Sweet Deceit (Privilege 4)

“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.