Click

Chapter One

The sun was rising as dew melted away from the crisp early autumn touch. A doe grazed on the forest floor ever so silently. The trees were a bright green that held mocking jays whom were singing their beloved tune.

Click.

A girl with curled light blonde hair was standing a few feet away from the deer's grazing spot, just enough to get a beautiful picture. The deer looked up and spotted the girl, and galloped in the other direction.

The girl smiled, as the picture she had captured was perfect. A great way to start the morning. She adjusted her mint green scarf and picked up the tripod and camera. She retreated from the woods just in time for the sun to completely shine over the horizon.

"False! False, the government is trying to cover that up!" Argued the girl's father sitting across a table to a young man.

The young man stifled a laugh and retorted, "That's exactly what they are wanting you to think!"

The two men shot their attention to the girl, whom was still carrying her camera and tripod.

"Another early morning photo shoot, huh Ariella?" The young man remarked playfully.

"Yes, Cole, and I got this great picture of a doe so I suggest you return to your pointless babbling to our father about politics in which neither side you can prove nor fix." Ariella's soft voice carried strong words, though their house was usually this way. The two men shrugged it off and returned to their breakfast.

In her room, the walls were lined with photographs. Some of the pictures were taken by her, others by famous photographers. Most of them were of wildlife and scenery.

She sat down at her desk and opened her laptop. She ejected the chip from her camera and put it into the computer. From there she opened them and adjusted the pictures as needed. Once she was done, she sat back in her chair and sighed with a slight smile of delight.

Ariella got a text around 1:30pm, from her friend, Brooke.

Hey! Come down to the mall, I wanna hang out!

Ariella was getting her stuff ready when she texted back.

K. Be there in 20 mins tops.

When she arrived, she met up with Brooke in the food court. She had spotted the boy around her age looking at her. She had to admit that he was pretty cute himself. They found themselves glancing at each other back and forth throughout the time Ariella had lunch with Brooke. 

"Totally go get his number," Brooke encouraged as she glanced over at the boy.

"You know I cannot and will not do that," Ariella scoffed as she picked up her bag. Brooke shrugged and dropped it as they went on to browse at other stores in the mall.

Ariella couldnt get her mind off of that mystery boy, his dark green eyes and messy jet black hair. Maybe I should've gotten his number.. She thought to herself that evening when she was sitting in her room. I didn't even get his name.

The next morning Ariella woke up to her cat, Riley Rix, proding her cheek. Ariella laughed slightly as she moved her to get out of bed. When she walked into her kitchen, she saw her brother pacing back and forth.

"Cole, what's wrong?" Ariella asked, concern in her voice.

Cole didn't respond, but he did sit down. Her mother entered the room and looked at Ariella with a worried look. 

"Cole joined the army, but your father didn't agree to it so he stormed out and we havent heard from him for three hours. I'm sure it's nothing, but you can't be sure. When men are mad they do stupid things."

Ariella had stopped listening at the part where Cole joined the army. She knew Cole always wanted to serve for their country, but in an unstable time like this, she didn't think he would do it. She couldn't speak. She was happy for him, but if a war errupted, he would have to go. She knew exactly which branch he would have joined. Marines.

She sat down in fornt of Cole and sighed. "I support you, remember that, but you know as well as I do how father would react. He doesn't want to lose you." He just covered his face in his hands and grumbled. She wasn't helping him any and she knew it, so she left the situation to her mother.

 As she walked outside, she immediatley felt the urge to take a stroll in the woods. It was a breezy day, so she grabbed her jacket. as she entered the woods, she stumbled across a creek. It was small and left the steady sound of trickling water ringing in her ears. It calmed her down, so she continued strolling until she found a clearing under the canopy of trees and layed down. She listened to the birds chirping and the bugs buzzing. This was her home. She loved it.

Just as Ariella was dozing off, she heard a branch snap. At first she thought it was a deer, but she heard more branches crackle on the earth. She sat up slowly, just in case it was a bear. Once she was up, she looked around. She saw a humanoid figure a few feet away. She tried squinting at no avail. Curiousity got the best of her, so she got up and approached the person.

As she got closer, she thought she'd seen that messy dark hair before. 

"Hello?" She asked cautiously. The boy jumped slightly, but turned around and froze. It was him. The one she'd seen at the mall. What are the odds of that happening? He even had a camera in his hands! 

"Hello," He said, a sly smile on his lips and his voice was beautiful and low. He had braces, but they looked cute on him. She sorta smiled, but then realized that she was being stupid, he probably thought she was stalking him or something.

"What are you doing here?" Ariella asked, still staring into his features. He was at least 6 foot. 

"Well, taking pictures. It's a... hobby. Haven't I seen you before? I would think a beautiful face like that would be memorable." He was a smooth talker. Ariella felt her cheeks flush with red. 

"Yeah," she answered, "at the mall.. in the food court." 

"Well, I don't want to have to call you pretty food court girl, so what is your name? Mine's Jake."

Ariella found herself choked up, wrapped up in his gorgeousness. "Ariella," she finally stampered out. 

"Well, Ariella, would you like to go down to the creek with me? That was originally my next destination," his voice hung in the air as she smiled and nodded. She had to be dreaming, he was just so gorgeous. As they walked, she couldn't help but notice that he was just smiling at her.

"What?" She asked playfully, she was trying hard not to blush.

"Oh, just trying to decide which is prettier. Your face or the woods.. but I'm pretty sure I know which one wins considering I cannot keep my eyes off of you."