Chapter 1- Frogs and Film Class

"Mark! Hurry up or you'll be late for school!" My mom yelled up the stairs at me.

"Maybe I wanna be late" I mumbled semi-incoherently. Nevertheless, I dragged myself out of bed and threw on a blue t-shirt and some jeans. I grabbed my army-green messenger bag and stumbled down stairs.

"Breakfast" Cindy said as she chucked an apple at my head. I grabbed it and started walking to school. I stopped when I came to my best friend Maureen's house, debating whether or not to knock. Before I could decide however, she came bounding out.

"Morning Marky!" She said in her usual bubbly tone, linking her arm through mine.

"Morning Mo." I responded throwing my apple in my bag.

"So, I've been thinking...you know how they dissect those frogs in Bio?"

"They die of natural causes Mo", I said already knowing what she was planning.

She sighed but a minute later came back with, "But we should respect the dead! They were once alive, they had dreams! The dead have rights too!"

"Maureen, they're frogs. The only dreams they had were of eating flies."

"Mark!" she said stopping and pouting, obviously adamant of her cause. She looked up at me with tears welling in her eyes and I sighed heavily.

"And...of living long, healthy lives with their tadpoles." Maureen smiled and we started walking again.

"So, I was thinking of seeing how people stand on the issue and then protesting."

"Does it really matter what people think? You're gonna protest anyways." I joked. Maureen looked up at me with those big doe eyes of hers and smiled her coy smile, pleadingly.

Maureen was wild...actually she was more like an unstoppable, untamable force, but she was my Maureen. I'd known her since I was 4 and we'd been best friends since. We were 16 now, and Juniors at Scarsdale High.

I smiled down at her and said, "I'll be there" softly. She grinned and kissed me on the cheek as we arrived at school.

"See ya second period Pookie!" She called turning down the hall to go to Interpretive Dance. I smiled, happy to see her happy and headed to Film Production.

I walked into my class and did my usual rounds. The Film Production class was pretty much ran by students. We produced, shot, edited, and anchored a weekly news show that was broadcasted to the school every Monday. I checked in with Josh, the main editor and greeted Shane- the main anchor. I went to set my stuff down and saw a guy sitting alone with a leather jacket. I put my stuff on the desk beside him and startled him.

"Sorry", I said getting out a school video camera I had borrowed over the weekend.

"Oh, it's fine. Uh, hi! I'm Roger, I'm new." He said standing up and extending his hand. I put the camera down and looked up to see the most gorgeous green eyes I had ever seen. Wait! Did I just think that? No, no, not me. But when I looked again, I couldn't help but starring. I extended my hand and he shook my hand heartily.

"Mark." I responded, checking over the camera as a way to distract myself. However, Roger smiled and I found myself looking into those emerald eyes again. Thankfully, Tony called a meeting. I took the seat next to Roger as our co-producer went to the center of the circle of desks.

"First off, I hope you all had a great weekend and are ready to produce another show. I'd like to introduce a new member to the team", Tony said professionally. "Roger Davis", he said motioning to the blond boy with the emerald eyes beside me. "We're happy to have you on board. With that said, is anyone short-handed this week? Since we don't exactly have a position for Mr. Davis quite yet." He asked scanning the room.

"Matt's out this week, he could do that segment" Josh spoke up.

"Uh, well, that's a field anchor position and-" Tony hesitated.

"Aw, c'mon Ton. With a face like that, he'll do fine." Amanda said.

"Yeah, he could be that 'pretty-boy front man' we've been looking for." Bryan insisted.

A chorus of pleas soon ensued and Tony soon caved.

"You ok with that?" He turned to Roger, who nodded eagerly. Tony sighed and turned to me.

"Alright, Cohen, since you're filming that segment, you get Mr. Davis familiated with it. All right team, let's get to work!" He finished dismissing everyone.

"So, I guess we're working together" Roger said turning toward me. I looked into those greener than green eyes and couldn't help but feel my cheeks burn a bit.

I filled Roger in on the story (student's reaction to the new lunch items) and gave him the list of the items.

"So, you're gonna film me while I talk about food?" He asked skeptically.

"Pretty much," I said laughing a bit.

"And is it a big deal to be a field anchor?"

"Totally." I said sternly.

"Wow, so how'd I get the position?"

"Well, you are handsome" I said not realizing I had actually spoken the words until it was too late.

"Really?" He asked quietly. "You think I'm handsome?"

"Um, well, I mean you're the kind of guy girls would be attracted to", I said feeling my cheeks burning again.

"Oh" he said turning away.

"Anyways", I said trying to pull attention to something (anything) else, "what's your schedule?"

He pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to me.

"You're a senior?" I asked seeing his grade number at the top of the page.

"Yeah, you a junior?"

I nodded and looked at the classes he was taking.

"Well, we have Biology, lunch and gym same periods." I said handing back to paper.

"Awesome!" He responded smiling.

What a great smile...What?! No! That's crazy! He's a guy!

"So, could I maybe sit with you in Biology and at lunch and stuff? I mean, cause I don't know anyone-"

"Sure", I said warmly looking into his smiling eyes.

The bell rang and we gathered our stuff up and he followed me to the Biology room.

"Mark!" Maureen said bouncing over to me as soon as Roger and I sat down. "I was in the middle of a Native American tribal chant when it hit me! We can dress up as frogs and do a demonstration of one of us being cut up!"

Roger looked at me as if to say, "what the hell?" and I stifled a laugh.

"Mo, Roger. Roger, Maureen." I introduced them.

Roger smiled and shook her hand. Maureen shook his hand and then turned back to me and went on with her idea.

I looked to Roger hopelessly and he pointed at Maureen and motioned the crazy motion. I smiled and nodded a little bit. The bell sounded and Maureen kissed me on the cheek and went to her seat. Roger's smile had disappeared when I looked at him again.

"You ok?" I asked.

"Yeah, yeah" he said looking off.

Through class he was silent, seemed to be thinking of something. But I didn't know him, so I didn't say anything. Class ended and I offered to walk with Roger to his next class so he wouldn't get lost and he graciously accepted.

"Sorry about Maureen, she's a bit...wild at times."

"Yeah, so is she your...girlfriend?" He asked quietly.

"Maureen?! No way!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Really? Cause it seemed-"

"No! No, Mo's like me sister. She's been my best friend since I was like 5." I answered in disbelief.

"Oh, ok" He said smiling again. That beautiful smile...NO! Stop that Mark! I bade Roger farewell as he went into his English class and walked on to my own English class, never stopping imagining those perfect green orbs.