Chapter 6
Serena pulled out all the pictures she had developed, and proudly set them out for her teacher. "Well, well, well Serena. These are very impressive. Nice angles, very good lighting techniques, and all in all, great photos. You get full credit."
Serena beamed. "Thank you Mrs. Bunshue. I was hoping I'd get a good grade on these."
"You earned it my dear. Are you up to the extra credit?" The young teacher asked a hint of a smile in her voice.
"Ma'am?" Serena asked, not really understanding the 'up-to-it' part.
Her teacher rose gracefully from her desk, making her black-beaded earrings sway back and forth with her movements. "I'm offering extra credit for any assignments turned in early. You're three days early, so do you want it?"
Serena's initial answer was yes. She'd need the extra credit if she was going to spend two weeks with Stanton in Europe. But she needed to know the assignment first. "What's the extra credit?"
Mrs. Bunshue slipped her thin-framed glasses down her nose, and let them dangle at her chest from the glasses strap. "Basically, you take a picture of something that holds a great deal of intrigue,"
Stanton.
"Something that you're familiar with, and are interested in,"
Stanton.
"And something that's pleasing to look at."
Definitely Stanton.
"And you have to write a report as to why that object is all those things. And you have to explain why you chose it." Find something intriguing, familiar, interesting, and nice to look at. Explain how it's all those things, and why I chose it.
"I'd love to. When is it due?"
"Thursday." Serena nodded, escaped the classroom, then gathered the things from her locker, and went outside.
"Oye! Chica!" Serena smiled at Jimena, and strolled over to her car, and slid in the front seat. "So, what'd'ja get?"
Serena grinned. "Full credit. Plus she was so impressed she gave me an extra credit opportunity."
"Si? What's the project?" Jimena asked curiously, pulling out of the school parking lot. Serena told Jimena. Jimena grinned impishly. "What'd que usted tiene en mente? What'd you have in mind?"
Serena shrugged, trying to avoid any wise-ass remarks from Jimena. "I hadn't really thought about it at first. But I'm getting a few ideas together."
"Like what?"
Stanton strumming a guitar in sweats, Stanton napping in a hammock, Stanton sweaty and shirtless from the heat caused by chores like chopping wood, Stanton dancing, Stanton...
"Well, nothing in particular yet."
Jimena shrugged, and turned the wheel. "I think you should do a live object. Los seres humanos son intrigantes. Humans are intriguing."
"True." Serena agreed. And she had even more reason to say that than Jimena, considering that she could read minds.
"And what's more intriguing about humans than hot guys? Nada! That's what."
Serena almost nodded, but caught on. "What are you getting at?" Serena asked suspiciously. Jimena looked over, and even though her black sunglasses covered her eyes, Serena could still sense the feigned innocence.
"Que usted significa? What are you talking about?" Jimena asked in a believing curious tone.
"You're leading up to something. So tell me what your idea is." Jimena grinned, and hit the brakes as they approached a red light.
Jimena took off her glasses, and slipped them into the pocket of her purple corduroy jacket, and smoothed her black mini skirt. "I think Stanton should be your project. The teacher's reaction would be el interesar. And what a better opportunity for you and Stanton to get ocupado?"
Serena squirmed in her seat. Jimena had the exact same idea. But... "What could possibly motivate Stanton into doing a photo project with me?"
Still grinning, Jimena got out of the light, and continued to Serena's house. "Maybe you could present it as a way to get over that lujuria you told us about today." Serena rolled her eyes. Stanton had always been truthful with her, and she wouldn't throw it in his face by not being honest with him in return. She tried to tell Jimena in her mind, but like so many times before, the wall was up.
Smiling good-naturedly, she asked, "Still up to keeping me out huh?" Jimena smiled, but didn't answer as they pulled up. They stepped out, and Serena reached for her keys, only to find the door unlocked. "Collin home?" She asked, trying to set her keys back into her purse.
"Al parecer." Jimena replied, and they stepped inside, and were automatically struck with masculine voices in the house. Trying to stifle her movements, Serena slid out of her black sandals, and gestured Jimena to do the same. They took easy, stealthy paces forward, until the words were crystal clear.
