College Weekend (9 page)

His expression intense, he moved closer.

He's really into this, she thought. I hope I'm doing a good job.

“Put your fingers to your lips,” he ordered. “As if you're trying to remember something.”

He clicked the shutter several more times.

“Give me an
angry
expression.” Chris emphasized the word
angry.

That's easy, Tina thought. She pictured Carla. She bit down on her lower lip. Carla better be on her way to pick up the guys.

“Now show me you're in love,” Chris demanded. He gazed at her through the lens.

Tina thought of Josh. Of his warm smile and thick, wavy hair. And his silly jokes that always cracked her up.

“Didn't you hear me?” Chris persisted. “I said you're in love. Give me more … more feeling. More!”

“I'm trying,” she murmured.

Sweat trickled down Tina's face. Her hair blew into her eye. She wanted to scratch her cheek. But she knew she couldn't.

“No good.” Chris sighed, setting the camera down. “You're starting to sweat.”

He strode toward the bathroom and came back with the powder and two sodas. “Here.” He sat down next to her on the love seat.

She took a swallow of the soda, then reached for the powder.

“I'll do it.” Chris dabbed the powder on her forehead and cheeks. His hand lingered a second too long.

This is creepy, she thought.

She felt his eyes burn into hers. He leaned closer.

Tina glanced away. Please don't try to kiss me.

“I guess I need to get used to these lights,” she said. I'll keep the conversation on photography, she decided. Keep it businesslike and friendly.

“No problem,” he replied. “You're the best model I've worked with in a long time.”

“Chris,” Tina began. She stood up and smoothed out her skirt. “I just love this outfit. If you don't need it for another model, I'll buy it from you.”

Chris remained silent.

“Or tell me where you bought it, and I'll see if they have another one,” she suggested.

The faraway expression returned to his face.

What did I say? Tina's heart hammered against her chest. I said something wrong. I can feel it.

Chris stared at her.

What did I say?

“They were Judy's,” he finally answered in a low, flat voice.

Judy's clothes!

A shiver ran down Tina's spine. I'm wearing a dead girl's clothes!

When she started to move away, he grabbed her hand. “Where do you think you're going?” he demanded. “We're not done yet.”

“I … I wanted to change into something else. Maybe one of those dresses,” she said shrilly.

“They're
all
Judy's clothes,” Chris told her. “You're exactly the same size.”

He saved all her clothes? Why? Every one of his models couldn't be a size six!

Tina felt too stunned to move.

“Go on,” he commanded. “Get back on the love seat.”

Tina's skin itched beneath the clothes. A dead girl had once worn this outfit. Did she ever go dancing in this skirt? Or to the movies? Did she go out with Chris in this outfit?

“Sit down and cross your legs,” Chris instructed coldly.

Tina did as he ordered.

“No. The other way.”

She couldn't seem to get the pose right. I can't concentrate, she thought. I have to get out of this skirt.

“I know what's wrong,” Chris said.

He rushed into the bathroom and came back with the wig from the mannequin. “Here, put this on.”

Tina stuffed her hair under the wig. Her scalp tickled. The hair fell to her shoulders in soft curls.

“Much better,” he murmured.

He held the camera to his eye but didn't click the shutter. He kept focusing on her. He twisted the lens in and out.

Something's wrong, Tina realized. Why isn't he taking any pictures?

He moved closer and sat on the floor in front of her.

“I don't know why you dyed your hair blond in the first place,” he scolded.

Huh? What did he say?

Tina toyed with the ends of the wig, keeping her gaze off Chris. Maybe if I don't make eye contact or say anything, he'll leave me alone.

“Judy,” he snapped. “Look at me.”

Judy? Did he call me Judy?

Tina stared into his eyes. And tried to remain calm.

“What's wrong with you today?” Chris asked. He sat down on the love seat.

Tina tucked her hands under her thighs. I won't let him touch me.

