Classic by Cecily von Ziegesar Read Free Book Online

OWL IS ALWAYS PREPARED TO MAKE
LEMONADE FROM LEMONS.
    B rett strode into the Cinephiles screening room in the basement of Hopkins Hall and inhaled one of her favorite smells in the
     whole wide world: hot, buttered popcorn. She couldn’t wait to curl up next to Sebastian in the comfortable movie theater seats
     and steal hot, buttered kisses from him when the lights were dimmed. Already, half the campus seemed to be packed into the
     screening room. Ryan Reynolds and some guys from the soccer team jostled for position in the coveted center of the theater’s
     rows of reclining leather seats while a pack of sophomore girls giggled at their antics. Clearly, everyone was thrilled to
     be off probation. Brett pictured Sebastian’s hand on hers, his mouth moving close in the darkened theater…
    “How great is this movie going to be?” Rifat Jones came to a stop beside Brett in the entryway. Her curly black hair wastied up in a ribbon, and her long, dark legs looked even more impressive than usual in gray suede peep-toe Dolce Vita ankle
     boots and a sleeveless violet-colored Hanii Y dress. Brett suddenly felt underdressed in her black skinny J Brand cords and
     peacock blue cowlneck sweater. They were watching a movie, for God’s sake, not going to dinner at Le Petit Coq, the fanciest
     restaurant in Rhinecliff.
    “Have you seen it before?” Brett asked. “It’s really old. My parents used to talk about it when I was little.”
    Love means never having to say you’re sorry,
her mom would sometimes quote at their ornate marble dinner table in Rumson, New Jersey.
Unless you’re the man,
her father would say, like they were a comedy routine.
Then it means
always
having to say you’re sorry.
Brett and her sister, Brianna, would roll their eyes at each other while their parents laughed like it was the wittiest thing
     they’d ever heard.
    Somehow, hearing her parents riff on the movie had not inspired Brett to Netflix it herself.
    “I’ve never seen it,” Rifat said with a wave of her hand. She smiled conspiratorially. “I’m much more interested in
who
I’m seeing the movie with than
what
I’m seeing!” She jutted her chin out, indicating Teague Williams, the good-looking senior swim-team captain, who was waiting
     for her near the refreshments table with a big smile and a bag of Twizzlers. Rifat gave Brett a conspiratorial wink, then
     turned her attention to her date.
    Brett scanned the room as she searched for a seat. Rifat wasn’t alone—there were certainly some new couples on displaytonight, sitting next to each other or chatting shyly—like Alison Quentin and the famously aloof Parker DuBois or Kirin Choate
     and some baby-faced freshman Brett couldn’t even name. Ugh. Who decided Perfect Match was a good idea?
    “Did I miss something?” Tinsley asked in a low voice, walking over to Brett and handing her a Diet Coke. Her curtain of nearly
     black hair blended with the rich black sweater dress she wore over chunky motorcycle boots. The dress looked like it had been
     designed for Tinsley specifically, which Brett knew meant it probably had. “When did a movie in the screening room become
     date night?”
    “Perfect Match events start tonight,” Brett said, frowning. She made a face and clenched the icy-cold Diet Coke can between
     her hands. “Does it really have to ruin the
entire
week?”
    Tinsley scanned the rows of leather seats, noting with distaste that a lot of people seemed to be having fun with their matches.
     Her gaze traveled over far too many laughing, joking, delighted Owls, searching for one messy golden brown head. She finally
     picked out Heath from the crowd—but he wasn’t alone. Sitting right beside him, her glossy curls still loose and wild around
     her shoulders as she leaned in to giggle at whatever Heath was saying, was Little Miss Two Faces herself.
    “At least your date isn’t—” Tinsley began, but then cut herself off.
    Because Sebastian was sitting on Isla’s