_W_H_A_T_I_F_
"Holy shit" Laura murmured she looked around to see herself in her photography class, Wait a minute, I've sat through this lecture. Mr. Mason went on about a movie and how it related to photography. What the hell just happened?!
Like clockwork, Laura watches some of the students to her left throw a ball of paper at a Perry again as they had done, at least as she thought they had done, before. Laura looks over at the poor redhead and then back at Betty and her friends chuckling at each other.
What the hell is going on? I was in the bathroom...and Will...Will shot that poor girl. Then...now I'm back here and they're teasing Perry. They were teasing her last time too. And if Betty's phone goes off...now. Just as Laura had timed it the cell goes off causing her to jump, flicking her wrist and causing her camera to crash against the ground, earning a snicker from Betty while Mr. Mason takes no notice what so ever of the loud crash.
Oh my god...Oh my god, did I just...go back in time? Laura thinks before shaking it off. No that's impossible...Ya know unless you have a tardis in your backyard or something like that...but if I could go back in time...could I did it again?
Laura raises her hand slightly looking over at her broken camera. What if I just rewind? The world around her slows to a stop before her. Voices lowering until they were muted and the scene goes fuzzy as everything stops. Within a moment things start backing up similarly to how an old VHS would rewind. The camera comes back together and sets itself back on her desk before she puts her hand down, stop. and then the world plays again. Betty and her friends laughing as Betty's phone vibrates on the table. I...I just...rewound...I went back in time. That means...THAT GIRL. I can save her. I need to get to the bathroom. But how? When I snapped that picture accidentally with my camera I got Mr. Mason's attention. He asked me a question and...maybe I can get him to let me leave class?
Laura picks up the camera and turns it over in her hands like before, How did I get it to- the flash goes off and once again Mr. Mason stops his speech to address her.
"I believe Laura has taken what you kids call a 'selfie'...a dumb word for a wonderful photographic tradition. And Laura...has a gift. Of course as you should all remember from your reading, the photo portrait has been popular since the early 1800's. Your generation is certainly not the first to use images for...selfie-expression. Sorry, couldn't resist." Mr. Mason chuckles, "Now Laura, since you've captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation Can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first photographic self-portraits?"
"I'm sorry Professor Mason, I have a terrible headache, may I go to the health center?"
The class snickers, well most of the class being Betty and her company.
"Nice try Laura, I will talk to you after class. Anyone else know?"
"Louis Daguerre was a French painter who created the 'daguerreotypes' a process that gave birth to portraits with a sharp reflective style."
Dammit I should have known he wouldn't believe me...maybe I could rewind? give him the right answer? Then he wont keep me after class and I can get to the girl. Alright...Rewind...and stop.
"Can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first photographic self-portraits?"
Nailed it.
"I believe it was...Louis Daguerre, a French painter who created...Daguerreotypes, which gave birth to the first portraits with a reflective style." Laura responded trying not to appear too smug at the look Betty gave her.
"Very good, Nice to know some students are keeping up on the reading." Mr. Mason smiled and went back to his previous lecture.
This is kinda cool. Even if it came out of no where and I have no idea why this is happening to me...One thing at a time Laura...lets save that girl.
Laura can't jump out of her seat faster when the bell rings and everyone starts to leave class. She hesitated and looked over at Perry. Damn I can't just leave her like that. Laura walks over with a smile and is surprised when Perry picks her head up to offer her a smile.
"That was a good answer Laura, it's nice to hear someone other then Betty talk in class."
"Thanks, would you believe I rewound time and knew the question beforehand?" Laura joked actually getting a short laugh from Perry.
"I'd believe you stayed up late last night watching far too much Dr. Who. You need to ensure your getting enough sleep, you look a little pale today."
"You're right, I'll promise I'll sleep a more reasonable amount of time." Laura smiled, "Hey I know your busy with the bake sale, but when you're not busy maybe we can grab a coffee or hot chocolate...mostly hot chocolate, and hang out?"
"That would be lovely Laura." Perry replied, "Maybe I'll make some brownies and we can ask Lafontaine and Danny to join us."
