Lexa asked.
“M’fine,” Ariana mumbled at the ground. She sucked in a breath and stood up straight, her hands on her hips. Her side twinged, but she refused to double over again.
“Okay then. Let’s go,” Lexa said, starting to turn.
“No. I think I’m done here,” Ariana replied.
Lexa’s expression was annoyed. “Is this about your task?” she asked as she continued to jog in place. “Is there some reason you don’t want to complete it? Because as you already know, the rest of your tap class has been done for days.”
Suddenly, Ariana’s mind felt completely clear, as if the crisp morning air had suddenly filled her skull. Forget April and Conrad. Lexa had set the task. Why else would she ask that question? Why couldn’t Lexa just release her vise grip on Palmer already? It had been almost two months since the two of them had broken up. Didn’t Lexa realize what an awful quality it was—lusting after someone she couldn’t have? But that wasn’t even the worst of it. The worst of it was that Lexa was lording this over her. Manipulating her. Toying with her emotions. Ariana had thought they were going to be best friends, but instead Lexa was letting something as petty as an ex-boyfriend come between them, and using her position of power over Ariana to do it.
In that moment, she wished Lexa Greene had never existed. If it weren’t for her, Ariana’s life at Atherton-Pryce would already be exactly the way she wanted it. She’d be the girlfriend of the most popular guy in school with no one to stand in the way of her getting into Stone and Grave.
“I have to go,” Ariana said, ignoring Lexa’s comment. She turned around and started to storm up the hill.
“Fine. But meet me in my room at two! We have to finish our project!” Lexa shouted after her.
Ariana pressed her lips together and didn’t respond. Let the girl have the last word. She clearly thought she deserved to have it.
PI
“Hey, girls! You’re just in time,” Maria greeted Lexa and Ariana as they arrived at the edge of her plaid picnic blanket after Spanish class on Monday. “Quinn just delivered our coffee and snacks.”
“Pumpkin spice latte for Ana, and a skim latte for Lexa,” Quinn said, handing over their drinks.
“Thanks,” Ariana said, taking her cup and sitting down on the blanket, tucking her pleated skirt modestly around her thighs.
“Thank you, Quinn,” Lexa added, sitting as well.
“You’re welcome,” Quinn said. “I guess I’ll be going. Unless you needed something else?”
“We’re fine,” Maria said dismissively.
Quinn smiled, unaffected by Maria’s tone. The girl always simply did her job, no questions asked, no complaints. It was quite admir able, really.
“Okay. See you later.” Quinn tugged out her phone as she scurried off, sending a quick text. Of everyone Ariana had met at Atherton-Pryce, Quinn always seemed to be the busiest.
“So? How did your presentation go?” Soomie asked, leaning back against the thick tree trunk behind her.
“Fine,” Ariana said.
“Well,” Lexa replied at the same time.
They both sipped their coffees and Ariana saw Maria and Soomie exchange a glance. Her skin warmed slightly and she preoccupied herself with straightening her skirt and tugging it down toward her stockinged knees another millimeter. Maria and Soomie weren’t stupid. They had to have noticed that things had cooled between her and Lexa.
“So, Ana, have you found out anything else about Lillian and her family?” Lexa asked out of nowhere.
Ariana glanced up at Lexa, her face perfectly framed by her dark hair. Lexa’s green eyes studied her shrewdly over the plastic top on her coffee cup.
“I didn’t realize I was supposed to be digging,” Ariana said.
“Honestly?” Lexa said, raising her perfect eyebrows. “My bad then, I guess. I just assumed after our conversation you would try to get to know her better. I didn’t realize I had to spell it out for you.”
As if Ariana was so incredibly dense for missing the hint.
“Sorry,” Ariana mumbled. She took a sip of her coffee to keep from screaming at Lexa. “I guess I’ve had a lot on my mind. Maybe you should have made that my task. Then there would’ve been no confusion.”
Lexa’s eyes flashed and Ariana instantly felt chagrined. What was she thinking, telling Lexa off? Bringing up the task issue in a public forum? She was supposed to be kissing the girl’s butt until she got into Stone and Grave. There was no point in keeping her relationship with Palmer a secret if she was just going to irritate Lexa in other ways.
But she already knows about me and Palmer, Ariana thought, frustrated. Otherwise why would she have set that task?
She felt like she was playing a game of chicken with Lexa. Neither one wanted to mention the Palmer-Ana relationship out loud first. Well, Ariana was not going to break first. She was not about to ask Lexa’s permission to date the guy she loved. Never would she give the girl that satisfaction. When the time was right, everyone would know about Ariana and Palmer, and then Lexa was just going to have to deal with it.
“It’s weird that we can’t find anything out about her with all the government search engines our members can tap into,” Soomie interjected. “The only reasons her information could possibly be that classified would be if (A) she’s in witness protection, (B) she’s the daughter of some international dignitary-slash-fugitive who’s been given asylum by the government, or (C) she’s got an assumed identity.”
Ariana flinched and swallowed wrong, then started coughing uncontrollably. She covered her mouth with her hand and turned away, her heart racing.
“Are you all right?” Maria asked.
“I’m fine,” Ariana croaked, coughing a few more times.
“Maybe we should talk to national about her,” Maria suggested, sipping her espresso. A cool breeze tossed her wavy dark hair in front of her eyes, and she tucked it behind her ear. “I’m sure they have the resources to find Lily’s family.”
“We can’t,” Lexa said flatly. “They’ll think we didn’t properly vet our taps. Which, let’s face it, we didn’t. We just thought she was cool and liked her style and figured Headmaster Jansen wouldn’t have let her into Privilege House if she wasn’t worthy.”
L
exa blushed slightly and cast an askance look at Ariana, as if she’d just said too much. Ariana’s heart skipped a breath. Was Headmaster Jansen in Stone and Grave?
“And now we’re screwed,” Lexa continued. “She’s already made it too far in the process. They’ll think we’ve gotten sloppy, and I can’t have that on my record.”
Ariana eyed Lexa. Clearly this was something she was very concerned about—her image with national Stone and Grave. Apparently Lexa wasn’t as effortlessly perfect as she’d been making herself out to be.
“Okay, then how about a private detective?” Maria asked, lifting her shoulders. “Maybe a professional would be able to figure out what we’re missing.”
Ariana’s shoulder muscles curled. A PI? They wanted to hire a PI to look into Kaitlynn’s past? A private investigator would follow her around. Take pictures. Maybe even run her image through some law-enforcement websites. A PI could easily find out that Kaitlynn wasn’t who she said she was. That she was, in fact, a convicted murderer and fugitive. The former roommate of one Ariana Osgood.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Soomie put in, tugging a scone out of a wax paper bag. “That’s what my dad does when he’s hiring new execs. It’s a routine part of the background check.”
“A private investigator,” Lexa mused, narrowing her eyes. “I like it. Why haven’t we done this before?”
“Because we never needed to,” Maria said. “Everyone else we’ve ever tapped has been from a prominent family. Like Ana,” she said with a smile.
Ariana tried to smile back, but her organs were twisting together in new and seriously uncomfortable configurations. This couldn’t happen. She simply could not let this happen.
“Maybe I’ll look up a few investigators and set some meetings at my parents’ house in town,” Lexa said, sipping her latte.
“Why not just have them come here?” Soomie asked.
“And risk Lily seeing and asking questions? No way,” Lexa said. “Besides, the administration might want to know what I was up to.” She looked around at her friends. “Where would I find a reputable PI, do you think?”