Page 11 of Second Down Darling

But Roxy is fun and outgoing, and I definitely need someone to push me out of my comfort zone. She makes me laugh, and I could use more laughter in my life. Like me, she’s a transfer to Lone Star, and I get the feeling she could use a friend. Plus, she was cool with me having a one-eyed demon cat and now a freaked-outAussie.

“We had a deal, Miss Santos. You don’t talk about football, and I won’t nag you to get up when your alarm goes off in themorning.”

She snickers. “The right to snooze should be in theConstitution.”

“But if you don’t keep up your grades, your father is going to move you back into the pool house, and that’s no fun.” I hate being the voice of reason, but I want her to dowell.

“Ugh, don’t remind me. Dad can be such ahardass.”

Roxy partied a little too much last year, and her parents put her on lockdown for a while. I’m surprised she isn’t living somewhere swankier, though. Our neighborhood is full of crazy college kids, and some of the buildings around here are run-down. But it’s affordable and not too far fromcampus.

Duke finally starts nibbling his dinner, and I slowly back out of the way. If I get up too quickly, he gets scared, and I’ll have to start all overagain.

Once he’s done eating, Roxy gets down on her knees and holds out her hand to Duke, who takes a quick sniff of her hand before he licks it. He even lets her scruff his fur, but then he gets skittish and backs away. “It’s okay, Duke. I’m not gonna hurtyou.”

“He’s learning to trust again. It takestime.”

“Meow-eow!” Winkie rubs against Roxy’s leg, but runs off before she can pethim.

“Your cat has the funniest meow.” She laughs and tries to lure him out from behind the couch, but pauses when she spots my eight-by-ten black-and-white prints on the coffee table. “Holy shit. Are theseyours?”

“Yeah. I’m obsessed with the darkroom.” Something I discovered when I transferredhere.

Using film is so much more rewarding than taking digital shots. Don’t get me wrong, digital offers immediate gratification. Plus, you can see right away whether you have the photo or not. That’s obviouslyimportant.

But old-school film photography has its own allure. It demands attention to detail. Is the aperture correct or will the shot be blurry because it’s not well lit? Am I using the right film speed or will it be too grainy? Will I find the perfect way to crop the image under the enlarger or will the composition be boring? The whites in your final print should be crisp with detail, as should the blacks, which is not easy to do on the sameimage.

I love the challenge of getting everythingjust right. In the darkroom, I call the shots, and that’s a new feeling forme.

The animals at the shelter are the perfect subject for black-and-white photos, since the flyers won’t be in color. And my secondhand Nikon FM2 takes beautiful pics. “I’m going to give the prints to the families who adoptthem.”

“That’s a great idea. You’re sosweet.”

“Thanks. I love these littleguys.”

“I can tell. It comes through in yourimages.”

“Hey, do you smell that?” I sniff the air. Is somethingburning?

“It’s just the potpourri crock pot downstairs. Those girls never turn it off.” She keeps flipping through my pics. “So are you a photomajor?”

“A photojournalism major, yes.” I could’ve chosen the art degree route to study photography, but I love capturing people in their natural surroundings, which is the opposite of every contrived pic my sister ever had me take forher.

Maybe now is a good time to ask Roxy for that favor. “Any chance you’d like to be in a calendar I’m putting together for the shelter? I’m supposed to get ‘hot’ athletes—my boss’s description, not mine—to take pics with the animals so we can raise money.” I explain how Second Chances is in trouble and might not be able to stay open nextyear.

By the time I’m done, Roxy’s eyes are wide. “Of course I’ll help! Are you sure you don’t want to just use male athletes, though? A shirtless football player might sellbetter.”

Unbidden, the image flickers in mymind.

Jake.

Shirtless.

Wet.

And very, veryhard.

Everywhere.

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