He looks up abruptly. ‘What are you doing?’
I open my pencil case and rifle around for a grey lead. ‘Art.’
He stares at me. ‘I hope you don’t think because I saved your arse down at the creek last night that we’re friends now.’
I meet his stare. ‘And I hope you don’t think that me sitting in the chair farthest from you at this enormous table when there are no other options is an extension of friendship.’
Nothing changes on his face. ‘I need a lot of space to draw.’
‘And I need quiet.’
His eyes remain on me for a few more seconds. Then he returns his attention to his sketch pad.
Miss Talbert looks up from where she’s fiddling with the VCR. ‘You can get on with your projects, guys. I’m just setting this up for later.’
Tamsin rushes into the room, giving Miss Talbert an apologetic look and mouthing, ‘Sorry.’
‘Find a seat, please,’ Miss Talbert says, crouching in front of the power point.
Tamsin spots me, then looks at Hunter. Her eyebrows lift slightly. ‘Generous of you to share your table,’ she says to Hunter as she slides into the seat next to me.
He looks up briefly. ‘Oh, I didn’t share. Wilson just can’t take a hint.’
Tamsin gives me a look.
Ignoring Hunter’s comment, I say, ‘Is that invitation still open for tomorrow? If not, that’s fine.’
A grin splits Tamsin’s face. ‘You’re really going to come?’
Her smile is contagious. ‘Only if you haven’t made other plans.’
She waves off the suggestion. ‘Even if I had, I’d change them. This is huge. Annie Wilson’s stepping out.’
Hunter leans back in his chair, looking across the table at me. ‘You’re going to a party.’
I nod.
He looks almost annoyed. ‘Why?’
‘I need a reason?’
He makes a face. ‘There’ll be drinking, smoking. People hooking up.’
‘There’ll also be dancing and fun,’ Tamsin says. ‘Stop scaring her.’
Hunter’s eyes never leave mine. ‘Am I scaring you, Wilson?’
I shake my head. ‘No.’
He returns his attention to his work.
Tamsin leans in and whispers, ‘We’ll just go for a few hours, and we can leave whenever you want. What do you like to drink? I’ll pick something up for us.’
‘Wilson doesn’t drink,’ Hunter says without looking up.
I cut my eyes to him. ‘Just because I don’t get drunk doesn’t mean I don’t drink.’
He looks up. ‘Oh yeah? What’s your poison?’