I have a secret, and I just know I'm going to talk! I'm so bad at keeping good stuff to myself. But this is a supersecret. I can't let my twin sister, Ashley, find out that I got her the one thing she really wants for Christmas.

I'm sitting on my bed looking out the window. It's snowing here at White Oak Academy in New Hampshire. The campus looks like a beautiful winter wonderland.

The whole school is excited about the holidays. At lunch today no one could talk about anything else. All my friends are into cool holiday projects.

Elise van Hook loves anything that glitters, so she's in charge of the Porter House decorating committee.

"We're putting up the tree tomorrow," Elise said. Her Christmas charm bracelet jingled when she moved her arm. "When we're done, the lounge will look better than the mall!"

Phoebe Cahill, Ashley's roommate, frowned. "I hope the committee isn't going to do anything weird to the tree. I like old-fashioned, real, green Christmas trees with colored balls and candy canes and tinsel."

"Don't worry Phoebe. Our tree will be traditional," Elise said.

"With colored lights?" Cheryl Miller looked up.

"Colored lights aren't traditional," Elise said. "Besides, they'd clash with the red bows and candy canes. We're using all white lights."

I didn't say anything, but I really like colored lights. Ashley is a white-light person. We've got an every-other-year plan at our house that keeps everyone happy half the time.

Cheryl brightened. "I bet the Senior Center will have blinking colored lights on their tree."

"How are the rehearsals going?" I asked. The First Form Chorus was giving a Christmas concert at the Senior Center. At White Oak Academy, they call the seventh grade "First Form."

"Not all that great," Cheryl said. "I'm supposed to sing harmony, but I keep singing the melody by mistake."

"Harmony is hard," Summer Sorenson said.

"I'm fine when I sing with Ms. O'Neal's rehearsal tape," Cheryl explained. "I just hit the wrong notes when I sing with other people."

"I'll help you practice, Cheryl," I said. "I'm not a great singer but I can carry a tune. At least well enough to help you learn your harmonies."

I had plenty of time to help because this year I had done my Christmas shopping early. But I was so busy shopping, I'd forgotten to sign up for a project.

"Thanks, Mary-Kate." Cheryl looked relieved.

"Who wants to go to the mall on Sunday?" Summer asked.

"Me!" Ashley said. "I haven't gotten any gifts for anyone yet."

"I just love the mall this time of year," Summer said. "Back home in California, the mall is the only place that looks like Christmas, because it's always warm and sunny outside."

"Christmas in California must be fun," Phoebe said. "When you finish your shopping, you can hit the beach."

"Exactly," Summer said, giggling.

"Don't you have shopping to do, Mary-Kate?" Ashley asked. She picked up a French fry and popped it into her mouth.

"Except for friends, all my shopping is done," I said.

"Even for me?" Ashley teased.

I clamped my lips shut. I was not going to spoil Ashley's surprise.

"Maybe we shouldn't give gifts to one another. We should only buy a present for our roommate," Elise said. "I barely have enough money to buy presents for my family."

"That's cool with me," Ashley said. "I'm hoping I can find things on sale. That's the only way I'll be able to buy gifts for everyone on my list."

That's what I did. I saved money last summer, and I had the extra money our dad sent for Christmas presents. I bought things on sale right after Thanksgiving.

"I vote for no friend gifts, too." Cheryl pushed her tray aside and folded her arms on the table. "I want to spend my money on something extra nice for my parents this year."

"So we're all agreed? No gifts." Elise looked around the table and everyone nodded.

"Just don't forget the Headmistress Gift Fund," Campbell reminded us. She was in charge of collecting a dollar from each of the First Form students.

"What did the committee decide to get Mrs. Pritchard?" Summer asked."Nothing yet," Campbell said. "Any ideas?"

"I saw these dynamite ice skates at Sports Mania," I joked.

Phoebe raised an eyebrow. "I don't think Mrs. Pritchard wants ice skates."

"But Mary-Kate does, right?" Ashley grinned.

"Well, yeah," I admitted. Ashley and I like different things, but she knows me better than anyone. "I'm hoping Great-aunt Morgan sends us Christmas checks again this year so I can buy them."

"I hope she does, too." Ashley crossed her fingers on both hands. "That jacket we saw at Teen Town last month is the only thing I really want this year."

I pretended I didn't remember. "The black one with the leather trim, the fitted waist, and the tie belt?"

"That's the one." Ashley glanced at her watch and jumped up. "Uh-oh. I promised Mrs. Yancosek I'd return an overdue library book by yesterday, and I keep forgetting!"

"Mrs. Yancosek is usually pretty understanding." Elise sipped the last of her milk and crumpled the container:

"This book was due a month ago." Ashley shrugged as the bell rang. "I guess one more day won't matter."

I held my breath as Ashley hurried out of the dining hail with Elise, Cheryl, Phoebe, and Summer. Then I exhaled and slumped in my chair.

"What's the matter, Mary-Kate?" Campbell asked. Campbell and I have been best friends since my first day at White- Oak. She knows me almost as well as Ashley does.

"Keeping-a-secret-itis." I was only half-joking.

"From me?" Campbell asked as we headed to our classes.

"From Ashley," I confessed. I could trust Campbell not to tell. "I got her that jacket for Christmas."

Continues...

Excerpted from Two of a Kind #32: Santa Girlsby Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen Copyright © 2006 by Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen. Excerpted by permission.
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Santa Girls (Two of a Kind #32)

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Two of a Kind #32: Santa Girls

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