Private (Private 1)

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