Private (Private 1)

“Let’s get on with it already.”

fast as possible.

Kiran handed me the next outfit, even more amazing than the

I zipped the skirt and turned around, flushed and hot. I lifted last, and I hid a pleased smile as I turned my back to the girls once my hair out and let it fall down my back. “What do you think?”

again. Who cared anymore whether they had tricked me into

Everyone studied me. I tried to remember whether or not I had

getting that test for no reason? This was worth every last minute of put deodoran

t on that morning. How embarrassing would it be if I torture. This made all of it worthwhile.

handed back Kiran’s clothes and they were thick with BO?

Ever so slowly, Noelle smiled. “I think there’s hope for you yet.”

“Go look in the mirror,” Ariana said.

I stepped over to the full-length mirror in the corner and

grinned at my reflection. It was a totally new Reed. I looked older. I looked like I had curves. I looked good.

If I could show up for lunch with Thomas’s parents wearing

something like this, they might even think that I was good enough for their son.

“I can borrow these?” I said as Kiran stepped over with another outfit.

“Borrow? You can have them,” Kiran said.

My jaw dropped. “What?”

“Please. I get new stuff shipped in every week from Milan . . .

New York . . . Paris,” she said. “It’s not like it’s a big deal.”

“Thank you so much!” I trilled. “This is exactly what I needed!”

“For what?” Ariana asked shrewdly.

I felt something sink inside of me and looked back at my

reflection. “For my wardrobe,” I answered cagily. “You guys know I have nothing this nice.”

P R I V A T E

171

I looked up. He was glaring down at the stapled pages in con-

sternation. He flicked his gaze at me.

“Much improved,” he said.

My heart leapt as he placed the test face down on my desk. I