Picture Perfect

A/N: I want to sincerly apologize for any grammatical errors, as that happens to be my greatest flaw in all of this. No matter how many classes I take or books I read, I can never seem to wrap my mind around comma placement, verb tenses, or anything else of the like. So bare with me and any help is appreciated! Thank you and enjoy....(Hopefully)

Cami Reynolds was young, blonde and supposedly on a fast track to the top of the photography world if her agent was to be believed, (which Neil usually wasn’t). He was mostly just talk because deep down she knew there was something missing from her pictures, something that had been gone for quite awhile now. The missing link that kept her photos from being art and trapped her in the world of photo journalism and the on the rare and desperate occasion that of the stalkerazzi. She knew that a long time ago she’d had that specialness, that rare form of talent that separated the good from the great. Then in one fateful day she’d destroyed a life and lost a part of her soul where that specialness had lived.

People always said that what had happened that day hadn’t been her fault, that there was nothing she could have done to stop it, but she knew better. No one else had heard everything he’d said on the phone the night before, no one else had read the letter that he had left for her. If they had they wouldn’t have been so quick to forgive and soothe away the pain.

And it was the pain really that was the worst of it, well that and the nightmares. The gnawing in the pit of her stomach constantly reminding her of the destruction she’d caused was nothing compared to the cold sweats she woke up in almost every night. His face haunted her, his voice torturing her with every word that flowed out of his mouth making the regret flow over her in huge waves she just wished she could drown in.

So during the day she did the only thing that she could, she buried it. The letter was trapped at the bottom of desk drawer that she never opened; she forced him from her thoughts and bottled the emotion and pain as tightly as she could. It was the only way she knew how to continue on, but she feared the day it would all catch up with her. She lived in a constant fear of it keeping herself as distant from everyone else as well as she could. Nobody got in that close, close enough to see the pain, the fear. She only had to worry about her career and nothing else, nothing else was important. She couldn’t handle anything else being important.

//

Cami let her camera drop easily from her hands on to the smooth leather of the passenger seat in her car. It had been an interesting night to say the least. She was used to working shows but this time she’d totally lost focus and become distracted, something that could totally get in the way of the deal she was all set up to sign with the magazine.

It was something that had almost never happened to her. That was why she had done so well for herself; her drive, her determination, her focus, those were the qualities that got her jobs like this in the first place. Covering the fashion shows of an up and coming designer for a major magazine was what she’d worked towards, what would get her pictures seen, published even. She didn’t want to go throwing that away all because she couldn’t tear her eyes or her camera away from a distraction in the form of a six foot tall guitarist with shaggy black hair that fell into the darkest blue eyes she’d ever seen and face that made it obvious why girls fell in love with band boys so easily. She wouldn’t be one of those girls; she had her career to focus on first before she even thought about a guy like that, or any guy for that matter.

Sighing she situated the rest of the equipment in the car before she left to go back and check in with the designer who’d rushed out at the last second grabbing her frantically talking a mile a minute about something Cami hadn’t quite caught. She walked slowly focusing on the bright pink carpet beneath her feet, anxious to get out of the venue and home to her dark room. Thinking about the sheer amount of film she had waiting for her in her bag she failed to notice Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome himself heading her way until she smashed right into him causing him to drop the box of merchandise he was carrying.

“Oh God I’m so sorry, I was distracted by… the carpet… I didn’t mean too…God here let me help.” Cami faltered rambling as she met the dark blue eyes in front of her.

“It was my fault, don’t worry. I have to learn walk and talk at the same time.” Mr. TD and H said smiling widely as he expertly scooped up the spilled contents of the box.

Cami offered a weak smile as she looked at him again realizing almost at once that this was the guitarist whose face filled at least four rolls of film in her car.
Distraction may as well have been printed across his forehead. She had to get away and fast, “I know what you mean, I have to learn to watch what’s going on when my camera isn’t attached to my face.” She frowned, looking quickly away from those beautiful eyes.

