Before going to class, I stopped at the coffee cart outside the school and grabbed my morning coffee. If there was one thing I was addicted to, it was definitely coffee. I needed it to survive and I drank at least six cups a day since I got out of the grips of Ryan a few months back.

I was excited to start classes, knowing that the majority of the workload I would be enthralled in would always involve taking pictures or editing them, which was one of the only things in the world that made me happy. Being behind a camera and looking through a lens, was where I was meant to be. I hated pictures being taken of me, so being behind it made all that much more sense. To be able to capture a moment that would never in a lifetime happen again was simply the best feeling in the world. A photo says a thousand words and I loved that no matter what, a picture never changes even if the person in it does.

Photography has always been my way of remembering each and every step of my life. Through the good, the bad and the ugly. Having the life I had in Vancouver allowed me to get some really amazing shots that poured out pain. They were the reason I got into this school actually and despite the fact they reminded me of the darkness that swallowed me, I was really proud of them.

As I walk into my first class of the day, I see a few other people already sitting at tables for two with their cameras sitting in front of them. My heart pounds, realizing that this is it. There is no going back and the future is all that matters. I take a seat in the middle of the class, sitting at an unoccupied table. The room is small and silent. Barely anyone speaks to each other, as I assume no one really knows anyone yet. It's nice knowing I'm not a 'new kid,' as everyone here, is basically in the same position as me.

It isn't long before someone is next to me at the table I sit at alone. I look over to see the camera placed on the table. A Canon EOS 5D. It's the same camera that sits in front of me. The camera my Dad just bought me for getting into college and a thousand times better than any other camera I ever had. It doesn't surprise me that someone else has the same one to be honest. It's the best Canon camera out there right now.

I look up to see who owns the brilliant device, to see the guy I had seen the day before at the picnic tables at the dorms. His curly dark brown hair pulled out of his face by the same green bandanna headband as yesterday. He wears black skinny jeans and a white t-shirt, random tattoos inked down one of his muscular arms. When I meet his gaze, his bright green eyes pierce mine and dimples imprint his cheeks as he smiles down at me. Perfect pink lips and a row of impeccable white teeth.

"This seat isn't taken, is it?" he asks, making the silence in the room disappear. Before I can even answer him, he sits down beside me, the chair screeching underneath him. "Nice camera you got there!"

I smile back at him. "I was thinking the same thing!" We stared at each other for a few moments, losing myself in his perfectly shaped green eyes. Silence in the room setting back in. "I'm Paisley by the way."

"Harry," he simply replies, putting his hand out for me to shake. I put my hand in his to shake it, instantly feeling the warmth and gentleness of his hand. It's something I haven't encountered in a long time; Someone who's gentle and warming.

Harry? I wonder if he's Niall's roommate. He is definitely good looking. That, I'm sure anyone would agree on. I decide not to ask him about his roommate situation, thinking it would make things awkward if he wasn't. And the last thing I need is to be uncomfortable even more than I already feel, despite the calming I feel through his hand in mine.

Just as we're done with our handshake, the professor walks in and to the front of the class, taking both of our attention away from each other. "Welcome to Portraits," he started. His deep voice booming through the small classroom. "I'm Professor Banks. You can call me Drew." He wears a professional suit and tie but his blond hair is a mess, contrasting the whole look of him. He looks too young to be a college professor.

He went on to explain what the semester had in store and I was nothing but pleased when he gave us our first assignment, explaining that the Editing class we had after this one, would always be the time we edited the pictures we took in this class. He also threw in there that studios and computer rooms for our use would be open until ten an night every night and open again every morning at seven and he couldn't stress enough that we would be here on our own time a lot more than we thought we would be.

"Turn to the person next to you," Drew states firmly, after an hour of his welcoming rant. "This week, this person is going to be your subject. This assignment wont be due until next week, I'm just wanting to see where you're at right now in terms of taking a simple portrait."

He explains that there's photo studios down the hall and we should make good use of them seeing as there's only five and there's thirty people in the class. But for this assignment, the portraits must be taken in the studio.

I turn to Harry, who is already looking at me. Not realizing everyone around us has already gotten up to leave the room for the studios, we stay seated, our eyes locked on each others. He has a worried look on his face and I instantly feel self conscious. I'm happy to have him as my subject for the week as I suppose he seemed nice enough during our brief conversation and well, he's just simply beautiful, but the look on his face makes me think he doesn't feel so lucky.

"I think we missed our chance at getting a studio for now," I say quietly, turning to face away from him, realizing we are the only ones left in the class other than Professor Banks who sits at his desk shuffling through papers.

"Sucks to be us," Harry says as he stands up from his chair. I look back at him, confused. Another smile plays on his lips as he slings his camera back over his shoulder. I don't say anything, unsure if he was serious or not. "Well, aren't you coming?"

