by Kate Brian
Ariana blinked. "Aside from studying, sure."
"Good. Meet me and the girls down at the dance studio around eight," she said. "I've got something special planned for Lexa."
"Really? What?" Ariana asked.
"Oh, you'll see," Brigit replied. "I like my events to be a surprise."
Ariana was dying for details but didn't want Brigit to think she was a nosy pain on top of being rigid.
"All right. I'm there," Ariana replied. "Now, on to my plan. . . ."
Brigit was all ears and breathless anticipation, and for the first time in a long time Ariana found herself relaxing. Found herself in the middle of a good old--fashioned, lighthearted, mischievous bonding moment.
She was glad Brigit had warned her that she was coming off as tightly wound. Now that she knew it was an issue, she could work on it. She could make sure that her public humiliation proved to the members of Stone and Grave that she was anything but rigid. Brigit was a good, honest friend. And it was good to have real friends again.
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VERY SOON
After she left Brigit, Ariana headed for the cafe and a celebratory mocha latte, feeling more herself than she had in days. She'd started the ball rolling. Certainly once the Allison Plan came together, everything else would fall into place as well.She was just heading past the door to the darkened theater when it flew open right in front of her, two inches from slamming into her skull. An arm reached out, grabbed her by the wrist, and yanked her inside. Ariana was about to scream, until she realized that her assailant was none other than Palmer Liriano.
"Hey," he said quietly, backing her into the wall.
"Hey."
She looked into his warm brown eyes and smiled. He kissed her. A soft, sweet kiss. And this time, she just let it happen, because she knew Lexa was not around. And besides, it felt so very, very good.
"Hey," he said again, pulling his face back and smiling.
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"You said that already," she replied flirtatiously.
"Sorry. Sometimes when I'm around you I get kind of stupid," Palmer replied.
"Stupid's good," Ariana whispered.
Then she pulled him to her again and kissed him and kissed him and kissed him. His fingers briefly clutched the pleats of her skirt, then slipped beneath the hem, tickling her thigh. Ariana backed toward the wall and Palmer came with, pressing himself up against her so that it felt as every inch of their bodies were touching.
Then he pulled back and cupped her face with his hands. Her lips buzzed as she gazed up at him.
"I told you not to keep me waiting too long," he said. "Now I've had to resort to kidnapping you."
"I know," Ariana said, placing her palms against his chest. He was wearing tan cargo shorts and a gray Yale T--shirt, the letters worn from many washes and a couple of small holes near the hem. Did this mean that Yale was his first choice? And if so, how could she make him switch to Princeton?
It's not about that right now, Ariana.
"I just want to make sure Lexa's over you before we make this thing, you know, public," Ariana said.
"And? How's that going for you?" Palmer asked.
"Brigit's got something planned for tonight, and tomorrow at lunch, I'll be introducing a new man into her life," Ariana said with a smile.
Palmer took a step back. "A new man? Really. Who?"
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Ariana's heart panged. He was jealous. Jealous over Lexa. She took a deep breath and told herself it was only natural. He'd been with Lexa for a long time. But then, if he really wanted to be with her-- Ariana--then why should he care?
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it," Ariana said, reaching out and tousling his hair because she knew it would probably irk him. But he'd just irked her, so he deserved it. "Now I've got to leave before someone else sneaks in here to hook up and finds us together."
She turned to go.
"Wait."
Ariana smiled to herself. Her heart warmed as he slipped his strong arms around her from behind. At least he did her the courtesy of showing her he wasn't yet ready for her to leave.
"Just tell me it'll be soon," he whispered in her ear. "I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. I think about you all the time and all I want is to be with you. To eat lunch with you, share a study carrel in the library with you, do . . . other things with you . . . ," he added suggestively.
Ariana closed her eyes and let his perfect words rush over her. "Really?" she said, turning around to face him. She lifted his hand so it was palm to palm with hers, then laced their fingers together. "That's all you think about?"
