Say Cheese!

Chapter One: Party Favors

Thump, thump, thump is all that can be heard from the massive stereos. Why am I here again? Oh yeah, for my scrapbook. Sometimes I regret ever getting into it. Photography. But then I remember the feeling of euphoria I get when I'm behind the camera, the spark of the flash as it blinds the people in the picture, a still-life movie captured onto a small device. Ah, yes, that's why I'm here. That's why I'm at this party. Morgan Ytterman's birthday party. To capture the stupid faces of all the drunks. This is how I will remember my highschool days once I place all of these golden photos into a scrapbook. I can hardly wait.

"You gonna move, loser?" someone bumps into me and my camera flies out of my hands. It sails down the waxed, wooden flooring.

"No! Jesse!" I yell after my precious, $300 camera as I shimmy my way through the crowd of hormonal teens.

"Move, bitch!" "Ouch! Asshole!" "Get outta the way, nerd!"

I manage to push my way out of the wildly dancing crowd, but my dear Jesse is nowhere to be found.

"Looking for this?"

I turn around to see a guy leaning against the wall with my camera in hand, reaching it out slightly towards me, as if taunting me.

"Jesse! Thank goodness you're alright!" I grab towards my beloved, but the guy quickly snaps it away and out of my reach.

"Excuse me, but what about me? I was just standing here, minding my own business when I almost got hit by a camera flying at my feet at about 900 miles per hour!" He ends his sob-story with a smirk. His teeth are white and shiny. And perfectly straight. Too perfectly straight.

"Excuse me, but I don't talk to strangers," I state bluntly.

"Excuse me, but I am offended by that statement. You should know me, I am in your sixth hour class," he points out.

"Wait, Trent Bayer, right?" I didn't even recognize him, "you look kind of... different. You're wearing a... leather jacket?"

He just shrugs then answers, "Yes, and you are Corra Suebi. Now are we done stating the obvious?"

"Shut up, nerd."

"I cannot possibly be a nerd, as I am wearing a leather jacket. If you were a cool kid, you'd know these kinds of things, Suebi."

"How did you even manage to get into this party? Aren't you on the 'Science Squad'? Ha." I laugh at the name of our school's science group. But in all actuality they are a bunch of very intelligent students who have won our school many trophies and awards. But they’re still just nerds.

"Yes, that's true, but I'm also in a band, so it evens that out. Plus I'm good-looking." He grins a large smile once again, showing off his perfect pearly-whites, “Plus, how did you even manage to get here? I didn’t think they would let someone on the Newspaper Committee into a party like this." He dramatically waves his hand to emphasize his point. A drunken teenager throws up behind us as if on queue.

"Well you see, I blackmailed my older brother into letting me come. He's a 'cool kid' or whatever. He's on the football team."

"Yeah, I know. Everyone knows him. Although not everyone knows you. Maybe if you'd eat your lunch in the cafeteria and actually make some friends-"

"Can I just have my camera back? I really need it, like... right now."

"Sure! Just after a quick picture."

He loops his arm between mine pulls me over towards him. He then puts his arm around my waist, leaving my right arm awkwardly behind his back. He holds up Jesse in a "selfie" type way and before snapping a picture shouts, "Smile!"