A Summer Fling (Aris x Reader AU)

6) Photos

Apparently, eating at the diner also means gossip sessions. Thomas was talking about his closest neighbors probably getting a divorce or at least that they should, Teresa added that another person was moving super far away, and Y/N gave reasons for why Harriet and Sonya had to be official.

The conversation turned to me quite a lot, which I should have expected. General questions and basic things. Even long after we finished our food, we stayed in that same spot, talking about everything. About people that have existed in our lives. About how everything has been. About what we’ve done so far in our years apart.

Even that wasn't enough to make up for it though. I’m not sure there will be.

“I’m calling my mom to pick me up,”Thomas said when we finished, standing outside the place.

“I call shotgun,”Teresa rushed out.

“It's literally my mom’s car.”

“Okay? And?”

“We should get headed back. We’ll see you shanks next week though,”Y/N promised.

“That we will. See you guys.”

“Come along, Aris. Let's get going,”Y/N said, grabbing my hand again. Yet again, I was thankful she wasn't actually looking at me as I felt my face warm. One of these days though, luck will definitely run out. She’ll look back at me and see me blushing just from her holding my hand, and I’ll have no idea how to explain it. I can't even explain it to myself.

☆ ☆ ⁠☆

“I still don't like that thing,”I said firmly as we walked in the house, me just a few feet behind her.

“You should have brought a bike then.”

“I didn't know I would need one. Plus, that's bound to get lost on the plane. Or stolen or damaged,”I listed.

“This is probably safer anyway. You have no idea where the hell you're going. You’d fall over something when the sun sets.”

“I don't think I’m that incompetent.”

“No. You're just that clueless about the path.”

“I take it you two had a good day?”

“Yeah. We met up with Thomas and Teresa. We ended up going to Diner,”She answered.

“Sonya and Harriet workin’?”

“Yep.”

I did not miss this part of being here. Everyone knows absolutely everything about each other. There's no place to be invisible, to just blend into the background.

I may have liked it though. I don't think I was old enough to be bothered by it. If I had stayed, my opinion on it could be completely different. A lot of things could be different. I could be different.

“Y’all eat over there?”

“Yep. Thomas with his double cheeseburgers and all,”She shrugged.

“I don't blame him for it.”

“It's still kind of weird.”

“I mean weird isn't bad,”I shrugged.

“No. It's something we can make fun of him for though.”

“Yeah. I could tell.”

Rolling her eyes, she gave my aunt a wave before heading to our wave. Doing the same, I bid her goodnight as I walked through the open door, kicking my shoes off and taking a seat on the bed by her, who was already sketching something.

“There's tons of things you could take photos of out here,”She pointed out as I just held my camera, not lifting her head.

“I know. I just don't think there's any film around her so I have to make sure the picture’s worth taking.”

Giving another shrug, she laid down, her brows furrowed in concentration and lips pursed in a thin line as she seemed to think about every mark that would go on that paper.

Looking through the lens, I slightly adjusted it at the top so the quality wouldn't totally suck before turning it to her. As she didn't even notice, too immersed in her work, I clicked the shutter.

Quickly looking up, she just stared at me as I set it down, hating that I’d have to wait to see it but already being used to it.

“I thought you didn't have much film?”She pointed out.

“I don't,”I shrugged.

“So aren't you supposed to be saving it for things worth taking photos of?”

“I did. The photo was of you. That's worth the film.”

“It's of me just existing?”

“Yes. That's what makes it so great.”

Mumbling something under her breath, she set her things down before grabbing her clothes. Walking out the door, she left to shower, leaving me alone in the yellow room with my camera and an eventual photo of her.