Chapter 6

Teachers had already provided us with the semester's performance tasks and I gotta finish Mathematics within this week if I want to have enough time taking pictures for contest and balancing my school works.

Our Math project includes a diorama of the student's house and it's measurements scaled to a teeny weeny size. Problem is, Ruthie's cat had hidden the measuring tape and now I'm stuck on measuring the whole house with a ruler. Great.

I'm stuck on researching for the materials when a noise breaks out from Addy's.

I flinch at the sound which seems to be a porcelain thing breaking and peek out the window.

Elijah is standing with his back, blocking the view of Adrianna who sounds like a furious feral animal I legit can hear curses like shit and fuck.

The fight is so intense I'm surprised no one called someone, since it looks like they could rip each other's throat anytime. If this is what a relationship looks like after all the lovey dovey, I don't want it. It really looks stressful, or maybe it could be just them.

I settle on the chair beside of my window to hear more of the argument when Elijah turns around and looks out. He's really tired I can see the bugs under his eyes. He leans his two muscular arms on the windowsill, entire body taut and disturbingly wind up I feel sorry for him, for the both of them.

Distracted from observing him, I barely notice his own stare against mine I gasp when I realize it.

I'm such a creep.

I blush slowly blossoms on my cheeks and I quickly draw my curtain.

Shit! What am I doing listening to them anyway? On second thought, what am I doing observing him. It's embarrassing enough I'm stuck as one of his babysitting duties driving me to school and now he caught me ogling him.

With those thoughts spiraling inside my head, I do what any normal human being would have done if they were in my position.

I jump to my bed, grab my pillow and scream on it as loud as I can I hear my sister bang on my door to shut up. But as any normal human being, I keep screaming, trying to drown the thoughts.

I'M.SUCH.AN.EMBARASSMENT

I feel like dying.

My phone buzzes. It must be him. I scream even louder.

A few minutes later (when I gained the courage), I double tap my phone to light up the screen and guess what:

A message request from elijahw/owings

I scream some more into the pillow.

But of course it would be more embarrassing if I feign blind on his message so I accept and open it up.

elijahw/owings: care to join me?

Confused (and bewildered), I reply:

official_janedoe: uhh fight addy?

It takes him a whole minute to reply.

elijahw/owings: Funny. Look outside.

I do and again I'm embarrassed with my reply.

He's outside sitting on the León's frontyard, his legs stretched out while smoking a cigarette.

I see him raise an arm and does an exaggerated wave, I'm guessing so I can see it in the dark. I wave back then see him typing away on his phone.

elijahw/owings: come down.

So I did.

I get out of our own porch and approach him, green-bluish orbs zooming in on me so intently I could almost feel myself wobble.

Standing akimbo, I look down on him, my shadow casting a dark silhouette on him from the lamppost behind. Elijah looks up at me with his signature boyish smirk, cigarette upright from his lips.

He pats the space beside him and I huff yet do sit down.

"You want me to remorse with you?," I stretch out my legs.

He offers me his stick but I just shake my head, "Adrianna's out.,"

Yeah I noticed. Her Raptor's out of sight.

I bite my bottom lip, not sure what to say, "Where she'd gone?, "

He just shrugs.

"You know she could be in trouble right? It's dangerous to go out this late., "

Elijah sighs before flicking the dead cigarette butt away, "There's no stopping her. She wants to be left alone, " He makes a grand gesture of shaking his head, "so I let her., "

I just stare straight ahead, waiting for him to continue. I'm not usually good at these sort of things, giving out advices and all. But I know for a fact that silence is a much better response than any advices out there, an ear to listen is all they need.

After awhile, he tucks another cigarette on his mouth and light that one up, "I just want this all figured out., "

I overlap his leg with mine, trying to coax him as well as make myself comfortable, "If you don't mind, what did you two fought about?, "

Elijah chuckles which is a weird response considering his relationship is falling apart as of the moment, "I can't even remember at this point. We fight about the most random things for the sake of... just fighting. We fight about her cheerleading practices, my gaming time, her diet, everything. It's like uhhh, "

I save him the time, "It's like your way of saying that you are fed up with each other?, "

"Yeah., " He sighs, "Yeah., "

I roll my eyes and focuses on the smoke from his cigarette, "You guys fight each other every moment possible. I think the whole school can feel that something is off with it's most famous couple. ,"

"Adrianna is a drama queen. I'm sure she's exaggerating her pout in public to make sure everybody knows we're fighting., "

I laugh though I disagree with the pout part. Her lips are already explicable the pout is a part of her.

We stay quiet, the situation almost identical to the last time.

I make a big yawn, "You know, I have a hunch Addy's just stressed out with Penny. You know they're close to each other right?, "

Elijah's brows draw closer, "You're blaming our situation on that?, "

I'm shocked. I stare at him, unbelieving with his words since my only intention is to console him.

He realizes my reaction but doesn't mention anything about it. I'm thinking it's for the best, really. His emotions are raging right now.

