Sleeping Beauty Read Online Free PDF Page B

sharp gaze that was impossible to avoid.
    â€œWhat do you see yourself doing five years from now, after you’ve graduated from college?” the dean asked.
    â€œI like science. I was thinking of medical school, but I’m not sure.”
    Terri was thrilled to hear her daughter talk about the future and she admired the way Casey Van Meter had shifted Ashley’s attention there so easily.
    â€œWell, we’ve got a top-flight science facility. It’s the first building you passed when you drove down the quad. We designed it to look like the older buildings but, inside, the labs are state-of-the-art. Would you like to take a look at it?”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œGood. I’m tired of sitting inside on a day like this. We can look around the grounds and end up at the gym. If you’d like, I can introduce you to some of the girls on the soccer team.”
    â€œThat would be okay,” Ashley answered nonchalantly, though her body language revealed her excitement at the possibility of meeting the girls on the Academy team.
    Casey held open the door. “Shall we stroll?”
    The dean walked beside Ashley as they descended the stairs and left the building. Terri followed, listening to Casey’s exposition on the history of the Academy and the school’s goals. The dean cut across the quadrangle, stopping her monologue occasionally to say hello to some of the students they passed. They were almost to the street that separated the quad from the academic buildings when a man in a tweed sports jacket and gray slacks hailed the dean.
    Joshua Maxfield wore his reddish-brown hair stylishly long and had emerald-green eyes. He was lanky, a little less than six feet tall, and looked trim and fit. Ashley would not have been surprised if someone told her that Maxfield had played tennis in college or ran for exercise.
    â€œJoshua!” Casey said with an enthusiastic smile. “I want you to meet Terri and Ashley Spencer. Ashley is a junior at Eisenhower High School and a top soccer player. We’re hoping that she’ll attend the Academy for her senior year.
    â€œTerri, Ashley, this is Joshua Maxfield. He’s our writer-in-residence and he teaches creative writing. He’ll be your instructor if you take the course.”
    â€œJoshua Maxfield,” Terri said, half to herself. Then she asked, “Did you write A Tourist in Babylon ?”
    Maxfield beamed. “Guilty as charged.”
    â€œI thought it was terrific. I’m a big fan.”
    â€œWell, thank you.”
    â€œI remember Babylon so well. When Marion died from the overdose I cried. That scene was so powerful. I just couldn’t help myself.”
    â€œThat’s music to my ears, Mrs. Spencer. A writer tries to create real emotions in his readers but we rarely know if we succeed.”
    â€œWell, I did cry and I’m not ashamed to admit it. That was a very moving book. Are you working on another?”
    Ashley thought that Maxfield looked uncomfortable, but it was only for a fraction of a second. Then he was smiling modestly.
    â€œActually, I am.”
    â€œWhat’s it about?”
    â€œI’d rather not say at this point. I’ve just started it. I will tell you that it’s a departure from my previous books.”
    â€œI won’t press you. I’m working on my own novel and I don’t like talking about it, either.”
    Ashley hid her surprise while she watched this exchange. Her mother was usually so businesslike. Now she was gushing the way some of Ashley’s friends did when they talked about a hunky TV teen idol.
    â€œHow far along are you?” Maxfield asked.
    â€œAbout halfway. I’m a reporter for the The Oregonian. They keep me pretty busy. I grab a few hours here and there to work on it. Weekends mostly. It must be great to write full-time.”
    â€œI’m very fortunate. You know, when you feel that you’re well enough along, I do