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

handle twists and Markie comes in then, and I gasp to see him all dressed up in a tuxedo, looking down at the two ends of the bow tie in his hands. "Mark!" I squeak, thrilled. "You look so

pose for

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

girls are going to be all over him, and

Markito," mom murmurs, holding out her hands for him. "Let me tie that

sighs at the 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,

in, you can raid

can not raid my closet!" I gasp, even as I subtly tuck the contraceptive potion away beneath my pillow, not really ready for Mark and Juniper to

what's in your closet," mom murmurs, rolling her eyes, "how would you even know if Junie wore I bought for you or for

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

knowing this, completely ignores

turn to see Daphne standing there, staring at me. "Ariel!" she says, a little freaked out. "Why aren't