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Happy Monday my angels❤️

This will be a three/four-part story.

The link to purchase Calling Elia is now in the book and in my bio, L x

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'B!' My best friend, Halle, shouts my name across the parking lot.

I stop and turn around, waiting for her to catch up. She hitches her bag higher on her shoulder and falls in line with me.

'Have you heard? There's a new boy.'

I smirk at her comment. 'It is 8:30AM, Halle. How on Earth do you know this information already?'

She grins back. 'It's me. I'm the fountain of all knowledge.'

'Right.'

Other students say morning to us as we enter the building. We go straight up to the sixth form common room and collapse onto the comfy sofas. Etty, my other bestie, joins us five minutes later.

'Have you heard there's a new guy joining today?' She asks us.

I roll my eyes. 'How am I the only one not to know things?'

'I don't know, because you spend your life on your phone?'

'Hey!' I protest. 'That's unfair. Besides, I'm not on it now, am I?'

She sticks her tongue out at me. The bell rings and we have to go to form time to be registered. Whilst the three of us are sat together, Halle fills us in on what she has already learned about the new guy.

His name is Alex and he's moved from London, which automatically makes him cool at our school. They've bought the expensive new-build on the main street, the one everyone's been talking about since it was built last year. It sticks out like a sore thumb because of its modern design.

'I only saw him from a distance this morning but damn, that boy is fine,' Halle comments emphatically. 'I can't wait to see what you guys think.'

'What would Devon think of your comment?' Etty asks amusedly, referring to Halle's boyfriend.

She scoffs. 'I'm allowed to look, jeez.'

Halle doesn't get to describe him to us because the bell has already gone for first period. I take BTEC sport, nutrition and physiology of fitness. I want to be a physiotherapist when I leave school.

I've never been particularly smart. I'm an average student and I got average GCSE's. Sport has always been my passion. I'm on the netball, basketball and football teams.

My friends do not share my love of exercise. In fact, they have a strong aversion to it. I have to go to the gym alone at the weekends, but I don't mind that so much.

My first lesson is nutrition and then I have physiology. I meet the girls for break and we sit on the main field because the weather is nice.

'He was in my class,' Etty explains to us. 'He takes photography and Mrs Lewis has already let him replace Jake as the school photographer. Honestly, you should see his work, he's got such an eye.'

'What's he like? Is his personality as good as his face?' Halle asks excitedly.

'I thought you only saw him from a distance?' I ask and she shrugs.

'I didn't get to speak to him because I was working with Mahim on our project, but I overheard his conversation with Mrs Lewis and he seems nice, yeah. He is definitely eye candy.'

'There he is!' Halle says, pointing across the field.

At the other end to us, a group of guys have just strolled onto the field with a football. They put down their jackets and bags and start having a kick-about. I squint to make out who it is. I recognise all but one, a tall guy with a wide physique and ebony skin.

'Can I say something super judgemental?' Halle asks aloud.

'This is a safe space,' Etty replies.

'I can't believe that the school photographer is like super athletic, too. Like, you don't often get hobbies crossing over like that, right?'

I frown. 'You're stereotyping.'

'I know, I really am,' she responds guiltily. 'But, you know what I mean? How often do you see a ripped photographer? They're usually the nerdy type.'

A/N: really hope I don't offend anyone with this. Only felt okay writing it because I'm a massive nerd myself, lol. Nerd isn't an insult to me.

'It's good he has a range of hobbies,' I comment.

Both of the girls look at me.

'Could you sound any more like a proud mum right now?' Etty says and repeats my comment, making her and Halle burst out laughing.

I throw a handful of torn grass at them. 'You're dicks. How did he get school photographer anyway? The position has only been open a few days.'

'His parents are professional photographers, they bought that new house because it had a studio.'

'That's cool,' I reply

'Anyway, we're putting together the sixth form Look Book for open evening so he's going to be taking lots of photos of students. Heads up to be on your game for candids.'

Halle immediately fluffs her hair. I'm too distracted watching the new boy kick the ball around with some guys from our year. They're far away, but I can make out his quick footwork. He's pretty good, not going to lie.

'So, we need to start planning Bianca's birthday outfit.'

