Regular People [Elmax]

Chapter 6 - I Dump Your Ass

[Song of the Chapter: Cold as Ice by Foreigner]

"I've had so much fun! It's been...perfect", El said sincerely as they were walking through the mall, arms still linked together.

"It's not over yet!", laughed Max.

She looked at two shops ahead of her, Flash Studio. It was supposedly a super cool photo place where you could wear funky outfits and get your photos taken professionally. She'd never been but now seemed like a perfect time to check it out.

"Come on! I wanna check this place out!", Max grabbed El's hand again and they started running towards the studio.

"Where are we going?"

"The perfect day requires perfect photos!"

They burst into the studio reception, no one else was there but them and the receptionist.

"Hey, girlies. Want to get some photos done?"

"Yeah", said Max

"Aw, that's lovely! It's a great way to memorialize you frie-", the lady at reception trailed off as she saw their hands intertwined just below the desk. She started looking them up and down with a piercing glare, one Max recognized all too well. She subconsciously let her hand slip out of El's who looked confused.

"$30.", the lady said plainly.

"The sign says $20 for 20 photos, we'll take that", Max argued.

"Sorry but that will still be $30"

"Bullshit, you're ripping us off!"

"Young lady don't make me ask you to leave. For you two it'll be $30, either that or you can leave so we can have some regular people-"

"Regular people?", El whispered to Max confusedly.

"Yes, regular people. So it's $30 or I can refuse to serve you. I can do that with people like you-"

"What's going on out here?", the photographer came out of his studio holding a BLT.

"These young ladies would like some photos taken"

"How many photos would you like girls?"

"20", said Max, still heated from the exchange she'd just had with the receptionist.

"Okay, if you could just give the $20 to my associate here then we can get started", he smiled at the girls, unaware of what had happened.

The receptionist looked defeated but forced a smile, "$20 then please ladies".

Max handed her the $20 triumphantly. She grabbed El's hand once again as she stared the receptionist right in the eye and followed the photographer into the studio.

"Alright then! Let's get started! Would you like to try on some fun costumes? I mean you're already dressed fabulously but there's no reason we can't be silly with this!", the photographer exclaimed excitedly as he put down his BLT and moved around the room, setting up his camera and fiddling with backdrops. Eleven had never met a person so full of energy before.

"Do you want to try on more outfits for our photos El?", Max wanted El to make the choice since it was her first time at the mall and this day out was mainly for her.

"Okay", El smiled, not really sure what to make of this new and unusual situation.

They looked about the many rails of clothes and boxes of props that were available, suddenly Max jumped out in front El dressed in a shiny purple blazer with lacy gloves, a decoration in her hair and multiple pearl necklaces.