The Annoying Sleepwalker novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Showcase

The senior showcase was packed by seven.

Two hundred people filled the main hall, and the first four rows were reserved for faculty and guests.

The Dean of Students sat in the second row.

Next to her sat a man in a charcoal blazer with a Larkfield Design lanyard around his neck.

He was the hiring lead who would decide who got the internship.

Casper and I took two seats at the back, near the aisle.

He had his camera in his lap and a long cable in his bag.

"There," he said, and tipped his chin toward the stage.

Saskia was standing in the wings in a cream dress, with her notes against her chest.

She spotted me across the hall and waved with two fingers.

I waved back.

I could not feel my hand.

The emcee called her name at 7:20.

"Our first nominee for the Larkfield internship," he said. "Saskia Wozniak."

She walked out to warm applause and a screen full of her work.

She spoke clearly and well, and she smiled at the Larkfield man more than once.

She had a warm voice and a good project.

It was not as good as mine, and I watched her face and wondered if she knew it.

I watched the hall.

Colson was three rows ahead of me with his hands between his knees.

The RA sat near the front with her arms folded.

The girl from 3C had a seat on the aisle, and she turned to look at me and gave a small nod.

Kelsey was in the last row on the far side.

She wore a gray hood pulled low.

I would not have found her if I had not been looking.

When Saskia finished, the emcee thanked her and called for questions.

Kelsey stood up.

The whole hall turned toward the sound of her chair.

"I have something to say," she said, and her voice carried to every corner.

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