by Meghan Diane
And it was.
When we rounded the corner, Cassie audibly gasped. I watched as she took in the trees and the valley. I watched as she walked over to the very edge that I had sat on that morning, and threw open her arms. “You see this is what life’s about,” she said turning back toward me. “You were so right about this place. It’s gorgeous, and so freeing.” She turned back to face the valley once more, her arms still outstretched. “God, so freeing.”
I opened my camera lens and snapped a few shots, careful to not get caught. She’d never willingly let me take her picture, but she would appreciate it later.
When she sat down on the ledge, my ledge, I came and sat with her. I let her sit in silence for a minute, taking it all in before finally speaking.
“So,” I began. “I was here this morning.”
“Wait what? Then why are we here now?” Cassie looked up at me expectantly.
“Because I was here with Berkeley.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh yeah? I didn’t know you had another date. Why didn’t you tell me? How did it go?” She motioned to the surroundings with her hand. “Did you guys hook up, you know, on top of the world?”
I looked down at my Converse shoes, and sighed. “No, the date wasn’t that great. I mean this hike was beautiful. But she’s just not the girl for me. Here I was sitting up on this mountain appreciating how crazy beautiful nature and the world was, but all I could think about was Phoenix. And that’s when it hit me. I was here with the wrong person. I wanted to share this moment with Phoenix. I wanted her to be by my side, pointing out all of the things I didn’t know.”
Cassie continued to stare out into the valley. “Damn son. So you think you’re ready to take the plunge with her? You think you’re over being scared?”
“Yeah,” I whispered and reached for the subway token in my pocket. I pulled it out and ran my finger over the rough edges. I’d found the person that filled my heart and not just my bed. I’d found the person that challenged me to be better than I was the day before. I’d found the person that Madison wanted me to find. “I’ve got to get her back.”
“All right then. What can I help with?”
I stood up and pointed to my camera. I had chosen my Nikon F2 over my digital Nikon. It would be more work to develop the pictures and I’d probably have to stay up all night to do it, but it would be worth it. I silently thanked the community center for giving me a key.
“Phase one, take amazing pictures and make her swoon.”
“You’re evil and brilliant.”
I smirked. “Ten more minutes till sunset. And then let the magic begin.”
“If she doesn’t fall in love with you after these pictures, I’m taking you from her,” Cassie teased. “Those pictures are going to be brilliant.”
“Let’s hope, it’s my only chance. But,” I said, “don’t you dare think about getting into my beautiful car with all that dust on you.”
She raised her eyebrow at me. “Don’t think for a second, just because the sun has gone down that I don’t remember you making us lie on the ground just mere minutes ago. And yeah, I know it’s because the best shots never come from the easy angles. One of the many life lessons from Aurora.” She rolled her eyes. “You should make a book. Blah, blah, blah.” She was teasing me, I knew, but I smirked as she promptly began patting her shirt and pants down.
“Thank you.” I bowed my head in her direction. “Now,” I said, holding up two fingers. “On to phase two.” I climbed into the car and quickly glanced over at Cassie to inspect her pat-down job. “That’ll do.” I rolled my eyes.
She swatted my arm. “You’re so rude. Just tell me the plan.”
I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading to my eyes. If there was one thing I was good at, it was being creative at exactly the right times. “We’re going to go to that cute little jewelry store near work. You know the one we always go into and then leave crying because we want everything?”
“Oh I know the one. I’ve still got my eye on that freaking necklace with the signed guitar pick.”
“Right,” I said. “Well, I spoke to the owner earlier, and he’s going to make me a necklace. It’s going to be pretty basic, just a silver necklace with one big star, and one littler star. You know, a star for each of us.”
“Why are you so cute?” Cassie asked.
“Because you taught me how to charm the pants off the ladies?”
Cassie’s laughter filled the small space of the car. “Fair enough. Fair enough.”
* * *
On my way home, I called Ariel and told her my plan. I was going to go to the community center and develop the pictures tonight. I was only calling to let her know, but after she heard what I was doing, she insisted that I bring her along. If nothing else to keep me company while I worked. She was great like that.
We stayed up till four in the morning before finally falling asleep on the couch outside of the darkroom. It was an old couch that had probably been around since the seventies, but it was better than the floor.
At six a.m. when they turned on the lights I awoke with a start, scaring a sleeping Ariel beside me. “They’re ready!” She gave me a look that said she was less than pleased at being woken up so suddenly.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, having the courtesy to be embarrassed as I slowly pulled myself off the couch. “But they’re ready.”
“How do you know?” she asked, her eyes closed again.
“I just knowwww.” I poked her side. “Don’t you wanna see?”
Her eyes shot open. “Of course I want to see. But first I want to see some coffee okay?”
“Deal!” I chirped as I ran into the community center’s small kitchen.
When the coffeepot dinged ten minutes later, I was standing beside it. I had set out a conveyor belt of mugs, creamer and a spoon. They let me keep supplies in here for my late nights.
“It’s ready!”
