Read Online Privilege 4 - Sweet Deceit by Kate Brian - Free Book Online Page A

a laugh and glanced at Kaitlynn. Her eyes clouded over for a moment, but then quickly cleared and she laughed as well. "Well, Ana was the one who realized it would work on the Fellows, so I guess we all have a dark side," Kaitlynn said.

    Palmer looked at Ariana, his expression mischievous, and popped another piece of gum into his mouth. "I guess so."

    Ariana felt warm all over, both from Palmer's leading tone and over the fact that Kaitlynn was throwing credit back at her.

    "So, why do the Fellows use the grand hall for their rituals?" Ariana asked, glancing around at the expensive artwork that decorated the richly papered walls. "Isn't it kind of . . . out in the open?"

    "Well, from what I've heard, the Fellows are dedicated to the memories of our founders, Atherton and Pryce," Palmer explained, using his thumbs to press his freshly chewed gum into the hood of a robe. "Because of that they have kind of a big ego as a group and feel like the two big guys are constantly looking over them or something."

    Ariana wondered how he knew so much about the other society. Was it because he was president of Stone and Grave? Did people in power get to be privy to information like this somehow?

    "That's lame," Kaitlynn said.

    The guys laughed. "Seriously," Landon replied.

    "Well, they're about to get their comeuppance," Jasper said, folding up the robe he'd just gummed.

    "Comeuppance?" Ariana said with a smirk. "Who talks like that?"

    "Seriously, dude. Join us in the twenty-first century," Rob joked, earning a hand slap from Landon.

    "Thanks, dude. But I prefer to sound like an educated man, rather than an imbecile," Jasper shot back.

    Rob's eyes flashed and everyone fell silent. Ariana exchanged a wary look with Kaitlynn. What was Jasper doing? Just the fact that Rob was there with them meant that he was probably a member of Stone and Grave. Was it wise for a plebe to cut him down that way?

    "Whatever," Rob said finally, backing off.

    Ariana let out a breath, but Jasper just went right on with what he was doing as if he hadn't noticed the moment of tension at all.

    "All I know is, the barber in town is going to get a lot of business tomorrow," Palmer said with a laugh, popping a few more pieces of gum in his mouth. "Thanks to Ana."

    Ariana felt Kaitlynn tense up next to her. Unbelievable. She had nothing to do with the idea, but already she felt so proprietary about it that she was offended over being left out.

    "And Lily, of course," Palmer added graciously. The other boys whooped their appreciation.

    Kaitlynn smiled. Ariana sighed in relief and allowed herself to bask in the attention. If she kept this up, she was going to get into Stone and Grave no problem. The future was hers.

    And it felt good. SHOO-INS

    Ariana could not stop laughing. All around her, her fellow Privilege House denizens--and probable Stone and Gravers--were doubled over at the table, or trying desperately to keep their faces straight. But it was next to impossible. Every few minutes another student with half-chopped hair would walk by the table with his head ducked and a new wave of laughter would burst forth. The oddest thing was, it seemed as if every badly shorn student was, in fact, male, which meant the Fellows were all fellows.

    "Omigod! Have you guys seen Martin Tsang?" Maria asked, slipping into a chair near the end of the table next to Ariana. "He looks like someone took a pair of garden shears to his head!"

    "While blindfolded," Soomie added, cracking the first small smile Ariana had seen on her in days.

    Ariana glanced over at Martin's table, giggling happily. He looked around and, finally unable to take the stares any longer, whipped out a gray skullcap and yanked it on over his hair. Ariana and her friends cracked up all over again.

    " To Lily and Ana," Palmer said, lifting his glass of orange juice at the head of the table.

    Ariana beamed across at Kaitlynn, who sat up a little straighter as the entire table full of students