Mia

Chapter 9: Photography

I walked out of my house and locked the door. When I reached the sidewalk, I put on the song, "Big Yellow Taxi" by Counting Crows featuring Vanessa Carlton and began my journey to school today. It had already been a few weeks since my father passed away, and Cambria never left my side. To be honest, I don't ever expect her to go, even if my fears cause me to worry sometimes. She has always been there for me ever since we met years ago.

As Cambria and I parted ways to our different classes, I accidentally bumped into someone. Clumsy me, of course. When I looked up, I noticed that I knocked this girl's books to the floor, and I promptly helped pick them up.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." I said hurriedly, and I heard her giggle beside me.

"It's okay. I was hoping to have an excuse to finally talk to you." The unknown girl said to me. I stared blankly at her, not knowing what to say. She had long brown hair, flowing down slightly past her shoulders while wearing blue jeans and an Avril Lavigne concert t-shirt. Wait? What? Why does she want to talk to me?

"You okay?" She asked me, and it snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, are you?" I blurted out. Oh, good lord. Nicely going, such a smooth talker you are. That was so cringeworthy.

"I'm good. My name's Brittany, by the way." She replied as she reached her hand out to me. I shook her hand, and I introduced myself.

"Name's Mia," I said, and she smiled.

"I know. I've seen you around campus here and there, and also, we have A.P. Photography class together." She mentioned. Aha! So, that's where I've seen her before!

We walked into class together, and I took my usual seat up front, and Brittany walked past me, sitting next to dear ol' Vivian. I think that's why I couldn't place her easily since she sits next to my arch nemesis and all. I genuinely try to never look in her general direction, like, ever. There were five minutes left before class began, so I took out my phone to text Cambria about my encounter with Brittany.

Mia: "So, I bumped into a girl named Brittany a few minutes ago, knocking her books to the floor."

Bri: "Were you a gentlewoman and helped her pick them up?"

Mia: "Lol. Oh, shut up. Of course, I did."

Bri: "Did anything else happen?"

Mia: "Quite possibly."

Bri: "I'm waiting, woman."

Mia: "As I apologized to her, she said, and I quote, 'It's okay. I was hoping to have an excuse to finally talk to you.'"

Bri: "OOO! GET IT, GIRLLLLL!!"

Mia: "OMG, REALLY, Bri?! That's all you got from that? Crazy woman. =P"

The bell rang, and I felt my phone buzz a few more times. I shook my head, knowing that Cambria was probably saying some silly comments about the situation. Mrs. Evans wasted no time in explaining today's project, passing out our assignment specifications and details. It turned out that we are working with a partner on a Photo Series. We have to choose our damned partners, just great.

"Alright, class, I have handed out the guidelines you need to follow. It contains a checklist as well as simple directions for you and your partner to follow. I expect each of you to turn in your work by the end of the class period. Are there any questions before we begin?" Mrs. Evans spoke to the entire class. I instantly knew the voice who spoke up first.