Read Online Classic by Cecily von Ziegesar - Free Book Online Page A

seeing Sebastian for all that time. Though Brett was pretty sure Sebastian
     wasn’t telling Isla all about how much he’d missed Brett.
    She shook her head and forced herself to forget about Isla for a few minutes. How often was she going to find herself in the
     dean’s fully stocked wine cellar? It was a dim, concrete-floored space filled with wooden racks teeming with elegant bottles.
     She shouldn’t let Isla ruin this, too.
    Isaac selected a bottle from one of the racks in front of them, then pulled it out and set it on the little table in the middle
     of the cellar. When she moved closer, Brett saw that the table had been made from a weathered wine cask turned on its side.
    “I hope that’s a good one.” Brett nodded at the wine bottle. She felt grown-up, standing in a dimly lit wine cellar with a
     good-looking guy who she knew wasn’t about to make any kind of move on her. It was like one of those scenes from her future
     life she might have dreamed about back when shehad been in eighth grade and desperate to get to boarding school.
    “It’s a nineteen ninety-two Screaming Eagle cabernet,” Isaac said. He grinned. “My dad has like ten cases. He won’t even notice
     it’s missing.” He deftly opened the bottle and poured the rich, red liquid into two glasses. He put down the bottle and picked
     up his glass. Brett did the same.
    “To Perfect Match,” she said, because it felt like the right moment for a toast.
    “Perfect Match,” Isaac said. They clinked their glasses together, and then Brett took a long sip of the wine. It was rich
     and smooth and warmed her instantly.
    “Nice,” she said. She kept herself from laughing again, because what did she know about wine? Brett was never sure if she
     actually liked wine or only wanted to like wine. But she definitely liked the
idea
of wine—and she really liked how holding a red wineglass in her hand made her feel. Like she was Lady Brett Ashley from
The Sun Also Rises
, maybe, instead of Brett Messerschmidt from Rumson, New Jersey.
    “My dad can be kind of annoying sometimes, especially when he’s doing his whole ‘dean’ thing,” Isaac said, rolling the stem
     of his wineglass between his palms. “But he definitely knows his wine.”
    Brett settled in on a small stool beside the table, deciding to take notes for Jenny. Isaac was such a gentleman—so friendly
     and sweet, not at all like so many of the usual jerky, obnoxious Waverly guys. Jenny had completely lucked out. Brett felt
     loyally that such luck was well-deserved, especially after Jenny’sstring of boys gone wrong: Easy, Julian, Drew. Isaac was obviously the one worth waiting for.
    “We were pretty happy at our old school,” Isaac said. “But I have to say, I’m psyched that Waverly is turning out to be even
     better.”
    “Of course,” Brett said, confident that they weren’t really talking about the school. “There’s a reason so many people love
     this place. It’s just… better than other places, you know?”
    Isaac’s eyes met hers, and his lips twitched into a smile. “It really is,” he said softly.
    They were just finishing up their second glasses of wine, Brett’s brain full of gushy things to tell Jenny about her man,
     when they heard footsteps from up above—and the unmistakable trill of Isla’s laughter.
    Isaac looked up toward the ceiling and brightened. Brett forced a smile.
    “Must be my sister,” he said, like Brett hadn’t guessed.
    Isaac grabbed a couple bottles of wine and headed for the stairs, and Brett reluctantly followed. Why was he in such a rush
     to hang out with his sister? Didn’t he see her all the time? Shouldn’t Isaac be the one guy at Waverly who
didn’t
think Isla was all that?
    Upstairs, Brett paused in the kitchen doorway. Sebastian was leaning against the counter, an indulgent smile on his face as
     he gazed down at Isla. She was perched on the tall bar stool next to him, looking entirely too sexy in a Juicy Couture