Calculus and lunch go by pretty fast, and when I walk into Photography, I scan the room for available seats. Anna smiles when I sit down next to her.

 

"Serenity! Hi. How was your Summer?"

 

"Pretty good. How as yours?"

 

"It was great! I'm so  glad we have class together again." Anna is always so bubbly, I forgot how hyper and in your face she can be.

 

"Me too." I smile.

 

"So did you hear about the new guy?"

 

"No. What new guy?"

 

The door chooses that moment to open, and everyone falls silent. I can only assume that the guy standing there is who Anna was about  to tell me about, because I have never seen him before.

 

After accepting a slip of paper from him, Miss Cortez announces, "Class, this is Clayton Daniels. Today is his first day here, so let's all do our best to make him feel welcome."

 

Clayton Daniels is beautiful, with his brown hair and green eyes, and he's looking right at me. I force myself to look away and study my binder.

 

"Okay everyone stand up and place yourselves around the room." Miss Cortez motions us out of our seats. Anna and I look at each other, a bit cunfused as we comply.

 

"This class is about getting out of your comfort zone and capturing beauty in places where you did not know beauty existed. So to avoid you from partnering up with your best friend, I have decided to place you alphabetically, according to last names."

 

I do a mental check of last names, wondering who I might get partnered with.

 

As Miss Cortez makes her way  to the front of the room, having started in reverse, she calls out, "Davenport," and next to that adds, "Daniels."