Complementary

fifteen

fallingforyou - the 1975

zayn

As much as I love photography, my photography classes are rather boring. Or at least, I had thought so up until now.

My professor is speaking to a room of about twenty five. He introduces a new project that we will be working on and it immediately strikes me.

"Photograph something at random," he drawls, clearing his throat with a pause. "Take a photo without plan. Carry your camera around at all times this next week, with hopes of finding something worth capturing for this project. The idea is to photograph the most beautiful thing you have seen in the next 7 days, and in class next week is when you will speak about the image you have captured."

He says more about the details of how to present the photo to the class, but I tune him out. I am already thinking of what I will be photographing this week.

He said that our image should be captured at random, but I would like to capture something in its most beautiful moment, which is technically unplanned.

I will be photographing Carlie.

-

"Why have you got that camera with you, Zayn?"

I look over at the girl walking beside me, struggling to keep up with my fast pace. I am definitely not a very tall guy, but I completely dwarf Carlie. Her short legs try to take wider strides to match mine. I slow down when I notice this.

"Because," I say, "I am working on a project for school."

"Really?" She seems interested by the rise of her tone.

"Yeah. I have to have my camera with me at all times up until my next class."

"Is that why we're walking in the park, now? So I can see you in action?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Well, you are actually part of my project, Carlie."

"I am?"

"Uh - yeah. If that's okay with you." I stutter, suddenly not as sure of myself.

"Of course it's okay with me," she assures, nodding. "I mean, I still owe you from when you photographed the tattoos for that piece of shit article I did."

I roll my eyes. "Come on, Carlie, you're twisting my words -"

"Those are actually my words, Zayn," she interrupts. "Now that I look back on it, that definitely was not my best work."

I frown slightly as I consider her words. "I want to read more of your writing."

"And I want to see more of your photographs," Carlie counters. "Anyway, what is this big project you're speaking of?"

I stop walking, turning to face her. She does the same, standing about a foot in front of me with her hands tucked into her coat pockets. A beanie is shoved over her short hair and the cold wind nips at our skin.

"Well," I begin. "My professor instructed me to carry around my camera wherever I go in hopes of capturing the most beautiful thing I will see this week."

"Go on." She urges.

"I already know that the most beautiful thing I'll see is you," I smile down at her. Her cheeks tint pink. "So I'd like to photograph you, but at random. Like I said, candids are my favorite because you can catch someone in their most honest of moments. When you are in your most honest of moments, you are more beautiful than usual."

She shifts her weight from one booted foot to the other, her gaze dropping to the sidewalk beneath us. "Jesus, you are quite the charmer today."

"I can be when I want to," I say, grinning. "But really, are you okay with this?"

"With you taking pictures of me at random throughout the day?"

"Well, yeah. But I might not find a suitable image today. It could be tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, and so on."

She narrows her eyes. "Are you saying you might not take a beautiful photo of me today, Zayn?"

I give her a look. "Don't be silly, Carlie."

She laughs, turning on her heel as we continue walking. "You know, now I feel a bit like a Kardashian, I suppose, with you being the paparazzi. But I am definitely Kim, with an ass like this." She jokes, running her hand over her bottom half.

I smile, taking a photo just as she looks over her shoulder at me, laughing. The image is beautiful, though I think every photo I take of her will be beautiful.

That in mind, this task might be more difficult than I had initially imagined.

-

After walking in the local park with Carlie for another hour or so, we duck into a coffee shop. This time, it is not Starbucks.

It is a charming little space with fairy lights strung around the top of the brick walls, with a cozy temperature and nice music playing in the background. A small bookshelf is in the corner, holding worn copies of famous novels.

"Isn't this place just lovely?" Carlie asks, taking back my attention.

I nod. "I've never been here before."

"I come here a lot, I'd say, but not as much as I frequent Starbucks. Sometimes it's just easier to go there. I usually come here when I'd like to sit down for a moment."

"Do you normally come here by yourself?" I find myself asking.

She purses her lips. "I used to, I suppose. I never really go out with a companion. I'm what I would like to call an 'outgoing introvert'."

I raise my eyebrows at the oxymoron. "What is that?"

"Well," she pauses, chuckling to herself. "I have no problem speaking with strangers. They do not make me nervous or anything of the like, which explains why I am able to have sex with people I don't know as freely as I do - or, used to. You have seemed to change my ways a bit, Zayn."

"I like that." I say, referring to the fact that since she has admitted to having a 'crush' on me, she has not been sleeping around.

"Of course you do," she continues. "Anyway, as for the introvert part - I'd much prefer to stay home by myself, writing and reading, rather than go to college parties, things of the like. Which does explain why I go to most places by myself. But since I have been associating with you, what is normal for me seems to have been shaken up."

"Evidently so." I confirm, taking a sip of my coffee. "Do you like the change, though?"

I watch her eyes flicker around the room as she ponders. Then she nods. "You know, I think I do. As much as I hate admitting it, I was lonely before. I know I told you that meaningless sex is much easier, but what you had said in the diner was right. I would much rather be with someone that cares about me when I think about it now. It is scary - knowing that you have intentions to stick around - but you could pick up and leave any day. Just like my mother."

I swallow at the mention of her deceased family member. I still do not think I will ever get used to how hollowed out she appears when speaking of her mother's suicide. It sends a chill down my spine and leaves goosebumps on my exposed skin, how empty she looks.

"You're right, Carlie," I murmur. "I could pick up and leave any day. But you are also right when you say I have intentions to stick around. So remember that. I won't leave unless you want me to."

Her light eyes finally meet my dark ones. The expression has returned now that she is looking at me. It is interesting how she can look so lost one moment and so found the next. I revel in the fact that I have that affect on her, as twisted as it may be.

"Sometimes I feel as though I do not deserve how much you dwell on me." She says suddenly, her voice quiet.

"Just because you have been left before in the past does not mean you deserve to be left. You are worthy of love, just as much as the next person is."

Carlie smiles sadly. "I think I really like you, Zayn."

I smile, but it is not sad. "I think I really like you too."

-

this is a bit short in length, but i really like this.

thank you for the votes, everyone! x