FOCUSED ON YOU [Lestappen]

2: Postcards And Polaroids

A/N:

Hello everyone!! (The Chapter title isn't a reference to anything nope not at all hehe)

SURPRISE CHAPTER!! I wasn't going to release this until Tuesday but here we are!

I just want to say thank you all so much for the support on the last chapter!! ^_^ It means so much to me <3

ALSO I forgot to mention, this book won't be as slow as my others (hopefully), so expect things to be happening quick :p

anyways, enjoy the chapter!

Max slouched further into the couch, his gaze fixed on the laptop screen balanced on his knees. The apartment was dimly lit, the only light coming from his laptop's glow and the faint city lights outside.

He sighed, scrolling through the shots he'd taken of Charles last week, each one somehow more captivating than the last. The deadline was tonight, and though he had every intention of working through them earlier, he'd put it off until the very last minute, just as he always did.

He selected a few favorites, opening them in Photoshop and tweaking the lighting, adjusting shadows, and bringing out the soft, natural hues of the sunset that had illuminated Charles so perfectly. 

His eyes lingered on the way the light fell across Charles' jawline, the glint in his eyes, the confident yet casual pose he had struck.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed on the arm of the couch. Max glanced at the screen, a call from an unknown number. He hesitated but picked up, muttering a cautious, "Hello?"

"Hey banjo man" came a warm voice, smooth and unmistakable. Charles.

Max's lips curved into a small smile, surprised and somewhat intrigued. "How the hell did you get my number?"

"Christian gave it to me," Charles replied, the amusement in his voice evident. Max could almost picture the smirk on his face.

"Of course he did," Max murmured, shaking his head. The unexpected call lifted his mood, the initial dread of his unfinished work easing.

"So, I was thinking," Charles continued. "If you're free, maybe we could meet up at the café near the agency? You know, to go over the photos of course... and make sure they're up to my high standards," he added with a teasing lilt.

Max's smile widened. "Yeah, sure!"

Charles giggled. "Perfect. I'll see you there in about half an hour then?"

"Sounds good," Max replied, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in his chest.

As he ended the call, he glanced down at his computer, at Charles' face frozen mid-pose, and shook his head with a grin.

~~~

Max stepped off the bus and onto the familiar yet still overwhelming street, the buzz of city life all around him. The café wasn't far, a cozy, unassuming little spot nestled between two taller buildings.

Its exterior was warm and inviting, with ivy creeping up around the windows and strings of golden fairy lights wound along the frame of the doorway. Through the windows, he could see the soft glow of low-hanging pendant lights, casting a warm amber hue across the café's interior.

The walls were painted a deep, calming green, adorned with framed photographs and vintage posters. Inside, shelves of worn books and small potted plants dotted the tables, giving the place a comforting feel. The scent of freshly ground coffee and a hint of cinnamon drifted out each time the door swung open.