The Secret Talent Read Online Free PDF

manyimpact sports.” I took off the watch so he could look at it. After studying it, he casually waved it under Brooke’s nose.
    â€œPretty nice, huh?”
    â€œVery subtle,” she said as Abel handed it back to me. “But I’ve already bought your present. And it is so much better than any crummy watch.”
    â€œThanks,” I said.
    Brooke nudged Heather. “What did you get Emmett?”
    â€œOr do you even get him anything since you’re Jewish and he’s not?” I asked.
    â€œWell, I’d get him a holiday gift, like I get all the people I’m close to,” Heather said, turning pink. “But I’m not sure we’re at that point yet. I mean, we haven’t even gone on an official date!”
    I nodded. “Just promise me you didn’t get Stefan anything.”
    Stefan Marshall was our lead photographerand sportswriter, who Heather had been crazy about since the start of school. At least . . . until recently when she learned he thought of her as a little sister.
    Heather laughed. “The only thing he’ll be getting from me is a smile.”
    â€œThat’s still too generous,” teased Brooke.
    The first bell rang, and the four of us headed into the hall. I scanned the crowd of students but didn’t see Ryan among them. A few girls saw me and waved, but thankfully no one acted like anything was out of the ordinary.
    What was Ryan waiting for?
    I did a casual wander past the locker area. No Ryan.
    I strolled by his homeroom. No Ryan.
    I even went out of my way to hit the cafeteria. No Ryan.
    The more I searched and the longer I waited,the tenser I felt. In every one of my morning classes, I was poised for flight, as if Ryan might appear with my dance troupe and force me to frolic. When lunchtime finally came and my phone vibrated in my pocket, I yelped and jumped out of my chair.
    Heather, Vanessa, and Brooke all stared at me.
    â€œSorry. Phone.” I flashed it at them.
    â€œDid you have it set to ants-in-pants?” asked Brooke.
    I didn’t answer, tilting my phone so they couldn’t see it while I read.
    It’s almost time.
    My jaws clenched. The cryptic messages were starting to wear thin.
    Heather bumped my arm. “Everything okay?”
    â€œEverything’s great!” I said, putting on my best smile and leaning back in my chair. If Ryan was watching, there was no way I’d give him thesatisfaction of seeing me sweat. “What are we talking about?” I asked, sticking my phone into my backpack.
    â€œI’ve been thinking about V’s gift for Gil,” said Brooke. “We threw around some great ideas this morning, including my solution, which, I dare say, was brilliant.” Brooke gazed modestly into the distance.
    â€œNot to mention it was piggybacking on my idea,” I said, rummaging through my stuff. “Also, calling yourself brilliant isn’t a dare. A dare is . . . Eat this cookie I found in my backpack.” I held up an Oreo riddled with pencil shavings.
    Without hesitation, Brooke took it from me and popped it into her mouth.
    â€œEw!” shrieked Vanessa and Heather.
    Brooke grinned at all of us with black-and-white teeth.
    â€œNow, eat this penny!” I held up a coin, butHeather forced my hand down.
    â€œDon’t do that. She’d eat a whole roll of them if you challenged her.”
    This was true. It was one of Brooke’s biggest weaknesses, actually. She tended to bite off more than she could chew. Even if it was something covered in wood bits.
    Brooke swallowed and ran her tongue over her teeth before continuing. “Anyway, our suggestions got me thinking. Mary Patrick wants us to do something special for the holiday issue, so in addition to our usual advice, why don’t we offer holiday gift-giving advice?”
    â€œWhat, you mean like post a list of gift ideas?” asked Vanessa.
    â€œNo, I mean kids who need help with gift ideas