The Lost City of Atlantis

Chapter 4 - A Not so Bad-Boy-Bad-Boy

I couldn't take it anymore. I was becoming anxious and the only thing that could calm me down at that second was photography. So I grabbed my camera and climbed out the window, as I landed on the ground all my weight came down on my left foot and I twisted my ankle. I bit my lip to keep myself from crying out in agony. Whoever knew a twisted ankle could hurt so much - or whatever it is that I have.

I limped into the jungle that was probably the best place I could get a decent photograph; considering my current situation. It didn't take long for me to come upon the perfect shot; a beautiful hibiscus flower that had the most stunning shades of orange, red, and white all blended together flawlessly, with drops of mildew clung onto the pedals. The familiar feeling of the click when I took the shot was all I needed to calm my anxiousness, along with the annoying yet somewhat soothing sound that I still and will not ever dare to imitate. A couple minutes later as I was looking around for something else I could take a picture of I heard the distant sound of a twig snapping. My head shot in the direction of the sound out of instinct, when I was quite sure that no one was following me I continued on to find the next thing to take a picture of.

About three minutes later I stumbled; literally stumbled upon a Papilio Ulysses butterfly laying on top of a log half covered in moss. While I was taking the most remarkable picture of a butterfly I had ever taken, I could feel someone's eyes watching me like a predator about to attack its prey - okay maybe not that dramatic but still. I turned around and jumped back slightly at what I saw and my actions caused the beautiful black and blue butterfly to flitter away. There in clad black jeans and worn out leather jacket stood Keith Miller with his hands in his pockets and his head tilted to the side as if he was trying to figure out what I was doing. His gaze averted to the camera around my neck and his mouth made an 'oh' shape as if he had finally figured out the reason why I had jumped out my window. I broke the silence between us by saying, "What... are you doing here?" in a somewhat high pitched voice.

He shrugged his shoulders before answering with, "Your 'Dad' sent me to get you, but when I went to your room you weren't there and I noticed your window was open so..." he said putting emphasis on 'Dad' and trailing off at the end of his sentence as if he expected me to put the pieces together.

I muttered an, "Oh," and walked away trying to find something else I could take a picture of; something more exotic.

"Where are you going now?"

"Uhh... to take more pictures."

"Haven't you taken enough pictures already."

"No... how many pictures do you think I took."

"I want to say five but judging by your tone I'm guessing you didn't take enough, or you didn't take the right picture that would win the Annual Photography Contest."

I gasped from shock at the fact that he knew all that, but at the same time, my eyes narrowed in jealousy because he read me like an open book.

"Your an asshole you know that?" I asked rhetorically, purposely bumping into his shoulder as I walked past him.

"Yeah so people have called me, but I know they're lying."

"Pfft... and why, may I ask, would you possibly think that?"

"Because I'm awesome." he said in an 'isn't it obvious tone'.

Damn, I walked right into that one. I shook my head as I continued walking, all the while having no idea where I was going or which way was the way to head back home - home. God all my life growing up I always thought I'd live in that somewhat overpriced apartment till I went off to college.