Camera Girl

Chapter 6

A month had passed by and I haven't talked to Gaige since the hospital. September consisted of staying home alone on labor day weekend, and exchanging glances with Gaige at school. It was now approaching the end of October.

"Ah, miss Price, what are you doing on Halloween?" My yearbook teacher asked me as I walked into class.

"Nothing much really." Correction, I was going to watch horror movies with Madeline in her dorm.

"How do you feel about taking photos for this year's costume dance. Your work is phenomenal, and I think you can take this one on. So how about it?" His words filled with hope. It almost sounded like a rhetorical question.

"How can I say no?" I let out a fake smile.

"I knew you'd do it." He said looking up at me before tidying up a file in his hands.

Great, now I have to tell Madeline that our plans are going to cut short. I dreaded going to dinner after class to tell her what I got myself into.

"Oh hey Alma, you wouldn't believe what happened today. I got my schedule changed because I almost burned down the Culinary room. It really sucks being back in gym." Madeline said as she got ready to take a big bite of food.

"Only you could get kicked of Culinary, Mads."

"Besides that, how's your day so far? You look quite perturbed."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Uh yeah, you're not the best at hiding your emotions. What're you thinking about?"

"I may or may not volunteer to take pictures of the costume dance on Halloween." I quickly bit into my food right after I had confessed.

"Oh okay."

I almost began to eject the food in my mouth in surprise of her calmness of the news. Normally she would make a big deal about it, but there was nothing.

"You seem okay to hear this."

"Oh that's only because we were invited to a costume party by a good friend of mine. It starts a little later. I was going to talk to you about it, but you beat me to it."

It hit me that I haven't met any of Madeline's other friends. This was probably the first time she even mentioned them.

"Now that I know that you have to take pictures for yearbook, I might as well come along to keep you company. It might be a bore since people only go to show face."

"Alright..."

"I don't know what I'm wearing for my friend's party yet..."

As Madeline was rambling away, I looked over to see Gaige sitting at an empty table. He looked up to catch me staring at him. He smirked, while I just gave a small wave.

"Ladies and Gentlemen we have a wave. My, I'm kind of impressed today." I snapped out of it through Madeline's voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I denied.

"Don't lie to me Alma. I've been watching you for weeks now. Do I have to remind you why he's bad?"

Madeline was right, as much as I'd hate to think it. I was only going to repeat history. Yet a part of me wants to believe that he was different from Cole somehow.

"You can save your breath." I muttered.

After dinner, Madeline left to study in the library. I was about to pass by the small park, but I stopped right in front of it. It was quiet. The birds had probably gone down South by now.

I found myself taking a detour. I slowly walked around the pathway, taking in the memories of my first day here. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Smoke only filled my lungs. Either Madeline was accidentally burning down the school again, and I should run away, or Gaige was in front of me, and I should still run away.

I slowly open up my right eye. No one's in front of me. I open up my other eye. Maybe I was just imagining it. I felt hands touch my shoulder, and I jumped. I quickly spun around. There he was with his dark eyes, and infamous sly grin. The cigarette was now smashed on the ground.

"Don't do that to me, you could've been a serial killer." I exclaimed as I lightly pushed Gaige away.

"Good thing it was just me then. So, what brings you here?"

"This place drew me in again. I wanted to explore it when I first came here, but-"

"I caught you stalking me." He cut me off.

"I wasn't stalking you. Last time I check, you don't own this park. I was looking for a place to take pictures, and a piece of mind."

"Too bad I inhabit the only place that has your desired needs Camera Girl."

Gaige took a few steps back after realizing how close to me he was, then continued.

"It's been awhile."

"It sure has been, Mendoza."

As much as I wanted to fight, I missed this. It may be unrealistic to feel this way, I oddly missed his presence.

"I bet you missed talking to me. I know it was hard for you to resist."

"And you had to ruin it. I think I overstayed. I really need to go do my homework now."

I began to move past Gaige and walk back to the entrance.

"Wait, Camera Girl." He called out to me.

I stopped and looked back at him; slowly turning the rest of my body to face him.

"I do really mean it when I say it's been awhile."

"I know." I said not moving an inch for a second then turning back to go back to my dorm.