“Hey, Lia! Wait a second,” she calls out proper earlier than I go away the classroom with my good friend.

“I’ll meet up with you later,” I inform Taylor as she leaves, spinning round with a smile. “What’s up, Nat?”

She smiles brightly at me, and I attempt to not get suspicious. “I wished to ask you for a favor; are you busy this afternoon?”

I feel by my schedule, however I’ve nothing else to do in the present day. That is my final class on Mondays and Wednesdays. “Nope. I’m free. Why?”

I didn’t suppose her smile might get wider, however then it does. “Nice! My good friend Callie within the newspaper is doing an article with one of many soccer gamers, and so they particularly requested for you. I do know you don’t like photographing individuals, however you’d be doing me an enormous favor. The group doesn’t have observe, so the interview should be performed in the present day to be performed by the deadline.”

“Which participant is it?” I ask skeptically, and that’s when Natalie’s smile fades barely. My abdomen sinks as a result of I’m fairly certain I do know precisely who it’s now.

“Effectively, you see…you already stated you’re free, which suggests you possibly can’t make up some bullshit cause for not doing it now. It’s Sebastian. He solely agreed to do the interview if you happen to can be the photographer for the story—which is sensible since you’re his greatest good friend’s sister—however he gained’t do it with anybody else. I’ll even provide you with additional credit score for doing it. Please, please, please!”

Yeah, that’s undoubtedly not why he stated he would solely do it if I’m there. I rub my temples, unable to consider I’m agreeing to do that. “What time?” I ask, subjecting myself to my destiny. In fact he would get Natalie to assist sucker me into this.

“Two o’clock within the locker room! You’re one of the best.”

“It’s already one! I don’t need additional credit score for this. We’re going out tonight, and your boyfriend is chaperoning,” I negotiate, and Natalie has the nerve to groan after what she suckered me into doing.

“Thalia, it’s a Wednesday. Can’t we push it off till the weekend?” Natalie whines, and I smile cheekily at her.

“Would you like me to take Sebastian’s picture or not?”

She sighs and, simply as I anticipated, nods her head. “Nice, however we’re not staying out previous ten.”

“Deal.” I smile faintly at her. “You guys can decide me up at seven.”

Once I return to the condominium, I solely have sufficient time to seize a brand new reminiscence card for my digicam and the lenses I like to make use of for portraits. I put on the brand new sweatshirt my mother despatched me a couple of days in the past and pull a beanie on my head to get this over with. The much less I seem like I care, the much less triumphant he’ll really feel. Figures that Sebastian would discover some method to manipulate me into spending time with him. He wasn’t kidding when he stated he wouldn’t surrender—silly asshole.

I fastidiously put every little thing into my digicam bag earlier than strolling into the lounge, the place Sebastian is ready together with his soccer jersey on. “Want a experience?” he asks, shoving his fingers in his pockets.

He appears hopeful, and I’ve given him no cause to be. “No.” I truly do as a result of I’m an fool, and I didn’t verify to see if my brother was dwelling to make use of his truck. I’m certain he’s with Blake. I can’t even be mad about it as a result of I’m rooting for them to be joyful.

“Thalia, cease being cussed. It’s only a experience to the stadium. Owen’s not right here, which suggests his truck isn’t right here, and I don’t suppose you need to stroll.”

Sebastian is so infuriating I really feel like stomping my foot. Besides that will give the looks that I’m a baby, and I don’t need to be known as that once more. He’s proper. I don’t need to stroll. “I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for Nat. Don’t let it go to your head,” I snap harshly, and he smiles at me. Now I really feel like screaming, however I gained’t do this both.

“I do know. I acquired you extra flowers; this time, I put them in a vase earlier than you possibly can throw them away.” Sebastian’s nonetheless smiling as he motions to the vase on the counter. What a part of that is he not understanding?

Possibly Penelope was proper. I ought to have throat-chopped him and let her minimize his balls off. But when I’m being reasonable, her recommendation acquired me into this mess within the first place. Simply climb him like a tree, Thalia, and every little thing will likely be wonderful!

No, every little thing is just not wonderful!

I frown and stroll rapidly over to seize the pink flowers out of the vase earlier than dumping them into the trash. “You shouldn’t have. I imply it, I don’t need your silly flowers, Sebastian. Cease shopping for them.”

His smile falters for a second as he pulls his denim jacket on. “Nice. Let’s go. Wouldn’t need to be late for my interview.”

For a really small second, I really feel unhealthy for being so impolite to him. Then, I remind myself he manipulated his method into getting me to {photograph} this interview.

I pull my hat decrease on my head, strolling out the entrance door with out saying one other phrase. It’s in all probability higher that method. The automobile experience is awkward as I textual content Penelope and Mae to keep away from talking. For as soon as, Sebastian has gotten the trace about leaving me alone.

Fortunately, the experience is just a few minutes lengthy. I slide out of Sebastian’s stunning automobile the second it parks, and I want I didn’t love the rattling automobile a lot.

The interview was customary, to my understanding. Callie is protecting it centered on soccer and Sebastian as an NFL hopeful. A lot of the questions are alongside the traces of who’s your idol, what do you suppose are your strengths and weaknesses, and sport day routines. It’s boring, however I’ve performed exactly what Natalie requested me.

Then, the questions change to a private perspective. “Why did you begin enjoying soccer?” Callie asks along with her pen able to jot down notes and the recording on her cellphone.

I can’t assist however tense as a result of this goes again to his mother and father. Simply because I actually dislike him proper now doesn’t imply I can erase all of the years of historical past we now have. Sebastian would possibly be capable to throw shit in my face, however that doesn’t imply I’ve to sit down right here and allow them to ask about issues he by no means talks about.

Supply: www.seynovel.com