"Is it really such a big deal? I like the way Tianna's responded lately. It's a nice stroke to the ego." Derek's easy voice drifted through the house on a light echo. Serena peeked into the kitchen, noticing that on the other side of the kitchen, Vanessa, Catty, and Tianna were listening too. Finally, she turned to see the company in the kitchen; finding Collin, Derek, Michael, Tymmie, Chris, Cassandra, and Stanton, all making themselves busy with one thing or another.
"Can't argue with you there." Collin muttered, stirring some chocolate milk. "I wouldn't mind it myself if I didn't know it was an issue with all of us."
"Is anybody interested in a woman's opinion?" Cassandra asked, sitting herself gracefully onto a chair at the table with a cup of coffee.
"Sure, can you find a woman for us?" Tymmie asked humorously, making Cassandra scowl, and a few of the boy's chuckle.
"I think that maybe someone's trying to push you all together, and then try to divert the girls into believing that you betrayed them, and if you crumble, you'll become enemies." Cassandra accidentally jolted the table, getting a coffee stain on her cream colored over-shirt. She stood, got a towel, wiped down her shirt, and took it off, revealing a lavender tube-top, and then dabbed her low-slung blue jeans.
"I can see that, but I don't think it's it." Chris said speculatively, leaning his hip on the counter, his arms over his chest.
"Why are you here anyway Cassandra? What does this have to do with you?" Michael asked, closing the refrigerator door, a look of unsatisfied hunger on his face.
Cassandra shifted in her seat, and she blushed. Serena's eyes widened. She'd never seen Cassandra blush before. "Um...I...just wanted to..."
"She's here because of me. She and I need to talk." Stanton announced, coming to her rescue. Cassandra's face turned flush-scarlet, and she swallowed her coffee nervously. "By the way, how's the 'project' coming Cassandra?" Stanton asked, rousing another bit of suspicion from Serena.
She smiled up at Stanton gratefully and said, "Fantastic. I have a few things to discuss with my 'supervisor,' but very nicely none the less." Knowing the conversation wouldn't go anyplace Serena didn't know about from there, she strode into the kitchen.
"Collin, you might have told me you were having a party. I still have to clean my room." Everyone looked up at the new voice, and Serena smiled at them, pretending that she hadn't heard a word of their conversation, and looked at Stanton. 'Right now, I don't need to know why you're here; but I need to ask a favor.'
Stanton's brows pinched as Jimena walked in and placed a friendly kiss on Collins cheek, yet Serena noticed a hint of heated response glowing in his eyes. 'I have a photography project going on, and I was hoping you'd be the subject.' He blinked in surprise, but a hint of mysterious smile floated on his face.
'I'm posing for a school project huh?' Serena nodded, and found it only fair to warn him about some spontaneous shots she might take. Stanton looked like he was thinking it over, then he grinned in a roguish way. 'No problem.' Serena smiled at him, then looked at Collin.
"Anyone else here?"
"The girls were hanging out in the den. Who knows what they're up to," he snickered. Jimena gave him an affectionate punch, then dashed into the hallway. Serena followed, and at the top of the stairs, they flung her door open, greeted with loud chatting.
"What do you mean 'it's not my fault'?"
"He asked me if—"
"Things were going great, I wasn't about to—"
Serena and Jimena eyed each other, then slipping her index finger and thumb into her mouth, Jimena gave a shrill whistle, making all of them jump in shock, and look at them. Serena dropped her black purse and red raincoat into her vanity seat, and then settled onto her bed with the rest of the girls, and readied herself for an extreme debate.
I know I'm updating fast, but I WILL slow down!
Bex: I'm going through a rough time right now, and your review warmed my heart and made my day. Thank you.
----: Um...I can't have something bad happen because of it. I agree with what you said, though people don't ALWAYS get STD's or pregnant. And this story isn't MEANT to be realistic. But if you DO want something realistic, I'd suggest you take a peek at my bio. And what you said about keeping it clean...it's gonna get worse so...if you're not allowed to read as is, I'd recommend to stop now.
