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  ing and funny. But he was also clearly a player. And I wasn’t totally But wait . . . did I care? This could be the beginning—the beginning sure I wanted to get involved with someone like that just then. Flirt of me getting everything I had hoped for. If they had talked about with? Fine. Get involved with? Another story.

  me, great. Apparently they had seen something they liked. Though Ariana’s eyes narrowed. “Most girls can’t resist a guy like

  what that might be, I had no idea.

  Thomas Pearson,” she said. “He has that . . .”

  “Okay then,” I said finally, smothering my giddy glee. “I’m

  Ridiculously sexy quality?

  there.”

  “Dangerous thing going,” she finished.

  She gazed at me intently, as if gauging my reaction to this

  assessment.

  “Yeah, I could see that,” I said nonchalantly. Beautiful and rich and smart and cocky and lascivious? Yeah. That added up to dangerous. “If you go for that type of thing,” I added. “Which I don’t.”

  Normally.

  But even if I was considering potentially going for it now, she didn’t need to know that. Especially if she, for some reason, had some kind of problem with Thomas, as her tone suggested. Besides, the last thing I wanted to do was come off as boy crazy. I wanted to come off as cool. Sophisticated. Above it all. Like she was.

  Ariana smiled slowly and seemed to glow from within. “You

  should sit with us tomorrow,” she said. “At breakfast.”

  My heart didn’t beat for a good five seconds.

  P R I V A T E

  69

  “Not hungry?” she said, eyeing my meager breakfast of dry toast and coffee.

  Starving, actually. I just hadn’t been sure what would constitute a sanctioned breakfast at the Billings table, so I had played it safe.

  BREAKFAST WITH BILLINGS

  On Ariana’s tray was a half-eaten fruit cup, two pieces of toast, and a bowl of dry Lucky Charms. My stomach grumbled at the sight of it all—inaudibly, thank God.

  “I’m not a big breakfast person,” I lied. Then wanted to kick

  myself when I realized that if I ended up sitting here again, I was Ariana was seated alone at her table when I arrived the next

  going to have to stick to that.

  morning, wearing a white sundress and a blue scarf. I wasn’t sure

  “I love breakfast,” Ariana said lightly, picking up one purple

  if she had gotten there early on my behalf, but I was relieved to horseshoe marshmallow and placing it in her mouth. “I would eat it see her. Approaching her when she was on her own was a lot

  three times a day if I could.”

  easier than the alternative. I kept expecting her to look up from I smiled. Her serenity had a calming affect on me. “It’s quiet

  her book as I got closer, but she never did. Finally I was left here in the morning,” I said, looking around as students trailed standing there, hovering, feeling awkward. Maybe it had been a blearily in through the double doors.

  joke. Or maybe she had forgotten. Could she really not have

  “That’s why I like it,” Ariana said. “Much better for reading.”

  noticed the shadow I was casting on her pages?

  Just then, two girls walked over and took the two opposing seats at

  “Uh . . . Ariana?” I said, prickling with heat.

  the far end of the table. I recognized them from the Billings crowd on She raised her head, confused. Oh, God. She had forgotten.

  my first morning. One had dark skin, jet-black hair, and a Victoria’s From the look on her face she didn’t even know who I was.

  Secret–worthy body under her jeans and white shirt. The other had

  “Sorry,” I said automatically.

  straight blond hair that hung halfway down her back. Her outfit was I was about to retreat when her expression cleared and she

  trendy, but a touch too trendy, as if she had spent far too much time smiled. “Hi, Reed,” she said. “Sit here.”

  finding the exact right belt to match the exact right bag to match the She pulled out the chair next to hers, in the interior of the table.

  exact right shoes. Both shot me confused looks as they sat.

  Relief flooded my body, I walked behind her and placed my tray on

  “Hi,” the girl said as she removed a magazine from her bag. The the table, then hung my bag on the back of the chair.

  National Review. There was a picture of the Democrat donkey on the

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  cover with a noose around its neck. No one I knew ever read political Leanne’s mouth snapped closed, silencing her laughter. She

  magazines. Not even the adults. “You are?”

  turned beet red under her makeup.

  “This is Reed,” Ariana answered before I could. “Reed, that’s

  Ariana brought her book back up and continued to read. It was all Natasha Crenshaw and Leanne Shore.”

  I could do to keep the grin off my face. Kiran took a chair across the

  “Hi,” I said with a nervous smile.

  way and flipped open her Sidekick. Around her neck a large diamond

  “Does Noelle know you’re sitting here?” Leanne asked with a pendant flashed in the sun, nearly blinding me as she settled in. She sneer.

  wore a tiny, soft-looking lemon-colored sweater, black skirt, and My smile drooped.

  kitten heels, all of which screamed money. If she sold that outfit, she

  “She’s about to,” Ariana said coolly.

  could probably buy my house with the proceeds. But then I supposed Just then, Noelle emerged from the food line, trailed by

  that having your bod on an NYC billboard paid a pretty penny.

