"You must not have saved the picture," I said. "I do that all the time."
"No--that's not what Imean. He isn't inthe picture."
That was what I was a fraid of. "You probably moved it," I told her.
She picked up the phone and showed me. "Look."
I saw a picture of me, smiling and angled, as if I was leaning my body against someone. Only there wasn't anyone else in the picture.
"Isn't that odd?" she said, perplexed.
"Well . . . maybe he shifted out of view."
"I don't remember him doing that."
"Or maybe youmoved the camera. That happens to me all the time."
"I know. But the wayyouare sitting--if he had moved, youwould have fallenover.And there is still this space.And if I moved--thenthere wouldn't be all this blank space where he'd been. Ican't figure it out."
"Looks like they are going to score . . ." I said, attempting to change the subject.
"Don't youadmit it's weird?" she stressed.
What was I going to say? You took a picture of a vampire. What do you expect?
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Ithought youof all people would freak out. It's almost like out of a scarymovie."
Becky shoved the picture in front of me again.
"Yes. It is weird. But I'm sure he just moved awayat the last minute. That's all."
I returned to doodling in my journal.
"I guess," Becky said. "But I'm saving this picture. I was hoping to have a picture of Sebastian.At least I have a cool one of you."
The game was over and I saw Trevor hanging out by the trees. He was resting his arm against a trunk and was posing in a seductive way that led me to believe whomever he was talking to was of the female persuasion, and of the pretty kind. It was unlike Trevor to be secretive with his women, so I became curious. As he continued to talk and pose, the girl remained hidden in the shadows. After a few minutes I noticed something illuminated by the field lights--bright scarlet hair--the kind that came from a bottle, not used on any of the girls at our high school.
"Where are yougoing?" Beckyasked as Ileaped over the bleachers and raced downthe metal stairs.
So that's who's leaking the info. Jagger must have put her up to it, Iimmediatelysurmised. If Trevor's onboard,then Jagger is sure to have a crowd. Jagger knows Trevor will tell the whole school, along with the whole town.
"Oh, Scarlet!" I said.
She looked surprised to see me, and stepped even further back into the shadows. Trevor also seemed taken aback by my presence.
Just then Matt called to him as the team headed toward the gym. Trevor paused. It was odd for him to have two goth girls in his company. He was used to being surrounded by preppy, conservative types. He was reveling in his rebellious attraction to us.
"I've got to go. . . ." Trevor said reluctantly. I knew he wanted to staywithus, but it would have to remaina fantasy for him.
The way he lingered in front of us by the tree, it was as if he wanted to kiss one or both of us, but he wasn't brave enough to make a move on Scarlet in front of me. And he knew if he kissed me, I would slug him.
"Is that Trevor's number?" she asked, noticing the smudged digits onmypalm.
"Yes, and Itried to burnthem off. Itold you--he's not what youthink he is." Ipaused for a moment.
Whenwe were alone, Isaid to her, "AfterAlexander's party, youall just left."