Patrice appeared again with salads, and the Kahns raised their glasses. “To my handsome husband,” Mrs. Kahn said.
“To the most beautiful woman in the world,” Mr. Kahn countered.
Noel pretended to vomit, but Aria gave an appreciative “Awww.” She’d gotten to know the Kahns in the year she’d dated Noel, and they seemed like a couple who communicated well and still planned romantic surprises on Valentine’s Day. Aria’s parents had never been like that, which was probably why they were divorced. Aria had told Noel just yesterday how lucky he was to have parents who still loved each other, and he said he thought so, too. Guys could be pretty dense sometimes, but Aria was happy her boyfriend recognized a good relationship when he saw one.
Mrs. Kahn sipped her wine. “So what’s new, Aria? Are you excited about Hanna’s dad’s senate run?”
“Definitely.” Aria speared a ravioli. “And it’s fun to see Hanna on all those TV commercials.” Truthfully, it was a relief to see any commercial that wasn’t for Pretty Little Killer, the made-for-TV movie about Aria, Hanna, Emily, and Spencer, and their ordeal with Real Ali. It seemed like the movie was rebroadcast every other day.
“There’s a big fund-raising party for Mr. Marin next weekend,” Noel said between bites.
“Ah, yes, we’re going to that, too,” Mrs. Kahn said.
Mr. Kahn dabbed his mouth. “Actually, I can’t. You’ll have to go solo.”
His wife looked surprised. “Why not?”
“I have a work dinner in the city.” Mr. Kahn suddenly became very interested in his BlackBerry, which was sitting next to his plate. “I bet you kids are excited about the Eco Cruise coming up,” he added, changing the subject. “Your mom told me all about it, Noel.”
“I can’t wait,” Noel said enthusiastically. In a few weeks’ time, most of the Rosewood Day senior class was going on a cruise to a bunch of tropical islands. It was part senior trip, part science excursion, and Aria was thrilled she and Noel were back together in time for it. Spending hours sunbathing next to him sounded like heaven.
The front door creaked open, and there were footsteps in the hall. “Hallo?” a familiar accented voice rang out.
“Klaudia!” Mrs. Kahn rose halfway from her seat. “We’re in here!”
Klaudia, the Finnish exchange student who’d been with the Kahns for a little over a month, strutted into the dining room. As usual, she was wearing a skintight, ultrashort sweater dress that showed off her enormous boobs and minuscule waist. Over-the-knee boots accentuated her thin, long legs. Her white-blond hair spilled around her shoulders, and her sultry, raspberry-lined lips were pursed.
“Hallo, Noel!” She waggled her fingers. Then her gaze turned to Aria, and the smile turned sour. “Oh. You.”
“Hello, Klaudia,” Aria said in a clipped voice.
“Do you want some dinner, Klaudia?” Mrs. Kahn asked eagerly. “It’s delicious!”
Klaudia stuck her nose in the air. “I fine,” she said in her contrived pidgin English. Aria knew for a fact she spoke English perfectly, but she put on the innocent-little-foreign-girl act because it helped her get away with all kinds of things. “I already eat with Naomi and Riley.” Then she spun on her heel and flounced upstairs.
As soon as the door slammed, Noel gave his parents an exasperated look. “Why is she still here? You said you were going to call the exchange program and send her home!”
Mrs. Kahn clucked her tongue. “Are you still upset about her borrowing your jacket?”
“She didn’t borrow it.” Noel’s voice rose. “She stole it.”
“Shh.” Mrs. Kahn glanced at the ceiling. “She’ll hear you.”
Aria fixed her eyes on her plate, feeling a secret rush of triumph. Not long ago, Aria had been certain Noel wanted to sleep with Klaudia—who wouldn’t? She looked like a girl in a beer commercial, and she was diabolical and manipulative to boot. Even worse, Noel hadn’t believed Aria when she said Klaudia was nuts—he just thought she was a sweet, hapless exchange student who needed coddling and protection from Big Bad America. It was so satisfying when Noel had come to Aria last week and said that Klaudia definitely wasn’t for him. She was crazy, and he was doing everything in his power to get her sent back to Finland.
Mrs. Kahn’s eyebrows knitted together. “Klaudia is a guest in our house, Noel. We can’t just kick her out.”
Noel’s shoulders slumped. “You’re taking her side instead of mine?”
“Just try to get along with her, honey. It’s an amazing cultural experience to have Klaudia in the house.”
“Whatever.” Noel dropped his fork. “You know what? I’m not hungry.”
“Noel,” Mrs. Kahn protested, but Noel was already halfway out the door. Aria stood as well. “Thanks for dinner,” she said awkwardly. She tried to carry her plate into the kitchen, but Patrice, who was waiting obediently in the corner, grabbed it from her and shooed her away.
Aria followed Noel up the stairs and into the second-floor family room, which had a huge flat-screen TV and five different video game consoles. Noel grabbed two Sprites from the mini fridge in the corner, flopped down on the couch, and started angrily flipping through the channels.
“Are you okay?” Aria asked.
“I just can’t believe they aren’t listening to me about her.” Noel jutted a thumb in the direction of Klaudia’s room down the hall.