Chapter 5: The Loser Camera Boy

The rest of the day is blurry. The fog in my head gets thicker like clouds about to cry. So what is it about Arlo that has distracted my thoughts for most of the day?

Arlo finds me in the hallway. He hands me a small piece of torn paper with the numbers 765-3459 written on it. He's given me his cell phone number.

"Don't look all surprised. It's for the project. No more parties remember? See you on Wednesday, model girl."

"It's Emma," I shout. Rosa comes walking up to me with a face that looks like I'm on fire.

"What was that? Who is that loser?" Rosa asks with her head tilted and lips out?

"That's Arlo. He is my party for the big English assignment. And he's not a loser. I don't think."

I put the note sneakily into my purse. The last thing Rosa needs to know is that I am attracted to Arlo and that I have his cell phone. Apart of me wants to text him later, but it would mean trouble if I did. Is Arlo a secret bad boy? For some reason, that fantasy makes him even hotter. My face starts blushing at the thought as Hunter turns the corner.

"Why are you blushing, cutie?" Hunter asks.

"Obviously, cause you're here, duh. Can I talk to you for a second, Hunter?" Rosa's eyes stare at me with a 'we are talking later look.' I have nothing to tell her. Arlo grabbed my hand under a desk at school; so what. Maybe I can get him to do it again. What the hell? Why would I want him to do that? I need to focus. I am Emma Rhodes. I am dating Hunter Bates. I am the model girl for Model Perfect. Screw it. I am texting Arlo after school.

"Yeah, what's up?" Hunter asks.

"I wanted to see if you'd want to go to another party this coming weekend? After the way it went down for you at the last one, I thought we could go to a different location this time? Or maybe you could come over later, and we could hang out in my hot tub?"

Hunter pulls me in the way he does when he's trying to flirt with me. His good-looking smile appears, and his blonde hair is still spiked up in all directions.

"That sounds tempting. I will definitely let you know." I close my eyes in anticipation of a potential kiss, and when I do, I imagine Arlo for a split second. For a moment, I project Arlo's light brown hair, baby brown eyes, and left dimpled cheek onto Hunter. When Hinter kisses me, picturing Arlo makes it a little hotter.

"Wow, baby, you haven't kissed me like that in a long time. What's got you so flirty?"

The truth is, I have no idea. I don't know what has gotten into me. But something is there, a tiny spark. If I blow hard enough, the spark will either burn out or get bigger. That's a scary thought.

"I just missed you today. We have no classes together this semester."

"We have lunch and study hall. Study hall in the library. Where we can make out behind the bookshelves."

I laugh. Hunter's funny when he wants to be. We had sex last year after hours at school. No one was around. It wasn't romantic by any means, but I did feel smarter with books surrounding me.

"That could be fun." I agree to avoid any more confrontation.

"I need to go home, Hunter. I have a lot of homework and a Model Perfect photoshoot tonight."

"Alright. Call me or text later." I kiss Hunter, and this time, I don't picture Arlo. The kiss isn't as sexy as it was before.

I get home. My homework can wait or do itself in study hall tomorrow. Texting Arlo sounds like fun. I want to feel normal, and with him around, I suspect that's the case. So how do I text him first?

Me: Hi Arlo. It's Emma.

Arlo: Hey, model girl.

Me: My name is Emma.

Arlo: Why were you blushing today?

Me: I wasn't blushing. I wear make-up, duh.

Arlo: I bet you liked holding my hand.

Me: No, that was...creepy.

Arlo: Sure it was. Where do you want to meet?

Me: The private beach where we met.

Arlo: Desperate for alone time already.

Me: You wish.

Arlo: So do you.

Me: Maybe a little.

Arlo: I knew I liked you.

Me: You don't know me.

Arlo: True. But I know who you aren't.

Me: What does that mean?

Arlo: It means you aren't the girl they write about online.

Me: Arlo...

Arlo: Emma...

Me: Why are we still texting?

Arlo: Because you like it. Let's meet now for a photoshoot.

Me: Okay. But first I have to tell my agent.

Arlo: Fancy rich girl with an agent.

Me: His name is Freddie.

Arlo: Freddie, the secret agent.

Me: He isn't a secret. I just want to tell him to move my photoshoot to the private beach. You can come watch.

