Beyond The Filter

Tonight was beautiful, just was it was like earlier, not a cloud in the sky, yet this time I couldn't capture some of these memorable moments. I need my camera in my hands, it's what keeps me whole, keeps me sane. I have the parts to it grasped between my hands firmly as Gerard leads me down various streets. I've never been to this part of town. The feel of it was sort of middle class, normal everyday neighbourhood with friendly, inviting looking houses. Completely different to what I'm used to. Being as I have to live on my own, I'm used to worn out, trampy, horrible buildings with people that look like they should be in jail or in rehab. Nobody really cared about me, nobody checked in on me apart from my older step-brother, Pete. He was the only person in this world I loved, he always tied to find time to come and see me and help around my centuries old flat. I didn't notice I was gazing into the distance until I was interrupted by the same angelic voice I heard earlier.
"Hey, Crystal? You okay? It's not much further I swear, just round the corner okay?" He assured me. I just nodded slightly and smiled at him. The first person I think that cares about me that's not my family and I'm already fucking it up for myself. Damn it.
"Oh that's okay! I was expecting it to be further away. So, how come you were out tonight on your own? Do you usually do this?" I questioned.
"Oh, to be honest, yes I do usually do this. I have trouble sleeping almost every night. It's awful. I'll find myself walking until four in the morning by myself just lost in my thought. I always thought there was something romantic about midnight walks? Right?" He smiled.
"I guess!" I say shyly.
Get a grip! My head shouts furiously. It's never content.
"Yeah... Oh we're here!" He says as he opens the wooden oak door that lead into the most outstanding house I've seen in a while. I entered the house slowly, attempting to take it all in slowly but everything screamed 'look at me!' In here. Amazing fashion sense, beautiful decor but with a simplicity touch to it. I stood, mouth gaping as Gerard touched me lightly on the shoulder.
"You haven't seen the best part yet, sweetheart!" He whispered in my ear.
What the fuck do you think you're doing?! You don't know him! But yet you're in his house?! I wish my head would shut up for one second. But as it's thoughts took over my body, I started to tense up everywhere and my hands were shaking furiously. I couldn't help it. I had nothing with me. No camera, my camera was my life, as if when I pull it out, I can escape life itself and just put a happy filter on it. Capturing the beautiful moments of life and letting the bad ones escape, never to be seen again. As the tears swelled up in my eyes, Gerard turned to face me.
"Crystal, it's fine I'm not going to hurt you. I won't let anyone hurt you, you're safe here. I've got something to show you though, take my hand?" He suggested and I slightly nodded in agreement against judgement of my thoughts and followed him down a corridor. The house was all mainly the same. Cream with eloquent touches of art here and there. But then we reached a door that seemed out of the ordinary, nothing like the rest of the house. It seemed more vibrant, yet stylish and shuttle at the same time. All it was was a white door with various cartoon and fictional characters dotted about it. I touched one of them and realized.
"Ohmygosh! Did you draw these?!" I couldn't believe it. Such detail and pure talent went into each of the drawings and he stood there, smiling at me.
"Yeah, it's nothing really, just a hobby," He explained "now, let's go inside?" He opened the door wide and without my knowledge, stepped down some stairs which led to a basement. To be honest, this was the coolest basement I had ever seen in my life. In there was a double bed with a plain black duvet, walls painted red originally but now are covered in band posters, those of which I listen to, and in the corner was a desk with art supplies with an easel stood next to that. But what surprised me was the humongous pile of comics that sat adjacent to everything else. I didn't know what to do so I just stood there in amazement.
"It's great isn't it?! Come here, I've got something for you" he called. I walked quickly to his side. It felt almost natural to be beside him. There was a certain warming vibe that shone off of him. But I only met this guy a few hours ago? How can this be? He started rummaging through this massive wardrobe, items falling out and scattering across the floor. I quickly nudged all the objects towards him to help him clean up afterwards. He made a sound of accomplishment and pulled out this tiny machine. Something I have never seen with my eyes before.
"This is the oldest, most reliable, most incredible, most amazing camera we own but I don't use it anymore. Being as I don't use it, I thought you could have it?" He suggested as he raised his eyebrows. I stuttered.
"B -b - b- but I c-c-c-can't take this! It's unique, rare and- yours!"
"But I want you to have it, please," I slowly nodded my head and carefully took it from his hands. I couldn't believe it. I've wanted this camera for so many years, they're so expensive and hard to find, and here it is. In my hands. I fiddled with it for a while and Gerard turned, picked up a sketch book, and began to draw. Half an hour later, I knew how this camera worked, inside and out, I just now needed a perfect picture. I looked at Gerard and he looked stunning. The light reflected and radiated his face while his tongue stuck out slightly as he delicately glided the pencil across the paper. I didn't want him to see me take a picture of him but I needed to capture this. I needed to be able to remember this moment. I slowly pulled the camera at a right angle, just enough to capture his face, and took a picture. Not knowing that it made a tiny noise as the picture took, Gerard looked at me, then at the camera, then back at me and smiled.
"You could've just asked you know?" He said rather sassily.
"I didn't want to seem like a creep, I'm sorry."
" No! It's fine, I gave you it to take pictures and you're doing so. And you're happy about it. Let's see it then!" He said rather eagerly, I took the processed photo from the camera and put it so he and I could both see it. As it cleared, it turned out to be a great photo. I'd captured his passion, love and list for drawing in a picture and I loved it.
"That's a really good shot," he said as he came closer to me to see it clearer. He bobbed his head down to look at something and then raised it again, but he was incredibly close to my face.
"Erm, Crystal?"-

Notes