First Kiss: The Ghost Bird Series: #10 (The Academy Ghost Bird Series) by C. L. Stone Read Free Book Online Page A

that would have been way too expensive, even if he didn’t.
    Once we were in the car, I was ready to give up. “Victor,” I said, placing the tablet on my lap as I buckled in. “What would you get for Mr. Blackbourne?”
    “I’m the one that usually gets him new music sheets,” he said. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, heading back to Sunnyvale Court. “And I usually buy him new bowstrings for his birthday.”
    I sat up straight, staring out the windshield but not really focusing. “His birthday? When is it?”
    “On the twenty-second,” he said. “I try to get something sent to his house, so he gets it on the day. Sometimes I won’t see him that week until Christmas, and I don’t want the gift to blend in with the others.”
    “Shouldn’t we do something?” I asked in a rush. I’d missed a few birthdays, and had barely been prepared for Gabriel’s. This time, I had a chance to prepare and do things better. That was important to me, especially for Mr. Blackbourne, who had done so much for me since I’d met him.
    “Maybe we should do a little dinner. Or...” I wasn’t sure what else to do for him. Take him to a concert? Would he like that?
    Victor pressed his lips together, remaining quiet for a few minutes as he drove. His eyes darted to the mirrors. “Princess, I’ve known him many years, and I have no idea what he does on his birthday. He usually disappears for the day and tells us all he’s busy with Academy business or something else.”
    “Do you not believe him?”
    “I don’t think he really enjoys his birthday,” he said. “I’ve never figured out why. Maybe it draws a lot of bad memories. It’s the only time he ever really withdraws from the rest of us. I’ve asked Dr. Green about it, and he says that for now, we should just let him be. Just send him birthday wishes and gifts—from a distance.”
    I settled into the seat, staring off at the line of trees whizzing by. I was curious, wondering what happens to Mr. Blackbourne on his birthday.
    If Dr. Green said to leave him alone except to send a gift, it made me determined to pick one that would be perfect.
     
    ♥♥♥
     
    For the rest of the day, I curled up in a couch or in bed, looking at the iPad. I kept a novel ready on a reading app, so when Nathan or someone came close, I’d tap on it to bring it up, claiming to be caught up in a new book.
    In secret, I carefully went over gift options from every store I could find. One by one, I picked out different gifts for all of them. I had them sent to Victor’s house, and then I’d send him a text message or call him, letting him know which items were for who, so he could label them correctly.
    He approved of my choices. “You should shop with me for gifts next year,” he said. “We’ll work with two iPads and drink coffee by a fire while we pick out what to give. We should do that for birthdays, too.”
    I adored his idea. I told him I wanted to do that next year.
    I’d still go out with Gabriel and Luke if they wanted, but I’d save special gifts for shopping with Victor.
     

THE SOUND OF SNOWFALL

    S chool whirled by in the couple weeks that were left. No Volto. No Mr. Hendricks. I saw the inside of Music Room B and we cleaned the room and worked on homework as a group. We did homework that would last us several months through the next year, so when we returned, we could focus fully on the task at hand there. Everyone was busy with mid-terms and closing up school for the holidays anyway, so nothing eventful happened.
    I was grateful for that.
     
    ♥♥♥
     
    Early morning light woke me first. It was the gray glare of winter, with the sun starting to rise, and the surrounding trees and neighborhoods hiding its arrival. The day promised to be cold, and sections of my body was chill, even with the blanket around me.
    Without opening my eyes, I sensed Kota in the bed next to me. I knew that Nathan slept on the roll-out cot next to us. North, Gabriel,