SANTA TELL ME ( JOE KEERY ) [SLOW UPDATES]

EIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT - DAY FIVE

ARIANA buttered her toast as her mother spoke, she could feel Whitney's eyes burning into her cheek but she just ignored her as she pushed the knife down on the bread to cut it in half. Ariana dropped the knife on the napkin and brought a slice up to her mouth, sinking her teeth into it. She hadn't realised how hungry she was until she had reached her own room that morning. Whitney had grown agitated in waiting for her sister's attention and hit her leg under the table, earning a shocked muffled groan before Ariana rolled her eyes and turned to her.

"What?" She asked through a mouthful of chewed, warm toast.

Whitney leaned in, a secretive smirk on her face that scared Ariana, and rested her chin on her palm which stood on the table covered in plates and food. Ariana knew that look.

"I saw you leave a room that wasn't yours this morning" She whispered, raising her eyebrows suggestively and her smirk growing at her younger sister's fluster.

Ariana nearly choked on her food, and quickly sipped on her juice to wash it down her closing throat. She'd forgot how to breath and stared at the table, gulping rapidly as she clenched her jaw and played with her hands under the wood as if she was a child in trouble. For some reason she felt like she was.

Whitney leaned in further, her wispy, thick breath tickling Ariana's shown ear, she shook her head so her hair would cover it. "Did it belong to floppy hair boy?"

Ariana's eyes widened as she shot her sister a glare and shushed her, before quickly glancing at her parents who remained deep in conversation unaware of the hushed voices of their daughters.

Ariana turned back to her food and had finished swallowing a bite when she turned back to Whitney, as sudden realisation hit her and made her brows knit together in confusion.

"Wait your room isn't on that floor" Ariana stated in a hushed voice, her eyes scanning her sister's face who didn't show any expression as she sipped her sugary tea. Ariana didn't understand; Whitney's room was just down the hall of hers.

Whitney slowly turned to face her puzzled younger sister, and still held her radiating mug as she smirked secretly and tapped the side of her clean nose, her eyelid falling in a longer than necessary wink.

Ariana's eyes widened in shock as she leaned towards the girl, so close that she could feel the warmth from the drink in her hand and the smell of coconut emitting from her, as she awaited further information. But she got none, not a single hint to the secretive night her sister had had.

"What's floppy hair boy's name?" Whitney questioned, she breathed on the liquid, making it skim waves before sipping more, her eyes on the table as if this conversation was casual and completely normal. She knew exactly who's room it had been and didn't even have to go through the questions that they both knew weren't necessary.

"You're changing the subject" Ariana stated, deadpan as she sighed and looked at her with an exasperated, bored expression "Don't"

"Does he not have a name?" Whitney pressed innocently, ignoring anything that came out of Ariana's mouth (unless it was a name) as she turned to face her; Ariana rolled her brown eyes.

"Joe" She sighed heavily, her cold breath skating across the table, "He's called Joe. Happy now?"

Whitney smirked as she nodded, blowing on her drink innocently before bringing it to her lips. Whitney knew nothing had happened between her sister and Joe in that room, she knew Ariana wouldn't do something like that. It didn't mean she wouldn't tease her about it though. But Ariana wasn't so sure about her sister.

"Now you, what happened in that room?" Ariana pressed, her eyes scanning her sister's face, curiosity tugging at her.

"I'm your older sister. Older" She put emphasis on the word as she raised her pale eyebrows, "Read between the lines, Ariana"

"Oh" Was all Ariana could say, she was taken aback but not completely surprised. She wanted to know more but she knew her sister wouldn't spill anything, she was the best at keeping secrets.

"Does this mysterious girl have a name?" Ariana asked, scooting closer to her sister and making sure to stare at her so Whitney couldn't shake her off.

"Joe" She replied nonchantantly as if it was boring information that didn't really matter or that Ariana should have already known, Ariana rolled her eyes knowing she'd get nowhere with this.

"Whitney, what's her name?"

"So what's the plan for today?" Whitney asked innocently, completely ignoring her sister as if she hadn't heard her, when Ariana knew it was the absolute opposite as she saw her lips twitch upwards. Whitney leaned forward with her hands rested on either side of her and her parents turned to face her when she spoke.

"Well mother was thinking morning skiing?" Their father asked, his eyes weary on Ariana as he knew she wasn't so steady. But when his words was met with a beaming smile, like she had an inside joke with herself, he was slightly taken aback.

"Sure! That sounds great!" Ariana chimed enthusiastically which earned confused glances from all her family members. Ariana couldn't wait to try out what she'd learnt with Joe, and maybe show it off. Plus who knew Joe might be there, or the mysterious girl Whitney still hadn't named. Ariana would just have to keep a keen eye. But if she got distracted by looking for or at Joe, well that wasn't so bad.