The school was a thriving land of opportunity. Every freshman, sophomore and senior had some sort of problem, be said problem simple and superficial or deep-rooted and complex. Sometimes you can't get through a situation on your own, sometimes you need a little help. Adam was there to be the helping hand, for a price. He was not lying when he said he was on his way to photography class but who was to stop him from making a few stops on the way and exchanging packages with some students. Though even an entrepreneur in the making needed an outlet that didn't involve money.
The bullies at the school didn't accost Adam for the longest of time so for the most part, he was only given weird looks and stares when he roamed the halls but he had honestly grown accustomed to them. People didn't even truly enjoy approaching the guy all that much, most preferred to do business with him via instant messages and phone calls. They thought themselves safer that way. It was only when he finally approached the door to the photography class did he get stopped by a daring figure. It was his photography teacher, they had grown an odd kind of relationship. His teacher had always approved of Adam's works and ultimately felt sad for him as he saw in him just a troubled youth who is getting involved in the wrong practices. Adam, to his teacher's dismay, hadn't ever confronted himself on the nature of his dealings and never saw photography as more than a hobby. So while there was a warm relation between the two, it was ultimately a hesitant one.
"Adam, you're late again." Mr. Collins was straight to the point, there was rarely any way to really hustle the man. He took the craft his class taught seriously. Unfortunately, Adam did not.
"Yeah... Sorry about that man, I just got caught up at the restrooms. Just another case of a bad microwavable dinner, you know?" It was a crappy excuse and he knew it but his mind was elsewhere. In fact, a girl was on his mind... Not in the way you think, he was still fascinated by what he had seen the other night.
Mr. Collins shook his head and sighed, he put his palm over his face while muttering to himself. "Right now, the class is discussing their next big group project, what we are going to display at the end of the year. Now I know they won't take well to anything you suggest... I am aware of your social situation in this school."
Adam frowned, he generally stuck to himself and just did 'his own thing' in these classes. Whenever he tried to connect to one of the artsy people in his class, it tended to end badly. "Yeah well, maybe they just take themselves too seriously."
In that moment, Mr. Collins facial expression turned into the slyest of smirks. You could swear he had just gotten away with murder or something. "Yeah well, I think it may be you not taking yourself seriously enough." One would think that he was about to go into a stern lecture but what happened was different. "There's another big project going on, I think you might have heard of it. Several classes send out a... I guess you can call it a representative of sorts. Some volunteer. I've chosen you over others who have requested this position from me."
Adam was visibly confused by his teacher's rather mysterious reveal. Perhaps most confusing of all that he had still not bothered to reveal what even was this project that he was putting so much faith into. "...Alright and what is this project?" Might as well have gotten it over and done with rather than let Collins play his games.
"You're the new photographer for the school newspaper, you are to coordinate with the editor and writers and help them get that unique 'Avery' perspective of the events they are writing about." The asshole was clearly about to laugh, having put the person who prefers to fly under the radar in a position in which he has to work in a team of people who will all mistrust him. "I even have been given the honor of giving you your first assignment. You are to record the wood shop class making their first steps in the journey to their end-year project."
"Come on, Mister Collin-..." Adam was going to bitch and moan about being given something to do that will require a little more than just lazily hanging about school. But of course, Mister Collins was prepared for that.
"No no no, I won't hear it. Your handling of your new position will be what decides your grade this year. I want no excuses and no slacking. You will take your work seriously and you will show some responsibility." Collins adjusted his purple full-framed glasses. "I will be in contact with the editor about your work and I will judge it for myself whenever an issue gets released."
Adam turned around, having been finally defeated by his teacher and being forced into actually doing something in the school other than dealing. He had nothing to say other than a big loud sigh.
"Chin up, Adam. Instead of coming to this class, you have whole periods in which you can focus on doing your new work." As if it was any real consolation, free periods were always fun but Adam had no doubt that Collins would keep tabs on him and his work. "Oh and also, you need your camera if you want to do any photography." Adam neglected to actually bring a camera, probably forgot while daydreaming about being rescued the other night.
"Of course, Mister Collins." He spoke with a voice of a man who had just been forced to dig his own grave. Adam could be considered a bit of a pessimist at times but in that moment, he had definitely reached a peak.
There was little time to waste. Adam considered going to his party van and getting high for a whole period but he knew that Collins would probably check in with the wood shop teacher to see if he came in to get a look for the people starting off their class. After a short quest to get his camera from his locker, Adam finally made his way over to the wood shop class. He quietly tried to comfort the inner turmoil he was feeling. Simply imagining the awkwardness that would ensue from his suddenly walking into class with a fancy digital camera and essentially spying on everyone was a bit more than he could handle.
On his way to the wood shop class, he happened to come across Mr. Franklin who had already known that Adam was going to be visiting his class. Before allowing him to continue to his destination, he gave him a run-down of what Adam should do while he is in his class. It was largely like a list of instructions of what he should and shouldn't take photos of and how he should avoid distracting the students from their works. There was some comfort to be found in the business-as-usual treatment by the teacher. It meant at least one person in the room wouldn't treat Adam as an intruder. After being given a piece of paper to take notes, Adam got told to get in class and take a seat before Franklin himself would return.
As he pushed the handle to the wood shop class; several scenarios played in his head and in each one, the only differing factor was the way he introduced himself. All these fancy explanations of what he was doing there and how he'd be the one showing off their work to the school. Of course all these big intricate plans boiled down to...
"Hello, I'm Adam Avery and I'm here for the uh... School paper? I got told to come in and record the starting works of your class." He spoke very bluntly and somewhat quietly? Hoping that the ground would swallow him whole. Not enough he was an Avery, he was also the guy working close with the gossip column of the school now. Worse yet, he provided them with photographic proof of whatever they wanted to publish. Adam already had a clear view of all the people whispering around him as he walked into class and while he kept up an awkward smile, he felt like the walls were closing in on him.
He observed the classroom with a keen eye, thinking of the best place to stay out of view. He noticed his friends were all taking the same class and it brought relief to see that he wouldn’t be a total stranger in the class. Then again, he was rarely a complete stranger to anyone in the school. He considered to take a seat near Blaine but Blaine was partnering up with two people who Adam wasn’t too familiar with. While Casey and Danny were only with the one… Even if their unfamiliar person was one who could kill vampires with little to no effort. The odds were clear in this matter. Adam’s seat of choice would have to be next to Casey, Danny and the Slayer.
However as he began walking towards them, raising his hand to wave, he got stopped in his tracks by a hand being firmly placed on his chest. It was Chad Johnson. Resident meathead. They had a colorful history of hating one another but when Adam began getting stuff to people, Chad began treating Adam as his personal convenience store. At least he paid. “Hey, you told me you’d have the ‘thing’ today.” He didn’t know much in the way of subtlety.
“I said today, not now.” Adam replied solemnly before trying to push past Chad’s hand but Chad wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He stood up in front of Adam, his height towering Adam’s.
“That isn’t how it works, I’m the one paying you.” Chad clearly wasn’t above escalating the situation into a fight. Generally he wasn’t quite so aggressive, maybe he was just showing the newcomer to the wood shop class that it was ‘his’ territory. Adam was beyond understanding the workings of the mind of Chad Johnson.
Adam glanced past the hulking muscles to his friends with a look that could only be interpreted as ‘oh god, please help.’ But regardless of what story his facial expression told, he had to save face in front of the larger audience. “We agreed on fourth period, not sooner, not later. You don’t get to change our deal.”
Chad clearly had enough of Adam using unmanly means such as ‘reason’ to solve their dispute and grabbed him by the collar. “Says who?”
Plank Sinatra