the photographer [c.h.]

ten

I laid back on my bed, happy to be home, and sighed to myself. I got up and went over to my desk, opening up my laptop. I scrolled through some pictures that I took of the guys and smiled a little. Man, I missed them. I just couldn't stay any longer. Before I could look at anything else, someone put a hand over my eyes.

"Guess who?" The person sang and I smiled, shooting out of my seat.

"Alex!" I yanked my best friend into a hug and he laughed, wrapping his arms around me.

"I missed you so much." He groaned, rocking us back and forth. I nodded against his chest and pulled back.

"What have you been up to?" I asked, sitting back down. Alex sat down on my bed across from me and shrugged.

"Not much. What about you? I ran into Peri at the store yesterday and she told me that you came back. Why didn't you call?"

"I haven't really talked to anyone since I've been back." I laughed a little and leaned back in my chair. "How have you been, Alex?"

Last year, I can vividly remember the frantic call I got from his mom. He had left her a note saying that he was sorry and that he loved her. I immediately knew where Alex was. The cliff. His mom called the police and they got there just as he was about to jump. He called the next day and cried about how he was sorry and he didn't know what he was doing. It was one of the scariest times of my life. I don't know what I would do without my best friend.

"Good. Really good, actually." I smiled, happy that he was happy. "What about you? How's my Brooklyn bestie?" I laughed a little at his nick name for me and shrugged. "A shrug isn't an answer, Katie." Alex laughed.

"Takin' it day by day." I simply answered and he cocked his head to the side.

Alex motioned to the window and I nodded, getting up from my chair. He followed and I opened the window, pushing it to the top. I climbed outside, him following, and stepped up onto the ledge. I settled myself against the roof and squinted in the sunlight, leaning back onto the shingles. Alex sat next to me and I leaned my head on his shoulder, taking a deep breath.

"Leah told me that you relapsed." Alex whispered after a while and I sighed, closing my eyes. "You could have called me."

"Didn't want to bother you." I muttered. I hate having everyone worry about me. It gets irritating when you are always asked if you are okay. I hate the pity.

"When are we gonna tell Soph?" I shrugged and ran a hand down my face, rubbing my eyes.

"Do you think she's old enough to understand?" I wondered. "She thinks that Peri and my dad were her parents. I don't want to freak her out."

"When I watch her, she always talks about you. Honestly, I think she would be ecstatic to know that you were her mom." Alex laughed and I smiled a little as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "So a little birdie told me that you are in with a certain Aussie."

"Oh, hush." I nudged his shoulder and he laughed. "It's nothing serious."

"Have you guys gone out on a date?" He asked and I shook my head.

"I haven't even talked to Calum in the last week. I honestly don't even know what we are." I sighed. "What about you? Anyone taken the heart of my best friend?" I joked and Alex's cheeks turned red. "Alex! Who is she?"

"Um, actually he." I sat up straight and stared at Alex with wide eyes. "Do you remember Jason Goodman from high school?"

"Alex! I'm so happy for you." I exclaimed and he smiled, toying with his sweater. "Does anyone else know? Or am I the last one? If so, I will kill you."

"No, only you and my mom." I smiled, happy that he had someone. In school, I always kind of thought that he was gay, but I never said anything. It doesn't make any difference to me.

"How long have you guys been together?" I wondered, leaning back on the roof.

"Six months." Alex answered, sheepishly, and I smiled. "We're getting an apartment next month in the city."

"I didn't even know Jason was gay." I said and Alex laughed, nodding along.

"Neither did I. He was always hooking up with girls in school. But, he told me it was just a cover up." Alex shrugged and I laughed a little.

"You have no idea how happy I am for you." I gushed and Alex just smiled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

This was how our whole afternoon went. We sat on the roof, just catching up and laughing. I really missed Alex. When I left for tour, I knew I was going to miss him the most. He has been there for me through everything and I honestly could never repay him for all he's done for me. When my mom died, he was my rock and didn't leave my room one time for two days. He was always making sure that I was okay.

After a while, Peri called us down for dinner and I smiled a little as Alex excitedly jumped through the window, running down the stairs. I giggled, following him to the kitchen, and I noticed Chinese takeout on the table. Sophie claimed the seat next to me and pretended to be a walrus with her chopsticks. She definitely got the goofiness from Alex, seeing as he was doing the same thing. Peri just laughed at us and shook her head.

I now noticed how exhausted Peri looked. There were purple rings under her brown eyes and her hair was tied up into a messy ponytail. Her cheeks looked sunken in and her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. I frowned, mad at myself for not noticing. When my dad died, I only thought of myself as losing a father. She lost her husband. Peri stood up and was about to clean up when I stopped her.

"I can do dishes." I offered and she let out a relieved smile. "You need some rest."

"Thank you, sweetheart." She gave me a hug and made her way up the stairs.

"Katie, can we watch a movie with Alex?" Sophie wondered as I got up from the table.

"Sure, why don't you go pick one out." I suggested and Sophie ran into the living room.

"I'll make the popcorn." Alex got up and started searching through the cabinets, making me smile. God, did I miss this.