  Taylor, Kiran, and Dash. She smiled hungrily at us and my

  Taylor—much more my speed in jeans and a preppy polo—shot

  stomach turned. What had I been thinking, believing that this

  me a curious look as she slid behind me and sat down to my right.

  was a good idea?

  She did, however, also have large diamond studs in her ears.

  “Good morning, glass-licker!” Noelle said, dropping her tray

  “Hi,” she said. “I’m Taylor.”

  across from Ariana.

  “She knows, ” Noelle said impatiently.

  My face went red instantly. Bad idea. Big bad idea.

  Taylor’s cheeks turned pink.

  “Glass-licker?” Leanne said. “Oh! Right! You’re the les bian,”

  “I’m Reed,” I said, trying to make her feel better.

  she said in a husky voice. Natasha smirked as she opened her mag

  “She knows that, too. What are we all, retarded?” Noelle asked.

  and Leanne laughed, enjoying her own joke.

  Natasha sighed and looked up from her magazine. “Noelle. I’d

  Ariana brought her book down and glared not at Leanne, but at

  rather you not use that word. At least not around me.”

  Noelle. Amazingly, Noelle blushed as well. Ariana could make

  “Sorry, Princess PC. Did you want to slap my wrist?” Noelle

  Noelle blush. Good to know.

  said, offering her arm over Kiran’s Sidekick. Kiran clucked her

  “Sorry! ” Noelle said, rolling her eyes. “Hi, Reed,” she said point-tongue and leaned back so she could see.

  edly. Then she sat down and scoffed. “Touchy, touchy.” She slung

  “That won’t be necessary,” Natasha said with a smirk.

  her bag over her chair and rolled her eyes. “God, Leanne. Can you

  “Natasha considers herself the moral center of Easton,” Noelle

  shut it?”

  told me.

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<
br />   “Well, it’s not like any of the rest of you are gunning for the job,”

  Just then, Dash dropped down across from me and cleared a curl

  Natasha said with false sweetness.

  away from his eyes with a flick of his head. Up close, I could see he Noelle stuck her finger in her mouth.

  was even handsomer than I had realized. With his square jaw, warm Alrighty, then.

  brown eyes, and perfect skin he looked like an Abercrombie ad

  “So, Reed, do you like it here so far?” Taylor asked.

  come to life.

  “Yeah. Definitely,” I said.

  “Dash McCafferty,” he said by way of greeting. “You’re the girl

  “You’re from Pennsylvania, right?” she asked brightly. “Is it

  with the sweet feet.”

  like your old school?”

  Noelle glanced at me suspiciously.

  I glanced at Noelle. Had she told the others where I was from?

  “You should’ve seen the way this girl kicked the football the

  “She already memorized all the textbooks in this place, so she’s other day,” he said to Noelle. “She could give you a run for your moved on to yearbooks and new student rosters,” Noelle explained.

  money, babe.”

  “Did you know that less that two percent of all Easton students

  “Gee. Sorry I missed it,” Noelle said flatly.

  and alumni were from Pennsylvania? Isn’t that weird?” Taylor

  Leanne busted out with another laugh until Noelle silenced her

  asked. “I mean, considering it’s such a big state.”

  with a glance.

  I swallowed hard. Less than 2 percent, huh? So I was a huge A couple of other guys walked over and slapped hands with

  novelty.

  Dash. One of them sat on the table behind him while the other

  “What do you think of your teachers?” Taylor put in eagerly.

  pulled out another chair and brought it close, as if to be too far away

  “What classes are you taking? Do you have Corcoran for Trig?”

  from Dash would have deprived them of oxygen. I recognized both

  “I—“

  of them from the football game and wondered if Thomas would be

  “Taylor, you don’t need to give her the third degree,” Ariana

  far behind.

  said lightly.

  “This is Josh,” Dash said, thumbing over his shoulder at a cute Taylor’s face turned pink. “Sorry,” she said.

  blond kid with a baby face.

  “She needs to know everything,” Noelle explained.

  “Hey,” Josh said with a nod and smile.

  “As if she doesn’t already,” Natasha said under her breath.

  “And that loser is Gage.”

  Taylor ducked her head, hiding behind her curls, and my heart

  The taller, trendier kid scoffed. Dash punched him once in the

  went out to her. Even though I was relieved to be out from under the arm—hard, if the contortion of Gage’s face was any indication—and microscope.

  that was that.

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  The double doors opened and I glanced over automatically.

  I was surprised at the frankness of this statement.

  Constance and Diana walked in with Missy, Lorna, and the others.

  “I’m sorry, Natasha,” Noelle said innocently. “But I’m afraid

  Constance scanned the room and I knew she was looking for me,

  that’s going to be impossible.”

  wondering why I had left so early and without her. I felt a stab of Natasha rolled her eyes and followed Leanne through the double

  guilt as she finally found me and did a double take. I managed an doors. So all was not harmonious behind the walls of Billings.

  apologetic smile as she walked by me, looking stunned. Missy and Somehow, knowing this only made it all the more intriguing.

