Last Christmas (Private 0.60)

Thomas grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away from his mouth. "What?" he said, following her gaze.

"Someone's here," she whispered.

Thomas scoffed. "There's nobody here but-" He stopped at the clear sound of footsteps nearing the door.

"Shit!"

He jumped up and she practically shoved him into Noelle's walk-in closet. They ducked inside and closed the

door quietly behind them. Ariana stepped directly onto a stiletto heel with her

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bare foot and had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. She cursed herself for choosing Noelle's closet. It

might have been bigger than hers, but it was crammed with so many clothes, shoes, and bags that she and

Thomas barely fit inside. Their bodies were pressed against each other, and she could feel Thomas's warm

breath on her shoulder. Suddenly, she was aware of the fact that there was nothing but her thin robe between

the two of them. Her skin pulsed with fear and excitement.

Then the door to her room slowly creaked open and Ariana forgot everything but her fear. She held her

breath, leaning against Thomas for support, her skin slick with sweat. Someone crept into her room and across

the creaky wood floor. A desk drawer slammed and Ariana gripped Thomas tighter. "Whoever was out there

was rifling through her things. Rage bubbled up inside of her, but she swallowed the urge to open the closet

door.

Let it go. Just let it go....She had to let it go. She couldn't risk getting caught on campus. Headmaster Cox had

been very clear about his rules.

A deep rumbling rose from Ariana's stomach, and she cringed and wrapped her arms tightly around her waist

in a weak attempt to muffle the noise. She felt Thomas's body shaking with silent laughter. Until now, she

hadn't even thought about the fact that she hadn't eaten since the day bef

ore.

The footsteps got closer to the closet and stopped in front of it. She screwed her eyes shut.

Please. Please just leave. Go. Go. Go.

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Ariana gripped her arm in desperation. She pictured her mother, getting the news that her only daughter had

been expelled from Easton. Pictured her alone, in that big, empty house. Flipping through photo albums filled

with the pictures Ariana had sent almost every month since she'd arrived at Easton. Pictures of her and

Daniel. Of dances and picnics and Daniel's lacrosse games. Of her and Noelle hanging out in their room. Of