Under Developed

Chapter 1

"Alright class, I think times just about up for the day. Make sure you turn in your final pictures and I'll see you tomorrow." Mr. Davis says to the class, he smiles brightly before turning to look at something on his desk. Everyone starts to pack up, meanwhile I'm sitting in my desk silently freaking out and my cheeks are starting to get a slight red tint as I pull out my folder with my final 3 pictures, these final pieces will be worth half of my grade and I'm freaking out, these pictures could be the cause of my success in this class or... my failure. I hate the idea of being graded on my work; I mean I love how they turned out but... I don't know. I guess I just hate to think someone wouldn't like my work, after all the effort and time I put into picking these final three pictures; it would suck for the teacher to say they were awful. I lean down and pull out my backpack from under my desk, it's not huge but it holds my stuff. Which is basically all I need for school, it's when I have my camera bag and equipment that things start to get heavy. Speaking of my camera... looking down I smile in relief as I see the familiar camera hanging around my neck... I don't know why I always think one day it won't be there, it never leaves my neck unless I'm taking an extreme angle, which rarely ever happens due to my major anxiety, but sometimes I risk it if I know I'll get the perfect shot. I look down at my pictures one last time before the bell rings dismissing everyone from their seats; I count to 10 in my head which normally clears the aisle to avoid getting trampled... I've had this system since the beginning of the year, but today my plan didn't really work. Right as I step out of my seat and into the aisle some guy that I've never seen before knocks into me causing my 3 pictures to fly and leaving me curled around my camera. The guy quickly stands, and when he sees me he starts laughing, which confuses me and then I realize the position I'm in, I look like in in the fetal position holding onto my camera for dear life. My face goes extremely red before I quickly stand and avoid eye contact with him. It's not my fault I fell into that position, I was just trying to protect my camera, well I mean I guess it is my fault but he didn't have to laugh at me! I try to shake the blush from my cheeks but I know it doesn't work at all,

"S-sorry" I barely manage to whisper. I hate that I stutter when I talk, but it's a habit I've picked up within the last couple of years.

"She speaks! Wow I thought this day may never come!" The boy practically shouts, pumping his hand in some kind of victory. I turn my head slightly and say,

"W-what are y-you talking about?" The guy chuckles, i'm assuming its becuase of my stuttering before grinning and responding with,

"You've barely said two words this entire year and I was just waiting for the day I'd get to hear your magical voice." He looks at me and winks. Wait. Is he flirting with me? No, that was stupid; people don't flirt with me I scrunch up my eyebrows in confusion before shaking my head slightly and nervously biting my lip.

"Um... o-okay?" And with that I bend down to collect my folder and pictures, but at the exact moment I bend down he does to causing us to bump heads. I wince and stand up, rubbing my forehead in the process, he continues to lean down and picks up my folder with my pictures. He goes to put the one that has fallen out back in but stops suddenly, standing up he looks at me,

"Whoa... did you take this?" I nod, a small smile appearing on my lips,

"That's probably the best one I've ever taken" I whisper quietly, I want to be able to just talk like a normal person but evidently my brain and mouth don't like to function together so it comes out a whisper.

"Well I really like it, you're most likely going to get an A" he says with a smile. I look down at the photo, it's simple yet I love it. I took it at an old park that's near my house, I got my little brother to swing on the swing and I got him midair, but the way he's smiling makes him look like he's really happy. Which in his case he probably was because what little boy doesn't love a swing set?

"T-thanks" I manage to say in a normal voice, except I stutter. This doesn't help the red which seems to have permanently stained my cheeks. I manage to look up at his face, and I get lost in his eyes, I'm brought back to reality when he says,

"So... You've got a thing for boys in glasses?" He smirks and my eyes go wide and I'm about to say no of course not, but then someone coughs behind us and I look up,

"Mr. Murphy, I see you've met Leah Mathews, I know how fascinating you must find her but please let the poor girl get to her next class." Mr. Davis says with a slight smirk, my cheeks instantly turn a darker shade of red if that's even possible and I quickly turn around collecting my folder and pictures from the boy's hands. He looks shocked at my sudden movement but doesn't say anything. He just continues smiling and watching me.

"So... Leah? I'm Will, Will Murphy" He holds his hand out for me to shake but I panic and barely whisper,

"I-I have to go." I stutter before turning and walking (more like mad dashing) to the teacher's desk where I place my pictures before I run out of the classroom. I vaguely hear my teacher chuckle, but I'm already out of the door, and I don't really want to turn around to check.