But Chris had his own ideas. He draped his arm around her and lowered his face inches from hers.

Tina pushed him away.

“What's the matter with you?” he asked. “You're the one who wanted me to take these shots. Don't I get anything in return?”

“Chris,” Tina pleaded. “Please—”

“How about a kiss, Judy?” he demanded, lowering his face to hers. “How about a kiss? It's so nice to have you back.”

T
ina pushed him away and leaped to her feet.

He's crazy, she realized. I have to get out of here. Now.

Chris jumped up and moved toward her.

Get a grip, she told herself. He thinks I'm Judy. He loved Judy. He wouldn't hurt Judy. He won't hurt me.

She took a deep breath

He wants to kiss Judy. He doesn't really want to kiss me. All he's thinking about is Judy.

“Chris,” she said calmly. “It's me, Tina. Remember? Josh's girlfriend.”

He stared at her but didn't reply.

“Remember? I came up for the weekend, but Josh is delayed on a camping trip. Remember Carla is on her way to get Steve and Josh?” Tina continued.
Please remember.

Chris turned his face away. When he turned back, his expression had changed. “You just look so much like … her ….” His voice trailed off.

“You shouldn't have made me put this wig on. And these clothes,” she murmured.

“You're right,” he agreed in a whisper.

“Chris, I know what happened was terrible. Losing Judy the way you did … It's horrible. Really horrible. But you have to believe me—you'll meet someone else one day,” Tina told him. “You'll see. You'll get over your hurt. You'll find someone to make you happy. Someone to take away the pain.”

Chris frowned. “Maybe.”

Tina stood up. I have to get out of these clothes, she thought. I have to get away from him.

“Well, I think I've had enough modeling for today. I'm really tired. I guess I never realized how difficult posing is. So, I'll go change. Then I'm going back to the dorm.” Tina started for the bathroom.

He grabbed her arm. “You're a great model,” he said. “My uncle is going to be impressed with these shots.”

Tina glanced down at his hand.

“Good,” she answered. She didn't care if Rob Roberts ever saw the photos. She just wanted to get out of there.

“A few more shots,” Chris insisted, holding on to her arm.

“No—” she started. “I'm really tired, and the lights made me feel a little queasy. I think I'm done.”

She saw his eyes flare. She felt his hand tighten on her arm. He was getting that weird, dangerous look again.

I'd better play along, she decided. I'd better play along until I can get out of here safely. I can't afford to make him really angry.

“Well, okay,” she agreed. “But let me go put my own clothes back on. I don't feel right in these clothes, you know what I mean?”

“Wait! I have a better idea.” He pulled her toward the bathroom.

Tina's throat went dry. Now what?

From the back of the bathroom closet he pulled out an old-fashioned dress. Long and heavy, made from a deep blue fabric.

“It's from the eighteen-nineties,” he explained. “My great-grandmother used to wear this.”

“It's beautiful!” Tina exclaimed, a little relieved. This dress
definitely
did not belong to Judy.

“There's a bonnet on the prop table next to the cactus. Put that on,” Chris instructed. “And touch up your lipstick. Make it a deep red. Okay?”

Tina nodded as Chris left the bathroom.

“Oh, and one more thing,” he added, peeking his head back in. “Thanks for letting me take all these photos. They'll be great for my portfolio.” He flashed her a big smile.

Tina forced herself to smile back at him. He looked perfectly normal again. In a way that made the whole situation even scarier. He switched back and forth between the sweet Chris, who was easy to talk to and lots of fun, to the intense, angry, creepy Chris. Which Chris would she have to deal with next?

Tina put her own clothes on under the old dress. Her plan was to get out of there just as fast as she could. Having her clothes on made her feel safer somehow.

The dress fit snug around the waist and then billowed out to the floor. With her clothes underneath, it was a little too tight.

First chance, I'll get out, she told herself. But I have to play along with him until I can get away.

She took a deep breath. The old dress cut into her waist.

Think positive. Stay calm.

Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of the dress. A heavy feeling knotted her stomach.

She searched the countertop for the dark red lipstick. She picked up tube after tube. Everything but dark red. It must be in one of the drawers.

She opened the top one. Two tubes of lipstick rolled around inside.

Reaching for one of them, she noticed an upside-down photograph. Curious, she picked it up and turned it over. Her breath caught in her throat. The hair on her arms stood on end. She looked at the photograph, turning it over again and again.

“I don't believe it!” she whispered.

T
ina's hand trembled. She nearly dropped the photograph.

A photograph of herself.

Sleeping in her T-shirt in Josh's dorm bed.

The picture was taken last night.

Tina covered her mouth with her hand.

I can't scream. I have to stay calm.

But how can I stay calm?

Someone
had
been in her room.

Chris.

Chris had sneaked in and taken pictures of her while she slept!

He's really crazy, she realized.

He's crazy—and he might be dangerous.

What does he think? Does he think he can bring Judy back?

Does he think I'm Judy?

Tina reached under the dress and tucked the picture into her pocket. Her mind whirled quickly through her options.

She had only one. To get out. To get away from him. She peeked out of the bathroom. Chris tossed sand around on the floor and hauled a tall palm next to a beach blanket. Tina's throat tightened.

She glanced back at the hairless mannequin. The wide blue eyes and frozen smile made Tina shudder.

“What's taking so long?” Chris called out. “We're running out of time.”

He's annoyed. I need to be careful.

“One minute,” she called. “I'm putting my sneakers back on.”

“Go barefoot. You're supposed to be at the beach!” he shouted.

When she came out, Chris was leaning over his desk, flipping through a magazine. “Look at these,” he said. “I thought we'd do some like this.”

Tina glanced at a photograph taken at a beach. Girls in long, colorful evening gowns smiled as they held fancy bottles of perfume.

“Sit down over there.” He pointed to the
beach scene he had put together. Sand covered the ground. A blue backdrop for the sky. A beach ball rested on the floor.

Why an ocean scene? she asked herself. Judy died at the ocean. If I pose there, he'll think I'm Judy for sure.

She needed to distract him. Then she could run out of the studio.

“Lie down. I'll get a great shot of the sand running through your fingers,” he suggested.

“It's not easy to lie down in this dress, but I'll try,” she replied. “Just give me some time to figure out how to manage this skirt.” She had to stall. No way did she want him to take these photos!

I have to get out of here, she told herself, thinking hard. He brought me a soda when he went to get the powder. I didn't see a cooler or anything in the bathroom. He must keep the sodas in the darkroom.

If I can get him to go to the darkroom, I can run out.

“Before we start,” she asked, “could I have something to drink? It's so hot under these lights.”

“Sure,” he answered. “Anything for my top model.”

Your
only
model, Tina thought bitterly. And soon you won't have any at all.

On the way to the darkroom Chris stopped.

Tina saw a cooler on the shelf beside the lenses.

Does he keep soda in there? If so, he won't have to go in the darkroom. How will I get out of here?

He opened the cooler and pulled out a bottle of developer. “The fridge is too small to keep some of the supplies in,” he explained.

Good! The sodas weren't in that cooler.

A few more seconds, she told herself. Then run.

He walked slowly to the darkroom. She watched him open the door and disappear inside.

Now!
Tina thought.

Lifting the old skirt, she plunged toward the exit.

Locked.

Why does he have all these locks? she thought, frantically fumbling with the top lock.

Turn to the left? No.

The right? Come on! Open up! Please!

Turn right? It must be to the right.

Open up, she pleaded. Open! Open!

The dead bolt snapped back. “Yes!”

She turned the knob again. The door didn't open.

Her heart pounded. Her hands shook.

“Be right out!” Chris yelled from the darkroom. “I'm checking on something.”

One of the locks was still locked.

But which one? Which one?

She turned one. Then another.

Finally she pushed the door open.