Sweet Beginnings (Damien Haas)

Chapter Fourteen:

The next month and a half seems like it flew by. Before I knew it, over four months had passed since I moved to LA. I had nothing to complain about really, besides missing home every so often. I was keeping busy though. Between my new friends, my job, and of course Damien. Our relationship never felt like work, or forced like my previous one did for so long. We were still getting used to each other and learning something new everyday. One thing i was grateful for though was the fact the both of didn't take it personally if we needed some time to ourselves. We saw each other practically every day at work, so if there was a day or so where all we did was say hi in the hallway at work or texted each other to check up, we didn't take it personally. I knew he got busy between his obligation at smosh, his streaming and whatever project he had going on. I was still getting used to LA and trying to figure out if I wanted to pursue starting up my own photography business.

Photography had always been a interest for me. I remember being overly excited when I learned my high school was offering a course on it. Even more excited when I learned I could take advance classes throughout college while I worked on my marketing degree. But between moving, working, and everything else in life, it had taken a back seat. I still managed a few shoots for work between getting some stills as well as merchandise pictures. But it wasn't much, and I didn't feel comfortable using what I got for smosh to build up a portfolio.

So when Courtney mentioned she wanted to try a shoot, I jumped at the chance. I spent most of the morning making sure my camera was programed correctly, as well as keeping an eye on the weather seeing as we planned on doing it at one of the beaches. Double checking my camera bag had extra batteries as well as the lenses I needed before carefully placing the device in. Setting the bag down by the front door so I wouldn't forget it before moving towards my bedroom. Forgetting I had a pile of bags parked next to the entryway of the living room and promptly tripping over them. Stumbling a couple steps before I regained my balance.

Turning my head to glare at the bags filled with halloween decorations I had picked up over the past couple of weeks. Some I was going to use to decorate the marketing office at work, while the others I was using on my own apartment. Not that many people would even see it. Halloween had always been my favorite holiday, my costume planned pretty much months in advance and always spending way to much money on stuff that really could only be out for a month or two. Though most of my decorations tend to stay out anyway.

Making a mental note to start putting things up when I got back as I made my way towards my room to change. Grabbing a pair of worn out skinny jeans and a grey acid washed tee that was a size or two too big for me. Pulling my hair back into a messy ponytail once I changed and barely touching up on my makeup in the process. I didn't care to much about style when I knew I was going to be moving around a lot. Double checking that I had put my wallet and phone into my pockets after checking the message Courtney had sent about heading over to the beach, I slid a pair of black flip flops onto my feet.

It didn't take to long to reach the beach, even with stopping to grab a drink along the way, I was still there before Courtney. Kicking my shoes off and tossing them onto the passenger floor once I jumped out of the jeep. Making sure to grab my camera bag before locking up and heading down the pathway that led down towards the water. I was never that much of a beach person back home, but it did bring a little bit of comfort being on one. Burying my toes into the sand before tilting my head back and sucking in a deep breath of air, feeling my body relax.

After standing there for a couple of minutes I started to get to work, pulling my camera out and turning it on. While I was sliding the camera strap over, my phone started to ring from my pocket. Yanking the device from my back pocket and glancing down at the screen before bursting out laughing. I didn't even notice Damien had changed his contact picture to some weird up close shot of his face. Rolling my eyes before hitting accept call and holding it to my ear.