Break Between Time

Chapter 1

Next thing she knew, she was hunched over her desk and lightly banging her forehead on the pile of books she'd had stacked to leave with since class started. The teacher was rambling and wrapping up the lesson in the last five minutes of class and Bea couldn't care less. She writes enough notes in her binder to pass as paying attention, so that's all she needed.

Then again, most of the "notes" were doodles of hearts around a couple of poorly drawn stick figures. She draws what her friends would refer to as "a sad stretching of reality." It usually consists of two people holding hands with a messy banner above them with the title "Beax." It's her personal and unrealistic relationship name between her and a certain Jax Moretz.

She hates acting like a love-sick teenage girl. Like the ones in the movies who chase after one boy their entire life until they finally live happily ever after together. But that's the thing, isn't it? She'd think. They got together in the end. Though she hated to admit it, her heart felt like a tacky romance film. And she hates those.

Unlike most people, she found herself hating things most people usually enjoyed. She'd never tell anyone that, of course. The last thing she'd want is for everyone to see her as a buzzkill. But it was true. When someone zigged, she would zag.

A small note torn from the corner of a loose piece of paper was slipped on the edge of her desk. She was so tired that she wasn't sure if she wanted to move her eyes to see the note. It wasn't that she was lazy, it's that she knew it would be from Mary. And with Mary came all sorts of surprises.

Her eyes slowly dragged up to meet her friend's. Mary wore a coy smile and repeatedly pointed below at the letter she'd only just put on Bea's desk. With an eye roll, her eyes returned to her desk and she finally read where Mary was pointing.

Did you hear that?

Bea's eyebrows furrowed as she read the note twice more. Did I hear what? She looked at her friend in question and Mary gestured to their teacher with her head. Bea's eyes widened slightly as her attention quickly returned to the front of the class. Unfortunately, by then, the teacher was moving behind her desk and a quiet chatter arose in the room.

"I'll take that as a no."

"What did she say?" Mary gave her friend a side glace. Mary loved Bea and all, but sometimes her lack of focus got on her nerves. Bea had a habit of paying a less than average attention during class and asking her friends what she missed.

"Oh, nothing. It's just our weekend bonus assignment. No biggie." This got Bea out of her seat and around the table. She pushed her books aside and sat on her desk, lightly shoving her friend's arm. "Come' on! I need this, especially after that last test!"

"What about that last test?"

"The one I got a C on. But, when grading on a curve I got a low B." Mary shakes her head, not reacting to her friend's plea. "And we are all very proud of your low B." Bea sighs before finally begging, "Please."

Once Mary caught a glimpse of Bea's puppy dog eyes, she knew she was a goner. "Mr. Stuttgart said to capture a photo of what he calls 'Natural Beauty.' And no, you can't take a picture of yourself." For once, Bea got excited about a school project.

One of the things she wasn't terrible at was photography. She didn't have a too professional camera, but she did pride herself in having a good eye. "That sounds easy enough." Mary bows her head and held up one finger. "There's a catch! Only five students in the grade can get the bonus."

Bea's heart sinks a little, but she brushes it off fast. Before she can respond, the bell signaling school is over rings. Most kids are out the door before the sound stops, but unlike what Bea planned, they stayed after for a little while after.