Private (Private 1)

“Your little geek has a blog. Were you aware? And he’s not too good

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K A T E B R I A N

P R I V A T E

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with the aliases, I must say. One of the guys stumbled across it and ripped to shreds inside. And I had the distinct feeling that Noelle e-mailed it to everyone in school last period.”

had chosen particularly harsh words in order to punish her friend.

Kiran looked as if she were going to throw up. Throw up, then

My heart pounded in my ears, my eyes, my temples.

faint, then die. My heart went out to her.

“That’s what you want me to say?”

“A Dreck boy, Kiran. Really,” Ariana said, her tone almost sym-

“Word for word.”

pathetic. “Did you think we weren’t going to find out?”

I swallowed hard, struggling not to choke. “Now?”

She reached for Kiran’s hand in an almost motherly manner.

“No. Next Wednesday,” Noelle said sarcastically. “Yes, now.”

Kiran let Ariana hold her for a moment before pulling away. She

“Uh . . . okay,” I said. I looked at Kiran. “What’s his name?”

swallowed hard and shook her hair back, adopting a nonchalant

“Like it matters,” Noelle said.

demeanor. Leaning her elbow on the table, she picked up a carrot

“It’s James,” Kiran replied. She flashed a glance at me and I

stick from her plate.

recognized a glint of desperation. She really did care about this kid.

“Whatever. We were just fooling around,” she said. “It’s not like How could she let her friends make me do this? Just because of

I care.”

some stupid image issue? Why didn’t she stand up for herself? For She was lying. We all knew she was lying. But I had a feeling it him?

didn’t matter.

I cleared my throat and stood. “I guess I’ll . . . be right back.”