Last Christmas (Private 0.60)

The blue screen flashed the words 1 new txt msg. She flipped the phone open, curious. Everyone who would

text her was sitting right here.

Old chapel, 7 p.m. Don't be late, naughty girl.Her heart stopped and she glanced up. Thomas was still sitting

with Gage just a few tables away. But this time, he was looking directly at her. She blushed and immediately

snapped the phone shut. "Who's that?" Daniel was looking at her curiously. She forced herself to look back.

"Hmmm?" she asked, still gripping the phone in her hand. "On the phone," Daniel said impatiently. He

reached for her cell, but Ariana stuffed it into her Kate Spade bag, hoping Daniel couldn't see her clenched

jaw, the nervous energy that was now racing through her. "Nobody," she said quickly. "What's the matter

with you?" Daniel demanded, his shoulders rigid and angry. "Why won't you let me see it?"

"Why won't you let me have any privacy?" Ariana shot back. Her face burned. Isobel, Dash, Noelle, and

Paige had all abandoned their breakfasts to watch their argument.

Daniel's eyes flashed. "Because. You're my girlfriend." "Wow. Medieval much, Daniel?" Noelle joked.

Ariana could have hugged her friend for standing up for her. "He's right," Paige said in a tone that dared any

of them to contradict her. "He does have a right to know. Especially when she's acting so cagey." Noelle

looked down at her food, rolling her eyes only slightly. "I'm not being cagey," Ariana said steadily, willing

herself to not sound defensive. "So who was it, Ariana?" Paige challenged. "Fine! It was my mother, okay?

She texts me these sappy messages and they're too embarrassing to show to anyone," Ariana improvised,

hoping they couldn't see through her. Couldn't see the red liar sign that had to be flashing over her head.

"Can the inquisition end now?" "Your mom knows how to text?" Paige asked, looking skeptical. The clasp on

her citrine-and-diamond necklace had fallen to the front, and she quickly adjusted the chain.

"She's on Instant Messenger, too. It's bizarre." Ariana shrugged, trying to appear blithe. But as desperate as

she was for everyone to believe her, she started to feel anger burn at her core. She had never done anything

wrong before. Never given Daniel reason to worry. And maybe she had made one small-teeny, really-

misstep with Thomas, but she was always so good.

Noelle yawned. "That's it," she announced. "I'm officially bored." She got up and pulled on her camel-

colored suede coat over her cardigan. "I've got to finish packing." "Same." Dash nodded."And I need to

finish my paper." Ariana stood up and grabbed her bag, swinging it over her left shoulder, away from Paige.

Just in case the girl made a swipe for her phone. Glancing across the room, she saw that Thomas was looking

at her again, watching intently. "See you later?" she said to Daniel.

"I'll come by to get your stuff," he said, rising to give her a quick kiss. Keeping her eyes on Thomas, Ariana