"Do you want to take a photo?" He spoke coldly.
"No, no. I'm not that good at taking photos," she said a bit shy.
"I'm not taking a photo because I want to, I just want to take a photo along with you."
Mira turned down, though his word sounded cold, it was a bit flattering, she couldn't speak but before any further movement, Justin held her hand and then she was inside the photo booth.
They took a few photos, and Mira forced a smile on her face, feeling a bit comfortable as Justin snapped like it was going to be endless.
She heaved a deep breath when Justin finally stopped, she stood outside as she noticed people's gaze on her.
Trying to avoid the gaze, Justin came out.
"Here," Justin said handing her one of the pictures.
"Since you said you have the novel, then you should plaster it on your book as a friendship novel." She smiled awkwardly taking the photo though she was a bit excited.
"Thank you," she spoke gently as Justin stared at her picture. It wasn't that bad though looking at the pictures,Justin looked okay while she looked like the hopeless pictures taker.
She knew that there was nothing special about what Justin said but this was the first time that she was going to have a legit friend.
"So-" he was about to speak when the school bell rang.
"I should go back to school," Mira spoke.
"Okay," Justin said.
"Bye," she spoke but then he didn't wave back just a smile.
From behind, Maddie and her minions watched the scene.
"You should do something about this, right?" Prudence asked.
Maddie fists her hand feeling the urge to skin her alive but then.
"You don't need to worry, why should I be bothered because of her, besides I'm not that surprised, who wouldn't want Justin, he's an interesting guy but Justin is not that interested in her. She's nothing, just an ugly duckling. What would he want to do with her?"
"But wouldn't you-"
"Justin honey!!!" Maddie cut Prudence as she ran to hug him and then walked to their class.
______
Almost the entire students stood at the front of each noticeboard to read what was just posted.
Mira timidly walked towards the place but once she was taken notice, they created a space for her not because she was seen as a snatcher behaving like goody pants but because she was seen with disgust for her appearance.
She walked towards the notice and her eyes scrutinized it, it was an upcoming camping event.
"Are you going?" She traced the voice of the person to see it was Matthew.
She turned around to see in case he was talking to someone behind her but the girls were far from her position and she was closer.
Between Justin and Matthew, they were big-time guy crushes on campus.
Justin was the infamous guy on the campus though surprisingly with his troublemaking attitude he was able to get good grades in class.
His attitude of being infamous and not given punishment was because his father was part of the top board of directors of the school.
Even his dating with Maddie first started with rumors since she was the feminine kind of him.
Meanwhile, Matthew was the original golden boy of the campus, the number one player in basketball even from his stature, he was 192cm tall with a muscular physique.
His parents are internationally famous, his father is athletic in basketball while his mother is a model.
He was caramel in complexion, has a long hair done in dreadlocks, brown eyes, a pointy nose, and a small pink lip.
It was so funny that even if he wasn't the troublemaker of the school, he somehow got defeated by Justin in school grades.
Both competed for mostly everything in school.
Justin scores first in class while Matthew takes second, Matthew gets the position of being the best basketballer then it was Justin, Justin with the number girl crush in school then Matthew came second and as for their social media account, Matthew beat him getting number one.
"I'm sorry, are you talking to me?" She asked politely.
Matthew scorned turning his gaze from the notice board to her, she felt as though he was only willing to listen to explanations than questions.
"Oh, I'm not sure if I would be going ."
"Hmm," he said sounding a bit cold in reaction.
"Why are you troubling the girl if she wouldn't or will."
Another voice spoke from behind as the two turned, it was Justin.
"I just want to know if the duckling too will be willing to go, probably you would investigate the entire campus as the principal's assistant." He answered.
Mira could feel some tension as the two talked but instead of replying, Justin stayed quiet as he checked the notice board.
"I'll like to go too," Justin said in a flat tone as he turned to Mira.
"if you would go, then I'll like to go," Mira's heart raised in tension as she stared at him speechless, was he asking her on a date? She was about to reply when she felt a bucket of cold water poured on her when she heard him speak once more.
"Maddie, would you go?"
She turned around to see Maddie behind her.
"Mira, please could you shift? You're in my way," Maddie spoke as she obliged.
She felt an elbow hit her on her arm as she saw Maddie hook her arm around Justin's arm.
"You should go also, since the principal wouldn't be there two-goody-ugly pants could join the bus," Matthew said in jest as he walked away.
The people around turned to her to see her reaction but she forced a smile walking past the crowd to her classroom.