Page 148 of Shy Girls Can't Date Rockstars
“Secret? Alice, I didn’t…”
“Dude,“ Brooks murmurs. “What’d ya do?”
I groan and step away from them. “Forget this. I’m going to class.”
“Alice? I think I deserve to know why you’re ripping me apart.”
I keep walking, not looking back, and repeat, “I’m going to class!”
The scent of the developing chemicals hits me in the chest the moment I push the door open of the photography room. My feet almost stop moving. I was in such a haste that I didn’t even hesitate to enter. But now that I’m here, I need to conquer the mission of taking a seat for my first photography lesson at Ashworth Academy.
Twenty-Seven
Ifindanemptyworkstation at the back of the room and sit down without making eye contact with anyone. The teacher, Mr. Deluca, is moving between stations with a relaxed, unhurried energy. He’s the kind of teacher who gestures a lot when he talks and calls everyone by their first name, as if he’s good friends with them.
He gets to me and pauses.
“Alice,” he says, and there’s no surprise in his voice, which surprises me. “Glad you’re here.”
“Sorry I missed last week,” I start, bracing.
“Your previous teacher sent over your portfolio, and it was a joy to look over.” He pulls out a stool and sits with an easy, unguarded manner. “Your landscape series is phenomenal. The way you use available light is instinctive. You don’t force the shot. You wait for it.”
I blink at him.
“We’re in the middle of a portraiture unit,” he says. “I want you to shoot what you want, when you’re ready. But don’t rush back on my account. Your work already speaks for itself.”
I open my mouth to say something, and then I notice who’s sitting at the station to my left.
Jasper Whitmore.
He has his shiny new camera in front of him, and he’s not using it. He’s watching me.
My stomach tightens.
Mr. Deluca moves over to another student with his hand raised, and Jasper shifts on his stool, angling himself toward me.
“So,” Jasper says, under the noise of the class settling. “You finally showed up.”
I focus on the workstation screen in front of me.
“I’ve been working on a new article,” Jasper continues in a pleasant, unbothered tone. “Actually, talking to your aunt on the weekend got me thinking. You know, no one really knows that much about you, but you’ve made such a spectacle of yourself since you arrived.”
Don’t react. Don’t give in. He just wants a rise out on you.
“Did you move to Victoria Falls specifically to get in with the band, as everyone says, or is there more to the story?” He leans in closer, but I don’t dare budge an inch. “You could say it brought out the journalist in me. I just didn’t expect to find articles about two Millbrook caterers who shared your last name.”
At that, I let out the shallow breath I had been holding.
No, it was…
“One article said they left behind a daughter…”
This guy. Of course, it was this guy.
Before Jasper can continue, I spin to the left and send him a cutting glare. “What are you getting at? Why are you snooping into my life?”
Jasper’s satisfied smirk wanes when I hold his stare. “It wasn’t supposed to come out this early,” he says. “I was working on the article during my English period, and Kimberly saw what I was working on.”