A breeze passes by and I shiver to the cold, "I'm heading inside. I have works to do., "

He smirks knowingly, "Have you taken any pictures lately?, "

I thought about keeping it low but considering his pursuance on me tracking my passion, I make an exception, "So far so good. I'm thinking about moving on to people. I need a model., "

He plays with the cigarette between his fore and ring finger then suggests a sane yet insane idea I don't know how to describe it, "I can model for you., "

I blanked, "Huh?, "

"I'll model for you., "

"Ohh uhhh... Ok., " Gosh why am I an embarrassment, "I mean it's a great idea you're uhhh handsome., "

He almost doubled laughing and I heat up, "Naomi you're a mood., "

I gather myself up and shove him on the shoulder, "Haha funny. I was baffled, don't take it to heart. I'm available at dismissal tomorrow. I just need to find a good place to–, "

"Tomorrow? No, let's do it right now., "

Now it's my turn to laugh, "What the fuck Elijah, it's dark., "

"So?, "

Wow, he's not getting it, "The pictures won't come out good. And I don't want to do it in a frontyard on the grass., "

I realize what I just said and feel myself blushing, again. Seriously, out of all the stupid words that could spill out my stupid mouth, why???

Elijah is currently on the verge of an epilepsy by the way. He can't stop laughing, "Ok. Ok. I'm calm. Come on. Take this as a challenge. If you are as good as photographer you think you are, you should be able to pull this off., "

Well, he has a point.

"Fine. I'll go get my camera. ,"

I tell him to stay still before going inside. The house is quiet and unmoving except for the TV where a pastor is preaching about the Gospel Mark. Dad is watching while eating Mom's chicken salad.

I go up to my room and grab my camera before heading down again.

On the way out, Dad probably felt my presence, "Where are you going?, "

"I was going to take pictures of something outside. I'll be back in a minute., "

All is quiet and I really thought he is going to say no, "Watch out for the squirrels., "

I do a little tap dance as I exit the house. That went well.

Elijah is still on the same spot in the same position when I get back, sporting a new stick on his lips.

"That was fast–, "

I hush him, "If we wanna do this, let's do it quickly. My father is an impatient man., "

He winks, "I do like quickies., "

I almost hit him with the camera if this doesn't just cost hundreds of dollars, "You know what, forget it., "

"I'm just kidding jeez., " He lays back both arms behind and crosses one leg under the other, looking all relaxed and more handsome than ever, "Go wild sweetie., "

I shake my head before adjusting some settings and snapping photos of him. He switches positions from time to time (not what you think) that makes things more easier and versatile. He is actually a good model, considering he must have had some offers because of his looks.

"Ok this is the last. Try your best., "

He scoffed, "I am best., "

Nevertheless he makes himself more gorgeous (if that is even possible). I crouch down and inched a bit closer to him, the camera just a few feet away from his face.

"Ain't that's too close?, " He comments.

I shrug it off focusing on the camera, "Just uhh trying something new., "

He looks deadpan on the camera just in time for me to press capture.

"There all done. I'll send you copies after I edit them., "

Elijah stands up with a little push from the ground, energetic since the last couple of minutes and everything almost feels as though they are in place, "Welp, that was fun., "

"Yeahhh never had a photoshoot this late., "

We stand face to face, though I only level his neck, I almost feel we're mutual. I don't know in what aspect but I'm pretty sure we are on the same of ground of something.

He touches my right arm and I gasp unknowingly, "You're shorter. Adrianna had always been taller than most girls, I feel like she's already capable of herself., " His hand travels to my back and I shiver, "I like short girls. I want someone worth protecting, not someone to boss me around., "

I'm speechless. Why is he talking like tha—

"Elijah?, " Adrianna calls out as she gets out of her car parked on the curb.

Instantly, we both separate from each other. Shit! Have she seen us like that?

"Hey Addy, where have you bee—, "

But she isn't looking at me, "What are you doing with her?, "

Elijah scratches his head, "We're just talking. She took pics of me for her project., "

I literally see her shoulders relax and slump from relief, then she looks worried, "You're father's, uhhhh, ok with this Naomi?, "

I nod, "Yup. Just gotta look out for squirrels. You know how I'm allergic to rodents., "

She laughs before approaching Elijah and clinging on him, "I'm sorry babe. I just went out to steam off., "

I see him soften from her words and hugs her back, "Sure babe. I'm sorry too., "

I groan and roll my eyes but I can't help but smile. I'm genuinely happy for them, "Ew you guys. Get a room., "

"Don't worry Naomi. I'll find you your own man. Oh, how 'bout Andrew?, " Addy purrs.

I look at her like she just grew two head, "You're kidding right?, "

But Elijah looks really intrigued, "Who's Andrew?, "

I gesture shut up to Addy, "A friend., "

The stupid bitch just waves it off, "Nu uhh. Naomi's boyfriend from her club., "

He genuinely looks surprised, "Really?, "

"Oh my God, you're believing her? Shut up you troll., "

And our night goes that way until we all head back inside. At least it ends up in a good note. I would have had a heart attack if the night goes the other way and Addy thought we're cheating on her. That would be disastrous.

I get inside my room and plug in the camera's memory card to my computer. It's not like I'm expecting to get some really good results out of the test drive we had conducted awhile ago, I'm just clearing up space.

Scanning through the photos, I realize they are actually good, the soft light from the lamppost illuminating his sharps features, the angles are immaculate which makes up for the mundane background.

But the last snap is what really catches my breath. The way he looks at the camera with such intention it almost feels like he is staring at me right now. Green-blue orbs looks electric and high defined, the slump from the neck to his shoulders lets a vague hint of teenage spirit, hair just the right amount of messy as one lock snoops down his face covering half of his right eyelid, most of all, the cigarette adds a quantity of angst and balance in the picture.

Beautiful. It has potential.

While looking at it, I go back to his last words before Addy arrived and in contrast to this clear photo, I suddenly feel confused.

I feel even more confused when I get out the next morning and Elijah's car is not on the sidewalk.

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Photo src: https://weheartit.com/entry/275890312

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