Can't We Just Start Over?

Part 11

(Max)

Nathan and I sit on the sand and watch the boats out on the bay. The sky was grey and the air was crisp and cold. No one else was here at the beach, well there was that Frank dude and his dog in his RV parked further down the beach. Chloe would take me there to get herself more weed or whatever, I would always stay in her truck. Just looking at that RV made my stomach churn. Nathan stared vacantly at the water as he smoked a cigarette. He looked calm as he puffed out the grey smoke into the matching sky. He was wearing his jacket again, I got too hot wearing it. I drag my hand lightly through the sand, drawing a heart. The boy looks down after another exhale of smoke. He grins at the small sketch in the sand. He lays back to stare at the sky, I move with my camera in hand. I gently frame the boy, and the heart. I wait for him to exhale another puff of smoke to take the shot. Nathan turns to me, watching as I fan out the image.
"You don't have to do that with the photo you know." Nathan smirks.

"I know, its a habit." I giggle and stare at the image. It captures Nathans soft side so perfectly. I do have an assignment for Jefferson's coming up. He always gave us assignments, capturing the evolution of construction, seasons, we would have to take a picture in the same spot each season, after dark, and a collection of somethings. That was our own portfolio of what we wanted to take pictures of. The assignment he had given us recently was Day in the life. We had to take a few pictures of one person in a day, I think I will turn this image in. Soft grey and natural browns and yellows, in the center was Nathan wearing his read jacket. It popped in the blank background. I can't help but smile.  "Thanks for the photo, I love how it turned out."

"Well yeah 'cause I'm in it." He gives me a smug grin.

"Well duh." I roll my eyes playfully before handing him the image.

(Nathan)

How the fuck does she do it? How does she capture this innocence? I was far from innocent and I a lot of people know that. But the way Max framed such a fucked up person in such light. I sigh. "You have talent Max."

"Nah. I'm not that great compared to everyone else."

"Shut the fuck up, I mean it. I've seen your photo wall. All of them are amazing. I'm not just saying that 'cause I like you so much." I say back. Max blushes and moves her hair from her face.

"Thank you Nathan." I smile and nod to her. "I also like you so much too." She grins and moves to kiss me on the cheek. "Now gimme that, I'm going to turn it in for an assignment." She snatches the photo playfully. Her stomach groans like a whale.

"Hungry again?"

"Always." I put out my cigarette and stand up, grabbing Max's hand. Get into my truck and drive to the Two Whales Diner. They have delicious hot cocoa which I need on a cold day like today.

Max and I enter the somewhat quiet restaurant and move to a booth in the back corner. I sit across from Max. A blond haired woman walks over with two menus and a grin from ear to ear. She looked like the fuckin' Cheshire Cat.

"Hi Max, what are you doing today?" She says looking at me and then back to Max.

"Hi Joyce, we've just been out.. Hoping to get a mug of your mouthwatering hot cocoa?"

"Of course Max, I'll make sure to make it how I did for you and Chloe. I'll let you two decide on what to eat in the meantime." The woman walks off. Max looks up at me with a grin.

"You haven't lived until you've tried this hot cocoa. It's much better than what you order from here." I shake my head as I laugh. She looked genuinely happy to be here. Was she happy to be with me?

After scanning the menus we both decide on big stacks of pancakes.

(Max)

Joyce returns with our giant mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Nathan's eyes light up. We quickly order our meal and are left to wait. Nathan takes a sip of the hot cocoa, leaving him a little whipped cream mustache. He looks at me with wide eyes.

"Holy fucking shit that's amazing." I laugh and nod. I quickly take out my camera and snap an image of a happy boy with hot cocoa and a whipped cream smile. Number two for my day in the life. Nathan proceeds to wipe off his mouth. "You should start bringing a digital camera with you too, not just the polaroid." I raise and eyebrow.

"I don't have enough money for a decent digital camera."

"Because you are spending it all on film." I roll my eyes as he laughs. "Listen, I need to get a new camera. Mine is taking a shit thanks to my dad. How about we eat and then go and look for a good camera. Get you one and me one."

"What? Nathan cameras are expensive."

"So? That doesn't matter. You matter to me. I want to do something special for the girl whos helped me a lot of fucking times."

"No, you don't have-" He cuts me off.

"Can't I buy something nice for the girl I'm falling hopelessly in love with?" My jaw drops. He's falling in love with me? Holy fuck. I never would have thought I would fall in love with Nathan Prescott, or he would fall in love with me. I smile and look to the table to hide my excitement. I open my mouth to answer him but before I could, Joyce struts out with our massive plates of buttery pancakes.