Night Owl

Chapter 2

   Well it seems I was able to sell my pictures. 100 dollars each. Made 700 dollars.
   If I keep this up I can pay this month's rent.
   That's when I stopped mid-step on my journey home from school. I had to stay after a little at the computer lab.
   I didn't have my camera anymore.
"Crap. What am I gonna tell dad?" I muttered putting my head in my hands.
   Counting to ten, I stood up straight and continued walking with a shaky breath.
   I just hope he isn't drunk. I groaned.
   I closed the door slowly making sure not to make noise. When the door clicked behind me, I tiptoed to the living room where the TV was on illuminating the dark house. Now close enough, I listened for his snores. upon the first snorts of his sleep, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

   My room wasn't much but it was better than my old one. I had a twin sized mattress resting on the floor against the wall. On the opposite side was a windowsill seat that I had covered in old pillows, patches of clearly the wrong fabric littered the whole thing.
   I spent most of my time just staring out at the maple tree. It was in our backyard and was big enough to shade the grass and wildflowers down below. I had a desk that I had found in a garage sale that was covered in papers and notebooks.
   Lots of loose drawing paper with little doodles scattered all over the place, being too lazy to pick them up. I walked to my closet where I pulled out a large, over sized shirt some underwear and a sports bra before walking to the bathroom.
   After a nice but quick shower I let my wet hair fall onto my shoulders with a sigh. Trying to clear my head of my current dilema, I turned off my bedside lamp.
   I guess I better start looking for a new camera.
   Closing my eyes, I let the world of shadows and dreamless lands engulf me.

(the next day)

   I woke up with a sudden start at 12:15. I sighed. I had four hours of sleep; more than I ever get. I must be getting better.
   I took a quick shower and did all of my bathroom things. I changed into some yoga pants and a tank top. I threw on a hoodie and tied some running sneakers on.
   I learned when I was in therapy that running helped me. By now though, I already had a certain route here that I picked up during the summer.
   Which reminds me...I need to go into town and get the new therapist my old one recommended me to.
   I ran out the door taking my keys and head phones on the way out. Pressing play, I let hey brother by Avicii suddenly blast out.
  I ran until I had an hour before the bus would arrive at the bus stop. Taking a quick shower and making sure to rehydrate after tiring myself out, I slipped on a plain white shirt. Well it was until I decided a white shirt was great to paint in; so it looked cool with its random colorful paint splatters.
   I put on some grey skinny jeans and pulled on grey cardigan over it. Pulling on my red converse, I smiled at myself in the mirror until I saw my hair. As quickly as I could I put my hair into two messy high pigtails.
   Presentable enough, I shrugged.
   I grabbed my messenger bag as I walked out my room and an apple from the kitchen counter, swiftly closing the door behind me.
   As soon as I arrived at school, I got glares from Mark and his group of "friends". As I looked up at the school my fingers twitch to just snap a photo of it, picturing the result in black and white. I mean the naked tree in front of it and the clouds and yet clear sky behind it. Jesus! It looked like a scene from an old horror movie.
   I walked to my locker, not really surprised that Nathan was there leaning against it. He wore a white tee-shirt with a blue plaid button up that fell open on his torso, along with dark blue jeans and some white converse. All in all, it suited him.
   "Hey Than," I greeted quickly turning the lock putting the combination. His right eyebrow rose.
   "Than?" he questioned. I nodded.
   "Everyone calls you Nate, so I'm gonna call you Than. Like Thanasis," I explained, grabbing my needed books and shutting the locker. "Oh! Do you know where I can buy a new camera?"
   Than's height made me have to crane my neck to look at him.
   He scratched his neck.
   "I think they sell some cheap ones at the store downtown," We began walking down the hall to class.
   "No they are complete crap," A familiar voice said from behind us.
  I glanced behind briefly. It was Nico, dressed in his signature black jeans, black shirt, and black hoodie. And guess what color his shoes were?
   "I like your combat boots by the way. But I would have gotten something other than black," I got off topic shortly before clearing my head. "But yeah, look I'm sorry Nathan, I need a good camera. Like for good 'I bought this at an art gallery' quality. Nature and people kind of camera. Not those cheap crappy ones you buy last minute at the 99 cents store ok? Catch you later guys," I wave at them as I walk into the classroom.

(after school)

   I decided to get a part time job to help pay the bills. I mean I had a list of them that I had looked at during the summer but with my camera it wasn't really a necessity considering that each picture was about $100 and dad got money from the government considering what happened.....before. I shuddered a little before continuing my walk into town.
   I hummed a little happy tune as I left the convenience store, even so much as skipping a little. I had gotten the job as well as the one at the supermarket. I had put them on alternating days so that I was able to work all week; well except Sunday of course.
   I had also passed by the tech store earlier on my path around the quaint town. The cheapest camera that I could find, that had around the same quality as my old camera, was about $800.
   That'll have to wait I guess. Good thing I saved up all of my pictures from the past.
   With a small smile I headed home.