“Oh so that was you taking pictures tonight? Do you work for Xi?” He asked as he situated the box under his arm.

“Zee? Uh, no I’m here for Spotlight Magazine. You know, just covering some upcoming designer’s show and all that.” She gestured to the press pass around her neck blushing.

“Spotlight is doing a feature on Xia?” Tall dark and handsome asked sounding genuinely excited, which made Cami’s heart fall more than she was willing to admit.

“Ryan, less flirting more carrying.” A good looking brunette guy that Cami recognized as the singer called at Mr.TD and H, who rolled his eyes.

“Shut up Cameron, I’m coming.” Tall dark and handsome (whose name was apparently Ryan) yelled back flipping his hair out of his eyes. Cami felt a smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she watched him blush lightly and rub a hand over the back of his neck.

“I should go help them finish packing up.” Ryan said smiling at her widely.

“Probably, I’m sorry again about running into you Ryan.” Cami turned to continue into the venue feeling slightly disappointed with the whole exchange, could she have sounded any more idiotic then that? She stopped when she felt a hand on her wrist and looked over her shoulder to see Ryan smirking.

“I don’t think it’s fair that you know my name and I don’t know yours.” He pulled gently at her wrist until she turned around and met his eyes.

“Cami.” She breathed, desperately trying to not let him see how flustered she was.

“Cami, huh, well I’ll have to remember that.” He walked backwards slowly holding onto her hand until the last possible second before letting it slip from his fingertips. He turned and ran to catch up with the rest of the band. Cami let out a shaky breath laced with curses. She knew better than to let herself get that caught up in someone, especially so fast. It was entirely too familiar a situation for her to be comfortable with.

Shaking her head she forced herself to keep walking forward and tried her hardest to wipe Ryan away from her memory. She didn’t have time for that; she wouldn’t go back there, not after Luke. Cami stopped walking appalled that she had even let those memories back into her head. They didn’t exist, it had never happened, he had never happened. Determined she raised her head, squared her chin and bottled all the feelings up again. She couldn’t deal with any of it right now; she had to build her career that’s what was important not anything else. She allowed her mind to go blank and everything else to go numb once again, as she searched out the designer.
Alexia Ryan, a petite brunette with striking blue eyes, had an attitude that radiated off her, making her easy to spot across the room. The instant she saw Cami heading back her way her entire face lit up and she came rushing over.

“Oh thank god you’re still here!” She yelled excitedly causing Cami to smile slowly.

“What can I help you with Ms. Ryan?”

“My assistant dropped our camera and destroyed all the pictures we had for our personal records. I was wondering if there was any way we could get copies of yours, if it won’t get you in trouble with your editor or anything.” Alexia explained looking altogether too desperate for Cami not to get sucked right in.

Cami’s smile widened she knew what it was like to lose pictures you were depending on because of human error, “Of course. I’ll bring by a set of prints to your office tomorrow.”

“Oh thank god! How about we make it a lunch thing instead? That way I can avoid my office entirely tomorrow.” Alexia smiled conspiratorially.

“Sure, that’s no problem.” Cami said nodding.

Alexia beamed at her, “Great, I’ll have my assistant call you in the morning and set something up. Oh wait! Did you happen to get any pictures of the band that was playing as well? It’s more of a personal thing, but there’s no harm in asking right?”

“Yes I did. Did you want copies of those as well?” Cami heard the nervous quiver in her voice and wanted to kick herself for it.

“If you have any of the lead singer.” Alexia blushed prettily and looked down.

“Mine are uh, a little biased, but I’ll look through them.” Hearing those words out loud made Cami’s stomach sink. She hated that she had made the mistake that she had tonight and now she had to openly admit it to someone else.

“Biased towards whom? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking that is.” Alexia smiled at her warmly making the sinking in her stomach even worse. If this girl only knew the type of person Cami really was then she wouldn’t be smiling at her like that.

“The guitarist.” Cami admitted refusing to meet the young designer’s eyes.

