Just A Drag No One Wants To Inhale

A Picture's Worth A Million Thoughts

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Play the clip when they're done taking pictures...

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The next time anyone ever asks to come over to my house or even mentions it, I'll just tell them my neighbors are sex-addicts who don't know how to keep quiet at all hours of the day and night.

That's it. I don't care. This is the last time anyone is ever coming my house ever again.

Because right before I could even pronounce Jamia's name, both my grandmother and mother, were all over her. They shoved me to the side, asked about her dress, complimented her on her hair, make-up and more. It went on like that for a good 5 minutes. And as those three were having a seemingly intriguing conversation, my father, my grandfather, Jorden and I all stood together awkwardly, watching and listening on with confused eyes and ears.

The three of them all laughed about a secret joke that none of us understood and there was a moment when, as my mother and grandmother laughed, Jamia looked up and saw that I was there, probably looking more uncomfortable than she's ever seen me as I stood next to my father. Her eyes looked at the uncomfortable distance between my father and I, and all at once I think she understood.

None of us really talked about our family with each other. The only exception was that Jorden talked about some of his brothers and sisters (he has a lot) and Jamia talked about her little brother and small little milestones that he hits. I don't have any siblings so I just talked about Grandad. Jamia smiled politely at my mother and grandmother, and she tried her best to explain that we should go to the dance before it got too crowded.

"But you can't go yet!"  My mother argued, running to grab her camera. "We haven't taken any pictures yet!"

I rolled my eyes and smiled at my mother. "If you insist."

I moved around my father and took Jorden in my arm. We both went up to Jamia and she took my other arm. "You're looking good tonight, Jams." Jorden smiled and gave a huge wink. Jamia giggled and played with her necklace.

"Not doing too bad yourself, Jorden." She flirted right back, obviously joking as well... Right?

So we all stood in front of my mother and smiled, looking directly in the camera.

Click. Flash. Blink.

I looked up to Jorden, and noticed for possibly the hundredth time tonight how handsome he really is, not just because he has make-up on or just because he has on a suit, but he's always been this handsome, inside and out, and I'm going to miss it when I move away. I know I will.

Click. Flash. Blink.

I turned and looked at Jamia, and noticed possibly for the six-hundredth time since we've met  how absolutely gorgeous she is; and not because of the way she's dressed or the way she wore her hair, but what goes on in her mind as well. She is everything and more, and I won't ever find someone like her again, especially in a place like Belleville, the place I'm moving to. I'll miss her and everything about her when I move. I know I will.

Click. Flash. Blink.

I shone a plastic smile to my mother and moved towards her, gesturing to the camera. She gave it to me carefully and said that it only has so much film left.

I stood where she stood and told Jamia and Jorden to stand closer together, and they did.

Click. Flash. Blink.

I told them to stand in the cliché 'prom pose', but Jorden kept on saying that he won't. That I should be in the photo instead. After both Jamia and I convinced him, he gave in, but only after I promised that I'd do one with Jamia in the prom pose, and one with him and I — much to my father's demise.