Deceived Read Online Free PDF

but his eyes lifted, watching me.
    My heart pounded. I turned my head away before my cheeks turned the color of the carpet.
    After a few short breaths, I looked up again. Maybe he wasn’t used to being the new kid. I had more practice than anyone I knew. I was being unfair. He didn’t need to be judged on one moment of attitude, but he’d better straighten up before acting like that again. Maybe I could find out where he came from and how he ended up in Elton and now at Francine Frances. Eliminate the “coincidence” with facts. My mind teetered between hopeful and fearful.
    The rest of the day evaporated. After second period, I had too much on my mind to process anything new. The books piled up, and the assignments did, too. New teachers, new faces—they’d all have to wait for another day. I alternated between the enigma of Brian’s appearance and the mystery of the misplaced ribbon. Nothing made sense, and so it went around and around inside my head until a headache started. The bonus of the drama was I hadn’t ruminated over my nightmares in nearly eight hours. Anytime the shadowy figure came to mind, Brian’s wide green eyes intercepted the panic.
    By last period, my head swam with questions. I picked the seat nearest the door and settled in for Sociology. I recognized most of the faces from my earlier classes. Students were starting to say hi to me.
    “Welcome, class!” An enthusiastic lady strode in as the final bell rang. She leaned against her desk. “I’m Susan Marks. You can call me Susan, if you’d like. I worked in the field of human services for ten years after college. I have some valuable and awkward experiences to share with you this semester. I want you to leave here with a real understanding of this science and the field. Any questions?”
    We all stared.
    “Then let’s talk about your first assignment.”
    A groan rolled over the crowd.
    A flash of sunlight blinded me momentarily as the door swung wide. When my eyes adjusted, I saw that Brian stood near the chalkboard handing the teacher a slip of paper. A couple of nods later, he headed my way. I’d taken the last seat in the row, leaving one empty desk between Kate and me. He slid into the seat. Kate turned around to welcome him.
    “I want you to research yourselves online. Spend some time discovering what people can find out about you at the click of a button. This is the information age, ladies and gentlemen. How many of your secrets are revealed online? Find out. Then take a look at the other people who share your name. Are they similar to you? How? Talk about what’s in a name. Diversity makes the world go around.” She threw her arms wide like the lady in The Sound of Music . “We’ll compare and contrast with one another on Friday.”
    The bell shrilled outside the closed door half an hour later.
    I had my work cut out for me. With a name like Smith, there’d be plenty of people out there sharing my name.
    Betrayed by my own face, I looked at Brian before I thought better of it. He and Kate were engaged in quiet conversation. Davis sat one desk over and was watching them, too. When his eyes met mine, his expression changed.
    “How was your first day?” His slow, easy voice comforted me.
    Before I could answer, Brian shifted in his seat. The move was subtle, but I noticed. He also stopped talking. Did he finish his conversation with Kate or stop to eavesdrop?
    “Good.” I focused on Davis. “Everyone’s been really nice.” My fake smile smoothed a little. Davis’s genuine disposition made me breathe a little easier.
    “Especially the guys, I bet.”
    My shoulders relaxed as Brian’s stiffened. “No. Everyone.” Though, he was right. The guys were overly welcoming. I bobbed my head. Peculiar, but nice.
    “I noticed,” Davis whispered.
    Brian continued to imitate a statue. A few desks up, Kate and her lackeys made a big show of laughing and tossing their hair.
    “Did you bring a laptop, or are you going to the