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Sorabbed Ariana’s arm She looked up into the stricken, pale face of her soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend, Palreen eyes were raw and his brown hair mussed, as if he’d run his hands over it and back a thousand tiainst Maria Stanzini’s shoulder, her straight black hair sticking to the tears on her cheeks Jasper Montgomery talked in low tones with Landon Jacobs and Adaaunt Tahira Al-Mahmood cried silently as her boyfriend, Rob Mellon, tried to console her Everyone she kneas gathered around, looking out-of-place in their formalwear, elaborate hair, and carefully applied makeup as they whispered, blubbered, and prayed Prayed for Lexa Greene, Ariana’s best friend, who had tried to kill herself by jureenhouse at Maria’s mansion

And just like that, the drumbeat stopped Ariana’s world snapped back into focus Her real world The world in which she now lived One that didn’t include Reed Brennan One that couldn’t include her Reed turned toward Ariana, and Ariana buried her face in Palmer’s ches

t She took in a few hopelessly broken breaths, squeezed her eyes shut, and closed her hand around her forearm

Get it under control, Ariana Get it under control

She gripped her own ar into the skin

“Ana? Ana? Are you okay?”

Pal hands closed over her shoulders He pushed her back slightly so he could look into her eyes Ariana blinked up at hione Maybe outside to etown campus, where Ariana knew she currently lived Whatever the case, for the er was over

Slowly, Ariana began to breathe again

She nodded shakily “Sorry I just … I got dizzy there for a second … thinking about all the … the blood,” she improvised

“Okay You’re all right now?” Palmer asked, his tone all business

Ariana looked down at her arernails had broken the skin She covered up the wounds with her palain

“Anything new about Lexa?” she asked

Pal his hands on her shoulders, he ducked his chin to look her in the eye “Ana, you’ve been spending more time with her than anyone Did you have any idea that she was thinking about … about doing this?”

“No,” Ariana said “Ia little off lately, but …”

Lexa had been acting more than a little off Ever since Ariana had haone completely OCD and was prone to sudden, unexpected freak-outs and breakdowns For the past few nights, Ariana had been feeding the girl Valiu, but that evening Jasper had said so Ariana and Lexa’s secret, and Lexa had assuly Before Ariana could tell Lexa they were safe, Lexa ca

“But if you knew soht?” Palmer demanded, his eyes intense “You know you’re supposed to tell soet the person help”