“Ryan? Really, I didn’t think you’d be the type to go for band boys. I was thinking more like the tortured artist type of guy.” Alexia joked and failed to notice Cami visibly flinch.

“I haven’t had much luck with that type of guy.” Cami said quietly. Alexia looked at her obviously questioning the sadness in her voice, but was nice enough to not delve any deeper.

“Ok so lunch tomorrow. Thank you so much by the way; you’re really saving my life here.” Alexia held out her hand for Cami to shake. Cami did hurriedly, excited to be on her way home and back into her darkroom, the only place where none of her problems followed her.

“It’s no problem. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She mumbled and retracted her hand anxiously. Alexia looked like she wanted to say something more but Cami made her exit quickly.

Sighing with relief she pushed her way through the large double doors and into the chilly open air. She pulled her jacket tighter and squared her jaw as she prepared to walk past the band who was still packing up everything. Cami glued her eyes to floor on a direct route to her car choosing to ignore when she saw Ryan’s head turn in her direction from the corner of her eye. She wouldn’t give in to him she had to worry about her pictures and that’s it. She saw him coming in her direction and tried to hurry even more without seeming like she was running away even though that was exactly what she was doing. She had barely touched the handle when she felt his presence behind her. He touched her shoulder lightly and Cami couldn’t help the shiver that ran down her spine. Turning slowly she tried in vain to wipe the look of terror from her face.

“Oh man did I scare you? I’m sorry.” Ryan apologized and Cami met his eyes unable to formulate words.

“Cami?” He asked as she looked away still not speaking to him.

“I didn’t scare you that bad did I?” He joked, sending her the smile that was the reason she had been trying to avoid him in the first place.

“No, I just wasn’t expecting it. I’m fine.” She whispered sneaking another quick look at that smile knowing it would be her undoing.

“Is that a promise? Because you certainly didn’t look it a second ago.”

“What can I say I have a very low startle point I guess. I’ll work on it before the next time you sneak up on me.” She quipped feeling surprise as the sarcasm she’d once had slipped back into place. She felt even more surprised at the gratified feeling that flowed through her when she heard the chuckle escape his lips.

“Planning on seeing me again sometime soon are you?” He asked taking a step closer to her. Cami took a step back bumping into her car as she did.

“Only if you earn it pretty boy.” She said and pushed him back playfully so she could open her door. Closing her door she took a deep heaving breath surprised at her own audacity. She never should have let it go as far she had and she was pretty sure that it was now going to become a problem she’d have to deal with. She never should have worked this show she’d had a bad feeling from the beginning and now she knew why. It was like the situation with Luke all over again. The instant attraction, the charisma, the fluttering in her stomach it was too much of the same, and entirely too terrifying for her to handle. The knocking on her window startled her and she struggled to catch her breath before she rolled down her window slowly.

“You can’t leave it on that note. That’s just plain mean and you know it.” Ryan said leaning in the window and smiling at her once again.

“I can and I think that I will. Leave you wanting more and all that.” She said forcing the edge into her voice hoping desperately that he didn’t hear the uneasiness she was sure was still there. He shook his head oblivious to her unsteadiness.

“I’ve never been a fan of girls playing hard to get. “

“Oh let me guess you like them exactly like most groupies come. Fast and easy right? No wonder you’re in a band. Suddenly it all makes so much sense.” Cami switched tactics hoping that her rudeness would make him lose interest.

“You know, I feel like I should take offense to that, but since you can’t really take offense to things that are true I guess I’ll let it slid this time.” He smirked at her showing her he was just playing along. Cami smiled weakly turning on her car.

“Thanks ever so much. I love a little pity from a rock star wannabe.” Cami put the car in reverse, but Ryan still didn’t remove himself from her window.

“Ouch, why do you enjoy being so mean to me beautiful?” Ryan asked and Cami’s response died in her throat. That was what Luke had called her when things were still good, before it had all come crashing down and created what she was now.

“I have to go. I’m sorry.” She whispered and he pulled himself out of the window confused. She pulled the car out quickly ignoring him calling after her as the tears started to run down her face.