"Don't you?" he asked, looking almost hurt. "I just want to be able to walk across campus with you holding your hand. I want to tell everyone you're my girl." He leaned back and raised his eyebrows. "You are my girl, aren't you?"
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Ariana felt as if her shoes had just left the floor, like she was actually floating. "Yeah," she said with a smile. "Yeah, I'm your girl."
He squeezed her hand, then lifted the other and held it the same way. "Then tell me it'll be soon."
Ariana smiled. "Soon," she promised, her heart feeling warm and fuzzy and free. "Very soon."
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TENSION
"Where're you going?" Kaitlynn asked Ariana as she opened the door of their room that night at exactly 8 p.m. She had estimated that it would take seven minutes for her to get from her room to the dance studio, and she wanted to be fashionably late, but also didn't want to miss out on a single moment of the action. Which meant she had to leave now."Nowhere you need to know about," Ariana said, starting through the door.
Kaitlynn shoved herself up off her bed. "You're doing something with them, aren't you?" she said, reaching for her jacket. "I'm coming."
Ariana took a deep breath and steeled herself. "No, you're not."
"Why not?" Kaitlynn said in a challenging tone.
Ariana felt as if she were dealing with a child. A small, petulant child. But that was the problem with the insane. It was always "me,
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me, me" with them. Ariana made a note to remember this when dealing with Kaitlynn from now on. It was just too bad she couldn't put the girl a on permanent time--out.
"Because this is invitation only, and you were not invited," Ariana explained slowly.
"So get me an invitation," Kaitlynn replied.
"I will. I'm getting you an invitation to the NoBash. But in order to do that, it's imperative that you don't start coming off as a needy loser," Ariana said with a sickly sweet smile. "So tonight, I suggest you stay in. See ya!"
She slammed the door of their room, leaving Kaitlynn fuming behind her. As she traipsed out the back door of Wolcott Hall, her head was held high and a triumphant smile played about her lips. Kaitlynn, for once, had not gotten her way.
Ariana arrived at the door of the school's dance studio at exactly 8:08, having been delayed by Kaitlynn for that one minute. The studio was directly across the hallway from the choral room, where the school's select choir was busy running scales, rehearsing for their first concert of the year. Further down the well--lit, marble--floored hallway Ariana could hear a string quartet playing Vivaldi and a guitar plucking away at some antiwar tune from the 1960s. A lone soprano sang a haunting aria that wafted above the other music, asserting itself in the melee.
Ariana took a deep breath. It was such beautiful noise. Such a far cry from the screaming and ranting of the Brenda T. She could listen to it all night long and simply revel in the fact that she was here.
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But she had other business to attend to.
Slowly, Ariana opened the door of the dance studio, unsure of what she was going to find. A huge, raucous party? A sophisticated dessert--and--wine gathering? Some kind of Bachelorette--style event designed to find Lexa a new beau? (She hoped not, considering she had already chosen one for her.) As soon as she stepped inside, her senses were filled with the scent of eucalyptus and the air rushed in
on her like a humid embrace. The pinging sound of soothing spa music tickled her earlobes. An African--American woman in an ocher--colored tunic stepped forward and smiled in a welcoming way.
"You must be Miss Covington. I'm Satia, your masseuse for the evening."
"That, I was not expecting," Ariana said with a pleased laugh.
All the floor--to--ceiling mirrors had been swathed with dark velvet curtains. Ten tall plank fountains stood along the walls, serenely gurgling water into their rock--filled basins. There were five massage tables set up in the center of the room and a few manicure and pedicure stations positioned in the corners. Hovering around the studio were a dozen women dressed just like Satia, smiling placidly, ready to serve. Maria was talking urgently with one of the women near the back wall, while Soomie and Brigit stepped out from behind a Chinese room divider, cinching themselves into comfy--looking moss green robes.
"There you are! What do you think?" Brigit asked, stepping up to Ariana. "Do you think Lexa will like it?"
Just then, the door opened and Lexa walked in, tucking her cell
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phone into her Birkin bag. Her jaw dropped as she looked around, her eyes wide.