Serena pulled out all the pictures she had developed, and proudly set them out for her teacher. "Well, well, well Serena. These are very impressive. Nice angles, very good lighting techniques, and all in all, great photos. You get full credit."
Serena beamed. "Thank you Mrs. Bunshue. I was hoping I'd get a good grade on these."
"You earned it my dear. Are you up to the extra credit?" The young teacher asked a hint of a smile in her voice.
"Ma'am?" Serena asked, not really understanding the 'up-to-it' part.
Her teacher rose gracefully from her desk, making her black-beaded earrings sway back and forth with her movements. "I'm offering extra credit for any assignments turned in early. You're three days early, so do you want it?"
Serena's initial answer was yes. She'd need the extra credit if she was going to spend two weeks with Stanton in Europe. But she needed to know the assignment first. "What's the extra credit?"
Mrs. Bunshue slipped her thin-framed glasses down her nose, and let them dangle at her chest from the glasses strap. "Basically, you take a picture of something that holds a great deal of intrigue,"
Stanton.
"Something that you're familiar with, and are interested in,"
Stanton.
"And something that's pleasing to look at."
Definitely Stanton.
"And you have to write a report as to why that object is all those things. And you have to explain why you chose it." Find something intriguing, familiar, interesting, and nice to look at. Explain how it's all those things, and why I chose it.
"I'd love to. When is it due?"
"Thursday." Serena nodded, escaped the classroom, then gathered the things from her locker, and went outside.
"Oye! Chica!" Serena smiled at Jimena, and strolled over to her car, and slid in the front seat. "So, what'd'ja get?"
Serena grinned. "Full credit. Plus she was so impressed she gave me an extra credit opportunity."
"Si? What's the project?" Jimena asked curiously, pulling out of the school parking lot. Serena told Jimena. Jimena grinned impishly. "What'd que usted tiene en mente? What'd you have in mind?"
Serena shrugged, trying to avoid any wise-ass remarks from Jimena. "I hadn't really thought about it at first. But I'm getting a few ideas together."
"Like what?"
Stanton strumming a guitar in sweats, Stanton napping in a hammock, Stanton sweaty and shirtless from the heat caused by chores like chopping wood, Stanton dancing, Stanton...
"Well, nothing in particular yet."
Jimena shrugged, and turned the wheel. "I think you should do a live object. Los seres humanos son intrigantes. Humans are intriguing."
"True." Serena agreed. And she had even more reason to say that than Jimena, considering that she could read minds.
"And what's more intriguing about humans than hot guys? Nada! That's what."
Serena almost nodded, but caught on. "What are you getting at?" Serena asked suspiciously. Jimena looked over, and even though her black sunglasses covered her eyes, Serena could still sense the feigned innocence.
"Que usted significa? What are you talking about?" Jimena asked in a believing curious tone.
"You're leading up to something. So tell me what your idea is." Jimena grinned, and hit the brakes as they approached a red light.
Jimena took off her glasses, and slipped them into the pocket of her purple corduroy jacket, and smoothed her black mini skirt. "I think Stanton should be your project. The teacher's reaction would be el interesar. And what a better opportunity for you and Stanton to get ocupado?"
Serena squirmed in her seat. Jimena had the exact same idea. But... "What could possibly motivate Stanton into doing a photo project with me?"
Still grinning, Jimena got out of the light, and continued to Serena's house. "Maybe you could present it as a way to get over that lujuria you told us about today." Serena rolled her eyes. Stanton had always been truthful with her, and she wouldn't throw it in his face by not being honest with him in return. She tried to tell Jimena in her mind, but like so many times before, the wall was up.
Smiling good-naturedly, she asked, "Still up to keeping me out huh?" Jimena smiled, but didn't answer as they pulled up. They stepped out, and Serena reached for her keys, only to find the door unlocked. "Collin home?" She asked, trying to set her keys back into her purse.
"Al parecer." Jimena replied, and they stepped inside, and were automatically struck with masculine voices in the house. Trying to stifle her movements, Serena slid out of her black sandals, and gestured Jimena to do the same. They took easy, stealthy paces forward, until the words were crystal clear.
