Photograph - Ethan Dolan

Chapter 2

"Thanks Charles, you're a lifesaver," I hung up the phone and quickly made note of the time limit we had in the mansion. With this done, I stuck the piece of paper on the end of my table and tried to organise my thoughts back to the essay I was yet again attempting to finish.
Just as I was starting my third paragraph my phone vibrated. Unknown number.
I opened the text and read 'Hey, it's Ethan Dolan from earlier'. Scanning the rest of the text I decided to call him.
I hear the ring twice, then "Hey, what's up?"
I smile as I explain the situation. "Hi, just calling to tell you what's happening tomorrow."
"Oh, cool. One sec, I'll get Gray and put you on speaker." There was a slight pause, and I hear a faint "Bro, it's about the photo shoot tomorrow."
"The one with Louise?" Grayson was getting closer to the phone.
"Yeah, she's on the phone, hurry up." I chuckle lightly. "You still there?"
"Yeah, I am. Basically, I was able to get the place for tomorrow. It's an abandoned mansion, hasn't been touched since 1874. Falling apart, graffiti, everything you can imagine," I describe the place, hoping it'll attract them to the idea.
"That sounds awesome, but why did you have to call someone about it?" I couldn't tell which twin it was.
"I have a friend who patrols the area every week. He's on it tomorrow and says we can have access to the site until the next guy comes on, so about five hours in total."
"Sick, what's your idea for the shoot?"
"Well, I have coloured smoke flares we could use? Er, I have some filters I was thinking of playing around with, kind of a contrasting shoot with the mansion being old and then you two being the new, modern element of the photo," I say it more like a question; most people prefer the classic photo shoots, with fashion and crazy make-up, not what I'm into.
"Sounds amazing. If we put together some outfits and send you pictures, we can bring them tomorrow to make sure the photos turn out great. Wait, do you have that hoodie that matches my hair?" It had to be Ethan speaking.
"It'll be in my closet, we can get it out in a bit. What time do you want us there?" Grayson asked.
"He's on patrol from four, so if we meet five to ten minutes before we can walk around the area and see where's best for the shots."
"Sounds awesome, we'll get the outfits together now and send you them. Just tell us what you think and don't think though; we've had some photographers just kind of go with what we wanted to wear and they didn't go with the environment at all."
I laughed a bit while saying, "Don't worry, I will be. I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow night then."
"Alright, see you tomorrow, bye. Gray, get off your phone and say goodbye."
"Oh, sorry. Bye, Louise," Grayson quickly said this; there was a slight apologetic tone in his voice."
I laughed again. "Bye."

.................

