No Vacancy

Chapter {1}

Ariana P.O.V.
I walk down the hall of Mount Seneca High School, my heels clomping along the tile floor. I glance at my watch, 1:57. My last class of the day started at 2:00 and I didn't intend to be late. I rush over to my locker and put in my combo, getting it right the first time. I put away my geometry notebook and grab my photography portfolio. As I close my locker and turn around I feel I force push me to the ground.

"Ow!" I say as I look up to see who pushed me, I see a tall brunette. Peyton.

"Oh geez sorry!" He says putting his hands up defensively. He starts picking up my photos that spilled and I join him. When he picks up a picture I took of lipstick written on a mirror he studies it.

"Hey this is nice." He says.

"Thanks." I say stubbornly and take it from him. I walk into my class with him walking behind me. I take a seat far from him and rearrange my portfolio. Then Mr.Duncan calls our attention as the bell rings.

"Students please pass forward your assignments." He says as I happily give mine to the person sitting in front of me. I glance to Peyton on my right, he didn't even bring his portfolio. He sees me looking at me and shrugs. I sigh, some people. When Mr. Duncan has collected everything he rolls up the projection screen to reveal a nearly written assignment on the white board.

"I have a new assignment for this week. Your theme is...places!" He underlined the word on the white board.

"I need you to take pictures of one certain place you, and hopefully no one else in the class, has visited." The gears in my head are turning. I could hike up to a hidden cliff, maybe go to a small coffee shop downtown, or a little-known taco truck. Then Mr. Duncan stops my creative juices from flowing.

"I am going to make sure each of you have a partner. And, each partnership will have a boy and a girl." I didn't think things could get any worse, until he kept talking.

"The boys are going to pick their girl partner. But they are going to select them by picking their photo from their portfolio. For example, if Jason chose Madison's picture of ducklings from off my desk, they would be paired up. Some of you know who's pictures are who's and I don't mind, so without further explanation, come up gentlemen." I start thinking, if my partner picks my photo he must have really similar ideas of art. Maybe I could get a good partner, or maybe an amazing one! Maybe he-

"Hey I think this is yours." I turn and see Peyton holding my lipstick photo.

What? Why does this popular freak want to be my partner?

"I think it's really cool." He says after I stayed silent.

"You want to be my partner?" I ask. He blushes and looks down scratching his neck.

"Yeah, I think you're really talented." He looks up. "I'm Peyton."

"I'm Ariana." I say. "And uh, thanks."

He grabs a pen and writes something on my binder.

"Just text me and we can figure this out. Duncan says we need another portfolio full of photos so we should get started. Today's Friday and we don't have school until next Tuesday. If we start today we have four days to work."

I sigh. "Great. I can't wait."