I stand up from my chair to gather my things quickly as he starts to walk towards the back of the class to the door. "Where are we going?"

He rolls his eyes at me. "Just follow me, would ya?"

**

"Do you even care we missed getting a studio?" I ask Harry as I follow him out of the school, not caring how annoyed I sound. This just means that we have to do our assignment outside of class time and what happens if we'll be getting a ton more homework this week? And what the hell are we going to edit in Editing class that starts in two hours? This is one crappy way to start off the first class of the year.

"Not really," he answers, looking at me through his aviators with a smirk on his face.

Whoa. How do sunglasses make someone look even hotter? Although I'm not sure how to take his attitude, I can't deny his unbelievably good looks. I almost can't even believe I get to take pictures of this beauty before me and he has no say in the matter.

When he stops under a tree, he puts his bag on the ground and turns his camera on and points it at me. I know he can tell I'm feeling slightly annoyed by him and he snorts seeing it written on my face as I turn away from him. "No need to hate me already, I'm not that bad. I thought maybe we could take some shots out here. We can get the studio later today or tomorrow." He looks at his camera and lets out a hearty laugh tilting his head back. "Well there's no denying your dislike for me. I have it captured so I can remember it forever. Maybe try not giving me angry eyes next time!"

I look up at him through my eye lashes shyly. "Sorry, I just don't like my picture taken." I find myself realizing I'm actually going to have to sit for him to take his portraits of me and this realization isn't sitting pretty within me.

He gives me a toothy grin and shakes his head. "Sorry to break it to you love, but you're my subject this week, so that's gonna have to change. Plus," he clears his throat and looks away. "I'm pretty sure you're the prettiest girl in class, taking pictures of you is going to be easy."

I look at him shocked, my mouth slightly ajar. His honesty bewilders me. Although I am used to cockiness when being around guys, for some reason it kind of suits him and it doesn't bother me the way it usually would. I can feel my cheeks heat up at his compliment but I'm not surprised by the way he makes me feel nervous. I try to snap myself out of it by putting my camera bag on the ground next to his. "Well, lets not waste any time then. I'll take pictures of you first."

He fights me on it, saying it was his idea to do this, so he gets to take pictures of me first. I hate this idea more than anything, but the last thing I want to do is get on the bad side of anyone. The last time I tried arguing with someone, the outcome was horrible. Although I know this boy in front of me couldn't possibly be as bad as the people I've encountered in the past, I don't want to try and push my luck, especially since he's let his cocky side show already.

I find myself admiring his confidence when it comes to telling me how to sit on the grass. I shake off the annoyed feeling and allow myself to get comfortable so that this experience with his camera in my face will end soon.

He stops after taking the first few pictures and looks at me. "You're really photogenic. I got lucky this week. I'm going to ace this assignment just because you're flawless! I hope I don't get that nerd with glasses that was sitting at the front next week."

His comment makes my heart race, and I know my cheeks are flushing again. Instead of thanking him for his compliment like I want to, I decide to scold him for the way he talked about someone he doesn't know. "There's nothing wrong with nerds. And besides, you don't even know her. She's probably a sweet girl. 'Nerds,'" I mimic quotations in the air with my hands. "Are usually the nicest people. So don't judge!"

"Is that so?" He asks, cautiously. His words came out slower than usual and he studies me for a lot longer than he should have.

"Can we just get on with this?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

He stifles a laugh and shakes his head as he walks closer to me. He puts his hand on my skin just below my collarbone and I feel the warmth and the hesitation in his movements as I stare blindly into his eyes that are fixated on mine. He tries to pull my leather jacket down off my shoulder. "I think you should take this--"

I flinch and scoot away from his touch, putting the leather jacket back over my shoulder and closing it shut beneath my arms. "What are you doing?" I ask, hearing the shakiness in my own voice. The last thing I want is someone touching me, even though his gentle touch gives me tingles.

He looks at me confused and I feel ashamed that I reacted the way I did. I cleared my throat. "Sorry."

His gaze doesn't leave mine for what feels like forever, eyebrows furrowed in full concentration. I can't help but wonder what he's thinking about during the silence that's hanging between us. "I just thought you should take off your jacket. Your fair skin would blend nicely with the green foliage."

I shake my head quickly, feeling my whole body start to tremble. "No. No, the jacket stays on."

"You must be so hot in that thing, and..."

"I said, it's staying on. End of story," I argue, glaring at him, able to get a little bit of courage back. There's a reason why I stay covered up. But no one needs to know that. "Now, can we please just get this over with?"

Without another word about it, he gives me a few more poses he wants from me before he says he's got the shots he wants. He doesn't try to argue or make me feel any more uncomfortable, as if he knows he's gotten under my skin already.

A/N: Hope you're liking this so far! Please press the star! It would mean so much to me! I'm loving writing this so far! I definitely have plans up my sleeve for it and it's going to be a good ride to get there!!

amberlove
xo