No Return Address

"Smile!" My books nearly slip from my arms from the heart-jolting shock that hits me when I catch the familiar click of a camera. I snap my head to the side and find my best friend, Talia, holding the newest Canon up in front of her grinning face. She laughs, flips the camera around, and wiggles it just enough for me to barely catch the probably horrible picture of me on the display. "I think this one deserves the yearbook cover." She says with a sly smile. I lean closer to the little screen and cringe at the shot she got. I was mid-scowl when she snapped it, so my light pink lips look like they've been badly stitched together. My dark brown eyes are narrowed because I was apparently halfway through a blink, and somehow she caught me looking completely cross eyed. My chocolate hair, which I actually spent time making wavy this morning, now looks frizzy and tangled, and I know for sure it didn't look like that a few seconds earlier. "I know I'm not exactly photogenic, but seriously?" I grumble, turning from the picture so I can put my books away before my arm gives out from the weight. Talia laughs, powers off the camera, and carefully tucks it back into the bag that never leaves her shoulder. "No, it isn't the most flattering picture ever. But the camera's lying, because you actually look really good today." She says. I smile at her and then look down over my outfit. "Thanks, I actually tried with this outfit this morning, believe it or not." I wore light wash jeans with a dark brown belt and ankle boots, then threw on the single most uncomfortable sweater on the planet. "I really should've picked a softer sweater though." I mutter, scratching at my arms as the fabric leaves rash-like symptoms all over my skin. "Next time, try American Eagle's soft and sexy section." Talia suggests, fumbling with the lens cap on her camera. "They don't always look completely sexy, but they really are soft." She says once the cap finally clicks into place. People always say Talia and I look like sisters. We both have the same brown eyes and brown hair, and our face shapes are scarily alike; hell, even our noses could be swapped and nobody would notice the difference. Our personalities, though, are where the difference shows. Talia is a little more reserved than I am. When boys are involved, she never really knows what to do. I'm no magnet for guys either, I've only had one real relationship and it lasted two months, but that's still more contact with boys than she's ever had. She isn't nearly as willing to take chances as I am, not that I take many in the first place... I'm the sarcastic half of our dynamic duo, and she's the smart one. She's a full IB student, the head yearbook photographer, and she excels at everything she touches. Perfect home life, perfect family, and sometimes it annoys the shit out of me. Even so, I love her like we really are related by blood and nothing is ever going to change that. If she didn't irritate me, our friendship wouldn't feel real. I lean back against my locker, leaving my backpack on the floor by my feet so I don't resemble some off-balance turtle. "Speaking of pictures, are you covering volleyball after school, or are you going to need a ride home?" She zips the camera bag shut and shakes her head. "I've got to shoot the game, but I've still got time for dinner beforehand if we leave now." I grin. "Sounds good." "Chipotle?"