A Plagued Winter

Chapter 5

At least I know how to hold my own... Most girls my age couldn't say that much. Except, last week's encounter was with another person, and she was of the weakest bunch. Imagining myself fighting to survive out in the woods behind my house... It's a dream to think of coming out alive.

Carlee

I'm not sure why I chose Photography for the second half of the semester. Out of all the options that Lake Taylor had to offer (which wasn't a whole bunch)... I found myself turning in my elective slip with Photography taking up the space in my 7th/8th-period block. Of course, that question wasn't the only thing on my mind. I also thought about my parents.. to my surprise, last Friday I wasn't charged with treason in their household. In fact, when I was explaining what happened to my parents in the principles office they had nothing to say. I had supposed they were trying to keep their cool in front of Mr. Brown but when we were in the car all my mom had to say to me was a quiet, 'Sorry Carlee'.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what her sorry meant. Why they've both had a permanent frown since that afternoon. Why they've been treating me so lightly. It reminded me of when Trey first went missing... back then I was taken care of like a mental patient. I worried if I had to go through their overbearing concern once more all because of one little school fight. If you could even call it that. To me, it was more of a disagreement with a pinch of accidental contact.

"Okay. Ms Carlee you're new semester class for Photography is in room B203 by the caf."

Mrs. Green handed me my paper and wished me well. I certainly wasn't going to miss her art class. She made everything that was supposed to be creative: boring, and technical. I was no teacher but from what I've seen, I'm sure I had a better grasp on the concept than she did.

I left without a "thanks" and navigated my way through the halls of lost and confused teenagers toward my new class. You'd think that after being in Lake Taylor for the past four months people would know the building a little bit more than it appeared they did. I mean it really wasn't that big of a school either. I didn't think it was struggle worthy but what did I know?     Besides everything?

Sure I was kidding myself by being a cocky, god-complex teenage girl but when you surround yourself with idiots for years you start to gain this self-appraising tendency that only grows stronger the longer you're there.

Within less than a minute I was seated in my new classroom with my own pick on the last row closest to the open window that looked out onto the football field. The photography teacher's name was Mr. Clementine and he was this tall, scrawny fellow, with a bushy beard and glasses. Around the room, hung photographs of landscapes and group selfies of students smiling in this very setting. Aside from that little added decor, there wasn't much to say about this classroom seeing as it looked like every other one in the school building.

As the last few minutes of passing were upon us, the classroom was still less than filled. There were 4 boys and 5 girls including myself with mostly shy-looking anti-social kids making up the group. Then, when the final bell rang, one last boy shuffled into class. My eyes trailed his begrudging movements as he pulled out the chair to the desk beside me and took his seat quietly.    Camo jacket...    My eyes squinted in his direction.      Anybody could be wearing camouflage today...     He was tall and lean and the infamous camouflage jacket hung casually over black jeans.    Hm... if that is the new kid he must be used to the stares of everyone else... I'll just let him be...       I focused my attention back toward Mr. Clementine with only a tiny bit of curiosity dancing around the edges of my mind daring me to take another look.

Mr. Clementine gave his introduction with ease. In return, I tried my best to give him 60% of my attention. Photography and pictures, taking pictures, the kinds of pictures to take, the settings of a camera, what edits to use to make pictures prettier, what's a good picture, and what isn't.         ...Yadda yadda yadda...      It was all the basic stuff that only required common sense. Then he clapped his hands and announced something that required the rest of that 40%.