I really want you to get in, Lexa had said. Was this why she was trying to be happy for Ariana over being chosen as cox for the crew race? Was the fact that Palmer had asked her to do something so important a good sign?
Deep breath, Ariana. Control.
"But Brigit's not in yet," Ariana mused. "That's what you started to say."
"No. She's not. And as a junior, this is her last chance," Lexa said sadly.
And I'm a junior, too, Ariana thought. So this is my one and only chance.
Ariana's mind reeled. If Brigit was having a hard time getting in, this must be a seriously exclusive secret society. The girl was an actual princess, for goodness' sake. If she couldn't get in, what were the requirements? Ariana's blood rushed so swiftly through her veins she started to tremble. She gripped her arm and held on for dear life, trying to keep herself in check. Whatever the requirements were, she would meet them. Lexa was in this society. Maria was too, she was sure. And Palmer, of course. Palmer was obviously some sort of leader. If they were all in, Ariana wanted in, too. Needed in. She had to prove that she was worthy.
204
The library door slid open and a few people walked through, their conversation hushed. Lexa's hand automatically clasped Ariana's shoulder.
"Briana Leigh, I need to know that you understand how important this is," Lexa said firmly, her tone more serious than Ariana had ever heard it before. "You can't tell anyone I told you. If you do I'm done and you'll never get in. Swear you'll never tell a soul."
Ariana looked into her friend's eyes. She felt that this was the most important conversation she'd had since arriving at Atherton-Pryce. Her schedule didn't matter; her friendships with Maria, Brigit, and Soomie didn't matter; everything with Palmer didn't matter. This moment, right here, right now, was going to define Briana Leigh Covington for the remainder of her career at this school. Maybe even beyond.
"I swear I will never tell a soul."
205
PURPOSE
Ariana strode across campus toward Cornwall, her hand still shaking as she punched in Kaitlynn's cell phone number. Secret societies at Atherton-Pryce Hall? What could be more perfect? The whole thing smacked of tradition and honor and intrigue--three of Ariana's favorite things. This morning, she had woken up wanting nothing more than to get rid of Kaitlynn and pass her last exam. Now all she could think about was this. Who else was in the society other than Lexa? Maria, she was sure. Soomie, most likely. The three of them were probably working hard behind the scenes to get Brigit accepted. Palmer, clearly. He was the president of the school and the captain of Team Gold. He was obviously in. But what about Landon? Maybe, if the fame thing had any cache. Tahira? There was a solid chance. She had known who Briana Leigh was before Ariana had introduced herself as such. Maria and Soomie could not like the girl and still be in the same society with her, right? Ariana was sure206
it happened all the time. God, maybe she would even have to start being nice to Tahira.
A shudder passed through Ariana at the thought. She wished Lexa would have just told her whether Tahira was in or not. Getting in would be so much easier if she knew who to focus her attention on. Or did they frown on people who sucked up to them? Ariana's heart felt panicky as she debated the issue. What did she have to do to get in?
Well, not get pegged as an imposter and arrested, for starters, she thought wryly.She held the phone to her ear with a new sense of purpose coursing through her veins. Kaitlynn picked up on the first ring.
"Why, Briana Leigh!" she sang in her teasing voice. "To what do I owe the honor of--"
"Meet me tonight, the alleyway behind the American Museum of Pop Culture," Ariana said flatly. "Ten o'clock"
"Wow. Someone's just full of demands all of a sudden," Kaitlynn said, her voice much less buoyant. "Do you have the--"
"Trust me, after tonight, we won't be seeing each other again," Ariana said. Then she turned off the phone completely, before Kaitlynn could utter another word.
207
SMALL VICTORY
Ariana opened the thick wooden door to the Hill and stepped inside. The tall windows were partially obscured by heavy brocade drapes, and after the sunlit quad, it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the relative darkness. The lounge was dotted with mismatched antique chairs, couches, and tables, and housed a snack bar and coffee counter against the far wall. All around the room students lounged together, read novels, played chess or cards. There wasn't a TV or video game in sight, and just being there made Ariana feel as if she had entered a time warp. If not for the hissing of the cappuccino machine, she could have been a nineteenth-century coed, surrounded by her fellow knowledge-seeking classmates.She spotted Maria, Soomie, and Landon hanging out in a circle of seats near the windows, Maria on a cushy-looking couch by herself while Landon and Soomie were in separate chairs next to each other. Ariana took a deep breath. Now that she knew that Maria's suggestions
208
and outright directions had been designed to help her, she wanted to be the girl's friend more than ever. Not just because it would help her solidify her place at APH, but because she was starting to actually like her. She was no-nonsense, which Ariana appreciated in a girl. Shaking her hair back from her shoulders, she strolled over and dropped down in one of the free chairs.
"Hey," she said, leaning back. "It's so hot out there I thought I was going to melt."
"You should have an iced coffee," Soomie said, taking a sip of her own. "Cools you right off."
Maria simply stretched her arms above her head and yawned, not even bothering to acknowledge her.
> "What's up, Ana?" Landon said, tilting his head against the back of his chair and looking at her through his lashes. "I sent you some files this morning. You listened to them yet?"