First period ran bleakly slow, along with second and third. The teachers, for the most part, were persistently the same. They all had this fantastic little trick down; each of them had the ability to make you feel entirely ignorant, while doing it with a smile. But then again, maybe that was just the perks of public school. The students were just as typically the same, much to my major disappointment. The girls were either bitchy, or too shy to speak for themselves, while the guys were all douche bags.

To my surprise, fourth period actually excited me. I walked into photography class, a small smile tugging the corners of my lips upwards. Mrs. Dawes was the teacher, and I let out a breath of relief.

"Good to see you again Ms. Rowen!"
I grinned at her and took a seat somewhat in the middle of the room. There were no desks, just chairs sporadically placed, along with black and white portraits lining the walls. I took the time to let my gaze linger upon certain ones that popped out to me.

Though I was one of the first students to come into the class, I didn't mind.

She took a seat across from me, a warm smile upon her face. "How s the first day going? I know it can be a little rough being new at times..." She trailed off, her head tilting.

I portrayed a smile to match hers, though I wasn't quite sure if it was too convincing. "It's been good so far. Pretty quiet, I haven't really met too many people yet, but good nevertheless." I sugarcoated, my voice a few octaves higher than it should have been as the lies slipped through my lips too easily.

"Hang in there. I'm sure things will look up soon."

I nodded honestly, hoping to hear some truth in her words. She had a motherly aura about her that I wouldn't dare be sarcastic with.

The bell rang signaling the end of passing time, and until then I hadn't realized that the class had filled up considerably. A few stragglers slipped through the door, hoping not to be caught, and Mrs. Dawes shoed them in quickly.

I had been studying my Nixon in my hands carefully, watching as my crimson nail polish glimmered in the sunlight that filtered through the window.

"For those who entered this class for an easy A, you're going to be sadly mistaken throughout this course."

An involuntary smile tugged at my lips once more upon hearing the few groans omitted through the small room.

My hazel eyes danced upwards, to take in the students who had done so. The moment they did, they crashed head first into a pair of shining green hues. They watched me with pure curiosity, definitely far from the hungry gazes from the football team I had received hours prior. I studied them back just as intently, truly taken back. I watched as the owner's eyebrows furrowed slightly. I hadn't realized I had mirrored his actions until a devious smirk was sent to me, along with a shake of his head as those brilliant emeralds downcasted. I shook my head too, realizing for a moment that I had forgotten to breathe.

A rare blush crept along the high cheekbones of my face, while I tucked a strand of raven hair behind my ear, laughing quietly to myself.

"Your first projects of the new semester are team efforts," she paused to hand around a lime green colored flyer to groups of two. "perfect." she murmured to herself happily, and I looked up to see what she was talking about. There was an even amount of students enrolled in the class. "Goldsworthy, Rowen, you two will form our final group." Before I knew what was happening, the assignment was placed in my hands, and the dark haired boys' devious smirk revisited.

Shit, here comes that blush.

"On the page, you will see a variety of options for your project." she continued, and the classroom was full of silent resentment for not getting to chose their partners. Photography was my strong point, so I found whoever I got paired with irrelevant. "By the end of this semester, you will have finished every objective on this page, so the order you chose to do so doesn t matter so much, it's all up to preference."

I allowed my eyes to skim the list, smiling across a few. Most were simple, but I liked the idea of a different concept every couple weeks.

"The first project is a mandatory one though, meaning no exceptions." she pointed a finger around the classroom at a few boys who you could already tell weren't to pleased from her first little speech about the lack of easy As she'd give out. She pointed to the fifth line down, and my eyes eagerly scanned to find to assignment.

Candid of you partner.

I hadn't even noticed Goldsworthy had moved next to me, until his fingers brushed against mine in attempt to get a clearer view of the objective. I cleared my throat a little at the sudden contact, and handed him the paper, my knee grazing against his as I situated in my chair.

The moment she had let us have the class to ourselves, he turned to me, his face skewed into an mixture of confusion and horror.

"What?" I croaked out,

"Candid would mean...?"

I practically lost it. It was a full fledged laugh, to the point where my eyes were watering. I realized I should begin to reign it in the moment I saw the offense flash against his face. I pulled myself together and offered him a softer expression.

"A candid photograph is like... a photograph of something or someone that is caught of guard. A photograph that is natural." His eyebrows slowly eased apart as I explained. "Make sense?"

He scratched the back of his neck and nodded, slightly embarrassed.

I watched him wearily, my dark eyes squinting. "I'm assuming this class wasn't first on your elective choices?"

"You guessed right." His voice was enlaced with slight guilt, and I couldn't help but laugh softly.

"You know, I never really got your name. Unless we're on a last name basis for the entire semester."

I crossed my legs underneath me and pursed my lips. "I would say that would do. But your last name is a little too long..."

"Eli." he finished for me, offering his hand.

"Eli." I repeated, shaking it smoothly. His palm was calloused against mine, and in comparison looked quite large.

He rose an eyebrow, awaiting me to share mine as well. When I didn't automatically, he smirked and dropped his hands on his knees, his eyes wide with humor.

"What, do most city girls in New York not have first names?"

My eyes squinted again, and I grinned. "How did you know I was from New York?"

He looked caught. "My friend Adam is close with Fiona, she hasn't shut up about you in weeks..."

"So Adam is his name." I clicked my tongue, ready to text her and give her hell about it.

"Yes.. but I'm still waiting to get yours."

I tilted my head in mockery. "Meet me after school at Fi's place. We can walk around town, maybe you can show me around?"

He looked like he had to declined, and my brain on impulse urged me to backtrack. Who was I to assume...

"I don't..." he began, but I cut him off.

"To get this project done." I clarified, with a twang of confidence that I was surprised he even bought. "I mean, by the looks of your camera knowledge... or lack there of, this project could take a while."

"Oh! yeah. I think that could be arranged." Thankfully, he looked almost as stupid as I felt for assuming.

I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder just as the bell rang. "Meet me at Fi's around... say 3:30?"

He nodded, "Sounds like a plan."

Looking over my shoulder, I sent a smirk his way. "Later, Eli."

He grinned in response, his witty reply making me laugh softly to myself as I exited the classroom and continued down the hallway, a mass of students cluttering the once clear halls.

"Later, mysterious."