" Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he said gently, not wanting it to sound like a scolding."Madelena and me thought it would go away." Ok, thanks for ...elling me. I'll see what I can do for her."Camellia's face brightened and she smiled."I know you will, you always take care of everything."With that, she scampered off.He sighed once again. His young daughter still saw him as a hero, able to do everything. His oldest had been thrust into some unpleasantness, with which she obviously wasn't coping. ---"I'm going to tell my friends, Daddy," I told him as he drove us to thestudio for whatever cramming they wanted me to do that night."Nooo!" he yelled back immediately. I hadn't expected him to yell, andit scared me! He saw my reaction and seemed to calm himself down alittle bit before continuing. "Look, you can't tell them yet, okay.Please, for me." But why?!" I whined. I didn't want to keep this a secret from themanymore! The three of us had been best friends since kindergarten. I'dknown. I had my camera in hand a lot more and in a lot more places these days. I was taking an online course on portrait photography and had been able to use that picture for one of my assignments. The panel of five professionals who reviewed the student submitted assignments all had high praise for that shot.It was February and both Jill and I had finished high school eight months ago. Jill actually completed her home study project in early May, but we'd both gotten our diplomas in the first week of. For a moment there was silence and Seb became aware of the intoxicating smell of the expensive perfume that Val was wearing.Val became aware of the bulge in the boy's trousers that he was mentally fighting to control."Well Seb, you have been here about two weeks, how are you enjoying it?" she said, at last breaking the silence."Um, I am enjoying it very much thank you, Mrs Smyth," he replied a bit self-consciously."That is good to hear," responded Val who, for a moment, thought of leaving it.
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