The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney Read Online Free PDF Page A

strange, because I thought the whole point of being a real estate agent was to show houses and get people to buy them. It seemed all Lexi’s mom really did this summer was hang around the house and walk on her treadmill. When I asked Lexi if her mom’s boss ever got mad that she didn’t come to work, Lexi told me her mom didn’t have a boss, that she owned her own company.
    “Yes, we got a great deal on the house because we moved at the right time,” Mrs. Cortland says. She runs her fingers through her short, highlighted hair. “Lexi, are you wearing the same thing you wore to school to the mall?”
    “Yes,” Lexi says. “Why?”
    “You have so many clothes,” Mrs. Cortland says. “I wish you would wear them. Besides, this is your new school. And you really should do everything you can to make a good impression.” She glances at Lexi pointedly, as if to say that hanging out with me is definitely not the way to accomplish said good impression.

    “Devon, I really, really—” Katie starts.
    “It’s okay, honey,” Mrs. Cortland says. “We’re here.”
    She lets us off in front of the ice-cream shop in the mall where we’re supposed to meet everyone. I take a deep breath and step out of the car. Katie jumps down behind me, and some glitter falls off her tutu and onto the pavement.
    “What is that?” I ask her.
    “What’s what?” she asks.
    “What just fell off of your tutu?”
    “Glitter,” Katie says, shrugging.
    “I know glitter,” I say, sighing. “But why is it falling off your tutu?”
    “This is not a tutu!” Katie says. “This is a SKATING WARM-UP!”
    “Fine,” I say. “Why is there glitter falling off your skating warm-up?”
    “Because I put glitter on it before we left,” she says, rolling her eyes at my obvious stupidity. “Skaters get half their score from artistic impression.” This makes no sense, but Lexi is out of the car now, so I don’t fight her on it.
    “This is going to be so fab,” Lexi says, linking her arm through mine. “Are you excited that you’re going to be seeing Jared?”

    “Totally,” I say, although in reality, I want to throw up. At least I look cute, so if I have a moment of complete and total humiliation, I’ll be sure to do it while looking good. I’m wearing a short white denim skirt that I have leftover from the summer, along with a red sweater I stole out of my mom’s closet. I used my hair straightener for the first time in months, and I’m wearing blush and pink lip gloss. I’m not deluded or anything—I know I look cute, but there’s no way people are going to think I’m someone else.
    Lexi opens the door to the mall, and Katie and I follow her in. With every step I take, my dread grows. I have no plan other than to try to keep Lexi and Jared far, far away from each other.
    “Ooh, there they are!” Lexi yells, spotting Jared, Kim Cavalli, and Luke Nichols sitting at one of the tables outside the ice-cream store.
    Kim jumps up from where she’s sitting and envelopes Lexi in a huge hug, which is kind of ridiculous. I mean, they just met.
    “Devon!” Katie says, tugging on my sleeve. “I GOTTA GO NOW!”
    “Just a minute, Katie,” I say. Kim stares at me and my sister.
    “Aww,” Lexi says, leaning down toward Katie. “It’sokay, Katie. I’ll take you to the bathroom.” Lexi is an only child, so she’s always been kind of fascinated with Katie. This is because she doesn’t have to put up with Katie acting crazy on a regular basis. Lexi takes Katie’s hand, straightens up, and looks at me. “Be right back.” They disappear into the restaurant.
    Kim’s still staring at me.
    “Uh, hi,” I say brilliantly. Please don’t ask me what I’m doing here, please don’t ask me what I’m …
    “So you’re friends with Lexi?” she asks curiously, and I can tell what she’s thinking: how someone like me is friends with someone as fab as Lexi.
    “Yeah,” I say, using my “Devi” voice. (FYI: My Devi voice utilizes