A mumble from the hallway told me she was coming, or at least trying to.
I poured the coffee and the creamer as fast as I could, its contents spilling onto the counter here and there. Ariel greeted me with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll clean it up later. I promise.” I picked up her coffee cup and tried to plaster on a sweet smile. “For you.”
She narrowed her eyes, but took the cup anyway. “Come on, let’s go see.”
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked into the darkroom. I knew I had taken some great shots the night before, but I was still nervous.
“Wow,” Ariel breathed beside me. “I mean I knew they were going to be good, but damn girl. I don’t think we can give these to her. I think that you’re going to have to let me keep them. Especially this one.” She pointed at one of my favorites of the valley. The sun had just begun to set and the colors framed the outlines of the trees.
I certainly didn’t want to give up all of my photos, but I knew I would let her have that one. She had stayed up all night with me to do this, and it was the least that I could do. She really was always there for me when I needed it. Before I could think better of it, I wheeled around and wrapped her into a hug. A small gasp told me that she was just as surprised. “Thanks,” I whispered.
“Of course, my love,” she whispered back. “These pictures are really amazing, Aurora. But let’s give them a little while longer to dry. Grab your coat, I have an idea.”
At seven o’clock, we pulled up to a shop, right as the owner was flipping the sign to open.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“You’ll see.” She smiled. “I love this place.”
Ariel had taken me to a place that specialized in all things personalized. Mainly it was a shop for monogrammed letterheads, but they also specialized in stamp making.
“Here’s my idea. All real photographers have a signature, right? With digital photography it’s easier because you can just Photoshop your logos into them, but that isn’t the case with darkroom photography. What we are going to do is make you a stamp. That
way after you develop a photo you can put your signature at the bottom. It’ll make it more official.”
My eyes widened. It was one of the most thoughtful ideas that anyone had ever told me. She was right. It would make my work more official, more professional.
“I think it’s an amazing idea.” I beamed.
* * *
By three o’clock it was time for me to leave for work. I had spent the rest of the morning making sure my photographs were just right, adding my signature to each of them as I went along. I’d finally made something that I was proud of, something that was mine.
“Cassie!” I yelled across the store as I swung the door open. I wasn’t sure where she would be, but I knew if I yelled loud enough I’d find her. I didn’t care if there were customers in the store. “I did it! The photos are done!”
I spread them on the counter by the register, showing off my five favorites.
“Woah,” Cassie breathed. “Why are you so amazing?” She looked over at me, her eyes shining with pride. “And look at your signature. Since when are you so cool?”
I blushed, happy that she noticed without me pointing it out. This is why we were friends.
“What are you going to do with them?”
I smirked. “I was actually thinking something very basic. I think I’m just going to put them in a manila envelope so she has no idea what’s inside. And then I’m just going to slip them under the door. And since I have my signature on them, she’ll know it’s me.”
“What if she doesn’t call? I mean, she’s going to. This is like the most romantic thing ever, but what if? What’s your game plan then?”
“Well, then I will be crushed. But that also means we’re just not meant to be.”
She nodded her head up and down. “I see you, I see you.”
Secretly though, if she didn’t call, I would probably die. I’d just shrivel up into a hole and never come out. I’d never been so sure.
“And the necklace?” she asked.
“Ah.” I held it up for her to see. “He just finished it this morning.”
Cassie scooped it up and held it in the palm of her hand. “God, I’m so jealous of this girl. I want this.”
I blushed. “Well, I’m holding on to it until I see her again. If she doesn’t call me, or doesn’t like the photos, then it’s all yours.”
“She’ll call.”
* * *
Phase three of my plan involved Halley. I knew that she would give me a hard time about it at first, but in the end she would do it for me, she always did.
“So let me get this straight,” she said to me over the phone. “You want me to sneak over to Phoenix’s house on the seventh and slip a nondescript envelope under her door and then bolt?”
“Yes exactly. It’s not July anymore, like the tale of Orihime and Hikobishi, but she’ll get the reference just the same.”
I was sitting on my favorite bench outside of work on my lunch break, as I watched people walk by.
“Okay,” she said. “I’m in. Even if it is a crazy idea.” I knew she’d cave.
“Oh and also a lantern. I’ve been doing some research about this festival. There needs to be a lantern. So I’ll send one of those too.” I wanted this to be perfect. It just had to be.
“A lantern? I don’t know when you became so romantic, and I kind of want to throw up. But, like I said, I’m in.”
“Perfect.” I grinned. “I will send them in the mail after work. Oh and Halley?” I paused. “Make sure to wear all black.”
“Shut up. I will not.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The next week was the longest of my life. It was now the ninth and I still hadn’t heard from Phoenix. I was giving up hope, and it was killing me slowly.
“You’ve got to just let her go,” Cassie whispered beside me. “She’s not the one.”
Tears threatened to escape from my eyes. “But she is, I’m sure of it.”
Cassie pulled me in close, making the desire to cry stronger. “How about we go for pizza and beer after work today? We haven’t been in almost a week.”
