Ethereal ✾ ||C.S||

XXII. Photographs

✾Cole's pov

I had hung all of Ruby's photos in my makeshift art gallery exhibit. I hope this does the trick.

-

My hand was in hers as we walked up the stairs out of the subway. We were going to walk around Central Park. The sun hit against our faces in the slight pre winter air. Our fingers were intertwined as she swung our hands. I wasn't even paying attention to where we were going, I was too busy watching her. She smiled brightly as she pulled me into the park with her. That's when I saw it. That little bastard was trying to take pictures. I gently pulled her back, taking my phone out of my pocket quickly. She was looking at me confused as hell. I snapped a picture of the kid that was trying to take a picture of me and I looked at him with my smug smile. Damn right, kid. Definitely going on my Instagram. I opened my account before showing her.

"I literally have an Instagram for people who try to take pictures of me. All I have to do is take a picture of them first. The fastest camera wins. And this kid just made it in the club.", I said laughingly.

She then took the phone from me as she started scrolling through the account.

"Why am I not in this? Painting and taking pictures is the same thing almost. Who the hell would with that race?", She said.

"Ruby. You're on my real Instagram. I post photos of you occasionally.", I said as I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her close to me.

"Okay, but what if the paparazzi try to take pictures of you?", She asked.

"You think I don't take pictures of them either? I used to flip them off, that makes the picture unusable. But at this point, who gives a fuck? What are they going to say? Just some rumors about us dating? I will show you off faster than they can lose their shit on low quality pictures of you."

Her cheeks were bright red. She stayed quiet as she snuggled close to me.

-

✾Ruby's pov

I couldn't look away from him no matter how much of a tomato my face was. He was really serious. The strain in his voice and the way his green eyes warmed up said it all. My hand moved to his jaw, getting on my toes as I leaned up, pressing my lips on to his. My fingers moved to his hair, hanging at the end of his neck. One of his hands slid down my back. I was all soft and warm when I felt our lips part. I pulled away slowly, my mind racing. The purest simplicity of him holding me was all I could think about. I remembered it clearly. It was how I wanted to fall asleep every night. He gave my quick kiss again and said,

"I'm so happy I can do that and not get a sarcastic comment on how I should go kiss Ashley Tisdale."

I gently pushed him at that, smiling. This was just a test date. But in the back of my mind I knew there would be more of these. We already spent all of our time together, and he was everything I could ask for. I could almost feel the happiness radiating from him. I never wanted to let go of him. I wanted to drag him around the world and go see everything that was to see.

-

✾Cole's pov

It had been a few hours. We had spend our time walking around the park. We walked aimlessly, simply admiring the beauty of the up coming winter. I had taken pictures of her and the park. It was getting dark and I still hadn't taken her back to my place to show her the surprise. But now it was time. I had postponed it long enough. We were sitting in the train towards the back. She was sitting on her phone, looking for places we could go to grab a bite. I told her to pick whatever she wanted, and for once I didn't get told 'no' when I suggested things. She didn't say "whatever you want." It felt nice being with a confident girl for once. She always approached me with certainty and wit, and that was exactly what I needed. Someone needed to kick me in the ass for some of my comments and remarks. She had now locked her phone and rested her cheek on my shoulder.

"I made a Twitter account. Follow me back. I'm cute with no followers."

I opened my Twitter and instantly retweeted a picture of her. She was such a fucking dork, but she was my dork now anyway.

Cole M. Sprouse: i got a new kitty @itsruby_

I waited to see what my fans would say. Her smile grew wide as her eyes popped up. She held her phone up for me to see. People instantly followed her. I didn't think about that happening. I just posted my dank memes and lived for the "daddy" comments.

"Congratulations. Now you have three hundred followers out of nowhere.", I said, laughingly.

That's when I got a tweet from her.

Ruby Vivien: i'm being held against my will. #SaveMeFromSprouse

I looked up to see her maniacally smiling.

-

We walked into my house and made our way up the stairs. I slid my arm around her as we walked to the art gallery exhibit. She was looking at me confused as we walked passed my room. I gently pulled her with me. The smile on my face kept getting bigger and bigger. We finally got to the door. I tenderly squeezed her hand, gently pushing her hair back and kissed her neck. I then softly whispered to her to walk into the room.

-

✾Ruby's pov

I slid my hands over his wrist. I was about to turn the handle when he said,

"Ruby, I did this all for you. I want you to know how much you mean to me."

I exhaled and opened the door. I didn't know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't this. There were soft lamps with yellow bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The glow captured the room perfectly. Then I noticed what was beyond the lamps. It was a large picture of me on a blood red wall. It took up almost the entire wall. It was a photo from the first night we spent together. I was wearing that same brown shirt of his. Most of the picture was dark except for some moonlight that rested on my thighs and my legs. I was looking away from the camera, it looked like I was thinking of something. There was a certain grace in the photo that I didn't know I held. My hands instantly moved over my mouth. He gently pulled my hands from my face and hugged me from behind.

"Everything. Every picture in this room is of you.", He whispered, setting his chin on my shoulder.

He wasn't looking at the art, he never took his eyes off me. I could feel it.

"I asked myself to photograph the one thing on earth I admired the most."

He paused, letting it all sink in. I turned my head slowly. Every picture really was of me. There was a random photo of me drinking juice, sitting on the kitchen counter, with a messy bun. There was one of me holding a kitten, laughing. My wrinkles showed up at my eyes and my cheeks. There was another photo of me sleeping in his sheets. He had taken all of these. I felt my emotions well up. My chest was getting tighter and my eyes started watering up as he whispered again,

"It was you. I chose you."

He got quiet again as he let me pull away from him, moving to look at the other pictures. There were mostly random, candid photos he had taken. I didn't know what to say. This was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever done for me. I didn't try to hide my tears. I could feel them trail down my cheeks as I looked at him. There was a lump at the back of my throat, preventing me from speaking. He then took a step closer to me.

"I left two walls for you, Ruby. You could hang your paintings if you want to. Then our art gallery would be complete."

"I- I'd love that.", I croaked.

He pulled me to him. We were standing in the middle of the room with the lamps hanging above us. Next thing I knew, my hands were against his cheeks and his soft lips were on mine. I could taste the salt between our lips from my tears as my body and soul folded into him, his dimple deepening as his smile widened. He pulled us apart and said,

"Baby got hurt. I know. But, trust me, Ruby. I could never bring myself to hurt you. So what do you say, want to give me a chance?"

"Shut up and kiss me, you prick."

And we both stood there. Falling deeper and deeper into passion that we had for each other.

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i'm going 2 my grandma's house 4 the weekend. so i won't 🐝 uploading.
xx