Clearly

I stared at Marcie through my camera lens, continuously taking pictures on her third roll of the day. Today really wasn’t all that bad. Marcie was fully clothed and, for once, instead of trying to be easy and a bit slutty, she looks elegant and wise. Elegant and wise, in my opinion, translates into an enviable form of beauty and its way more respectable than presenting yourself as someone who is slutty and loose. It’s as if she’s finally proven that there’s more to her than meets the eye, that there really is the respectable and wise socialite buried somewhere under the ditzy Marcie that most people know. Hell, it’s buried way deep and will probably rarely ever be seen again, but it does exist. At least some of Mel’s lessons weren’t wasted on her youth.

I wanted so badly to be able to enjoy this photo shoot, marvel at the way that the flowing gown framed her curvaceous body and how she was actually being cooperative and respectful instead of being overly intrusive, but I couldn’t. I’d probably never get another opportunity like this, one where Marcie isn’t legitimately driving me up a wall and making me constantly question why I decided to keep this job, but the entire experience was lost on me. Hell, I wasn’t even putting much effort into worrying about the lighting and the angles of the photographs since my thoughts seemed to consistently wonder elsewhere, refusing to focus on the young female in front of me.

My eyes quickly glanced at the clock on the wall to my left before they went back to focusing at the image of Marcie in her gown through my camera lens. In exactly seven minutes my photo shoot and shift with Marcie will be complete, meaning that in seven minutes, my “date” with Pierce will begin. The mere idea of thinking that in just seven minutes I may or may not be on a date with one of Hollywood’s favorite socialite’s that is not only gorgeous, but kind, caring, and filthy rich, astounds me. I mean, it’s Pierce Gordon, he can’t be gay and I’m probably just getting ahead of myself, but he specifically said the word date. I mean, he could be using it as an expression, but my illogical mind continuously seems to correct that thought and tell me he meant it the way I so desperately want him to mean it. I can’t believe I’m breaking my first rule of business, but Pierce is so worth it.

A loud sigh broke free from my lips as I slowly removed the camera from in front of my face, raising the strap above my head so that I could carefully place it back into my photography bag next to the few extra rolls of film that I had purposely bought for my date later. “I think we’ve got everything you’ll need today, Marcie,” I voiced, making conversation with the girl who was slowly getting off the bed while trying not to ruin her dress that screamed that it was expensive.

“Good, I had fun with this one,” she said simply. It wasn’t anything over the top, more of an older type of photograph that would look beautiful in black and white, but she was definitely right about her observation.

“I honestly think this is your best one yet,” I murmured as I threw my bag over my shoulder, smiling down at the girl who was now basically me height since she was in those impossibly high heels of hers.

“Cool,” she said excitedly before lifting her hand up and giving me a feebly wave as she clutched the silky material of her dress in her hands so she wouldn’t trip over it as she journeyed to her next destination. If photo shoots like this start to become more and more common with Marcie, I may actually enjoy coming to workthough Pierce already does that for me.

I peeked around the now empty room, picking up the check that Marcie had written for me prior to the photo shoot. I pocketed it as I made my way out of the backdoor of the house, smiling at how the sky was already a thick blanket of black, the half moon and stars shining brilliantly against it. As time goes on, it’s becoming easier for me to navigate the estate and though I’m completely clueless as to where the little lake that I would be taking pictures of is, I know which general direction it’s in because of Pierce’s instructions.

It seemed like I had been wondering aimlessly for hours, though it was probably only ten minutes. I was walking across a vast field of freshly cut glass, the moon and stars illuminating pretty patterns on the bed of grass as they peeked through the surrounding trees. I quickly reached into my bag and popped upon the small compartment in my camera that held the film canister, removing the one from Marcie’s photo shoot and replacing it with a roll of colored film that would come out beautifully when I turned the flash on, so I did just that. I lifted the camera to my face, peering through the lens expertly as I crouched down to get the perfect angle of seeing the moon through the tree’s while leaving an air of mystery. If it was just the moon peeking over the trees it would be amateur, not allowing the snapshot to have any deeper meaning to it.

A tiny yelp made its way past my lips as I stood up quickly, clutching my camera to my chest as I spun around to see what had touched my shoulder, my erratic heartbeat immediately calming when I noticed it was just Pierce with a slightly cocky grin on his plump lips.

“I saw you standing here like a chicken without a head and figured I’d offer you my services,” he said politely, cocking his head to the side, indicating which direction the little pond or lake would be in. I’m honestly not exactly sure what type of body of water it is, but it surely is beautiful.

“They’re much appreciated,” I said around a quiet chuckle that I hoped he didn’t hear. He was so polite and so gentlemanly, something that made me both giddy and giggly since it was a trait that’s very uncommon in people these days, rich or poor.

“The stars are shining bright tonight,” Pierce muttered absentmindedly as the pond started to come into view. He was trying to make small talk to avoid awkward silences that seem to inevitably ruin dates and anything along those lines.

“Perfect backdrop to a still life,” I observed as we stopped at the edge of the lake. Pierce nodded his head, quietly humming in agreement as he took the cap off of the lens of his camera, putting it down softly on a tree stump next to him, moving aside for me to place my photography bag on the stump too.

“I used to have that camera, it’s a very good one,” I observed awkwardly, my nerves starting to kick in as I actually realized that we were alone in the dark in an area that could be really romantic if someone took advantage of the opportunity.

