The Girl Behind the Camera

5

5

"Wait, what?" I shrieked. I was in Mr. Nile's room. He was the photography teacher and was in charge of the school's newspapers.

"Would you like to be the new photographer?" He wore an amused smile. He obviously knew what my reaction was going to be. He knew I was shy.

I shook my head. "Not really."

"Wait," He held up his hands, "I thought of a solution of your, er, social anxiety." I huffed.

"Being shy is not having a social anxiety." He continued as if he didn't hear me.

"On the signature, we don't have to be use your name..." I blinked. Was that why he thought I didn't want to be the photographer?

"Mr. Nile? That's not the reason...I just don't want to." I shrugged as if was no big deal.

"I thought you wanted to become a photographer?" I opened my mouth and then closed it. That was true. It was my life's dream just like modeling or designing was for others.

I sighed. "Yes. I do." I knew he had me. He knew I would break easily.

"Then do it." I looked back at him. He looked frustrated and kind of...desperate? Desperate for what? Was I really that important to the newspaper? I doubted it.

"I'm sorry sir, I'll do it next year." Besides this year was more than have way over. I would only be the photographer for a few months.

"Why won't you join now?" His voice had a little whine in it. I resisted the urge to raise my eyebrows or roll my eyes.

"I am busy with homework and stuff like that." Great Evelyn. Way to prove your point.

"I see." Mr. Nile's tone told me he was disappointed. In me? Probably. "I guess you don't want the extra credit..."

"What 'extra credit'?" I asked in a hurry.

"Well, since this class is after school and it is a class, it counts as a credit." Ugh, Mr. Niles. Way to bribe me with school.

My good side was all like 'what could it hurt?"

My bad side was 'you don't want to because you're shy. You have a a social anxiety.'

I followed my good side.

"You know what Mr. Nile, I'll take you on your offer." He smiled. "But I get to choose what I'm photographing and I get to write an article about the picture every paper if I want to." His smile faded a little bit. He sighed.

"Only if you join as The Girl Behind the Camera." I nodded after hesitating. Who chose that name? Whatever, it was all mysterious.

"Alright, when's this class?"

"Today right after school." I sighed. That meant now.

••~•≈•~••

"Hello, everyone. Today we need to work on our final drafts for this week's newspaper." Nobody noticed I was here yet.

"Lacy? How many photos do you have? I am waiting for them so I can arrange the paper." Mr. Niles looked up from his glasses at her.

"Well, I have a few on drama, art, swimming, P.E., creative writing, and choir."

"Well, I need some for band and for you to take some mystery photos as well."

"Luke?"

"I still need to interview Lance, Tristan, Bryon, Damion, and Coach Davidson. But they are always busy with practice and school and homework." And ladies, I thought.

"Well, I'll send Evelyn to interview them and she'll give you her notes. Do you have the questions?" Luke nodded after turning towards me in surprise. Everyone else turned as well.

Luke grabbed a notebook from his backpack and handed it to me. I flopped through the pages. They were lame questions like 'what was your favorite color?' or 'what kind of flower would you like to be?'

Either Luke was stupid or he was stupid. I was going to add questions for him.

Before I could leave, Mr. Nile grabbed my arm.

"Remember, nobody must know you are part of this newspaper class. Got it?" I rolled my eyes and nodded.

"Later." I walked out of the room as Mr. Nile continued with the status on their article. I hummed "Radioactive" by Imaginge Dragons and "The Fighter" by Gym Class Heroes as I walked to the football field.

"Another 100 meter!" I was surprised to see that Lance was leading the team in conditioning. I watched as they all ran another 100...And another...and another...and another...and another...and another...and another...

Jeez, they probably run more than track people do.

When they were packing up, I walked over to Lance, dismissing the woof whistles as I passed.

As if he knew I was coming, Lance looked up. "Hey, what's up?" I asked.

"Nothing. What about you?"

"A movie of an old man and boy travel in the old man's house that flies from the balloons to South America." He chuckled, followed by some of the football players by us.

"Haha. Very funny. What are you here for?" I took out my, well, Luke's notebook and a pencil.

"Mr. Nile sent me here for Luke to question you for the newspaper." He looked at mw in surprise.

"You in Journalism." I rolled my eyes as his country accent was showing.

'You cannot tell anyone.' I shook my head to rid it of Mr. Nile's voice.

"No...I was there to turn in my homework for photography and I agreed to question you for Luke 'cause he was working on another article he was assigned to or whatever." He raised his eyebrow, but didn't question me. It was technically the truth, I just twisted it into a smile lie.

"Okay. Let me pack and we'll talk on the bleachers." I nodded my head and walked back to the bleachers.

"You and Lancey dating?" I turned to Bryon. I shook my head. He followed Ms to the bleachers and sat down next to me. Too close for comfort.

"No." He nodded and stared off into space. What was this dude playing at?

"Okay."

"Why?"

Bryon shrugged. Just wondering..." I looked at him weirdly. "Alright. Fine. You know Sam?" I nodded. "Well, he wants to ask you out..."

What?!

"I dunno..."

"C'mon, Eve. Just one date and then you can dump the sucker?" He looked at me with hesitantly puppy dog eyes. I saw right through the act, but sighed anyways.

"Fine."

"Sweet!" He did a fist pump and ran off. Probably to catch Sam. I rolled my eyes and glared after him.

"Alrighty, let's get this over with." I turned to Lance in surprise. He had a hhint of anger and frustration in his voice. I shrugged it off and asked the first question Luke put.

"Would you consider you fugly or fine?"