shift my eyes from her.
"You've got to get used to people
complimenting you, complimenting your unique look and your talents," she said seeing my discomfort. "I'm glad you're not like so many of your classmates. You're far more mature. You don't giggle after everything you say and you have self- confidence.
"I know you're frightened inside. Everyone is, but you cloak it well and you've already developed the ability to keep it under control. That's why I'm so convinced you're going to succeed on the stage," she continued.
I lifted my eyes and looked at her. Now that we had gotten to know each other better. I wanted to like her. I wanted to lower that wall between us. I wanted to trust her. by couldn't we be friends, honest friends, innocent friends? Damn the rumors. If I wanted to give her a friendly hug, I would.
"Should we get back to work?" she asked. "Yes," I said.
We began the scene again and I did what she advised. I didn't see her. I saw Dell's handsome face, heard his vibrant voice. We were inches apart and I was really getting into the role when suddenly, we were both surprised by a flash of light that bounced off the mirror above the mantel. We both turned toward the window facing the street.
"What was that?" I asked. She shook her head.
"I don't know." She went to the window and gazed out. "No one's there."
She shrugged.
"Maybe a passing vehicle reflected sunlight."
"It's cloudy. Miss Hamilton." I went to the window and looked out. too. The street just seemed too quiet to me. "It was someone," I muttered.
"Well, whoever it was is gone. It doesn't really matter now," she said. Little did she know.
She had more innocence and trust in her than I would have expected for someone with her
background.
I came from a family. I had parents.
And vet I knew in my heart something terrible loomed just on the other side of that fourth wail we so lovingly cherished. Hard lessons would teach me that it was far from enough protection.
Like a second shoe, it dropped two days later at school. I had just arrived and was walking toward homeroom when I noticed a crowd around the general bulletin board placed at the center of the main corridor. Most of the students were laughing. The crowd began to grow larger. I approached slowly with a thudding heart, and when those on the perimeter of the clump saw me, they stepped aside, clearing an aisle for me to walk down as I approached the bulletin board,
There, too high up to reach without a stepladder, was a picture of Miss Hamilton and me at her home, in the rehearsal, just at the point where we were standing inches from each other, our lips so close it did look like we were about to kiss. The caption under the picture was in big block letters and read: TEACHER'S PET OR SOMETHING MORE?
"Who did that?" I screamed.
"We thought you did," Iris Ainsley quipped from the outside of the continually gathering group. Everyone laughed.
I turned on her. I was so crazed with hate, my whole body shook.
Those between us saw it and stepped back.
"You disgusting, jealous little girl. You were spying on our rehearsal this Saturday. You were the one who took this picture and you know we were just rehearsing."
"Do you have to rehearse to do that?" someone else cracked. The group laughed again.
"Do what?" I cried, twisting a sarcastic smile and glaring back at Iris. "Try to ruin someone's reputation? No, she doesn't have to rehearse for that. She's spoiled rotten and vicious enough without any training. Go on and laugh, but if any one of you take something from the princess here, shell do something just as cruel to you."
Some smiles wilted as they considered what I was suggesting.
"What's going on here?" we all heard Mr. Kaplan demand. He came toward us and the students split up quickly, heading toward their various homerooms. Iris hesitated a moment, smirked at me and left. I stood waiting for him.
"What's going on. Cinnamon?"
By now I was sure the color had left my cheeks. I know I felt sick and wanted to flee the place.