"Where're you going?" Brigit asked, eyeing Ariana's purse. "Got a hot date?"
"No. I just--"
"Good! Because we're off to Georgetown to burn up the credit cards," Brigit said, looping her arm through Ariana's. "Want to come?"
"Yes! Come with us!" Lexa put in, leading the way to the stairs, her hair swinging behind her shoulders, not one strand out of place.
Ariana glanced at her watch. "I wish I could, but I can't."
"Why not? There are no events or meetings scheduled until this afternoon," Soomie pointed out unhelpfully. She pulled out her BlackBerry as if to double-check, and clucked her tongue. "Damn. Frozen again."
"Why don't you just get a new one already?" Maria groused, looking bored as she toyed with her hair.
"Who has the time to deal with that?" Soomie asked.
"So order one online," Lexa suggested. "You can do it when we get back." Then, as if that ended that conversation, she looked at Ariana again. "So, you in?"
Ariana hesitated. Part of her was dying to go with them. She needed
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to solidify herself as part of this group if she wanted to have the social life she craved here at Atherton-Pryce. But staying at APH wouldn't be in the slightest bit possible if Kaitlynn made good on her threats. There would be time to bond with the girls later. If she bailed on Kaitlynn now, who knew if the psycho would give her another chance?
"Actually, I have a meeting scheduled with my guidance counselor," Ariana lied as she descended the stairs behind the rest of the girls. "There was a mix-up with my schedule."
"You have all week to do that," Maria said over her shoulder, donning a pair of aviator sunglasses as she shoved through the outer door of the dorm. "Blow it off."
"I can't. I just want to get it over with," Ariana said, keeping her voice in check. Maria seemed intent to tell her what to do at every turn. "But thanks for the offer."
"Your loss," Maria said with a shrug. "Let's go, ladies."
"Wait. Let me give you my number," Lexa said, holding out her dainty hand. "Then you can call and meet up with us after your meeting."
A lump of embarrassment formed in Ariana's throat. She envisioned her phone in a hundred pieces on the lounge floor. Pieces it had taken almost half an hour to gather up last night.
"My phone died." Because I killed it, she added silently. She flipped open her purse and pulled out a pen and the small pad she always kept with her, flipping quickly past the pages full of Briana Leigh's practiced signature. Mental note: Burn the evidence of all those hours she spent perfecting her new autograph. "Here. Write it down."
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Lexa giggled as she took the pen. "I feel so old-school."
Ariana laughed as well, but felt the sting of unworthiness.
"There you go," Lexa said, handing the notebook and pen back. Ariana couldn't help noticing that the girl's penmanship was big and bubbly. Like a little girl's. It totally worked with her personality. Lexa was so unapologetically sweet. And kind. And giving. She was trying to reach out to the new girl, include her. Something she definitely didn't have to do. Something Maria and Soomie had been reluctant to do all day yesterday. And yet she also had an air of authority, power.
Ariana could see why Palmer, Brigit, Soomie, and Maria liked her so much. Why she would be a valuable friend.
"The car's here," Maria announced.
She was just about to shove through the door when Tahira walked into the dorm, trailing Allison and Zuri. Tahira paused for a split second before a wide grin lit her face.
"Lexa! So good to see you!" she said.
"You too, T!" Lexa replied, with what sounded like genuine enthusiasm.
As the two girls double air-kissed, the rest of their friends stood back a respectable distance and shot each other impatient but resigned glances. Ariana swallowed her surprise. Lexa and Tahira were friends?
"Where are you girls off to?" Tahira asked, her contempt for the other girls simmering just below the surface of her wide-eyed smile. She was faking it for Lexa's sake, clearly.