"That sounds really nice." Laura couldn't smile any bigger, she was happy Perry seemed to be doing better then before the rewind. "I'll text you later?"
Perry nods and Laura turns to leave, ready to rush to the bathroom to save the mysterious girl. The only thing stopping her from running out the door was Mr. Mason's voice;
"Laura, can I talk to you for a moment," Mr. Mason called over, Betty rolling her eyes as Laura stepped forward. "I'd never let one of my students miss handing in their picture. Especially if they were truly gifted as a photographer."
Oh crap the picture!
"I'm not sure I have a good entry."
"I find that a little hard to believe, especially after your selfie episode, you must have taken hundreds of pictures in the last few weeks. Don't take too long to pick an entry. John Lennon once said that 'Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.' Go on, don't let me stop you."
Mr. Mason doesn't look happy, and Laura knows the last thing she needs is to make her photo teacher angry or risk her grade. Ok, maybe I could rewind and give him a better answer, maybe I can get an extension like last time. OK
Rewind...and Stop.
"I'd never let one of my students miss handing in their picture. Especially if they were truly gifted as a photographer."
"I'm on top of it." Laura said more confidently, "I think John Lennon once said 'life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.'"
"Laura, you're are on fire today, all the right answers. Make sure you have your assignment ready by say, tomorrow morning? I have faith in you."
Mr. Mason smiles brightly before turning back to Betty who's eager to continue their conversation.
I can travel back in time and make myself sound cooler then I am...sweet. Wait, no time to bask, I need to get to the bathroom.
Laura hurries out the door and down the hall, everything exactly as she remembered it her first time. She hurries past Lafontaine before they can even talk to her and she sees their confused look out of the corner of her eye before she turns the corner and heads the rest of the way to the bathroom.
OK Laura retrace your steps. You looked in the mirror, washed your face, looked at your photo. And then that...
The flutter in the light happens again and Laura follows the butterfly. I took the picture and then..
The door opens and she can hear Will again. Talking to himself until the girl walks in and her voice also fills the bathroom. They soon start to argue and Laura looks around frantically for a way to stop it before the girl gets hurt.
The fire alarm! I need something to break the glass. Laura hurries looking around until she notices the piece of wood by her feet thick enough to function as a hammer. She can hear Will yelling, the girl yelling back until she slams the wood against the glass, breaking it and hitting the red button with her palm. The alarm goes off the Will leans away from the girl long enough for her to plant a knee firmly in his stomach and push him back before hurrying out of the bathroom.
"Damn it." Will grabs the gun that fell out of his hand and rushed out the door. "Another shitty day."
After a few moments Laura walks out of her hiding place and heads towards the door.
Well that was a rush, I'm glad she's Okay, for now at least. As soon as she opens the door she comes face to face with a woman in a business suite.
"Do you hear that fire alarm young lady, that means you should leave the school." The woman is easily six foot tall with dark hair pulled back into a tight bun and harsh eyes.
"I'm sorry, I'll hurry out." Laura turns and walks toward the exit.
The principal never comes out of her office. I guess she has to for the fire alarm. She seems harsh. I've never seen her my few months here. I can't remember her name either.
Laura hurries out the door, students spread out in different places, they seemed to be relaxing more then worrying about the fire alarm. Laura's phone goes off with a new text.
Danny: Hey you there?
Laura: Yeah sorry, running late.
Danny: That's fine, hey can you bring me my drive?
Laura: The one with all the "borrowed" movies on it?
Yeah I guess.
For a price :P
Danny: Laura Hollis, are you blackmailing me?! ^_^
We can go out for cocoa and sweets?
Laura: DEAL
Be there in a few. Gotta get it out of my dorm.
Danny: Sweet, meet you in the parking lot?
Laura: Deal
"Hey L, what was your rush earlier, you looked like you were being haunted." Laura looks up to see Lafontaine looking over at her with a teasing smile, "Did someone try to jump your photo teacher?"
"Not yet, but I'm sure Betty's close." Laura sighed looking down, a few stray missing persons posters by her feet. "These things are all over the place."
"Yeah, they've been all over since she went missing." Lafontaine says as they walk toward the dorms together, "I never knew her, but maybe Ari did?"
