Where We Left Off

Chapter 21

Staring at myself in the stand-in mirror, the young woman in the reflection has a brave face on while the other side of her is dreading to go her birthday party. My fingers are fidgeting, constantly pushing my newly straight hair behind my ears or playing with the skirt of my dress. My best friend designed this black mini body dress for me. It's a little bit too sexy for my taste but the fit is amazing, hugging my body and doing wonders for my curves, the tiny splits are on both of my upper thighs. I'm thankful the dress is long-sleeved, because I'll have some sort of warmth tonight. I keep tugging under my armpits, trying to a suggest the top portion; I swear it has a build-up bra, giving an extra support on my bust.

"No tugging!" Lindy yelled behind me. I looked over my shoulder. She's wearing a pink short dress that comes with a long tail hanging off the skirt. The gold jewelry shines beautifully on her tan skin, her brown hair is curled to perfection and of course her makeup is flawless. Lindy walks toward me and pulls my arms down to stop messing with her creation. "You look amazing, Merch!" She hands a small satin box, I grimace at her. I hope it's not another gift, the dress is already too much. "Just open it, please." She answers before I could say anything, clearly didn't want me to say too much out loud.

I sigh and opened it, there are a pair of mini silver hoops and cuff bracelet. The bracelet has a small charm shaped as a key, I looked at her with a confuse face. Lindy answers by lifting up her left wrist to show me the same bracelet but hers have a lock. I smile and quickly put the jewelry on. Lindy held both of hands after helping me putting the bracelet on and says, "I want you to know that we're best friends for life. I'm so happy that you're back, and I know this past year we been wrapped up with our own lives but somehow we remain locked in" lifting up a pinky finger, signaling me to pinky swear with her. "Locked in for life?"

I laughed and curl my finger around hers, "Locked in for life." Pulling her into a tight hug. "I love you, Lin."

"Love you too, Merch." Tightening the hug. "Okay, get off of me before you make me fuck up my makeup," she sighs and playfully solved me off her. She wipes the corners of her eyes, checking no mascara is running. She look over the bed and spot Jacks' gift box, picks it up and asks, "Haven't opened it yet?" Gently shakes the box, hearing the item bumping around inside. 

I tucked my hair behind my ear and crossed arms, "No, I haven't."

Lindy gently pressed the gift against my body.

Shaking my head. "I'm not going to open it."

She continues pressing. "Just open it, I'm curious."

I just stare at it and back at her. "I don't care that you're curious."

She raised her eyebrows. "If you won't, I will," she threatens.

"Then do it." If she's going to open it anyway, it saves the trouble of doing it myself.

I almost my balance - acknowledging the main reason I avoid wearing six inch heels - when she smacked it against my chest again. "Open it!"

"Fine!" I groaned, "You're pushy."

Lindy nods with a big smile, agreeing to the statement.

I rolled my eyes, lifting off the lid and see what's inside. My face drops. No.

"What is it?" Lindy trying to take a peep.

I almost don't want to touch it, because how rare they are, I didn't realized they are still around anymore. I bite my lower lip and lift the delicate item in my hand. My heart beats harder, I can't believe he got this for me. I mean, it must cost a fortune. A literal piece of history. 

Lindy looks at it for a moment, obliviously lost. "A old camera?"

"Not any old camera," My mouth twist into a grin, but it drops. "It's Leica. They pretty much revolutionized the photography game during the early nineteenth hundreds. This is a Leica IIIB, 35mm rangefinder camera, in excellent condition." I can barely keep the excitement in my voice in check. I'm just glad I'm not jumping like a child when I get something I always wanted. My reaction is similar at the time when my dad got a new laptop for me on my fourth teen birthday, we were both excited cause I stopped intercepting up him during Skype calls for work, so I can use his for research for schoolwork. It was a very beneficial for the both of us. I can't believe Jackson got this for me. I remember us chatting about them during our class trip at the art museum, after the presentation of how photographs were developed. I remember explaining how old cameras gave the best results. I was probably ranting about them for the rest of the tour. Jacks just listens and never seemed bored, looked at me like he held on to every word that came out of my mouth.