"I think Lexa will love it," Lexa said, pulling Brigit in for a hug. "Look at this!" she said, releasing her friend as she took it all in. "This is amazing, Brigit. But what's the occasion?"
"You," Maria said, gliding over to join them. "This is step one in the plan to get your well--toned ass over Palmer Liriano."
"It was all Brigit's idea," Soomie said, giving credit where credit was due. She laid her hand on Brigit's back and Ariana realized it was the first time she'd seen the girl without her BlackBerry surgically attached to her palm.
"Just step one?" Lexa asked, idly picking up a bottle of red nail polish from a nearby counter. "What's step two? A trip to Paris?"
"Not quite," Ariana said, glancing conspiratorially at Maria. "But I think you'll like it."
Ariana had filled Maria in on the Conrad plan between classes and Maria had pounced on the idea. She had said that Connie was one of her favorite people at APH and that she couldn't believe she hadn't thought of him as a match for Lexa before. All of which had left Ariana feeling insightful, triumphant, and hopeful. If Connie turned out to be Lexa's perfect match, then she and Palmer would be free to be together in no time.
"Miss Greene?" the only male masseuse in the room--a tall, gorgeous blond with tan skin and a soap star's smile--gave Lexa a slight bow. "My name is Dirk. If you'd like to get changed, we can get started."
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Lexa grinned at Brigit and replaced the nail polish on the counter. "Remind me to buy you something pretty." She took a deep breath and smiled at Dirk. "I'm holding a lot of tension in my lower back," she said. "I hope you're ready for a workout."
"Your wish is my command," he said, lifting an arm to guide her toward the room divider and the robes hanging behind. "Shall we?"
"Oh, we shall."
Ariana and her friends dissolved into a giggling fit as Lexa and Dirk walked off together.
"I think this just might work," Ariana said.
"Pardon me while I pat myself on the back," Brigit replied, reaching around to do just that.
"Go ahead and get changed," Soomie said to Ariana. "I bet you could use the relaxation," she added meaningfully.
"Oh, you mean because of what I told you guys this morning?" Ariana said. "I've already taken steps to deal with that situation."
"Good girl," Maria said with a wink.
A warm feeling filled Ariana's heart. Soomie and Maria definitely wanted to see her get into Stone and Grave. They really cared about her. With a swelling surge of pride, Ariana realized what an incredible life she was building for herself here. Real friends, a potential boyfriend, a solid future. Suddenly she felt like patting herself on the back.
"So, Miss Covington," Satia said, accompanying Ariana across the room. "Do you have any particular areas you'd like me to work on? Any muscles holding tension?"
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Ariana took a deep breath. "My shoulders and neck, definitely."
Satia tilted her head and looked at Ariana in sympathy. "I find that's the case with a lot of students. All that time spent at the computer."
Ariana smiled. "Yes. That's exactly it."
That and every time I see the murderous psycho who's trying to ruin my life I feel my shoulder muscles twist into pretzels. But you don't need to know about that.
"Omigosh. We should do this every week," Soomie said as her pedicurist massaged the arches of her feet.
A couple of hours without Kaitlynn every week, being pampered along with my friends? Ariana thought, slipping into her robe. I could definitely handle that.
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A GIFT
Ariana awoke on Thursday morning to the dual delights of a bright sunny day and an empty bed opposite her own. Kaitlynn was already up and out, which meant that Ariana could relax as she got ready for classes. She took a deep breath and stretched her arms over her head, recalling the lovely, relaxing evening she'd had the night before. She had felt like a truly integral part of Lexa's group, helping her friends select their nail colors, chatting through their facials and pedicures. Plus her muscles were all perfectly loose this morning. Not a coil or a knot anywhere. All thanks to Brigit. No, thanks to the choice Ariana had made that first morning when she'd arrived at APH. When she'd chosen to be friends with these girls. She had obviously chosen wisely.With a smile, Ariana allowed herself the luxury of one more minute burrowed under the covers. It was good to be her.
