12 Ghost Punishment

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(Zion's Prospective)

Photography quote: "What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that's gone forever, impossible to reproduce" - Karl Lagerfeld

I admit I'm probably a jackass for this, but I just can't deal with it right now. I may be selfish for what I'm doing but I just can't. My parents are bugging me to take a photojournalist job that can risk a lot of things, not only my life. I shouldn't care but I do, and I just can't deal with parents and work. Dealing with Stella is just going to make everything more complicated. I swear I'm growing gray hairs. Not to mention it's been a while since I relaxed and played games. The only time I play games is when I'm doing tournaments. Most people think I get the money from my photographs but in reality, it's my gaming that supports me the most.

 It's officially been 2 months since Stella, and I had a real conversation. Next month after the Emotion and Song photo shoot is done, I'd be going to Arizona for the photojournalist job. It's teaching other people about photography. But there's a risk. Arizona is where my brother lives. And let's just say he and I don't really get along anymore, and I have to work alongside him. His photography deals with some illegal stuff at times. If It's taking a nude photo of someone, without their permission. Or taking photographs of gangs, while they are doing something stupid. You can say his in the wrong side of news. A type of "paparazzi" everyone hates. The thing is the college here said I should try out a new style. They say it pays well and it would widen my eyes about a different side of the world. Although they don't know that I have already went through my fair share of illegal stuff with my brother. I moved past that. If I have to risk, my career once again because everyone is convincing me to go. Then well I'm also risking my relationship with everyone including Stella. Even if right now it's not going very well. That's not even the worst part. The worst part is that my brother is with my ex, well at least working with him. And my ex and I did not end in a good way. And when I take this job, she would be editing my photos. So yeah, I'm stressed and overthinking. And at this moment I have no clue what to do with my life besides getting ready to grade a whole bunch of artists' work and fill in papers for photojournalism teaching in Arizona. Just like a good person who would do anything for their career and family, I accept the invitation to risk my career.

After school I got a text from Stella. "I just wanted to check on you, see how you are doing. I still worry about you..." It read. I sigh, slouching in my chair trying to hold in my screams and ignoring the message after I read it. What have I done? I sigh again in frustration. I got back to work looking over other people's past assignments. I noticed Stella's choice of song and my heart dropped. She's thinking about me huh. You can say it's our song that describes us ever since I was still a student.

Flashback to when Zion was still a student and there was a dance.

Dances happen at the end of the year for every year. To celebrate every student's hard work. Seeing Stella in that black dress made my heart pound. She's a brat, but she's a beautiful, gorgeous brat. Her dress shows her curves, and I can just tell every guy there was drooling for her, because I was too. Even though we act like we hate each other. We still enjoy each other's company. As she laughs and jumps around with Scar, she spots me and freezes, smirking at me with that devilish grin of hers that makes me go hard each time I think about her smiling at me like she's on her knees for me. I scuff as I walk closer to her in my blue suit with a black tie, and blue pants.

"Surprisingly you look somewhat suitable for this dance" I comment as I tower over her holding a glass of fruit punch in one hand.

"Same goes for you, never thought you would wear anything besides jeans and a plain T-shirt. You should dress like this more" She smirks.

"Jokes on you for my career I will be" I smile back, knowing she has no clue that I may be teaching for this college after I graduate.

"You still haven't said what you will be doing after you graduate" she says, cocking her head at me with that smirk of hers. "Maybe a photographer who shoots for a care agent or just an office worker who does photography for a side gig" She spoke softly looking up at me. As she gets closer to me, I look down to see some cleavage showing her collarbone and a little peek of her breasts. I growl as I hear her mockery in her voice. She laughs taking a step back and looking at Scar whose face was puffed up, like a blowfish, trying to hold back her laugh.

"Her eyes are a little higher Zion" Scar said with a smirk. Stella blushes as she runs to Scar and slaps her on the shoulder. She brings Scar down to her height and whispers something in Scar's ear making her laugh looking at me. Stella grins at me and I just glare.

"Don't worry Zi Zi, we can call a truce for this dance. She holds out her hand and a song that we both like pops up. We discovered that we both love this song during photography class when watching a movie. 

"You're the light, you're the night" The beat goes down as Stella and I make contact.

"Was that an offer for a dance from THE Stella" I spoke, accepting her hand she offered me and pulling her close to my chest. I feel her chest on mine going up and down. Her eyes hold mine and I smirk devilishly.

"If you want," she said with a deep shaky exhale. I feel her breath touching my chest and through my blue suit. I growl as I hold her hip with my free hand. I sit the glass of fruit punch on a table and put both of my hands on her hips.

"You're the color of my blood." The speakers boom as each person starts jumping in the air. A couple of couples start to dirty dance with the song, each woman grinding on a guy. This is what we get when college kids party.

": Is that a challenge? "I cock one eyebrow up as Stella and I move slowly to the dance floor, with Stella. My hands stay on her hips as she moves her hips to the beat of the music. Her curves show so well with that black dress. Her smile to the song made me want to hold her in the middle of the dance floor kissing her neck up to her lips.

"You can say that if you want ZI ZI" She laughs wrapping her arms around my neck, as I bend over for her to reach. A 6'2 guy and a 5'4 girl you can imagine how that looks on the dance floor. I can feel scar's eyes glaring at me as I twirl Stella away from me than pulling her closer as the beat drops. "Fading in, fading out

On the edge of paradise

Every inch of your skin is a Holy Grail I've got to find

Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire"

"You're not so bad at dancing" She smirks her body closer to mine. Once again, I feel her chest against me, and I hesitate to breathe just for a second.

"You're not so bad yourself little one" I said smiling as I saw her look away, being flustered.

Fast forward to the end of the dance. I held my camera up to Stella and Scar and took a photo of them. Then I recall the flash of someone taking a photo of Stella and me. One arm around her waist as we both pose and smile toward the camera.

***Zion wakes up***

"Wow...To think I had a dream that already happened felt so real. And it felt like it was happening all over again. I sigh in frustration as I stop the beeping of my alarm clock on my phone. This is best for us, at least for now. We should have a little space... I'm leaving for a while anyways". I talk to myself as I put my suit on getting ready for school, getting ready to teach, getting ready to see Stella without really seeing her... I'm not mad, the event that happened that night with Stella, being sick, just made me think about the past, my ex-relationship having led me to despair, trust issues, and second guessing myself on everything I do.  

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