Why Me?

Chapter Nine

Devon Fritz

Its been weeks, weeks of awkward silence and tension between Wyatt and I.

Weeks of Delilah breathing down my neck. She's gotten weird, her words rougher, more like venom, and now her numbers were growing. She had a posse now, and they accosted me when the opportunity presented itself about my relationship with Wyatt.

This only made me more afraid to talk to him, even for class, so I developed the habit of rushing from the room whenever I could, as fast as l could, and interacted him at less than the
minimal.

Today was no different. I kept my eyes to my book, listening to what he had to say and taking diligent notes, but not daring to so much as glance at him. My leg bounced, shaking, waiting and waiting for the time to be over so that I could just leave. My prayers were answered. The bell rang.

I hopped up, grabbing my things. But I wasnt going anywhere. "Ms Guascato, can you stay after class?"

Wyattcalled across the room to me. I froze, students who passed me laughing and glancing at me,
whispering. I gulped, my eyes falling on Delilah as she snaked past with her crew, her smile venomous and her eyes sharp.

She snarled at me and disappeared
I watched the door, my fingers fiddling with each other, until the last student walked out, closing the door behind them. Then I looked at him, the face I had been avoiding and was hoping to avoid until I graduated.

Didn't seem to be working out
like that. Nothing ever works out the way I plan, though, so it wasn't a surprise.

"Yes?" I asked, timid. He was staring, his body language slightly caged in on himself, his face bit distant, and hurt.

"W-"

"I... I wanted to give you something," he said, standing up and pulling a card from his pocket. He hesitated, looking at it for a few seconds, before he held it out to me with a soft smile.

"I recommended you to a friend of mine who runs a
modelling and photography business. I told him how talented you are with both mediums, how driven and how ambitious you are, and... he's interesting in interviewing you for a job."

"Are you serious?" l asked, amazed, rushing over and grabbing the card form him. He was smiling,
grinning, now, watching me happily. I looked at it, laughing in disbelief. It was a business card, crisp
and white, with a dark jungle black ink that formed the name of the owner.

I wrinkled my brow. "Devon Fritz? That can't be his name."

"That's the name of the company. His real name is... right there," he said, stepping closer and pointing.

I smiled. "Mark Campbell," I confirmed. He nodded

"He's a bit much at first, but I promise you that if. you're looking for a career in photography or modelling... this is a great opportunity. Um... if you get the job, you'll be missing class time, but you can turn in modelling photos or pictures you have taken during the job to make up for the lost time, he said.

I was still staring at the card, my smile gone. He sounded a bit hurt, his voice cracking slightlv. I'd be missing class time, meaning l'd barely see him. I gulped, nodding and forcing a smile as I gripped onto the card and looked up at him

"Thank you so much, Mr MacNeill. You have... you have no idea how much this means to me," I said, smiling, although my pain pushed a tear from my eye, dribbling down my cheek.

Wyatt watched it, concern clouding his expression. "Are you alright?" he asked. I nodded, flustered, sniffing, and wiped it away.