Frost Read Online Free PDF Page A

stopped at the table. “David, right?” she said. “We met earlier? At registration? I just wanted to say that if you’re interested in the Ride Club, you should totally come talk to me about it. My name’s Cora.”
    “Thanks so much,” David said. “I will.”
    After Cora floated away, Abby pointed a carrot stick in her direction and said to David, “ That’s why you’re going to want to find us at meals.”
    “Uh, why?” he said.
    “You’re such a rarity,” she explained. “A new guy who’s not fourteen years old. You’re going to need our protection from the swarming hoards.”
    “Should I carry a Taser or something?” he said, pretending to be alarmed.
    “Oh, definitely.” More grinning.
    I took a bite of thick, buttered bread and swallowed past my immature jealousy of the obvious spark between Abby and David. Also, I hoped Abby was just flirting, that she wasn’t considering him as a possibility. Gorgeous as he was, we were living with his sister. It could get messy if one of us hooked up with him and it didn’t go well. Although maybe I didn’t have to worry about that with Abby. She didn’t have the fiascos I did when it came to guys.
    “Cam?” I said. “You go on Ride Club trips sometimes, don’t you?”
    “Yep,” Cameron said, peeling a banana. “Usually the overnights.” He and Viv had been together since freshman year. They were noticeable around campus since, after a late growth spurt, Viv towered five inches taller than him. They hated when people called them cute; but, well, they were . “You bike for fun?” he asked David. “Or are you trying out for the team?”
    “For fun,” David said, “and transportation.”
    “Are you an artist, like your sister?” Abby asked.
    He shook his head and took a sip of lemonade.
    “I bet you’re a . . .” She rested her fingertips on her temples, pretending to be psychic. “A musician. You play guitar.”
    “Nope,” he said. “Tone-deaf.”
    There was a brief silence. I think we were all expecting David to say what he did do, what activity/talent/passion he’d be emphasizing on his college apps. He didn’t say anything, though, just ate a couple of black olives off his salad.
    “Will you guys help me with my peer-counseling presentation for the new students tonight?” I asked Viv and Abby. “I’m already nervous.”
    “You’ll be amazing,” Viv said. She looked at David. “Leena started this whole program where students are trained to counsel other students about stuff, for kids who’d rather not go to psych services. It’s been really successful.” She said this so proudly. I squirmed in my seat, embarrassed.
    “Other schools have similar programs,” I said. “It’s not that big a deal.”
    “Celeste told me about it,” David said. “And I noticed your thing on the orientation schedule.”
    “We’re excited to have her in the dorm,” Abby said. David didn’t respond so she added, “Your sister.”
    “Oh,” he said. “Uh-huh.”
    “Are you guys twins?” she asked. “Or are you a junior?”
    “A senior, but I’m a year older.” He paused. “I took last year off.”
    “Ahh—an older man . . .” Abby’s voice was kiddingly suggestive. “What’d you do?”
    David pushed his rigatoni marinara around his plate. “Different things.” His energy had shifted. Maybe he really was tired, like he’d said, and not in the mood to be grilled.
    “Abby?” I said. “Can you pass the salt? And the pepper, too?”
    She pulled a Plastic Man to reach the shakers but didn’t switch her focus. “Did you travel?” she asked him.
    “Not really. A week in Costa Rica.”
    “If you did anything interesting, you should be on Viv’s show.”
    “Definitely,” Viv said. “Cam and I host a WBAR show on Tuesday nights. We play music, but we also have guests on to talk about whatever. You could talk about what you did last year, why you’re at Barcroft now, what sign you are . . . you know, stuff.