That's just life

5.

                                                N  O  W

So yeah.

I've been in love with my best friend Alex. I don't know where it comes from, it just happens. And the worst part is that he doesn't know. 

As for now, after Ava left, I'm just sitting around trying to find out some good places around my house for photography.

I really love photography. I feel that it's totally amazing to just capture a moment in a single frame, and if done properly, they become memories for life.

I realize that I don't really want to think about my lungs anymore.

Ava, Alex, Trish, Cole, and Audrey wanted to have dinner with me tonight. I figured that they too realized that I needed a distraction.

At 5, mum drops me off at Chipotle and I spot Alex and Audrey already there standing outside the hotel.

I rush over to them and hug Audrey. She squeezes my hand tightly like she's never gonna let go.

This surprises me. Trish isn't someone you'd expect to do the cheesy stuff. I look sideways and look at her properly. Her honey skin is slightly tainted by the soft orange of the setting sun behind making her freckles stand out even more, And her wavy brown hair pulled up in a half ponytail is caught in the wind. Her hazel eyes are bright and dewy. She looks so candid and carefree right now, I whip out my camera (which I carry with me everywhere) and start snapping away.

She realizes I'm clicking her photos, and colour rushes to her face. Alex grins. All of us know she's shy. Very shy. She hates the spotlight on her. 

But I couldn't help it. I start smiling too. A slow grin makes its way across her face and brightens it up more than any light could.

I glance at Alex. He's looking at her with a faraway look in his eyes, almost like he's....

No. Don't go there.

Instead, I try to find something else to worry about.

"Hey Alex, are we still on for Wednesday Wonders?" I ask.

Wednesday Wonders has been mine and Alex's tradition since we were children. We decided to keep it on every 3rd Wednesday of the week 'coz Wednesdays were so boring, and in smack in the middle of the week, we needed something interesting to look forward to. We'd go out on those evenings with some money and just roam around  wherever we felt like going, like to movies or to the park or both, followed by dinner.

Alex doesn't respond.

"Earth to Alex?" I ask jokingly.

He snaps out of whatever trance he was in.

"Yeah?", he asks facing me, but I can tell his eyes aren't really focusing on me.

I narrow my eyes. "Alex, are you-"

I'm cut off by a hug. From Ava. Who apparently thinks that sneaking up from behind me and then pouncing on me is something everyone does.

I laugh a bit, and then turn around to face her. Her hair is let down and she's wearing a summer dress with a jacket on top.

She looks awesome, as always.

She spots my frown, and pouts.

"I was hugging my best friend."she says.

"Yeah more like crushing my ribs" I mumble.

Once all of us are here, we go in and have a table.