Illicit

Chapter One- Picture Perfect

"If you adjust the lens to the right position, there should be a circle of focus in the center..." Logan said as he moved about the class who sat outside with cameras in hand. "Clearly, due to the great daylight, you turn the camera off, point at the desired target, and shoot." He showed an example before holding his camera in his hand. "I want each of you to take a photo of something of meaning to you; a friend, a pet, a cloud that brings a memory...something that maybe gives you hope. Then on Wednesday, we will compare the photos. You can take the pictures now if you like as there are..." He looked at his watch then back to his class. "Ten minutes left. Use it wisely." He said as he took his camera from his hand and pointed it around.

He moved about the campus, seeing teen couples embracing one another as the male-or sometimes female would be looking sensually at another, loners and jocks, and then a girl sitting on a bench on the far side of the school. It appeared she had a camera in her hands and the film had been stuck. She was using a bobby pin on trying to place it back together. He moved to her side and realized he had not seen her before.

"Do you need help?" He asked her as she looked up to him. At that moment, his breath was taken away. She was truly beautiful. Her piercing eyes and plump lips drew him in like a magnet as he awaited a response to tear him from his trance. A smirk crept upon his lips as she went to speak.

"I feel like an idiot...I have been around cameras for my entire life and yet...I can never get the film to stay...The blasted thing always jams..."

"Do you mind?" He asked as he held his hand out. Using the sharp pencil he had concealed in the back of his pocket, he began to unwind the film until placing it back in a fine string. "I suggest you transition your tape though...it may be scratched from the lead."

"Thank you." She said as she rose from the bench, fetching her backpack and moving towards the school.

"I don't think I have seen you here..."

"I just moved here on Friday. It was my first day today."

"On behalf of the staff, welcome."

"Thanks..." She said as she stretched the word, almost as if his comment was unexpected. As she moved away, he turned and rolled his eyes. "On behalf of the staff?" He asked himself. "Real smooth..."

Not allowing the moment to get to him, he moved into the school before going to the darkroom to develop the photos he had in his camera. Placing the film in the liquid, he let it sit for a second then placed it in the second bin then hung to dry. When placing them all, he looked to each one individually before noticing how she had been in his picture he used as an example for the class. He smirked as he pulled down the picture to look at it closer. He noticed how she had been the epitome of everything he always wanted but could never find.

"What are you thinking?" He thought to himself. "She's not only underage-but a student..." He sighed at the thought before trying to erase her from his mind. It had gone well until he bumped into her after school on the steps. She sat with her earbuds in deep as her hand was clasped around a pencil as she doodled in a notebook.

"Are you waiting for someone?" He asked as he came behind her. Due to her music, she was unable to hear. Repeating the question, she heard a muffling and turned to discover who it had been. Seeing the teacher who helped her, she smiled.

"I'm sorry." She said sweetly, throwing her long hair over her shoulder and pulling her earbud out. "what did you say?"

"I was asking if you needed a-if you had a ride..." He corrected himself as he appeared to lose all sense of speech around her.

"I am actually waiting for my mom..."

"Oh....Okay."

"Thank you."

"No problem-"

"Not just for that...the camera too." He nodded as he began to walk away. "How is it that you know so much about cameras?"

"I teach a photography class...."

"Really? We never had anything like that at my old school. We had a soccer team and a football team....Is there anyway it isn't too late to join?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." She said looking to the side then back at him as if she meant to say "duh" instead.

"I can talk to the principal-he would have to approve it on your schedule, but...it shouldn't matter."

"Thank you. I love photography-most importantly, what is captured in a photo."

"I am sure I can find a spot for you somewhere." He teased.

"Thank you...Mr..."

"Castelle-sorry..."

"Naomi." She said as they shook hands. "Thanks again." Suddenly a honking of a car drew her attention from him. "That's my mom..." She began to walk down the stairs but stopped before the car and turned back to him. "If for some reason you can't...thanks for trying." She smiled before getting into the car and driving away from him. With his camera in hand and enveloped developed pictures, he got into his own car and lingered in the front seat. Hands on the wheel, he paused for a moment as he looked at the picture he had developed once more.

"Naomi..." He said with a smirk before placing the picture in the passenger seat and driving away, realizing it would be a process to ease her from his mind.