Read Privilege 1 - Privilege for Free Online Page B

the room she shared with Kaitlynn was much cozier than the infirmary. The walls were

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    covered with posters of exotic destinations like Bali and Thailand and Sri Lanka on Kaitlynn's side, and tear-outs from fashion magazines on Ariana's, chronicling the spring and fall shows from the past year and a half. They had dozens of books they had taken out of the Brenda T.'s library lined up on a shelf under the picture window, and a reading corner they had constructed out of extra pillows and blankets they had accrued over the past few months. Most of all, Ariana had missed the brushed cotton blanket on her bed, her one little piece of luxury sent to her by her mother for her last birthday. The one in the medical wing had been much coarser.

    Kaitlynn sat down beside Ariana on the bed, studying Ariana's face with her big green eyes.

    "Oh my God. I was so worried!" Kaitlynn cried, her accent thicker than ever.

    "Please, Kaitlynn--you're overreacting," Ariana said with a scoff. She kicked off her sneakers and wriggled her toes happily. She felt so rested after her time in the medical wing. She should have tried this faked suicide attempt long ago. It had been like a little vacay.

    "Overreacting? Y tried to kill yourself," Kaitlynn said, squeezing Ariana's fingers. "I was so freaked when you wouldn't wake up. I thought you

    ou were a goner for sure."

    A goner for sure. She was so cute.

    "Well, I'm fine," Ariana said again, wresting her fingers from Kaitlynn's too-tight grasp. She patted Kaitlynn's arm and leaned back, folding her pillow behind her neck to prop herself up.

    Kaitlynn blew out a loud sigh and bounced around on the bed so

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    she could face Ariana. She sat story style at the end and pulled Ariana's feet up onto her lap.

    "Good. Because I do not know what I would do here without you," she said, rolling her eyes and holding her arms across her chest. "The last two days have been a nightmare. It was so lonely in here."

    Ariana felt a pang in her chest but ignored it. Kaitlynn would get used to it. She would have to. And in the end, they would be together again.

    "Did Meloni freak out?" Kaitlynn asked, her eyes wide.

    Ariana snorted. "Hardly. We're supposed to have some massively long session tomorrow." Not that they would. "But would you believe he told me to try harder next time?"

    Kaitlynn's jaw all but hit the concrete floor as she sat forward in shock. "He did not."

    "He did! He's such a jackass," Ariana said, reaching up to touch her gold fleur-de-lis.

    "Oh my God! We have to do something!" Kaitlynn blurted, standing up and letting Ariana's feet drop. "He can't say that to you! What kind of doctor is he? He's supposed to help you, not--"

    "Kaitlynn, calm down," Ariana said, sitting up.

    Kaitlynn started pacing the small room, her ranting growing louder with each word. "No! I will not calm down! He should be fired. We should have him fired. You're clearly depressed and he's supposed to help you. He can't tell you to try harder next time. That's sick. Sick!"

    "Kaitlynn! Shh!" Ariana grabbed her friend's arms and glanced at the door just as the guard rapped her fist against it.

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    "Quiet in there!" she barked.

    Ariana could feel that Kaitlynn was dying to say something, but Ariana stared her down and she stayed quiet. The guard moved on. Ariana allowed herself to breathe and released Kaitlynn's arms. She saw the white marks left by her fingers and felt badly for gripping her so tightly.

    "Don't worry, okay?" she told Kaitlynn. "I'm going to deal with Dr. Meloni."

    "So you are going to report him," Kaitlynn said, rubbing the spots on her arms.

    "No. I just mean he's going to get what's coming to him," Ariana assured her with a shrug.

    Kaitlynn's expression shifted. She eyed Ariana warily. "What does that mean--what's coming to him?"

    Ariana decided it was time to change the subject. She didn't like the way Kaitlynn was looking at her. As if she was suddenly afraid of Ariana. Besides, her