9. Enigma

Tall, thin, wavy black hair and bright blue eyes. Black eyeliner, thick eyeglasses, and usually dark-colored clothes. She was quiet and didn't speak often, but there was no doubt she was brilliant and street smart. The only thing that didn't define her as the stereotypical introverted girl was the fact that she wasn't bullied. At all. She wasn't exactly a goth girl, she was just... well... shy. People respected her, and she had her own brand of coolness; her photographs. She could capture moments that were perfect. And people loved her pictures, but for some reason, there wasn't really one person who would become her friend.

That was the enigma that was Andromeda Vance.

The enigma was currently leaning against her locker, adjusting her eyeglasses before leaving for her next class. She was wearing a big black sweater over ratty jeans and a white tank. Her tattered Converse high tops were black and had stars doodled over the white spot on her toes. "Anj!"

She turned around and saw a... well there was no other way to describe the 'perky' cheerleader with long red hair and freckles over her nose. A common misconception was that all head cheerleaders were mean blondes with egos bigger than their hair. Not this one. "Daisy."

Daisy Carmichael grinned and reached out to grasp both of Andromeda's hands. "Anj, you have to be the photographer for the yearbook candid shots. Please."

Andromeda, fondly called 'Anj' or 'Andr' ('dr' sounded like 'j' for her classmates, but she honestly didn't mind. In her opinion, it was a really sweet nickname, although she had no problems with being called 'Andromeda'.), was the candid shot photographer last year. She loved what she did; more than that, she did an extremely good job because of her stealth. Being quiet meant she could take pictures of people without them knowing it.

People already subconsciously checked if their hair or makeup looked good whenever Andromeda passed by, even if she wasn't carrying around her trusty camera. She nodded shyly, and looked at Daisy with a small smile, even though Daisy was easily shorter than her. "Okay."

Daisy squealed. "Thank you! I'll be sure to tell the yearbook team. You rock, Anj!" she smiled, and leaned in for a hug, which Andromeda awkwardly accepted.

"Thanks," she said in a soft whisper, while Daisy walked - or flounced, away.

(*)

"Who's that?"

The new kid, Wesley Adams, nudged his new friend, Jackson Staunton, and nodded in the direction of the tall girl, and the slightly shorter, obviously preppy, redhead. Jackson turned away from ogling a girl with a tight shirt, and looked in the direction Wesley was pointing. "Oh, uhm, that's Daisy Carmichael. Wanna tap that? She's taken. You know. By like, four other guys."

Wesley was taken aback. She didn't seem like the type, so he told him. Jackson laughed, and Wesley was confused. "What's so funny?"

"I thought you were talking about Daisy. Nah, I see you mean Anj."

"Anj..." he said slowly, noting that there was a lot of unspoken words behind it. Anj... what was it short for? Angelina? Angelica? What was she like? Was she a studious student, or a druggie, or-

"Anj is... huh. Quiet."

"Quiet? In what way?" Wesley's attention went back to the duo, who were now in excited conversation; at least, Daisy was. She was practically jumping up and down with excitement, while 'Anj' looked like she had no idea what to do. He smiled to himself.

"She's a... what do they call those kinds of people that are like really shy and quiet-"

"An introvert?"

"Yeah!" Jackson clapped his hands and nodded excitedly. "Introvert. She's an introvert. But she takes really good pictures. I mean, really good pictures. She's really nice when you talk to her, but she's kinda... eh," he seemed embarrassed. "Kinda invisible."

"I see..." Wesley murmured, narrowing his dark blue eyes and running a hand through his dark hair. "Wait, what's 'Anj' short for?"

"Andromeda Vance," Jackson said immediately. Wesley gave him a quick grin, and Jackson flushed. "Everyone knows her name."

Wesley looked at Andromeda, and nearly chuckled when he saw her being embraced by the obviously enthusiastic Daisy Carmichael. He smiled to himself. "She sounds like an... Enigma."

(*)

Andromeda hugged her books to her chest as she watched Daisy flounce away, and was suddenly aware of the feeling that someone was watching her. She shuddered; she hated that feeling. Although, she couldn't help but look to the side, and was startled to see a tall, (way taller than her, which made her estimate his height at 6'2), good looking guy, staring right back at her. His hair was on the borderline of being too long, but it worked on him. She blushed, and realized that she had been ogling him. Abruptly turning away, she promised herself not to look back at this... Enigma.

Okay, maybe one more time.

She looked behind her, and caught him staring at her - again. She blushed, and turned away determinedly; but not before she saw him wink at her.