Endangered Read Online Free PDF Page B

thirst for sordid visuals goes unsated.
    â€œIt’s done,” she says, pushing away from the desk and unfolding herselffrom her chair. She stops just shy of her full height, as if the self-conscious slouch somehow makes her less noticeable than the additional inch a straightened spine provides. What if it does? Perhaps I’ll work it into my Hall Ghost act.
    Taylor checks her work, nods, and says, “Good job.”
    She half grins, a glint of a retainer visible between her parted lips. For a moment our gazes meet, her eyes as blue as tropical water when she’s not casting them down, and I smile at her. She looks away, embarrassed. The term “painfully shy” doesn’t seem strong enough for this girl. “Agonizingly shy” maybe? “Torturously shy”?
    Ms. Marcella approaches Taylor and bashful Rozlynn with signed hall passes. “That will be all,” Ms. Marcella says. “You can get back to your computer science class now, and thank Mr. Bradford for me.”
    Rozlynn flits from the room, but not before giving me a warm smile and a wave. Being a Hall Ghost doesn’t mean I’m a complete unknown. I play shy, and the real shy kids tend to acknowledge each other, if only in passing. I wave back and she’s gone.
    Around me, my classmates remain in a mild uproar over being denied a dose of scandal. A white, cornea-staining explosion toward the front of the room quiets them.
    Ms. Marcella fired a large flash unit—-a device that houses a 250-watt lamp bulb and looks something like a laser gun from a science-fiction movie—toward the underside of a white light reflector shaped like an umbrella. Combined with a tripod and light meter, the entire apparatus makes up the standard flash kit, used the world over by everyone from high-fashion photographers to the cheesy family portrait shooter at Sears.
    It’s wondrous to the noobs, who’ve never seen this kind of setup before. My eyes droop and I stifle another yawn. I’ve got this gear in the trunk of my car.
    â€œNow,” Ms. Marcella says, “if you all can manage to focus, let’s talk studio lighting and using a flash to your advantage.”
    Taylor is still in the doorway, momentarily stunned by Ms. Marcella’s flash trick like everybody else. He blinks my way, catching the remnants of the smile meant for Rozlynn, and he returns it. By the time my tired mind remembers I should be frowning/scowling/hissing at all things related to him, he turns the corner.
    You really are slipping, Panda .
    After DP the hallway crowds part and I see a face I’ve been looking for all day. Nina Appleton.
    She navigates the rush with a gazelle-like bounce that’s partially due to her crutches and partially due to her usual manic energy. The girl vibrates.
    Today there’s an extra bit of buzz to her, something that wasn’t there the last few times I’ve seen her. Also present after a long hiatus, a smile on her face.
    â€œHey, Nina,” I say as she passes.
    She glances back over her shoulder, skids to a stop. “Hey, Panda!”
    â€œHow are you?”
    â€œStupendous!” she says, stretching the word. STUUU-pendous!
    To pry further is risky. I already know why her day’s so good. Justice has been served. Her wrong righted. I’m one of the Avengers.
    â€œUh, Panda?” Nina’s staring at me. When did she start staring?
    I shake off my exhaustion daze. “Sorry. I spaced.”
    â€œDon’t be. I may need some of whatever you’re smoking one day. It’s nice to know you’ve got the hookup.”
    I snort a laugh. Good one, Nina.
    She says, “Well, I gotta”—dramatic pause as she looks down, her face suddenly serious—“I was going to say ‘run,’ but we both know that ain’t happening. How about ‘crutch’? ‘Gotta, crutch’ sounds about right.”
    â€œUm. I don’t—”
    Her