The Ballad of Mark and Max

Victoria

'Okay! Class! Welcome to your first photography class of the year! As you all may know, my name is Mark Jefferson, but because of school politics, it'll be Mr. Jefferson to you. We aren't going to be doing anything too intense today, I just want to get a sense of your photography style and see what kind of equipment you use. "Oh shit!" Max thought, "I'm gonna be the laughing stock of the class with my retro Polaroid.' " Max put her head in her hands shaking it in disbelief. Mark noticed her dismayed reaction and it made him wonder why she seemed so upset. But he continued on. 'I will call you up one by one and we will talk for a bit about what got you into photography and I'll have a look at your respective cameras.' Mark pursed his lips and thought on who to call first, his immediate inclination was to call on Miss Caulfield, but he didn't want to seem obvious in his attraction to her. 'Victoria Chase, you'll be first.' Victoria let out a little squeal gathered up her camera and what seemed to be a portfolio and pranced up to Mark's desk where he was patiently waiting for her with his fingers steepled at his mouth. Every now and again he would sneak a glance at Max out of the corner of his eyes and find her watching him. She would immediately avert her gaze, which made him chuckle to himself.

Victoria caught his attention as she sat at his desk in the chair he provided. She sprawled her portfolio out to display her work and handed what looked like a very expensive camera over to Mark for him to examine. After about 5 minutes of her trilling on and on about how her parents own a gallery and that she knows the ins & outs of the industry. 'My God, will this girl ever shut up?!' Mark thought to himself. He finished examining some of the pictures in her portfolio and her camera and very politely said 'you have a very nice camera Miss Chase and your pictures are lovely, but could use some work. We need to give your other class mates a chance to speak as well. Thank you.' Victoria pouted her lips and slowly gathered up all her things to return to her seat.

One by one Mark called all of the students up to his desk. Daniel, Stella, Taylor, Hayden, Alyssa, Kate... they all spent various amounts of time with him, telling them why they came to enjoy photography and showing their cameras. The final bell rang just as Kate was finishing with Mr. Jefferson, Max thought she had been granted a reprieve and gave a sigh of relief. She started gathering up her things to leave and noticed that Victoria had already made her way back up to Mr. Jefferson as soon as Kate took her leave, which he seemed a little annoyed by. That thought made Max smile to herself. After ending his conversation with Victoria, Mark's shoulders slumped a little, then he perked up and said 'Miss Caulfield, would you like to stay after so we can talk, since we ran out of time during class?' Mark was silently praying she said yes. Max considered for a minute... "sure" she said hesitantly. Mark let out a sigh of relief.

INTERLUDE: Max's and Mark's thoughts.

MAX

Everyone knows that girl, that one girl, the queen bitch of the school. That girl here is, Victoria Chase. As soon as I saw her walk into class today, I knew she was going to be trouble. Not to mention she attached herself to Mr. Jefferson like a leech as soon as she laid eyes on him. Batting her eye lashes at him, sticking her chest out so her breasts were more pronounced, and leaning provocatively over his desk during the whole class. When she wasn't firmly planted up his ass, he wouldn't take his eyes off me and I couldn't keep mine off him. Every time our eyes met I could swear I saw him inhale sharply. I knew my heart rate increased every time. He is such a beautiful man.

MARK

Why did she have to be in MY class? Victoria Chase, has been in my face since she walked in. She thinks she's entitled to have me all to herself, since she is rich and isn't here on scholarship. She's been using every tactic in her teenaged arsenal to get my attention. But I'm not interested in her, everything about her is revolting. From her way too fancy designer clothes to her $1000 shoes, to the way she talks, a know it all (or so she thinks.) and prissy. Every blessed second she isn't in my line of sight, I spend willing Miss Caulfield to come speak to me, but she never does. I am hyper aware of that young woman, and she seems to be as much aware of me. Any time my eyes caught hers, she bit down on her beautiful full bottom lip. It resonated right through me, my heart began to hammer in my chest. She was the first to break eye contact. I saw a beautiful rose colored blush creep across her face. My face heated. I can't believe I have that much of an affect on her and she on me. I begin to think of ways in order to be able to spend more time with her, without it looking suspicious, little did I know Miss Caulfield would help me more with that than I could ever imagine.