The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney Read Online Free PDF

this thing called “tonal audiation” or something, which is this speech pattern that makes everything you say sound kind of like a question. I got the idea of using it when Mel and I did a project on it last year in health class.) “We spent all summer together.”
    Kim nods. “You’re in my English class, right?”
    “I think so,” I say, trying to look like I’m not quite sure, even though I’ve been hyperaware of her presence in English, because Jared is also in that class and I like to keep tabs on how much they seem to be interested in each other. (Jared and Kim have never dated, but it only makes sense that they would or should—Imean, they’re the most popular boy and girl.)
    “Come on,” Kim says, and I follow her over to the table where Jared and Luke are sitting.
    “Where’s Lexi?” Jared asks, looking confused. I’m standing next to Kim, and he seems to be talking to the space between us, so I can’t tell who he’s talking to. I have a small but distinct window of opportunity, and somehow I find the courage to grab it.
    “Uh, she just ran to the bathroom,” I say, so flustered that I forget to use my Devi voice. “But she’ll be back.” I slide into the empty seat between Jared and Luke. Kim sits down across from us. “I’m Devi,” I say, figuring I need to get it out of the way before Lexi comes back, just in case Luke or Jared don’t know my name and/or are tempted to call me Devon.
    “She went to the bathroom?” Jared asks, ignoring my introduction. “For what?”
    What does he mean for what? To go to the bathroom, of course. Or to take Katie at least. But I can’t say that. That’s embarrassing. Plus, I’m about to lose it because I just realized that I am CLOSER TO JARED BENTLEY THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE. Add to that the fact that he’s wearing a T-shirt, which means his BARE ARM IS RIGHT NEXT TO MINE.
    “She took Devi’s sister to the bathroom,” Kim says,rolling her eyes. She reaches over and plucks a menu from behind the napkin dispenser and runs her eyes up and down the ice-cream selections.
    “Your sister?” Jared asks, looking at me with new interest. “How old is she?”
    “Uh, my sister?” I repeat, still not using my Devi voice. I seem to have lost the voice somewhere. Although, since this is the first time I can remember Jared actually speaking to me, except for that time in English when he asked to borrow a pencil, which totally doesn’t count, I can’t really be blamed. The Devi voice takes a certain level of concentration.
    “Jared, knock it off,” Kim says, rolling her eyes. “She’s a kid.” She looks back down at the menu. “They never have any good low-carb flavors here.”
    “She’s a kid?” Jared asks, not letting it go. “Why’d you bring a kid to the mall?” He looks surprised, like children under ten have never been allowed shopping before.
    I take a deep breath and concentrate on being Devi. On doing the same stuff I did this summer. How hard can it be? I had Lexi fooled. “I totally got stuck babysitting,” I say. “So I had to bring her. No way I was gonna be stuck in the house all night doing nothing.” I look over my shoulder anxiously for Lexi and Katie.

    Jared nods. Luke, who’s on the other side of me, has said nothing so far. “Hey,” I say, turning to him. “You’re Luke, right? I’m Devi.” It’s best to make sure all my bases are covered and that everyone at this table knows I’m Devi, so that there’s no confusion later. Even though my heart is beating about three million times a minute.
    “Yeah, I know,” Luke says. “You’re in my social studies class.” I try not to show my shock. Luke knows who I am? I don’t have time to dwell on this development because at that moment, Lexi comes back to the table. Katie’s trailing along behind her, practicing what she calls her “toe flip” but which, as far as I can tell, is really just Katie jumping into the air and twirling around in a