Let's Be Friends

Perfect

"Me?" Grays asked, confused on why Stephen would want his project to include him.

"Yes!" Stephen met Gray's eyes.

"Why?"

"Because quite frankly your perfect." He said without hesitation. Only realizing what he said after Gray's face flushed. "Perfect for the shot!!" Stephen quickly corrected, blushing as heavily as Gray.

Gray smiled brightly, perfection, that was what the boy craved. Perfect people aren't empty, perfect people don't struggle. Just hearing the approval in Stephen's voice made the boy want to do anything to hear it again. Approval, he indeed chased approval.

"Well, I guess I'll-" Gray paused, then he smiled, he had an idea. "I'll do it, but there's one thing I'd like to request in return."

"Of course," Stephen replied, silently hoping it wouldn't be anything too crazy, "What is it?"

"Accompany me to the party on Saturday."

Stephen paused, that party? The one he'd heard about in the hall and from his friends? He was planning to go anyway, and if he went with Gray perhaps he could get to know him better. 
Stephen smiled, "Sounds like a fair trade, are you sure that's all?"

Gray nodded.

"Alright then," Stephen reached in his backpack for his camera, "Let's make this quick, while the sky is still cooperating."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It took only three shots to get the result Stephen wanted. And the photo was his favorite yet.

He took Gray to the café, where they had been heading in the first place, and let him get what he wanted, which was a hot latte. Then they sat at a table, which directly against a window with a clear view of the dark sky.

He had taken a bit to decide how he wanted Gray to position himself, eventually deciding he wanted him to set one of his arms rest on the table, and raise it up so that his head rested on his palm; and the other arm to be on the table as well, but instead of being raised, it stayed on the table and held his coffee. He was looking out the window, and with the gray sky in the back, it gave the photo a certain depth.

The end photo was something Stephen prided himself in. Gray was indeed perfect for the shot, from his excellency at making the photo look natural and as his he's unaware of the camera, to his long sleeves, one of which covered part of his mouth which was slightly smiling, and colorless clothes.

The photo was instantly sent to his phone, where he would edit the photo a bit. After adding the filter, he used a feature that would erase the grayscale filter where he chose, which was just Gray's eyes. Then he used a bit of his photo magic to make the violet color of his eyes, even more vivid and lively.

Now with the finished result, he sat across from Gray at the table, with a hot macchiato in hand, proud.

"Did it come out well?" Gray asked, as he had been sitting in silence as Stephen did his thing.

"Oh, yea it did." he replied, showing the result to Gray.

"Wow, that's impressive."

Stephen could feel color come to his face once more, after hearing Gray's compliment. Just the approval in his voice made him feel special. 

Gray looked down at his watch, "I have class in 20 minutes, we should probably start heading back."

"Yea I guess so."

The boys left the café and talked happily to each other, simply enjoying the other's company. It was something Stephen hadn't thought would happen. He didn't think he'd be able to get the boy to talk to him, let alone be friends.

Friends? Are we friends? I guess I never really asked... does it matter if we consider each other a friend? Maybe... but it would crush all of my newly-found confidence if he said no when I asked. Maybe it's better to leave it as is. We'll be friends eventually, it doesn't really matter if we are now. Does it?

"Thanks for the coffee." Gray said, trying to break the awkward silence that they had been walking in as Stephen thought.

"Oh, no problem!" Stephen brightly replied.

Gray smiled, "Your always so happy Stephen Ahn, why is that?"

"Hmm," He paused a moment. Why am I happy? Am I happy? "I guess right now its because of you that I'm happy." 

"I don't tend to make people happy, so I guess this is a nice change."

"Oh c'mon, just cause your not the most cheerful doesn't mean you don't make people happy. I'm sure some one, somewhere, is absolutely ecstatic that you exist." Stephen had a moment, a thought, and wasn't sure yet whether or not to act on it. Gray's response to his words would give him an answer.

"That is the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me Stephen."

Stephen.. he called me Stephen. Not Stephen Ahn. He's becoming more casual towards me.

Stephen smiled and gently threw his arm around Gray's shoulders, an action that Alex had failed to do earlier that day. Stephen didn't know why, perhaps it was because Gray was now his friend, or at least a friend to him. 

Though, what surprised him the most, was that Gray didn't flinch away from his touch, or shove him off as he had Alex. Instead, he just walked a little closer to Stephen. Seeming to embrace his display of affection.

Yea, I'm sure now, we're definitely friends.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wooo, I'm back guys. Yay. Oh yea, I changed my name and profile pic btw, hope that didn't throw anybody off. My ADHD self just decided it needed changed, sorry lol.

Anyway, I have a lot of fun writing this story and if it all seems great or boring now just wait a little, there's going to be some twists and turns down the way.

Y'all's support means the world to me, tysm for all the votes and kind comments, it really makes me feel special.

Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful whenever. <3