Lafontaine gestures to a girl sitting under a tree working vigorously in a sketchbook. Laura walked up almost instantly with Lafontaine at her heels. Ari Daugaard was a studio art student and a third year. Laura had seen her a few times on campus, usually sitting in a peaceful spot sketching or in the art rooms sculpting. Ari seemed to know everyone, or at least know of everyone. Despite not really hanging around with other people.
"Laura," Ari greets as she bouncing up with Lafontaine behind her. Ari wasn't unkind, she had a strong silent type thing going for her. Laura liked that about her, that and she was a huge Harry Potter fan so clearly she couldn't be that bad.
"Hey Ari," Laura greeted, "So, I've been seeing these missing persons posters all over and well did you know Eleanor Amber? she was a grade below you."
"Wow you really are a journalism major huh Hollis?" Ari laughed, "I mean you haven't been here long and you're already asking questions."
"I did grow up here you know." Laura stated with a frown, "I went to middle school here."
"That's right, you said that before." Ari looked apologetic for a moment, "Tell you what, if you pose for me for a quick sketch, I'll tell you what I know about Eleanor Ambers."
"You want to draw me?"
"Sure, why not? I've drawn almost everyone on this campus...including Eleanor."
"So you did know her?"
"Sit," Laura did what she was told and sat down in the grass. Crossing her legs and sitting up straight, "Perfect. And yes I knew her sorta."
Ari's pencil makes quick marks in her book.
"She was a Vortex club member, like Betty and those other elite students? She wasn't mean though, she was friendly. But since her disappearance there have been a ton of rumors going around about her."
"What kind of rumors?" Laura asks as she tilts her head slightly before positioning it back to keep from moving too much while Ari drew.
"One girl was talking about how she had sex with that photography professor everyone's drooling over. What's his name? Watson?"
"Mason"
"Yeah him. But I don't think it's true, she didn't have that air to her." Ari shook her head, "She was way too...pure? She had a very pure air to her."
"And she was in Vortex club?"
"Yeah, I thought it was weird, her with big-wigs like Betty Spieldorf and Will Eisen? Didn't seem like her crowd, but she did always hand around with this other girl. Don't ask me her name because I never talked to her." Ari raised a hand as Laura opened her mouth to ask exactly that. "All I know is the girl was a great painter because I saw her work in the gallery. And that she wore really dark clothes, it was funny how different they looked."
"What exactly is this Vortex Club?"
"It's pretty much a club for all the richest students at this school. Some of them are nice though, a few of the Zeta Omega Mu guys are in it and two or three Summer Society girls. I'm not sure what they do other then party."
"Will doesn't seem nice to me...or stable."
"He's not," Ari stated simply, "I'm pretty sure he's a licensed creep. But that really tall guy Brody Kirsch is in it and he's pretty Okay. Anyway I'm done."
Ari flashed the sketch and Laura smiled, Ari really did have a great hand for drawing.
"Looks great, will this go up on your PortfolioBook file?" Lafontaine asked, "Maybe it will help Frosh's street cred."
"Sure will." Ari smiled,
"Thanks Ari, I really should go now, Danny's expecting me to meet her with her drive."
"Later A"
"Later Laf, Later Laura."
Laura felt her phone vibrate and looked down to see another text from Danny
Danny: Taking our sweet time?
Laura: Sorry I stopped to talk to Ari
I had some questions. And she sketched me!
Danny: Cool, maybe I'll check out her PortfolioBook page to see if she posted it.
While I wait for you of course.
"Danny getting anxious?" Lafontaine teased,
"I did keep her waiting a bit." Laura placed her phone back into her pocket. "It wont take me too long to get the drive though, it's sitting on my desk."
"Her drive with all her movies on it?" Laf grinned, "Tell her I'd like to borrow it sometime. I'll trade her for some really cool sci-fi movies."
"I'll let her know,"
"I'll see you around then L, I've got to get to the Biology labs to finish an experiment." Lafontaine started towards the lab buildings with a wave, "See ya Frosh"
Laura waved back and headed for her dorm building. Only slowing when she noticed Betty and her friends sitting on the steps blocking the way.
Great.