I nodded, but was too afraid to speak. Too afraid that my voice would give out and I’d be left there, on the floor crying.
“Okay, pizza and beer. Pizza and beer.” I nuzzled my head into her shoulder a little more, not ready to let go yet.
A voice I didn’t recognize broke through the silence. “Umm, hey.” I pulled away, peering at the girl standing beside us.
She was gorgeous, and she was staring intently at Cassie, waiting.
“Hanna,” Cassie whispered.
My eyes widened. This is Hanna? I’d only seen a photo of her once before, and she was even more gorgeous in person. No wonder Cassie couldn’t let her go.
I took a step back, and watched as this girl, Hanna, walked into Cassie’s arms. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Cassie ran her hand down the back of the girl’s head and pulled her in closer. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten so weird.” She pulled back so that she could see the girl’s face. “I just like you a lot.”
When they kissed, it was the last straw. “YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!” I threw my hands up in the air, and stormed off.
I wanted to be happy for Cassie, I just couldn’t. Not right now, not when my heart was breaking.
I spent the rest of the day at work playing all of my favorite sad records in the store. Customers started to notice, but I didn’t care, and no one stopped me, especially not Cassie. They just let me wallow.
I sulked to my favorite bench on my lunch break. My food sat at my feet, but I didn’t feel like eating it. I didn’t feel like doing much of anything. How did this happen? I thought for sure this would work. I played with the necklace in my hands, sliding it between my fingers. I was beginning to hate myself for getting it made. I was just about to snap it in half when I felt someone sit down beside me. My body tensed. I wanted to yell at the stupid person at the top of my lungs, “GET Off MY BENCH!” But instead, I continued to sit, continued to stare at the scuffs on my Chucks that mocked me.
The person beside me started to strum on a guitar, and I nearly lost it. Can’t a girl have some peace and quiet when her heart was breaking? People were so inconsiderate.
When the person began to sing, I closed my eyes. I was going to explode. “You’re okay, you’re okay,” I told myself over and over again.
The girl’s voice began to take over my thoughts. Did she just say something about Cassiopeia? I turned to the musician beside me, suddenly intrigued.
My heart began to pound harder than it ever had before.
“Phoenix,” I whispered.
She smiled, but kept singing, kept melting my heart one chord at a time.
“Hey,” she whispered back, when the song came to an end.
“So I think I love you,” I blurted out. God did I really just say that?
The corners of her lips rose. “It’s about time, Aurora. It’s about time.” Then she leaned in, putting her lips to mine. And I didn’t shy away this time. I didn’t get that weird tug at me heart. I only had one thought as our lips touched and my hand reached up to pull her closer. Home.
* * *
“Why do you have to go so soon?” I whined. I was sitting in Phoenix’s lap, playing with the necklace that hung against her chest. We were at the park and I had packed a few sandwiches and a blanket for a late-night picnic. Really I had only wanted to come here so that we could stare at the stars and so Phoenix could tell me more stories. I had started off the night on my own side of the blanket, but that didn’t last long. I absentmindedly rubbed the stars between my fingers.
“Because I’ve been here for three days already and I told my boss I would only miss two days of work.”
I gently pulled the necklace closer to me, enough to make her head tip forward so that I could kiss her. “But I don’t think you should leave.”
“I wish I didn’t have to. But we’ll see each other soon enough
. It’s only two weeks, and then you’ll be back in my arms.” She leaned down and planted a kiss on my forehead. “Does that sound fair to you?”
“It sounds fair. I just don’t like it.” I leaned back to get a better look at her. My heart instantly began beating faster when I saw the desire in her eyes.
“Well then how about we go home and you can tell me what you do like?”
Images of the night before flooded my thoughts. Her shirt on the floor, my shoes by the door. Her lips on mine, the way she tasted. The way my breath caught when she breathed me in. And the way her skin felt on my skin. God, that was my favorite.
We had barely made it into the bedroom before Phoenix had me pinned up against the wall. Any insecurities, any doubts I’d had before had washed away. There was nothing left but raw emotion. I had ripped off Phoenix’s shirt before we’d even shut the door, and my shirt soon followed.
Being with Phoenix was better than I could have ever imagined. When we finally went to sleep at five a.m., it was out of pure exhaustion, and I couldn’t wait to relive that moment over and over again. Even if we did have to spend some time apart, Phoenix was worth waiting for.
“Yes, let’s go home.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Two weeks later, just as promised, I found myself in Phoenix’s arms on the beach. It was nearing midnight and we’d been lying there for close to two hours already. She had taken to planting small kisses on my forehead.
“Do you remember the first time we came here?” she whispered.
“Of course I do.” A gentle smile began creeping up my cheeks.
“It took all I had not to kiss you that night. But I knew you weren’t ready. And you had that coin.”
“Ah yes, the subway token.” I reached for it in my pocket, and held it up to the moonlight to inspect its rigid features. “I need to give this back to Madison.”