“What happened to it?” He asked quietly as his eyebrows furrowed. He waited for my response as he lifted the camera to his lips and angled it to a specific area across the pond where a few lily pads were piling over each other, snapping a few pictures.

“An old customer had accidentally knocked it out of my hand when I was changing the rolls of film. She paid me back and I just used the money to get the newer version of the same camera as well as buying a photography bag in attempts to avoid that happening a second time,” I muttered, grimacing at the memory. At the time, that was my best and favorite camera. It was one of my most cherished possessions and I honestly would have cried as I saw it shatter on the hard wood floor if there weren’t people around. The few cameras that I have are like my babies.

“At least you got a better one out of the deal,” Pierce murmured, always being the optimist.

“That’s true,” I murmured as I stood next to him. “Try to angle the camera a bit to the side so that the lily pads are on the side and you can get the water rippling into them to add to the effect,” I murmured softly, instructing him on what I would do if I were taking the picture instead of him.

He peeked at me before leaning towards me, the side of his body pressed against the side of mine as he did what I had told him do, a satisfied noise being made in the back of his throat after a few clicks of his camera. “That actually made the picture so much better,” he said in a bit of a surprised tone, looking at me expectantly for more guidance. He seemed like he generally wanted to know more about the art of photography and he was eager to learn.

We spent the next hour of two going through several rolls of film. Pierce had pleaded with me to allow him to borrow my camera and I ended up giving in to his please, giving it to him cautiously and threatening to throw him in the pond if anything were to happen to it while it was in his possession. I don’t trust people openly with my equipment. Pierce had quickly taken a liking to my camera, complimenting how everything seemed to be so much clearer when he looked through my lens. As time wore on, he was able to find new angles for his pictures instead of using the cliché head on angle that most inexperienced people would use, though the cliché head on angle is what’s best for specific types of pictures, like scenery pictures.

Pierce sighed as he noticed that my final roll of film was coming to an end. He was generally enjoying himself and I couldn’t help but smile at how such a complex person had so quickly become absorbed with the simple art of learning how to properly take a picture.

“There’s only one picture left,” he said as a pout formed on his pink lips, his eyes scanning the area in front of us, looking for an angle that he hadn’t taken a picture of yet, though his hands came up empty. He peeked up at me questioningly, trailing my curled up form with his eyes as I continued to lean comfortably against the tree stump that seemed to be so out of place in such a beautiful setting.

“I honestly think you’ve taken a picture of everything down to the random ant that you saw on your shoe,” I said around a chuckle. He really did enjoy taking pictures. He could probably sit there and photograph his hand for hours, taking it from different angles and moving his fingers to be in a million and one different positions.

He grumbled before walking over to me, leaning his body next to mine on the stump as he brought the camera up, contemplating on what he should take his last picture of. He looked at me victoriously before eagerly placing his lips roughly on my smooth cheek, allowing a huge smile to form on my lips as my nose scrunched up and eyes closed, my hands winding around his neck as if they had a mind of their own. I felt his hot lips press further against my cheek as I could see a flash of light through my eyelids, the hot lips removing themselves from my cheek moments after the flash had gone off.

I opened my eyes to see a smiling Pierce gently removing the camera from around his neck, reaching up and placing it in my bag and zipping it shut for me since my arm was still loosely wrapped around his neck. I sighed as I looked up at the sky, knowing it was late and it was probably time for me to go soon.

“I have to go,” I voiced my thoughts quietly, noticing how I was reluctant to even make that announcement.

Pierce’s facial expression clearly read reluctance to let me leave as well as disappointment that our time together had flown by so quickly, though it would eventually have had to come to an end anyway. “Alright,” he muttered, though he made no move to hoist himself up off of the grass that we both sat side by side on. “You have to promise to give me a copy of that last picture though,” he said thoughtfully, that beautiful smile being placed on his lips again.

“It’s a done deal,” I said around a smile.He really wants a copy of the picture where he kissed. me!

“Good,” He said thoughtfully, leaning over to place a tiny kiss to my upper lip, nipping at my bottom one softly as he pulled away. “I had fun tonight, Dalton,” he murmured as he stood up, ruffling my hair softly as he waved goodbye, walking off in the direction of his family’s monstrosity of a house.

I let my head fall back against the tree stump, a huge grin on my lips as I stared up at the dark sky for a few moments, hoisting myself off of the ground soon after. Today was perfect, amazing, beautiful, and any other word that illustrates what a good time I had had today. And not to brag or anything, but it had absolutely the perfect ending.

I wanted to run across the field, my hands waving in the air as I screamed happily. All of the turmoil that had been residing in me had temporarily subsided the second that I felt the lightest of pressure of Pierce’s lips against my own. I wanted to laugh loudly and spin around in circles because I felt so free and happy, nothing could tear me down from my high.

But no, I didn’t do either of that since I’d probably look a bit childish and a bit creepy when I’m actually the furthest thing. I allowed my heart to continue to hammer against my ribcage as that infamous storm of butterflies devoured my stomach as I got up and slowly walked back to my car, my hands buried in my pockets as I kicked the rocks in front of me carelessly. A small smile seemed to be permanently situated on my lips as I continued to kick rocks and stare at the ground so that I wouldn’t trip as I searched for my car.

Today was definitely an all around memorable day.