The Photographer by Barbara Steiner Read Free Book Online

photos of her and her attendants in the formal shots Derrick had made before the dance. Robert had included several informal photos of Cynthia at the dance before she fainted. She did look beautiful.
    â€œMegan, thanks for coming over,” Mrs. Harlow said, breaking up the gossip session. “But Cynthia needs to rest.”
    â€œI’ll bring some homework next week if you aren’t back, Cynthia,” Megan promised as she left. She wondered if Cynthia would feel like studying, though. She couldn’t help but worry about her friend.
    Derrick picked up Megan as usual for the next Tuesday’s staff meeting. Since there was no way to tell him she didn’t feel comfortable around him, she made the best of it.
    â€œGreat photo, Derrick,” Robert said when Derrick opened his briefcase and pulled out his new work.
    â€œHey, I like it!” Candy Gilford grabbed the picture. She was draped in chiffon in front of a crystal ball. “No one would suspect it’s an upside-down light globe. Your lighting makes it look real.”
    Derrick smiled, but Megan noticed that he looked tired. Had he stayed up all night developing photos? Senior year was going to kill them all if they weren’t careful.
    â€œI’m going to use it for the front page,” Robert said. “I sure wish we had some more Halloween photos. The timing is off, with Halloween coming the day after the paper comes out.”
    â€œWe can take photos early, pretending they’re from the mall celebration,” Derrick suggested in an unusual burst of words. “I’ll pose some of the girls in costume.”
    â€œWait till you see what my mom brought from New York.” Roxie MacNeil brought out a big dress box she’d been saving for a surprise. She’d brought them to show Bunny, but now she could show them off to everyone.
    Everyone gasped when she opened the box. There were two incredible fairy costumes, one gold and one white. Skimpy leotards were covered with sequins and ruffles and beads. The wings were gauze, painted with silver or gold.
    â€œI’m going to wear the gold,” Roxie said. “It’ll go well with my red hair. You wear the silver one, Bunny. I asked Mom to get it for you so we could go together. We’ll go down to the mall tonight and pose for Derrick.”
    â€œOkay,” Bunny said. She lacked her usual exuberance for getting her picture in the paper, but agreed, holding up the costume. “It is pretty.”
    â€œHow about ‘Two of Our Lovely Fairy Queens’ for a caption?” Robert said, laughing, as they finished planning the issue.
    â€œI really don’t think Miss Hubbard will let you get by with that, Robert.” Megan laughed too, knowing Robert was teasing. He seemed in an unusually good mood. “Even with as little supervision as she gives us, I’m sure she proofs every word before giving it to the print shop.”
    â€œBesides,” Roxie grinned, taking the joke farther, “Bunny and I aren’t that close. We’re only good friends. Right, Bun?”
    Derrick laughed out loud, actually laughed. Megan, sitting by him, had to move away. She was picking up that unusual energy from him, despite his tired appearance. She walked to the coffeepot and slowly poured herself a cup. Then she helped herself to a doughnut even though she didn’t feel hungry. It gave her something to do, an excuse to move away from Derrick. His laughter had sent shivers down her back and goose bumps over her arms. His laughter hadn’t come from humor, but from something she couldn’t identify.
    She stayed as far away from Derrick as possible until the meeting was over. Then she helped Robert clean up after the staff had left.
    â€œRobert, have you noticed Derrick acting unusual?” Megan asked, boxing up the leftover doughnuts so they wouldn’t dry out. The staff could eat them throughout the day.
    â€œUnusual? How? His