Page 77 of Little Do You Know

“Hey, Lia! Wait a second,” she calls out right before I leave the classroom with my friend.

“I’ll meet up with you later,” I tell Taylor as she leaves, spinning around with a smile. “What’s up, Nat?”

She smiles brightly at me, and I try not to get suspicious. “I wanted to ask you for a favor; are you busy this afternoon?”

I think through my schedule, but I have nothing else to do today. This is my last class on Mondays and Wednesdays. “Nope. I’m free. Why?”

I didn’t think her smile could get wider, but then it does. “Great! My friend Callie in the newspaper is doing an article with one of the football players, and they specifically asked for you. I know you don’t like photographing people, but you’d be doing me a huge favor. The team doesn’t have practice, so the interview must be done today to be done by the deadline.”

“Which player is it?” I ask skeptically, and that’s when Natalie’s smile fades slightly. My stomach sinks because I’m pretty sure I know exactly who it is now.

“Well, you see…you already said you’re free, which means you can’t make up some bullshit reason for not doing it now. It’s Sebastian. He only agreed to do the interview if you would be the photographer for the story—which makes sense because you’re his best friend’s sister—but he won’t do it with anyone else. I’ll even give you extra credit for doing it. Please, please, please!”

Yeah, that’s definitely not why he said he would only do it if I’m there. I rub my temples, unable to believe I’m agreeing to do this. “What time?” I ask, subjecting myself to my fate. Of course he would get Natalie to help sucker me into this.

“Two o’clock in the locker room! You’re the best.”

“It’s already one! I don’t want extra credit for this. We’re going out tonight, and your boyfriend is chaperoning,” I negotiate, and Natalie has the nerve to groan after what she suckered me into doing.

“Thalia, it’s a Wednesday. Can’t we push it off until the weekend?” Natalie whines, and I smile cheekily at her.

“Do you want me to take Sebastian’s photo or not?”

She sighs and, just as I expected, nods her head. “Fine, but we’re not staying out past ten.”

“Deal.” I smile faintly at her. “You guys can pick me up at seven.”

When I return to the apartment, I only have enough time to grab a new memory card for my camera and the lenses I like to use for portraits. I wear the new sweatshirt my mom sent me a few days ago and pull a beanie on my head to get this over with. The less I look like I care, the less triumphant he’ll feel. Figures that Sebastian would find some way to manipulate me into spending time with him. He wasn’t kidding when he said he wouldn’t give up—stupid asshole.

I carefully put everything into my camera bag before walking into the living room, where Sebastian is waiting with his football jersey on. “Need a ride?” he asks, shoving his hands in his pockets.

He looks hopeful, and I’ve given him no reason to be. “No.” I actually do because I’m an idiot, and I didn’t check to see if my brother was home to use his truck. I’m sure he’s with Blake. I can’t even be mad about it because I’m rooting for them to be happy.

“Thalia, stop being stubborn. It’s just a ride to the stadium. Owen’s not here, which means his truck isn’t here, and I don’t think you want to walk.”

Sebastian is so infuriating I feel like stomping my foot. Except that would give the appearance that I’m a child, and I don’t want to be called that again. He’s right. I don’t want to walk. “I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for Nat. Don’t let it go to your head,” I snap harshly, and he smiles at me. Now I feel like screaming, but I won’t do that either.

“I know. I got you more flowers; this time, I put them in a vase before you could throw them away.” Sebastian’s still smiling as he motions to the vase on the counter. What part of this is he not understanding?

Maybe Penelope was right. I should have throat-chopped him and let her cut his balls off. But if I’m being realistic, her advice got me into this mess in the first place. Just climb him like a tree, Thalia, and everything will be fine!

No, everything is not fine!

I frown and walk quickly over to grab the pink flowers out of the vase before dumping them into the trash. “You shouldn’t have. I mean it, I don’t want your stupid flowers, Sebastian. Stop buying them.”

His smile falters for a moment as he pulls his denim jacket on. “Fine. Let’s go. Wouldn’t want to be late for my interview.”

For a very small second, I feel bad for being so rude to him. Then, I remind myself he manipulated his way into getting me to photograph this interview.

I pull my hat lower on my head, walking out the front door without saying another word. It’s probably better that way. The car ride is awkward as I text Penelope and Mae to avoid speaking. For once, Sebastian has gotten the hint about leaving me alone.

Thankfully, the ride is only a few minutes long. I slide out of Sebastian’s beautiful car the second it parks, and I wish I didn’t love the damn car so much.

The interview was standard, to my understanding. Callie is keeping it centered on football and Sebastian as an NFL hopeful. Most of the questions are along the lines of who is your idol, what do you think are your strengths and weaknesses, and game day routines. It’s boring, but I’ve done precisely what Natalie asked me.

Then, the questions change to a personal perspective. “Why did you start playing football?” Callie asks with her pen ready to jot down notes and the recording on her phone.

I can’t help but tense because this goes back to his parents. Just because I really dislike him right now doesn’t mean I can erase all the years of history we have. Sebastian might be able to throw shit in my face, but that doesn’t mean I have to sit here and let them ask about things he never talks about.

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