All the Beautiful Things

XIV

THE SUN SHONE as bright as a stage light over a large theater, but the warm look of the Australian outdoors could have fooled anyone, for a bitter, Minnesota-like cold swept over the terrain like winter itself had woken from hibernation and decided to deliver its vengeance to anyone in a nearby proximity.

"Sour" was the best word that could be used to describe the moods of the citizens affected by the sudden change of weather in this particular moment. Calum, however, loved the unexpected chill, much like he loved anything and everything that came to him. He was outdoors at the ripe hour of seven in the morning on a Saturday, a rarity for most teenage boys, taking an abundance of photos for his college portfolio. 

The sky was a clear blue, not a single cloud dotted the vast expanse of color for as far as his eyes could see. This, coupled with the vibrant hues of green littering the landscape surrounding Ronan's old house, made for a collection of lovely photographs for the folder. These were all taken with an elderly camera, one that would require going into a darkroom for the developmental process, but the boy did not mind this in the least, and proceeded to take as many photos as his roll of film would allow. In fact, he rather loved this method of photography, it was more realistic and healthily challenging when he put work into his favorite hobby.

While he did this, the brunette hummed quietly along to a song he didn't know all that well but had heard on the radio once and enjoyed, filling the outside air with the gentle, slightly hesitant tune. He was so engrossed in his task that when someone behind him shouted a distant "Calum!" he jumped up and nearly dropped his camera on the dirt under his shoes.

"Oh, hey Cas," Calum shouted in reply, narrowing his light brown eyes slightly. "I thought you weren't coming by until ten? It's still early."

Casper sauntered over to his best friend, chuckling slightly and scratching the back of his head while he grinned. "Uh... it's ten-thirty buddy, I'm actually late," the Hispanic boy laughed softly, fondly tapping Calum's head with the palm of his hand. The smaller boy turned his camera off and put it safely away in its bag. Calum was, needless to say, astonished.

"Ten-thirty?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow. "I've been out here for three and a half hours," he then noted, laughing at himself in surprise while he slung his camera bag over his shoulder and faced his friend. The two began to walk up the small hill that lead to the front of Ronan's house, not talking while a quiet "you're crazy" left Casper's lips. Calum only giggled in response, knowing it was all done with kindness.

After Calum made sure Ronan was absent and wouldn't return for some time, the boys made their way into Calum's bedroom and took seats on the freshly vacuumed carpet. "So, did you bring the laminants?" Calum asked excitedly as he stashed his camera bag underneath the bedside table. 

He was practically buzzing as he bounced around the floor, the action surely hurting his knees, but he simply couldn't find the ability to care. Casper shook his head and nodded, smiling as he handed the final parts of Everest's game to his best friend. 

"Beautiful!" The younger boy squeaked, hugging the papers close to his chest and breathing hard to control his excitement. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut, so concentrated on the thought of the contents of his plan. The colorful sheets took up so much of his attention that he failed to notice Casper's look of longing, geared fully in his direction.

The black haired boy harbored intense feelings of regret, enough to last him for years, really, but that meant little to him when the one thing he lost was the one thing he couldn't get back, no matter how hard he tried. 

Casper moved closer to his shorter friend, for no reason other than that he missed being so close to him all the time. It was hard to go from being beside someone constantly, to almost never. He missed the energy that radiated off of Calum like heat did from the sun, and he wanted to linger in it for just a while longer. The supply of it never ran out, either. It was as if the brunette was his very own powerbank.