Arlo: You must want me to come along. What about your boyfriend.

Me: Not that it's your business, but I need a break from Hunter today.

Arlo: He's a dick.

Me: No, he isn't. You don't know him. And you don't know me for that matter.

Arlo: What time can we meet up?

Me: Is 5:30 okay for our class project?

Arlo: Sure. What's your favorite candy?

Me: Skittles. Why?

Arlo: Just wondering. See you soon, model girl.

Me: Bye, camera boy.

My heart pounded through that whole texting exchange. My hands shake as I drop the phone on my bed. What is happening to me? I meet some stranger, and it's like he knows me. He knows who I am. He sees who I am. It's terrifying to wear make-up and know someone has the magic ability to remove all of it with one glance of his baby brown eyes. If I hang out with him for too long, I might start to get feelings. I'm not there yet. That wouldn't be right. But what if I, Emma Rhodes, could have a secret life via texting. A texting Arlo to feel alive worth it?

Me: Arlo, are we friends?

Arlo: Back for more texting? Did you miss me?

Me: Arlo...

Arlo: Emma...

Me: I'll see you at 5:30. I hope we can do this more often.

Arlo: This?

Me: Text. You seem like someone who...never mind.

Arlo: Like someone who wants to hear what you have to say?

Me: Arlo...

Arlo: Stop blushing, model girl.

Me: Ummm.....

Arlo: See you.

Me: Thanks for being my new friend.

Arlo: You needed one.

Me: You wish.

Rosa comes into my window with her happy dance. I delete the messages between Arlo and me. No one needs to know about our flirting, sort of flirting.

"What do you look so happy?"

"Because you just got here. Thank God." I say while putting my hair behind my ear.

"Emma, what is going on with you? Why were you talking to that camera kid today?"

"He's my partner for a class project. It's annoying, really. Want me to get a plate of nachos?" I ask. I just want Rosa to disappear. In forty-five minutes, I am meeting Arlo.

"No. Are you even allowed to eat nachos this month?"

"No. I guess not. Enough about me. Let's talk about you, miss Jeremiah's new girl. I want details."

Focusing the topic from me to her always works. Rosa's a sucker for self chatter. And I actually don't mind. I love hearing about everyone else's life besides my own. Especially with two secrets to keep hidden away, one being possible cancer and two being Arlo. I want to see what is happening with that. I know it's too soon to say anything, but Arlo's different. Rosa finishes her tale of making out with Jeremiah at the party.

"Is Hunter okay from that fight? That camera boy punched him pretty hard."

"Hunter's great. Arlo, his name is Arlo. And I don't want to talk about that fight. It kind of scared me."

Rosa gets off my bed and gives me a big hug.

"Okay, we don't have to talk about it. But when you want to, just know I am here for you. I need to get going."

Rosa sneaks out the back window and hands me a lollipop on her way out. To humor her, I open it and suck it a little. I wonder if lollipops really work on boys. I text Freddie to meet me at the private beach and remind him of my class project. Although Model Perfect isn't thrilled about a student taking pictures of me, they have still given the school permission so long as they don't use it for financial reasons or advertising.

Arlo arrives at the beach with her professional-looking camera. It's even more significant than the one he used in class when I was crying. 

"Hey, model girl." I'm starting to think he calls me that to make me blush. Not today, pal, not today.

"Hi, Arlo. My agent's name is Freddie. He said you can hang with the camera crew over there." I point toward the shoreline.

"Alright, thanks. We can do our shoot shot after this, right?"

"You can take photos while they are actually. I need to go get changed. Big fall sundresses are coming out, and a few bikinis."

I waltz away, knowing Arlo isn't sure how to react.

"Okay, I will hang with the camera crew, model girl."

Freddie escorts me to the temporary changing room that's been set up for me. They do a short hair and a make-up session on me.

"Emma, have you thought about what we talked about on Friday?" He asks, referring to the tumor in my throat.

I cradle the lump in my neck. This lump could be the end of me. It could be the end of my career.

"I want to have it monitored to see if it's cancer at all."

"Okay, I will let the doctor know and get that scheduled for you. As for this boy, I don't like him. I don't like him at all. How do you feel about him?"

