Zachary is lost. He is trying to figure out how to go to his new high school with a map. It’s his third day in California, a brand new city for him. He doesn’t know much about this city. He used to live in London which is a totally different city from where he moved to. the weather of London is always cool, but in California, it’s always hot and sunny. You can see beaches with palm trees and a bunch of people everywhere.
He abruptly trips by a pebble. He was too concentrated on his map. Today is not his day. A girl with a bicycle is getting closer and closer form a slope. Crash! He got hit by her bicycle. “Sorry I couldn’t stop. my music was so loud. are you okay?” the girl says. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.” “Oh! I gotta go. I’m in a hurry.” the girl leaves hastily.
“I need a locker, please.” “let me check… here you go, number 183.” “Thanks.” When he is about to leave the office, he sees the girl. “mr. West it wasn’t me!” “who else carries a camera like you all the time?” “I swear, mr. West!” “Don’t ever do it again.” mr. West noticed Zachary. “are you Zachary Smith?” “Yes, it’s me.” “Take Smith to his class, Summers. I forgive you this time.” “but, mr. West…”
“Aren’t you the guy I hit on earlier?” “Yeah, I am that poor guy.” Zachary laughs. “I’m really sorry about it.” “anyway, what just happened?” “Well, Someone published a photo on Facebook of mr. West falling asleep during class.” “And?” “it wasn’t me photoed it!” “then why did he blame you?” “‘cause I always carrying my camera with me. I love to picture things and people.” “That’s cool. by the way, I’m Zachary, Zachary Smith.” “Zachary. I’m Hayley. Nice to meet you.” they finally arrive. “here it is. It’s Mrs. Stan’s class. She is really nice.” “so, see you soon?” “sure.” Hayley smiles.
Click! “come out Hayley.” Zachary take a big bite of his sandwich, “I’m having fun taking pictures of you.” She walks by and sit beside him. “let me see.” He checks out the pictures in camera with her. “who is this?” Zachary points a guy who is holding Hayley’s shoulder in the picture. “He is my old friend and also my neighbor. He is a really cool guy. We kind of grew up together.” Zachary doesn’t speak and just keep checking out the pictures. “Hey, we have a party tonight. You wanna join us?” “but I don’t know anybody.” “come on, it will be fun!”
The crowd is hyper. the music is so loud. Smoke and darkness makes it hard to look for Hayley. He walks through the people. About all the girls are staring at him. He is good-looking and charming. He is in the basketball team of his school, having groupies. He is such a nice and affable guy. Suddenly, someone holds his hand. It’s Hayley. She pulls his hand and leads him to a corner. “You came!” “What?” “What do you like to drink?” She shouts in his ear. “Sparkling water.” “No alcohol?” “I’m in team, can’t.” “Well, okay.” She is now talking to the bartender, and Zachary is looking at her. Hayley is adorable, but never pretty. but it’s weird, her every move attracts him.
“Hey, Hayley.” A guy comes along. “Hey, Henry!” the guy gives Hayley a big hug. And then he leers at Zachary, it was short and fast. It’s the one in Hayley’s pictures, Zachary noticed. “Zachary, this is Henry. Henry, this is Zachary.” “Nice to meet you, Zachary.” Henry gives him a big smile. “New-comer!” Henry says. of course, Zachary knows he likes her. He can feel it. Henry never gets his eyes away from her.
“Hey.” Hayley comes over. Zachary is grabbing some books for next class. “Hey, I have team practice after school. You coming?” Hayley’s back leans against the locker and then careens to face him. “I will think about it.” She says reluctantly and now she facing the floor. When she gets her head up, he is already gone.
Hayley finds a part of grass to sit down. Hayley takes out her camera form her bag and takes picture of him playing basketball. its like a photographer shooting for NBA magazine. Zachary noticed her. He stops and makes some droll poses. Hayley laughs and lays back on the ground. He comes and put his head on her belly. “I thought you wouldn’t come.” “You know I was just kidding.” Hayley sits up. “I think I like you.” She rubs his hair and says.
“Did you see a girl with long brown hair and…” “Hayley, right?” Everyone knows Henry for sure, “the party guy”. He runs to the basketball court petulantly. Hayley is with Zachary on the grass. He doesn’t go by. He just got a evil idea.
“welcome, Hayley!” Henry shouted with zealous and sonorous voice. “What happened? I haven’t been here so long. Kind of missing…” “come and sit.” “so why did you called me here?” Henry doesn’t reply to her. He is perfunctory about what she says. He has a more important thing to do now. “Can you help me with math?” “When did you started to care about school stuff?” She reprimands, but of course she is just kidding. “come on!” She laughs. they had a good time with the conversation. Henry started to hold her shoulder, touch her hair, and even kiss on her face reiterate. At first, Hayley takes this with normal, but she starts to feel weird and uncomfortable with those touching. She didn’t know there’s a pinhole cam.
Next day, Hayley finds out that Zachary is avoiding her. He doesn’t even feel like having conversation with her. “Can you at least tell me what’s going on?” Hayley shouted at his back. He doesn’t turn around. “There’s no more to talk about.” He says cooly. Hayley is so confused. “are you okay?” Henry comes along and asks. “I don’t under stand…” She sobs. “It’ll be alright.” He smiles sly.
Zachary holds the pictures of that night. He doesn’t know the sender of these pictures. He just knows he has been betrayed. He tears them all and goes out for a party.
Zachary is totally drunk. He hugs every girl in the party. He makes out with them disengaged. At the time, Hayley sees the whole thing. She came with Henry but she didn’t expect to see Zachary or to see this. Zachary noticed her. He doesn’t even look at her. “Let’s go, Hayley.” Henry says to her. She doesn’t listen to her. She goes to Zachary’s front and shouts. “What’s wrong to you? Did I do anything wrong? Can you talk to me?” Henry laughs largely. the girls with her laugh, too. He stands up from the sofa and grab her arm hardly. He takes her out of the party.He walks fast and boisterous. “its hurt, Zachary!” He shakes her arm off. “how could you do that to me?” He says painful. “What do you mean?” “those pictures!” “Pictures?” “You are such a good actress.” He continued, “What did you do at Henry’s house?” “Henry?” She realized, “I didn’t do anything! He touched me. I didn’t find it weird at the time! I swear! I mean… He is a good friend of mine. I didn’t think that much!” He stops a while. He understands now. the pictures truly looked like it was taken with pinhole cam.
Zachary goes in to the party. there is Henry talking with his friend. Zachary goes to him and beats him on his face hard. “Man, you’re crazy!” Henry’s friend shouts. He gets up from floor. Hayley runs to them and tries to stop him. “Zachary, Stop! Please…” Hayley begged. “Don’t you get it? He took pictures of you in his house with pinhole cam!” He shouted. Hayley is shocked. She couldn’t speak any word.
Hayley doesn’t consider Henry as her best friend anymore. She never thoughts he would betray her, although he just wants her back.
Henry thinks his life is dark and bleak without Hayley. He has anguish, but that’s what he thinks. He is still that party guy, playing around and going to parties and hanging out with girls. Nothing changed, basically. No one will say he is deplorable.
“I condone you.” Hayley says with a big smile. they are laying on the beach and reading books. the sun looks warm in a well being way then ever. there are couples on the beach and people surfing. Such an amenity and comfortable day Everything is like mirage. Suddenly shows up, but suddenly it’s gone. Like it never happened. “how would you scruple me any way?” Hayley facing her and asks. Zachary smiles.