"Is it really such a big deal? I like the way Tianna's responded lately. It's a nice stroke to the ego." Derek's easy voice drifted through the house on a light echo. Serena peeked into the kitchen, noticing that on the other side of the kitchen, Vanessa, Catty, and Tianna were listening too. Finally, she turned to see the company in the kitchen; finding Collin, Derek, Michael, Tymmie, Chris, Cassandra, and Stanton, all making themselves busy with one thing or another.
"Can't argue with you there." Collin muttered, stirring some chocolate milk. "I wouldn't mind it myself if I didn't know it was an issue with all of us."
"Is anybody interested in a woman's opinion?" Cassandra asked, sitting herself gracefully onto a chair at the table with a cup of coffee.
"Sure, can you find a woman for us?" Tymmie asked humorously, making Cassandra scowl, and a few of the boy's chuckle.
"I think that maybe someone's trying to push you all together, and then try to divert the girls into believing that you betrayed them, and if you crumble, you'll become enemies." Cassandra accidentally jolted the table, getting a coffee stain on her cream colored over-shirt. She stood, got a towel, wiped down her shirt, and took it off, revealing a lavender tube-top, and then dabbed her low-slung blue jeans.
"I can see that, but I don't think it's it." Chris said speculatively, leaning his hip on the counter, his arms over his chest.
"Why are you here anyway Cassandra? What does this have to do with you?" Michael asked, closing the refrigerator door, a look of unsatisfied hunger on his face.
Cassandra shifted in her seat, and she blushed. Serena's eyes widened. She'd never seen Cassandra blush before. "Um...I...just wanted to..."
"She's here because of me. She and I need to talk." Stanton announced, coming to her rescue. Cassandra's face turned flush-scarlet, and she swallowed her coffee nervously. "By the way, how's the 'project' coming Cassandra?" Stanton asked, rousing another bit of suspicion from Serena.
She smiled up at Stanton gratefully and said, "Fantastic. I have a few things to discuss with my 'supervisor,' but very nicely none the less." Knowing the conversation wouldn't go anyplace Serena didn't know about from there, she strode into the kitchen.
"Collin, you might have told me you were having a party. I still have to clean my room." Everyone looked up at the new voice, and Serena smiled at them, pretending that she hadn't heard a word of their conversation, and looked at Stanton. 'Right now, I don't need to know why you're here; but I need to ask a favor.'
Stanton's brows pinched as Jimena walked in and placed a friendly kiss on Collins cheek, yet Serena noticed a hint of heated response glowing in his eyes. 'I have a photography project going on, and I was hoping you'd be the subject.' He blinked in surprise, but a hint of mysterious smile floated on his face.
'I'm posing for a school project huh?' Serena nodded, and found it only fair to warn him about some spontaneous shots she might take. Stanton looked like he was thinking it over, then he grinned in a roguish way. 'No problem.' Serena smiled at him, then looked at Collin.
"Anyone else here?"
"The girls were hanging out in the den. Who knows what they're up to," he snickered. Jimena gave him an affectionate punch, then dashed into the hallway. Serena followed, and at the top of the stairs, they flung her door open, greeted with loud chatting.
"What do you mean 'it's not my fault'?"
"He asked me if—"
"Things were going great, I wasn't about to—"
Serena and Jimena eyed each other, then slipping her index finger and thumb into her mouth, Jimena gave a shrill whistle, making all of them jump in shock, and look at them. Serena dropped her black purse and red raincoat into her vanity seat, and then settled onto her bed with the rest of the girls, and readied herself for an extreme debate.
I know I'm updating fast, but I WILL slow down!
Bex: I'm going through a rough time right now, and your review warmed my heart and made my day. Thank you.
----: Um...I can't have something bad happen because of it. I agree with what you said, though people don't ALWAYS get STD's or pregnant. And this story isn't MEANT to be realistic. But if you DO want something realistic, I'd suggest you take a peek at my bio. And what you said about keeping it clean...it's gonna get worse so...if you're not allowed to read as is, I'd recommend to stop now.