Last Christmas (Private 0.60)

"Who's who? I don't know what you're talking about," he said, hovering nervously near the door.

"So I'll refresh your memory," she said coolly. She had trusted Thomas like she'd never trusted anyone

before. She had given him her virginity, and in return, he had hidden something from her. That was going to

stop. Now. If they were going to get through this together, she had to know everything. "Tall brunette. Pretty.

Says she loved you, and you dumped her without any warning." Emotion started to creep into her voice, and

she swallowed it. This wasn't the time to let her feelings get in the way. Feelings only complicated things.

Slowly, the color drained from Thomas's face. "I-I don't know who you're talking about."

Liar."Wrong," Ariana said calmly, running her fingers over the worn plaid bedspread beneath her. "Try

again." Her voice was flat. No hint of the rage that boiled inside her.

"Ariana, I swear-"

"Don't lie to me!" Ariana shouted, standing. Thomas took a step back "All right!" he whispered. "All right.

Just keep it down."

233

Ariana crossed her arms over her chest and waited. Waited while Thomas ran his hands through his hair.

Composed what he was going to say.

"Her name is Melissa," he said weakly. He ambled across the room and slumped against his desk. "Mel

Johnston. I dated her for a while this fall." He paused, glancing warily in Ariana's direction as he unbuttoned

his coat and tossed it on his bed.

Ariana was silent.

"I met her through some of my friends at Easton High," he continued. "We went out for a few months and she

got kinda cl

ingy, so I broke it off. No big deal. Please don't-"

"When?" she asked icily. "When did you break it off?" The sound of Thomas begging only made her angrier.

It made him seem weak.

"I don't know." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor, studying it as if seeing it for

the very first time. "Maybe a month ago? She didn't take it too well, and I haven't heard from her since." He

looked up at Ariana, a pleading gaze burning in his sapphire eyes. "Listen. It's over. I swear. I didn't tell you

because I didn't think it was a big deal. I don't know why it's so important-"

"Because she knows, Thomas!" Ariana exploded, lunging in his direction.

"She knows everything!"