"Oh Freddie, he's harmless. He wants to become a photographer one day, I imagine. He's in charge of my school yearbook committee of something. I don't really know him that well."

This isn't the time or place to tell Freddie that I've been texting Arlo here and there. And that we've held hands under the table. Since it's all new to me, why does it have to be shared with everyone else? It's my business and not Freddie's.

"Let's keep it that way. I also heard that this boy got in a fight with Hunter at the party you attended?"

I hate that nothing about my life is a secret. It's clear to me now the only privacy I will receive is via text message. I hope Arlo won't might texting me now and then since that's all that's allowed by Model Perfect standards.

"Yeah, they fought. So what. It's over, and it won't happen again."

Freddie doesn't look convinced but lets it slide. I hope this is the first and last time that Arlo comes up in conversation. I look in the mirror. It's how a model is supposed to look. Being a model has its diseases, though, that battle for food and body image. Am I too thin, or am I too fat has yet to be seen?

Freddie leads me to the rocks near the shoreline, where the camera crew and Arlo are waiting. Arlo's playing on his camera and hasn't seen me yet. I'm a little nervous he'll disapprove or laugh. But, instead, his baby browns look up at me, and a smirk appears beside his dimple. I can't hear what he's saying, but his lips look like they're mouthing the word 'wow' in my direction.

I let my hair down as the wind blew through it. Then, I turn my head, and the camera show begins. The camera flashes and I change positions several times. Sometimes I sit on the rocks, and I sit on the sand or lie on the beach for other photos. After an hour, my jaw is sore from smiling. I don't think Arlo took any photos of me any time our eyes met during the session. He just kept looking at me, eyeing me.

"Good job today, Emma. Your friend never took the photos we thought he would."

"I think he's shy about their cameras being better than his. So I'll do a separate photoshoot with just Arlo. See you on Thursday, Freddie."

"Alright, and I will send you the sneak preview photo that you can share on your I*******m between now and then."

I wave at the Model Perfect teak and watch them get into the car with the large MP logo.

"It's just us, I say to Arlo. Sorry if that was super boring for you. It gets tedious after a while, trust me."

"You didn't look like yourself," Arlo says.

"What are you talking about?" I ask while sitting on a nearby rock.

"You didn't look like a person acting like herself. That's why I didn't take your picture. Can we take a few of you here at the beach? Sit right where you are and put your hand on your chin but don't look at me. Look down at the shoreline."

"How's that?" I ask.

"Beautiful. I mean, great."

My heart flutters a little. His comment is confirmation that there is an attraction between us, an attraction that could quickly become a distraction from everything else. But the more I hang with Arlo, the camera boy from Davis High, the more I want.

When the photo session is done, Arlo goes into his camera bag.

"Close your eyes. I have a little gift for you." I close my eyes and put my hands out. Arlo places a small bag in my hand.

"Open your eyes," he whispers. It's a bag of skittles.

"So that's why you asked what my favorite candy is. Thanks, Arlo. I only wish I had something to give you."

"Can you smile for me?" Arlo says. I do as he asks and smiles from ear to ear. He takes a headshot of me.

"That's your present to me. Now I can always remember today and how beautiful you are."

The way he talks to me would make any girl fall for him quickly. But I can't be that girl for him. I'm with Hunter for the media. I think we've stopped being a real couple ages ago.

Arlo grabs my hands, and I let him. I don't mind him holding them one bit. A gentle rain comes to the ocean view, and Arlo's smile casts its charm.

"Thanks for letting me come today. It was fun."

"Anytime, and Arlo, I was wondering if we could keep texting? Freddie, my agent, is very protective of me. He thinks you are trying to steal me away from, Hunter which is impossible, right?"

Arlo doesn't say anything. Instead, he puts his hand behind my head and closes his eyes. The anticipation of kissing Arlo makes the butterflies soar. I get ready to kiss Arlo back, and he pulls away.  He opens his eyes and giggles.

"Looks like someone wants to be stolen." I stand up and let go of Arlo's hands. My cheeks are red, and I walk away from Arlo. Although he doesn't follow after me, we both know that something's happening. I only hope Rosa or Hunter never find out that I almost kissed Arlo, the camera boy loser of Davis high school.