They weren't joking when they said they were helping. We went shopping the next day and they both argued on what looked best on me. On every store. All day long.

It was as exhausting as distracting.

I couldn't care less about the clothes. I was just happy tagging along. They were full of energy and were adamant on making me look, and feel exceptional.

It was refreshing after the torturous week I had.

Anne even wanted me to get a new haircut, but I put down my foot on that one. If there was something I loved about me, it was my long hair. I did let them style it in perfect soft curls that took over an hour to achieve.

I also got a few clothes just to keep them happy. For the dreaded exposition, they made me get a gray floral print dress, that had a layer of soft lace on top, creating a stylish effect. Cassie had suggested to keep it classic, despite Anne's complains.

My sisters didn't leave my side as I dressed up. We were all going to the expo together. They were pretty excited at the fact that her sister's random photo was going to be exposed. I have to say that between my friends and my sisters, I felt much better. I was still sad, but at least I wasn't crying at every corner.

They'd given me something to keep me busy with. Plus, looking at yourself and seeing a beautiful girl staring at you is a huge ego-boost.

Riley wanted me to try in my eyes the smoky effect she'd seen in a magazine, so we tried to tackle it. I say we, because she was reading the steps while I applied the shadow and Haley commented if it was like the picture or not. Their excitement faded when they wanted me to put makeup on them, but Mom didn't let us. I did sneak into their room and let them use my gloss.

The art gallery was located in one of the trendiest sides of town. Mom wasn't joking when she said that Michael was famous. He definitely was. The building where he'd summoned us was built only in glass. You could see right through it. Dad murmured that it resembled a cereal box and that there was nothing special about it, but Mom slapped his arm, shushing him and pretty much telling him to keep those remarks to himself, right before we walked through the main doors.

I had to disagree with my father for once. The venue was pretty amazing. Almost everything was made of the same material. It was also packed. So much that it was hard to find Cassie, but after a couple of text messages, we found each other. Anne was quite disappointed that she couldn't make it, but her boss had an emergency and needed her to cover for her at the shop.

"Hi!" Cassie smiled excitedly. "You look stunning!"

"Thank you," I answered shyly. A couple passed next to me and the girl pulled her boyfriend's sleeve, signaling at me. She said something before he glanced at me nodding.

"See? even strangers are gushing about you!"

Bewildered, I saw them walk away. The girl smiled at me once before she disappeared through the crowd. "That's weird," I mumbled, looking down on me and straightening an imaginary wrinkle off my dress.

"You look great," Cassie grabbed my arm and pulled me to the next room.

My parents steered away. I think Dad was making fun of the pictures and Mom was completely embarrassed. I could understand my father's point of view, though. Michael's pictures were as random as the ones I'd taken. The only difference was that he was famous and they were auctioned in thousands of dollars.

As we strolled through the different rooms, I couldn't help but look around trying to find Chris. He was bound to be close if he didn't want to fail the class. My stomach rolled uneasily thinking what could happen if I saw him again.

I wanted to see him so badly, but at the same time, I didn't.

Cassie asked me a few questions from the little cards every photo had, with all the technical data from the camera, lenses, etc. I had no idea what that meant. I shrugged the first two times and she caught on the fact that I had learned nothing. I was just glad that my parents were faraway to notice, too.

We climbed the stairs to the second floor, where I thought Michael had placed our pictures since they weren't in the first floor. Upstairs, most of the exhibition was about pictures of different cities. They were taken in black and white. I'd learned that it was Michael's favorite theme, since most of the photos were like this.

He had traveled around the world, from different cities in the United States to random places in Asia. The photos were taken in different angles, portraying one typical trait of the region. From Italy, he'd snapped an old woman shaping pasta. In Australia, he'd pictured the coral reef from an undersea shot. It was quite impressive.

I stared at it remembering the time I visited the aquarium with Chris. My heart sank, and I glanced around trying to see him once more to no avail. I lost Cassie; she got tired of waiting for me, and kept on with the other rooms, eager to see our photos.

The second room was filled with nudes. My lips tugged up as I thought of my parents strolling around the room. Dad was certainly going to be quiet here. They were all artistic nudes, nothing crude nor distasteful, though.

I strolled through the last room, my eyes roaming around the people, trying to find Chris; but somehow, I ended up staring at a picture of myself. 

My lips parted.

The whole wall was covered with different pictures of me.

I noticed the book picture I'd taken was on the last row, along with my other's classmates, but that seemed petty now.

Gazing back at the rest of the mural, I placed a hand on my mouth as tears brimmed in my eyes. Most of them were in the park. The first one was from the time I was standing over the group of children holding hands in a circle, me trying not to step over any of them, holding the camera and quite concentrated on the task. There was another, where I was seated on a bench, my backpack on the side and I was closing my eyes, smiling at the taste of the chocolate I'd just put in my mouth.

I snorted at that, making a few people turn my way for a moment. One lady stared longer at me, while tilting her head. "Your hair is different," I nodded, unable to form a coherent word because I was amazed at all those pictures hanging on the wall. "I like it", she added before smiling and turning away.

I blinked for a moment, bewildered at the fact that everyone was staring at pictures of me. I hugged myself before glancing at the wall again. My breath caught in my chest as my eyes landed on another picture. It was from the aquarium. I was observing the fish, a glint of awe shining through my eyes.

