Fledgling Read Online Free PDF Page B

first time that day. In the quiet dark, her heart made its own unique rhythm as though it were ready for a performance at center stage.
    “Alright, listen up. We’ll be reviewing shutter speeds and apertures today. Please direct your attention to the next series of slides.”
    Her eyes adjusted to the gloom as she watched the slideshow. Some of the images seemed remedial to her so she let her eyes venture across the room.
    To her side, she noticed a lean figure a couple seats away. Slouched back in his chair, his coppery hand was supporting the side of his head. Thick dark hair appeared to have grown out from a haircut, falling in waves around his sinewy hand. His athletic build made him appear quite tall. She realized a little too late she was staring, the darkness offering a false sense of security. The object of her curiosity turned to meet her horrified eyes, and she snapped her attention back to the slide of a babbling brook as her cheeks and ears flushed.
    “Notice how, in this image, the movement of the water is much clearer than the previous image? Can anyone venture a guess at why they’re different and why this image looks better?” The teacher’s voice broke Ana’s disorientation, as she numbly stared ahead.
    Someone readjusting in a seat drew her attention; she glanced to the side without moving. The boy was staring back at her. Her green eyes flashed back to the projected image on the wall and felt her cheeks flush with warmth.
    After her surprise settled, determination filled her; she had no interest in guys. They were only trouble. Angry she allowed herself to be affected by good looks; she shook her head in disgust.
    Mr. Frisk continued the lecture on proper shutter speeds and Ana put all her attention on him, resolving not to turn back again. When the lesson was over, the teacher switched the lights on, and fifteen pairs of eyes blinked in surprise.
    “We’ll practice shutter speeds today. You have until the end of class to pair up and take pictures on the grounds at school. I wish to see some of your experimental imagery in tomorrow’s class. Oh-and I would appreciate it if you didn’t just use this class time to ditch.” He smirked at a few select individuals.
    The teacher turned to Ana as the students got up and stretched off their listlessness.
    “I’m sorry Ana-did you bring a camera today?”
    As though waking from anesthesia, Ana found herself being spoken to and tried to find her voice, “Yes, sir, I brought it.”
    He nodded in response, waved at the door and wandered back to his desk to slump down.
    Ana watched the last students filter out of the classroom. Oh, well, she would rather work alone anyway.
    “Guess we’re the last two.”
    Ana’s cheeks flushed as she heard a deep voice near her. She exhaled slowly, turning around. The piercing hazel eyes made her insides turn like taffy on a taffy pull, whirling and twisting into a sticky mess. She let out a shaky breath. “Oh, I thought I was alone.”
    “Hey-I’m Chance.” He grasped the strap of his bag and looked down.
    “I’m Ana.”
    “And, you’re new here.”
    “Um, yeah-just moved from Colorado.”
    Ana reached into her bag for her camera, giving her cheeks time to recover and her silver pendant slipped from the folds of her shirt. She looked up in time to see Chance’s eyes trace over it. His brow furrowed and he abruptly turned away to retrieve his camera from his bag and started for the door.
    They left the room together but Ana realized she didn’t know her way around yet, and wasn’t sure where to go. Some kids were snapping pictures of each other at the basketball courts; she felt there wasn’t much to work with there. She stopped, silently preoccupied, while Chance stood nearby observing her.
    “Do you know any good places to go?” she asked.
    “We could check out the garden. Follow me,” Chance offered, and thrust his hands into his pockets.
    Chance led her around the building past a grassy area to a