The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0324

"I know, I know," mom says with a sigh, flopping down next to me on her stomach. "I am willing to wait. And if you decide you don't want kids, Ariel, that's fine too - I'll badger Rafe and Junie and Mark, because one of you will have to give in. I just..." she shrugs, and I look over at her seriously as I clutch the contraceptive tonic to my chest, "I want you to be in charge of your choices. I want you to decide when and if you have kids. And that," she says, pointing to the tonic, "helps with that."

I consider my mom seriously for a moment, and then the tonic in my hands, and then I sit up with a new curiosity burning in me. Well, does it like, change anything?" I ask curiously. "Will my period be different? What does it taste like?"

Mom laughs, and begins to tell me everything, and it's the start of a very long, very detailed, and very important chat.

CC

In fact, our chat is so long that it only ends with a big thump on my door that makes both of us jump, but which we know can only be one thing.

"Arielll," Mark groans, slumped against the outside of my door. I laugh, because he's been doing this since he was a kid. Markie doesn't knock - he just throws his body against the door and starts talking. "Stop hogging mom! Some of us need help with our bow ties!"

I call, "what

tuxedo, looking down at the two ends of the bow tie in his hands. "Mark!" I squeak, thrilled.

striking a pose for me. "I'm not cute anymore? I'm

laughs and jumps on the bed with us, pleased to be so complimented. I laugh too, watching him with a bit of fascination, because it's not like I've never seen Mark in a tux before mom dresses us up formally for all sorts of occasions. It's just that he really did grow up in the few months that we were away. He

over him, and

murmurs, holding out her

doorway, and I turn my head to look over at her, a grin immediately taking my face. She's slumped against my doorframe, her arms crossed, her eyes rolled up to the ceiling. "I don't have anything to wear. So,

Mark scootches closer to her. "Come in, you can raid Ariel's closet, I'm sure she has something

gasp, even as I subtly tuck the contraceptive potion away beneath my pillow, not really ready for Mark and Juniper to know about this

don't even know what's in your closet," mom murmurs, rolling her eyes, "how would

to pay rental fees by the hour!" I say, pointing a finger at June as she wanders over to my wardrobe. "And don't spill anything on it!" I don't mean it, not really - I never care if my sister borrows my clothes. I just

knowing this,

see Daphne standing there, staring at me. "Ariel!" she says, a little freaked