ghost of you

1 - the photos

cliff's pov

"Ya know, for a guy who seems really interested in being creative and taking pictures and stuff, a beach is one of the most basic places you could go to for the theme 'a place you like'." I explain as I kick the sand while we walk, not wanting to be here at all. I didn't really have a choice though. I wasn't going to tell my mom about it, but she received an email and once she heard about Dominic, she was pushing me out the door to go. After a moment of thinking, Dominic shrugs his shoulders with his camera hanging on his neck, "Yeah, but it's a place that makes most people happy, so why not? And it's not always about the scenery. It's about how you shoot the pictures, what angles, what you want to be in the picture, the lenses-!" "Yeah yeah yeah okay, don't give me a whole summary." I mutter and he funnily breathes out, shaking his head. "What?" I ask, annoyed and he stares at me, like I'm something he can't put his finger on. "I know you said you were forced to join this club, but I think that it's weird when you're interested and then suddenly not anymore about photography." He explains and I look at him weirdly, "What do you mean 'interested'? I'm not interested!" "Why are you defending yourself so much if you aren't?" He asks and I roll my eyes, "I don't need to explain myself to you, anyways. Now, just take the stupid pictures and we can go home." He stops in the sand, making me loudly groan. "Dominic-! C'mon man, this isn't even funny-!" "Have you ever took a picture with a camera like this before?" He asks me and I slouch, more tired than anything. "I don't know! I don't care! Just-!" He hands me his camera and moves me to the right direction, forcing me to lift the camera up to my eye and take the picture. I don't do anything, but glare at him. "All you need to do is just take a picture." "I don't want to-!" "Just one. For me?" He asks and I sigh even louder, grabbing the camera and looking through the eye hole, seeing the world in a different perspective. One that future me was gonna have to get used to. Just as I was about to press the button to take the picture-! "Imagine yourself in this photo. Would you wanna be in this scenery right now? Does it makes you feel anything?" He asks and I scoff, "No." "Then try a different tactic until you do feel something." He instructs and I snicker, "I feel miserable and like I want to go home and that I hate it here and that I want to be done with this club." Expecting a sigh, he actually stays silent and fondly smiles, "Then take a picture about that." Take a picture about how angry I feel? How would I even fit that in a photo? My brain starts swirling and I immediately think of an idea, running down to the beach. I set the camera down in the dry sand and walk over to the wet sand, writing gibberish that's supposed to be hate in the sand. I grab the camera back up and just in time, I snap the picture as the waves halfway cover up the words. It was true that I wasn't really in the mood to do this, but at the same time I wasn't hating it as much as I complained I did. I shove the camera back to Dominic and cross my arms as I watch the waves cover up the rest of the words. "I know. It's probably really bad and you hate it." I mutter and he smiles at it, "No, I actually really like it. It's different than what I would do, but I guess that's what makes taking pictures so magical." I raise my stare at the waves to him and he snaps a picture of me, looking at him like that. "I feel like I already know who you are better than I ever could've." He says and walks past me. I don't say anything for a little bit until I run back to follow him, not complaining another word as he takes the pictures for our project.

••••••••

It was the next week and I hadn't talked to Dominic at all since at the beach. And to be honest, I'd kind of like to keep it that way. Now that I was looking back, he seemed like a weird kid. But, he gave me a chance. I can't help but contemplate as he sits down next to me, turning to me with a smile, "Heyyy Cliff." God, are we already on name to name basis with each other to him? "So, I was looking back at the photos and I saw yours and it made me feel again. And as much as I would like to have it, I think it would be selfish of me to take your first picture. So, I printed it and now it's yours." He explains and gives me the physical copy of the picture I took at the beach. To be honest, I didn't think it was that good, but I guess it was good enough for him to print it out for me. Or maybe he just wanted this trash photo out of his camera storage. "And I know you aren't a huge photography fan and you aren't really a fan of me either, but if you would wanna..hang out and take pictures again sometime. I wouldn't say no." He mumbles and I look over at him to see him shy. I ponder for a moment, looking down at my photo. It did seem like I made everyone happy when I took this photo. And I hate to admit it, but I didn't hate taking the picture either. And to be complimented on it felt better. I guess I'll give this thing a real shot this time. "Sure. That's be cool." I mutter back and he grows a big smile, covering it up by looking at the ground, "Cool." And that one decision is how I changed my life forever.