"What the fuck?!" Max awoke with a racing heart, trying to catch her breath, "Why does this always happen?" The young girl sighed deeply, wiping the sweat off her forehead from her anxiousness.
That type of dream isn't new to her, but she still questions on why it continues to happen. The adolescent shook her head to get it out of her mind as she slowly got up out of bed to get dressed and begin her day with her usual routine. Her mind was boggled with confusion as she put on her own conventional attire. Her pink Jane Doe shirt and her generic blue jeans along with her sneakers and finishing off with her usual gray jacket. The young woman sighed again while she glanced at her latest photo. It was a simple one in her eyes. A little typical, but somewhat unique in a way. Or so she tried to view it that way.
"What a loser I am to think this would work for my assignment." Max picked up her infamous Polaroid, along with her photo, soon shoving them in her bag, "Well, time to head to class with this crappy photo." She rubbed the back of her neck, walking out of her room with the feeling of pity.
Max put her headphones in to listen to her favorite music while walking down the hall, out of the building to head to class. She was in her own little world, thinking of a way to avoid turning in her photo, but last time she tried, she got a lecture from her teacher. The adolescent couldn't imagine having another lecture from him again.
"Oh! Good morning, Max." The young woman heard a familiar voice approach her from behind, "How are you this morning?" The adolescent turned with a faint smile, seeing her dear friend, Kate Marsh, walk up to her with her usual morning grin.
Kate is a devout Christian who is quite the innocent type with a calm demeanor and a genuine grin when she's with her dear friends. She's known to be quiet, but the most mature of all the females in school. The one friend that Max tends to look up to when hanging around her. She's like the mother in the group and helps anyone in need. Kate is seen as the saint and her appearance helps her be viewed that way. Her dirty blonde hair up into a loose bun, gentle hazel eyes, rosy lips and pale white skin, exposing her true innocence. As for her attire, she's known to always wear her church clothes along with her cross necklace. Just a simple woman attending along side Max.
"Good morning Kate." Max pulled out one of her ear buds to have a short chat with Kate while they were heading towards class together.
They finally arrived at their favorite class. Kate walked in with her usual smile while Max followed behind with a sigh of an early defeat. Max knew she was going to be in trouble today. The adolescent tried to not look at Mr. Jefferson, hoping he wouldn't notice her at all, but she failed as she stood out like a sore thumb in Mr. Jefferson's eyes. The teen felt eyes gaze at her, leading her to having sudden chills.
"Good morning, class." The teacher spoke, "I hope you have all brought your assignments in today." He stared at his whole class before landing his eyes on Max, "All of you."
Max shivered by his last few words and the obvious gaze he has been giving her ever since she has arrived. The young woman is known to avoid turning in her photos. It's nothing new to her, let alone to her teacher. Mr. Jefferson is known to be lenient, but this time, he gave a look of grievance to the young woman before him.
All of the students turned in their photos with smiles, frowns, and embarrassment. Leaving Max to be the last one. The adolescent tried to avoid it as much as she possibly could, but she knew she was going to be sentenced to the front any second.
"Maxine Caulfield?" Mr. Jefferson called her up, clearing his throat.
"Y-Yes, Mr. Jefferson...?" Max slid down far in her chair like a turtle while trying to respond to her teacher who was obviously irritated in her view after hearing him say her whole name.
"Can you please come to the front of the class?" The man asked with a faintly demeaning facial expression.
Max gulped hard, practically suffocating from her own saliva. She closed her eyes, stood up with a racing heart, and walked forward. As she walked towards Mr. Jefferson, she could imagine herself walking towards the lions den she has never stepped foot into before. Her heart rate kept increasing as if fear was creeping up in her every second. The young woman couldn't understand her reason of fright. All she could understand was her reason of being called forward.
"Y-Yes, M-Mr. Jefferson...?" The teen mumbled.
"There's no need to fear me, Max." He chuckled, "I'm not going to bite." Max eased up a little by that statement, but not enough for her to breathe regularly.
"What is it you want to talk to me about?" Her palms were sweating while her voice trembled faintly.
"I see you're the only student left who hasn't turned in your assignment." His face turned back into a serious one, "What's your excuse this time, Ms. Caulfield?"
Right when he called her by her last name, she knew she was about to be sentenced to an inspirational lecture. The teen didn't really have much of a complaint, but it still made her feel guilty. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly while thinking of an excuse. Nothing came to mind. The young woman was stuck. Max didn't know what to say, let alone have the ability to speak.
"I'll speak to you after class then, Ms. Caulfield." He chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he signaled her to go back to her seat.
