Read Online Revealed by Amanda Valentino - Free Book Online Page A

spending my afternoons happily repairing the foliage of the sets for the Forest of Arden.
    â€œYou don’t happen to know anyone who could help with costumes, do you?” he added as an afterthought.
    And suddenly, I knew that all our problems were over. “As a matter of fact, I totally do.”
    â€œI hate to break it to you, Hal, but not all girls know how to sew.” Nia’s arms were crossed, and her face was the picture of disdain.
    I’d thought Nia would be thrilled at the news that I’d found a way for us all to hang together after school, but when I’d grabbed her at her locker, she hadn’t looked especially pumped by my announcement that she and Callie were now on the As You Like It costume crew.
    â€œWho said anything about sewing?” I asked, trying not to let my exasperation show as we made our way down the corridor toward Callie’s locker.
    â€œOh, I’m sorry, I could have sworn you said the words ‘costume crew.’” Nia put air quotes around the phrase.
    My irritation was impossible to hide. “This is a brilliant solution,” I snapped.
    I spotted Callie ahead of us, and I had to call to her four or five times to be heard above the din of the crowded hallway. She waited for me and Nia to catch up. As we headed toward her, a delivery guy carrying what looked like a bouquet of flowers or maybe a plant entered through the main doors.
    â€œGet ready to say, ‘Thank you, Hal,’” I said in response to Callie’s questioning look.
    Nia snorted.
    â€œIgnore that,” I instructed. Callie fell into step beside me and Nia as we made our way across the lobby. “How would you like to have hours every day after school to sit with me and Nia and study Amanda’s box?” I made my voice deep and enthusiastic, like a sports announcer’s. Ahead of us, the flower delivery guy entered the main office.
    â€œHow would you like to spend hours every day sewing ?” Nia corrected. “Isn’t that right, Hal?”
    We were across the hallway from the main office. Even though I hadn’t been consciously heading there, I stopped walking. “Costume crew doesn’t mean sewing !”
    â€œI have no idea why you guys are even talking about costume crew,” Callie interjected, “but I’m pretty sure the whole point of it is sewing.”
    Okay, why were they making this so impossible? “No, it’s . . . you know, what you guys were doing at the store yesterday. You guys love that stuff. Like . . .” I mimed holding up a dress in front of myself.
    Callie and Nia exchanged a look that clearly said: HAL IS IMPAIRED.
    â€œI’m pretty sure it’s more like . . .” Nia mimed pulling a piece of thread through a piece of fabric.
    â€œWell, can’t you . . .” I mimicked her sewing. “. . . for a couple of afternoons if it means we get some time alone together?”
    Nia turned to Callie. “Hal’s brilliant plan is that we join costume crew to work on Amanda’s box during rehearsals.”
    Callie looked to me to confirm what Nia had just said, and I nodded. Then she turned to Nia. “And you object?”
    â€œDon’t you?” Nia was indignant.
    Callie shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s not like he’s asking me to sew a button on his shirt or anything.”
    â€œOh, let me be the first to assure you both that no one would wear a shirt on which I’d sewn a button.” Nia gestured at the bright brass buttons that closed the short red sweater she was wearing. “Notice what you can accomplish by calling in a professional.”
    â€œThat’s what my mom says about cooking!” I agreed, and just at that minute, Mrs. Leong poked her head out of the main office door.
    She squinted at us, like she doubted we were who she thought we were. “I was sure I’d have to go looking for the three of you, and here you