I look over at Etty and shrug. 'Something short and tight.'

'Sounds like a plan,' Halle adds with a nod.

It's my eighteenth birthday this Saturday. Etty and Halle have just had their birthdays and I used fake ID to go out with them. It will be nice to go out with them legally this time.

I have a free after the break and then lunch. Lunch is no better than break in terms of conversation. My friends keep discussing my outfit and the new boy, Alex. I get to see a bit more of him this time.

He gets into the lunch queue whilst we are sat a nearby table. He is wearing a t-shirt that shows off his broad back and muscular arms. His skin colour is truly beautiful. It is so dark that it looks like his family heritage is Sudanese. I'd love to know what his heritage is.

My family is from Croatia. Both my parents have brown hair, I have red hair and their chocolate-coloured eyes. I tan easily and my parents speak with a thick accent that I love.

A couple of girls from the football team sit down at the table with us. Marissa leans across and rests her chin on her hands.

'Isn't he fucking gorgeous? I'm so glad he transferred, we really need more eye candy.'

I nod in agreement with her comment. He really is very attractive.

'He's so confident as well. He just walked up to me and told me to smile and then he snapped a pic!' She gushes excitedly.

I grimace at the thought. He better not walk up to me and do that. He won't have his camera for long.

The guys head back outside and the girls are disappointed that they lose their eye candy. Gender inequalities like that bother me. If it were a new girl, guys would be scolded for objectifying her, but apparently, it's okay with Alex because he's a guy.

After lunch, my last two periods are double sports. We're playing football today which makes me very happy. I change into my kit and meet the team out on the field.

It's only a warm-up and practice today. Coach has papers to mark or something. She leaves us to it and disappears into her office.

Half an hour in, I've got my hair tied up in a high pony, my face is flushed and I'm panting. I play central midfielder, which means I'm running up and down the pitch the majority of the time.

I step out for a water break whilst the girls carry on. I wipe my sweaty forehead with a towel and chug my water.

To my right, I hear the sound of a camera shutter clicking.

No fucking way.

I turn to find Alex, the new guy, aiming his lens in the wrong fucking direction. Right at me.

'Um, could you not?' I call out sassily.

He lowers his camera and smirks at me. As he walks over, I'm frozen. I'm seeing his face for the first time and I'm not ready. He's so handsome.

Full, full lips that I could never even dream of having. Enchanting, sparkling hazel eyes. Jawline that could cut anything. Adorable wide nose. Teeth brighter than my future.

'I'm taking photos for the look book,' he says warmly.

Damn.

Even his voice is attractive.

'I know.'

He smiles at my blunt response and starts to raise his camera again.

'So? Can I get a smile?'

I grimace. 'Absolutely not. I'm a sweaty mess!'

He chuckles and lifts the camera to his face. Closing one eye, the bastard snaps a picture.

'Just one? Come on, smile for me gorgeous.'

I deadpan at him. 'Dude. What the fuck? Do you not know the negative connotations of a guy telling a girl to smile nowadays?'

The smile drops from his face and he lowers the camera like it has burned him.

'Shit, sorry. I didn't even think,' he apologises quickly, a pink tinge blossoming on his cheeks.

'Or ask. Don't take my photo without my permission, Alex,' I snap and put down my water bottle. 'And don't snap me whilst I'm playing!'

I start to jog back onto the field.

'Wait!' He shouts after me. I turn around and look at him whilst walking backwards. 'What's your name?'

I shake my head, telling him that I won't answer his question.

'That's not fair!' He complains. 'You know mine!'

I shrug at him and then turn around, returning to the game. He takes some pictures of us playing but I don't mind so much because they're at a distance. I just hope the zoom is shit on that thing.

I'm glad to get some distance between us, to be honest. He is way too attractive for my pathetic heart to handle. It's been a long time since I've found a guy really attractive.

This is dangerous territory.

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Please give me your favourite adjectives for people of colour!

Readers call out authors for using: brown, black, caramel, honey, chocolate, mocha, coffee etc because they fetishise or are too basic, but they never provide alternatives.

Please help!

I even went on Dulux paint website to look up shades of brown 😂