I was sat in my car just across the street of the mansion. Looking at it I could already tell this shoot was going to be a good one; the twins really suited the idea. I quickly prayed for good weather all evening, if there was any rain the shoot wouldn't work at all.
I heard a knock on my window and jumped slightly. I noticed Ethan stood there smirking at my shock, and rolled the windows down. "Hey, sorry, I zoned out for a second."
"It's okay, we've parked just behind you, Grayson's getting everything out the trunk. Do you need anything carrying in?"
I opened the door of my old Jeep and went round to the back to show the boxes I had. Not many, but they were heavy. "I can take these two, and if you could take that one and the rucksack maybe? There's room in the top of this box if Grayson wants to put some stuff in while we walk up." I pat one of the boxes I would be taking; I took the ones with the fragile equipment and the smoke flares, and gave Ethan one filled with normal flares I found, as well as one with some old clothes. At this point Grayson had just joined us.
"Can I fit these jackets in?" A black denim jacket and a bright red bomber jacket were nearly falling out of his hands when I took them from him. It was a slight squeeze but I was able to put the lid back on.
"Yeah, come on, lets go. Charles has just started his patrol now." I watched Ethan pick up the box and the rucksack, the muscles in his arms tensed and he walked quickly but carefully across the road, Grayson following behind. I locked my Jeep before picking up my boxes with a slight grunt and ran across while nodding at Charles, who was stood at the gate entrance to let us in.
Ethan whistled. "This place is awesome." Him and Grayson smiled at each other. "There would be some sick instas to post after tonight."
As they stood in awe, I walked over to Charles. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah," he said while focusing on the teens behind me. "These two yours?" He nodded his head towards them.
"Yeah, they are. Am I still okay to use the place?"
"As long as I'm on patrol, you'll be fine, don't worry. Besides, I'm pretty sure if you asked one of the other cops they would let you, they know about you and your photography."
I smiled and shifted the boxes in my hands slightly. "Yeah, I know. I just want to be careful. Can't be arrested during university, I need my PhD one day."
"You're getting a PhD?" I turned around and the twins were listening to our conversation. I looked at Ethan, and answered his question.
"Hopefully. I need to finish my degree first, but if all goes to plan I'll have my PhD within the next four years."
"Cool, what are you studying?" Grayson seemed genuinely intrigued.
"Classics, so the Ancient Greeks and the Romans and Egyptians." Before I knew it I was rambling on about it, until Charles poked me in the back. Grayson's eyes had started to glaze over, which I expected because nobody was interested in my subject. But Ethan, he was smiling at me, with a look that almost encouraged me to tell him more. I cleared my throat, "But we don't have time to discuss all of these, we need to get to work. Come on, follow me."
Charles opened the gate for us to walk through, and I said a final thanks before we reached a door on the east side of the mansion; half of it was gone, most likely from someone kicking it down. I pushed my boxes through the bottom half and crawled through. Ethan did the same, and then Grayson passed the clothes before crawling.
"Okay, there's a room in the south wing that has no wall, I think a storm might have blew a tree down into it and over the years some of the bricks have fallen. We can get some cool shots there. But I have to warn you, watch where you step sometimes. Some of the floor can give way, but that's mainly on the top floor. We're using the ground, first, second and third, so we should be fine."
They both nodded.
"Lead the way," Ethan said and nodded his head forwards.
Eventually, we got to the room, and I showed them where they could change. After picking out which outfit to wear, I left them and went to set up.
I was taking some test shots when I suddenly heard, "So, are you from England?"
I jumped and nearly knocked over my tripod. I turned to see Ethan rushing over to help catch it.
"Sorry, I'm not normally this jumpy," I say as I try to concentrate. At this point he had stabilised the tripod and was now holding one of my arms as I rebalanced myself. His grip was firm, but also gentle in a way. I looked at his eyes: they were filled with concern. His lips were pursed as he looked me over to make sure I hadn't injured myself. He was beautiful.
I snapped myself out of my daydream. "Um, yeah, I'm from England."
He let go of my arm, and I immediately started to miss the feeling.
"Cool, whereabouts?"
"The north. Really small area that nobody's ever heard of. Kind of why I decided to study abroad."
I went and took more test shots when Grayson walked in. I placed them where I wanted them, constantly checking in my camera to make sure it was focused right and they were in frame. I looked at them one last time before I started to take photos. Grayson was wearing grey, ripped jeans with black all-stars and a camo tank top, Ethan was in a ripped Guns and Roses t-shirt with black jeans and dirty trainers. They both had black bandanas covering the lower half of their face to make sure the smoke wasn't inhaled as much.
"Okay, when I say so I want you to open the smoke flare. Ethan, hold yours in your left hand above your head when it starts, Grayson, hold yours in your right hand by your side. Okay?"
"Yup," Grayson answered. I looked at Ethan who gave me a reassuring smile and nodded; I must have seemed more nervous than I thought. I was just hoping the photos would come out exactly how I wanted them.
I nodded and held my camera in position; giving up with the tripod. "Okay, on the count of three. One, two, three!"
All of a sudden, blue and green smoke filled the surrounding area. I had my bandana covering my mouth also, just in case. They both knew exactly what they were doing, moving in ways to compliment the photographs and make sure the smoke was an equal part, rather than the majority of the models I had who tried to overpower the photo and make themselves the main focus. I started to take single shots of the twins as well with the sunset in the background. When the smoke had gone, we stopped and looked at what we had to make sure we were all getting the right idea.
"They're great," I say.
"That's so cool, bro," Grayson points at one of the photos I got of Ethan. It was just of his face, which was pointed down, with his eyes looking directly into the camera. The green smoke I gave him had turned teal and complimented the blue strand of hair.
"Yeah, I really like that one," Ethan says. "You have a really eye for art, Louise."
I turn my head to look at him, only to see his eyes were already concentrated on me. "Thanks," I smile. "But remember, the model is just as important as the photographer."
"Yo Lou?" Grayson asks. I smile at the nickname; I haven't been called that in a while. "Could we possibly get some copies of these?"
"Yeah, of course. They only go to the photography club at the university, I'm not using them for any work, just a hobby."
Grayson smiles. "Awesome, these would be great for us."
I smile back and look at Ethan. "Right, let's get back to work."