Echoes of Us

Five

The polaroid camera didn't come with film, so Harrison had ordered some off of eBay, and a couple of days later, it arrived.

Avery now sat cross-legged on the living room floor, her focus intense as she tinkered with the camera on the table in front of her while watching an instruction video on YouTube video. Despite her determination, she couldn't quite figure out how to get the film cartridge in.

Harrison was sat on the couch, a slight smile on his face as he watched Avery struggle. He had offered to help her install the film, but she had insisted that she could do it on her own.

"Do you give up?" Harrison asked teasingly.

Avery didn't even look up as she answered, but the annoyance evident in her voice.

"I've got it, just give me a second."

Harrison chuckled and picked up his phone from where it lay on the couch beside him, pretending to busy himself with it.

"Okay," he said with a light smile.

Every now and then, he'd hear grumbles of disappointment and exasperated sighs from Avery, and each time, he would glance up from his phone, watching her from the corner of his eyes.

Avery's forehead creased in concentration as she focused on putting the film into the camera.  Harrison wanted to reach forward and smooth it out so badly, but he didn't want Avery to know that he was watching her so intently. 

He couldn't resist a small smile whenever she let out another sigh, knowing that she was just seconds away from asking for his help, he was just waiting for it.

After a while, Avery let out a frustrated groan and dropped her hands into her lap dejectedly before looking up at Harrison.

"Need help?" Harrison asked as he stood and went to sit next to her.

Avery slid the camera and film over and lay her cheek on the now empty spot on the table, turning her head to watch him.

Harrison picked up the camera, and, with a few quick clicks, he loaded the film and was scanned the room with it.

"Give us a pose, Mrs. Surland!" he called out, pointing the camera at Avery, who still had her cheek pressed against the table.

"Harrison, no," Avery said, half-smiling as she raised a hand to block the lens.

Harrison dodged her hand and quickly snapped a picture, the flash briefly lighting up the room.

As he waved the newly printed polaroid photo around for it to develop, Avery grabbed the camera from him and aimed it back at him.

"Do something cool," Avery said as she held the camera up to her eye.

Harrison placed Avery's photo on the table and clasped his hands together to make a gun, playfully pointing it around the room before looking back at her.

Avery chuckled and pressed the shutter, the room lighting up with another flash.

"Let me see," Harrison said, taking the camera from her outstretched hand. He slid out picture and waved it lightly before setting it on the table to fully develop.

He then picked up the photo he had taken of Avery, her cheek pressed against the table, a small smile on her face.

A smile tugged at Harrison's lips as he looked at the picture. 

"How do you manage to look so pretty without even trying?  It should be illegal to walk around with a face like that," Harrison teased, holding up the photo for Avery to see.