Private 8 - Revelation by Private 8 Revelation Read Free Book Online Page A

Diana Waters, Kiki's roommate in Bradwell last year, hovering behind me. Behind her were two of her friends from Pemberly--Sonal Shah and Shane Freundel, people I knew vaguely from class. I had noticed Diana hanging out with them ever since Kiki had been invited to live in Billings.

    "Hi, Diana," I said. "Hey," I added to the girls behind her. They gaped at me as if amazed I possessed the ability to speak.

    "You can sit with us, if you want," Diana offered, a smile lighting up her pretty, makeup- free face. She pushed a blond wave off her shoulder.

    I was so relieved I could have hugged her, but at the same time

    52 some shallow part of my inner being felt exactly how far I had fallen. A couple of weeks ago I had basically been the queen of this place. I'd had the most sought-after guys falling all over each other to ask me out and all the most elite girls at Easton hanging on my every word. Now a group of lowly Pemberly juniors in jeans, hoodies, and sneakers were extending a pity invite to their breakfast table. I could only imagine the giggles Noelle would get out of this.

    Still, it was better than eating alone.

    "Thanks," I said.

    I managed to keep my chin up as I followed them to their table in the far wing, away from the center of the room where the Billings Girls held court. I refused to look to see if Noelle and the others were watching. Wouldn't give them the satisfaction. But I felt as if I were under a harsh spotlight as I walked, and when I finally fell into a chair at Diana's table, I felt exhausted.

    "Nice table," I said, forcing a smile for Diana and her friends. "Very private."

    They all smiled in a self-conscious way, but no one replied. Ooookay.

    Trying to act as if everything was perfectly normal, I picked up my bottle of apple juice, shook it up, and popped the top. As I took a sip, I realized that Diana and her two friends were all communicating with one another silently, darting looks and nudging shoulders. Sour apprehension filled my stomach.

    "What?" I said, lowering the bottle.

    53 "You didn't actually kill Cheyenne Martin, right?" Sonal asked. She was big-boned with dark skin and black curly hair and had a slight Hindi accent. Her dark eyes were wide behind her glasses.

    "Sonal! God!" Diana said with a scoff, her cheeks turning pink. She shot me an apologetic look as she buttered her bagel. "Of course Reed didn't."

    "No, of course I didn't," I echoed quietly.

    This seemed to appease both Sonal and Shane. I saw their shoulders visibly relax.

    "So, what's it like to live in Billings?" Shane asked, crunching into an apple. The juice sprayed all over the place. She was a tall, athletic type with plain brown hair and plain brown eyes.

    My heart twisted at the question. "It's... uh..."

    "Is it true you each have your own personal maid?" Sonal asked, scooting forward in her chair.

    "No. Where did you hear--"

    "But you do get an allowance every week from the alumni, right?" Shane asked. "Everyone knows that."

    "Well, not exactly. We don't--"

    "Do you guys really have champagne parties every Friday night?" Sonal demanded. "I mean, did you? And were guys really allowed to come?" "Yeah. That one's true," I said. "Except for the guys..."

    I glanced over at the Billings tables again and paused. Noelle, who always sat near the edge of the table, had several boxes and gift bags piled around her feet. Portia and the Twin Cities were pawing through

    54

    a huge gift basket filled with Fekkai hair products and M.A.C. makeup and Bliss Spa essentials in the center of the table. As I watched, a steady stream of junior and senior girls stopped by the table to chat, each offering some kind of gift.

    "That's weird," I said under my breath.

    "What?" Diana asked, glancing over.

    "It's a little early for Christmas gifts, isn't it?" I said.

    "Oh, those aren't Christmas gifts," Sonal said, shaking some salt over her scrambled eggs.

    "You haven't heard?" Diana appeared confused.

    I instantly got that