Chris took those pictures.

I'd never really noticed or paid attention to it. There were pictures of me in every task. One reading in the library, another one observing the flower photos in China Town and the last one was taken over the weekend. Cassie had taken it. I was next to Chris, my smile directed to the camera, while he was gazing intently at me.

This has to mean something.

My chest tightened. I glanced around but I couldn't see him through the herd of people. It was going to be impossible to find him. Frustrated, I grabbed my phone from my purse and stepped to the side, right next to the wall that overlooked the street. I was scrolling through the contacts when I looked up.

There he was.

Outside.

On the other side of the street.

His hands were shoved in the front pockets of his jeans, and he was rolling on his toes, looking to the side. I almost pound against the glass, trying to make him see me, but I figured that I couldn't do that.

I have to get down there.

I have to talk to him.

My heart was drumming inside my chest as I made my way through the stairs, trying to step down as fast as I could. It was not easy. I was going against the current and I had to literally push my way through.

Just as I took the last step, someone grabbed my arm.

Michael's brown eyes were glinting excitedly. "Farah, did you see it?"

"Yes." Let me go.

I have to see Chris!

He smiled. "Chris has been working on this project all summer. He's a really good photographer." My heart flipped. All summer? "I wasn't really happy when he mentioned it to me, so I made him work with another theme as well." Star Wars. "But at the end, he was right. You were the best inspiration." He wriggled his eyebrows while my heart was thumping so hard, that I felt like it could burst out at any moment. "And he clearly has feelings for you."

He does?

A warm feeling washed through me.

He does.

"Take care Farah, don't be a stranger, okay?" I nodded, eager to get out of his grasp. Finally, Michael let go of me.

I would have run to the entrance doors, but the first floor was even more crowded than upstairs. At last, I managed to step out of the building, breathing hard. I gazed at the place where I'd last seen him, but he was gone.

My stomach plummeted to the floor. No, no, no, no.

Still, I crossed the street, glancing to both sides, trying to see where he could have gone to.

"For fuck's sake!" I muttered completely frustrated, closing my eyes.

"I didn't know you cursed, Farah." My heart skipped a beat. Holding my breath, I turned around and found myself staring at those deep green eyes that drove me crazy.

I breathed out relieved to have found him. "There are a few things you don't know about me."

His stance was wary as he run a hand through his hair. "So, it seems."

My chest was panting from the effort of getting downstairs, the adrenaline just kicking in. "You're an idiot." I blurted out. Being in front of him ignited some sort of fire inside of me. One part was still pissed, but the other was soaring for him.

He snorted, a faint grin playing on his lips for a second. "I know." His eyes were bold and intense as gazed at me. "But you're an idiot too."

My breathing was even now and even though my heart constricted at the way he was staring at me, I nodded. He was right. I was an idiot.

"A stubborn idiot," I added glancing at the art gallery for a moment. I swallowed hard. My emotions were still in a frenzy, and I wanted to step closer to him to either punch him or kiss the crap out of him.

Chris chuckled. "Yes. Stubborn as hell." He shook his head, before his smile faded. "And that's a bit catchy apparently." I frowned. What do you mean? "Turns out that my heart is too stubborn to let you go, despite everything I've tried." He exhaled slowly while my whole heart melted for him. "And trust me, I tried really hard." He glanced to the side, not quite comfortable, but he kept on. "Despite it all, I found myself taking pictures of you when you weren't noticing, and trying to spend time with you even if it hurt like fuck." He gazed at me for a moment. His eyes weren't as bright as always, and there were dark circles under his eyes. He wasn't sleeping much. He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment, before opening his eyes again.

I fought the urge to reach out for him, to comfort him, to tell him that it was okay, that we were okay. But I also needed to let him talk, to let him be honest and speak what had been in his heart all this time. I needed to hear him out too.

"Yet, I was so angry that I wanted to hurt you, I wanted to see you in pain, I wanted to make you feel what I felt when you broke up with me, when you shut me off, when you blocked me."

My chest constricted. Oh Chris. I'm so sorry. My eyes brimmed with tears, and I swallowed hard, listening to him.

"It backfired. Every word that I meant to hurt you, felt like a fucking punch to my gut." His Adam's apple bobbed. "And I'm done. I can't keep fighting it."

My heart was tight as I took a step closer to him. "I'm really sorry too." I bit my lip as I leaned closer to him. "We're a pair of idiots."

His stare was steady and strong, as he cupped my chin. "Let's be idiots together, then."

I smiled, my heart soaring for him. "I'm moving to New York in the Winter."

His lips parted. "For me?" He brushed his thumb on my bottom lip, making me tingle all over.

"For me. I don't think I was happy in California. I missed my family, my friends and this light-headed jerk that I haven't been able to let go." I rolled my eyes playfully, blinking the tears away as I gazed at him.

His lips curved. "I thought I couldn't love you more, but you just proved me wrong." My breath caught in my chest at his words.

This was the most beautiful thing anybody had ever said to me.

He leaned in, closing the gap between us, kissing me softly before pulling away. "You know that you're stuck with me? Even if I'm an idiot?"

My smile widened as I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him to me. "Yes, but you're my idiot."

We smiled at each other before we kissed once more.

Thank you for reading me!