Free Privilege 4 - Sweet Deceit by Kate Brian Page A

said, ducking her chin. "Right now I've got it narrowed down to (A) Hester Prynne, (B) Jane Eyre, or (C) Joan of Arc."

    Lexa looked at Ariana and whistled. "Yeah, I'd say that's gothic."

    "Where is this party, anyway?" Ariana asked. "Did you rent out a club or something?"

    "No. It's at my house," Soomie replied, sending a quick text on her BlackBerry.

    "I thought your parents lived in California," Ariana said, her brow knitting. "Do they have a house in DC?"

    "No. It's her house," Maria said with a grin.

    Ariana blinked. "You have your own house?"

    Soomie shrugged and slipped her PDA back into her bag. She looked up and narrowed her eyes at the chalkboard menu behind the coffee counter. "My parents know that I sometimes need my privacy, especially when I get stressed and need to concentrate. They want me to do my best here, so they bought it for me when I first started at APH. It's nothing big. Just a row house near the Capitol."

    Ariana shook her head. Nothing big. She would have killed to have her own piece of real estate to retreat to. "That's incredible. I can't wait to see it," she said as they finally reached the counter.

    "Can I help you ladies?" the guy behind the register asked with a smile.

    Maria ordered her usual double espresso, then stepped aside so the rest of the girls could place their orders.

    "I'll have a caramel latte and a pecan scone, please. Black coffee and a blueberry muffin for Soomie, and a regular latte and cinnamon scone for Ana," Lexa said, taking out her wallet.

    "Oh, Lex, that's okay," Ariana said. "I got it."

    "Please. You'll get the next one." She flipped her hair over her shoulder and eyed Ariana. "Maybe you should stick with the children's book theme. Go as Winnie the Pooh or Thomas the Train or something?"

    "Okay, Lex. She's not a toddler," Soomie said.

    Ariana smirked and scanned the room. Over at a table near the wall were three guys with seriously bad haircuts, which just made her smirk wider.

    "Oh! What about Hannah Montana?" Maria said. "Or a Barbie doll?"

    "Um, no," Ariana replied. "Why are you guys trying to saddle me with some juvenile costume?"

    "Cuz it's fun," Lexa said with a half-shrug as the barista delivered their order.

    "Ha ha," Ariana said to Lexa. "And thanks," she added, picking up her coffee and scone.

    "Yeah, thanks, Lex," Soomie added.

    Just then, Ariana caught a glimpse of Kaitlynn at the back of the line. Her face was buried in a book for English class and she was trying to look like she was oblivious to Ariana and the other girls, but Ariana knew better. Kaitlynn was wishing she was part of the conversation, and probably trying very hard not to horn in on it. Her usual style was to force herself on Lexa and the others every chance she got, but Ariana had a feeling that the whole Stone and Grave thing had Kaitlynn so freaked that she was rethinking her every move.

    "Hey, Lily! Come join us!" Ariana shouted.

    Kaitlynn looked up from her book as if startled. "Oh, I . . . I don't want to cut the line," she said.

    "Sure you do," Lexa replied with a smile. "What do you want?" Kaitlynn shrugged an apology at the waiting line of customers, but no one said a word. No one at APH ever contradicted Lexa Greene. "I'll just have a hot chocolate," Kaitlynn said.

    Lexa ordered for her as Kaitlynn stood next to Ariana at the counter to wait. "So. What are you guys talking about?" she asked, tucking her book into her bag.

    "Halloween costumes," Maria replied, sipping her espresso. "Ana can't decide what to be."

    "I just hate pretending to be someone I'm not," Ariana said, shooting Kaitlynn a mischievous glance.

    Kaitlynn hid a grin behind her hand.

    "I have no idea what I'm going to be either," Kaitlynn said, taking her hot chocolate from the barista. Together the five girls turned toward the room and started the search for a big enough table to hold them.

    "Why don't we do something together?" Ariana suggested.

    "Really?" Kaitlynn asked.

    "Sure. Why