Contrast to Clarity

Chapter Four: Mentor Madness

"Miss Broden, can I speak to you for a moment?" Mr. Jacobs calls out to me. I scan the room quickly and point to myself questioningly.

Oh my god, I didn't do anything wrong did I? Please tell me I'm not in trouble. I am an A-grade student. I have not and cannot get in trouble - ever!

I nod and get out of my seat, slowly making my way to his desk. He smiles and looks at me and then turns his head to Spencer.

"Miss Broden, this is Spencer. He is new to the club and you will be his mentor this year," he says enthusiastically.

Spencer looks at me, scowling a little, and huffs.

What are you? The big bad wolf?!

"Ah, yes sir," I say reluctantly.

Argh why me? He could have picked anyone but he chose me! This isn't fair. I don't have time for his stupid face. He shouldn't even be in this class, I think to myself aggravatingly.

"Hey, I'm Spencer" he says snapping me out of my inner ranting. "H-hi" I stutter awkwardly.

I am not use to interacting with people, not to mention that he's of the opposite sex.

"Miss Broden, please show him around the club and show him what we are doing this semester. He needs the credit for late absenses and I trust you'll keep him out of trouble" Mr. Jacobs instructs me with a slight smile.

Whatever! Why should I have to babysit this moron. I hate that look in his eyes that screams "I am better than you and we all know it."

"This way" I say as I walk towards my table, trying not to seem so umcomfortable.

"So, do I have to participate in this? Or is it okay if you just do it? I mean you seem like you're in love with photography. Surely you wouldn't mind going to the extra trouble for me." He says smugly.

What a jackass! As if he thinks I'll just roll over when he comands it. "I don't ask 'how high?' when you tell me to jump!" I retort with obvious displeasure in my voice.

"Well, well, well! What do we have here? A dog that bites," he mocks. "Careful missy, or else I'll have to put you down!" He laughs at his own joke.

"In your case it's, 'don't bite the hand that feeds you'. Because I'm the one who knows what to do and it certainly looks like you need this class or you'll fail the entire year, and it's only just begun. So I'd watch your mouth before you start ordering me around. I hope you'd take a seat, shut up and listen to what I am about to tell you or you can find yourself repeating this next year without all your buddies to make you feel better about your poor academic skills!" I almost trip over my own words as I turn around. Feeling proud of myself and yet confused as to why he had such an effect on me so quickly. I only just met the guy and I'd already abused him within the first three minutes.

Wow, that's gotta be a new record.

That's definitely going into my attitude is gratitude book later.

"Woah, calm down and take a deep breath. No need to get verbally abusive here! I was just asking. You could've just said no" he replies calmly like he didn't hear a word I just said.

I snicker and sit down in my chair. He moves towards me and pulls out his chair. He sits down, slumping, and sighs. His hand resting on his chin and his eyes glued to me.

I turn my head slightly to look at him and I notice how the beneath the brown there aare swirls of green in his eyes. Before I know it I am lost into his gaze and I feel at home. This feeling is so calming and I feel like I could sit here all day and not bat an eyelid while staring at his captivating hazel eyes. He seems so close and yet so far away. Transparent but guarded. I shake my head a little, trying to break my stare. The corner of his pink lips curves into a smirk. The content on his face is evident and I snap away from his gaze, flustered.

He laughs and shifts his gaze towards my photography book on our desk. He picks it up and starts to slowly flick through the pages. I hadn't noticed that he was quickly shifting his eyes between me and the book for a long time now. Before I could say anything, he stopped on a certain page and speaks up.

"This is sad, isn't it?" His face softens.

I look down to the picture he had morosely fixed his eyes upon. It was the picture I took yesterday at the soccer oval. A yellow Begonia, wilted, had just started to die and I felt the need to photograph it before it succumbed to it's eventual death.

"It didn't live long but it was beautiful. Everyone admired it's ability to adapt to this climate and still thrive," he whispers, stuck in thoughts of the flower.

"This was taken at the North Port Soccer Oval, wasn't it?" he asks inquisitively.

"Yeah, how did you know that?" My brows furrow.

"I visit there sometimes. I remember this flower because I was the one who planted it" he replies dismally.

He planted this flower at the soccer oval? That's not something I would've expected from this douche pig.

Maybe it's just a front? Maybe he's not so bad? I think to myself as I search his face for answers.

"I didn't know that you planted this flower. I'm sorry it died" I say quietly, hoping he didn't actually hear me.

"It's not your fault. Plants die, people die. That's the circle of life" he says so confidently like he knows that's what happens but I can't help but notice this burdened look upon his face.

"It's a nice photo. I am glad you captured it's life before it truly ended. Can I have keep this picture?" he asks with sudden vigor.

He caught me off guard. I stare into his electric eyes and decided to spare him the suspense.

"I can't give you this copy because it's for the Flora and Fauna project." I say.

He looks down at his hands, I sense a certain regret from him, like he feels he shouldn't have even asked.

"... But I can get you a copy, if you'd like?" I tell him smiling. The worry from his eyes disappear instantly. That made me really happy.

Wait? Why would I care whether or not he was happy? He's a jerk! Or maybe he's not? Of course he is. Shut up, brain. Ah. I really don't understand what has just happened in the last half an hour.

We only had 15 minutes of class last before we had to head home.

He turns to look at me, he looks me right in the eyes and says: "Thanks Kim, means a lot to me" he stretches his arms out behind his head and continues.

"So what is this project we are supposed to be working on? Flora and for...something?" he says unsure of what I had said previously.

"Flora and Fauna" I correct him.

"Yeah that thing" he replies, shaking his head. I look away as he mutters 'flora and fauna' under his breath repeatedly. To help his memory, I guess.

"Ah, um, well that's not what we're doing in this class. That's something I am doing for a competition. We, meaning the club, are doing a Family Collage project this semester" I say hesitantly not wanting to think about this new project.

"You don't sound too sure," he assumes.

"No, we are doing it, I just don't know where to begin myself. So helping you may be difficult" I say as I scratch the tip of my spine and flinch from the pain. Stupid pillow, giving me neck pain.

"So you need my help? Not the other way around" he says with a chortle.

"No... I can do it by myself but I can't always babysit you, that's all" I bark back at him.

"Who's biting the hand that feeds them now?" He laughs.

I narrow my eyes at his and I feel like I just got hit with a car, except it actually just an epiphany.

He could help me with my family project and I can help him catching up on his work!

Mwhahahaha the evil genius laughs inside of me. This semester just got a whole lot easier.

"Hey! How about we make a deal?" I ask expectantly with a smirk.