Polaroids

3|Fantasies

The rest of the school day went on uneventfully, and as usual I had signed up for the photography and journalism club. I think I got my love for photography from dad, when mom was alive we would go on family trips every summer, and dad would take amazing pictures from different angles on his special Polaroid camera, he always preferred using them because he says it gives the photos a vintage  aesthetic.

Eventually I got interested and he decided to teach me, and I loved it as much as he did. Everyday I would take the most captivating photos, everyone said I had a gift for how professional I was taking them only at eight years old. One of those including the first picture I ever used the timer on, and the last picture the three of us ever took together.

Mom had her long wavy brunette hair nestled under a light brown beach hat as it flowed in the wind, wrapping around her almost hourglass body wearing a red polka dotted 50's inspired swimsuit on. Dad was shirtless, only wearing a pair of his favorite swim shorts and smiling cheerfully with a huge fish he had just cought in his hand. I was in the middle of both of them, trying to get the stray hairs flowing in the wind out of my crimson face almost burnt by the summer sun, somehow I still managed to flash a huge one baby tooth missing smile. We were out on one of dad's boats that day, and I think that was the last time I ever truly felt happy with them.

"We should go out to eat tonight emm" I say. We were both strolling out of the school entrance at the sound of the last bell.

"Oh yeah I'd love that, just like old times" she replied excitedly, skipping over one of the steps.

"So where shall we go-"

"Emma!" A peppy voice interupts me. I look back to see a familiar brown haired cheerleader running towards us.

"Oh Mia" Emma says with a confused smile, going over to hug her.

"What's up I thought you were transferring?"she asks surprised.

"Well yeah but I decided I wanted to spend my last year with you knuckle heads" she says playfully, rubbing Emma hair aggressively, making her let out a little  'oww'.

"Well that's good atleast I have one more person to spend the term with" she says looking at me.

"Oh who else?" Mia asks confused. I put my head down knowing what's coming next. Emma rolls her eyes and points at me expressively.

"Ohh Katherine! I didn't see you there how are you girl?" She says surprised by my presence, as she hugs me quickly.

Yes, if your wondering, I have been standing there infront of her the whole time, but by now I was already used to it. It's almost as if the whole world disappears when Emma is around, all attention on her, friends, teachers, even random classmates we don't even talk to have all eyes on Emma. She was one of the most athletic, intelligent, and sociable people in school, making her very popular.

"I'm good...thanks.." I say trying to fake an excited smile.

"Sorry I didn't notice you the whole time, your just always wandering in the shadows here and there like the anti-social butterfly you've been....well... scince you changed" she says laughing, obviously talking about scince I went to rehab.

"Yeah i-"

"Anyways Emma" she cuts me off "where are you headed tonight?" She asks looking only at her.

"Well kath and I are planning on going out for lunch right now, she actually proposed the plan, she's more sociable than you think y'know" she says, narrowing her eyes at the last words. The great thing about Emma was her humility, no matter what happened, she would always try to include me and defend me from anyone's comments about my unnactiveness.