Chrysalis (Dangerous Secrets) by Francis Rose

Author:Francis, Rose [Francis, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Published: 2013-05-30T21:00:00+00:00

PART TWO: FATAL MISTAKES

“You’ll never improve a man by repelling him, especially a boy.”—Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

On the last official day of school, Maria dragged Sydney to the art building to see the results of her Photography final.

“I’ve never been to the art building before,” Sydney said, taking in the statues and paintings along the way. “I’m glad I finally made it.”

They went down a long corridor, made a few turns, then finally came to a stop.

“There it is hon!” Maria said, pointing to the wall.

Sydney stared, looking shocked.

Maria mentally patted herself on the back for having successfully hidden the project from Sydney.

Sydney crossed over and studied the ten black and white photos forming Maria’s photo-essay.

“I call it Metamorphosis.” She held up her hands in defense. “Not the most original title, I know—but most fitting.”

Sydney got closer to the photos and touched the first one, as if making sure they were real.

The photos were all of Sydney—the first of her with glasses on, hair pulled back into a French braid, wearing a T-shirt and jeans as she stood outside the cafeteria, her hand pushing the camera away. The next was from the same day, with Sydney looking directly into the lens, an admonishing look on her face. The third was Sydney in their dorm room, hands on her hips, looking sternly at the camera. She was still wearing glasses but her hair was thick and puffy, somewhat straighter after Maria’s blow-drying. In the next photo Sydney’s hair had been fully straightened once Maria had flat-ironed it. A photo from that same day showed Sydney after she pulled her flattened hair into a ponytail. The following photo was a clear picture of Sydney’s face without her glasses, right before they started to get ready for Sydney’s first party. Then a magazine picture-perfect photo of Sydney once they were dressed, straightened hair in waves, black pants, a revealing yet tasteful top, make-up, hanging earrings, no glasses. She was posing sheepishly, looking insecure. Next up was Sydney posing boldly for Maria for the end-of-term party—tight white pants on her small frame, another sexy top, her curly hair pulled up and left in a long thick ponytail, soft tendrils framing her face. Then Sydney’s face, alive with laughter and joy, her hair dancing around her, after they had left the dance floor with the Dhalton boys. The photo-essay ended with Sydney resembling how she looked in the beginning: wearing her glasses, her curly hair pulled back into a ponytail, but her face seemed lit from within.

“So it’s pretty obviously a metamorphosis on a couple of levels,” Maria said, “but I guess not so obvious, is that although it looks like it’s totally about you, it’s partly about me, realizing how beautiful you were all along, as you were.”

“These are great,” Sydney said, looking awed, her eyes taking in the captures.

“I know, I rock. I think I’m going to be a photographer—maybe even a photojournalist. I like people, I like taking pictures, and I like taking pictures of people.

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