Finally, Ariana opened her eyes and rolled over onto her side. She
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blinked and lifted her head. There was something sitting on the edge of her night table: a long, pink velvet jewelry box with gold trim, the kind that usually held a necklace or bracelet. Her heart caught. Had Palmer left something for her? Or was this, perhaps, a trinket from Stone and Grave?
Ariana sat up straight and glanced over at Kaitlynn's table. She had no matching box. Which meant either she'd already opened hers, or this was, in fact, something that had been left just for Ariana.
Holding her breath in anticipation, Ariana grabbed up the box and pried it open. Out slipped a long, thick lock of auburn hair. It fluttered to the ground like a leaf, coming to rest on Ariana's bare foot. Instinctively she kicked it off, her nose scrunched in disgust. Then she crouched on the ground for a better look. It was the exact same shade as her own dyed hair.
Her heart dove into her feet and she jumped up, running for the mirror. A strangled cry escaped her throat. There was a big chunk of hair, much more than what had been stashed in the tiny box, chopped away from the right side of her face. Ariana whirled around, her blood hot with anger now, and grabbed the box again. She turned it over, looking for a clue. Nothing. Then she pried the removable bottom out and a folded piece of paper hit the floor. Ariana stooped and unfolded it. It was a small calendar with the word NoBash written in red letters over the square for next Saturday, September 14. Yesterday's date was crossed out in red. On the bottom there were three words scrawled in red ink.
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NINR FSYD LEFT!
Kaitlynn. Kaitlynn had done this to her while she slept. Ariana hadn't felt a thing. If Kaitlynn could do this to her while she was in her most vulnerable state . . . what else could she do? Ariana stood up, her body quaking, and hurled the box at the wall with a guttural screech, releasing all the anger and fear that had pent up within her chest in the last ten seconds. She imagined herself cramming the box down Kaitlynn's throat, then balling up the calendar and shoving that down there as well. Kaitlynn could not do this to her. She would not let her.
Out in the hallway, a door slammed, and Ariana suddenly realized how much noise she had just made. She looked around her empty room wildly, wondering how many of her floormates had heard. Control. Control was all--important. And she had just lost it.
Just breathe, Ariana.
In, on
e. . . two. . . three. . .
Out, one. . . two . . . three. . .
In, one. . . two. . . three. . .
Out, one. . . two . . . three. . .
Her heart rate was just returning to normal when a scream split the quiet. Ariana ran out into the hallway and down to Soomie and Brigit's room, where she flung open the door. Soomie was sitting straight up in bed, holding a box just like Ariana's in one hand and a small lock of black hair in the other. Brigit hovered over her, looking horrified.
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"Omigod!" Soomie cried, looking up at Ariana. "Do I look as bad as you?"
She got up and ran for the mirror, but it took a minute for her to find the spot where her hair had been chopped. Kaitlynn had taken an inconspicuous lock on the underside of Soomie's hair. A spot that could easily be hidden.
"Who did this?" Soomie cried, her hand shaking.
"Did you get one, too?" Ariana asked Brigit.
Brigit looked around, confused. "No."
"What the hell is this?" Allison shouted.
Ariana exchanged a look with her friends, then rushed down the hall. Allison stood in the center of her room with another box, a blond curl pinched between her finger and thumb. Tahira was nowhere to be found.
"What is going on out here?" Lexa asked, emerging from her room in her robe, freshly showered.
"Someone's gone around chopping off people's hair in the middle of the night," Soomie replied, whirling around.
"What?" Lexa went ashen.
"Allison, Soomie, and Ana all found locks of their hair in boxes by their beds," Brigit explained.
Lexa whirled around and ran back to her room. She emerged a moment later, looking slightly relieved but still freaked. "Maria's gone, but I don't see anything," she said, approaching. She looked over the velvet box in Soomie's hand. "They didn't leave a note or anything?"
Ariana's heart lurched as she thought of the calendar that had been
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stashed with her lock of hair. She hoped Lexa didn't go looking for her box.
"No. Nothing," Ariana said.
"Who could have done this? And why you three?" Brigit asked.
