The Jealousy Plot

27) 'Model' Behavior

So for the next 3 hours I cram information about books we read in class from Moby Dick to To Kill a Mockingbird into his head. I then formulate some essay questions for Luke to write about. As he does I ramble on.

"Okay, you have a high F right now. The final exam is worth 40% of our grade for the whole semester. According to my calculations, you have to get above a 85 to get a C. You can do that.

Luke shakes his head slowly. "I don't know sleeping beauty, I usually get 75's on Solender's tests".

"Hey!" I proclaim. "repeat after me. I am the Luke Evans!"

Meekly, he says "I am the Luke Evans"

"And I can do pretty amazing shit"

A little prouder, he says "and I can do pretty amazing shit".

"And I'm going to kick this exams ass because that's just the way I roll!".

Standing up now, Luke proudly proclaims "and I'm going to kick this exams ass because that's just the way I roll!".

"There's the spirit! Oh shoot my butt is buzzing" I exclaim. By the weird look on Luke's face, I didn't sound as normal as I wanted to sound. I reach down and grab my vibrating phone from my back pocket.

"What's up Bella Ballerina?" I exclaim into the phone.

"Haha, even after 10 years of the same joke you're still a riot every time" Belle's sarcasm drips through my phone.

"You ringed for a reason I hope?" I ask.

"Okay get this. I decided to send a few of my pictures to that local store, you know, Marcy's? Anyway, they loved my shots and asked for me to photograph some pictures of people in their clothing to start advertising and I thought of your sexy ass".

"Modeling?" I ask, hoping she wasn't serious. even as a little kid I never dreamed of being a model. I wanted to succeed by exposing my brain, not my body. "I'm not sure Belle".

"Oh come on Claire. we already have Danny, Brandon, Zack and Nicole down here. I want a girl here I can trust to not try and show off as much skin legally possible. For me? Please!"

I sigh loudly so she can hear. "Fine. I'll bring Evans too since I'm tutoring him right now. See you in 10 minutes".

"Great! See you in a little my love" Belle sings before I end the call and turn to Luke. "You want to go show off your body pretty boy?".

He smirks "well with such a detailed description like that how can I refuse". We climb into his car and drive downtown to Marcy's shop.

We park the car and climb out to find Belle and the rest outside next to a graffiti covered brick wall. "Yay! You showed up!" Belle exclaims. I shrug "I had nothing better to do".

"Well change into this real quick in the shop" she shoves a pair of ripped short jeans with a crop top into my arms.

"Um, no to the crop top" I state. Belle dismisses my remark with a wave of her hand. "Those are high waisted shorts. No skin will be shown. Now go!".

Five minutes later I am leaning against a brick wall. A tap on my shoulder turns me around to come face to face with Zack. "Hey stranger" I greet, going in for a hug and getting stopped by Zack crossing his arms.

"Why did you come here with Luke?" He asks, hurt in his voice instead of anger. I purse my lips, not wanting to go around telling everyone about Luke's F. Belle was fine. She wouldn't blab, but Zack? Him and Luke were on such bad terms.

"I can't tell you but I hope you can trust that nothing happened" I say, looking into the warm brown eyes that always comforted me. His eyes soften. "Okay, on one condition. Take a picture with me right now".

I grin up and nod. "Deal". I turn towards Belle's already positioned camera and put on a smile. before the flash can go off, Zack suddenly kicks my feet, making me fall back a little. He quickly wraps his arms around me and crashes his lips onto mine.

I sink into the kiss as a flash goes off and a low whistle is noised. are lips stay connected for a while until Zack finally pulls away. "Okay, I'm good now".

I laugh as he pulls me back up. I look up to see different expressions on everyone's faces. Brandon smirks, telling me he was the one that whistled. Nicole has a smirk on her face that makes me believe it has something to do with more than Zack and my kiss. Belle is staring at her camera like she just snapped a Picasso and Danny is looking with deep interest at a bird eating a leftover hotdog a few feet away.

But Luke's face is the worst. Not because it shows anger or jealousy or sadness, but because it shows nothing. No emotion whatsoever. It unsettles me but soon Belle is speaking and I turn my attention to her.

"Okay. First lets get everyone by the wall just casually posing". At her words, Luke slips in between me and Zack, putting me in between him and Brandon. "was that good?" He asks softly.

"Huh?" I ask, confused. He looks straight at the camera as he answers. "My reaction. No emotion. No feelings. That's what you want right?".

At that moment Belle snaps the picture so I am staring intently at Luke while he flashes a smile to the camera.

"Great! Okay, let's get Nicole and Brandon by the wall" Belle states.

For the next two hours we take hundreds of pictures. Once we are almost done, Belle voices the words I'd been dreading. "Okay. Luke and Claire, lets get a picture of you two alone" she says.

I obediently walk over to the wall and Luke follows. We turn to the camera and Luke lamely wraps an arm safely around my waist, smiling at the camera with a devil may care smirk.

"I change my mind" I whisper to him through a smile as a flash goes off. "And?" He asks. I take in a deep breath "I'd rather have to fight with your feelings then not get to see any of them".

Luke smiles a little wider. "So you like it when I show my feelings?" He asks softly so only I can hear. I answer. "Well I don't like that they are for me but I'd rather have hot headed, angry Luke than robot Luke".

Luke's smirk grows wider. "In that case" and with that, my weight is lifted and I am slung over Luke's shoulder. I let out a scream as the flash goes off. I laugh as Luke tilts me so my face is facing the camera as the flash goes off, portraying me mid laugh.

He lets me down and suddenly wraps his arms around my giggling self. "In that case". He whispers in my ear. "I'm going to fight to win you over".

I shake my head in disbelief and amusement. I make a funny face as Luke winks flirtatiously at the camera. Bending towards my ear, Luke whispers "I want my Sleeping Beauty all to myself".

I shake my head with a disbelieving smile on my face as he stares intensely down at me and for some reason, I'm not scared of what will happen. In that moment. I was living in the smiles on my face and the flashes of the camera