Free Devious by Cecily von Ziegesar

some experience in that area. I kind of know what he needs to hear.”
    “I appreciate it.” Jenny’s tongue felt heavy in her mouth, but she was determined not to feel nervous. Isaac was just another boy, after all. A very cute one, and the dean’s son, of course. But still just a boy. “It must be kind of weird to go to school where your dad’s, you know, in charge.”
    Isaac took a sip from his stainless steel coffee mug. He still hadn’t taken off his coat, which Jenny disappointedly took as a sign that he wasn’t staying. “We’re used to it by now, me and Isla. He was headmaster at St. Albans, in Connecticut, for a couple years. And he taught at Milton, back when we were younger.”
    “Why’d you guys come here?” Jenny asked, curiously.
    “The official answer is that it was a step up for my dad.” Isaac lowered his voice and tilted his chin down mysteriously.
    “And the unofficial answer?”
    He grinned flirtatiously. “I don’t know if you’ve earned that yet.”
    “And what does one have to do to earn it?” Her eyes widened. She couldn’t believe she was being so bold.
    “I don’t know.” Isaac rubbed his chin. “Go on a walk with me later.”
    Jenny blushed, flattered. She liked Isaac. And, of course, everyone was talking about how hot he was. It seemed incredible that of everyone at Waverly, he was interested in
her
. But she still didn’t feel totally comfortable about the fact that he’d practically gotten her Jan Plan project approved for her. Had she received special treatment? And was she okay with that? “That’s really nice of you. But, uh… I think I’ll probably be working all day,” Jenny stammered. Her pencil fell from her hand, and she quickly leaned down to pick it up.
    Isaac stood up. “That’s cool.” He looked a little disappointed, but not put out. He slung his backpack on his shoulder. “Maybe a rain check, then.” He tapped her drawing with his finger. “Good luck.”
    As Isaac walked away, Jenny couldn’t keep her eyes from following him. Ten minutes ago, she’d been in one of those creative bubbles where all she could think about was her drawing.
    But suddenly, the idea of working on her project all day long, alone, no longer seemed quite so exciting.
     
    Instant Message Inbox
CelineColista:
Just saw hot dean’s son practically drooling all over Jenny in Maxwell.
VerenaArneval:
How does she get all the good ones?
CelineColista:
Must be the boobs! =) Totally unfair.
VerenaArneval:
Don’t complain. I heard Lon bought you a soy latte today. It must be love.
CelineColista:
Eh. Lon could do in a pinch. But I’d rather get in good with the dean!

11
A WAVERLY OWL KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS .
    C allie crossed her arms and tapped the pointy toe of her Tory Burch ankle boot against the marble floor of the Reynolds Atrium. The two-story glass-ceilinged space was designed by a world-famous architect and funded by Ryan Reynolds’s billionaire father. Normally, Callie avoided the atrium when possible—it always made her feel like she owed Ryan something, and he was the last guy a girl wanted to be indebted to. But the lobby area, filled with potted trees and comfy couches, was perfect for a large group of people to casually get together. Callie had set out a tray of Oreos and Chips Ahoy! cookies on the heavy antique coffee table in the center of one of the conversation nooks. It was almost two on Wednesday afternoon, and her stupid partner was nowhere in sight.
    What could Brandon be doing that was so important? Reluctantly, she pulled a tripod from the heavy canvas bag of equipment she’d borrowed from the audiovisual department and started to fumble with its legs. She’d decided to record the interviews so that she could focus on her questions and not get distracted trying to write everything down.
    “You’re late,” she snapped at Brandon when he finally breezed through the revolving glass door five minutes later, stuffing his BlackBerry into his pocket. She