^^

I adjust my camera settings for the low light, watching the world through my viewfinder.

It's easier this way – one step removed from the chaos of Sarah Lavigne's living room. The lens is like a barrier between me and the world.

It kinda turns them all into potential compositions instead of people I don't know how to talk to.

I watch Naomi Hayes toss her head back laughing through my camera, her bright colored braids catch the dim lighting.

Click.

I capture the moment: her real smile. It's as if she is the sun because everyone wants to be around her.

She has that effect on people – this gravity that draws everyone in. Everyone except me, that is. I'm more like a distant observer from outside her solar system.

My sister Rue insisted I come tonight.

"You can't spend every weekend in your darkroom toying with your little camera," she'd said, practically shoving me out the door.

She didn't understand that I'm more comfortable with chemical baths and red lights than with punch-high teenagers trying to figure out who they are.

I lower my camera, letting it hang from the strap around my neck.

From my perch on the window seat, I can see the whole room: the impromptu dance floor where couples sway to music that's too loud, the snack table with its wiped out chip bowls, and the circle of people playing some game. It was seven minutes of heaven at first but now, it seems to have shifted to something else.

It's all seniors and Naomi's at the center of it, of course. She's always at the center of everything, though not in the obvious way some popular kids are.

Just about her energy.

I've spent an unhealthy number of months watching her through my camera lens in the few classes we share, at school events, at the few parties I've been dragged to. Not in a creepy way – I'm the yearbook photographer, after all. It's my job to document these moments.

But I'll admit, my lens finds her more often than strictly necessary. And that's only because I find her... Entertaining.

Someone's phone flashes as they take a picture, and I cringe. Terrible lighting, wrong angle. Their subject is probably washed out.

I could tell them how to do it better – explain about ambient light and composition – but that would require speaking up. Instead, I fiddle with my camera settings again.

Whatever game the seniors are on seems to be getting interesting. The circle has tightened, everyone leaning in to hear whatever Sarah is saying to Naomi.

I lift my camera instinctively, focusing on Naomi. Her face is the  perfect mix of shock and amusement.

Click.

"You always bring that thing to parties?"

I'm startled, almost dropping my camera because well, someone just caught me doing the unnecessary stuff.

Ethan Matthews is standing next to my window seat, holding a red cup, a curious expression on his face.

I've taken photos of him for the basketball team. He has a good smile that makes for great action shots.

"I... yes?" I manage, pushing a stray blonde lock behind my ear. "I mean, someone has to, right?"

He nods like this makes perfect sense, though we both know most party documentation these days happens through shaky smartphone videos and overexposed, pathetic selfies.

"Mind if I..." He gestures to the empty space next to me.

I scoot over, trying not to feel too much like a deer in headlights. I'm praying he doesn't say anything about it.

"Naomi just got dared to do something," he says.

"Oh," I mutter because I should say something. "That's... something"

"Yeah." He takes a sip from his cup. "Should be interesting."

I hum noncommittally, but my stomach does a weird little flip. Not for any big reason but because I'm just curious and any detailed entail on the dare would be super useful.

But Naomi and I are completely in different worlds, only sharing AP Literature for a semester so that means her friends are not my friends and I can't ask anyone else.

I lift my camera again to have something to do with my hands.

Through the viewfinder, I watch Naomi's attention turn to Megan Tate, but she seems distracted. Her eyes keep scanning the room, like she would rather be anywhere else than in that circle.

I should drop my camera before she catches me but it's too late. Her gaze violently lands on me and for a second, our eyes lock.

Click.

The shutter captures the exact moment she notices me noticing her. I lower my camera quickly, heat rushing to my face, but not before I notice the flicker across her face – curious? Confusion?

I can't tell.

"Got any good shots?" Ethan asks, either ignoring my red cheeks or he just does not care.

"I, um, maybe? The lighting's not great for—" I stop, trailing off when my eyes notice Naomi standing up from the circle.

She stretches, but a second later, she appears to be moving.

In our direction.

My heart kicks into overdrive. But she's probably just heading for the snack table, or the bathroom, or literally anywhere else. There's no reason for her to—

"Hey, Ethan," she says, stopping in front of us. "Lucy, right?"

My wrong name in her mouth sounds nice and at this point, I can be all the Lucy's she wants me to be.

"Luna," I manage, grateful when Ethan carries the conversation.

"Taking a break from the game?" he asks.

"Mmm," she agrees, but she's looking at my camera. "Cool piece. You're the yearbook photographer?"

Dumb question but I answer.

"Yes. One of them. There are others. I just..." Right, I'm bubbling.

"Can I see?"

She gestures to my camera, and I hesitate. I never show people unedited photos. But that's not why I won't let her see.

There's literally a bunch of her photos in here and they're just too many to be for the yearbook.

"They're not edited yet," I warn, but I don't move.

She sits down on my other side, like this is a completely normal thing that happens all the time – and leans close over my shoulder.

I can't even ignore the vanilla mixed with fruit scent on her. I try very hard to focus on something else but it's too much.

"I don't mind," she says, and she sounds like she means it.

I shake my head, whatever I do next, I shouldn't look at her because we are going to be literally lips on lips. Damn she is too close.

"Sorry, I cant." I hop off the window. My jeans feel funny and too tight or maybe it's because I'm having a hard time breathing. "I could gladly show you the finished product if you're still interested." Right after I remove some of your photos.

Naomi's dark eyes roam over my face as if she is trying to decide whether she will be interested in the next two days or not. If there's one thing we all know about her is she gets bored easily and that's how she ends up having boyfriends for a week or days.

"Yeah," she says after a while. "That'd be cool."

I dare to hold her gaze, looking at the light dancing in her eyes and how much I want to snap this right now but someone calls Naomi's name from across the room, and just like that, she's standing up.

"See you around ," she says and turns to Ethan. "Toodles handsome."

My stomach drops and as stupid as it sounds, I wish I were Ethan right now.

"Huh," is all he says. And to be honest, this was worthy of the 'huh'.

Naomi coming up to me to see my photos is new and calls for a 'huh' and is bad and more bad.

I lift my camera again, but Naomi's not there.

Through the viewfinder, I catch her by the door.

Click.

I take one more photo of her.

In this one, she is holding a phone to her ear and glancing over her shoulder.

Looking right at me.

++

We like or not? Personally I do!

Hope you had fun and please do comment and vote.

Naomi and Luna are going to be your best friends!!!!