Documentary by A.J. Sand Read Free Book Online Page B

skill, I regret to inform you that you were not selected for the web series director position. Thank you for applying, the stock words had said. She had known going in that she was the underdog, but now the sting of elimination was taking some time to recede. Why had she gotten her hopes up about it? She had let herself get wrapped up in the little time she spent with Kai White and created a situation in her mind where it had mattered to him, too. Oh well, other opportunities would come. Kai won’t be there though.
    “ Now, we’re going to watch The Fall of the Romanov Dynasty— ” The entire class turned toward the open classroom door when a gaggle of excited students reached the second floor landing, which their classroom faced. Professor Jordan pressed her lips together in frustration until they bleached over as she waited for the noise to pass. It was the third interruption in fifteen minutes from students coming in from the quad. Something was going on out there.
    Their classroom didn’t have windows so the open door helped to keep air flowing, and Professor Jordan also kept it open so that the sound of the door opening and closing when students had to step out wouldn’t become a nuisance.
                  Dylan read the waiting G-chat message on her computer screen from Winslow. “Would Kate be okay with Ryan coming to my T’giving shindig, you think?”
                  “I can’t say for sure. She was pissed at him the last time I asked how he was,” she replied. Winslow was throwing a pre-holiday party because she was staying on campus for Thanksgiving, even though both Kate and Dylan had repeatedly offered her room at their homes, but she had insisted on remaining. Dylan knew that it was a question of finances—and pride about finances—so she didn’t push the issue. Winslow could be stubborn sometimes. At least she was going to her husband’s family’s house for part of the Christmas break.
    “Fuck it. I’m just going to uninvite him. LOL,” Winslow typed.
    “D o you know what’s going on in the quad?” The entire classroom’s interest was piqued, but no one dared leave Jordan’s lecture to investigate the commotion.
                  “Nope. Still in my apt.”
                  Dylan had a limited view of the outside from her seat through the tiny windows that ran across the front of the building on the wall above the staircase, but they only allowed access to a view of the building across the quad. She didn’t bother to try Kate, who was always online, but kept her status at “busy.” She rarely responded to chat prompts during classes.
                  “This film dates back to 1927, so you’ll actually be forced to pay attention with your eyes because it’s silent, so you can’t rely on your ears as you G-chat or read Perez Hilton through it. Next class period, we’ll discuss whether Shub broke any rules of documentary filming—even though in this case she was using already existing footage—in her depiction of Czar Nicholas II’s relationship with the people he ruled over. And it will be part of the final.”  The class, as expected, groaned.
    Professor Jordan tinkered with the large electronic display that controlled the projection screen, pushing a few buttons. More students trickled up the stairs, spea king as though classes weren’t in session. “Well, at least we have something of a soundtrack.” The class offered feeble laughter in unison. Someone got up and switched the lights off. On her computer, Dylan broke the news to Winslow that she had to take notes.
                  “Wait! Holy shit! You’ll never believe this!” Winslow wrote quickly, but Dylan was already closing the chat window. This was her favorite class, but Jordan’s finals mirrored her high expectations when it came to the type of information they were supposed to be retaining from the lessons. Jordan never said, “This won’t