  Lorna whispered to each other and, if possible, Missy’s nostrils Someone grabbed the door just before it closed behind Natasha

  flared even wider. The envy was clear.

  and my heart caught, hoping to spot Thomas. All I saw were a bunch So far this was a good morning.

  of guys from yesterday’s classes. I sat back in my seat and glanced

  “Do you play a lot of sports, Reed?” Taylor asked out of nowhere.

  instinctively at Ariana. Sure enough, she had lowered her book and Here we go again. I tore my gaze away from Missy’s. Taylor was

  was studying me openly.

  systematically gutting her bagel, piling all the dough up in a moun-

  “What?” I said, flushing slightly.

  tain on the side of her tray.

  “Dash, is Thomas coming to breakfast?” Ariana asked.

  “Just soccer and lacrosse,” I said.

  My heart practically stopped. What was she, a mind reader? She

  “Just like you, babe,” Dash said, slinging his arm over Noelle’s looked at me meaningfully and I knew for certain that she had

  chair.

  asked the question on my behalf.

  Noelle stared at me. “Again I can’t help but say, ‘Gee.’”

  “Oh God, Ariana. You’re not going there, are you?” Noelle Wow. Guess that respect I gained on the soccer field yesterday asked.

  really didn’t translate to the real world.

  “Why? What’s wrong with Pearson?” Dash asked.

  Leanne laughed again and Natasha squirmed in her seat.

  “I think the more appropriate question is what’s not wrong with

  “Leanne, would you kindly remove your nose from my ass? It’s

  Pearson,” Noelle said.

  starting to chafe,” Noelle snapped.

  “I was just asking a question,” Ariana said coolly. “So, is he

  This time, Leanne looked as if she might cry. She got up, pulled coming?”

  her backpack onto her shoulders, and shot me a scathing look

  Dash laughed as he shoveled down a forkful of eggs. “Does he

  before walking off.

  ever?” He glanced at me. “Pearson is not a morning person. Ask

  “Nice one, Noelle,” Natasha said, rising as well. “She just wants Josh.”

  you to like her.”

  I had no idea why he had directed this comment at me. Had

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  Thomas said something about me? Or had Dash read my mind and

  “What? It was just a question,” Kiran said.

  realized who I was looking for as well?

  “She lives in her own little world,” Ariana explained.

  “I’m his roommate. I can attest,” Josh said, raising a hand.

  “Look who’s talking,” Kiran grumbled at Ariana. She looked me

  “Man likes his sleep.”

  over and leaned back in her chair, placing her apple wedge down on Ariana placed her book aside and picked a piece of toast up from her plate. “You know, this apple is a little sour. I’d like a new one,”

  her plate, crunching into it. She smiled at me as she chewed and I she said, looking directly into my eyes.

  smiled back through my embarrassment, silently thanking her for There was a moment of silence and I realized that everyone was

  asking the question I never would have had the guts to ask.

  looking at me. Expectantly.

  “Ugh!” Kiran groaned, snapping her Sidekick closed and

  “What?”

  tossing it on the table.

  “She said she’d like a new apple,” Noelle said. “And while you’re She hooked her arm over the back of her chair and looked away

  up you can get me a coffee, too.”

  from the rest of us for a moment, never once losing her arch
ed

  “And one of those chocolate donuts,” Kiran said. “The ones with posture. Her profile was perfectly angular, her cheekbones sharp the sprinkles. I’m celebrating the end of swimsuit season.”

  and defined. I noticed she also had some kind of shimmer above

  “Oooh. I’ll have one too,” Taylor added.

  her eyes, but it was so subtle you could only see it when the light I looked around at them, my cheeks burning. Were they

  hit her in a certain way.

  serious? They were really ordering me to go up and get them food.

  “Did your technology anger you?” Gage asked.

  Dash popped a piece of bagel in his mouth and snickered as he eyed

  “Never date a guy from Barcelona,” Kiran said, shaking her head me with amusement.

  slightly as she turned forward again. Every gesture this girl made

  “Did you get all that or do you need a pad and pen?” Noelle said.

  was elegant and graceful. She picked up an apple wedge, holding it I looked at Ariana. She took a deep breath and continued to read.

  delicately between the tips of her fingers, and took a nibble.

  I was alone here. And I had the distinct feeling that I had no choice.

  “They’re gorgeous, yes, but just so self-absorbed.” Her stunning

  “All right. I guess I’m going up there, then,” I said.

  brown and gold eyes fell on me and she blinked. “Where did you

  “Good decision,” Noelle said.

  come from?”

  I rose on shaky legs.

  There was a moment of silence and then everyone else

  “Aren’t you going to ask Ariana if she wants anything?” Kiran

  cracked up.

  said innocently.

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  Die, die, die.

  I paused. “Ariana? Did you want anything?” I asked, making

  myself sound as pleasant as possible.

  “No, thank you, Reed,” Ariana said, her tone blithe. Never once did she look up from those pages.

  DRECK

  So she was in on it. She didn’t actually ask me to sit here so she and her friends could get to know me. They just wanted some new girl they could order around. Well, fine. If that’s what it took, that’s what I would do.

  I turned and walked toward the lunch line, feeling conspicuous

  Later that week, I met with Ms. Naylor right before dinner. She and chagrined and humiliated as they all watched me do as they