All Max could do was nod in shame before walking back to her seat. The young teen shook her head slightly while she was walking back with humiliation. Max heard giggling and gossip from the clones she has in her class. Annoyance removed the feeling of guilt once hearing words of cruelty come from the she-devil herself speaking loud enough for Max to obviously hear.
"What a fucking hipster mess." A giggle left Victoria's lips.
Victoria Chase, known as the queen bitch in front of Max's eyes. Always belittling others for the sake of her own entertainment. She's one of the leaders of the popular club which is known more as the Vortex Club. Owned and operated from the other devil that attends this school. Nathan Prescott being the king while Victoria is the Queen. Or so they see it that way. As for her appearance, it's obvious she's the stuck up type. Always wearing expensive clothing you see in fashion shows, expensive jewelry, and covering herself with makeup with her families fortune.
"Sad face." A smirk came across Victoria's face when she turned to get a glimpse of Max's expression.
"Asshole..." Max mumbled under her breath so only she could hear.
Max put effort into ignoring Victoria once the class continued with Mr. Jefferson's usual lectures of photography and famous photographers back in the day. He asked students several questions and their view behind their lenses. Not many have answered his questions. The only student that took all the credit was the Queen Bitch of Blackwell Academy. Nothing noteworthy in any of the students eyes. Let alone her minions.
"Okay class, next assignment is to get what inspires you most." He began, "Something that's ordinary to the public eye, but extraordinary in your eyes."
Some students began to chat about what they were planning to take a picture of as for the rest complained about the assignment. Victoria was upbeat with a stuck up smirk, awaiting to speak to Mr. Jefferson, but was left in the dust once he called Max to the front again. Once Max heard him call her name again, her whole body froze. She didn't really know the consequences that were about to come forth, but she had a bad feeling about it. One, being given the glare and rumors by the infamous Victoria Chase and second, given a rare look of disappointment come from her favorite teacher.
"Max?" Mr. Jefferson signaled her up to the front again with his index finger, "May I have a chat with you real quick?" A sudden smile appeared on his face which gave Max chills.
"Y-Yes, sir..." She gulped hard again, walking towards the front as slowly as possible.
Max didn't understand her emotions she has towards her teacher. He's inspirational in her eyes, but after the dreams she has had about him, her emotions seemed to have gone haywire. The way he looks at her gives her both chills and excitement. The way he speaks makes her heart rate increase and her body heat go sky rocketed as if entering a room full of flames. And his features just makes her mind go into a complete daze. She doesn't understand on the cause of all this confusing discomfort, but she had a feeling it might be the cause of her past few dreams.
"Max?" Her teacher waved his hand in front of her, trying to grab her attention, "Are you feeling okay?" He placed his hand on her forehead without thinking twice.
"I-I'm fine!" She removed his hand fast just to calm down her racing heart, "Don't worry about me!" Max looked down, trying to avoid his gaze.
"Okay..." He was bewildered to where it went silent for a moment, until Mr. Jefferson sighed deeply, "Well, Max?" He leveled their view so they would look at each other in the eye.
"Y-Yes?" Max tried and tried to avoid his gaze, soon noticing they were the only two in the classroom.
"I see you don't have much to say today?" He asked with the sound of surprise, "Quite bizarre for you to be silent today."
"Really...?" It caught Max off guard when he stated something that was practically a lie to her.
"Knew that would work." He chuckled with amusement, "Anyways, what I have to say for you today is seeing as to how you've been lacking on your own inspiration, I'm going to tutor you."
"Tutor me?!" Max's voice rose with shock, "N-No... No need to help me, sir!" Her tone kept increasing to where it was a high enough pitch to break glass.
"Easy there Max." He laughed lightly, removing his hands from his ears, "This will only last until you get back into the hang of taking photos." Max's heart clenched a little by his wording, but it also relieved some of the tension she had since this morning.
"So just a few lessons...?" She looked up at him, rubbing her arm to try and distract herself from her own discomfort.
"Of course." He smiled.
"Okay." Max smiled faintly, "When will it begin then?" She questioned.
"As of today, I will be your tutor." He held out his hand, signalling for a shake of introduction, "I'm Mark Jefferson. You can call me Mark."
Max's heart skipped a beat right after his tone suddenly changed from professional to casual. The teen didn't know how to respond, but her body followed suit, reaching out to his hand to shake. Her hand finally connected with his and she felt a spark, not physically, but definitely mentally. The adolescent had the slightest clue about her feelings, but she tried to prepare herself to a new side of life she has never faced. And that of course being given the opportunity to spend private time with her teacher. The young woman didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse given to her. All she knew is that she left it up to fate.
"I'll see you after school." He gave her a mischievous grin before walking towards his desk to grade papers.
"Yeah..." The adolescent felt dumbfounded, but happy as she awaited for school to end just so she can learn more of her favorite subject with her favorite teacher.