Goddess Rising by Alexi Lawless Read Free Book Online Page B

followed the assignment to the tee.”
    “Exactly,” Purcell replied, leaning back. “You’re doing only what’s expected of you, relying on your talent to glide you across that finish line. When you’re serious—really serious, then you’re always trying to go farther, do better.” He glanced down at the negatives. “This is above-average work, Wes. But you’ve got above-average potential. You’ve got what it takes to make a name for yourself as a serious photojournalist. You just have to push yourself to go there.”
    “You callin’ me lazy?” Wes asked.
    “No, son. I’m saying you’re content merely coasting.” Purcell shrugged. “I guess there’s no shame in that, but I wonder why you’re in a lane with box cars when you oughtta be running rings around the track.”
    Wes crossed his arms. “That why you submitted my photo to The Statesman behind my back?” he asked. A few weeks back, Purcell had taken his photo of the girl at the Arches and submitted it to the Austin newspaper’s annual photography competition. Wes had only just found out, and he wasn’t sure whether to be proud that Purcell thought it was that good or pissed that his professor had shared his private muse with a few thousand other people without his knowledge.
    “I wanted to show you what’s possible,” Purcell replied, clearly unrepentant. He leaned back against a table, crossing his arms. “And I was right, wasn’t I?”
    Wes shrugged, uncomfortable. “I’m not ungrateful. I just don’t like feeling beholden—”
    “I’m your teacher. It’s my job to show you what you’re capable of,” Purcell pointed out. “You’re a twenty-one year-old kid. You got your whole life ahead of you and no boundaries—”
    “Oh, I’ve got boundaries,” Wes responded, thinking of his tuition, his living expenses…all the constraints and limitations he’d grown up with having a single mother who’d worked her ass off just to provide them with basic necessities.
    “No, Wes,” Purcell shook his head. “You don’t. That’s what I’m trying to show you. All you got to do is want this bad enough to make it happen. You could be working for the greats one day, seeing your work in the best magazines and newspapers the world has to offer if that’s what you want.”
    “Well, thanks for submitting the photo,” Wes told him. “I guess I’ve got a flagship piece for my portfolio now.”
    “You do,” Purcell nodded. “And you’ll be featured in The Statesman this Sunday. Interview happens Friday.”
    Shock rolled through him. “Wait, what?”
    Purcell’s smile was smug. “It was a statewide competition, son. What did you think they’d do? Not announce it?”
    Wes pushed the hair out of his eyes. “I guess I thought they’d just print it. Maybe cut me a nice check.”
    “That too,” Purcell answered. “You’re getting featured in the Arts section. Be at the Memorial Student Center on Friday afternoon at four p.m. The reporter will interview you there.” Purcell refilled his coffee mug before he headed toward the door of the studio.
    “Hey, Preacher,” Wes called out.
    Purcell turned, smirking at the nickname.
    “Thanks for pushing me,” Wes told him earnestly. He rubbed the back of his neck, unused to expressing himself so candidly. “I know it doesn’t always seem like I’m listening, but I am.”
    Purcell’s mustache twitched in amusement. “I know it, kid. You know where to find me when you get serious.”
    *
    September—Wednesday, Early Evening
    Evans Library, Texas A&M
    S A M A N T H A
    Sam wove her way through the library stacks carrying the books she’d collected for research on her first project with Chris. She was running late from her afternoon training for the Challenge, and she was sore as hell from practicing military drills for the past few hours. But she and Chris had already agreed to meet up after class once their first major assignment had been doled out. And Sam found that the