Revenge of the Geek by Piper Banks Read Free Book Online Page A

student.”She smiled, allowing this announcement to sink in.
    Candace continued. “We want to present our readers with a look at what it’s like to be a high school student today. The challenges we face; the issues that excite us. In our first issue, we’re going to focus on problems facing students. And I hope you’re all excited to get to work, because I’m about to hand out your first assignments.”Candace picked up a lined legal pad off the table.
    I looked up quickly. She’d already made story assignments? I hadn’t yet had a chance to tell Candace I’d like to be considered for the short story. Was I already too late?
    “Many of you have already talked to me about what you’d like to write about, so I tried to take those preferences into account when I made the assignments,”Candace continued.
    Gah! I thought, suddenly seized with panic. People were already lobbying for the plum assignments? How did I not know that was happening?
    “The cover story this month is going to be an in-depth look at SAT preparatory programs. Are they worth the money? Is one program vastly preferable to another? Are the program administrators making irresponsible promises to students who take their courses about what they can expect in test performance? Because of the size and scope of this article, I’m going to assign two writers to it: Peter Rossi and Coleen Duchene,”Candace said.
    There was a smattering of applause. I glanced at Peter and Coleen, who were sitting at a table together, looking flushed and pleased. They’re both seniors, so it makes sense that they get the highest-profile assignment , I thought. The new staff members—which included, besides me, Tabitha Stone, Padma Paswan, Nate Fox, Vida Diaz, and Marc Holland—would probably be given less-important pieces to cut our teeth on.
    Candace cleared her throat. “Our second feature is going to look at the extraordinary steps some parents are taking to get their kids into college, such as hiring consultants to help them with their applications.”
    There was a murmuring of interest in the room. It sounded like a juicy piece. “I’ve decided to assign two of our new staff writers—Marc Holland and Padma Paswan—to write it. I have confidence they’ll do a great job,”Candace continued.
    Padma let out a gasp of excitement, and Marc grinned as Nate Fox thumped him on the back. I smiled my congratulations at Padma. I was incredibly envious that she and Marc had gotten such a great assignment, but I was glad to know that Candace wasn’t reserving all of the best assignments for seniors. Maybe I’d get a good piece, too.
    But as Candace continued down her list, giving a short description of each article and then assigning a writer to it, she didn’t mention my name once. I still had a small bubble of hope that maybe, just maybe, I’d be assigned the fiction piece. I hadn’t asked for it specifically, but the year before I had been a finalist for the prestigious Winston Creative Writing Contest. Candace knew this; in fact, it was why I’d been invited to join the staff of The Ampersand .
    “And, finally, I’m pleased to announce that this issue’s short fiction piece will be assigned to”—Candace paused for suspense.
    Say my name; say my name , I begged silently. I could feel my heartbeat rising steadily, and I crossed my fingers in my lap.
    “Tabitha Stone,”Candace said.
    My heart stopped its rapid thumping, and instead felt like it was now plummeting into my stomach. As if it wasn’t bad enough that I hadn’t gotten the fiction piece, it had gone to Tabitha , of all people. Why her? Why not me? Jealousy snaked through me, even as I applauded politely along with the rest of the staff.
    Tabitha inclined her head gracefully, as though she had just been named Queen of the World and we were her groveling subjects. “Thank you for the opportunity. I shall endeavor to do my best,”she said, sounding as pompous and condescending as ever. It took all